Eternal Romance, OSFS and Canada all celebrate anniversaries in 2017

Eternal Romance #1

2017 marks a number of anniversaries, including the 20th anniversary of my supernatural comic book Eternal Romance, the 40th anniversary of the Ottawa Science Fiction Society (OSFS), and the 150th anniversary of Canada's Confederation.

My roots are in Canada, comics and fandom, so there are lots of reasons to celebrate.

Forty years along, OSFS is not the same organization as when I first became involved years ago, and there's a reason for that.

In the early days of OSFS, fen (plural for fan) came together because there really wasn't anywhere else to go. We were seeking like-minded people who loved to read science fiction, fantasy and comic books. We were delirious with joy when we found others who adored Star Trek, Star Wars, Dr. Who and Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, and even wanted to dress up like characters from those stories.

We didn't have a con to go to and show off our costumes or shop for geeky things, so we created one: Maplecon.

Janet as General Leia at Ottawa Comiccon 2017

We did those things before they were cool. Now there's a comic-con every weekend, and a new Star Wars movie every year. I can walk into a comic book shop and buy a Green Lantern ring or a Wonder Woman tiara or a Spider-Man hoodie that makes a pretty good makeshift costume if I want to -- something that I could only dream of in my youth.

I remember OSFS members calling people who didn't share our passions "mundanes." The mundanes didn't get us. J.K. Rowling called these types of people "muggles" -- the ones who didn't understand or who didn't embrace the magic.

The mainstream has embraced the magic.

OSFS has had an impact. We have been the trailblazers. OSFS is not the same organization it once was, but we should recognize and celebrate what it accomplished.

OSFS gave us a voice, an outlet for our passions, and for many, lifelong friendships.

Happy 20th anniversary Eternal Romance, happy 40th anniversary OSFS, and happy 150th anniversary of Confederation Canada!

General Leia makes for great costuming

One of the greatest gifts that Carrie Fisher bequeathed to fans is a Leia for all ages -- from rebel princess to rebel slave to rebel general in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

When I first started attending conventions, one of the best and most fun activities was creating costumes of favourite science fiction and comic book characters. (We called it costuming, not cosplay, back in the day BTW.) I even won some awards. While I never created or wore a Princess Leia costume, I am now of an age and body type that a General Leia costume suits better.

I am more of a costume assembler than seamstress, so I found pieces at the Value Village thrift shops. I searched the Internet to look at photos of the movie costume and kept my eye out for items. I am pretty happy with the result.

The first piece I found was the plum/purple vest - $6.49. I was actually looking for pieces for a Jyn Erso costume (which I have also been assembling), but grabbed this vest when I saw it.

The next piece I found were the boots - $6.99. I love the fact they are tall with flat heels and super comfortable.

I looked for some time, but could not find a jumpsuit or flight suit in my size at a reasonable price. What I did find was an army green shirt that fit well - Tommy Hilfiger - $11.99.

On a separate trip, I found army green cargo pants that are a close match to the shirt - $14.99.

Then I located a belt to complete the look - $3.99. It's not exactly the same buckle that General Leia wears, but it works fine for my costume.

I do not have General Leia's double sapphire ring. The button on the vest says Join the Resistance. The cost to date is under $45.

I'll talk about my Jyn Erso.costume - I'm calling it Jan Erso - at another time!

You can chat with me about costuming and comics at the Ottawa Comiccon, EY Centre, May 12-14, 2017. See you there!

-- Janet Hetherington

Janet Hetherington & Ronn Sutton at Fan Expo Canada Sept. 1-4, 2016

Next weekend is Fan Expo Canada, taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from September 1-4, 2016. Ronn Sutton and I are back again this year, and if you are at the con, we want to see your smiling faces!



