Francavilla’s Orson Welles

It’s been three long years since I commissioned Francesco Francavilla to illustrate a cover for THE BROADCAST. Three years!! That’s a long time, especially in comics. They’ve two Harry Potter movies in that time, I think.

I’m sure Francesco reached a point where he assumed it wasn’t going to come out. Part of me thinks he probably forgot about it all together. Anyway, I was ecstatic to send him an e-mail a while back to let him know we finally had a publisher and the gorgeous piece he did was going to see print.

To celebrate the book’s debut next month, Francesco did a new piece over on his Pulp Sunday blog that features Orson Welles. I’ve already requested a print. I’ve pasted it below, but I highly suggest everyone take a look at his blog. He is incredibly talented and is a future star in comics. We’re going to work together someday… he just doesn’t know it yet.

“Your Broadcast” Writing Contest

Some of you may have seen this over at Major Spoilers, but I wanted to make sure and post it here as well…

Hobbs and Tuazon Launch “Your Broadcast” Writing Contest

In 1938, Orson Welles used fake news bulletins to convince more than one million Americans the Earth was being invaded by visitors from the planet Mars. Most were outraged when Welles eventually stepped out of character and revealed the elaborate ruse, but everyone was relieved.

Almost everyone, that is.

Coming from NBM and already named one of the “hottest graphic novels of summer” by GraphicnNovelReporter.com, THE BROACAST is about a rural Indiana town that loses power halfway through the infamous radio play having never learned the so-called attack is a hoax. Fearing the worst is upon them, four diverse families band together in an effort to make it through the night. But tensions build, as differences surface, and it isn’t long before everyone involved realizes they have as much to fear from each other as they do the “alien invasion” heading their way.

In anticipation of the book’s release, writer Eric Hobbs and Harvey-nominated artist Noel Tuazon are launching the “Your Broadcast” Writing Contest where one winning writer will receive a signed copy of THE BROADCAST along with an original piece of art based on their story.

“I’ve always been fascinated by that night,” Hobbs explained. “Not only by the stuff that happened with Orson… but by the events that took place all across the country. There are thousands of true stories but an endless number of stories writers can tell.”

Interested writers are asked to submit short stories that take place on the night of Welles’ infamous WAR OF THE WORLDS broadcast. Hobbs will read the entries, and Tuazon will create an 11X17 sketch that serves as a depiction of the winning story.

“Noel’s work is perfect for a project like this,” Hobbs continued. “Forget the signed book. Someone’s going to get a beautiful piece of art for their wall by one of comic’s most unique talents.”

Stories should be sent as attachments to broadcastcontest@gmail.com. Entries should be no longer than 2500 words and must be received by August 30, 2010.

THE BROADCAST is available in the June issue of PREVIEWS (page 301) and can be pre-ordered using order code JUN10 1062.

Goonies of the Carribean

I’m a You Tube junkie, but when I’m writing the habit is especially bad. I’ll listen to film scores while I write or watch some of my favorite movie scenes to put myself in the mood before I start.

Lately I’ve been working on an all-ages pitch that has me really excited. I grew up on movies like Star Wars and Goonies and E.T. and Raiders and Last Starfighter and Back to the Future and… well… I could probably go on forever. For some reason we don’t see projects like these anymore. We get Hannah Montana and Paul Blart: Mall Cop, but no one seems ready to make this generation’s Goonies. Well, except for maybe me.

Anyway, in my quest for You Tube inspiration I came across this trailer mash-up. Apparently it’s been out for a while, but if I missed it, it’s possible you did too. Enjoy…

Working With Prose

Like I said in my opening post, I have a number of projects coming up in the next year or two. And while that’s extremely exciting, it can also be one of the most frustrating experiences in the world.

Being a writer in comics requires patience. A hell of a lot of patience. While I can finish the script for a graphic novel in two to three months, the artist I team with might be working on it for two to three years. I finished my first draft for The Broadcast in late 2007. It’s finally seeing print in August 2010.

That’s three freaking years!

Now, the two years that Noel was working on that thing were great. Every time he sent a new batch of pages I got to watch as my characters became living, breathing people as the story came to life on the page. it was like opening a Christmas present twice a month, every month, for two years straight.

But why’d it have to take so damn long?! Like I said, frustrating.

Anyway, in the time a comics writer spends waiting he’s likely to start playing around with other projects. In the last few months I’ve turned to writing a few short stories to pass the time while I’m waiting for art to come in. I’m not sure I’ll do anything with these, but I’d love to hear what everyone thinks as this is pretty much my first hand at prose since high school.

The first is about a dying woman who thinks her time is finally up. The second is about a young couple who’s stumbled across their dream house only to learn it is probably anything but.

Big News Coming!

I can’t announce anything yet, but I’m so excited I have to give a few hints…

It involves Awakenings.

It involves a publisher.

And it involves color.

Stay Tuned!

Next year NBM will be publishing a graphic novel I’ve written featuring artwork from Harvey-nominated artist, Noel Tuazon.

Titled THE BROADCAST, the book is about a rural Indiana town that loses power to a storm halfway through Orson Welles’ infamous WAR OF THE WORLDS radio play. Believing the worst is upon them, four diverse families band together in an effort to make it through the night. That said, differences are quick to surface, and tensions build. It isn’t long before some begin to understand that they have more to fear from each other than the “alien invasion” coming their way.

I can tell you without hesitation THE BROADCAST is my best work. I’ve taken everything I learned in writing AWAKENINGS and put it into this new book. Working with Noel has been a Godsend. I can’t tell you how often he sends me artwork that leaves me floored. You guys will be blown away when you see what he’s done. It’s like he took an old black-and-white film from the 30s and put it on the page. You’re going to love it.

This site is going to go through a number of changes in the coming months. While I’ll (likely) keep AWAKENINGS online for everyone to read, I’m going to slowly transition the site into a blog that will be used to update readers on AWAKENINGS, THE BROADCAST and the rest of my up-coming work. I’m really hoping you’ll keep us bookmarked as I will shortly begin offering some behind-the-scenes info on the new book along with an occasional short story.

We’re all sad that AWAKENINGS has come to an end, but I promise, we’re turning the page on a new chapter here. Stay tuned!