I’ve gotten some nice comments and congrats on my starting Chapter 2 of Wander of Dicebox. Believe you me, no one is more thrilled than I.

In the decade (or so) that I’ve lived with Dicebox, (though not always under that name) I’ve written Chapter 1 five times, and now drawn it three times.

The first scripted and drawn version was a rough inked layout, done about nine years ago. I was trying things out, seeing what I thought about the story and approach. Apparently not much, since I put it down for a few years.

Dicebox was always vaguely with me and would bubble out once in awhile to result in new scripts, sketching and so forth. Things started to get really serious again for me about five years ago when I finally realized the name of the story was Dicebox and I began to plot and outline the four books.

Then, about three years ago, I drew Chapter 1 for the second time. It was pretty close the version that you can now read online. As I thought I was going to print it, Chapter 1 was edited down to fit printing concerns. And it was inked, badly. It was okay but flawed and cramped.

With going the route of the web, I was able to restore much of the chapter—this being the third time I drew Chapter 1. Going back to then original script and executing the art in a way that I had more mastery over has made Chapter 1: Pre-ramble much more satisfying for me.

So now that I’ve begun Chapter 2: Fair Weather, I feel like I’m making some real progress.

It’s become a different story over the years, though the characters remain the same. (okay , Molly’s name has changed a few times) Actually, I’m surprised by what has remained the same—many aspects of of Chapters 2 and 3, in fact.

But it all means something else. Especially now that more than just ten of my nearest and dearest are reading it. Many, many more. And that really helps, especially since some of you are “unforgiving” about my sporadic updates (really, you are all such gentle nags).

Took some time tonight to go the Red and Black Cafe and see Eric Drooker give a slide show in promotion of his new graphic novel, Blood Song. (Those in Portland can get a copy at Reading Frenzy, who co-sponsored the event)

Anyway, Eric was great and as the Q&A turned mostly to politics—not unusual given the locale and the speaker– so I waited til after Kevin had handed Eric a chapbook of In Contempt to ask a predictable question: “How often has your work been compared to Lynd Ward?” Not as predictable as I thought.

Apparently people rarely make the connection. He said Lynd was a huge influence, which can be seen here and here (Eric’s own site, www.drooker.com, seems to be down) Eric sounded a little bitter that no one seem to know of Lynd Ward, I was just flabbergasted.

Ye gods and little fishies, people! Lynd Ward? Did God’s Man? Scott McCloud mentions him on page 18 of Understanding Comics? Considering all the lefty cartoonists that must go see Eric Drooker, my question should have been a downright cliché.

Kids today, I tell ya…

As I was typing up this entry, I went to my file for the Jennworks Home page and realized I hadn’t post the entry below, the one for September 30th. Though it’s “out of date” I decided to post it anyway as I had already typed it up and since this log has become a convient way for friends and family to keep track of my doings.

This weekend wasn’t quite as eventful as last one, though I did manage to keep myself busy.

Friday I went to see Dave Eggers (of McSweeney’s fame) read from his assorted works—my favorite, at least from a performance angle, being the letters from an Irish Setter named Steven to various CEOs. I went with some co-workers, and we learned that Dave’s favorite thing to write are the pirate bios he created to be printed on paper he’s burnt himself for the McSweeney’s Pirate Supply Store in the Mission in San Francisco.

Kip and I began Saturday with a trip to the hazardous waste dump—not as exciting as the first time we went about a year ago, carting a 5 gallon jug of ethyl alchol and three car battries that the previous tenants had let behind. Then there was more cleaning and organizing of the basement before attending Mim’s Intellectual Love-in and then a now ex-coworker’s dinner party. Very low key, very fun.

Sunday there was more mellow socializing and, for me, much drawing. I’ve hopes of posting the first page of Chapter 2 of Dicebox by Friday, though I seem to have finalized the pencils for page 2 first. Ah well.