Signings, Cons and Reviews

Looking back at the last three Wednesdays I can say without doubt that I could not have asked for better way to launch the first issue of The Chronicle of the Tal Nor than doing events at the Uncanny/Comics and More family of stores.  Everyone who work there is so supportive of the book and made for a great experiences.  I had so much fun meeting people at each signing.  It was great to talk comics, writing and storytelling all day long. If you’re in the Philadelphia area, do yourself a favor and visit one of these awesome stores.

If you missed me at these in-store signs, don’t fear, your next chance to get a signed copy of the book is right around the corner.  On Halloween I’ll be at the Locust Moon Fall Comics Fest from 11am to 6pm.  This looks like it’s going to be an awesome show with a ton of great creators.  It a curated show and I applied without much hope that I was going to get invited.  I’m incredibly honored that they thought enough of my work to ask me to be there.  For more details on all the amazing guest check out their websites. http://locustmoonfest.com/

Speaking of amazing guest.  As you might remembered over the summer made a special pre-release version of the book for the SPACE show in Ohio.  At this show I was able to talk with a ton awesome creators and give many of them a copy of the book.  My old friend David Branstetter, creator of Straw Man (check out his work HERE ), was kind enough to share a review of the book. Please give it a read below, but be warned there are some plot spoilers.

The cover to Tal-Nor #1 boldly proclaims "S.P.A.C.E Exclusive Edition" with the confidence that you'll want to hunt this bad boy down in the future when this series becomes highly collectible. I'll admit that I sometimes fall victim to the old saying "You can't judge a book by its cover".

While nicely illustrated, the design didn't really sell me on the story. Fortunately T. Perran Mitchell's writing and Kelsea Jewell's vibrant and impressionistic illustrations set a wonderfully strange and alien vibe that was apparent from the first page. We follow a young lady named Sophie who is a trained spy and hunter. She's in the middle of a rescue operation when she's unexpectedly captured. Sophie is no victim. She keeps doing her best to get out of her situation and I admire T's writing for creating a strong female protagonist that simply refuses to give up. Even with bruises on her face she continues to move forward in her pursuit without any kind of pity party.

Throw in an interesting story about invading aliens, medieval clothing, and futuristic technology and you have a fresh, otherworldly adventure. Highly recommended! 

One Down Two to Go

I want to thank Lexi, Rob, Victor and Elias from Uncanny in King of Prussia for helping out during the first stop on the Uncanny and More tour.  It was a great time and I meet a ton of awesome people.  There nothing better than talking comics all day long.

Check out this great picture Lexi took of me before the event!

If you missed out, don’t worry there still two more events scheduled on this tour.  The next event is at the Comics and More at Plymouth Meeting mall on Wednesday the 14th.  Just like at Uncanny, I’ll be there all day starting a 1pm. The week after that I'll be at the Uncanny in the Montgomery Mall from 1pm to 9pm.  I hope to see you at one of these great events!

T.

P.S. I’ll be back at Uncanny in King of Prussia on Halloween, only in costume and handing out candy for Malloween. 

The UNCANNY! and More Tour

I have most wonderful news, we have a release date:  October 7th!  We’re going to celebrate with a signing tour; the Uncanny and More Tour.  We’ll be kicking it off at the comic book shop that I have been shopping at for the last 30 years, UNCANNY! in the King of Prussia Mall. I’ll be setting up at 1pm and selling both the first issue of the Chronicles of the Tal Nor and buttons based off the book.  I can’t think of a better place to debut my first full length comic.

We keep the tour rolling the next Wednesday, the 14th at Comics and More in the Plymouth Meeting Mall.  This is a great shop with a wonderful selection of toys, comics and T-shirts.

The tour finishes up the following Wednesday, the 21st at the newest member of the UNCANNY!/Comics and More family, UNCANNY! in the Montgomery Mall.  This is a fantastic new store with an amazing selection of t-shirts, comics and games.  Head on over to our calendars section for more details on each of these events.