Janet Hetherington (Artists Alley, P9B, South Building) - I will be bringing prints of my artwork from THE SECRET LOVES OF GEEKS GIRLS, copies of INFECTIOUS, OR SQUID-TONGUE SLEEPWALKING MONSTER APOCALYPSE, copies of ETERNALLY YOURS: ILLUSTRATED STORIES OF ETERNAL ROMANCE, DVDs and more. I will be taking commissions for artwork. Autographs are free!

Ronn Sutton (Artists Alley, P10A, South Building) - Ronn will be bringing prints of his artwork for MY FAIR ZOMBIE: THE MUSICAL (from filmmaker Brett Kelly), ELVIRA: MISTRESS OF THE DARK, VAMPIRA, and SPACE GIRL. He will have copies of LUCIFERS SWORD MC and VICTIMS OF WAR, and more. Ronn will be taking commissions for original artwork.  Autographs are free!













PLUS!


Be sure to check out the special screening of GHASTLIES by Brett Kelly on Friday morning in room 707 at 11 am. GHASTLIES is an 80s-style horror film that's sure to be a cult favourite... in fact, I play a cult member in it! Visit Brett at his table in the North Building.

Voting is INFECTIOUS! Buy screenplay via Amazon through June 30 in ALL GENRE SCREENPLAY CONTEST

Buy. Read. Enjoy... and help Janet win!

Janet Hetherington's sci-fi horror comedy screenplay INFECTIOUS or SQUID-TONGUE SLEEPWALKING MONSTER APOCALYPSE is now part of Dizzy Emu Publishing's 2016 ALL GENRE SCREENPLAY CONTEST.

From April 1 through June 30, 2016, visit Amazon.com or Amazon.ca and download a digital copy or buy a paperback version of INFECTIOUS. Every purchase brings Janet a step closer to winning the competition.

WHAT YOU'LL GET

Your very own copy of the sci-fi horror comedy script INFECTIOUS or SQUID-TONGUE SLEEPWALKING MONSTER APOCALYPSE by Janet Hetherington, in its original screenplay format. Cover design by Janet Hetherington.

SPECIAL OFFER - Free gift!

If you buy a paperback copy of INFECTIOUS and bring it to a convention that Janet is attending, Janet will autograph it, give you a free gift and do a free sketch.

• Order from Amazon.ca
• Order from Amazon.com

If you download a copy of INFECTIOUS and come to a convention that Janet is attending, tell Janet what you think at the show and she will give you a free gift.

• Order from Amazon.ca
• Order from Amaszon.com

WHAT IT'S ABOUT

Some dreams won't stay buried.

Dross College isn’t known for its scientific research, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any secret experiments going on. Journalism major Will Atman learns the awful truth when a strange creature bites his friends, his girl and his brother, causing them to sleepwalk and act out their buried dreams. They sing, they dance, they even do lab work… and they do it all while dead asleep. Can Will stay awake long enough to stop the spread of the monster squid-tongue?

From Janet Hetherington, creator of Eternal Romance, writer of the Elvira, Mistress of the Dark comic book and contributor to The Secret Loves of Geek Girls.

Twitter: @bestdestiny
www.best-destiny.com

UPCOMING CONVENTIONS

• East Coast Comic Con - April 16 & 17, Meadowlands Exposition Centre, New Jersey
• CAPE - April 23 & 24, Benson Centre, Cornwall, Ontario
• Ottawa Comiccon - May 13-15, EY Centre, Ottawa, Ontario

FUN TO READ

INFECTIOUS or SQUID-TONGUE SLEEPWALKING MONSTER APOCALYPSE has already been awarded second place for best feature screenplay in the 2015 Zed Fest Film Festival, and was a semifinalist for feature screenplay in the 2015 Eerie Horror Film Festival. Warning: Story involves college kids fighting a weird creature, so some coarse language.

Thank you for supporting my work! -- Janet Hetherington

Happy New Year 2016 and thanks 2015!

Zed Fest - Discovering the cult movies of the future

It's 2016! I'm wishing everyone a happy, healthy and productive new year. I also want to say thanks to everybody who helped make 2015 a memorable year.

