Zeros 2 Heroes - The People's Publisher

Flash back?

From the blog "Insight and stuff from maria the dreamer"

mariathedreamer, 21:05 Thu Jan 7th, 2010

mariathedreamer, randomness, yes, Star Trek,

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Totally bizarre, but that dude in the Z2H banner, forget his name... Enzo? In his all grown up form? Sure has a Riker look about him. I can see him doing that sideways walk...

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Tenzil Kem

Fri Jan 8th, 2010 10:06

When I read your blog title I had visions of Barry Allen! Talk about Flashes Back!

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Where's the line?

From the blog "Insight and stuff from maria the dreamer"

mariathedreamer, 09:59 Sun Nov 22nd, 2009

day job, identity, mariathedreamer,

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Does anyone else struggle with the line between their 'day job' selves and their creative selves?

As social media grows and the different aspects of our unique lives become more visiable, the line between them blurs. And I continue to...

Does anyone else struggle with the line between their 'day job' selves and their creative selves?

As social media grows and the different aspects of our unique lives become more visiable, the line between them blurs. And I continue to struggle with what people see of me and how what they see will influence their perception of who I am, because both my creative and professional aspects require a visible online presence.

This comes to mind because I have recently been promoted (yeah!). Now I am Manager of Commuications. That means advising our Board of Directors and Executive Officer on key issues, among other things. It also means networking with other communicators on a professional level.

Does my comics community and belly dance community and YA book community activities add or detract from my image as a professional communicator? Or does it simply reveal the full and diverse lives we all live but had to keep separate and hidden for so long?

Top Rated Comment of 22

Autolycan

Mon Nov 23rd, 2009 15:05

Damn right, that's why I keep my belly dancing career public.

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launch-a-roo

From the blog "Insight and stuff from maria the dreamer"

mariathedreamer, 21:00 Tue Nov 10th, 2009

business, mariathedreamer, writer's plan,

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For all of you who feel the need to plot out your writing career along with your stories, have I got a website for you.

Mine.

I've recently launched The Writer's Plan, which takes the...

For all of you who feel the need to plot out your writing career along with your stories, have I got a website for you.

Mine.

I've recently launched The Writer's Plan, which takes the planning tools I use in my 'day job', and streamlines them for writers/artisits/creators.

You know how it works... once you have a vision, the universe falls into step with you and helps you along the way.

No vision, and you're stuck on a windy, bumpy road, wondering where you're at, and how you're going to get wherever it is you're supposed to be.

The site has templates (fill in the blanks) and step-by-step tips on how to create your own plan. I'm planning to add 'sample plans' and even samples goals and tactics as time goes on.

Any suggestions, examples, good news stories, complaints, etc. I'm ready to hear it. You can let me know via Z2H here, or there's a comment form on the site.

Happy Planning!!

Top Rated Comment of 7

Mr. Man

Tue Nov 10th, 2009 21:32

Looks cool. I'm going to try and check this out in detail on the weekend

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Local boys

From the blog "Insight and stuff from maria the dreamer"

mariathedreamer, 20:35 Sat Oct 17th, 2009

hotness, mariathedreamer, Rip Current,

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I've seen some of the trailers for New Moon. Studly Quileute guys. Well built. Shirtless. All this got me thinking of Marsden, my own studly First Nations dude in Rip Current.

One of the very first scenes that I had filtering in my mind for...

I've seen some of the trailers for New Moon. Studly Quileute guys. Well built. Shirtless. All this got me thinking of Marsden, my own studly First Nations dude in Rip Current.

One of the very first scenes that I had filtering in my mind for this story ultimately shows up on page four of the comic. Marsden, frustrated after a day squeezing into the patrol pods and not making a great impresstion, walks past Lucia and Remy, pulling his shirt over his head. You know, that move that guys do when they grab the shirt behind their shoulders and pull it forward over their heads. Anyways, the gals enjoy the view. Remy wonders at how he'd fit into the patrol pods. Things begin to spark.

Now granted in my comic, I let Marsden keep his shirt on, but the studly impact still happens and it's one of my favourite pages in the book.

As I've mentioned, Marsden is the only character in my book based on a real person. About ten years ago, this tall, really cute young guy with fabulous cheekbones and sweet dimples was helping me out during a visit to a second-hand sports shop in Port Moody, BC. When I saw him, I decided that I'd turn him into a character in one of my stories. I kept my promise and he became Marsden.

Now, when I hear all the fervor about Twilight, and all the drooling over the Quileute guys, even the fact that they're busy filming in Port Moody, I think to myself, Hey! I got there first!

