Well, issue #44 just rolled from press. It should be in stores within a week, and my copies will be arriving shortly.

This was a very strange issue to work on!

The script kept changing on me! This happens only very rarely. Usually, I just write away, sometimes pulling up ideas which I'd jotted down months or even years earlier. I put it all into a workable script I'm happy with and get to work at the drafting board. This time was no different except that when I was finished at the word processor, (or thought I was), and set about drawing, I found that every couple of pages I'd realize, "No, no! That's not what happens at all! The next panel should go like this!" And the story would change -not just a little- but dramatically into something else with each newly realized character reaction. It was like chasing a frisky story idea down through zigzag path with blind corners. But I kept up, and was amazed at what appeared at the end of the trail. I had no idea little Kim was going through all of that!

Partly, the reason for this was that I was having to really delve deep into the various psyches of the characters for answers, and this means looking deep into myself. As well, as often seems to happen out here in magical Nova Scotia overlooking the water, writing problems are solved simply by stepping out my front door. Life is a wonderful teacher, and as it happened, its lessons over the last couple of months helped me out nicely.

So I got it all done, and the next issue, (which is currently in process), finishes off the particular thought patterns brought up here. Quinton's relationship with Soracia will make a lot more sense in the issue after this most current one!

So there's a lot going on. --I don't think people quite knew what to make of my last comment section which tried to clear away some of the hype and hysteria surrounding Mad Cow disease. Fair enough. I'm happy just so long as the information is a little more available; I feel like I've done something to help the world.

Anyway, my most current extra-curricular project involves T-Shirts! I've budgeted for a run of Thieves & Kings T-Shirts. I figure I'll be making two, possibly three different designs available.

I've been thinking on and off about T-Shirts pretty much forever. (Mostly 'off', though.) But I've finally decided to get going with it. T&K's ten-year anniversary is coming up, so I think some T-Shirts with cool designs would be a neat idea!

Trouble is, what to do. . ? There are so many ideas one could put on a shirt! Which characters do I use? I figure a Rubel and Varkias shirt design will happen for sure, but then what? A Quinton shirt? A Soracia shirt? I'd hate to not make a Heath shirt! Everybody I've talked to has said, "That picture of Heath when she's older!" (Trisha Ringlet.) And then how to represent each character? There are dozens of cool ideas one could employ. Ten years of character design, illustration and story telling leave one with rather more options than can be easily boiled down to two or three ideas. So I've been sketching here and there, trying to come up with a couple of new designs each day, looking for the gems. Any ideas?

Lately, I've been involved with the local farm market here in little Wolfville. Last summer, in order to meet my new community, I set up a table every Saturday morning alongside the organic produce vendors and arts and crafts people, and sold comic books and drew sketches. Lots of fun! I've met some wonderful people this way and introduced this part of the world to Thieves & Kings. It's been great.

Anyway, the Wolfville Farm Market has been experiencing some growth spurts. What began a few years ago as a couple of vendors selling produce and quilts at the side of the road, has blossomed into a booming Saturday morning affair. (You wander down the hill to a little grassy town square and buy breakfast treats like organic coffee and muffins and cookies and let your kids play with the other kids. You can wander around picking up your grocery needs for the week and perhaps buy some homemade chocolates or honey or candles, all while enjoying excellent music being played by whatever local musician has offered to perform. People can catch up with their friends and generally everybody feels good and smiles a lot.

But like I said, growth spurts. I was invited over the winter to attend a two day planning session to help organize the future of the market. Quite an honor, being so new here and all! We came up with a bunch of solid ideas and did things like work out vision statements and such. One of the issues addressed was that of rain coverage. --The market takes place on an open pitch. We have a small number of temporary tents and such, but when it rains, (and the weather in Nova Scotia is nothing if completely unpredictable!) then one way or another, people are going to get wet.

Well, the town council took note and it seems that some money is available to build a structure or two, and again I was honored with the request of coming up with some early design sketches. The trick was to envision something which would not be too expensive, and possibly be useful all year around. You can see how my early designs were fairly un-exciting, but then as I got going I zeroed in on some better ideas. I'm quite happy with the final idea, with the sliding wall/doors borrowed from ancient Japanese architecture.

You can check out the sketch page I put up for the farm market here. . .

As for other news. . .

Actually, there have been a lot of utterly amazing things going on out here on the East Coast, most of which I can't really write about because they involve the people I've come to know. I'll tell virtually anything about myself to anybody, but that's my predeliction. I'm a story teller; it's in the blood. Other people, (who are not so afflicted), usually prefer to have their privacy respected no matter how charming and amazing their tales may be. Ah well. It's the writer's curse, I suppose. I've met a lot of writers in my short time, and not a single one of them, not one hasn't struggled with the puzzle of respecting privacy versus sharing illumination! In any case, this small town is amazing. I can't believe how quickly relationships develop and change in this environment; how quickly people, -me included- learn and grow. I am wistfully reminded every now and again that no story on paper can ever match the wonder of living in the real thing; of Life in all its pained and bright glory! I almost want to abandon Oceansend and relocate all my characters to this new place I have found to live. --As was commented to me recently by one of the many friends I have made here, "Wolfville IS a comic strip!"

Ha ha! How true!

Anyway, all the very best stories in life are the ones you live through yourself, so the recommendation I offer today is that you get out there in this fine Springtime weather and experience some new stories of your own!

Cheers!

-Mark Oakley

April 22nd, 2004
Wolfville, Nova Scotia