MAGGIE DELAY AND PREVIEWS
So, this is what happens when you become a better writer.
When we first decided to launch a Kickstarter for MAGGIE THE CAT, I was excited at the chance to tell the story I really wanted to tell, which is to say the story that evolved over a couple of rewrites of my screenplay based on the original graphic novel. Along the way, I learned a thing or three about good storytelling and was blessed with input from some generous folks who pointed out that something was missing. That something turned out to be another character to give Maggie more depth and conflict (as if saving the world from a deadly terror plot wasn’t enough) in her personal life and her interaction with her SAS liaison Ryan James.
What began as a sort of female James Bond became an intricate web of dangerous relationships more Hitchcock than Fleming and a story that I’m very proud of. Then came the hard part: fitting all that new material and nuance into the 10 pages I had allotted myself.
It didn’t fit. I tried and tried to cram all the new elements of the screenplay storyline into 10 pages and just couldn’t do it and do justice to the material.
Then I realized that, with our new format of 64 pages, I didn’t have to worry about a break at a certain point and I could simply tell the story as it needed to be told in however many pages it took (within the 64- page limit of course). That’s the point where The Writer took over. I scrapped the condensed version and concentrated on good storytelling.
Unfortunately, The Writer didn’t consult with The Artist and I found myself faced with not 10 but 15 new pages of story to draw. Which brings us to this point.
I had originally planned to have the book in the hands of all our contributing partners by the end of June, but we now find ourselves pushing to get it shipped by then. Pages are at the colorist and letterer and everyone is working their… um… brains off, especially my team at MasterStroke Studios who’ve backed me from the beginning.
I apologize for the delay, but I think you’ll agree that telling the story right is more important. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Meanwhile, I’m sending along a teaser that will introduce you to a character who will challenge and tempt Maggie in ways she and I never dreamed possible.
Mike
