The Contributors: Leigh Walls

Website: http://AertistX.deviantart.com/

Twitter: @lexxwaxx

 
Leigh Walls is a New York cartoonist, through and through. Having grown up on a steady diet of sugary cereals, cathode rays, super heroes, ninjas, and robots, he decided to do his part in perpetuating the myths.

He has a gallery on DeviantArt and you can see more of his work in Bloody Pulp Magazine #1 (available from Comixpress.com), Guardian Knight Presents #1 (available at IndyPlanet.com) The Gathering vol. 4 (available soon from GrayHaven Comics) and Trey #1 (available soon from Facepalm Comics).

Leigh has illustrated the story, "There was a Troll Under the Bridge" written by Matt Funk.

The Contributors: Risa Horiuchi

Risa Horiuchi is an aspiring illustrator of children's books and is studying at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Her art is primarily focused on animals and human characters. Risa's inspirations include the work of Earnest Shepard, Quentin Blake and Charlotte Voake. She has previously worked on picture books, such as "The Story of Pete and Ralph" and “335: The Truck with a Big Heart".

Risa has illustrated one of Patricia Morse-McNeely's haiku's, "The Butterfly"

Check out Risa's Children's books.

The Contributors: Stuart Moore

Website: http://pensivemischief.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/stuartmoore1

Twitter: http://twitter.com/stuartmoore1

Business website: http://botfriendproductions.com/

Stuart Moore has been a writer, a book editor, and an award-winning comics editor. His recent writing includes Namor: The First Mutant, Cloak & Dagger, and Wolverine Noir (all Marvel Comics), the original graphic novel Shadrach Stone (Penny-Farthing Press), and Star Trek Captain’s Log: Pike (IDW).

Among his other credits is the multicultural super hero team The 99 (Teshkeel) and the crossover miniseries JLA/99 (DC Comics); Stargate Atlantis (Avatar); Firestorm and Detective Comics (DC); the original science-fiction series Earthlight (Tokyopop) and PARA (Penny-Farthing Press); and the prose novels American Meat and Reality Bites (Games Workshop).

He is also a partner in Botfriend, a comics packaging company. Stuart has also served as an editor of the Virgin / SciFi Channel comics line, the Marvel Knights imprint, and DC’s acclaimed Vertigo imprint, for which he won the “Best Editor” Eisner award in 1996.

Stuart has written a short story called "The Roof Decker's Tale" for Fables for Japan, illustrated by Ryan Kelly.

Here is a preview:

The Roof Decker's Tale

By Stuart Moore

A Story of the Broken Land

(Inspired by the Japanese Tale of the Stonecutter)

     In a time very much like this one, yet very unlike it as well, there lay beneath the stars a mighty village called Breuckelen. In that village lived a man called Skye, who made beautiful Roof Decks. He made small ones for apartment buildings and huge, lavish Decks for restaurants. He built sturdy fences, selected the most comfortable weatherproof chairs, placed lovely potted plants in just the right spots where the wind would not blow them away. He was known and loved throughout Breuckelen, from the Flatlands of the east all the way up to the northern Wall of Wick; but mostly he plied his trade in the Gardens, the oldest and most venerable part of the village.

     One very hot day, Skye was laboring atop the lavish brownstone of a Rich Man, a composer whose popular songs had earned him wealth both from nearby and from foreign lands. The Rich Man had demanded only the finest furnishings. The chairs were to be ergonomically perfect, the overhead awning must be retractable. The fence was imported, and not from Sweden either.

     The Roof was also to have a Wet Bar installed, and Skye had just punched a hole through the ceiling to run the piping up and outside. Inside the building it was cool, because the Rich Man had installed Central Air Conditioning, which was almost unheard of in Breuckelen. But when Skye climbed back up to the Roof to finish connecting the plumbing, the sun beat down on him, and he paused in his labors to wipe his brow.

