I want to write a big thank you. That said, I wish just saying ‘thank you’ felt like enough, but it never does.

This last year I found myself endlessly amazed at the support I received and continue to receive from so many of you dear readers. People who don’t know me at all, coming and reading my story. Saying such wise and supportive things time and again. And giving money to help me keep going. You people don’t know me! I never stop being stunned by this. Or grateful. I don’t know how to begin showing the gratitude that you all deserve. The only thing I can do is try to put it all into the story the best I can.

I know many of you are frustrated when someone posts a negative thing and it upsets me. And you should be rightfully so. “Lady, look at all of us. Look at what WE say and what WE do. Not them! What difference do THEY make!” Of course you are all right, and I thank you for the reminder. ^_^But I think, “why are these folks so supportive?” This is certainly not the best story. It only updates once a week. And the artist is SO WHINY. But you keep coming back. You keep saying these amazingly helpful things, telling me you love this thing I love to do so much, and I get to keep going. How do you thank people for that?

With several days left in the month, we have nearly hit the donation goal. Over fifty people came by on Monday and wrote wonderful statements of support.

I will say it again, but it’s never ever enough.

Thank you.

The only other thing I can do is keep giving you the best art and story that I am capable of- not always hitting the mark, but doing the best I can!

Chapter 5 starts on Monday.
I changed my mind again about chapter order.
So this next chapter I introduce you to some new characters, and the return of a couple others. It’s going to be a real change of pace from Claude hugging his mommy, I promise you.

Mwah ha.

Thank you everyone!
Love,
~B

Someone thinks I’m lazy. And I’ve deleted the link to their site though. Becuase are starting to spew some really nasty- REALLY nasty- crap- about me, or at least about this woman that they think I am when they don’t even know who I am, and I don’t want my readers to link to it. Here is the original quote from the site.

“So, basically… Boo hoo, I’m a single mom, and I don’t want to work, so give me money so I can stay home with my kids and draw!!

I guess it just bothers me when people don’t want to work. I’ve been working my ass off for years, and I don’t LIKE to work… but it’s something adults do. Why should some people get a free ride while others have to bite the bullet and get a job?”

That said, I must apologize as well. In a fit of anger about this thread I posted something here that I didn’t mean to- got way too carried away. I have now deleted it.

But… I will NOT be called lazy.

Just wanted to establish that. Now, I’m going to go bake Christmas cookies with my two children that I love and chose to have and am thankful for. Then, I will work after 10PM. Cause I’m just that lazy. ^_^

Thank you to those of you who are so supportive.

~B

It’s snowing in Iowa. Sigh. And so it goes.

What a short year. Personally, in some ways I am in a very different place this November, but in a very frustratingly similar place in other ways.

One year ago, I was recovering from a disasterous outcome of tests to my strength and discovery of my limitations. I was also finding out that the last safety net I thought I had never really existed after all; a final chilling discovery that I am truly alone. And my heart was broken again. The only thing I could do however, was get back up, dust myself off, and move on.

And I moved on into something I always wanted to do. I truly started my own business, and even now, it’s still going. Sometimes I look at it and wonder why and even HOW? but it is going!
I got a new car. I took off some weight. MAde time to go do things with friends. In fact I did everything I listed in my New Years resolutions. While this is a premature statement, 2008 was in some ways a successful year for me.

And yet, I’m still struggling with the biggest demon of all. That alone thing. It’s gotten a bit worse- and I find myself showing symptoms of bitterness. Anger of course is the gate keeper to the soft underbelly of pain, and she has moved with her blades flying to stand guard - unfortunately, not letting anyone in, or even allowing me to let anything out.

Except for art. That’s the only place. I realized that Xylia was actually the only place that I could allow myself to take in or give out any love. I know there are those casual readers who will read that last sentence and say ‘WTF? Xylia? It’s just a dumb webcomic!’ But there are those of you, dear friends of Xylia who I hope know what I mean. And accept the story for where it comes from in me.

Monday I will be posting a link and announcing the rebirth of one of my favorite webcomics from a couple years ago- O31: incredible, sexy artwork and a really great gal who creates it as well. I’m also going to start doing some Monday mini reviews of some comics I enjoy, and I’ll be talking about Marooned, a webcomic I’ve mentioned before, but want to mention again- it’s quirky, unique and fun, and Tom is such a great guy he deserves the press!!

Speaking of sexy artwork- if you haven’t checked out the vote incentive, you might want to. Not sure why some of you couldn’t see Minxy Xylia, I was able to … but now we have art that panders to us ladies. He’s not wearing no clothes, but you know me. I’m tasteful. Of course. But it’s an unusual image- one of those concepty things I had to draw… they always end up being my favorites.
“Is he dead? Is this real? Oh look, a happy trail. ^_^ Is he…”
You just gotta go see, now don’t ya? THANK YOU for getting Xylia in the top ten!! I have to admit a personal goal of mine was to elevate Xylia above Pronquest, and we succeeded. ^_^

WOW! Putting up the occasional vote incentive seems to work, eh? Thanks to your votes, you have vaulted Xylia into position 19 on the TWC list. Good job!! Monday will be a new one- I think I will post one of the more peculiar images that may make you say, “What IS this? WTH?”. I will say that there is a nude of Xylia in the sketches that I will post eventually. As usual, it is tasteful and not showing anything blatantly, but it is a nude.

Sarah had asked for a visual on Xyl’s dress on the latest update of Nigel. Here’s a very rough doodle.

I did a fan art for my pal, Chip Skelton the creator of the wonderful work, Broken. You can see that
here.

And our contest winner will finally make an appearance in about two updates, so stay tuned! A little later than I planned, but she is coming very soon!

See ya Monday!

~B