Archive for the ‘collected’ Category

Reflections Issue Four – Out Now.

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

The new issue of ‘Reflections’ is now available!

The Winter 2010 edition features a fab colour cover by graphic novelist Adam Grose, who also gives us a graphic short story inside the magazine.

There’s fiction by Ben Tallamy, Laura Quigley and Matthew Banks, and poetry by Juliet Warry, Steve Smith, Matt Ashford, Matthew Turner, Ruth Butler and Carly Lightfoot, plus artwork by Emma-Jane Lewis.

‘Reflections’ is on sale in Exeter at Martian Records and Electric Gypsy for the price of £4.00, and by mail order from me at £4.50- email me for details. Or I’m sure I can be found in town at some point with a couple of copies in my pocket!

If you get a copy from Martian or Gypsy could you let me know so I know when to restock them- also all feedback is welcomed.

Contact me (Steve Smith) at http://www.exeterrelfections.co.uk

2012 Anthology

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009


I recently wrote a five page story for Cold Blooded Chillers called VEILS, for Robert Heske’s 2012 anthology book. I wrote the story and forwarded onto Tony Suleri, who would be drawing the strip, hoping we would be accepted for publication. Yesterday I received news that our tale was accepted and will now appear in the anthology later in the year. This news was received with big smiles and I can’t wait to see the results. Contracts have been signed and forwarded onto Bob and I look forward to seeing the finished book. More details can be seen here.

2012 Anthology

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009


I recently wrote a five page story for Cold Blooded Chillers called VEILS, for Robert Heske’s 2012 anthology book. I wrote the story and forwarded onto Tony Suleri, who would be drawing the strip, hoping we would be accepted for publication. Yesterday I received news that our tale was accepted and will now appear in the anthology later in the year. This news was received with big smiles and I can’t wait to see the results. Contracts have been signed and forwarded onto Bob and I look forward to seeing the finished book. More details can be seen here.

Cosmogenesis update and preview art.

Thursday, August 2nd, 2007

After many weeks of checking the latest proof copy of ‘cosmogenesis‘, I am nearing the end of checking the grammar and re-writes. I can see why so many people work on a comic book now; considering all the jobs which need to be done. Yet all of these have been done by myself. I will be glad to get back to doing some drawing, after not having done any for the last seven weeks.

I would like to share with you all some preview pages from the cosmogenesis book, something to wet your appetites in readiness to its release. I have also been negotiating with Waterstones and Gardners distributors, getting all that is required to get my books into the bookstores.

BACKGROUND

For most of you who will be visiting these pages, this will be the first time you have come across my story. So I will take this opportunity to share with you the plot outline (I shall write up a full synopsis later this week).

The story is set within another time and place, in a galaxy not so far removed from our own, yet resides in a higher dimensional reality. The premiss comes from an idea that there are many civilisations out there in the milky way, yet we can not see them, because our reality is on a lower plane of vibration.

As we approach higher vibrational frequency, through the natural evolution of the galaxy, we begin to become aware of other Species and Civilisations which inhabit the same space. We have waited for our DNA to evolve, switching on and tuning in; opening up our ‘minds’ to other frequencies of light and understanding.

Light carries image and image is information. As new light is entering our reality (photons) during our current age, so the rate of information is therefore increasing. Our awareness of the greater design is also expanding into new realms of thought.

I had begun to compose a theory, through research acquired over the years, looking at Myths and Legends and how these ideas found their way into our classic stories and comic books based on Mysticism, Alchemy, Wicca, Spiritualism, Shamanism, Buddhism and other concepts from the East (these began to show relationships between what the scientists were understanding and what mystics and shamans had already revealed).

Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Judge Dredd.

Modern myths played out from the ancient times.

In 1997 a book called ‘Fingerprints of the Gods’ by Graham Hancock expanded my mind to other possibilities about our Universe and how history may not be the way it was taught in school and on tell-a-vision.

Could our Uni-verse be evolving into a Multi-verse?

Other books began to follow, which I read with an open mind;

  • The Hermetica – Thoth
  • The Twelfth Planet – Z. Sitchen
  • Hall of the Gods – Nigel Appleby
  • Mayan Prophecies – Maurice Cotterell

  • Tutankhamen Prophecies – Maurice Cotterell

  • The Holographic Universe – Michael Talbot
  • Robots Rebellion – David Icke

  • Worlds in Collision – Velikovsy
  • The Bible
  • The Quran
  • The Crystal Skulls
  • Hamlets Mill
  • Hero of with a Thousand Faces – Joseph Campbell

    and many more.

Hamlets Mill revealed that many of our Myths and Legends retain information passed down through the ages, from generation to generation, preserving scientific knowledge of events that happened in the ancient past for future generations to understand and be(a)ware of.

