My first attempt at a YouTube video. I’ll post more when I get the chance, but between trying to prepare for my departure to Japan and trying to make headway on Tonoharu, it’ll probably be a while!
Year: 2011
Departure Stuff
If you’ve read this entry, then you know that I’ve been lucky enough to be accepted to participate in the JET Program for a second time. I have just a month until I board that plane, and have a lot of preparations left to do… my departure has sort of snuck up on me. I have to admit it hasn’t completely sunk in yet.
One thing that’s helped to make the experience seem more real is I just found out where in Japan I’m going to be. I’m about 30-60min outside of Kyoto. I still don’t know exactly where I’ll be or what age groups I’ll be teaching, I gotta say I couldn’t be more delighted with the location. So for all your people who offered to buy me a beer, know that I’m coming to collect!
Oh, one more thing related to my departure: if anyone’s interested in getting a signed/inscribed copy of Tonoharu from me, place those orders now! Once I leave the US I won’t be able to do them for obvious reasons.
More updates to follow in the coming weeks!
Tonoharu French Sound Effects
Photo Credit: Anne Cavarroc
So I finally got my hands on a copy of the French edition of Tonoharu, and I gotta say it’s a thing of beauty. My French publisher Le Lezard Noir clearly put a great deal of care into the production of the book, and for that they have my gratitude.
I can’t read French so the translation isn’t meaningful to me, but I have enjoyed looking at the way certain sound effects are represented:
(Note: The “Bling” is blurry because of my lousy scanning, not cuz it’s printed that way.)
Just as interesting is seeing what sound effects remain the same: “ha ha”, “clap” and “sniff” don’t change, and “click” just gets the “k” lobbed off. And I never would have suspected that “flush”, “ahem” and “ziiiip” would be the same in French… what can I say, I’m easily amused.
Oh and this is kind of cool: while I was writing this on Thursday afternoon, I hopped on Amazon.fr to look up Tonoharu, and at the time it was the best-selling graphic novel on the site!
At “press time” it’s slid down a few spots, but still; pretty groovy!
Upcoming Talk in Chicago!
Just wanted to mention that I’ll be speaking this upcoming Friday, June 10th, 2011 in Downtown Chicago!
I’ll be there as a part of an author’s panel devoted to experiences teaching English in Japan. The event is sponsored by the Japan American Society of Chicago and the JETAA Chicago Chapter.
This will almost certainly be my last public appearance before I leave for Japan in July, so if you’re in the Chicago area, come out if you can!
Event Details:
What: JETAA Author Panel: Experiences Teaching English in Japan
Who: Me, and authors D.H. Cermeño & James Kennedy
When: Friday, June 10th 2011, 6pm to 8pm
Where: Barnes & Thornburg LLP, 1 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 4400, Chicago, IL 60606 [ Google Maps ]
Admission: $5 JASC & JETAA Members/$10 Non-Members
Space is limited to just 35 attendees, so if you want to go, register now:
http://www.jaschicago.org/en/events/Default.aspx?eventid=184
The Top 5 Freeware Games That I Happen To Have Played Recently.
Okay, this is totally outside the scope of this blog, but I couldn’t think of anything to write this week, so…
Here’s my list (in no particular order). All games are for PC or browser:
1. Redder — Play Online
A Metroid-type game with a shocking twist!
*******************************
2. HeroCore — Download
A tough-as-nails retro shooter! Even on “Normal” mode this game is super hard, and on “Hard” mode it’s impossible. But I beat it somehow. Are you up for the challenge???
*******************************
3. VVVVVV — Play Demo Online — Buy Full Game for $5
Awesome gravity-flipping action! This is the only game on the list that isn’t actually freeware; the two-level demo is free, the whole game will set you back five big ones. But it’s worth it!
*******************************
4. L’Abbaye des Morts — Download
Finally: a game that lets you play as a 13th Century French monk! Awesome Spectrum ZX-style graphics in this fun little platformer.
*******************************
5. Guardian of Paradise — Download
Neat little Zelda-style game. It’s pretty easy, but still fun.
French “Tonoharu” Book Trailer
This is the third entry I’ve written about the French edition of Tonoharu in as many months, which is probably overkill since this blog averages about one French visitor a day.
But the above book trailer my French publisher Le Lezard Noir commisioned is just so cool (and presumably of interest to non-French speakers) I just had to link to it. Many thanks to graphic artist Cindy Bertet for putting it together!
Oh, and if you happen to be that one-a-day French person, you might be interested to know that the French edition of Tonoharu is now available! So pick it up at Amazon.fr or wherever fine comics are sold!
Reviews and more information about the book can be found over at Le Lezard Noir‘s blog (in French, of course).
*****
Oh, and one last thing: I’ll be at SpringCon this weekend, May 21st and 22nd 2011. Details here. Come out if you can!