February highlight ...and other plans!

I don't think I have had so many ladies being so attentive to what I had to say earlier this month! I gave a speech on "Australian Women Cartoonists: A Forgotten Contribution?" to the VIEW (Voice, Interests, and Education of Women) Club on February 4th. They do wonderful work and are non-religious and non-political. VIEW Clubs are "the only national women's organisation solely focused on supporting and advocating for the education of young disadvantaged Australians". You can find out more by clicking here.

I was pleasantly surprised at the reception to my speech. Everyone interested in what I had to say about such cartooning/comic luminaries as Hilda Rix, Ida Rentoul, Pixie O'Harris, May Gibbs, Molly Horseman, Kathleen O'Brien, Moira and Kathleen Bertram, Cathy Wilcox, Judy Horacek, Trudy Cooper, Jackie Ryan, Queenie Chan, and Teloka and Pi. And it was wonderful to have everyone in the audience participate in the interactive component of the speech! Based on the reception, I've been given an opportunity for a future speaking engagement on June 4th. (Now, what am I going to speak about this time...?!)

My last payment from Queensland Health took place in early February (almost twelve months since I last worked in the Psychiatric Emergency Centre). While I miss my colleagues and (most of) the patients, I can't say I miss the daily grind of trying to find beds for the most vulnerable in our society, those with a mental illness who need a bed to be admitted into. It's become a whole new world: trying to navigate the requirements of Services Australia, being home all day with Carlene ("Mrs K" or "Mrs Comical"), and working out some future plans for us together.

From a creative perspective, it's been somewhat frustrating with the situation at Diamond Distributors. I decided just at the point of solicitation to pull the plug on Diamond, fearing that money expended might not be recovered. It's meant that the planned John Dixon's Air Hawk #3 won't be heading into overseas comic shops as planned. (The book is being printed, however.) I'm a little perplexed as what to do with some of the cover/interior artworks ... and other properties ... that I have paid royalties for. But it's early days yet, and some things still need to be ironed out. A representative of Diamond has told me that they believe they will have the situation "under control" in a month or two, but -- as I told them -- I'm not holding my breath. There are other (still secret) projects that I was working on in the background (and, in some cases, still going ahead with) that have yet to be announced. For example, there will be a planned crowd-funder for Iron Outlaw (at last!) and a new-look Air Hawk: both of which should be made public in the next couple of months.

Here, below, are some images I shall share with you. Some of these pictures are appearing for the very first time. Another scoop for loyal readers of this infrequent, monthly, blog!! Until next time...     

May not be final cover to #4