     Now, Skye had an assistant named Tierra. Tierra had a good heart and clever hands, but his attention span was not of the best. Skye glanced over at the edge of the roof, where Tierra was laying down the tiles that would hold the Deck on top of them, providing cushion for moisture and for the uneven nature of Breuckelen's roofs. Tierra was smiling, enjoying his work, but Skye saw that he was laying the pieces down in the wrong pattern. If he continued in that way, the tiles would not line up properly to cover the entire Roof. Skye opened his mouth to speak.

     ...but then he was overcome by a wave of despair. He thought of all the many years he'd labored, the dozens of wonderful Roof Decks he had constructed. And what had it gotten him? Calloused hands, a small apartment in the basement of another Rich Man's building, and no one to go home to. He worked on Roofs, every day of his life, but he lived in the lowest spot a man could live.

     I wish I were a Rich Man, he whispered...

Here are some of the books Stuart has done.

  

The Contributors: Ryan Kelly

Website: http://funrama.blogspot.com/

Ryan Kelly has been an illustrator, painter, and comic artist for 14 years and lives with his family in Minnesota. He's done illustrations for Spin and Wired magazine and comic work for DC and Marvel comics. His credits include “Local,” “The New York Five,” “The New York Four,” “Lucifer,” “Northlanders,” “DMZ,” “American Virgin,” “Comic Book Tattoo,” “Giant Robot Warriors,” and “The UnWritten.”

Ryan has beautifully illustrated the story "The Roof Decker's Tale", written by Stuart Moore. Here's a preview.

Here are some of the books he has done.

   

The Contributors: Yao Xiao

Website: http://www.yaoxiaoart.com
Facebook: yaoxiaoart
Twitter: @yaoxiaoart 

To see more of Yao's work, visit 

Yao Xiao is a prolific illustrator based in New York City. She was born in Mainland China in 1990. Following her passion for art and exploration, Yao left her hometown, Tianjin, and came to the United States at the age of 16. She is currently attending the School of Visual Arts for a BFA in illustration.

Yao's most current work often depicts fantasy characters, female forms, and the nightlife and performances in New York City. She has “live sketched” at all sorts of exotic underground gatherings, Dances of Vice, Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art school, the Mermaid Parade, Pillow Fight NYC, and her most recent appearance was at Shanghai Mermaid, a secret speakeasy in Brooklyn, New York. Among her inspirations are Toulouse-Lautrec and Al Hirschfeld: the observing artist in the show room.

Besides illustration and live sketching, Yao also runs two webcomics that she writes and illustrates, and illustrates the weekly webcomic “Dingleberries!” with her collaborating author, Foley. 

Yao has won awards from the Kennedy center for Scenic Art and have been published in the U.S. and in China. Her recent publications include books for Roland Music Co. and the “The Transmetropolitan Art book.” Her art is featured on ChinaShop, Red Bull's culture blog, Dr. Sketchy’s blog and Warren Ellis’s website.

See her Live sketching: http://www.yaoxiaoart.com/sketch

Read DingleBerries!: http://www.dinglecomic.com

ChinaShop interview: http://www.chinashopmag.com/2011/04/artstar-yao-xiao/

Interview on InkPuddle, a Philly-based art blog: http://theinkpuddle.blogspot.com/2011/07/interview-yao-xiao.html

Yao has done a couple of illustrations for the story, "There Were Pixies Dancing," written by Matt Funk.

Here's a taste.

The Contributors: Nathanael Dodge

Website: nathanaeldodge.com.
Twitter: @sonarburn


Nathanael Dodge started as a freelancer in New York, working with several creative groups, and later moved to Sendai Japan. While traveling, he created connections and worked in film, animation, and web design. He has work on some short films (“Mixed Drinks”), and collaborated on projects in comics and animation for GrapeSEED (an English curriculum DVD set).

It's always been Nathan's goal to influence people for the better and become a role model for those around him who are looking for a way to express themselves through art. At current, he has finished art on a ten page short comic, Monkey and Wolf, written by Matt Funk, for Fables for Japan. He is also writing the introduction for the book, talking about the Miyagi Quake. 