We’re always open to new location for events and signing.  If you have any idea or suggestions, please let us know.

T.

Issue #1 is now aviliable for pre-order

I know we've been radio silent for a little bit now.  That’s because we've been hard at work getting everything together to bring The Chronicles of the Tal Nor issue 1 to you.  I’m happy to announce that issue one is now at the printer and available for pre-order. You can order the comic by clicking HERE or Click on Order Comics in the menu.

We will start fulfilling orders in mid-October.

This issue would not have been possible without the help of all of our Kickstarter backers.  To honor them, we have set up a Wall of Thanks page here on the site.  You can find that HERE or by clicking on the Wall of Thanks link in the menu.

We also have a ton of other things in the works that we will be announcing soon.

Watch this space!

T.

Kickstarter Achievement Unlocked

Coming in at $4,028, the Kickstarter for The Chronicles of the Tal Nor issue #1 has funded.  We hit our goal with about 45 minutes to spare. We did it with a huge push at the end from myself, my team and my friends.  Once we hit the goal, I crashed hard.

 

Now after a good night's sleep, I’m ready to start the hard work of publishing this sucker.  Mainly it will be getting all my ducks in a row and ordering the book from the printer.  I have a printer in mind, but given that I can’t place the order until Kickstarter gives me the money, I’m going to take this time to do my due diligence and make sure I’m making the best printing decisions. Suggestions are always welcome.

 

I’m going to do a more detailed post later this week thanking everyone. I want to do it right and make sure I don’t miss anyone.  But until then I want to issue a general thank you to everyone who supported us during the creation of the book and the running of the Kickstarter.  That support came through in so many forms; it was money, it was spreading the word, it was being there to listen to my non-stop talking about the project and it was being there to take my mind off the project for just a little bit when I needed it.  Thank you all so much. 

 

Stay tuned for more coming soon.

 

Be Well

 

T.

I Can't Even

It's hard to know if we should gibber or Kermit flail over here at Tal Nor HQ. Sam Maggs, bestselling author of The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy, and Matt Mercer, voice actor and DM for Geek & Sundry's show Critical Role, have both retweeted links to our Kickstarter!

eep.

Also, we have now done some math and added international shipping to all of our rewards. So if you're somewhere that's not here in the US, all the pretties that we offer can now be yours! For a super-limited time!

We are so close. Only $1135 to go, but not much time to do it in. We've only got until 7pm Eastern Daylight Time today to make our goal. So if you'd like to support a comic full of awesome art, diverse characters, exciting action, and witty banter, NOW is the time to do it. Head on over to www.tal-nor.com/ks and remember; every little bit helps.

Thanks

Welcome to the Big Times, Folks

We are speeding towards the finish line of our Kickstarter campaign for the first full issue of our comic. Only three days left! And as of right this second we still need $1804. I think we can do it, especially if one of you out there has ever wanted to appear in a comic book.

You didn't know that was something we offered? It certainly is, though there are an extremely limited number of opportunities. In today's Reward Spotlight, you can find out how. Let's take a closer look at the last three pledge levels and the thank you gifts attached to them.

The "I Want it All!" Pack

This is the first of our three big reward levels. For a donation pledge of $100 dollars you will receive pretty much All Of The Things. Specifically, that includes-

  • One copy each of the three 11" x 17" art prints
  • One copy of the printed Variant Edition (cover art by Rebecca Silver)
  • One copy of the printed standard edition (cover art by Kelsea Jewell)
  • Both print copies will be signed by author T. Perran Mitchell
  • A PDF copy of the comic to read on your digital devices
  • A public thank you
  • The secret High-Five code; use it when you see Mr. Mitchell at a convention (or most public places really) to receive "a big old High-Five"
  • BONUS! Three button pins

The Letterer Special

Besides being the writer of our comics, Mr. Mitchell is also the letterer. When you select The Letterer Special reward you get to use that particular skill to your advantage. For a pledge of $250 or more, you get-

  • T. Perran Mitchell will letter your comic or project, up to 32 pages
  • All three of the art prints
  • The variant edition of the printed comic
  • The standard edition of the printed comic
  • Mr. Mitchell will sign both copies
  • A PDF copy of the comic to read digitally
  • A heartfelt thank you
  • The High Five code
  • BONUS! Three buttons

The Super Fan Pack

This right here is where YOU have the opportunity to appear in a comic book. Only four of these packages are available. For a pledge of $500- 

  • You will be featured as a character in issue two of The Chronicles of the Tal Nor!

