That’s what the past few days have been. A fluffy candy spun haze. I’ve had a really good week.

Soon it will rain and turn all this sweet goodness into a tacky gooey morass from which nothing can escape. a freelancer roach motel if you will.

But today, it’s good.

• Hugo Awards Nominations just came out and I’m on it! Not for that odd “fan writer” suggestion that was bouncing around, but for “Best Graphic Story” as a part of the creative team on Girl Genius ( Vol 8 now available for preorder ). Ostensibly this is my 3rd such nomination via Girl Genius - but it’s the first time they listed me by name on the ballot. Our chances are slim - we are pitted against “Fables” , “Y: The Last Man”, and “the Joss” but maybe their awesomeness will split the vote.
• I’m almost done with the first wave of art I was contracted for, for Champions Online. Almost 4 weeks(!) earlier than we expected
• The new (march 20th) episode of PseudoPod has posted with a story I read for them. “Bait” is my 7th story for PseudoPod. I really enjoy reading for podcasts like PseudoPod, PodCastle, and EscapePod. I maintain a feed called ArcaneRadio tracking all such podcast works.  and if you folks give it a listen and like it, please leave a note in their comment section - it goes a long way to asking me back to do more stories. And Authors - ask for me by name.
• And, the City of Heroes issue 14 has hit open beta, Issue 14 is titled “Architect” and lets players design missions for the general CoH population to play. I’ve been trying to brainstorm ideas all week.

So round one of the voting has begun for the “Horrible Awards”, a celebration of Dr. Horrible fan art - I am up for awards in two categories, “Best Art” and “Best Artist”

here is the link.

While it is unseemly (and expressly countermanded) that I vote for myself, It is perfectly kosher for interested third parties to follow that link and vote in the manner their conscience dictates. (Note - voting in the manner your conscience dictates will account for 90% of your grade).

and please, do not allow my ability to build a death-ray have any bearing on your decision.

to reiterate, Vote your conscience - zap zap *wink*.

here is a link to the art that got me nominated

And here is a link to all the other fine folks that are up for an award
http://community.livejournal.com/horrible_awards/1711.html

So it looks like I’ve been nominated for a Horrible award

The email I received announcing this says I’ve been nominated in categories of…

• Fanart Categories: Best Art
• General Categories: Best Artist

According to the Live Journal site…
The Horrible Awards were created to celebrate the amazing creative spirit that swept through the internet, inspired by Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. Videos were made, songs were sung, fics were written and many, many costumes were worn.

All this of course comes from the Dr. Horrible fan art I did last year and posted to my ArtBlog

Finally, some recognition for my horrible plan. I’ll keep you updated as this story unfolds.

I just got my first art order for an actual Cthulhu RPG book. Woot. I’ve been a big fan of Ole’ H.P.L. for a long time.

As evidence I offer you this… a Lovecraft Horoscope

Does anyone out there know a Mr. Kaden Harris of Vancouver, BC?

http://twitter.com/kaden_harris
http://www.eccentricgenius.ca/

Sometime ago I contracted him to build me a “Girl Genius” steampunk microphone. He sent me pics of it as it was near completion. Pictures that he still features on his web site….

http://www.eccentricgenius.ca/yeahitsamicrophone.html

I paid him for his fine work and never received the device. It’s almost 3 years later, and he hasn’t responded to my emails or phone calls in over two of those years. I really hate taking this to an open and public forum as that leads to cycle of shame and recrimination that will only hinder this process more. But I feel that I am out of options. I was generous and patient with Mr Harris (Some say to a fault). Only after KH stopped responding to my attempts to contact him did I log a complaint with Paypal in an attempt to get the money I sent returned. However since so much time had passed since the original payment, Paypal informed me that they would not assist me, and advised that I resolve it personally.

As a freelance artist - I can understand what this is like. You take a job, and fall behind. Maybe it’s an accident. Maybe it’s unavoidable. But whatever the cause, the job just sits in a corner, long overdue. So much so that it become this albatross around your neck. To hand over the work now - so late - would be embarrassing. It’s better to just ignore it and hope the interested party gives up and wanders off.

But I’m not wandering off. I still want that cool brassy microphone I paid him for. If anyone out there has the means of talking to Mr. Harris - please help us resolve this impasse

- Cheyenne Wright