Finished + Chocolate

Well… that’s it! It’s done! (More or less!) I need to settle on a blurb for the back cover, and edit a couple of pages, but really they’re very minor tweaks. I finished on Friday 11th February, at 2am in the morning after an epic final battle that lasted 18 hours, in which time I ate maybe three bowls of cereal and did not go to the toilet. Paul, bless him deeply, stayed up with me until the end. By the time the last page rolled around, we played Chariots of Fire on Spotify, repeatedly, until I saved my files in PS for the last time. Then I had a vimto and gin (Ginto? Anyway, we had no tonic) and a further bowl of cereal, I cried a bit, and then went to sleep. And didn’t really move for the next 24 hours XD

Because I pulled many ridiculous days over the past few weeks, and like, I’ve not even been getting dressed, and just sitting still for hours upon hours on end, I’ve actually given myself chilblains XD Protip: wear socks and make sure you move around when completing your comics, folks.

So anyway, here’s the final cover (minus blurb):

And I thought I’d share the title plates as well for each story:

So how do I feel about it? “Fucking relieved” comes to mind. The Cherry Tree is something I’ve been working on and off with since university, which was a good few years back now… like, 2004 or so? The Piper Man is the most recent, as I’m sure I’ve mentioned somewhere before, but even that’s been sitting around, a half-finished script, some character desgns, etc., for about three or four years. Completing Matryoshka feels like I’ve exorcised something. That story has been through the wringer.

The entire book means a lot to me. I mean, really. Finishing it was extremely emotional, and if you’ve been in contact with me in the last few months or so, I’m likely to have been a bit moody… sorry about that ^^; With finishing those final pages, I feel like I have achieved one of my life’s goals, and I feel very, very lucky to have been able to do so in my twenties.

I also feel like I’ve stuck it to a few people, you know. People who have said I could never make comics for a living, that I should really think about getting a “real” job; people who have laughed in my face when I’ve told them what my passions are and what I do… and, most especially, when I was sick for several years and the doctors told me and my family I should “just give up” the idea of being an artist, as it would never likely happen because I could never lead a normal life and it would be best for me to forget about it all. So fuck you, doc! Not only did I get better, I’m doing what I always told you I would do, and what I told everyone I would do. I didn’t give in. So there!

So now! I need to do those final checks, and get this baby off to the printers. I’m as yet unsure how long it will be before I get my product, but I’m guessing it’ll be around 2 – 5 weeks from now. Fuck knows where I’m going to put 300 of these things. In the office, I guess! You guys gotta help me out by buying them all!! XD

Fish + Chocolate aside, things have actually been going quite well recently. I hope to be able to chime into this blog again soon with some nice news ^_^b And of course, details and purchasing info for the book~!

Lastly – huge, huge, HUGE, HUUUUUGE thanks to everyone who has shown me kindness and support (and given me confidence to continue instead of just collapsing into a self-loathing ball) thoughout this project. If I could try and explain how much it meant to me… but I think I’m too inadequate a writer to attempt an explanation… just thank you, thank you…

    • Mac
    • February 14th, 2011 2:03pm

    Wow, well done Kate :D That’s incredible. You’ve done it. Nice one! x

    • Lisa Curtis
    • February 14th, 2011 2:14pm

    You’ve done SUCH an amazing job, I am sooooooooo excited to own one of these beauties! Massive love from L&D and the kitties! x

    P.S. I would like a Gimto.

      • Kate
      • February 21st, 2011 11:30am

      YAY! :D Gimtos (Gimtoes?) all round!

  1. Massive massive hugs to you, hon. We’re all so proud of you and I can’t wait to see this baby in the flesh/paper/thing :)

      • Kate
      • February 21st, 2011 11:30am

      To you too! You’ve got a great year ahead of you!! :D WOOP!

    • Jio
    • February 14th, 2011 2:33pm

    You’ve done an absolutely fantastic job, and although it is very hard to be an artist as a profession these days you have pulled through and that shows extraordinary dedication. Well done!

      • Kate
      • February 21st, 2011 11:31am

      *huge hugs* Thank you, and thank you, and THANK YOU! :D

    • John
    • February 14th, 2011 2:54pm

    SO well done! Congratulations!
    But you’ll have to trim this post down or they’ll get bored at the Eisner ceremony.
    ~John~

      • Kate
      • February 21st, 2011 11:32am

      HURR HURR XD
      P.S. Counting on your honest opinion of this book.

  2. Wow – looks amazing! Congratulations and well done!

      • Kate
      • February 21st, 2011 11:32am

      Hey, thanks Dave!! Hope to see you son… MCM Expo maybe? Hope your work is going well!!

    • Ewan
    • February 14th, 2011 5:12pm

    Well done, and yeh, totally with you on the ‘screw you I’m going to do this for a living’ thing. Still, 300 books? Try 1,000 CDs, or soon to be about 2,000. Hal keeps them under his desk at work!

    If you want someone to proof-read I’d be up for it, I’m well good at that, would be cool to come and see you some time, I need to give your BSG boxset back and pick Paul’s (well, and yours perhaps) brains about something.

      • Kate
      • February 21st, 2011 11:33am

      Oh my god! Haha! Where does Hal put his feets…! Still, I’m sure you guys’ll sell them pretty fast ;)
      Dude, lemme email you re visits, would be nice to see you!

    • Nana
    • February 14th, 2011 11:15pm

    Gorgeous!!!
    SO WELL DONE HON!! You’ve pulled through and done an incredible job of it! I feel so proud to know you~!! <3<3
    This looks absolutely amazing and I can't wait to get my hands on it!

      • Kate
      • February 21st, 2011 11:34am

      NANAAAAAAAA! Thank you! Looking forward to seeing you at Expo or sooner…!! x

  3. W00t!! It is awesome and complete ^__^ Well done! I can’t wait to see it printed!

    • han
    • February 15th, 2011 11:38am

    KATE-U! KATE-U ICHIBAN! You did it, you crazy diamond! I would like to buy a copy and I would like you to draw a bowl of cereal in it. I’m waving my debit card in the air as I type this. WELL DONE WOMAN KATE!

    • Joanna Zhou
    • February 15th, 2011 11:40am

    Congrats Kate, this book looks amazing!!! Now go enjoy a well earned break XD!

      • Kate
      • February 21st, 2011 11:28am

      Thank you sweetie!! Omg I’m trying to get used to weekends and so on again… it’s so odd, haha!!

  4. Huge congratulations Kate – I’m delighted for you, and impressed.

    Can totally relate after the exhaustion and overwhelm of finishing my book xxx

      • Kate
      • February 21st, 2011 11:28am

      Woah! Hey dude, nice to hear from you! How’s it going? Books are such tough shit… but the feeling you get out of finishing them, finally, is GOOD! Hope you got the good feeling too! x

    • cheewee
    • February 26th, 2011 11:24pm

    Arrghhhh freakin’ SWEEEEEET!!! bit late here, but shit man, well done!! that is so cool, I’m well chuffed for you. I wanna book!!! :D:D:D YEEEEAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

    • thanks chee!! Can’t wait to see you @ Expo! (Or Bristol…?)

  1. February 14th, 2011