@upsincedark

Question: Hey there! Friend of mine showed me some time ago one of your Gangfield drawings and omg I fell in love with that bloke, literally. Now I was just chillin on Tumblr and guess who caught my eye? Exactly. So here I am, after an hour of so spent getting informed about Valiard Mansion and THIS. I honestly can't choose between the two of them. I've read that you're about to (or you have already done it?) Valiard and do you know if I can get it also here? I live in Italy & I'd like to read it as well!
Answer:

Ah, I’m so glad you like Gangfield! I hope to write lots of stories with him as a character.

The first Valiard book is done, I’m just working with my publisher to decide the best time to release it. (It’s looking so far like it will be out next year, but we aren’t in a rush. We’d rather do it right the first time.)

That being said, Valiard will first be released in the US, in English, and only expand to other regions and languages if it’s successful there.

Is there every intention to release Valiard worldwide in multiple languages? Absolutely. However, it all depends on its initial sales in the US.

If and/or when Up Since Dark comes out, it will likely follow the same route.

Thanks so much for taking an interest, dear! It means SO much! <3

Question: When is it coming out? It's 2017 now.
Answer:

You’re absolutely right! :D

I made this blog before I got a publishing deal for my other book, The Valiard Mansion, and I’ve since dedicated all my time to Valiard.

Thanks for pointing out the discrepancy. I’ll fix it right away.

As for when Up Since Dark will actually see the light of day, I can’t say. I’m still developing the story on the sly whenever I can, but the first chapter isn’t ready to be shared yet.

A ton of what’s going on with Up Since Dark depends entirely on the success of Valiard, so I’m half waiting around to see what happens in 2018 before I push Up Since Dark any further into the public eye.

Thanks for taking an interest! ^u^

Question: When are we gonna read it?
Answer:

I intended to work on Up Since Dark this year to take a break from Valiard, since I’d long reached the point where the mere mention of Valiard makes me want to puke my own eyeballs out.

But then Valiard got a book deal and Up Since Dark had to be pushed back. Major bummer! Well, sort of. Okay, it’s not a major bummer. I’m actually pretty happy about it. But it does suck not getting to revel in all the ‘80s cheese my eye sockets can take until I puke them out as well.

Anyways, I’m occasionally squinting at the first chapter of Up Since Dark and I’ll publish it online as soon as it’s done. And I promise that doesn’t mean I’m half-assing it. I’ll give it my all and make sure it’s super rad before I post it. ;)

But March is set aside for editing Valiard, and it’s intense stuff, so maybe I’ll finish Up Since Dark Chapter 1 in April! :D Oh man, I’d LOVE to do that.

Question: So where would Abi be by today's standards? would she have gotten married and have a kid herself by now?
Answer:

Oh, gosh! I actually don’t want to say too much, because it’ll be spoilers! xD

The plan is that she’ll take part in new adventures after Up Since Dark, well into her adulthood, and close to present day. Up Since Dark has always been part of an informal trilogy, with each installment being reasonably self-contained. Gangfield will feature only briefly in the third, and not at all in the second.

The second novel, working title Sweet Dreams, actually exists because I wrote it when I was 17. It’s about a 20-year-old Abi dealing with a hospitalized friend who has healing powers eerily similar to Gangfield’s, and it would have clocked in at 60k words. It was just a couple of chapters away from completion before I realized it dealt with themes that went WAY over my head and for various reasons, I gave up writing for almost three years.

Then I started working on The Valiard Mansion.

I’m obviously still keen on Abi’s stories, and even though Valiard takes up all my attention these days, I’m keeping Abi in the back of my mind. I’d love to release the old Sweet Dreams novel sometime, especially since it’s set to be heavily reworked and therefore won’t spoil anything. At the very least, it will count as unseen content. Maybe I’ll get around to it someday! ^_^

Question: Does Gangfield really end up with Abi's mom? What happened to Dennis?
Answer:

I’m still deciding what to do with Dennis. So I keep him conveniently missing from all Up Since Dark art until I’ve made up my mind. >:)

And yeah, Gangfield and Abi’s mom date for a bit. How long, I can’t say. Still lots of things to plan for this story. :) Sad to say, but Valiard is majorly bumming me out, the way it’s interfering with my Up Since Dark  development time! XD

upsincedark:

Gettin’ Cramped on This Couch

Abi is determined to make movie night as unpleasant as possible after finding out her mom’s younger boyfriend has been invited.

Just a cute sketch idea I had, so I scratched it up quick-quick before bedtime. :) Poor Gangfield’s probably thinking it’s just his luck to be dating a lady with a crazy kid. xD

Coloured it. :)

Gettin’ Cramped on This Couch

Abi is determined to make movie night as unpleasant as possible after finding out her mom’s younger boyfriend has been invited.

