Hilda and Richie's Fourth Book

 I have an announcement to make. In January 2026, there will be a Kickstarter to fund a FOURTH book starring my two foxes Hilda & Richie. This book will be titled "Hilda & Richie Go Swimming". The plot itself revolves around the luxurious indoor swimming pool that Hilda has in her mansion and we'll meet a lady who teaches Richie how to swim.

The exact date and the funding goal for the book has not yet been set.

This will be the final Hilda & Richie book I do for awhile as I plan to give the characters a rest after this.

Stay tuned for more news!

Hilda and Richie's Sandwich now for sale on Payhip!

 The digital version of Hilda & Richie's Sandwich, their third book, is now for sale on Payhip!

Go get it today on Payhip!

Watch soon for a special bundle deal as well as the book being on Amazon and DriveThru Fiction!

Hilda and Richie's Sandwich Progress Report November 2023

 Hello, everyone!  I just wanted to give you a status update on the third Hilda & Richie book.

At the time of this writing, there are about 34 pages to the book and I've completed about 4 pages worth of illustrations.  The goal is to finish the interior illustrations by no later than 6PM Central on Sunday, November 26th Thanksgiving weekend.  At the time of this writing, I need to get some more supplies.

Unlike the first two titles, I will be working on bigger paper.  The artwork will be produced traditionally as before with digital enhancement after the art is scanned and uploaded.  However, the art will be drawn on 11 x 14 inch bristol paper instead of the 8.5 x 11 as the last books had.

I have come up with a thumbnail sketch for the cover to the book.

As the giant sandwich is the focus of the book, I made it the focus of this image.  Hilda is on the left, presenting the sandwich to the readers while Richie is eagerly eyeing the sandwich as he wants to eat it!

This is NOT the final cover as it still needs refinement and a color study.  I'll have more news on that as progress develops.

As for the Kickstarter itself, that is another post.  I will share news on that tomorrow.

Hilda and Richie Halloween 2023

 The nation of Foxland celebrates Halloween too; our vixen and fox pup have dressed up for the holiday!

Can you guess who they are dressed as?

Watch for their Kickstarter on January 10, 2024!!

Hilda and Richie's Sandwich Launching on January 10

 The die is cast!  The date has been set!

On early morning of Wednesday, January 10, 2024, the Kickstarter to fund the third Hilda and Richie book Hilda and Richie's Sandwich will launch.

I hope to have more news as it develops including the funding goal, the planned rewards and other bonuses.  Stay tuned for more news and updates!!

Hilda and Richie's Sandwich Delayed Until January 2024

 I have important news about Hilda & Richie's Sandwich, the third Hilda & Richie book.

This was a tough decision to make. I had planned to run the Kickstarter in July; now I have to delay it again until January 2024, either the first full week or second full week of that month.

There are two good reasons for this. First I've fallen behind on the work both on the book itself and the Kickstarter. Part of it is owing to my editor not getting back to me until recently on the second draft of the book's script (I will be working from this). It is also due to time and money; as you know, I moved into a new house late last summer. The time, effort and money into maintaining and upkeeping my new home is a big challenge. I'm not able to devote sufficient resources to working on the book and assembling the Kickstarter itself.

Second, my original plan is not workable. In August (the funds would clear and I'd negotiate with the local printers to assemble the book), my family from New York is coming to visit my new home. I can't fight on two fronts at once. Rather than strain myself or divide up my time, I've decided it is best to hold off until early next year to fund & print the book.

I want to make it clear that I am NOT cancelling the book. Now that I got the final script ready to work from, I can start work on the book and assemble the Kickstarter with plenty of time. I'm also planning a smaller, shorter Kickstarter in September to produce some newly remastered comics of mine. I'll have more news on that later.

Hilda and Richie's Sandwich Launching on July 5, 2023

 ATTENTION!

I'd like to announce that the Kickstarter for Hilda & Richie's third book Hilda and Richie's Sandwich will launch on the morning of Wednesday July 5, 2023!

The book is still getting worked on and I haven't even a mockup of the cover to show you.

Currently, I'm in contact with someone editing the book's script and advising on the thumbnails.

I'll have more news later on about the Kickstarter.

Hilda & Richie's Sandwich DELAYED!!

 ATTENTION! I've made a decision regarding my next children's book - I've delayed the planned Kickstarter for the book Hilda & Richie's Sandwich until Wednesday June 28, 2023.

This is due to delays in constructing the book; editing work on the book is progressing slowly. Stay tuned for more news.

Hilda and Richie's Sandwich Launching on May 31, 2023!

