A Subtle Proposal

In this age of razamatazz and noise, sometimes the understated approach is best.  We know you, most sophisticated of internet browsing gentlemen and ladies, can appreciate the variegrated subtleties of our presentation.  

https://dreamkeeperscomic.com/

Credits:

William Tell Overture - Gioachino Rossini

As Brutal as it Ever Was - TeknoAXE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9ztX...

Voice Over and Effects - hazencruz

Dreamkeepers Video Game: Engine Demo

 

Backers / subscribers just got something fun in their inbox.   #gamedev  

It is an early, early demo- but if you really wanna take it for a test run, talk to some #Dreamkeepers fans!

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/dreamkeepers-volume-5-assassin-s-flaw/

15th annual Dreamkeepers Halloween Fanart Contest

 

Not even the THRILL of a blockbuster campaign can dispel the looming threat of the 15th annual #Dreamkeepers #Halloween contest. IT RETURNS: https://dreamkeeperscomic.com/HalloweenRules Grand prize TBA but you are gonna LIKE it!

Volume 5 Pre-Launch Page Premiere TONIGHT

 We're getting closer!   Official IGG Pre-Launch page is LIVE, with a link to the Volume 5 cover-art speedpaint premiere tonight.   Questions?  Ask us in the comments live. 

 Please share and support independent comics, the time to start building momentum is now: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/dreamkeepers-volume-5-assassin-s-flaw/coming_soon/x/12805942 

We're beyond thrilled to be on the brink of releasing not just Volume 5, but our first hardcover collection for the graphic novels.   The rewards we can bring to the table here are like none other.

Wallscroll Unboxing Contest

Wallscrolls & Bulletpoints

 

Wallscroll update! They're here, but shiny NSFW challenges have emerged. Catch the details, plus news on Vivid events and books: https://preview.mailerlite.com/p4g0e2

And if you don't entirely trust social media, take away their choice to dictate what you see by subscribing: https://dreamkeeperscomic.com/EmailNewsletter.htm #comics #dreamkeepers

Read what you want, Think what you want, Cut free & be Vivid.

Couchcon LIVE!

No time to type it twice-
Opening Ceremonies goin' live in 20!

https://preview.mailerlite.com/k9s2p1

The Future of Comics

Digital vs Print Digital comics and graphic novels have benefits for creators and fans alike. They are more accessible. Fans can easily find copies of their favorite indie creators easier online than searching book stores.  Digital publishing is cheaper. Publishing digital copies are much cheaper for creators than print, and allow creators to charge reasonable prices.   And while digital comic sales are growing, print sales still outnumber them nearly 5 to 1. Fans still love the physical reading experience and the ability to collect their favorite comic issues. The Best of Both Worlds What if there was a way to combine the accessibility of digital with the collectability of print?  What if there was a way for creators to sell more, earn more, and fans could collect or resell digital issues? Those were the questions we asked ourselves a few years ago. And the answer? There IS a way. Over the past few years, this concept has developed into a reality. Using new technology, the team at CryptoComics built a system that turns DIGITAL COMICS INTO COLLECTIBLE ISSUES. The CryptoComics Community First and foremost, CryptoComics is a social community for comic book/graphic novel lovers to engage each other and with their favorite Creators.  Profiles, forums, messaging, tagging, events, live streams, inviting friends… these are only the beginning of the social capabilities found in our community. The Marketplace The Marketplace is an important part of the community where Creators can sell their comics, and fans can resell used digital comics to other fans. The original creators earn every time their comics are resold. What’s different about CC than other digital bookstores? This is more than a store – it is a full social community. Anyone can easily self-publish. We use revolutionary technology to track each issue, turning digital books into digital assets. Creators keep 80% of their sales, and can earn from resales! Collectors can resell digital comic books and keep 90% of the sale, while the original creator gets royalties EVERY TIME an issue is resold. You can earn ComicBuck Rewards by inviting friends, families, and fans to join and buy / sell in the Marketplace, AND from the people THEY invite. Publishing comic books on the blockchain is a completely new idea NO ONE has ever tried. It gives our Creators MORE VALUE for the digital comic books, and encourages more buying and selling of digital comic books by EVERYONE! The Marketplace is a comic book community built to empower creators and collectors. Our community is in “Private Beta Launch”, which means you can only join if you request an invite.  During this phase, all our comic books are free to borrow. Yes, free. Ask David Lillie and the Vivid team if they have any invites and you can check out the community for yourself! It’s free to join. If you have any questions, don’t miss our panels at CouchCon! We’ll be joined by several of our Creators to talk about our community, and the future of comic book marketing.