Just as it appeared my screenwriting was pushing through -- Jesse James: Lawman with Peter Fonda and Kevin Sorbo premiered in May 2015 and my sci-fi horror comedy Infectious or Squid-Tongue Sleepwalking Monster Apocalypse took second place in the Zed Fest Film Festival Screenplay contest in December -- my comics work was again in the spotlight.

Available as 11 x 17" print

The Secret Loves of Geek Girls, edited by Hope Nicholson, made a huge Kickstarter splash and was released in December 2015. This comics/slice of life/confessional anthology garnered attention around the world, and my Lichtenstein-inspired art was featured in a New York Times online article about the book. I was just one of many, many talented women (including Margaret Atwood) contributing to this, and I was pumped to attend the book release on December 9 at Page and Panel in Toronto, The anthology will be re-released with a new cover by Dark Horse Comics in October 2016. Many thanks to Eisner Award administrator Jackie Estrada for providing an interview for my story. I have made an 11 x 17" print of my full-page "See ya, babe!" faux romance comics art that appears in the book that I will have with me at comic shows.

Speaking of conventions, Ronn Sutton and I enjoyed attending Toronto Comiccon, Ottawa Comiccon, Prose in the Park, Fan Expo 2015 and Ottawa Pop Expo, and I learned a lot at Story Expo in LA. Ronn also enjoyed a successful signing of his Lucifers Sword MC graphic novel at Ottawa's Comic Book Shoppe on Bank Street in February.

Ronn had a busy year too, completing illustrations for the Lucifers Sword MC book, which came out in January, the Victims of War comic book written by ret. Col. Pat Stogran about Canadian veterans, which came out in November, and three episodes of the TV show Natural Born Outlaws, playing now on the American Heroes Channel in the U.S. and the History Channel in Canada.

Ronn and I greatly appreciate that we were able to collaborate with many other fine creators to do the things we love to do and have them reach you in 2015. We look forward to an exciting 2016! -- Janet Hetherington

B-movie lovers should 'B' at Ottawa Spookshow and Fantastic Film Festival - September 12, 2015

B-movie and horror/thriller movie lovers alert!

The first Ottawa Spookshow and Fantastic Film Festival is taking place at Live on Elgin on September 12, 29015, in Ottawa, Canada. The Ottawa Spookshow and Fantastic Film Festival is an all-day festival dedicated to showing films of a horror/sci-fi or simply strange variety. Films come from Canada and from around the world.

Organizer Brett Kelly has announced the two features to be screened, and the short films will be announced soon.

The first feature chosen to be screened is SHE KILLS directed by Ron Bonk, an  homage to grindhouse/exploitation pictures of the 1970s.

When Sadie's husband is murdered by a vicious gang called "The Touchers," she finds she possesses a strange hidden power to aid her in her quest for revenge!

The second feature selected to be shown is LATE NIGHT DOUBLE FEATURE, directed by Navin Ramaswaran, Zach Ramelan and Torin Langen.

During a late night taping of "Dr. Nasty's Cavalcade of Horror,"bloody chaos takes place during the screening of two films ("Dinner for Monsters" and "Slit"). Samantha/Nurse Nasty (Jamie Elizabeth Sampson) is frustrated by how the show is being run by its womanizing director (Mike Donis) and its drunk and crazy host Dr. Nasty (Brian Carleton).

"Dinner for Monsters" tells the story a down and out chef (Nick Smyth) is hired to cook a special meal for a rich and powerful couple (Jeff Sinasac and Sandra DaCosta) for midnight dinner party. The chef has an ethical crisis when he falls in love with the maid (Raven Cousens) of the household that finally puts him over the edge.

In "Slit," we meet Brad (Colin Price) who has an underground freelance business of cutting people for relief and profit. Brad meets his match when he meets an oddball client (Caleigh Le Grand) that has violent plans not just for him but for herself.

Tickets are $15.00 advance, and $20.00 at the door.