And Marsden is WAY hotter.

Top Rated Comment of 5

STURSTEIN

Sun Oct 18th, 2009 03:32

I shall either confirm or deny that once someone gives me the wormhole location. But it has so many cool people in it, so I guess it can't be too bad.

I like Trajan the...

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Amazing Algae

From the blog "Insight and stuff from maria the dreamer"

mariathedreamer, 21:04 Fri Jul 17th, 2009

algae, mariathedreamer, Rip Current,

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The wonders of Rip Current never cease! The other night, I was driving home from a dance class and listening to CBC radio, when the discussion turned to alternative fuel sources. Turns out, that one of the best options is to draw oil from algae!!...

The wonders of Rip Current never cease! The other night, I was driving home from a dance class and listening to CBC radio, when the discussion turned to alternative fuel sources. Turns out, that one of the best options is to draw oil from algae!!

Algae is fast and easy to grow in a small area, and is 60% oil. This is technology that exists now; we could apparently be switched over within a decade if the politics aligned.

When I created the world for Rip Current, I knew they would be using salt water for food production as much as possible (incidentally, that same radio program also talked about growing foods in salt water, also successfully in development). But I hadn't gone as far as considering what they'd use to fuel everything. I assumed solar, wind, the usual.

I'm VERY happy to discover algae biofuel is REAL. How convenient! How perfect! I'll be adding it to my Rip Current world.

Top Rated Comment of 6

genrewriter

Sat Jul 18th, 2009 00:03

That is so cool.

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Nothing fancy...

From the blog "Insight and stuff from maria the dreamer"

mariathedreamer, 21:32 Mon Jun 1st, 2009

goals, mariathedreamer, writing,

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Thought I'd post a quick update... I've been reading blogs, posting a comment from time to time, but generally not being too active over here. AND, I've not been reading and reviewing any pitches in a very long time. (except for Manga...

Thought I'd post a quick update... I've been reading blogs, posting a comment from time to time, but generally not being too active over here. AND, I've not been reading and reviewing any pitches in a very long time. (except for Manga Memoirs)

Well, this isn't going to change for a bit... I'm going to spend the month of June working on some of my kids chapter books that have been long, long overdue for submission. And I want to figure out an idea for a spy story for another chapter book series...

So yeah. That's my update! Happy writing everyone!

Top Rated Comment of 7

Tenzil Kem

Mon Jun 1st, 2009 23:30

You get to work on those Chapter Books, mtd! No excuses! A friend of mine (she's mentioned in my Memoirs story, though not by name) has just had her third YA book published. Her...

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wondering about authonomy...

From the blog "Insight and stuff from maria the dreamer"

mariathedreamer, 22:38 Fri Feb 13th, 2009

books, mariathedreamer, publishing,

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Was wandering around the web this afternoon and came across a site not unlike Z2H, called authonomy. HarperCollins is running it, people post manuscripts, there's a ranking system, the top...

Was wandering around the web this afternoon and came across a site not unlike Z2H, called authonomy. HarperCollins is running it, people post manuscripts, there's a ranking system, the top books each month go before the HarperCollins editors...

So I have a few fiction manuscripts ready to go, just haven't tried marketing them. I'm thinking about putting them up there, but wondered, anyone else heard of it?

Top Rated Comment of 16

genrewriter

Sat Feb 14th, 2009 02:46

I recently heard about it and then read a bunch of blogs from people talking about it. There seem to be two sets of people that frequent Authonomy. Some are like the regulars here in that they like...

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Alice is perfect!

From the blog "Insight and stuff from maria the dreamer"

mariathedreamer, 11:49 Sun Feb 8th, 2009

casting, mariathedreamer, Rip Current,

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Yahoo! Last night I watched I am Legend... and I was mightily surprised to see Alice Braga, who I used as a model for my main character Lucia. She's great!! I'd only seen Alice in some photos and a short movie clip from a foreign...

Yahoo! Last night I watched I am Legend... and I was mightily surprised to see Alice Braga, who I used as a model for my main character Lucia. She's great!! I'd only seen Alice in some photos and a short movie clip from a foreign film. I'm happy I made that choice.

On to other news... I have been busy elsewhere in my life these last few weeks, but before I disappeared, I had made that request for fans. The numbers had gone up, but have now dropped again, so I'm taking Will's advice and ignoring them. But that said, I'm sure it'll bug me again in the future.

Top Rated Comment of 4

STURSTEIN

Sun Feb 8th, 2009 23:23

Good as it was, 'I Am Legend' would have been soÂ much better without the lousy effects. Had the producers not seen '28 Weeks Later'? Here's a crazy idea: use actorsÂ to portray the...