Vivid's Couchcon 2020- Spicy ad premiere

Couchcon is coming!  T-minus 3 weeks, time to fire up the ad cannons. 



The first commercial came out spicy, premiering tonight at 7:30pmEST. 



Too spicy?  Bone's never seen this before, so we'll get his reaction LIVE during Snake Pit.  twitch.tv/dreamkeeperscomic/boneitisuno

Couchcon Cosplay Contest

Skirmish on Tabletop Simulator

Comin' in hot:  #Dreamkeepers Skirmish is live on Tabletop Simulator in Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2080954226   Grab someone you like and give 'em a good beatdown.  Huge thanks to @DMKiaran for setting this up for us!   Skirmish Couchcon tournament TBA...

Couchcon 2020 Guest of Honor

Announcing #Couchcon 2020's Guest of Honor, the magnificent @Corvuspointer.  Comic creator, artist, and former social worker bringing his experience to bear on the challenges of our time.  Go say hello, and while you look forward to his panel, enjoy some of his artistry.

Wallscroll Drive

Samples on the way- we're ready to officially announce Vivid's Wallscroll drive. 

Sales will open from the Vivid store  https://vivid-publishing.mybigcommerce.com/  during Couchcon 2020  https://couchcon.org/

Not too early to touch base with your favorite Vivid author- that commission they did for you way back might just be ready for the elite wallscroll treatment.

And profits from the Wallscroll Drive will go to the respective artists.  We'll be helping UberQuest deliver on their Volume 2 campaign, and other artists can share their ideas and hopes for what this boost might unlock.

For us?  I'm hoping we can level up Tectomic production, to give us the experience we need to start eyeing Dreamkeepers and other animated projects. 
The future looks bright- make your wall match.

Couchcon coming June 25-28.

CONTROL FREAK

The coalition grows.

Strap in for the latest comic to join the Vivid team, "Control Freak" by Superflatpsychosis.

https://controlfreakcomic.tumblr.com/post/190881519595/control-freak-page-1

As the defective product of a megalithic AI, Nadia must fight for control of her life and, ultimately, the fate of reality itself.
Catch the opening salvos between Nadia her algorithm-driven progenitors, and dive into some more Vivid titles here: https://vividpub.com/about.php

Read what you want.  Think what you want.

Cut free, and be Vivid.  

We are just getting rolling.

Animation Crash Course

Chapter 15 Kickstarter imminent, and news roundup

Couchcon 2020

TECTOMIC Teaser

Talented people are capable of understanding us.

Volume 5 Returns

Volume 5 updates will resume next week, March 25th, for backers. https://www.patreon.com/posts/35018904

We plan to continue with weekly updates after that point.

2020 is coming into focus.

Especially with current events so chaotic, we don't want to spring any big surprises on you- so here are the major Vivid Publishing events to plan for in 2020.

Volume 5 Kickstarter

We're aiming to complete the book and launch the V5 Kickstarter in September or October.

This is the big cahuna. The V5 campaign will include a Volumes 1-4 hardback omnibus, an art book, and a stretch goal to raise production capital for the Dreamkeepers animated short. (More in the campaign, but those are the highlights as of now.)

Video Game Sample

Before then, we plan to share a playable environment of the Dreamkeepers video game in August at Megaplex (and for backers, of course.)

Couchcon

And June 25-28, Vivid is hosting the second year of our online convention, Couchcon. http://couchcon.org/ Coronavirus lockdowns have us opening the doors to a surge of artists with great things to share. So in addition to commissions, merchandise, and specials from the Dreamkeepers table, look forward to a full schedule of streaming panels and a whole dealer's room packed with great work to discover.