California Dreaming: Comic-Con International San Diego 2015

It's been a few years since I last attended Comic-Con International in San Diego. It's on in full geeky glory right now, and while it would be nice to be there, I'm home in Ottawa and living vicariously through Facebook postings instead.

What thinking of San Diego does do is inspire me to work on my contribution to Hope Nicholson's The Secret Loves of Geek Girls. It's already a Kickstarter success, and will be a fantabulous collection when it's done. The line-up screams for exclamation marks. Margaret Atwood! Sam Maggs! Trina Robbins! Megan Kearney!, Danielle Corsetto! Brandy Lynn! Adrienne Kress! Stephanie Cooke! Diana McCallum ! Jen Aprahamian!  Katie West! and so many more. I love the cover by Gisèle Lagacé.


My story is called "Both Sides of the Table and Between the Sheets," and it will draw on my wonderful, awkward, funny and fun personal experiences as a geek girl. I don't think I'd have the gumption to go up against the A-list cosplayers at Comic-Con in San Diego now, but back in the day, I took a prize for entering the costume competition as Supergirl (along with Don Hutton as Brainiac 5).

My con cravings will be satisfied again in September when Ronn Sutton and I will be guests at Fan Expo Canada, taking place from September 3-6, 2015 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. It's a big show, and growing each year. While I will be behind the table taking commissions and the like, I am also hoping indulge my inner fan-girl and score a photo with Kate Mulgrew, who was a dynamite starship captain on Star Trek: Voyager and has impressed a whole new generation with her turn as Red on Orange is the New Black.

Still... despite the long travel, hefty hotel room prices and insane crowd, it would have been nice to be at San Diego. I'm thinking maybe next year, and maybe I better start planning right now.

-- Janet Hetherington

Janet Hetherington and Ronn Sutton talk comics at Prose in the Park June 6

On June 6, Canada's newest literary festival and book fair PROSE IN THE PARK will take place in the Parkdale Park in Ottawa from 11 am to 6 pm.

Over 100 authors and publishers will be selling directly to the public hundreds of fine works of fiction and non-fiction. There is an amazing line-up of 79 moderators, panelists, special event authors and authors reading at the open-mic stage.

Janet Hetherington and Ronn Sutton will be appearing on the graphic novel panel along with Mark Shainblum and Jack Briglio.

Sketch Me In (graphic novel panel)

Mark Shainblum (creator of Northguard), Ottawa

Jack Briglio (author of True Patriot), Ottawa

Janet Hetherington (Aurora Award Winner and author of Eternal Romance), Ottawa

Ronn Sutton (illustrator of Lucifers Sword), Ottawa

Moderated by Kevin T. Johns

LOCATION: NORTH STAGE

TIME: 4 pm - 5 pm

 Prose in the Park is free and everyone is welcome.

Click below for the full program.

http://www.proseinthepark.com/#!programpanels/cypo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Prose-in-the-Park/823521187681788

Facebook invitation: https://www.facebook.com/events/1432536553704376/

For more on Prose in the Park and its fantastic line-up, visit the website: http://www.proseinthepark.com/

You can follow Prose in the Park on Twitter at @proseinthepark1 and use the hashtag ‪#‎proseinthepark to help get the word out there.

Comics and movies in Ottawa this May!

May 2015 promises to be a busy month as Ronn Sutton and I get ready for two fun events:

• Ottawa Comiccon: May 8-10 at the EY Centre in our hometown of Ottawa; and
• JESSE JAMES: LAWMAN - May 28 - Movie premiere at the Mayfair Theatre in our hometown of Ottawa.

Ronn and I will be in artists alley for Ottawa Comiccon, with comics, art and stories to stare. We will be doing art commissions at the show. Looking for that special gift from Mother's Day for that motorcycle momma in your life? A great chance to get a copy of Lucifers Sword MC from Ronn, and he'll sign it too!