The Contributors: Amy Evans

Website: http://tiger-tea.blogspot.com

Amy Evans is an aspiring illustrator and animator with a love of all things mythical. She would love to spend a few years travelling around the world exploring cultures and legends. Typical British dry wit, with a love of tea and biscuits. She likes to bite, but not often and is easily placated with sacrificial offerings of chocolate. Amy counts comics and animation as big influences in her life, as well as the work of Charley Harper and Nobrow Press.

Amy has done a series of spot illustrations for Fables for Japan as well as a painting for the story "Sun and Moon," written by Matt Funk.

Here is one of her spot illustration - the Kitsune.

The Contributors: Anna Bron

Websites: http://annabron.blogspot.com and http://annabron.com

Anna Bron is a recent graduate of animation from Sheridan College. She is currently freelancing as an illustrator and a comic book artist. 

Anna has written and illustrated a story called "The Traveler" for Fables for Japan.

Check it out here: The Traveler

The Contributors: Phillip Hester

Phillip Hester has been making comics for over two decades, beginning while a student at the University of Iowa. He spent many years on the indie comics scene, culminating in his Eisner Award-nominated series “The Wretch.” 

Phil broke into the mainstream with a long run as penciller on DC’s “Swamp Thing.” He also drew Kevin Smith’s revival of “Green Arrow” with long time inker Ande Parks. He created “The Coffin” with artist Mike Huddleston, and “Firebreather” with artist Andy Kuhn, now a television feature for Cartoon Network. He lives in rural Iowa with his wife and two children.

Phil is illustrating a story written by Nancy A. Collins, called "Kitsune" for Fables for Japan. Here is a preview.

Check out some of Phil's books.

  

--Jason Temujin Minor

Traveler

I decided to post my entire story to generate more interest for the project. Hopefully you'll like it!

-Anna

http://annabron.blogspot.com/

The Contributors: Christopher Clements

Website: Christopherfoundnemo.blogspot.com

Christopher Clements graduated from Maryland Institute College of Art in 2008. He lives in Washington D.C., working at a non-profit Foundation by day and writing and illustrating children's books and graphic novels by night.

Chris is writing and illustrating his own story for Fables for Japan, called "The Samurai." Here are a few samples:

The Contributors: Eric Prince

Website: http://ecprince.posterous.com/
Twitter: @EC_Prince

Eric Prince is a film and games artist and producer as well as a prolific painter and traditional artist. Sometimes he strives for a higher existence and does an original piece of work for himself or charity. He currently live in Denmark with his wife.

Eric has done a beautiful painting for Fables for Japan, called "Tamonten," the God of Wealth, Warriors, & Buddhism, Protector of North, Lord of the Four Heavenly Kings.

Here is a preview:

Welcome to The Fables for Japan Blog

Preview of "Boy in the Water." One of the stories in Fables for Japan. 

On March 11th, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck near the east coast of Honshu, Japan. The quake, one of the largest in recorded history, triggered a 23 foot high tsunami that devastated the coastline. Hundreds were killed, whole villages were wipe away by the massive wave. Several nuclear power plants were damaged, the worse being the Fukushima Daiichi plant which prompted a 30 km evacuation to protect against nuclear radiation leaks.

This trifecta of catastrophes has inspired many of us in the art community to do what we can to help. We are creating a charity anthology book to raise money for the survivors and I am looking for writers and artist willing to contribute their time to this very worthwhile cause. All profits will be donated to the Red Cross.
Keep reading for all the details and if you'd like to participate, contact me at jason.temujin.minor@gmail.com

What is Fables for Japan?
“Fables for Japan” is an anthology book of fiction, poems, sequential stories (comic books), and artwork. I am looking for original works relating in some way to theme of Japanese folklore, fairy tales, fables, and myths. How you incorporate this theme into your work is entirely up to you. The stories and artwork DO NOT have to be about the earthquake or flood. They don’t even have to be about Japan necessarily, as long at they link to the theme. There is NO contribution too small. All submission will be subject to approval by me so that we maintain a high level of quality.
Here is a list of ways you can contribute:

• Full-page story illustrations
• Stand alone illustrations
• Prose, fictional stories (or non-fiction, for that matter, if you can tie it to the theme)
• Sequential short stories (comic books)
• Spot illustrations
• Poems, Haikus
• Digital art, 3D renders, etc.
• Almost anything you want.
• Donate money towards our expenses so that all profits can be turned over to the Red Cross.