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Appeal for fans!!

From the blog "Insight and stuff from maria the dreamer"

mariathedreamer, 01:02 Tue Jan 27th, 2009

fans, mariathedreamer, Rip Current,

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Please become a fan of Rip Current!

Okay, now I've got that out, I can move onto more specifics. I need your help. Seems I'm having a bit of a battle with the 'heat register'. I go up... but for whatever reason, I can't get my heat to stay...

Please become a fan of Rip Current!

Okay, now I've got that out, I can move onto more specifics. I need your help. Seems I'm having a bit of a battle with the 'heat register'. I go up... but for whatever reason, I can't get my heat to stay up. (hmmmm if I were a dude, that could certainly be misinterpretted, but I digress...)

I know folks have read Rip Current or visited the property page. Some of you already have become fans, and thanks so much for that. Yeah!! But if you haven't, and can spare a few minutes to pay a visit and to add yourself as a fan, I'd sure appreciate it.

I'm going to spend some time over the next few months trying to drum up fans from elsewhere... BUT we all know the the real power here is with the regulars. So, calling all Z2H powerhouses (and aspiring powerhouses!!)... if you haven't already.... please throw your support behind Rip Current!!!

Top Rated Comment of 13

PsElliott

Tue Jan 27th, 2009 10:43

( wishes there was an edit button for all my after thoughts )

Aside from the heat meter, I have found this site to be a great motivation boost. Just to think and talk about comics,...

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Loose ends

From the blog "Insight and stuff from maria the dreamer"

mariathedreamer, 00:49 Mon Jan 26th, 2009

mariathedreamer, randomness, writing,

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Kinda swamped at work, so I haven't much energy to launch into a new project (the Bridge Work pitch) or serious editing on my YA novel... but, I have been able to lock in Sunday mornings for writing. Until the 'stars' align for new stuff, I'm...

Kinda swamped at work, so I haven't much energy to launch into a new project (the Bridge Work pitch) or serious editing on my YA novel... but, I have been able to lock in Sunday mornings for writing. Until the 'stars' align for new stuff, I'm playing with a fanfiction. Way back in Y2K, I was working on a plan to pitch to write some Digimon chapter books (grade 2-4) based on the tv series, so I wrote an entire chapter book as a sample and played with some fanfics.

The sample and my pitch ended up on the desk of an editor who left the company and so I got buried. (Take note! Sometimes it is useful to follow-up when you've heard nothing back!) By the time I talked to the new guy, they'd dropped that series.

Anyways, got four chapters into a fanfic storyline and never wrote that fifth and final. So, I decided, yes eight years after the fact, to finish it off. And its fun! No stress, and easily got 1,500 words down in a few hours. Nice easy way to get back into the groove after a long Christmas break.

Also, funny to note, I've been maria the dreamer in the online world for nearly a decade. Strange, but amazing at the same time.

Top Rated Comment of 3

Juiceboy

Mon Jan 26th, 2009 10:48

The feeling of satisfaction must be overwhelming to complete that task.

I hear you TK... I am happy if I can get 3 pages down without interruption.

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Dream on...

From the blog "Insight and stuff from maria the dreamer"

mariathedreamer, 21:01 Sun Jan 18th, 2009

mariathedreamer, music, Rip Current,

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Hey! I added a new tune to the Rip Current playlist... (or get the link from the comic page, bottom left).

Driving home, listing to an old 'mix cd', listening to...

Hey! I added a new tune to the Rip Current playlist... (or get the link from the comic page, bottom left).

Driving home, listing to an old 'mix cd', listening to Depeche Mode's Dream on, got me thinking about Oakes.

Oakes is the rather unfriendly dude on the last page of the comic, giving Trajan a hard time. Oakes has had a rough go... everything he creates falls apart, everything he dreams of is destroyed. When the song asks, 'can you feel a little love...?' The answer would be yes, but just a little, because to open it up any more risks having that disappear as well.

I do wonder why Oakes keeps on trying, because he does... but he hasn't let me see that part of him yet.

For a glimpse of Oakes, check out the Chapter 1.2 : Trajan, either in the Extra Chapters goodies on the comic page or further along in the Rip Current blog.

Top Rated Comment of 6

genrewriter

Sun Jan 18th, 2009 22:44

Not one of DM's better known songs, but definitely a cool choice for Oakes. Glad Rip Current's still on your mind.

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An idea brewing...

