The Contributors: Whendy Muchlis Effendy

Website: http://sabercore23.deviantart.com/

Whendy Muchlis Effendy (a.k.a. Sabercore23) is a Visual Artist from Indonesia, his photo manipulation and digital design often uses the human figure as the central concept coupled with surrealistic elements from genres as diverse as horror, mythology, and steampunk. With a dark and dirty style, his work presents a fantastic and, on occasion, nightmarish world of imagination. He has provided art for a wide-range of media, including CD jackets, Book covers, and Film Posters. 

Whendy's powerful piece, "Rebuild." was coupled with Gareth Sleightholme's haiku of the same name for the cover of Book 3. Amidst its dark imagery there is a hope for the future, a single figure of light. A perfect image to represent what Fables for Japan is all about.

If you are interested or anything related to my work please can contact me via email: saber_core@yahoo.com

The Contributors: Jeff Baker

Website: http://www.jeffreynbaker.com

Jeff Baker is a Science-Fiction/Fantasy writer. He has taken his passion for story telling through visual arts and has transitioned to the written word. You can read more of his published work at eFiction Magazine.

Jeff wrote a short story for Fables for Japan book 1 called, "Hiroko's Tale," illustrated by Leanne Buckley, about a poor fisherman's simple gift of love to a Princess. In book 3 Jeff has teamed up with Chris Bivins to bring you a short comic story called "Brothers' Three," the story of three brothers and the treasure that comes between them. Here is a preview:

And here is an excerpt from "Hiroko's Tale" appearing in Book 1 of Fables for Japan:

Get Fables for Japan, Book 3 for FREE!

The half-price sale is over...awww. But I've got a NEW SPECIAL OFFER to...um...well offer you.

From today, April 4th, to the release of Book 3 in mid-May, everyone who buys both e-books 1 and 2 will receive Volume 3 for FREE!

Our goal is to raise $3000.00 dollars for charity between now and then. That's what this project is about after all. With almost 12,000 people following on our Facebook Page, $3000 SHOULD be a breeze. If only a third buy the books today, we can make our goal without even trying. It's a beautiful book, full of amazing art and stories. At only $3.95 apiece, it is remarkable easy on your pocket book - and, as a bonus, you get to help someone in the process.

Really, what excuse do you have?

Buy them now!

FABLES FOR JAPAN

Book 1

Downloadable e-Book

124 pages!

Only $3.95!

FABLES FOR JAPAN

Book 2

Downloadable e-Book

131 pages!

Only $3.95!

The Contributors: Eduardo Francisco

Website: http://edufrancisco.deviantart.com/
Twitter: @eDufRancisco

Eduardo Francisco is a Brazilian illustrator and comic artist born in Sao Paulo. He has worked professionally in this industry since he was 17 and has collaborated and worked for several studios and publishing houses from around the world, including Image Comics, DC comics and Darkhorse comics.

Eduardo, along with painter Stefani Rennee donated this piece to Book 3, entitled simply, “Samurai.”

The Contributors: Jean-Jacques Dzialowski

Website: http://jeanjacquesdzialowski.blogspot.com/

Jean-Jacques Dzialowski is a French comic artist, currently working for Editions Bamboo/Grand Angle on a book titled "Firewall," written by Xavier Bétaucourt with color art by Cyril St Blancat. He is also doing illustration work for Bill Jemas' 360 EP.

Jean turn Matt Funk's story, "Makoto the Kami" into a 14 page comic story for Book 3. The story of a smitten Kami and his sacrifice for the woman he loves, "Makoto the Kami" is a modern Japanese fable. Jean chose to keep the artwork clean and refined, option to leave the pages in their pencil state instead of adding the harsh ink line, to reflect the elegant nature of the story. Here is a preview:

Over 10,000 Facebook Friends

For those who were not aware, in addition to this blog, we also have a "Fables for Japan" Twitter account and a Facebook Fan page. The number of followers for the latter surpassed 10,000 people this week!

To celebrate this achievement, for 1 week only (April 15 - 21) we will be cutting the prices of "Fables for Japan" Books 1 and 2 in half! ONLY $1.98 each!

This is a great chance to pick up the first 2 e-books and get ready for Book 3, coming in May.

Pick up your copies now!

“Fables for Japan” is a series of 3 anthology e-books created by over 86 renowned writers and artists, as well as rising new talent, from all over the world. This exquisite collection of folktales, comic book stories, and poetry is beautifully illustrated and connected by the theme of Japanese folklore.

