Quick Update

Hey, Everyone!

Just wanted to give you all a quick update on a few things:

1.) We were unable to catch Robert's Mom with the laundry basket trick. FixNation has now told us to try securely tying a chicken drumstick to the very back of the trap and see if that works. We'll be trying that Tuesday night.

2.) A while back I mentioned I was doing a "creepy" black and white 5-page comic? Well, I finished it, and I was invited to have it published in a zine called Hello World. Here's a panel from it:
That's all my own work. However, Ramiro has been going over the comic adding "additional inks" to make it look EXTRA nice. I'll be sure to post the whole thing once he's done sprucing it up.

3.) I have an interview at Macy's tomorrow! I'm not pinning all my hopes on it, but it's super nice to have someone call for an interview. It's hard not to get discouraged sometimes, sending out application after application and then not hearing anything back. Just the fact that I got another interview makes me really happy.

4.) I've been making steps toward starting up my own writing company, just like my (now very successful!) friend Danielle did. And a few hours ago, I just got my first job offer. I'll be writing an article. I'm far from being rich & famous (I'll be making enough to buy Ramiro & me a dinner at IHOP, pretty much); but it's a good first step and I'm extremely happy/excited! Working as an illustrator was nice, but I really do prefer writing. :)

5.) Yes, there are still 3 kittens available for adoption if you or anyone you know is interested. My e-mail address is littlezotz@gmail.com

Until next time!

--Lauren*
PS: It's now officially Tuesday! Be sure to check out The Greener Side.

Scary Man DVD???

Hey, Everyone!

Having Agnes over was great! I'm hoping to write more about that later once I have some pics to post. :)

In the meantime, take a look at this:



Ramiro was curious if that book I illustrated, Scary Man, was still around. It is! In fact, it has its own website. And apparently there's a DVD and Audio Book out for it now?!

That's the guy I worked for doing the voice of "Uncle Teddy."

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeird...

--Lauren*

My Resume

I'm looking for a new job. I thought I'd post my "resume" here in case any of you can think of anywhere that might like to hire someone like I am... Suggestions welcome!

EMPLOYMENT
July 2009-Present
Worked at Del Taco #93 as a cashier and server

September 2005-February 2009
Worked as an assistant instructor and office manager for the Glendale branch of Fred Villari’s Studios of Self-Defense

June 2005-September 2006
Worked at the Wherehouse (#1376) on Foothill Blvd. as a sales associate

October 2004
Worked in the kitchen/catered for Mrs. Thais Herrington’s scrap-booking event.

June 2004-November 2004
Worked for the Montrose Village Newsstand running the cashier and taking care of inventory.

November 2003-June 2004
Worked for the Rice Garden in La Canada as a cashier and server

October 2003
Worked in the kitchen for Mrs. Thais Herrington’s scrap-booking event.

Oct. 2000-June 2003
Worked in the BBQ Room at Anderson W. Clark Magnet High School as a cashier and server

February 2003
Modeled tiaras for R & M Bridal’s annual catalog

HONORS/ACHIEVEMENTS

• October 2009, sold a piece of artwork in order to raise money for Children's Hospital in LA.
  

• June 2009, had my paintings up on a wall at the Gallery at the End of the World.

• February 2009, worked as an illustrator for Charles Barlow Inc. for the book Scary Man.

• June 2008, achieved the rank of second-degree black belt.

• October 2007, had my paintings up on a wall at the Gallery at the End of the World.
  

• August 2007, started a new autobiographical online comic strip, The Greener Side

• July 2006, wrote several articles for The Pulse magazine.

• June 2006, achieved the rank of first-degree black belt.
  

• September 2005, became an assistant instructor at Fred Villari’s Studio of Self-Defense.

• August 2005, was chosen to be included in the International Library of Poetry’s collection book, The Best Poets of 2005.

• Early 2005, I had my picture published in the English Journal as part of an article about reading to children in elementary schools (I had made a children’s book as part of a project in 2000 and read it to some students).

• Was given a Perfect Attendance Award for my time spent at Bryman College in 2004.
  

• Summer 2004, obtained awards for various completed "modules" in Bryman College's Dental Assisting program.
  

• Summer 2004, obtained an X-Ray and Coronal Polishing License from Bryman College when I was there studying as a Dental Assistant.

• Summer 2004, obtained a CPR and AED license.

