Because Canada Post was aware of my knowledge of comics and the comic book industry, I helped with the research on the stamps when I was still employed there. (Behind the scenes, I was actually lobbying for a Cerebus stamp!) After I left, I was hired by the advertising agency working with Canada Post to help promote the stamp issue--which portrayed Superman, Nelvana, Captain Canuck, Fleur de Lys & Johnny Canuck--for October, Stamp Collecting Month. The promotion included a contest inviting Canadian boys and girls aged 16 years and under to create their own Canadian super hero and have the winning character appear in a comic book. Ronn Sutton and I also worked with designer Bernie Reilander on the design of a collectable envelope featuring the stamps, called the "Official First Day Cover", which was released in conjunction with the stamps.

Because of my background in both stamp collecting and comics, and Ronn's availability to pencil and ink the project, we were "naturals" to be contracted by Canada Post's ad agency to produce the comic book. The reason why most "corporate comics" you see are so poor is because they are generally done by non-comics artists with only a few days' deadline. We knew the winning character was going to be teamed up with Canada Post's stamp collecting mascot, Perf, so we had an early jumping-on point for the story and art from there. We tried our best to work ahead, even without knowing what the winning design was going to be.

It wasn't always easy. I was able to get the script approved without too much difficulty, but Ronn had to become very pro-active to get the art on the project completed. He had prior experience with ad agencies, so he knew how they operated. Without having been asked to, he laid out the entire comic in very minute detail for approval purposes. His "roughs" were equivalent to many other people's "finished" art. Ronn anticipated how ad agencies work, and as he predicted, the project became a "big rush" as the deadline loomed. Suddenly, they needed the artwork right away. If Ronn had not completed those elaborate "roughs", he would have been starting from scratch. However, he was able to enlarge his "roughs", and in the alotted time was able to do some of his best work to date. (In fact, the final comic book, "Perf et Odonto/Perf and Gauge" has been nominated for a 1997 Aurora Award.)

The text was bilingual, so we had to allow room for both languages in the word balloons. Ronn and I also co-coloured the guides used by the computer colouring firm, Digital Chameleon of Winnipeg.

Canada Post was very pleased with the final result. The comic book was "launched" at CAPEX 96, a huge stamp collecting convention held in June 1996 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Buses of schoolchildren were brought in to visit the stamp collecting exhibits, and each child was given a comic book. From the reaction of these kids, the comic was an unqualified success! Ronn and I attended "Kids' Day" at CAPEX, and we were mobbed by autograph seekers. The comic book was also packaged as a bonus along with the super hero stamp booklet and Official First Day Cover, available from postal outlets or through the National Philatelic Centre mail order facility (1-800-565-4362). I don't believe Canada Post has any current plans for a sequel.

I used to do a lot of costuming when I was younger and thinner (Supergirl, Elektra, Batwoman, Lara [Superman's mother], Dr. Beverly Crusher, and others). At the San Diego Comic-Con, I did win the DC Comics' prize one year for my Supergirl costume, hen I teamed up with Don Hutton of Toronto, who portrayed Brainiac 5. I also won the Silver Anniversary Seatrek 1991 Grand Prize for "Princess Shahanna-Rana-Ding-Dong", a Star Trek parody character. That trophy was presented to me by Majel Barrett Roddenberry.

On the other side, there's the comics and the art. While I was always on the "fringe" of the comics industry for many years, exhibiting my artwork at convention art shows across Canada and the United States, I have been making a concerted effort to advance my career as a comics creator since leaving Canada Post in 1994. Ronn and I had already begun collaborating on projects, so it was not that difficult a direction to move toward. Ronn was and is, of course, already a recognized name in the comics industry because of his work on "Vortex", "Ronn Sutton's Starbikers", "Man From U.N.C.L.E.", "Cases Of Sherlock Holmes", "Cerebus Bi-Weekly", "Oz Squad", "Sex & Death", "Draculina's Cozy Coffin", etc. I think one of the first writing jobs I got in comics was not because I was an accomplished, published writer, but because I was "Ronn Sutton's girlfriend".

