So, now I'm back to where it began: Mr. Slumber tormenting Owen Winston, beginning the Shift, and the beginning of the end of reality (and the prologue to a new beginning). Every step, every piece of research has led me to this point. And while the web comic will not be ready for at least a year, I'm more nervous than a teenager on their first date.
Let me explain. On the Still Shores of Sleep, as well as a few of the other Blank stories, were originally going to be novels. There were five total, featuring Mr. Slumber, The Morrigan, Jay Day and Desmond Phide, Cain, and the actual Shift. As I was writing On the Still Shores of Sleep, I realized several things, not the least being that it would be really hard to get published. An aspiring writer starting off with a very mature horror story about psychics and vampires, demons and ghosts... It stood very little chance of being the next Harry Potter, if I'm quite honest.
There was also a lot of backstory going on, so much so that it bogged the story down. It was then that I decided to make it a web comic, adding more story lines to it so I could flesh out the characters. I went from five to eighty-one stories, spanning a timeline of seven years. I added a new story arc with the First Born, a creature that scares me to even think about.
There have been many set backs, not the least being the fact that I lost my home, and barely landed on my feet. I lost most of my personal property in the process, including notes and drawings for Blank.
But, here I am, still at the precipice of starting what may be my life's greatest work, beginning the journey of these characters from where it originally started. The past four story lines have been a lot of fun to write, and a lot of pain as well. Magnum Opus, the story I just finished last night, strikes several personal chords, ranging from depression to other subjects that I will leave unmentioned for now. At the same time, there have been moments of discovery, laughter, and especially fear. There's a lot of foreshadowing that came as purely unintentional, but works.
And all I can find myself to say is thank you. Thank you to everyone who listened to me rant and rave, who supported me, gave me input, or just was there. Your support means the world to me. Now, on to the scripting!
