Ok, cup of Star Bucks...Check. Pile of new books I'm reading...Check. Photo of map loaded...Check. Kids quiet and in no need of me at the moment..Check. All animals fed and an hour to squeeze in before hubby gets home demanding dinner...Check.

Whew...Its nice to sit and sip a cup of coffee, even if its been reheated a few times in the last three hours. Thank God for Venti cups.

I apologize to the few that actually tune in and read these posts. My teens assure me that no one is listening, or shall I say viewing. Still, in the off chance that someone actually does stop by from time to time, this is what I have been up to. Oh, yeah, about the apology, I've been writing and illustrating like a mad woman trying to finish the (hopefully) final draft (till a publisher gets a hold of it ; )) of my graphic novel...Book One of The Flame: The Virtutus Key.

At this stage I decided to use my loom to hold up my map of Diodee, the planet between Altanith where the upper realm dragons live, and Gillvekey, where the lower realm dragons live. Its just a rough map with a few rough names. My son suggested today that I use some of the local Gods' names instead of names like Icy Waters. Ok, not a problem, its not like all the names are etched in stone, or some such, as a homeschool mother of three, flexibility is my middle name.

Speaking of homeschooling, I started giving art classes again last month. This time its Figure Drawing classes using various Vilppu Studio DVD's, our pets, an assortment of on the spot poses and the pause button on various action/adventure flicks. Got to keep the teens from yawning.

I haven't finished the painting I started last month, between all my running around and the WIN dead line right around the corner...Well, my graphic novel takes priority right after the kids, hubby, pets, and house work...well, maybe not housework. ; )

What have I been reading??? Ah, let me tell you. Terry Brooks Sometimes the Magic Works: Lessons from a Writing Life, Frank Miller and Lynn Varley's graphic novel 300 (awesome). Then there's Aristotle's Poetics for Screenwriters by Michael Tierno and The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Cambell. I have his Power of Myth series as well as his Masks of God series and the man rocks. What else...oh I've reread Barry Windsor-Smith's graphic novel Adastra in Africa (I love his work). I just got my copies of Gareth Hinds graphic novel Beowulf in the mail, as well as Modern Masters: Volume Eleven, featuring one of my favorite illustrator Charles Vess.

I'll post more as soon as I have a few minutes to spare, though I warn you it might be a while. For now Beowulf awaits me, right along with my assorted lizards, chameleons and mountain horned dragon. They're waiting for their big juicy butter worms and gut loaded crickets...yummy.