If you want to be part of the premiere of Jesse James: Lawman (with script by yours truly), be sure to pick up your tickets at the Comic Book Shoppe on Bank Street. ($10 each). the movie stars loads of local talent such as Andrew Galligan, John N. E. Hill and Lawrence Evenchick along with Kevin (Hercules, Andromeda) Sorbo and Peter (Easy Rider) Fonda! Directed by Brett Kelly.

See you on the red cape... I mean, carpet! -- Janet Hetherington

Janet and Ronn - Rhymes with Comic-Con (Toronto and Ottawa)

After a successful Lucifers Sword MC:  The Life and Death in an Outlaw Motorcycle Club.graphic novel signing at Ottawa's Comic Book Shoppe on February 28, Ronn Sutton is packing his bags to bring more books to Toronto Comicon, taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from March 20-22, 2015.

Ronn and I (Janet Hetherington) are both guests at the convention, so look for us in artists' alley. Show hours are Friday: 4-8 pm; Saturday 10-7 pm; Sunday 10-5 pm. Ronn will have copies of Lucifers Sword available for purchase and signing, For whatever reason, the books have been hard to find in Ottawa, so this is a chance to get a copy from the artist himself if you don't have one.

I, alas, do not have any copies to bring of The Last Outlaw DVD, but if you have a copy and bring it, I will be happy to sign it.

Both Ronn and I will be taking commissions at the show, so see us for our availability and rates. Also stop by just to chat!

Then, on Mother's Day weekend, Ronn and I will be appearing at a show that's closer to home - Ottawa Comiccon. This comic-con is at the EY Centre in Ottawa (in Ottawa South, near the airport), The show runs May 8-10, 2015 on Friday from 2-8 pm; Saturday from 9:30-7 pm; and Sunday from 10:30-5 pm.

We always look forward to seeing old friends and new faces at the different comic-cons. And with spring finally in the air, it will be fun venturing out from the studio to get into the convention vibe.

See you there!

Ronn Sutton & Janet Hetherington on the Outlaw Trail to Fan Expo 2014

I'm happy to report that Ronn Sutton and I are slated to appear again at Fan Expo Canada 2014 in artists' alley.

The show is taking place from August 28 to 31, 2014 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. We'll have comics and original art, and will be doing commissions. We hope to see friendly faces there!

This year, Ronn and I are on the trail as "outlaw creators." We both have projects with an outlaw theme. Ronn is illustrating a new graphic novel called Lucifers Sword MC for Motor Books, about the fictional life of an outlaw motorcycle club. The graphic novel has all the drama and excitement you'd expect from a story written by Hells Angel member Phil Cross. The graphic novel is due out in January 2015.

My outlaw connection is the release on DVD of The Last Outlaw, a western movie that I co-wrote (as The Hunt for Johnny Ringo) on September 9, 2014. The Last Outlaw stars Michael Paré and was directed and produced in the Ottawa area by filmmaker Brett Kelly. I've scripted another western feature for Brett and I'm working on a horror feature for him as well.

Earlier this year, my short horror promo video took first place in the Cellar Door Film Festival's promo video competition. It can be seen on the Cellar Door Film Festival's website, YouTube and on BlackFlagTV.

In other news, I appeared on CBC's All in a Day radio program on August 6 (thanks Alan!) to talk about teaching kids the creative process of writing comics at Carleton University's Creative Writing Camps this summer. I'm teaching two sessions.. with the help of the Caped Cod, my creation Bat-Fish.

Ronn plans to talk about Lucifers Sword on All in a Day sometime in the future. But you can you talk to him about it at Fan Expo. Be sure to drop by.

Call for Ottawa 2014 Film Festival entries

Call for entries – OIAF, Digi60, OIFF, OWFF, and CDFF

Five local film festivals are currently (or soon will be) accepting submissions for festivals taking place in 2014. And in case you didn't hear, I won first place in the Cellar Door Film Festival promo video challenge.

Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF)
Festival dates: September 17-21, 2014
Submissions deadline: May 16 (entry forms) and May 30 (preview DVDs)

Digi60 Filmmakers Festival (Spring Edition)
Temporary registration page here
Festival date: June 22, 2014
Submissions deadline: June 14 (the “catch” will be released on May 15)

Ottawa International Film Festival (OIFF)
Festival dates: October 15-19, 2014
Submissions deadline: June 30 (earlybird deadline ends May 10)

One World Film Festival (OWFF)
Festival dates: September 25-26 and October 2-3, 2014
Submissions deadline: June 30

Cellar Door Film Festival (CDFF)
Festival dates: TBD (Fall 2014)
Submissions deadline: August 15 (earlybird deadline ends July 15)

THE HOUSE ON ARCH LANE screens at Montreal Horrorfest Sept. 15

Driving up to Montreal Horrorfest today (part of Montreal Comiccon) for the screening of THE HOUSE ON ARCH LANE. The short thriller with my script story is being screened as part of short program #3 in screening room #3, starting at 1:15 pm.

A Q&A is also planned.

It will be a strange feeling not to be exhibiting this year, so but also cool because I will be able to walk the comic-con floor and enjoy some fan-girly fun.

The Shuster Awards, Canada's comic book creator honours, are taking place this evening, in addition to the premiere of a film about horror legend Tom Savini, SMOKE AND MIRRORS.

Oh yes, William Shatner and Patrick Stewart will be there too.

For more on what's going on, check out Montreal Comiccon.

Moonstone announces Kolchak & Honey West #1 with rare Ronn Sutton cover

Ronn Sutton cover

Moonstone Publications has announced that Kolchak & Honey West #1, a full-color comic book written by Janet L. Hetherington and illustrated by Ronn Sutton, will be released in January 2013 with three covers -- one of which will be a rare cover (only 15% of the run) by interior artist Ronn Sutton.

Kolchak the Night Stalker, a news reporter who keeps running into inexplicable supernatural events, first appeared on television in the 1970s and is credited with inspiring Chris Carter to create The X-Files.

Honey West is a female private investigator created in the 1950s by Gloria and Forrest E. "Skip" Fickling as novels and turned into a 1960s TV series starring Anne Francis (of Forbidden Planet fame).

Ronn Sutton previously illustrated three issues of Moonstone's Honey West comic book with the storyline "Murder on Mars" by writer Elaine Lee.

This is the first time Moonstone has paired these two characters in a crossover adventure.

Fans of Kolchak and Honey West should visit their comic book stores to preorder, as the issue is being solicited now through Diamond comic book distributors in its Previews catalogue. Here are the details:

McClinton cover

Davis cover

Kolchak & Honey West #1

Story: Janet L. Hetherington

Art: Ronn Sutton

Covers: Malcolm McClinton, Ronn Sutton,  Hayden Davis

40 pgs, color, $3.99

Two top-tier investigators in one titanic team up!

High heels and Hedonism!

Young cub reporter Carl Kolchak falls into an ongoing investigation with Honey West, who is undercover at a gentlemen’s club!  Disappearing women are the main course, as they both fight to just stay alive, as the violence escalates and the case gets out of control!

(Covers: McClinton = 60%,  Davis= 25%, Sutton = 15%)

Point this out to your comic book shop owner:

***RETAILER INCENTIVE: for every 4 you buy, get one free!

Moonstone also announced a long-lost Kolchak novel being offered in January 2013.

Kolchak: Grave Secrets

Author: Mark Dawidziak

6” x 9”, 204 pgs, $14.00

ISBN: 978-1-936814-44-2

Previews exclusive! Rare warehouse find…long since thought of as out of print!

The first post-TV show novel ever written about Kolchak... This was published by Cinemaker press at $9.95. This is a first printing: 1994. The novel: Kolchak is on the trail of whatever killed land baron Glen Gilmore. The answers are buried 2000 miles away and more than 150 years ago!

“Excellently done. I read it in one sitting.” – Richard Matheson

To find a comic book store near you, check this site.