• May 2004, was chosen to be one of 33 poets featured in the International Library of Poetry’s book on audio CD, The Sound Of Poetry

• May 2004, received the Editor’s Choice Award from poetry.com and the International Library of Poetry

• March 2004, started up my own online comic strip, Unlucky In A Tin Can

• Winter of 2004, had my poem “Another Degree of Nine” chosen for publication in the International Library of Poetry’s annual book.

• May 2003, received a scholarship from Lincoln Elementary School

• October 2003 “Story of the Month” on Teen Magazine’s website

• Head writer for the Clark Chronicle (school newspaper) 2002-03

• PTSA Service Award (for making my school “an all-around better place to be”) 2003

• Student Service Award for excellent service as a student worker in the cafeteria at Clark Magnet High School 2003

• Member of Clark Magnet’s Principal’s Advisory Committee (PAC) 2000-03

• June 2002 “Story of the Month” on Teen Magazine’s website

• March 2002 “Story of the Month” on Teen Magazine’s website

• Award for Outstanding Achievement (best in my class) in American Literature 2002

• Golden Sate Academic Excellence Award in Written Composition 2002

• Golden State Academic Excellence Award in Biology 2002

• Student Service Award for excellent service as a student worker in the cafeteria at Clark Magnet High School 2001

• Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of volunteer work at Lincoln Elementary School 2000

I guess that's about it... Education-wise, I graduated from Anderson W. Clark Magnet High School in 2003, attended Bryman College for Dental Assisting in 2004, and was taking various classes at Glendale Community College off and on from 2006-2009.

I type an average of about 70WPM.

I've been applying to places in my area and would prefer not to work at a "food" job again, but I'm open to trying new things. Let me know if you have any suggestions/ideas. Thanks!

--Lauren*

Got My Copy of Scary Man

Hmmmmmmmmm... So, from my last entry, you all know that I was hired to illustrate a book called Scary Man last year. Well, I received my copy in the mail (from Amazon) earlier today.

I must say, it's a bit of a disappointment.

The front/back cover look GREAT! They're all shiny and nice. Looks fantastic. But then, when you open it up and look through the inside, there are several things wrong with it.

1. My credit as illustrator has been completely removed from the inside. I get the impression that I probably would have been removed from the cover as well if it wouldn't have ruined the illustration (good thing I did the lettering on that myself).
2. Several of the illustrations are severely warped. I mean, I'm not the best "artist" in the world, but I'm not that bad. haha. Several of the characters look squashed and very peculiar. It makes me cringe! (And it almost makes me glad that my name isn't attached to it on the inside...)
3. The text is all over the place! On one page in particular (page 17), the text is printed directly onto the illustration (making it hard to read/see either!). Were they just not paying attention??
   

Those are my three main complaints about the book. The two things that I liked:

1. The front/back cover looks fantastic! For serious. It's just how I pictured it to look.
   
2. It was printed on 30% recycled paper and printed on presses that run purely on solar and wind power.

So, that's my review of the quality of the actual printed book. It's still a fun piece to have (and I'm still kinda thrilled that my name's on the cover at least), but do NOT waste $20 on it. In my opinion, it's worth maybe about $10. Though since it came out so shoddy (text all over the place!!), maybe $8.

Sort of an embarrassment.

Though my mom says that's just because I have a personal involvement with it. She says it's "not that bad."

--Lauren*

Scary Man

Okay, so, about a year ago, I was hired to illustrate a book for children. I haven't been allowed to talk about it thus far (I was under contract), but now that it's officially been published, I'm free to show the world!

It's about how to avoid pedophiles.

It was a very challenging project. There were certain scenes that had the potential to be extremely skeevy and had to be handled...delicately. I think I did a pretty good job, honestly.

The book itself can be a bit dull at times (I didn't write it). It's VERY repetitive. But I suppose that's because it wants to make sure that its points (mainly "don't talk to strangers") very very clear. Kinda hammers it in. Which, in some cases, I think is a good thing.

If you're a parent unsure of how to talk to your children about Stranger Danger, this could be a handy tool.

Or, if you're just a collector of VERY ODD literature. This could be something to add to your shelf to make your friends go "Whaaaaaaaaa...?"

I don't get any royalties from sales, but, if you're interested in buying a copy, it's available on Amazon: here.

So...that's pretty neat. :) Not only am I a published writer (poetry, newspaper articles, magazine articles, short stories) and published model (R&M bridal catalog 2003), but I'm officially a published illustrator as well now!

Woo!

--Lauren*