Update

We're switched over! Let me know what you think of the new site!

Update

Getting ready to change off the Keenspot servers! Spencer is a WEB GOD!

Update

Things are a bit higgledy piggeldy here at the Wandering Ones Clubhouse. Spencer and I... (well, mostly him...) have been redesigning the site to not only look cleaner, but to use something besides Keenspot's Autokeen automation system. It's been a lengthy process, but we expect to be off Keenspot's servers within a week or so. There may be a few days of confusion, as the DNS updates where it's pointing, but there should be no long-term problems. I will try to make it clear if you are viewing the old site after the switch. I will NOT miss that Keenspot header bar (all two of them). We will also have a new forum, so if you want to see or copy anything from the old forum, I wouldn't wait too long...

I have a new book out! The Wandering Ones books were formerly published by Keenspot, but I didn't have a very good grasp on sales numbers, what royalties were owed and so on. I decided to do the third book through CreateSpace, a division of Amazon and take control of my own creative stuff. It's the first entire book in comic BOOK format (as opposed to strip format) and I have to admit, it's one of my favorite stories. I got a lesson in how my stories meander, after realizing that it took me 200 pages to tell the tale. The book is available through Amazon (or CreateSpace) I make a LOT more through CreateSpace, but if you just happen to have a cart at Amazon and feel like throwing book 3 in, I still do alright.

In other news, I have 20 pages of the Wolfrun's Scout Trial story drawn, and 12 more to go. Then I have to color the whole thing. I think this one will appear in printed book form and downloadable PDF. I will put a 10 page preview up when I get it done. All you folks who've donated will receive a PDF copy.

I will be taking an 8 page break at the end of this story, (sometime in August I think) and my APA 5 buddy Daniela Moreschachi will be drawing a short tale of Wolfie and Blue Shadow in a ghost town.

There's a VERY good possibility that I will be teaming up on a supernatural thriller webcomic with none other than Maritza Campos! More on this as the project progresses.

I hope you're are all doing well. Be totally excellent to each other!

Ten Years

Well, last Thursday was ten years here at Keenspot, doing Wandering Ones. It really is rather amazing to me that this has gone on so long! I remember once, thinking if this doesn't start being successful, I'm done at 5 years. Well, by some degrees, I'm mildly successful, but by others, I'm doing quite well. Last year, a combo of donations and advertising made up almost 1/10th of my income. (Ok, I admit my income is not too impressive, but still...) So, I want to thank all of you who read the comic regularly. It's kind of humbling, when I add up all the kind emails I've received over the years that I've been able to entertain so many for so long.

And a few other shout outs... I'd really like to thank all the folks that have donated over the years (especially Stormwind13). Also I'd like to thank a fellow (who prefers anomynity) who sent a gift of a Prince Valiant book, the reproduction value of which was stunning. Also to Storm Crow, who sent me the awesome hand forged tomahawk head. (See some of his knife work in the forum). And thanks to all of you who volunteered to help me with moving the website. I had originally wanted to do it all myself, Mr. Independent. Then I realized how much I had been relying on Keenspot's automation, and how little I really knew about websites. Fortunately, Spencer M. made me an offer I couldn't refuse and is going to help me get your favorite adventure comic moved and working someplace besides Keenspot. (Thanks man!)

All of you who have contributed, will be getting a link to a special PDF soon (and I hope a 50MB download won't freeze your computer). Watch for an email from me (but don't expect it tomorrow, I'm taking care of business as fast as i can).

New from the Home Front

If you can't change your situation, change your attitude!

Things at work are only getting crazier at work, as people leave and aren't replaced, so I'm simply trying to pay attention to whatever God/The Great Spirit/The universe/The Force/The Dao brings to me each day. (I'm almost surprised how much it enriches your life to stop stressing all the time.) I still recognize the problems, but now I look for the lessons and opportunities in each occurence. Kinda goofy? Maybe, but I ask you, what good has stressing ever done for you?

I hope the next time I write, it will be from a new hosting service with a whole new web design. Take good care of yourself folks, don't let life pass by without paying attention. It's finite. -Clint

Start of a new era

First of all, let me wish all my readers an excellent 2010. I sincerely hope that this is not only a stellar upcoming year for all of you, but that it heralds a decade of increasing prosperity.

I've been sitting here, watching the morning change from dense fog to large fluffy snowflakes and I've been contemplating the end of an era. If your read my 12-19 chatter, you know that Keenspot, as we know it is coming to an end. If you don't, a lot of the story, including Keen's memo to the cartoonists can be found here. Some readers have offered to help with web help and possible hosting, which I appreciate greatly. I will probably take up offers of help, but having had my hand held by Keen for (almost) 10 years, it's time I wised up and learned how to do things for myself.

So what will the new Wandering Ones site be like (assuming I can get it rehosted and working)? Not a lot different. I need to make a version without any Keenspot codes, but I don't have the ability to get complicated. The main thing is to get the comic displayed and the ad codes working so I don't get booted from my ad company. So, here is my to-do list:

• Find a good web host for my three domain names
• Gain ownership of my three domain names from Keenspot. (I know, I know, but when I started this in 2000, I didn't know ANYTHING. So Keenspot... held my hand through the process)
• Find a new automation script to generate the pages for reading
• Move the sites, probably starting with Shin Kage.

Doesn't sound like much does it? Well, it's enough of a pain to take up time I'd rather be using to draw the comic. Any suggestions, don't hesitate to email.

By the way, I got a new used Mac over the holidays (with a credit card, sadly) and it's great, but the operating system is old OSX 10.3 so If you're contacting me on Facebook, I can't answer until I get an updated OS so that I can update my ancient version of Safari.