IN THE BEGINNING…

In 1998 I had a phone call from Tony wondering if I would like to write a story. I took up the challenge and began the construction of the cosmogenesis saga. I knew it would be an epic story and in effect, creating a sci-fi mythological tale. I began in earnest, working from some designs sent to me from Tony, involving a Simian. I liked the idea of the protagonist being an ape, considering that I have always believed Humans were born from Homo-Erectus apes. No missing links here. One day early ape-woman gave birth to the modern Homo-Sapiens through the manipulation of DNA (From energies/ frequencies of the Universe). This was to be one of the main plot lines of the story. I planned out the story, spliting it into six parts, then I began constructing the first book and drawing out all the layouts to ‘The Skull of Muluc‘.

The layouts were then passed onto Tony to draw up as the finished artwork. I then disappeared around the world for an eight month journey, visiting many of the places I had read about.

THE CHRONICLES OF QUONGOPlotline.

The whole story reveals a galaxy coming to the end of a great cycle of time. A time which would bring about a shift in consciousness in each individual and bring about the return of ‘Those of Many.’

Like many myths, my story involved a prophecy, foretold to reveal that an alternative future would come about, bringing balance to the United Realms of Nom-Yakk.

This would play out over a time period of a few years in the six books, and Quongo, our protagonist, would become more aware of himself and who he is as the series developed. He would eventually fight against an old enemy, Kazair, returning his spirit back to the Godhead Kai-Dai, an Androgyny. This concept is borrowed from many ancient belief systems including Indian and Greek.

During the course of the story, many characters would play their part in the Grand Design, fulfilling and helping to complete the cycle. Through the characters Spinkey, Agourus, Susu, Guardian Lord Ahau, Princess Imix, Quongo would become aware of his role. Each believed they were in control of their own lives and intent, that they had choice, when in reality they were fulfilling Kai-Dai’s plan for the evolution of the galaxy and the bringing together of the various dimensions of reality.

Something the Mayans believe will happen at some future date.

The first book was published in 2001. I had gone to the Bristol Comic Convention, held at the Watershed, hoping to find a table to place my book on. At the time I didn’t know how to go about getting a table. In the end, I was a little cheeky. By the entrance into the room with all the big industry publishers I found a load of cardboard boxes, all folded neatly. I made them up and constructed a table out of them, placing the books on there. To my surprise I began to sell quite a few that day.

Finally, Tony and I had created a story that was now being bought and read by many who came that day. This gave me the confidence that there was an audience out there for independent books.

I began the follow up books ‘Bloodlines’, ‘The Sword of Xian’, ‘Armageddon’, ‘The Shadow Falls’ and ‘Rebirth’, refining the story as it evolved over the next five years, bringing each book out each subsequent year.

During this time, thanks to the growing Internet and learning all that I needed to know about desktop publishing, building a network of friends within the Independent and Small Press community, I have witnessed the Small Press communities exponential growth each year.

Since 2001, Clown Press has been making and selling books and over the last six years we have seen the ‘cosmogenesis‘ story reach its conclusion and seeing it become one complete book, as originally intended.

The series has received many reviews over the years, especially from Redeye Magazine, set up by Barry Renshaw from Engine comics. Having so much backing from Barry and Shane Chebney, who have tirelessly been promoting the Independent and small press community over the last seven years have helped many of us reach a wider audience. Promoting learning, sharing and bringing comics to the wider community. Long may it all continue!

Join me next week for part two, where I shall talk more about ‘cosmogenesis‘, the future of Clown Press and our Twentieth Anniversary (1987 -2007).

Thank you

Ad. x

Cosmogenesis update and preview art.

Thursday, August 2nd, 2007

After many weeks of checking the latest proof copy of ‘cosmogenesis‘, I am nearing the end of checking the grammar and re-writes. I can see why so many people work on a comic book now; considering all the jobs which need to be done. Yet all of these have been done by myself. I will be glad to get back to doing some drawing, after not having done any for the last seven weeks.

I would like to share with you all some preview pages from the cosmogenesis book, something to wet your appetites in readiness to its release. I have also been negotiating with Waterstones and Gardners distributors, getting all that is required to get my books into the bookstores.

BACKGROUND

For most of you who will be visiting these pages, this will be the first time you have come across my story. So I will take this opportunity to share with you the plot outline (I shall write up a full synopsis later this week).

The story is set within another time and place, in a galaxy not so far removed from our own, yet resides in a higher dimensional reality. The premiss comes from an idea that there are many civilisations out there in the milky way, yet we can not see them, because our reality is on a lower plane of vibration.

As we approach higher vibrational frequency, through the natural evolution of the galaxy, we begin to become aware of other Species and Civilisations which inhabit the same space. We have waited for our DNA to evolve, switching on and tuning in; opening up our ‘minds’ to other frequencies of light and understanding.

Light carries image and image is information. As new light is entering our reality (photons) during our current age, so the rate of information is therefore increasing. Our awareness of the greater design is also expanding into new realms of thought.

