Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Flist - The Bloggers Art Show

On Friday, October 5th at 7PM-2AM, there will be an opening reception for Flist. Our pal, Ray Frenden, will have some work in this puppy. The show will be at the Happy Dog Gallery at 1542 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.

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100th Post


Erin at Elaine's wedding reception in the Masonic Lodge

For my 100th post, I thought I would show you my favorite picture this year. The photo is of my great-niece, Erin, at my sister's wedding this summer in Jackson, MS. It was 110º outside, but she was serene, beautiful, and collected. We were lucky enough to see Erin and her family here in Chicago this summer and we hope to see them all again real soon. We had a blast.

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Sunday, September 23, 2007

Hollywood Valadon


The Valadon Hotel in Hollywood


The stained glass entrance to the Valadon

Last week was a fun and productive trip to Los Angeles with Dave and Denise Dorman. Dave was there to record a voiceover to his upcoming instructional DVD from the Gnomon Workshop. It will teach you to paint the Dave Dorman way. Buy it.

Denise and I went for moral support and to make as many contacts as possible for The Devil's Candy Store. We had great introductory meetings with agents and a couple of movie studios. Plus, we got some excellent feedback from Stone Perales and Travis Bourbeau (of Gnomon).

We went to visit an old friend of Dave and Denise, Dan Roebuck, and had an amazing tour of Dr. Shocker's House of Horror!

My most Hollywood moment on the trip came while I was making phone calls by the rooftop pool on a beautiful LA afternoon. It was luxurious and decadent. As I sat there, staff brought by complimentary shrimp and drinks. Ahh.


The pool view over the city

Stone Perales came to visit us for dinner one night and had the good fortune of having his car towed from right in front of the hotel. We bonded that night in ways one only can when trying to find the tow lot at midnight in a strange city.

And we had a excellent breakfast before we left with Craig Elliott and Amy at the Grove.


Best Desk Clerk in the World - Agnes

Our stay at the Valadon (soon to be renamed as the 'Petite Ermitage') was met with the epitome of customer service from their staff. The beautiful, charming, helpful, and patient Agnes held down the front desk daily performing tasks for us that had no limit. And they gave away chocolate chip cookies 24 hours a day.

The hotel is just off of Sunset. If you were to stumble out of the Viper Room in a drug-induced stupor you would roll down the hill outside and land in the hotel foyer with a lucky bounce off a parked car on Palm.

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Monday, September 17, 2007

Summer Where I Live

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Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Spectrum 15

Devil extraordinaire, Dave Dorman will be on the Spectrum 15 jury this year.


Art by Marc Gabbana

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Monday, September 03, 2007

Devils Win

Every time I turn around, another artist involved with The Devil's Candy Store is being honored by the industry for their work.


The 2007 Hugo Award

Once again, congratulations are in order for Donata Giancola for winning the 2007 Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist. Donato won this Hugo last year in 2006, as well.

The 2007 Hugo Award for Best Novel went to Vernor Vinge for Rainbow's End, which happened to have a cover by Stephan Martiniere. Stephan was also nominated this year for the Best Professional Artist category.


Kristina, Stephan Martiniere, and Donato Giancola at SDCC 07

Speaking of Stephan, he won the 2007 Chesley Award for Best Cover Illustration - Hardback: (for Pyr’s edition of River of Gods by Ian McDonald). Two other Devils were nominated along with Stephan in this category: Jon Foster (for "The Demon and the City" by Liz Williams) and Donato (for "The Thirteenth House" by Sharon Shinn).


Jon Foster and Denise Dorman at SDCC 2007

AND - Donato won the 2007 Chesley Award for Best Unpublished Monochrome: “Red Sonya”.

PLUS - Michael Kaluta was nominated for the Chesley Best Interior Illustration for “The Orphan’s Tales: In the Night Garden” by Catherine M. Valente.

Congrats to all!

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