Read the real life stories and experiences of freelance writer Mike Gagnon.

Stuff...

I talked to Andrew Foster about joining his web comics jam. And we may even start our own.

We watched the Chronicles of Riddick the other day. It was ok. I'm mixed about it. It's also nothing like Pitch Black.

I need to do another re-write on Mason, but I got this great new idea that will make the story 10 times better so that's good.

Scooter has fleas. Goddamn.

Lots of bidness stuff going on.

It turns out Tommy Douglas is the greatest Canadian in history. Who knew? (thanks for medicare Tommy)

I really had tons of great ideas I was looking forward to using in this blog, but now I'm so burnt out from work I can't think or form good speak.

Fizzle...

Mike

Posted by: lightning at 21:38 | link | comments

I hate winter...

I hate winter. The cold and wind suck. Shovelling steps sucks. That white shit can go back to hell where it came from.

El Banco Retardo...

I turns out through some loophole that the bank HAS to give me access to a portion of the business funds I deposited before the hold date expires. I had to go find this out on my own yesterday. When I discovered that I promplty took care of some important payments for the website and for Booksurge. Know what that means? The big launch of Open Book Press is in full swing and will be official in a week or two!

Holy Productive couple of days Batman!...

I've gotten more work done over the last couple days than I have in the last month. Even with Pam's birthday going on! Everything seems to be falling into place perfectly for the first time in years. Thank god! The first book from my new company is all set, ready to go and paid for. It should be available online in a week or two at www.booksurge.com. The title is Dreams in Texture and the publisher name is Open Book Press! It's a great graphic novel anthology by Kevin Clorey and Tom Muzell.

I got all my registration and fees paid for the new website. It should be up in a week or two at www.openbookpress.com and will feature awesome design work by Ryan Chuhaniuk. 

Our second book, Grafenveer Vol.1, is almost ready. It will probably get sent to Booksurge by the end of this coming week and be available before the end of December. I even touched base with Nelson Danielson artist for my own first big graphic novel entitled Monkeys and Midget. He's almost finished and it looks like we're still on track for a January release. I'm excited about that as humor comics pal Jason Marcy will be writing the introduction on that book for me.

The new business is fully registered in Canada and I have access to the investment money. I've gotten the registration papers done for the US and sent them back to Chris.

I finished a re-write on the pitch for Mason to Platinum Studios. The editor has been in touch with me and says it's good and they are definately interested in buying. There's still lots more work to do, and I'll probably do several more re-writes, but it will be worth it.

I got my computer cleaned up. Did some graphic design for an ad for the Comix Co-Operative. Got a line on some more design work.

My rep at CBC radio finally contacted me and said that they are still very much interested in doing the radio documentary on me that we've been talking about for a year and a half or so now.

I sat down and laid out some solid ideas for a company policy and procedure hand book and sent them over to Chris for his consideration.  

I started the massive re-arrange of my office. Still lots to do, but I managed to get a lot of it done too. I need to get rid of some stuff and may be offering it up to people right here on this very weblog soon.

I got my book listings and author accounts set up with Booksurge. AND TONS more!

Life is good, things are great. I'm happy and excited.

Until next time folks...

Mike

Posted by: lightning at 12:28 | link | comments

Penance Blog...

It's Pam's Birthday...

Yesterday was Pam's birthday and I was so super busy that I couldn't get onto the computer.

I got home from my midnight shift at 7:15 am. Then I slept until 8 am. Then I got up, dressed, ate, took Pam to work. I went grocery shopping and gift shopping at the mall. I came home and made two Bailey's cheescakes for a birthday surprise. I also set up Pam's presents on the Kitchen table. I got her a fancy mini hope chest type thing, filled it with assorted gift baskets containing soaps, shampoos and frilly things as well as a bailey's gift set that had a bottle of bailey's and a candle etc. I placed her card on top. (A couple weeks ago I got her a white gold necklace with a small heart shaped diamond pendant. I couldn't wait and gave it to her that night).

Then I got back in the van and went back to town. I took pam out to a fancy pants restaurant for a birthday lunch. I dropped her back a work, and then went to the municipal office to get some business documents signed. I came back home shovelled the steps, walked the dog, and sent some mail. When I returned I made the white chocolate topping for the cheescakes and put them back in the fridge. I got a couple e-mails done, and then had to shower, shave, and make myself up. I went back to town, picked Pam up because she got off work early. We came home, she found her presents, we had cheescake.

She got dressed and we went to her parents. We had birthday dinner at her parents. After dinner I sat on the couch, and promptly passed out. Pam woke me up at 11:30 and said it was time to go. I got in and drove home where we went right to bed.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAM!

Yowza!...

Mike 

Posted by: lightning at 12:05 | link | comments

Andrew...