I am currently writing and drawing the "Eternal Romance" comic book--my pet project--all by myself. As an artist, I've also been published in "True North II", "AC Comics' Bad Girl Backlash", and "Fandom Directory" 1996 & 1997, "Lacunae", etc. "Eternal omance" artwork also graces the cover of Trajan Publishing's 1997 "Collector's Guide".

The story ideas for "Jannie Weezie" intentionally play off of the existing relationship of Ronn and myself, as well as the development of a "strip within a strip"--Jane Strange, Time Twister--that the comics couple actually create before the eyes of the reader. The strip was "born" when I approached Ronn with an idea to collaborate on a comic strip to enter into a "create-a-comic-strip contest" being sponsored by The Toronto Star. The Toronto Star contest only required three samples of the proposed comic strip, so that was all we prepared, initially. I wrote the three strips in typical "full script" format, and Ronn took it from there with the art--pencilling, lettering and inking it all himself.

The "Jannie Weezie" artwork was created in an oversized format as is most comics material, and we photocopied the three strips down to newspaper size for submission into the contest. The Toronto Star chose another comic strip to win its competition, but after showing the strip to family and friends in the comics industry and getting extremely positive response, we decided "Jannie Weezie" was worth further development and marketing. Comics writer/publisher Dave [Atomic Overdrive, Wordsmith] Darrigo suggested that the weekly comics newspaper, the "Comics Buyer's Guide", might be interested. I wrote more strips, and Ronn drew more strips, until we had enough to submit to the CBG. However, the strip was not picked up by that publication.

Then in the fall of 1993, The Ottawa Citizen ran a readers' survey of its comics pages. I took the opportunity to submit our comic strip, and apparently Citizen readers wanted to see more Canadian content, so we were contacted by the paper. This happened on December 17, 1993--on Ronn's birthday ! We met with the Citizen just before Christmas and again in the spring, and after several discussions, "Jannie Weezie" saw its first publication on May 2, 1994.

Right now, we've been having existing strips reprinted or exhbitied in museum shows. Original artwork for "Jannie Weezie" was included in an exhibition of Canadian comic strip art, which took place at the Brant County Museum in Brantford, Ontario in the ummer of 1994. (That show was mounted in honour of Canadian cartoonist Walter Ball, who created the comic strip "Rural Route".) "Jannie Weezie" was also featured as part of the Exploring Science Fiction and Fantasy exhibit at the Nepean Museum in the summer of 1997.

Coconut Comics purchased the rights to reprint several "Jannie Weezie" strips on their editorial pages, but I do not believe they have seen print yet. In addition, the "Fandom Directory" reprinted about 20 early "Jannie Weezie" strips in its March 1997 edition. Most recently, we sent "Jannie Weezie" samples to a comic strip syndicate in the UK, so we'll see if the strip may find an audience overseas.

The other judges for the 1997 Awards were Tony Isabella, Jesse McCann, Paul Grant and Joe Field. We all got together in April for a long, intensive work-weekend in San Diego to go over the material submitted by the various comic book publishers. We also added publications or products to the list that we thought should be included for consideration. All of the judges seemed completely in tune with the goals of the judging--nominating those works and creators truly deserving of an Eisner Award. In the end, a wide range of great material--super hero, alternative, independent comics and more--was represented on the 1997 ballot. The final Eisner Award winners were voted upon by comics professionals and retailers.

Being a Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards judge was both an honour and an eye-opening experience--and I am not referring solely to the many hours spent reading the incredible number of comic books and graphic novels submitted for nomination. I was pleased to discover that more authors than ever are choosing the comics medium to express themselves and create works of enduring quality.

I decided to self-publish "Eternal Romance" because I really, really wanted to do romance comics, and there aren't any on the market like there used to be. I couldn't approach DC or Marvel, for example, and seek work on existing titles. So, I pulled up my ootstraps and took the plunge. I added the supernatural aspect--vampires, witches, mummies, phantoms, etc.--because of my own affection for that genre and to make the book appealing to male as well as female readers.