Just a cute sketch idea I had, so I scratched it up quick-quick before bedtime. :) Poor Gangfield’s probably thinking it’s just his luck to be dating a lady with a crazy kid. xD

Just a fun Abi sketch. Haven’t drawn her in a while. :’D

rhade-zapan :

Zelda concept art by Haruhiko Mikimoto (character designer on Macross)

Decided to have a crack at designing Abi’s mom, Sasha. :) Abi looks extra tomboyish next her mom, though. xD Makes me happy. ^_^

Stumbled upon this one in my general Scans folder. It’s from June last year. I must not have liked it at the time, but I really like it now! So I’m sharing! :D

80slove :

TMNT

Question: SO… Up Since Dark is about Abi and Gangfield having fun and saving the world. What caused the world (or at least their world) to be in danger this time? Will it be tied to some of Gangfield's shenanigans in Valiard (ex Lady Vittoria wash't necessarily defeated, but freed?) Or is it some baddie/ spited love interest from Chester's past out for revenge?
Answer:

Up Since Dark is a new story completely independent and isolated from Valiard. The only thing the two novels have in common is Gangfield.

The world is threatened in Up Since Dark as a result of a corporation seeking to commercialize magic. Who knows what will happen if that kind of power falls in the wrong hands? What kind of ’80s tropey villains shall emerge from the darkness? :O *dun-dun-duuunnnnn!*

I guess in a lot of ways, it might set some readers at ease to know that all things Valiard will be concluded in Valiard. You won’t need any special knowledge of past events to understand the goings-on of Up Since Dark. My aim is to enable people to read my novels in any sequence and just go, “Hey, it’s Gangfield! I know that guy.” :D

Thanks for your awesome question. I really hope you enjoy Up Since Dark when it’s released!!! *big hugs!!!*

80slove :

MJF

Stuck and Annoyed. Just a quick colour sketch I did a while back. Don’t think I ever posted it on Tumblr, so here it is. :)

Done in Clip Studio Paint.

mastersofthe80s:

The Monster Squad (1987)

80stechnology:

TDK Woolworth’s ad, 1984

80slove:

Linda Hamilton’s hair could win an 80s award

80s-90s-stuff:

90s G.I. Joe toy box art for the Eco Warriors Cobra Septic Tank

The Up Since Dark Blog just passed the 200 Follower mark! :D
That’s, like, 201 more than I expected!

I know revealing your Follower count when it’s less than a bajillion is a lot like a magician giving away his tricks,but today I just DO NOT CARE! xD Thanks so much to everyone for spreading the word and for just being awesome people overall. I was excited about this project before, but to know you guys are hyped, too… nnnggghhhh these feels I cannot contain ‘em! TTuTT

Well, it’s my first day back to work today, and I’ll be dancin’ all the way there. Thanks for giving me the best start to 2015 ever, you guys! <3

artoftheez:

Ew, Coffee! Just Abi mocking Gangfield for his hate of coffee.

An oldie but a goodie. :)

artoftheez:

Cheesy Abi Poster. For maximum ’80s fun! :D

80s-90s-stuff:

80s Nintendo / NES ad

80s-90s-stuff:

80s Masters of the Universe artwork by Earl Norem - He-Man on Laser-Bolt vs. Skeletor in the Landshark

♫ The Up Since Dark Playlist! ♫

I just felt like sharing in case you guys are in the mood for some ‘80s fun. :)

CLICK HERE if the video doesn’t wanna work.

artoftheez:

Abi knows what’s up. Some sketches done in Photoshop just cuz.

Abi spots a very close resemblance between a man in a photo from the 1890s and her mom’s new boyfriend, Gangfield.

Wonder what she’s gonna do with this information.

artoftheez:

Up Since Dark Mock Poster. 100% indulgence. I’d have liked to clean it up a bit more, but you gotta know when to let a lame thing go, y’know? ;)

I am so writing this story one of these days. My ’80s feels you guys. *intense intellectual stare*

artoftheez:

Rockin’ Abi. Channeling my inner teen here. Remember how passionate you felt about every single friggin’ song you liked? Yes, that.

She’s singing along to Meat Loaf’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Hero of course. ;)

Oh man all my 80’s feels asdfghjklnnnggghhhhhh.

artoftheez:

Study Break Sketches. Finally got a breather in between my exams to draw some. I watched the 80’s block on VH1 Classic last night so psh tch gosh obviously this is what I drew straight after pshhhh. ;D

Thanks for everyone’s kindness and encouragement regarding my exam-related absence! You guys are awesome—seriously! <3

*sigh* Back to the books! ^^;