Vivid Wallscrolls

Get your commissioned art as a big, beautiful wallscroll. Vivid will be running a special during Couchcon: Any art a Vivid author https://vividpub.com/Titles.php?pg=titles has ever created for you, we'll let you purchase a copy of it as a full-size wallscroll. Have a Dreamkeepers, False Start, Uberquest, Blue Deer Art you'd like? Vivid Wallscrolls will be available during Couchcon only, more details coming.

False Start

Chapter Zero approaches completion, and there will soon be a False Start website for you to enjoy Vivid's first hand-painted action comic, slated for it's premiere crowdfunding printing later in 2020.

Tectomic

I'll have a little teaser for Vivid's Tectomic soon, too- we're all taking a trip to space, kids. Bring your battlecruiser.

We will share V5 updates every Wednesday for backers. If we need another month to focus on animation and finish Mace's video game assets, the Volume 5 updates may be limited to concept art, but I'll alert backers well in advance if that's the case.

We need you.

I want to create more, and faster- Vivid has a chance to become a fully-fledged entertainment company with actual production capabilities. But it can only happen if readers make it happen.

We have the stories, the characters, the skills. But we need the ability to hire more talent, so things can happen in a timely manner.

Algorithms and unpleasant gatekeepers have been suppressing us every step of the way. If we're to grow, it'll be because of readers like you. So let's do this.

This horrible quarantine is the perfect time to share a whole new world with bored friends. They're stuck inside? Let them explore the Dreamworld. https://dreamkeeperscomic.com/Intro.htm

More readers enjoying the world will bring in the resources we need to grow, and produce faster.

Vivid will be the kingdom we built together- and we're going to be making the most fun things in the world.

Onward!

Head down, Steady on

Head down, steady on.

More #2danimation for the Dreamkeepers game.  Thank you to the backers lettins us roll on this!  https://www.patreon.com/posts/jump-jump-jump-34883950  (Yes, there is also a roll animation.) #gamedev

Vivid sponsored artist- Murazaki's Vi

Kickass Vi art from Vivid's sponsored artist https://twitter.com/MURAZAKI9 - give their coupon code (MURAZAKI) a whirl if you'd like to tip them: https://vivid-publishing.mybigcommerce.com

Bethellium

Vivid Publishing is excited to unveil our latest creator- https://twitter.com/ABD_artist  with their ongoing story ‘Bethellium’

Master alchemist Zoana is invited to the mystical city of Bethellium under false pretenses. Brought to save a life, why is her craft treated with fear and suspicion? 

Jump into the web of magic and danger here:
http://dbcomics.darkblueworkshop.com/bethellium/chapter-1/webcomic-bethellium-chapter-1-cover/ 

The webcomic is ongoing, with each page bringing us closer to a new Vivid book printing. 
Everyone welcome https://twitter.com/ABD_artist to the Vivid coalition.

Read what you want.  Think what you want.

Cut free, and be Vivid.

 https://vividpub.com/

Valentine's Day II: Vampire Holidays Ch.5

Always remember when dealing with accountants, dull and boring is not the same as stupid. Loose threads get snipped as betrayals come to the surface in the heartwarming bloody climax of Vampire Holidays.   

I was enjoying the series, but reading this final chapter is what made me fall in love with it.  All the little details align in a deeply satisfying manner.

From Vivid Publishing just in time for Valentine's Day, snag VH5 on Kindle, nook, e-book format of any type for a buck:

http://www.lulu.com/shop/jb-thomas/vampire-holidays-5-valentines-day-2/ebook/product-24428328.html

And if you're behind, catch the first installment free:   https://vividpub.com/JBT 

The whole bloody romance begins and ends with Valentine's Day.

Convention: Megaplex

Convention news- the Vivid Publishing team is being welcomed to Megaplex this year.

https://megaplexcon.org/ (August 2020)

We were looking for a good venue to do something special, and we found it- in the Dealer’s Room this year, we'll run a playable sample of the Dreamkeepers video game.

Come visit Dave, Liz, Geo, Bone, and possibly more Vivid authors, and give the video game sample a whirl while you’re at it.