I got a quick e-mail from my buddy Andrew Foster the other day and he said that he had lots of news and new stuff going on and that he'd fill me in later. Now I'm all eagre to find out. I'm waiting. I wanna know what it is. It's not fair.

Mason...

I just finished my third new pitch/re-write of Mason for Platinum Studios. I hope this is the one. Last time we spoke they were definately interested in buying the character. It has been more difficult than I thought because I've essentially had to take a low budget indy small press comic and transform into something mainstream and commercially viable. Which is fine because I'm only doing this for the money. On one hand part of the back on my mind is nagging and saying "sell out!" on the other hand I've got bills to pay. All the revisions are rough and time consuming, but so far I'm continuing to be glad each time I finish one because I feel that the story is getting better with each re-write.

Night shift...

Night shifts kind of suck. I'm getting sick of them. They are draining and they just plain screw you up. I just have to be patient. This is a job I need for now and I'll bide my time. On the bright side I get three days off after tonight's shift, and we're on days when we come back so there won't be any nights for two more weeks!

My dirty, dirty computer...

I've tried to keep up with it, but over the last few months my computer has become a filthy nasty haven for every virus, adware, and spyware on Earth. I've tried using various programs and cleaned frequently, but I just couldn't keep up. Yesterday I downloead a pantheon of spyware, adware, and anti-virus programs. Now this thing is as tight as fort knocks and clean as a whistle. Nothing getting in, and nothing going out. I hate adware.

Squish!...

Mike

Posted by: lightning at 15:02 | link | comments (3)

OY...

Know what I hate? I hate when you give people the straight info. The truth, the facts, but they still don't believe you. It makes me feel like a criminal for not doing anything wrong. Oh well. I just can't let it get to me There are people who think I'm trying to screw them out of money I owe them because I am going out of business. They simply have to deal with my lawyer and that's it. They aren't getting screwed, they just have to call him and arrange to get their money through him. God why do people have to talk so much and not listen to anything anyone else says.

The office...

With my new station in life my home office is being rethought out and redesigned. I don't need all the crap I have in here. I've managed to dissasemble and move my entire computer work station today and reassemble it on the other side of the room. I'm not done yet. Everything that had to do with old defunct stuff from Lightningstrike Publishing will have to be boxed up and stored in a corner here. I have to keep that stuff for 7 years. My new re-organization is great and I am coming up with much better and efficient places to put things. I want this to be my new modus operandi for my work as Production Manager of Open Book Press. I have so much crap in here I don't need. So I'm going to start getting rid of some of it and boxing up the rest. I'm not going to get rid of stuff because I need money, I just don't want or need a lot of stuff. I'll probably give half of it away. If I can get rid of enough stuff I may be able to find room to move my art studio back into hthe room instead of freezing my ass off int he shed outside all winter. Anyway, more about this stuff tommorow.

My reading glasses...

Yay! I found them! After over a week I found my reading glasses while re-arranging my office. Now I don't have to get a headache every time I get on the computer.

I should be in bed because i'm am night shift tonight. Bye...

Mike

Posted by: lightning at 13:35 | link | comments (2)

The cartooning itch...

Ever since I picked up that gig doing animal cartoons at local Wal-Mart's for the K-Mac agency, I've gotten this cartooning bug. It's compulsive. Once I start I can't stop. And I enjoy everything about it. And guess what? I'm still doing everything sraight to marker. I think that's why I'm enjoying it so much. I love the immediacy of it.There's no room for error, so every single line has to be thought out, have meaning, and also serve a purpose. When you're going straight to marker the main rule is that less lines are better. I've been experimenting with people too. A million different looks, faces, animals expressions, and variations on each. I just may very well have finally found my style. In fact I am now thinking that any autobio stuff I do for Open Book Press in the future is going to be done this way, and still straight with marker.

My hands are clean...

Today was full if finishing up anything unresolved with Lightningstrike. Tieing up loose threads, and cutting off unneccesary cords. It was great. I was a little apprehensive, but now I feel relieved and refreshed. I filed and mailed my final sales tax form for the government today. I resolved some issues with old creditors. What's really nice about this is that thanks to my greedy leech of a former bank, I have been thourougjhly investigated in every way, and it is true that I am not guilty of any wrong doing in any way. I'm clean and there's nothing any one any where can have on me or hold over me. I'm leaving the negative behind me and looking forward to a promising future.

Over the next couple of days I have to review all of my old projects just to double check that I didn't over look anyone, and aside from that, I am done, free and clear. I'll keep making my payments to my lawyer, and he'll keep paying off my creditors. It's fantastic and I can move on with my life. Although none of this may prove anything to some people, for me it just feels persoanlly validating.

