Volume 12 cover design released

[Vex Harrow]

(c) 2009 Zak Hennessey http://lrcommissions.deviantart.com/



(c) 2009 Lise-Lotte Tjernstrom http://tjernstrom.deviantart.com/

Mill Avenue Vexations Volume 12: Waking the Stones

Release Date: Friday April 17th, 2009
Online Release: Sunday April 19th, 2009 (I hope.)

Seeing as how I've been having a lot of my own exhaustion/energy-crisis going on with the hectic publishing cycle, getting this one out to the web on time may be difficult; but the publication deadline for print is definitely on. Welcome to the first volume ever to have two different covers! As seen above.

The cover represents a dichotomy between worlds, which is readily explained in the volume, as we get to know our enemy better. Vex has gone looking for Darlene—the mysterious violin player who vanished early in Volume 3—and for further clues on what's slowly eating her city from inside out, the sinister appearance of the centipede monster, and possibly the answer to the disappearances. Drought and heat have begun to strangle Phoenix as she treks out into the wilderness on hunches and hints, and the advice of her mother's shade.

Is that a mouthful or what?

I apologize if this one comes across as rushed. It is. I have had so little time and little sleep to work on this final installment for this publishing cycle (see everyone next October!) It's been a wonderful ride and I am so grateful to all of my fans. It's also been a learning experience trying to stay on top of everything, trying to keep the graphics in sync, and the editing done, and ...

You can see where I might be worn out.

Time for some shout-outs.

Jasper, thanks for sticking with me for this story. Thy aid and reading have actually come in extremely handy, it's been a bit bumpy, but for nothing else—you’ve made it a lot smoother and no small lasting impression thereby. Also, I just like having other writers around to keep me company, so I wouldn't trade you in for anything.

Kelwyn, the little bits of copy and beta reading you’ve done for me over the past six months and more have been extremely welcome. Also, having the commentary and the general presence have done great help to my somewhat weary ego.

Castalia, I know that it embarrasses me terribly every time you find a funny little error in my work, but every single catch makes everything better. Without a copy/editor helping me out I'd be doomed to horrible grammar and weird/bizzaro prose. So I'm glad that I've got thee to help me out.

Mark, without people on Mill Ave who come out to see me and get new volumes, I would not have much of a reason to keep writing. I know you haven't been able to come out recently, but you're always a welcome sight. I will keep extra copies of anything that you've missed on hand in case you want to come and get them. Don't worry. Thanks for being a commenter too—it’s good to know people out there notice and speak up.

Djenna, HEY YOU! I'd be lost without you. Although it's hard to keep in touch over the winter months because you're really busy and I'm way out in the dry-distance, you've been a great help in assisting me to become a better writer by aiding me in all the ways that editors do. I know you don't always think very highly of your own prose—but I really wish I could write like you do.

RyAnne, thanks for being my beta reader and putting up with me talking about the plot until 3am. It's the sort of strange cognition that I need to actually develop characters and occurrences. But then again, who else can I drag around until hell-o’clock on the phone and can keep going along with me. Also, the color volumes, and the bookmarks, and everything else you’ve done has not gone unnoticed (I'm sure I don't need to say that.) Thanks so much.

And many more who've seen me through along the way like Nutmeg, wildfire67, Sorena (my favorite pirate faerie), Spyral, Kim, and friends of Vexations who I only hear about through my fans... Heh.

Faretheewell until next year.

[Mark]

wow I'm so honored to be mentioned and it seems that I have nothing to worry about when it comes to the issue I missed out on, thank you very much. it seems that I've finally got to get the special release issue of these two so I can have the deluxe color covers as the art is so good, also the cover of "all the nights a stage" is another to definitely have in color as the art for that one is also outstanding kudos to those artists out there working with Kyt collectively you have all added to what is now the "face" of Vex or Vex in the flesh so to speak. Thanks again Kyt because without your wonderful imagination none of this would have happened...woot!