Out There Book(s) News

[Serge Stiles]

Ohhh, okay.

Hmm, I wonder if this means there will be a delay for my book one. Because I haven't gotten it yet and it's been a week, I think.

[rcmonroe]

I don't know how long it takes for them to fill an order. If you haven't gotten it within three or four weeks, let them know.

Thanks for ordering it, by the way.

[Serge Stiles]

I will.

And thanks for making it.

[rcmonroe]

Volume II is now shipping, check out the ad on the home page. Yay.

[Serge Stiles]

I believe the correct internet phrase for this situation is: "DO WANT!"

[diddledop]

I just ordered the book on Saturday and I've already received it! The bonus story is excellently drawn. I'll comment more later as I get more time to peruse it all.

[rcmonroe]

Woo hoo! Thanks for your purchase. I was thinking about starting a thread for the bonus story but I wasn't sure if enough people would buy the book. Anyway, if anyone wants to yak about the bonus story, I'll leave it up to them to start a new thread.

[Serge Stiles]

And man, I still haven't gotten the first book that was ordered a few weeks ago.

E-mailed, still waiting for a response.

Think if I were to buy the second one, I'd do it at I Have The Power.

[rcmonroe]

As I understand it, I Have the Power has basically replaced the old Keenspot store. It's the same folks, they've just moved to a different storefront and thrown up a new sign.

I just e-mailed Chris (Keenspot CEO) to let him know your book hasn't arrived. He usually gets back to me relatively promptly, I'll let you know what he says.

[Serge Stiles]

OH, okay. I was wondering why you 'changed.' I guess I didn't make that connection, thanks for clarification, and thanks for e-mailing. At least now the longer I wait the more amazing it will be when I get it... Just hopefully not TOO much longer.

[rcmonroe]

I've received word that the PayPal orders should be shipped by the end of this week.

[Serge Stiles]

Ok, thanks.

[Serge Stiles]

GOT IT! What a nice Halloween present!

I love it, RC. I love not having to click next, LOL

[rcmonroe]

Just put Book No. 3 to bed. As always, it will be available at the Keenspot booth at the San Diego Comic-Con (I’ll be there to sign copies and to guffaw at the silly costumes), and then shortly thereafter here.

Don’t all raise your hands at once.

[diddledop]

Will Book III contain bonus material as did Book II or a continuation of that?

[rcmonroe]

Will Book III contain bonus material as did Book II or a continuation of that?

There will be bonus material. See the April 18 announcement on my home page for details.

[diddledop]

Thanks, I just read it. I could have saved myself a post.

I'm looking forward to those never-before-seen Sunday strips!

[SAGG]

From RC:

"What’s in the book? Well, as usual, an entire year of Out There strips, plus some extra stuff exclusive to the book. First of all, there’s the cover, scribbled with the usual lack of panache by yours truly, but transformed into a gorgeous flower due to the brilliant coloring of the soon-to-be-famous Danny Green. (You’ll have to stay tuned to find out why he’s soon to be famous. For now it’s a secret. But trust me, it’s happening.)"

Hmmm...is RC speaking only about those 81 color Sunday strips being in his book, or does he mean we might be gettin' some colorin' in the online comic itself...?

[rcmonroe]

SAGG, I moved this post to the Out There Books thread; it seemed appropriate.

From RC:

"What’s in the book? Well, as usual, an entire year of Out There strips, plus some extra stuff exclusive to the book. First of all, there’s the cover, scribbled with the usual lack of panache by yours truly, but transformed into a gorgeous flower due to the brilliant coloring of the soon-to-be-famous Danny Green. (You’ll have to stay tuned to find out why he’s soon to be famous. For now it’s a secret. But trust me, it’s happening.)"

Hmmm...is RC speaking only about those 81 color Sunday strips being in his book, or does he mean we might be gettin' some colorin' in the online comic itself...?

Unfortunately, I was only referring to the cover having color; the cost of printing the Sunday strips in color would have been prohibitive—it would have made the book cost way too much and I want the book to be affordable to all. They’re “Sunday” strips because of their format, not because they have color (since they don’t). And to further clarify, it’s not 81 strips, just 81 panels; it’s only ten Sunday strips (20 pages—each strip takes up two pages.) Sorry for the misunderstanding. 81 strips—jeez, I don’t have that kind of time. Wish I did.

As far as the online strips ever being in color—once again, I wish I had that kind of time. The comic strip for me is a balancing act; I could spend more time on the artwork. I could color it, I could make it more detailed, I could spend time on the backgrounds rather than ignoring them or filling them with my quickie scribblings—but something would have to give. And that something would be the frequency of updates.

When I started the strip, I made a decision—new strips six days a week. That meant compromising in other areas. I don’t know if I’ve made the right decision; maybe color would have been better, maybe more detailed artwork would have been better, maybe both. But it’s the decision I made. At this point, my feeling is that the readers appreciate a new strip every day and would rather have that than a prettier strip every other day or once or twice a week. I could be wrong.

Anyway, I would love to increase Out There to seven days a week with color on Sundays—and I’m an optimistic sort, I think that will happen someday. But not right now. I just don’t have the time.

[Serge Stiles]

Don't fret RC - I think you got it right! With the right choices.

Colour takes a lot more time to do than people think, and it doesn't make that much of a difference. I mean yeah, I guess it's nice, but you don't need it. Out There is charming the way its drawn. I like the use of only lines that are necessary for that panel. I envy your comic style you have.

For our comic, we don't even have backgrounds, but it still takes me forever to colour and after I'm done inking, I sit back and think... Damn I wish I didn't have to colour this, it would be done so much faster.

[diddledop]

When? I'm starting to feel some anxiety! Could you speak of it a bit as well? Thank you.

[rcmonroe]

diddledop, I moved your post here.

The third book (entitled Draft Picks) is at the printers now. We expect it to be ready in time for the Comic-Con (end of July) and it should be available for online ordering shortly thereafter.

See previous few posts (above) for more details.

[diddledop]

Now if I can only make it through July! I also think you should release a film as well.

[rcmonroe]

The book’s out now! Order it here.

Film’s a bit more expensive than paper, but if enough of the books sell…

…oh, right.

[diddledop]

Thanks, I just completed the order.