When Lightningstrike didn't take off with a smashing success and huge payouts for creators, some people began to question my honesty and business practises. Some didn't come out and say anything, but I could tell by thier looks that they felt that I was lying or that they couldn't trust me. Some people heard stories from disgruntled creators and assumed  I was a crook. None cared to ask why certian creators had thier books cancelled or never printed (Usually due to plagarism or breach of contract). Well now I'm done, it's behind me and whether there are still people out there who think bad or me or not it doesn't matter. I'm done, I feel good, I'm happy, and I have a lot to look forward to.

Have a bright sunshiny day everyone!...

Mike

Posted by: lightning at 15:24 | link | comments (2)

I hate banks...

I hate banks. I went to several this morning and they all made me steamingly furious. Why do cheques have phone numbers on them if banks refuse to call them? Long story short the new money for the business investment into Open Book Press arrived from my new business partner, Chris Campanozzi, but because the cheque is from the U.S. no bank will actually release the funds to me without holding it until Dec. 14th. Goddamn I was so livid and furious. SO many things went through my head. Having to delay books back one month, angry creators, bad image of the new business, the whole works. I felt very, very grim...

Why I love having a business partner...

Just as I was preparing to deliver the bad news about imminent delays to my creators, something finally donned on my head. I have a business partner. One who is fully competent of handling important things too! With his own account and investment money where he lives. So, instead of having a problem with scheduling, I simply asked Chris to handle the initial production payments from his end and send them from his office. I can't believe it took me so long ot think of this. I'm so used to having to take care of everything myself that if things don't work out on my own I'm just used to basically being screwed. It's great to know that I now have a reliable person to lean on in the business management. God damn it's great. I love having a business partner!

More soon...

Mike 

Posted by: lightning at 12:21 | link | comments

Weekend Blog...

Well. I'm pretty much tapped dry. It's nice to finally get a day off work, but I'm on night shifts for the rest of the weekend, so that sort of sucks. I was thinking of reviewing all the movies I've seen lately, but I've honestly seen too many to review here, so I'll just make a short list or two:

Good Movies:

Shrek 2, Walking Tall, The Rundown, Dawn of the Dead

Not as god as I'd hoped movies:

Garfield, Paycheck, Van Helsing

I can't really remember what else I've watched, but there's been a lot.

Life & Times...

We're getting Open Book Press ready for a launch any day now. There will be a kick ass website and info about our books coming out this holiday season; Dreams in Texture, Grafenveer Vol. 1, and Monkeys and Midgets. We're going to get the 2005 schedule finalized very soon.

I really enjoyed the cartooning I did for the K-Mac agency that I did for the Iams promotion. I'd really like to find a way to get involved with more stuff like that.

As soon as Open Book is up and running I'm looking forward to rearranging my work office here. I've come up with a plan to utilize more space, but I don't want to screw around with moving my computer and getting a new work table until the more important stuff is out of the way.

Hmmm... I don't know if I have anything else interesting going on in my life right now to mention. It's surprising how little you have to say at 9am on a saturday morning.

Well, I won't ramble on and keep you readers any longer.

Until next time.

Squash!

Mike

Posted by: lightning at 09:56 | link | comments

Penance Blog...

Sorry for missing yesterday, We ended up staying late at work, which killed my blog time.

Since it was pretty slow we found some more time for wrestling at work yesterday. I was in a championship bout. It ended up being a draw with no clear winner. Mostly because we gave up because we were both so tired after about 15 minutes. Wow, for a guy that isn't supposed to be writing about work, I sure am a lot lately.

Jorge Heufemann...

It just recently came to my attention that South American comic artist Jorge Heufemann, known for his work on the new "The Supernaturals" series from Mad Yak Press, has recently passed away. This is horrible news for his family, his writer, his publisher, and the comics industry at large. Jorge was a very talented man. I have a personal connection to this, because Jorge and I collaborated on several projects in the past. When I first formed SMASH! Comics Jorge was one of the people who contacted me about wanting to get involved. We collaborated on several projects simultaneously. This man was a great artist. Eventually things broke down for several reasons such as; our inability to keep things set to a schedule, short cuts in the artwork, and misinterpretations and disputes over what was stated in our contract. I'm not laying any blame on either side as I'm sure we were both right and wrong in different aspects. Jorge ended up recieveing most of his money even though none of our projects together ever saw print. The rest of the money was what was being argued over in the contract dispute. With me closing up Lightningstrike this past month I was assembling all the info to resolve all debts and disputes and was in the process of approaching Jorge to get this old dispute resolved when I got the news that he had actually passed away.

Jorge was a great guy and he will be missed. I'm trying to contact the writer of the Supernaturals that was collaborating with him to see if I can get the current contact info for his wife and family and see what we can do to get this resolved and taken care of.

On one hand I have to protect myself and make sure that the contract is followed and not screw myself, on the other hand, if I do owe him more money I would certainly not begrudge paying that out to support his widow and family.

