Starting Fresh in 2010

Last year was far from spectacular for me, as the weak North American economy severely hindered my ability to acquire new clients and hold on to the ones I already had. A few of them went bankrupt or had to lay-off staff (that would be me) just to stay afloat. Because of that, I didn't have the money to put out a second issue of The Black Tower webcomic series which, to date, has well over 20,000 fans world wide (thanks to all of you for your continuing loyalty and interest in the project). In August, a gorgeous Emmy winning actor I'd been dating off and on for the past three years decided to try and get back with the wife he separated from nearly a decade ago (bummer, man). Then, in October, I lost my beloved pet bunny to a brutally painful chronic illness. In November, I inexplicably started to lose weight which, in the grand scheme of things, is actually a good thing considering I've tipped the scales at 188 lbs. for the past 15 years. But the dramatic loss of 23 lbs. in six weeks left me feeling weak, tired and dizzy all the time. Now that my dress size has gone down four notches, absolutely nothing in my closet fits me anymore.

As you can see, 2009 sucked big time!

But things are a little better now, both personally and professionally. I have a small stable of financially secure clients who pay me on time, and a promise from the editor in chief of a highly respectable L.A. based comic book publisher to seriously consider any comic book series ideas I might pitch him in the months ahead (just not The Black Tower, unfortunately). This man is an industry veteran, on the same level as Brian K. Vaughan, Geoff Johns and Jimmy Palmiotti, so I feel deeply honoured that he approached me with this wonderful, totally unexpected invitation to pitch him new ideas for potential development in late 2010/early 2011. More news on that later.

Also, after 14 years of trying desperately to earn a living in Ottawa's so-called film & television industry, I finally decided to give up and seek out new opportunities in Toronto, where many of my industry friends have made a decent living, despite the recent downturn in film & television production across the country.

I'm healthy (well, I have a cavity that needs to be taken care of). My two cats and two bunnies are healthy (considering their age). I'm exploring new job prospects in Toronto and I have a strong support system of friends, family and fans who all wish me well.

And so the year 2010 begins with so much hope and promise.