Welcome to Manic Network!

Here, you will find like-minded individuals who know how difficult it is to juggle not only creating the story, but illustrating it as well. When you as the writer are also the illustrator, you find a certain amount of freedom to draw what you want, what your inner-eye sees. But with that freedom comes the blind-sidedness of only one perspective, your own. As a group, we can offer that unique second perspective and help unleash a story's true potential. I hope you can learn from the members here as well as teach others a thing or two about the art of story-telling.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Monday, December 5, 2011

Celebrity Clerk: A Cartoon Collection of Corner Store Satire



Greetings all!! I am very happy to say that the first collection of Celebrity Clerks is now available at Kindle ebooks !! It's been live on the site since last Monday, and I've been busy promoting it shamelessly at Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and email campaigns. Starting to get some word of text buzz going.
Any other promotion or marketing suggestions are welcome. Of course re-blogging this post will be very much appreciated.



Celebrity Clerks Kindle ebook link.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

A stroll though the park


Yes, it certainly feels like winter's just around the corner.


Kirk

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Jim Brenneman Google+ banner art

I haven't posted anything in a little while. Here's a recent piece I put together for my Google+ page.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Greetings!!

Might anyone give me some tips on writing a book introduction ? I have collected a bunch of my single panel cartoon strip, Celebrity CLerks to uplaod to Createspace and then on to Amazon and Kindle, but have flusterated myself in to paralysis writing a pithy, interesting intro. Ig you are familiar with the strip, I would appreciated any assistance. I have been spinning my wheels on this for a week, and need fresh eyes. Pls email me at mikescartoons@hotmail.com


Thank you in advance.

Mike

Monday, October 24, 2011

Saturday, September 17, 2011

'Strangers in the Stable' ... my latest book illustration projet completed.

I don't post here often, because my schedule is filled with more than children's book illustration, however, my latest project was for a Christmas early reader, and now that the publisher has sent the files to the printer, now I can share.

This was my first kid's book illustrated purely digitally, so it was quite an experience. I normally only paint digitally for novels and some older kid's genres, like MG or YA (which are only sometimes illustrated).

Strangers in the Stable, by Jim Laughter and 4RV Publishing, is a charming twist to the traditional Christmas tale, which makes me doubly honored to have been the illustrator. Now, for a peek at the illos:

The stores and shops teemed with life,
and people lined up at tables in the marketsquare,
signed books, and paid money to
men in flowing red robes and shiny hats.
Finally, three more men entered from out
of the night. Kings, the people called them.
They carried gifts and laid them before the
child and his parents.
The kids got to know the young family,
and even Young Billy became friends with
Mary.
If you're interested in seeing the original cover I created for this book, and read why I changed it at literally the last minute, check out my latest 4RV newsletter post.
If your thinking on buying a few copies for Christmas, pre-orders are being accepted now on the 4RV Publishing catalog site.




Until next time,

Aidana WillowRaven

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Hi


Thanks for the invite to the group. It is nice to be here.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Jim Brenneman at the New York State Fair

One of my favorite things to do at this time of the year is to go to the NY State Fair and take a sketchbook. It's amazing how many unique characters you run into.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Manic Network Interviews: Am Interview with Lisa J. Michaels!

Hi Lisa, Welcome and thank you for being here today!

What inspired you to take an interest in art?
When I was finally old enough to sit up by myself, I'd sit next my father, (who was an architect) and watch him draw little trees and bushes around his houses. You could say I got an early start in my art education! The fine details always fascinated me.

Friday, August 12, 2011

JD'S Writers Blog: My Work in Progress! The third picture for my new picture book

JD'S Writers Blog: My Work in Progress! "I haven't a clue what the background for this picture with be. I'll come up with it though. :D  I'm using Corel Painter.It has a cool tool called Straight Line Strokes to make the rope. http://t.co/mdIzv3y.."

Friday, August 5, 2011

An Interview with Michelle Munger


An Interview with Michelle Munger: "The first question that is probably on everyone's mind is why you started Manic Network, can you tell us a little about it?
Manic Network was just something I needed to do. When I first started seriously considering writing and illustrating, I went to a conference in LA to figure things out. I found it very difficult to choose classes because they were either geared toward writing or illustrating but never both. Read the rest of Michelle's interview at: http://manicnetworkinterviews.blogspot.com/

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Nasii:)

Just a small something to say Hi!
&
Thanks, its Great to be a part of this group:)

Friday, July 29, 2011

Manic Network Interviews: An Interview with Aidana WillowRaven


Manic Network Interviews: An Interview with Aidana WillowRaven: "Hi Aidana, and thank you for giving us this interview. How young were you when you knew you were an artist? Start off with the hard one, lol!" at http://manicnetworkinterviews.blogspot.com/

Please follow our interviews!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Manic Network Interviews: An Interview with Jean Wogaman

An Interview with Jean Wogaman HERE on the Manic Network: "Jeanie, which came first the illustrating or the writing and how did you start working on children's books?
At:http://manicnetworkinterviews.blogspot.com/2011/07/interview-with-jean-wogaman.html
Please follow our interviews!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Michelle Munger


This is the main character in a YA I'm working on.

Comic-Con arrival day JIM BRENNEMAN

Arriving at the San Diego Comic-Con has always been one of the most exciting parts of the experience. When you cross the street and see the crowds waiting to get in all dressed in various costumes and the banners from all your favorite Comic Book companies displayed everwhere it almost verges on a religious experience. Although I won't be going this year some of my characters decide to go anyway.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Hello fellow pictureworders!


Hoping to post some new work up here soon for discussion! In the meantime, here is a knight with lettuce for a head. Cheers!

from Mark Mitchell

I like the look of the new Manic Network blog! Happy to be part of this group!

Anyone doing the Sketchbook Project 2012 World Tour? http://www.arthousecoop.com/

A bunch of us from the Austin SCBWI chapter made a pact to participate.

-Mark
http://HowToBeAChildrensBookIllustrator.Wordpress.com

Monday, July 11, 2011

W-I-P Diana Ting Delosh

M-m-m-m Cupcakes!
ink & watercolor
© Diana Ting Delosh
Just wanted to say Howdy to all my fellow illustrators/Writers on Manic and share a peek of the current picture book dummy that I'm working on. I have 10 tight sketches and 1.5 finished paintings more to do not to mention lot's of tweaking of text.
dianadelosh.com
dtdelosh.blogpot.com

Friday, July 8, 2011

Jim Brenneman Self Promotion

My most recent example of self promotion.

Traci Van Wagoner

Hi everyone!

Summer time is here. A time for swimming, snorkeling and having adventures. Have a ton of fun everyone!

UNDER THE SEA by Traci Van Wagoner