I definately have mixed emotions and my thoughts are with his family right now. All kinds of sites are carrying his obituaries, but no-one is saying how he died. I'd be interested to know.

My best thoughts and wishes go out to the Heufemann family in Beunos Aires.

Well sorry to end on a downer.

More soon...

Mike

Posted by: lightning at 09:44 | link | comments (1)

More wrestling weirdness...

We officially started our own employee wrestling league out back behind the factory today. We've been joking about it for the last few weeks. We're always saying that one guy on my crew is champ, the other is tag team champs with a buddy on another crew. And I'm thier management. We ended up having an impromptu wrestling match out back. The tag team champs versus me. I won. It was awesome and hilarious. I was impressed they were actually able to get me down. It took about 15 minutes of them hanging on my back, but it finally happened. One of them almsot pinned me. Then I flung him over and pinned him.

Good times.

I lost the rest of my train of thought and supper is almost ready, so I'm gonna go now. I'm very eagre to start posting news about my comics, but i have to wait. Just keep an eye out!

POIT!

Mike

Posted by: lightning at 18:56 | link | comments

Minor error

I just wanted to point out an error in yesterdays entry that someone brought to my attention. It seems that the legit EBay pages carry Sun logos, but some do also have IBM logos instead. However the fake ones trying to steal your info carry the IBM logos. Crazy eh?

The weird thing about professional wrestling...

When I was a kid I was a huge WWF freak. I was the biggest Hulkamaniac ever. I liked all the others too. The 80's was an awesome time for pro wrestling.

Then as I got older I began to lose interest, and saw it as a childhood stage that I grew out of. (I never quit being a Hulkamaniac though) Years passed, and eventually after getting into this whole comics gig I met comics pals Jason Marcy and Company. These guys, especially Jay are some of the biggest wrestling fanatics you'll ever meet.

Now after a couple of years knowing them there's no way that I could say they didn't influence me. I've even caught the odd wrestling show, some wrestlers interviewed on sports shows. I watch movies with the Rock in them. And some how, and a large part to do with Jay's influence, this idea started long ago in my head that became the soon to be released graphic novel that I wrote called Monkeys and Midgets. *PLUG*Coming January 2005 from Open Book Press*PLUG*

Now, it still seems odd, even to me that I am doing a wrestling comic, considering that I still don't consider myself a modern day wrestling fan.

Then when I got promoted to the crew that I am now on at my work I found out that most of these guys are wrestling nuts too. And so I have them influencing me now and overhear a lot of their talk about wrestling. We've even been known to wrestle each other now and then. As it turns out, one guy on my crew used to live out west and knew Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. (of the famous 80's tag tean and wrestling family, The Heart Foundation)

Recently in the paper I was reading about this newer wrestling league that I've never actually watched called TNA wrestling, which features Rowdy Roddy Piper (my second favorite wrestler) and many other wrestling stars from the 80's that I have fond memories of.

Now, last Sunday I ran into the mother of a friend of mine that I grew up with since I was little. She told me that her son who is living in BC right now is going to be leaving at the end of this month and moving to Scotland to manage a professional wrestler he met who was living in BC and to also help him set up a new professional wrestling league over there. Apparently pro wrestling is huge over there.

So I e-mailed him and we exchanged a couple back and forth. It sounds awesome and I told him it'd be a great excuse for me to visit Scotland. Now I find myslef giving marketing advice to help him get this league off the ground too.

The amount of things involved with my life that have to do with wrestling is getting weird.

Maybe I'll have to start watching some TNA. (Or go over to Scotland and wrestle for a couple of months)

Splat!

Mike

 

Posted by: lightning at 18:59 | link | comments (2)

Someone tried to steal my banking info!

A warning to anyone who gets an e-mail from EBAY! That's right EBAY! Some scammers are sending out e-mails that look like official ebay web pages, telling people that they are violating Ebay's policy by not updating your account information. I thought something was fishy when the form asked for Social Insurance Number, Bank acocunt number, and credit card info as well as address and mother's maiden name etc.

So I contacted ebay and forwarded them the e-mail, they stated that in fact this was a scam and that there are people using ebay logos to scam info from people to steal identities, use credit cards, and empty accounts.

Ebay has stated that they will NEVER ask fo this info. EVER!

Another way to spot it is that real Ebay pages have a "powered by Sun Technologies" logo in the upper right corner. The fakes say "Powered by IBM".

IF YOU EVER GET AN E-MAIL LIKE THIS DO NOT RESPOND OR FILL IN THE FORM. Instead, do not alter the subject line of person from line, simply forward it to ebay's fraud department at: spoof@ebay.com

Yoink!

Mike

Posted by: lightning at 19:10 | link | comments (2)