I had begun to compose a theory, through research acquired over the years, looking at Myths and Legends and how these ideas found their way into our classic stories and comic books based on Mysticism, Alchemy, Wicca, Spiritualism, Shamanism, Buddhism and other concepts from the East (these began to show relationships between what the scientists were understanding and what mystics and shamans had already revealed).

Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Judge Dredd.

Modern myths played out from the ancient times.

In 1997 a book called ‘Fingerprints of the Gods’ by Graham Hancock expanded my mind to other possibilities about our Universe and how history may not be the way it was taught in school and on tell-a-vision.

Could our Uni-verse be evolving into a Multi-verse?

Other books began to follow, which I read with an open mind;

  • The Hermetica – Thoth
  • The Twelfth Planet – Z. Sitchen
  • Hall of the Gods – Nigel Appleby
  • Mayan Prophecies – Maurice Cotterell

  • Tutankhamen Prophecies – Maurice Cotterell

  • The Holographic Universe – Michael Talbot
  • Robots Rebellion – David Icke

  • Worlds in Collision – Velikovsy
  • The Bible
  • The Quran
  • The Crystal Skulls
  • Hamlets Mill
  • Hero of with a Thousand Faces – Joseph Campbell

    and many more.

Hamlets Mill revealed that many of our Myths and Legends retain information passed down through the ages, from generation to generation, preserving scientific knowledge of events that happened in the ancient past for future generations to understand and be(a)ware of.

IN THE BEGINNING…

In 1998 I had a phone call from Tony wondering if I would like to write a story. I took up the challenge and began the construction of the cosmogenesis saga. I knew it would be an epic story and in effect, creating a sci-fi mythological tale. I began in earnest, working from some designs sent to me from Tony, involving a Simian. I liked the idea of the protagonist being an ape, considering that I have always believed Humans were born from Homo-Erectus apes. No missing links here. One day early ape-woman gave birth to the modern Homo-Sapiens through the manipulation of DNA (From energies/ frequencies of the Universe). This was to be one of the main plot lines of the story. I planned out the story, spliting it into six parts, then I began constructing the first book and drawing out all the layouts to ‘The Skull of Muluc‘.

The layouts were then passed onto Tony to draw up as the finished artwork. I then disappeared around the world for an eight month journey, visiting many of the places I had read about.

THE CHRONICLES OF QUONGOPlotline.

The whole story reveals a galaxy coming to the end of a great cycle of time. A time which would bring about a shift in consciousness in each individual and bring about the return of ‘Those of Many.’

Like many myths, my story involved a prophecy, foretold to reveal that an alternative future would come about, bringing balance to the United Realms of Nom-Yakk.

This would play out over a time period of a few years in the six books, and Quongo, our protagonist, would become more aware of himself and who he is as the series developed. He would eventually fight against an old enemy, Kazair, returning his spirit back to the Godhead Kai-Dai, an Androgyny. This concept is borrowed from many ancient belief systems including Indian and Greek.

During the course of the story, many characters would play their part in the Grand Design, fulfilling and helping to complete the cycle. Through the characters Spinkey, Agourus, Susu, Guardian Lord Ahau, Princess Imix, Quongo would become aware of his role. Each believed they were in control of their own lives and intent, that they had choice, when in reality they were fulfilling Kai-Dai’s plan for the evolution of the galaxy and the bringing together of the various dimensions of reality.

Something the Mayans believe will happen at some future date.

The first book was published in 2001. I had gone to the Bristol Comic Convention, held at the Watershed, hoping to find a table to place my book on. At the time I didn’t know how to go about getting a table. In the end, I was a little cheeky. By the entrance into the room with all the big industry publishers I found a load of cardboard boxes, all folded neatly. I made them up and constructed a table out of them, placing the books on there. To my surprise I began to sell quite a few that day.

Finally, Tony and I had created a story that was now being bought and read by many who came that day. This gave me the confidence that there was an audience out there for independent books.

I began the follow up books ‘Bloodlines’, ‘The Sword of Xian’, ‘Armageddon’, ‘The Shadow Falls’ and ‘Rebirth’, refining the story as it evolved over the next five years, bringing each book out each subsequent year.

During this time, thanks to the growing Internet and learning all that I needed to know about desktop publishing, building a network of friends within the Independent and Small Press community, I have witnessed the Small Press communities exponential growth each year.

Since 2001, Clown Press has been making and selling books and over the last six years we have seen the ‘cosmogenesis‘ story reach its conclusion and seeing it become one complete book, as originally intended.

The series has received many reviews over the years, especially from Redeye Magazine, set up by Barry Renshaw from Engine comics. Having so much backing from Barry and Shane Chebney, who have tirelessly been promoting the Independent and small press community over the last seven years have helped many of us reach a wider audience. Promoting learning, sharing and bringing comics to the wider community. Long may it all continue!

Join me next week for part two, where I shall talk more about ‘cosmogenesis‘, the future of Clown Press and our Twentieth Anniversary (1987 -2007).

Thank you

Ad. x