I wouldn’t call it a full demo, but you will be able to run around as Mace and get a sense of the game’s kinaesthetics.

You’ll also be able to check out David’s exclusive panel on Crowdfunding, tips to dodge failure and achieve success.

All this in a tropical paradise resort.

...Admittedly I may have more than business on the mind in my excitement to be at Megaplex.

Anyone else who can make it, we’ll love to see you there! Bring your sunscreen, it’ll be bright by the pool.

Artist Sponsorship & Posters Available

Why should podcasters and youtubers have all the fun?  Vivid Publishing is founding a program that sponsors…
Artists!

Everyone say hello to the talented traditional artist, https://twitter.com/MURAZAKI9 

Insider-level backers voted on what she would be creating: fresh new art of Vi!
In addition to a Vivid commission, sponsored artists are granted access to the Dealer System, where they can earn revenue when people use their coupon code. 

 https://vividpub.com/Dealers.php
So if you’d like to send Murazaki something for the tip jar, visit our store, pick out some high-quality merchandise, and remember to use the code “MURAZAKI” at checkout and save 5%. 

(Note- normally available only at conventions, we just added the poster ‘Cast in Shadow’ to the Vivid store: https://vivid-publishing.mybigcommerce.com/poster-cast-in-shadow/ )

As Vivid has more titles to offer, we look forward to sponsoring more artists. We'll be sure to show off Murazaki's new Vi art when it's ready! 

Read what you want. 

Think what you want.

Cut free, and be Vivid.

Anthrocon Over

We polled the readership asking where you wanted us. Over a hundred votes, thank you!


Anthrocon won by a landslide.


Those who were excited to meet us there, bad news.


Last year we were excluded, but it was the very first time AC staff took control of curation, so oversights were understandable. Thank you to the readers who took the time to get in touch after missing us. It was both heartwarming and painful to hear our absence left a hole in your experience.
We heard folks say they couldn’t find their usual friends, as our table had become the de-facto rally point, and now everything felt like a disjointed mass of strangers.


It felt bad over here too.


We’re told readers also e-mailed AC staff to politely explain our presence was desired. Plus in 2020, the dealer’s room has twice as many tables as ever before. So we had high hopes of reuniting with you this summer.


Staff declined our application. All those votes, I figure I better have some kind of explanation for everyone. I asked why they curated us out again, and why they were policing table-sharing so vigorously. They told us that there simply wasn’t enough room, and that they earnestly wanted our participation.


The curator who had us blocked on social media apologized when we pointed that out, saying it was a mistake caused by a blocklist. We accept their apology without reservation, and thank them for reversing the error. But none of this brings you, me ‘n Liz any closer together, so let’s move on.


It was a fantastic 12 years. I know many marvelous people that I never would have encountered otherwise. We got to be there from the ground floor, the very first year Anthrocon was in Pittsburgh, and it’s been a thrill to watch the event flourish as more people discover their interest in the genre.


We’re planning to cut down on conventions overall.


Vivid is onboarding new authors, Dreamkeepers is growing into tabletop, video games, animation- our production time is becoming ever-more precious, and we must spend it wisely.
Even so, we hope to maintain one or two core events every year, where readers can trust that we’ll be there to greet them with a wave of the red hat and a smile. I don’t want to roll the dice on waitlisting or other gambles. We want to maintain a tradition you can rely on, to make travel planning that much simpler. One less variable to worry about.


So we’re trying out some fresh new things. If you’d like to try them with us, check our convention listing on the news page, and hop in our newsletter.


https://dreamkeeperscomic.com/News.html
http://www.dreamkeeperscomic.com/EmailNewsletter.htm


Thanks for everything so far, we’re excited for the next leg of the journey.

We're Trying Something New

Only good for a couple days.  You want in, get in:  https://cryptocomics.com/u/DreamKeepersComic  Exclusive invite from the guys at @CryptocomicsM.  Me 'n @Boneitis grilled them on the Snake Pit last Saturday, and they survived!  Part of the Vivid Coalition to bring more freedom and fun to comics.

More info in our newsletter: https://preview.mailerlite.com/g0m2z1