You will also get lots of cool things-

  • All three art prints
  • The printed Variant Edition
  • The printed standard edition
  • Both comics will be signed by author T. Perran Mitchell
  • A PDF copy of the comic
  • Our deepest, greatest, and most heartfelt gratitude shouted to the skies (along with a thank you printed somewhere)
  • The secret High-Five Code
  • BONUS! Three button pins

 

I will be the first to admit that these pledge levels are no chump change. To put in in perspective though, it's quite a lot of value for the money. Having Mr. Mitchell letter for you costs a minimum of $10 a page. If your project is as long as our comic is, that covers the entirety of your pledge right there. To actually be in a comic isn't an opportunity that comes along very often. And many of these items will never be available again after 7pm EDT on Monday.

They're big, but I hope you consider it. If it's still a bit much, anything you can spare would be deeply appreciated. We're so excited to share all of the work that we've done. You can help that happen, and we are so grateful for it.

Thank you.

 

 

Art Prints!

So far we have highlighted the Kickstarter rewards for donation pledges from the $1 through the $25 level. Today we will be diving into the bigger and flashier (though still affordable) rewards. Now it's all about the art prints.

The Prints

For a donation of $30 or more, you can choose one of three prints as part of your thank you gift. Each 11" x 17" limited edition print features a character from the comic, drawn in very distinct styles. You are bound to find one that would look great on your wall.

Print Number One

If you chose reward Print Number One, you receive-

  • An 11" by 17" print featuring character Sophie LeCoise by artist Rebecca Silver. You may recognize this as the same art used on our Variant Edition cover.
  • A printed copy of the comic, with the official cover by Kelsea Jewell
  • Your comic will be signed by author T. Perran Mitchell
  • A PDF copy of the comic
  • The (now mildly infamous) High-Five code
  • Our sincere gratitude expressed in a public forum (or privately, if you prefer)
  • BONUS! Three button pins

Print Number Two

By choosing the reward Print Number Two you will get-

  • An 11" by 17" print featuring Sophie LeCoise by artist Kat LoGrande
  • A printed copy of the comic with Kelsea Jewell's official cover art
  • Your comic will be signed by author T. Perran Mitchell
  • A PDF copy of the comic
  • The High-Five code
  • A public (or private) expression of gratitude
  • BONUS! Three button pins

Print Number Three

The Print Number Three reward includes-

  • An 11" by 17" print featuring character Kat Zang by artist Johnny Destructo
  • A print copy of the comic with covert art by Kelsea Jewell
  • Your comic will be signed by author T. Perran Mitchell
  • A PDF copy of the comic
  • Our heart-felt thanks
  • The High-Five code
  • BONUS! Three button pins

That's some pretty nice stuff to chose from for your donation of thirty dollars. But what if you can't decide which print you want? We have a solution for that called...

The Three Prints Pack

For a donation of $75 you will receive a thank you package that includes-

  • One copy of each of the art prints (3 prints total)
  • A print copy of the comic with Kelsea Jewell's official cover art
  • Your comic will be signed by author T. Perran Mitchell
  • A PDF of the comic
  • The High-Five code
  • Our deepest, most sincere thanks, expressed in a public (or private) manner
  • BONUS! Three button pins

 

Now, these prints are only available during this Kickstarter fundraiser. Once it's over (on Monday!) they'll be gone for good. Please don't wait! Head over to www.tal-nor.com/ks

As of right this second, we have only $1,921 left to go to meet our goal. Thank you to everyone who pledged already. You are awesome.

-Ed.