I have some big news today.  I've worked out a partial timetable and got some quotes from printers. 

The Kickstarter to fund the printing of the third picture book Hilda & Richie's Sandwich will launch on Wednesday May 31, 2023!

The goal has not yet been set.  I'm leaning in the range of US$1000-1500 to offset costs.

More details will follow soon.  Please mark your calendars and get your wallets ready!

More news on Hilda and Richie to follow

 Plans for the next Hilda & Richie book are still being worked out.  The third book's Kickstarter is probably going to wait until June to launch.

Stay tuned!

The Third Hilda and Richie Book

On Wednesday morning May 3, 2023, I will be launching the Kickstarter for the THIRD Hilda & Richie book, Hilda & Richie's Sandwich! The goal has not yet been set but will be lower than past projects (US$1000-1500). After wrapping up the final rewards (for the Poison Ivy Gulch Kickstarter) this weekend, I'll be getting to work on that as I'll be contacting the local printers for a quote and continuing work on the script plus thumbnails.

The plan for the book will be the same. It will be an 8 inch by 8 inch book, a standard size for children's books. The print run will be 1000 copies and in color.

Stay tuned to the Hilda & Richie blog as well as my Twitter feed. There'll be more news on the book and its Kickstarter as it develops.

Hilda and Richie's Wizard Reviewed in Midwest Book Review August 2022

 Hilda & Richie's Wizard got a great review in the August 2022 edition of the Midwest Book Review!

"Hilda and Richie's Wizard is a fun picture book story of two foxes who find themselves in a tailspin when the gift of a family relic is lost in the river. Hilda trusted little Richie to take care of the pendant, but his brand of "fun is too much for the pendant" and its chain breaks in the midst of his active young life. Hilda will certainly be angry with him. That's when Mister Abra steps forth to offer a bit of magic to resolve his dilemma. The savvy, quick wizard can solve Richie's problem...but not without a cost.

Max West incorporates a valuable lesson about honesty and owning up to mistakes as Richie assesses his relationship with Hilda and whether it can withstand the truth. Simple yet inviting color illustrations add interest to the tale, which poses the dilemma of how difficult it can be to be honest. Does Richie dare to risk a wizard's wrath by forgetting his obligation? A fine story evolves, holding a message that read-aloud parents will find important and realistic."

More proof you should go buy the book!

Meet Hilda and Richie Page 12

 

This is a reference to future Hilda & Richie books, one of which is already out!

Meet Hilda and Richie Page 11

 Next page of Meet Hilda & Richie!

The next few pages are meant to refer to their stories.  

Meet Hilda and Richie Page 10

 

Yes, Hilda does have an Olympic-sized indoor swimming pool.  I am debating having that as the focus of a story.

Meet Hilda and Richie Page 9

 It's time to get back to posting the free Hilda & Richie book "Meet Hilda & Richie".  

This was drawn by hand and digitally colored. 

What's next for Hilda and Richie in 2023

 Okay, it's time for some news on Hilda and Richie.  I've been busy recently with a move and I had to finish up the Kickstarter for Poison Ivy Gulch Saddles Up.  (That book went to press finally.)

First, I will post the rest of "Meet Hilda and Richie" over the next days.  That will also be posted to my DeviantArt as well as some other places such as Internet Archive.

Second, another free digital book starring Hilda & Richie will come out sometime next year.  These two free e-books are meant to be promotional tools to get readers interested in my books.

Third, there will be more e-books of Hilda & Richie next year that will be available.  These will be available for purchase.  I should be putting them on Amazon for Kindle as well as other places like my Payhip page and DriveThru Fiction.

Fourth, the third print book HILDA & RICHIE'S SANDWICH will still come to Kickstarter next year.  Due to time and resources needing to be used wisely, that will probably not be launched until the spring.  You won't see it on Kickstarter until April or May; there's a chance I may even hold off until June.  There will be more news on that later.

Thanks for your support and stay tuned!

Meet Hilda and Richie Page 8

 For some reason, I forgot to post page 8 of Meet Hilda & Richie.

And so...

Poison Ivy Gulch Saddles Up!

 First, I apologize for not putting up any more pages of Meet Hilda & Richie.  Now that my next Kickstarter is live, I will take care of that in the next weeks.

Poison Ivy Gulch Saddles Up, my webcomic Kickstarter, has just launched!

Go back it now!

Meet Hilda and Richie Page 7

 Continuing on with the next page...

Yes, Foxland is a monarchy!  The first king and queen were from England; that is why Foxland's official language is English.