Dov S-S Simens' 2-day film school sells sizzle and steak

Janet Hetherington and Dov Simens

Quentin Tarantino! Guy Ritchie! Will Smith! Stephen King! And now Janet Hetherington... all graduates of Dov S-S- Simens' 2-day film school.

Simens squeezed Ottawa into his globe-trotting schedule on August 4 and 5, 2012, which made me very happy. I had seen the ads and was intrigued. My key interest is screenwriting, but I wanted to know more about the industry.

Then Dov came to Ottawa and delivered the unvarnished truth.

It was a very hot -- the air conditioning at the Great Canadian Theatre Company wasn't functioning well -- and a very intense, jam-packed 2-day session. Producing. Directing. Screenwriting. Distributing. Protecting your work. Film vs. digital. How to shoot in 3D on an ultra-low budget.

Dov worked as a line producer for legendary indie film-maker Roger Corman. where he learned how to make films that are quick, cheap and most importantly, will sell. He passed along that knowledge with loud authority.

Dov Simens, Brooks Hunter and Dale Windle

Dov's key advice for "nobodies" like me with big Hollywood dreams... make an independently financed low-budget -- nay, micro-budget -- feature and get your name out there. He provided the blueprint to do it right here in Ottawa, but stressed that it's up to the budding film-maker to bring the originality and talent.

Dov also talked about how to raise money for each little epic. Some of the strategies were old-school (I kept thinking of Mel Brooks' "The Producers") and included strategies like "sell the sizzle, not the steak." However, Dov also discussed the new arena of crowdfunding through venues like Kickstarter (for U.S. citizens) and Indiegogo (which Canadians can utilize).

During the course, Dov revealed that he has been talking to Mark Burnett productions about being a judge on a reboot of the film-maker reality TV series "On the Lot." While not making films himself (he doesn't have the talent, he says, though he has a grand idea for a boob-a-licious feature), Dov is seeking investors for a new venture called Moviecloud.com, which would provide a virtual forum for micro-budget movie downloads.

After Day 2, Dov was joined by Canadian film-makers Brooks Hunter ("Kenneyville") and Dale Windle ("Rulers of Darkness") for a director and producer Q & A and pitch session, sponsored by A.C.T. (Acting for Cinema and Television), Aventus Films and Wired Wisdom.

I nervously pitched my contained horror feature "Basement," and while it wasn't the winning pitch, I came away with some useful notes on how to improve the story... and some colleagues who made the point of running up to me to say they'd love to see that film.

Now that's incentive to complete the screenplay and make the movie! (And yes, it's registered.)

 -- Janet Hetherington

Wizard World Chicago news from Ronn Sutton & Janet Hetherington

The dates for the Wizard World Chicago 2012 comic book convention are fast approaching (August 9-12 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL), and artist Ronn Sutton is ready with an original new art print of a feisty Space Girl battling hungry aliens.

Ronn pencilled the art for the 11" x 17" print, which was inked by fellow artist Hilary Barta (who collaborated with Ronn on Elvira, Mistress of the Dark comic stories and a dynamic Fear Agent tale). The art for the print was colored by Jason Millet.

At the show, Ronn will have original comic book art pages and comic books as well as the Space Girl print. Ronn will be happy to provide free autographs.

Hilary and Jason also plan to be at the Wizard World Chicago convention.
 

Janet Hetherington, who wrote the Honey West/Kolchak the Niight Stalker script that Ronn illustrated earlier this year, will be bringing her new Very Sketchy sketchbook as well as comics and art to the show. The sketchbook has an area for a personalized sketch and autograph in the front.

The Honey West/Kolchak the Niight Stalker comic book is slated to be published by Moonstone Publications in 2013.

Both Ronn and Janet will be available to do commissions at Wizard World Chicago.