I want a to create a mélange of different styles and genres of art so the more varied the submissions the better.

When will the book be available to purchace?
Fables for Japan will be released in 3 parts.

• Book one will be available at the end of August.
• Book two will be released in late October
• Book three will be released in late December

How can I buy Fables for Japan?
The books will be available through this blog as well as our Facebook page. It will also be available through the iTunes store as an iPad app. Additional information will be posted soon.

How will the book be published?
I plan to publish the book digitally. This is the best way to insure we keep costs low and raise as much money as possible. It will be available as a PDF download and as an iPad App (possibly android too.) I am looking into setting up an ePub version for iBooks, Kindle, and Nook - more on that as it develops.
I am also exploring ways to raise money for a print version. I'd like to do a limited edition hard cover and then a soft cover print-on-demand book. I will post more on this as it develops but if you'd like to donate towards a print version, please contact me at jason.temujin.minor@gmail.com. I plan to make the book available in as many different forms as possible to reach as many people as possible.

What are the submission guidelines?
Submission Guidelines for writing:

• Written submissions should be submitted as Word documents. 2000 words or less for fiction. Five pages or less for sequential stories (comic books).
• I will be proof reading all submissions and I reserve the right to request changes if need be.
• Submit writing before starting artwork to avoid possible rework.
• All stories must connect to theme of Japanese Folklore in some fashion.

Submission Guidelines for Artwork:

• The book will be published at 6.75x10.25. Artwork can be done larger (standard comic size 11x17 is fine) but it must fit these proportions.
• Submit artwork at 300 dpi or higher and as uncompressed TIFF's or BMP's
• I retain editorial rights and may request changes if necessary.
• All artwork must connect to the theme of Japanese Folklore in some fashion.

Other important notes:

• You will retain all rights to your work
• I will be sending a "Permission to Publish" document, giving me permission to print your work. I cannot publish anything without this document signed and returned.
• I will provide a digital proof of the book to all contributors for their review prior to release. I will do my best to accommodate any changes you request but I retain final decisions regarding editing, layout and printing.

What are the submission deadlines?
Many have already volunteered and many more would like to but their schedules make it very hard for them. So, I have decided to release the book in 3 parts, the initial release, and 2 follow-up expansions. Since the book is being published digitally, people can download these “expansions” for a reduced price after they've purchased the initial release. This keeps buyers interested in the project, allows us to raise more money for each expansion, and give us room to accommodate peoples paying work schedules.
Here is the schedule:

1. Initial Release: July 12th - all writing and artwork done – with a publication release of late August.
2. Expansion 1: September 12th deadline with a release of late October
3. Expansion 2: November 12th deadline with a release of late December

Once all 3 releases are done, I hope to collect them into a limited edition print run, assuming we can raise the money to cover printing cost and keep the profits for Red Cross.

How can I help if I'm not a writer or an artist?
First, you can buy all 3 books. Second, you can donate towards the printing cost, the various costs of creating a mobile app, and advertising cost. I will be posting more about how you can do that and the incentives we will be giving to those who donate, but for now, email me if you are interested, jason.temujin.minor@gmail.comand I will give you more information.
Last but not least, you can help us get the word out. The more people know about us the greater our sales and the more money we can donate. Please can follow us on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates and previews of the work in progress. I will also be updating this page with more info when it’s available.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fables4Japan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ - !/Fables4Japan

Thank you for your help
---Jason