There's a lot more work beyond getting all the story and art done (and that in itself is a challenge), because a self-publisher has to deal with the printer, distributors, shipping, advertising and marketing--the whole business end. But from the responses I've been getting from readers and the trade press, I think I made the right decision to bring out "Eternal Romance".

I've been very fortunate in the positive support I've been getting for "Eternal Romance". I'm carried by Diamond, SyCo and Cold Cut distributors. I've been reviewed/interviewed on TV's Anti-Gravity Room, Comx-TV, CBC radio, PBS public radio, the Ottawa itizen, Combo magazine, The Comics Buyer's Guide (Tony's Tips), Overstreet's Fan, Sphere Gothic e-zine, The Comics Reviewer, and many small press 'zines--not to mention now, Comicopia! I've also just recently been interviewed by the new Space: The Imagination Station, which will be hitting the airwaves in October. And of course, I'm really delighted when readers write or e-mail saying they enjoyed the book or that it made them laugh.

Think hard and long about the reasons you want to self-publish. A lot of young hot-shots want to become the next Todd McFarlane--in the same way that they would want to become rock stars--because they think comics are "cool" and you can make a lot of money overnight. Believe me, it doesn't happen that way. Do research; read all the trade publications ("Indy", "Comics Buyer's Guide", "Comics Retailer", "Comics Journal", "Combo", "Previews", etc.) and check out info on the World Wide Web. Attend conventions with seminars on self-publishing. Get a feel for the current sales climate. Be prepared to spend money up front. Be prepared not to make money right away; in fact, if possible, don't give up your "day job".

A really good piece of advice is one that writer/publisher Mark Shainblum gave to me--try to get several issues of your book "in the can", ready to go to print, before you release the first issue. It's very easy to fall behind on a production schedule, so the farther ahead you are, the better. You'll be surprised how caught up you get on correspondence and the like, all taking away from the actual work of "creating comics". I understand Dave (Cerebus) Sim will be bringing out a book on self-publishing soon, so I recommend picking that up as soon as it's available. I will!

I don't want to turn off anyone out there with a "vision"--after all, that's why I decided to self-publish --so, if after facing all the hard truths you still want to self-publish and you have the funds to support the project, then go for it with all you've got and produce he best work you can.

I'm busy with "Eternal Romance" and my mainstream job on "Ageing International", but I've been approached by the publisher of the "Two-Fisted Science" comic book to illustrate a story about a female scientist for an upcoming edition. The newest issue of "Eternal Romance" (#3, slated for December release) is being offered in the October "Previews" and September/October "SCANS" catalogues under "Best Destiny", so ask your favourite comic shop to order today! [End plug!]

Ronn and I both contributed (individually) to the "No Justice, No Piece!" comic book coming out this October 1997 from Head Press to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. We've also been approached to collaborate on more "Spinnerette" stories.

This year, I've been attending an enormous number of conventions to promote "Eternal Romance". I've been seeing it from behind the table on the pro side and it's a lot of work, but so far, it's still fun. As well, Ronn and I had a fabulous time as Art Guests of honour this year at Con*Cept 97, so I'd like to say "thank you" publicly to the convention organizers. Ronn's and my next big convention is Primedia 97, October 31-November 2, in Markham-Toronto, where we'll learn whether or not we won an Aurora Award for "Perf et Odonto". (Ronn has also been nominated for an additional award for Artistic Achievement.)

I am 100% behind supporting Canada's creators. I'm always secretly delighted when an American fan is shocked to learn that his or her favourite comics artist/author is actually Canadian. On a slightly different note, I do find it a bit disconcerting that I'm ften the only female comics professional on the guest roster--for example, I was the only woman on the Canadian National Comic Book Expo 97 guest list. As a member of Friends of Lulu, an organization dedicated to supporting women in the comics industry, I'm hoping to see that change in future.