From the blog "Insight and stuff from maria the dreamer"

mariathedreamer, 00:56 Tue Jan 13th, 2009

Bridge Work, mariathedreamer, Pitch,

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I was driving home today over the Port Mann Bridge (in BC) in the fogginess and flashed back to a short story I had written about some workers on that bridge and BAM! I realized it would work really nicely as a short, standalone comic, like for a...

I was driving home today over the Port Mann Bridge (in BC) in the fogginess and flashed back to a short story I had written about some workers on that bridge and BAM! I realized it would work really nicely as a short, standalone comic, like for a collection or something. SO.... I am going to start working on that next, it'll be called Bridge Work (since that's what it already IS called, I'm so original). Watch for it!!

Top Rated Comment of 6

mariathedreamer

Wed Jan 14th, 2009 00:15

Let's see, guess my rate is one pitch every six months, considering I've got three done and its been 18 months since I joined... so this next one should take me to summer vacation.

Long ways...

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New gallery for my Rip Current comic!

From the blog "Insight and stuff from maria the dreamer"

mariathedreamer, 01:39 Sat Jan 10th, 2009

inspiration, mariathedreamer, Rip Current,

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Ever wonder what visuals inspired the artists working on Rip Curent? Well, today's your lucky day! I've just created a brand new gallery, with images of the real-life actors I 'cast' as the main characters, juxtaposed with their counterpart from the...

Ever wonder what visuals inspired the artists working on Rip Curent? Well, today's your lucky day! I've just created a brand new gallery, with images of the real-life actors I 'cast' as the main characters, juxtaposed with their counterpart from the comic.

I'm so pleased with how Patricio captured the essense of Rip Current in the pencils -- he used the references I provided but managed to bring a special life to everyone... soon after I saw his sketches, my imagined scenes with them changed to match their new 'selves'.

Just one of the many ways Rip Current was brought to life by the artists involved, Patricio, Christian and Aya, for which I'm eternally grateful.

I'd love to hear what you think!

Top Rated Comment of 4

jmcleod

Sat Jan 10th, 2009 02:44

Amazing job on your new gallery!

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Property pages = cool platform

From the blog "Insight and stuff from maria the dreamer"

mariathedreamer, 13:55 Sun Jan 4th, 2009

mariathedreamer, platform, Rip Current,

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I just got a new book, Get known Before the Book Deal. It talks about how important it is in today's market to have an author's platform, which is a readership, following or fan...

I just got a new book, Get known Before the Book Deal. It talks about how important it is in today's market to have an author's platform, which is a readership, following or fan base. A strong platform helps prove to publishers, agents, etc that you've got that 'something' that audiences want.

Hmmm... sound suspiciously like what Z2H is trying to help us ALL with, both with the property pages for the published comics AND now with the new option to build our own property pages.

Now, having had a property page for Rip Current for just over four months now, I can say with authority that having the page is not enough. So, how to build a following both at Z2H and beyond? I'm hoping this book will offer some practical tools. When I get some goodies, I'll be sure to share them here.

But, I'm curious... I hadn't heard the term "Platform" used prior to picking up this book, even though I know many of the underlying concepts. Have any of you?

Top Rated Comment of 11

genrewriter

Sun Jan 4th, 2009 15:38

For the most part, I've only heard "platform" used for pitching non-fiction books. But it makes sense that if you can show you have a built-in fanbase already that publishers/producers will pay a lot...

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WoW! Drama Boy was busy...

From the blog "Insight and stuff from maria the dreamer"

mariathedreamer, 22:03 Tue Dec 30th, 2008

Direct 2 Development 2, Drama Boy, mariathedreamer,

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I came prowling back, post-Christmas, only to discover that a few folks discovered my Drama Boy pitch in my absence and it actually made a reasonable showing in the end. Thanks to all new Drama Boy fans!!

Also, congrats to the six...

I came prowling back, post-Christmas, only to discover that a few folks discovered my Drama Boy pitch in my absence and it actually made a reasonable showing in the end. Thanks to all new Drama Boy fans!!

Also, congrats to the six short-listed pitches -- its hard work getting to the top, both in terms of talent and self-promo.

There's so much reading and writing to do, Do, DO!! It's not even new years and I'm alreading getting worked up with goals and plans for the coming year. First off, though, I need to get my spanky new computer set up. weee! I installed a new kitchen faucet today, so a new computer tomorrow... no problem!!

Happy and exciting and successful 2009 to all.

Top Rated Comment of 2

Crackwalker

Wed Dec 31st, 2008 09:47

Are you planning to start a property page for Drama Boy?

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