Frostbite release and the MCM

Gosh, I have so much to write about, including my time at Camcon and Kapow! But I'll have to do roundups after conseason madness.

Yes, it's time! Those of you in Australia and New Zealand - I hope you're enjoying your copies, we'll join you soon!

From what I'm hearing, there has been all sorts of a frenzy of confusion over at Penguin HQ in New York, with Frostbite copies actually selling out from the warehouse on pre-orders alone. You guys are all sorts of amazing *hug*

The book is currently being re-printed. As far as I know, if you pre-ordered a copy, you'll be getting yours on release, tomorrow. The rest of us, myself included, will have to wait for the reprint, haha! XD

I'll be at the MCM Expo event in London this Fri-Sunday. Alas, I'm not sure I'll have Frostbite copies with me to sell...but if you managed to get one, do feel free to bring it along and I'll scrawl something pretty on it :) What I will have is just 9 copies of a limited run A3 print featuring snippets of Frostbite.

After the show I'll be hopefully opening up online sales for posted copies of the print. Again, these will be limited, so if you want one reserved, let me know. ^_^ I'll post up the image when I'm back from the event.

I'll also have three new non-Vampire Academy prints at the event: The Mermaid, the Goggles and a limited Avalon Chronicles one! Not to mention the book of Avalon Chronicles itself - which is just gorgeous and shiny and gold! Plus some very funky postcards at just £2 each. So do come find me at the Sweatdrop area towards the back of the ComicVillage. Say hi and take a look at some shiny stock. ^_^

Books, books!

So, I came home from Italy (where I managed to catch up with family I really don't see enough) to find news online that Frostbite is out in the world! Some of the world :) Australia and New Zealand, you have the first sightings, it seems!

I'm already seeing some positive comments from readers and am just thrilled that you guys are enjoying the book. ^__^ If you're in the US, I'm afraid the release date will be on the 24th May, so just a little longer to wait, but the book is available for pre-order from all good stockists.

If you're in the UK, I am making efforts to have copies of the book at Kapow, MCM and 2D, but only in very limited supply, I'm afraid. I'll be at the Sweatdrop stand for MCM all weekend, and am signing at Kapow from 13:30 on the Sunday, following a panel on independent comics at 12:45. If you're attending one of those events and want to reserve a copy, drop me a line by email or over on twitter (@emmavieceli). Otherwise, the trusty internet will of course provide. How did we survive without online shopping, eh?

In other book news, Avalon Chronicles is also doing its thing and I'm so happy to see people enjoying it. I'm working on book two of the series right now, and hooo boy it's going to be fun! Some brilliant new characters and lots of surprises in store for our heroes ^_^ You should be able to get Avalon part one from all good bookshops, but you can of course also order it online or even pick it up on Comixology - where the panel-by-panel reading system works really well on portable platforms.

Previews and travels ^_^

First up, I posted up a second spread of previews for the fast-approaching Frostbite graphic novel yesterday on my DeviantArt account ^_^
Remember, the  book is out in May and is already available for pre-order. Thanks to you guys, the first book made it into the NYT bestsellers list and nabbed itself the Goodreads GN of the year prize, and we can't thank you enough. Let's hope Frostbite is a worthy follow up! ^_^

In my travels: Nexy Thursday I'll be in London at the Charing Cross branch of Blackwells for the amazing sounding Gothic evening! A host of creators, myself included, a discussion on gothic literature and comics (including Vampire Academy, of course) and Rum! What more can we ask for? The wonderful Kitschies awards will be hosting the event and it's open to all! So do come along ^_^

And then, a little later in the month, I'll be heading to Spain! Watch out, Madrid, UK comics are coming ^_^ And what a great lineup!
I'm honoured to be a part of this British Council-run event. I'll be there discussing a career in comics, how exciting and varied it can be, and of course giving some love to Manga Shakespeare, Vampire Academy, the Avalon Chronicles and, well....maaaanny comics ^_^

Woah, is that the time?

Lovely Paul Cornell has started up his 12 days of Christmas and prolific Morag Lewis is working on her visual advent calender; both annual events that hammer home to me that Christmas really is nearly here! Oh my goodness where was it hiding?

For me and the Vampire Academy crew, Christmas came a little early when we learned that the Vampire Academy graphic novel had won the GoodReads graphic novel and comic prize for 2011! We were overjoyed, so thank you so much to anyone who voted for us. To be up there amongst such incredible titles was an honour. To win was just...well, thank you! ^_^ Click the frostbite preview banner to see the full category and where VA sits in it; it's keeping some amazing company there!

