I didn't realize how long it would take to finish a small collection of short stories. I originally thought I would be done in 1 - 2 months however it took a total of five months. I'm glad I didn't have a specific deadline to deal with and I'm please with the end product. It sort of compares to cooking three full course meals for 400 party guests.
I entered Gesso Squad the Graphic Novel Volume One: 1,000 Star Demons and a Rain God into the National Indie Excellence 2012 Book Awards Festival earlier this year. I received the results yesterday and as it turns out, we won the Indie Excellence Award in the Speciality Books Category. I didn't win a prize, but I'm happy with the results. NIEA posts a list of all the winners and finalists on their website. They also advertise a list of the winners and finalists in Publisher's Weekly and Publisher's Daily with a banner ad linking to the site.
In September, I will get the results from the New York Book Festival and the Reader's Favorite Book Awards.
GESSO SQUAD The Graphic Novel Volume Four: Adaro and the Singing Bowls has arrived and is on Amazon.com. It's been fun seeing my characters come to live in color through these graphic novels. Now I get to start writing Part Two which will consist of fifteen more "episodes". Only four more graphic novels to go until the series finale...stay tuned.