So, I finally heard back from the KC RenFest~ and I have a booth space there! It is in the guest booth, and is only for one of the weekends, but it's basically for me to try it out, yah know? And for them to try me out, as well. But yesh, I am excited! I've been told for years I need to get into the RenFest, and well, I've wanted to for years as well, I just didn't feel ready to submit and try until last year, and I am glad I was able to get in on my 2nd try of submitting.

If anyone lives in the Kansas City area, I will be at the RenFest the 2nd weekend, September 12th and 13th. My booth is near the front gate, and I'm going to work on a big sign that will say "Samantha Nowak Illustrations". I will have fantasy prints for sell, bookmarks, stickers, and my Enchanted Names (which if everything works out right, I will be fulfilling on site).

I have to say, 2008 honestly was a crappy year for me~ my husband was in Iraq for 5 months, I lost my job and basically wasn't sure WHAT I was going to do...it was filled with uncertainly, fear, and many crappy days. But I am SO happy and thankful that 2009 is turning out so GREAT between the RenFest, getting Adam B. Brave published, being able to do MY own artwork, and just feeling so good about life.

Love to everyone!!

Clubs I'm a part of:

So, I need to get some business cards made up~ nice paper stock, maybe glossy but doesn't have to be. Just good and professional looking. Anyone have any suggestions of who they have used? I have some local people I am going to look into, but if anyone has had some good experience with online companies, I'm willing to give them a try. ^_^

Clubs I'm a part of:

Okay, so normal people write about how they are going on vacation BEFORE they go. Not me. ^_^* This is mostly due to me being forgetful in writing journals here~ tis all.

But yes, mom and I went on a vacation to Phoenix, AZ. Why? My mom grew up there during her middle and highschool years, and her BFF lives there. So we visited them most evenings and did dinner a lot. We also did a train ride together with her BFF and daughters through Verde Canyon (which is called the "little Grand Canyon").

The big trip that mom and I did was a bus trip up to the Grand Canyon. We stopped in Sedona to take some pictures from the Church of the Holy Cross (we is right across the street (basically) from the guy who discovered/created lasik surgery's house...it's...BIG). Then we stopped in Flagstaff for a short trip, then a shop on the Navajo reservation, and then up to the Grand Canyon. Mom and I signed up for a helicopter tour over the GC~ which I have to say, if you're going to see a giant hole in the ground, it's much cooler to be flying over said giant hole in the ground. ^^

The vacation was nice and relaxing. About 2 days before we were leaving I felt ready to come home and get back to work. ^^ Enough relaxing for me!

Oh yes, also, doing a float trip on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon is now on my "to do" list.

This Friday I leave for Tokyo in Tulsa with my cohort in crime, the husband. ^_^ I have an artist table there and will be selling bookmarks, stickers, my children's book Adam B. Brave, prints of original art work, and my Enchanted Names. So, if any of your guys are going to it, stop on by my table at in the Artist Bazaar!

In other news, I'm glad I've been working on getting ready for Tokyo in Tulsa for awhile and am basically ready to go now...cuz yesterday I woke up with a sore throat. And this morning the sore throat was still there...plus a slightly heavy head. I hope I can kick this cold before it becomes worse...I'm totally not looking forward to being sick whilst at a con. And then next Wednesday I live for a 10 day trip to Phoenix, AZ so I REALLY don't want to be sick when I go down there!!

So, I'm getting excited. I finished writing and revising my story, Ylseria, which I always planned to turn into a comic some day. This week I have started drawing and inking pages, and the plan will be to debut it on [link] in September. Yeah, I know a ways away, but I need to get ahead of the game and rebuild the website in preparation for webcomics. And, well, originally we thought only my story Ylseria would be debuting on BSE (BittersweetEntertainment) in the very beginning. But...if things go right... we will have TWO comics starting up! My story, Ylseria, and Pretty Pretty Boy! I don't have many things in my gallery pertaining to that...but one of my latest deviations is the PPB transformation. It's all up in the air now, so I can't guarentee it until time gets closer...but I am excited...