The Diary Of A Novice Comic Book Writer

An Early Morning Update…

Hey I have been busy. Life’s been busy but at the same time I don’t feel that I’ve accomplish much in certain areas of my life have you all felt that way?

Anyways some news:

I’m an Assistant Editor for a small indie comic book publisher Affinity Press. I’m also a new contributor to Nerd Shuttle and I’m taking a break from contributing to Talkingcomics.com.

I’m also working on submitting my first novel titled I, Darcy. That’s right the same I, Darcy that I posted two excerpts here on this page a while ago. I turned those two into pieces of my novel. I’m going to submit the novel to Chromatic Press who are open for submissions! They’re looking for comic books, prose, audio, and illustrators. You can check out the submission requirements. 

Now let’s not get crazy here, my novel is a short one-4 chapters and a prologue and epilogue. Maybe one day I’ll write a longer one but since this is a first for me I’m doing a short one.  I’ve always written small short stories (I never finish most of them), poetry, and comic book scripts that were at least 4 pages in length.  I’ve never had the patience to write long stuff.  

So this is a challenge for me to write a novel. So far it’s going well. I finished the outline (which I had been freaking out about) I’ve written the prologue, the first chapter and started chapter two. I’m almost ready to submit the story (it doesn’t have to be finished), so wish me luck. 

I also think that I, Darcy could be a comic book but we’ll see. 

Besides this I’ve been reading I started reading Octavia Butler’s Lilith’s Brood Trilogy series with the first book Dawn. So far it’s great! I’m nearly done with it too.

I’ve also been listening to and find great music particular punk, rock, bands and artists. I watched two documentaries which you guys should watch: AFROPUNK the Documentary and American Hardcore (which also has a book that the documentary was derived from). 

I’m slowly making transitions so look for more to come from me in the future. 

Alright this has been your early morning update!

See you later my fellow writers!

I, DARCY: THE RESOULTION

By Talisha Harrison Copyright 2013

Sixteen year old Darcy Monroe woke up with a resolution this morning: Today she was finally going to stand up to Wendy Phillips and her little entourage the Tiaras.  They had harassed Darcy for too long. Always pulling off her arms when she didn’t have any lunch money, or making fun of the way she walked-she always hated their stereotypical mocking walk. It was so exaggerated, yes she walks a little bit slower than the living but not as slow as the Tiaras depicted. And then they had to make these insulting noises and it was just so demeaning.

But that wasn’t what hurt Darcy the most, it was the way they looked at her. Their eyes were not full of hate-Darcy could deal with that, hell she’s been dealing with that all of her ‘life’. It was the fearful looks that they gave her on a daily basis when they harassed her.  They truly believed that she would one day attack them and then devour them. They had watched the Walking Dead, and they knew what the Kamu had at first been capable of during the war, but Darcy was not only one of the undead, she was an Umareru. She was born into this crazy world as a zonbi, and the fear in the girls eyes told it all: they viewed her not as a human being or even as an animal. They viewed her as a monster.

And as she walked to school, she couldn’t help but dwell on that truth. She, Darcy Ororo Monroe, was a monster. “But if I’m a monster, why don’t I terrorize them like how they terrorize me?” Darcy wondered out loud.  “Why don’t I make inhuman noises as I walk, why don’t I rip their flesh apart and eat them?” Because you’re not. Just because they believe that, does not make it true.
Her inner voice said. And with that, Darcy was even more resolute about what she had to do.

Darcy continued her slow stroll to school deep in her thoughts…

Heart of Ice

Closed. That’s what she said about my heart, that it was closed to love, never again to be opened again. “After all, “ she said to me menacingly, “What good did it do you when it was opened?” What good did it do me indeed, the wizard had swooped in from the sky and captured my heart with his flattering words, his gift of an ‘old and sacred one of a kind’ musical box, and swept me off my feet with a romantic  waltz.  All were an illusion, all were lies.

“You fool!” I screamed , shattering the glass of my bedroom mirror with my bedroom mirror. I was a fool, love made me that way but no more. “One bite,” she said, “All it takes is one bite and you’ll be changed forever.”

No more openness, my heart will not be opened anymore for love for it leads to hurt and disappointment. So as my bloodied hands snatched the golden apple from my sister’s hands and took a bite, my heart closed shutting love out until only anger, hate, and pain were left and only a heart of ice remained..