Gasp! Sob! Awesome! Little Books of Vintage Comics

While I didn't attend Comic-Con International in San Diego this year, I did get a little comic fix with a fun find at Chapters -- six little books exploring vintage comics themes, including romance, sauciness, crime, combat, horror and sci-fi.

Hey kids, comics! (And they aren't just superheroes.)

Each of the small books present classic comics panels and ads, and include a magnet reproducing a vintage comic cover. The mini-books ($5.95 each) are published by Ilex in the UK.

Gasp! Sob! Awesome!

-- Janet Hetherington

Very Sketchy debut at Ottawa Comiccon

With Ottawa Comiccon opening its doors at 9:30am to a sold-out Saturday crowd today (May 12) at the CE Centre, I'm happy to have a new sketchbook to offer in addition to original art, Eternal Romance comics and commission sketches.

The Very Sketchy 2012 Black & White sketchbook reproduces unpublished art as well as several parody pieces that appeared in the San Diego Comic-Con Program Book and other places. There's even a poem about a certain Caped Crusader.

If you are coming, Be sure to drop by table 914 to see Ronn Sutton and me. Ronn will have his popular Excerpts sketchbook with a different original art rough in each copy,  Elvira, Mistress of the Dark and Honey West artwork & comics, and we'll be happy to discuss out forthcoming Honey West / Kolchak the Night Stalker crossover comic book from Moonstone.

-- Janet Hetherington

Janet Hetherington and Ronn Sutton convention appearances 2012

JANET HETHERINGTON & RONN SUTTON:  2012 CONVENTION SCHEDULE

 

Lots of conferences coming up this summer!  First stop is the Toronto Screenwriting Conference, where I hope to make connections and learn more about how to improve my scripts.

Janet Hetherington will be attending:

• Toronto Screenwriting Conference: March 31-April 1, 2012 (Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto, Canada)

See Janet Hetherington and Ronn Sutton at:

• Ottawa ComicCon: May 12-13, 2012 (CE Centre, Ottawa, Canada)
• Editors' Association of Canada: June 1-3, 2012 (Ottawa Convention Centre, Ottawa, Canada)
• Wizard World Chicago: August 9-12, 2012 (Donald E. Stephens Convention Centre, Chicago)
• Fan Expo Canada: August 23-26, 2012 (Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Canada)

What we offer at comic-cons:

• Original art
• Comic book pages
• Sketches
• Comic books
• Ronn Sutton's Excerpts sketchbook 
• Free autographs

• Entertaining chats!

Happy New Year from Janet Hetherington & Ronn Sutton

Happy New Year!

It was a busy year in 2011. Janet Hetherington was working on new screenplays, taking screenwriting courses with Screenwriters Online, and seeing the her short script the House on Arch Lane come to life from Germany's StoneHope Entertainment.

Speaking of the House on Arch Lane, please take the time to vote in support of this film with your "like" so it can make the cut for the Fear Fête Horror Film Festival in Baton Rouge, Lousiana in October 2012.

But Janet hasn't forgotten her comic book creative roots. Artist Ronn Sutton is busy drawing the new Honey West / Kolchak The Night Stalker crossover event book for Moonstone Publications. The script is by Janet, who had a blast writing this story featuring two iconic TV characters.

Set in the 1970s, Honey is a seasoned private investigator while Kolchak is still earning his reporter chops, and the two are forced to team up to solve the mystery of a missing girl. When they discover a cult is involved, Kolchak’s radar picks up hints of the supernatural – but Kolchak is not quite willing to believe it. Ronn is pencilling and inking the book, which is due out in 2012.

Meanwhile, Ronn’s issue of Honey West #5 (the wrap-up to the "Murder on Mars" three-issue storyline by Elaine Lee) has been resolicited and will be coming out in early 2012. Get your comic shop to order one!

Also look for a new art from Ronn in the 1000 Ways to Die graphic novel trade paperback from Zenescope (based on the popular Spike TV television show).

Ronn illustrated a short story for the anthology (due out in 2012). Talk to your comic shop to order or check here for the Amazon listing