NO on 8: We interrupt your porn for a public service announcement.

Proposition 8 is a proposal to eliminate gay marriage in the state of California. Same-sex couples can already legally get married in that state, but if Prop 8 is accepted, the constitution will be amended to define 'marriage' as a union between a man and a woman.

The No on 8 movement is a group opposed to the proposition, who are campaigning to spread awareness and encourage Californians to vote against the measure. These efforts rely on community involvement; people donating their time and informing others they know, but also through a donation-funded media campaign using television spots and print advertisements.

It's a very hot issue. People like Steven Spielberg, Bruce Wayne Bastian, Larry Page & Sergey Brin have publicly spoken out and donated large sums of money to No on 8; even companies like Apple, inc. have made public statements and financial donations in the interest of preserving the rights of their Californian employees.

Even our kooky little fandom is getting involved. Kamui (the artist responsible for the awesome cover of HC #1) gathered links to a bunch of journal posts and pictures (we know how you all love art) showing other furfags' rah-rah spirit:

http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/501230/

If you live in California, you should absolutely consider casting your vote on ballot day, November 4.

Even if you don't, there are other ways you can contribute:

http://www.noonprop8.com/action

Even a tiny donation is worth-while. And of course it costs nothing to spread the word.

The visibility of this issue makes it an important one for gay rights across the globe. Being Dutch, and therefore legally endowed with the same set of rights that my heterosexual countrymen enjoy, I generally don't pay much attention to gay rights issues. The success of No on 8 is important because it's a highly visible statement that there is no such thing as 'gay rights', just, you know, rights.

Spread the word, donate a bit of money if you can. It's a good way to sustainthe gradual progression of the world to a more open, free society. Consider it an early wedding gift for any friends you might have in California!

http://www.noonprop8.com/

Can't stop the signal

So, you know how international distribution is this complex process of haggling and negotiation?

Apparently not when you're swinging a big juicy book like Heathen City around. I contacted United Publications in the UK to ask whether they'd be interested in distributing Heathen City on their isles, and what I expected to be a long-drawn-out period of negotiating, involving comp copies, numerous calls, and endless price negotiation boiled down to a 'yes please'.

I love working with professionals who know what they want.

Heathen City is now available for pre-order from the UK through United Publications, namely here:

http://www.up1.co.uk/Details/A0901

£16 for a fabulous full-color 46-page hardcore badass furry graphic novel. Pretty slick, huh?

Estimated shipping date is 'July'. Based on the quantity of early pre-orders we'll agree with United Publications on the exact quantity of their first shipment, which will be sent to them shortly after Anthrocon. FurPlanet are going to have to sweat into the wee small hours to fulfill all the pre-orders as well as that shipment, but they're a hardy bunch.

So if you're in the UK, and want to be sure you can get it as quickly as possible, be sure to pre-order quickly so your copy will be in the first batch!

Heathen City available for preorder

Heathen City is now available for pre-order from FurPlanet.

The first volume of this ambitious, 46-page, full-color graphic novel will debut on June 26 at Anthrocon '08. Pre-orders and sales at the con are discounted from the normal $24.95 to $19.95.

The goal of Heathen City is nothing short of redefining the meaning of the word 'furry comic'. Mature themes - sex and violence, a sophisticated, subtle plot, morally ambiguous characters and a storyline that spans the globe - Heathen City represents a degree of ambition and quality that aims to raise the bar, and shove it where the sun don't shine.

Written by Alex Vance, illustrated by Ayato, Distasty, Krahnos, Charha and Fel, with cover art by kamui.

From the back cover:

"Blowjobs for breakfast; death for dessert.

When the hustler Owen Zelazny and his Latin flame Ruy Ortega find  themselsves pursued by a sadistic psychopath with a nebulous agenda,  the only thing they know how to do is run.  Boost a car, book a flight, suck some dick to pay the bills an just run.

 

Their only hope is a man who’s robbed, killed and betrayed to save himself and those precious few he gives a damn about. 

 

With him around, somebody’s bound to get killed.

 

Usually the bad guy. Usually. Maybe.

 

This is a world where love is cheap and life is cheaper.

 

Buckle up for a hell of a ride."

 

For more information, preview galleries and more, visit www.heathencity.com!

Not Heathen City - Quantum Leap instead.

Right. I've used this LJ for promotional purposes more than anything these last years, so rather than waxing prosaic about the trials of producing the baddest-assed graphic novel the fandom has ever seen, its imminent debut at Anthrocon and, potentially, the significantly earlier onset of pre-orders, let me focus on something else instead:

The promotional tagline for the information page for Apple's next operating system: Snow Leopard.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/snowleopard/

"A Quantum Leap."

It's a common tagline. A quantum leap in innovation, a quantum leap in saucer smoothness. Whatever. All of them are wrong, wrong, wrong, because a 'quantum leap' is, in physics, the smallest possible distance an object can travel without standing still.

So why am I so lyrical about Apple's use?

They're the first ones ever to use it right. The new operating system, Snow Leopard, is touted as having 0 new features. All focus is on improving stability, laying the groundwork for the next decade of development. It's a bold move, and leave it to Apple to be able to make "Zero new features!" a positive marketing slogan.

The point of all this is that the end user should notice nothing, aside from performance boosts, which makes this a true quantum leap. Kudos!

Fan Art!

Time to boast, time to gloat!

Heathen City has proven to be quite popular, despite, you know, not actually being available yet.

The sublime ArtDecade has decided to show his enthusiasm for the project by setting his ink brush on fire and producing this:

 
I dig his stuff immensely. He has two comics available at FurPlanet, two volumes of his Small Stories series.

They're these incredibly real, dramatic, modest little events, stunning in their simplicity. Absolutely recommended to those who appreciate spare but intense storytelling.

It's a far cry from Heathen City, with its dense, cinematic boldness. I'm susprised (and very, very happy) that an artist like ArtDecade is so excited about it.

Of course, I'm also very not surprised. HC is going to rock.

Heathen City Is Coming

After several months of hard work, with the aid of an enigmatic financier and two criminally underpaid artists, Heathen City is rolling full steam ahead.

The first issue of this new comic, written by yours truly, illustrated by the insanely talented

ayato

 and colored by his partner-in-crime Distasty, this tale of gay sex, blood-chilling action and epic urban struggle will set a new standard for furry comics.

I've been a big fan of ASB and Circles, and Genus Male still gets me off, but it's time to raise the bar.

Feast your eyes on these promo desktops, and visit www.heathencity.com for more information.

Coming soon.

Now what on earth could that be?

Stay tuned...