 

 

Every Little Bit Helps

You may be looking over our Kickstarter page and thinking, "Wow, those prints and special edition look really cool, but I just don't have the cash right now." The great thing is that you can get lots of comic value for just a little bit of money. Today, let's take a look at the three basic pledge levels.

The Thank You

For only one dollar, you can help support independent comic creators. It may not seem like it would make a difference, but if 2,320 people pledge a dollar each we would meet our goal.

For a $1 pledge of support you receive-

  • Our sincerest gratitude, expressed in a public forum, most likely in the printed copy of Issue One and definitely here on this website. (Or if publicity isn't your thing, then a message via Kickstarter.)
  • The Secret High-Five Code Word. Say the code word if you see Mr. Mitchell out & about and you'll get "a big old high-five." Simple silly fun.

Now it's just a guess, but I'm betting that would feel better than the convenience store coffee of the same price.

The Digital Copy

This is a great choice for any supporter of The Chronicles of the Tal Nor that lives outside of the US. Because of the cost, we can't ship internationally. With this pledge reward anyone can enjoy reading The Mines of Eyrtune anywhere they'd like.

For a pledge support of $3 you get-

  • The heartfelt thank you as mentioned above
  • The Secret High-Five Code Word
  • A PDF copy of the comic to read on your digital devices

The Print Copy

print copy.png

Now we are entering the realm of tangible, "hold it in your hands and smell the printer's ink" rewards. At the Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo in July, a limited run of copies sold for five dollars each. For a pledge of two more dollars our Kickstarter backers get so much more.

For a $7 donation pledge you will receive in thanks-

  • The heartfelt thank you.
  • The Secret High-Five Code
  • A printed copy of Issue One, featuring the official cover art by artist Kelsea Jewell
  • Your comic will be signed by author T. Perran Mitchell

And (drumroll please...) BUTTONS! To celebrate a big pledge over the weekend, every pledge of $7 or more will include three buttons! They can be pinned to you bag, given as gifts, or even worn proudly on your shirt to proclaim your support of our comic series. A new button design will be revealed daily over at www.tal-nor.com/ks as we count down to the end of our drive.

And Finally...

Every little contribution is a lot. Every little contribution means a lot. We couldn't do this without you.

Thank you.

-Ed.

 

So What Is it About?

Whenever you tell someone you're working on any sort of writing project, the first question they usually ask is, "So what's it about?" I know that in our Kickstarter video we said it's a secret. However, I'm going to be a little naughty and share.

At its most basic, The Chronicles of the Tal Nor is a fantasy police procedural.* That means something happens, the audience follows the investigators as they investigate, the incident gets resolved and everyone goes home. Rinse and repeat.

If you watch television at all, the procedural is a familiar format. Law & Order, CSI and Dragnet all follow it. (Arguments could also be made for Buffy the Vampire Slayer.) Our comic takes place in a fantasy setting, though, so we have less Kevlar and more chainmail.

While we're on the subject of fantasy, you should know that this world is not another Tolkien-based setting. You won't find any elves, dwarves, or orcs here. There's no one species that is Always Chaotic Evil.** Some Kallethax are the bad guys in issue one, but if some Kallethaxian civilian gets hit by an arrow while walking down the street, you better believe our lawfolk are going to find out who did it.

Oh, and in issue three, there just might be a cloud city of talking squirrels.

That's the basics of what this comic series is about. As for issue one itself I will say this: some townspeople go missing, our investigator gets overconfident, and the situation quickly goes sideways. The fastest way to find out what happens would be to donate to our Kickstarter over at www.tal-nor.com/ks - Otherwise, there will be a bit of a wait.

This has been a Letter From Your Editor.

Thanks.

footnotes-

* Saying "fantasy police procedural" always makes me think of a strange fantasy sports league that has tv characters for players. Like, "I really wanted Kate Beckett and Lester Freamon to round out my team this year, but jeez, the draft was not kind to me."

** TvTropes is an unparalleled time-sink. Enter at your own risk.