It certainly gives us yet more enthusiasm as we dive into Shadowkiss! You guys rock *hug*

I have been all over the place recently. Convention season really knocked me for six, but I met some amazing people. Massive thanks and hellos to everyone I met in Malta comic con and Komix in Melksham. I've been looked after so well - thank you! ^_^
Now, I'm back to working hard on Avalon 2 and, soon, shadowkiss. You may see more of the chappie in the banner appearing over time, as my wind-down sketches have been largely featuring him recently. I won't dive into who he is exactly just yet, but he's a character I'm certainly hoping to do more with at some point. Yes, another one. I have a stable out back...but I keep them all well fed until their moment to shine, honest! '^_^

Doki Doki, Travelling Man & Avalon ^_^

This weekend I'll be heading up to Manchester!
On the Saturday evening I shall be heading along to the fabulous Travelling Man comic shop for signing shennanigans from 7pm onward, so do head along and say hi if you're in the area! ^_^
Then on the Sunday it's off to the Doki Doki festival, where Sonia Leong and I will be there with tables, selling books, offering sketches and representing Sweatdrop. Hope to see people there!

In other exciting book news, it seems that my Oni press title, Avalon Chronicles, has now been solicited! It liiiiives! It's been a little while since I finished up work on the book and can't wait for you guys to be able to share it. Writers Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir are just amazing story weavers and I'm proud to be heling them weave this one ^_^
The banner will take you to Avalon as it appeared this morning on my goodreads list! weeee :)
Talking of Goodreads, don't forget to vote in the choice awards! Vampire Academy and Richell Mead are making a show in the nominations, with Richelle's work getting three categories - including my own contribution in the graphic novel category for mine and Leigh's adaptation of book one ^_^

Goodreads Choice Awards 2011

I got an email from my eagle-eyed co-creator, Leigh Dragoon, yesterday because she spotted that Vampire Academy: A graphic novel made it into round one of the Goodreads choice awards for 2011. This is so, so exciting! I can't quite believe the phenomenal list of books that are up for voting. It's a really strong list and, whatever happens, to be among them for the first round of voting is just stupidly flattering.

2011 Goodreads Choice Awards: Best Best Graphic Novels & Comics Vote now for your favorite books!

So, round one of voting is open now! If you want to see Vampire Academy (or one of the others!) move forward into round two, then head over by clicking the link above and cast your vote now. ^_^

Also well worth clicking on is the link to the now fully launched The Thrill Electric! (banner here from Becky Cloonan's amazing cover to issue 1) I've mentioned it before, but you can now view the first two episodes (and episode 3 launches today) completely for free thanks to channel 4! A new episode launches every Thursday and the reaction we got at the MCM expo was so positive, with Resonance FM and Bleeding Cool really jumping into the action; we're all excited about it ^_^

Events updates ^_^

Finally an update from me! I completed the inks on Frostbite last week and it's a good feeling! The book is going to look amazing, I can't wait ^_^ It seems like Vampire Academy #1 was only just out and rocking the NYT best sellers list and already we're looking ahead to the third book in the series. Time is flying by!
A big thank you again to the wonderful readers who've been sending messages, reviews and comments for the first book. You're all amazing ^_^ Frostbite will be released in April 2012 and you can already pre-order it on Amazon!
So, where am I now? Well, as well as Frostbite's release, next year will also see the release of the first book in the Avalon Chronicles from Oni Press!
That's in March, so what a busy couple of months that will be! (I have recently received a script draft from Nunzio and Christina for book two and it's very exciting!)
In just a week's time HatTrick and channel 4 are finally revealing the very exciting enhanced comic project,The Thrill Electric, written by Leah Moore and John Reppion and drawn by Windflower Studio. I was the designer for the project and it's been amazing watching it all come together! So that's a project to look out for in the very near future.
I'll also be embarking on a few adventures in the next couple of months and hope to see people at some of the following events:
London MCM Expo - 28/30 October, London
Signing at Travelling Man, Manchester - 12th November
Doki Doki Japanese Festival - 13th November, Manchester
Thought Bubble - 19/20 November, Leeds
Malta Comic Con - 26/27 November, Malta
Signing Party at Komix! - 10th December, Wiltshire (With Paul Duffield & Kate Brown)

Phew! So, hope to see you soon, guys. Don't be shy. If you're at one of these events, do come and say hi!

NYT Best seller! You guys are amazing :)

So - I've been so busy with the last month of Frostbite inks that I just haven't had time to post about this here yet, but Oh My Goodness, the VA graphic novel made the New York Times bestseller list for graphic novels and it's more than we could have dreamed - thank you SO much to everyone who's bought a copy ^_^
Party time!
So, we charted at #4 last week and have stayed in the top 10 this week at #8. I'm just blown away by the response the book has received. two weeks in a NYT bestseller list? Just amazing. You guys are fantastic. And, trust me, Frostbite is going to look even better =^_^=
Thank you, thank you, thank you. xx