From classic legends retold with a modern perspective to original tales for the next generation, "Fable for Japan" honors the beauty of this ancient culture in creative and new ways. These books will make you laugh, cry, and consider how myth still shapes our society.

NOW ONLY $1.98! 

For a limited time only

BUY HERE!

Jason Minor Interviewed

I recently did a Podcast interview with Grinning studios. We talk for a while all about the Fables for Japan project, how it came to be, about the amazingly talented people contributing to the books, about the artwork and stories, about our future plans, and what we hope to achieve. The interview is now live so please tune in, learn more about Fables for Japan, and enjoy the general goofiness.

You can listen to the interview on the Grinning Studios website. Scroll to the bottom of the post and click the play button under "listen now." Or you can download it from iTunes. It's Episode 7.

Thanks for listening.

The Contributors: Jazmyn Douillard

Website: www.firelightgleam.com

Jazmyn Douillard is a freelance illustrator and designer with more than 10 years experience. When not glued to the drafting table, she's can be often found in front of her sewing machine working on new costumes.

Jazmyn teamed up with Todd Sullivan on the story "When the World was Young" for Book 3. Here's a small preview.

The Contributors: Jeff Crosby

Website: jeffcrosbyillustration.com

Jeff Crosby has been working as a freelance illustrator for the past eighteen years. His clients include: The New York Times, The Village Voice, Entertainment Weekly, GQ, Penguin Putnam, and Random House. He has illustrated several children's books, including his latest, Wiener Wolf, which he also wrote. Jeff's art has appeared in the Spectrum, Communication Arts, and American Illustration annuals. He lives in Austin, TX with his wife, five year old daughter, two wiener dogs, and a shih tzu.

WIENER WOLF (Disney-Hyperion) is available now!

Publisher's Weekly says:

"Crosby turns in a tight, polished performance in this story of a dachshund that answers the call of the wild (and then redials). Crosby's paintings display a thorough understanding of his hero's boredom--and sense of adventure".

Jeff was kind enough to donate a couple of painting for Book 3, here's a glimpse at one of them.

The Contributors: Juri H. Chinchilla

Website: http://jurithedreamer.com/

Juri H Chinchilla came to United States from Japan in 2004 to attend the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She graduated 2008 with the Marcel Vertie award and was nominated for Society of Illustrators Annual Student Award in 2009.

Juri currently works as a Fantasy/anime/comic artist and is located in Washington State.

Juri donated this piece to book 3, called "Okikurumi with Iwa-koshinpu"

This image is based off of an Ainu myth. The Ainu are the aborigines of Hokkaido, Japan, and have a complete different culture, belief and language from the Japanese.

“Okikurumi” is a half god, half human hero while “Iwa-Koshinpu” means a spirit of mountain animals in the Ainu language, usually in a form of beautiful women. These spirits can posses a man, giving him great luck if he is a good person, but if not, they will haunt him until he is miserable. In this illustration, Iwa-koshinpu is giving Okikurumi more power to hunt a bad spirit.

The Contributors: Ken Bastard

Website: http://www.kenbastard.com/

Ken Bastard. A practitioner of the Black Pencil Arts (It's actually blue). Drunkard. Painter of the Pretty Pictures. Reprobate. Slinger of the Oops! Paint. A punk rock artist – back when being a punk rock artist was new and original. A lifelong dabbler, he has shown his work in some of the finest establishments in the Northeast. Mainly bars. Been drawing comics since infanthood – much to the chagrin of the Nuns who beat him mercilessly for doing so. He never gave it up and still maniacally draws them late into the night.

A student of everyone from Michelangelo to Jack Kirby, N.C. Wyeth to Jean-Michel Basquiat – Ken creates work that evokes a visceral response. He has participated in group shows and several successful solo exhibitions. In-between comic book work, Ken is painting a large-scale show entitled MONSTER.

Actually, Ken is a nice hard working guy who lives in Massachusetts with his girl, Liz, along with two dogs, two cats, and a hamster. Most of the above is true. The names have been changed to incriminate the innocent.

Ken brought put his own unique touch on one of the more unusual stories in book 3 of Fables for Japan, “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” written by Chris Johnson, a futuristic fable of finding the balance between life and death.

Also check out Japan Comic Aid, another Japanese relief project Ken is involved with.