{original post unavailable}

Thanks...no, the book is my own creation, a 24 issue miniseries,
and I'll be writing all 24 of them. Issues 1, 0 and the Preview Issue
script are all in, and they're planning to make it their main big event
for the year.

jms

{original post unavailable}

I think #1 is slated for May or June.

Because the Wizard Top Cow issue is coming out a month sooner
than they had anticipated, apparently the 0 issue will have the Preview
script, and the Preview issue will have the 0 script, 'cause it's
essential that the Preview come out first, one way or another.

jms

Rick Shelton <72560.3114@compuserve.com> asks:
> Wow, you don't take too much time off, do you?

"Wow, you don't take too much time off, do you?"

Not since I was 17. That was when I started writing, at a level
of 10 pages per day, and I haven't stopped running since.

jms

T.P.Chai <104674.3064@compuserve.com> asks:
> So the "Top Cow" issue will have the preview?

The Top Cow/Wizard issue will have the script for the preview
issue, which will be published as issue 0...and the book that will be
published as the preview will have the script for what would be issue
0...the thing is to make sure that the various parts and pieces come
out in the correct sequence.

They're both 16 pages, both similar in all the same production
elements, it's just the sequence of the story we're trying to make sure
stay right.

jms

Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com> asks:
> Didn't you tell me last year that after season five wrapped that
> you were going to make more of an effort to take some time off
> and enjoy some of the simpler things in life that you never have
> time for, such as watching a sunrise or something?

No, for me it's never a problem as far as the writing goes.
It's usually all the OTHER stuff that makes me nuts...the dealing with
studios and networks and suits and the like. The writing is the reward
for dealing with the rest. In particular as far as RISING STARS
goes...this is a form that is still fairly new to me, so it's an
ongoing learning experience, and that's great, it uses parts of the
brain that don't normally get used in this way.

I don't think you can ever get burned out on something you love
doing.

jms

{original post had no questions}

"My new Crusade hat is off to you!"

Available now at www.thestation.com.....

Thankyew....

jms

Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com> asks:
> Joe, Will we be able to purchase RISING STARS online once it gets
> released? Will it be available through the Emporium perhaps?

What you have to remember is that at one time or another, with
the rare exception of celebrities, every published novelist was an
unknown, unpublished novelist...every screenwriter or television writer
was an unknown, untested writer. I came to LA with no friends or
contacts in the industry. I came out of the streets of New Jersey and
elsewhere, sans silver spoon in mouth.

The work, and the quality of the work, is what ultimately makes
the difference, if you're willing to stay with it and if the qualitiy
is, in fact, there. I'm an annoying person; I'm a perfectionist; I'm
cranky and far from politic. By all rights I should be hard-core
unemployable; I've always been this way. And I've always worked.
Because when the moment comes to put black marks down on a white sheet
of paper...I do it fairly well.

jms

{original post had no questions}

Yeah...it's always a mug's game. I've been fairly lucky that
way; I'd say that about 80% of what I've written has been either
published or produced. The one area where things have sold or been
optioned but never produced has been in the area of non-TV movie
screenplays. I guess it's in part because my heart isn't in it as much
as television, and because the stories I tend to do in screenplay form
tend to be little character stories, which are fun, but not big
smash'up adventures, which seems like all they're buying these days.

jms

I just got back from a meeting at Top Cow (a division of Image),
which is publishing RISING STARS, a 24 issue miniseries I'm writing.
I've turned in the preview issue, issue 0, 1 and 2...and they've
decided to make this their number one priority for this year. Some
copies of the preview script have been leaked to a few places by TC,
and the reaction has been enormous. A number of comics retail chains
are going to throw their weight behind it, several magazines are
planning major stories on it, there have already option inquiries by
studios...anyway, it's fun. This is an arena I haven't played in that
much, and the reception that the material is getting is just nifty.

For those who've inquired, here's more of the skinny: the
preview issue, and issue 0, will be published in March/April. The
former will be packaged free with bagged copies of Wizard Magazine
(it'll be the Top Cow issue). It really gives you a sense of the book,
and where it's going. So if you want to check it out, I'd strongly
suggest getting the preview book.

The first actual issue appears on newsstands in June. They want
the two months for heat to rise after folks see what's in the preview
and the zero issues.

Basically, what I've tried is to do in the comics form what we
did with B5...and so far, it seems to be working. A few reporters I've
spoken to who've seen the material think it may be the big event of the
year in comics (which is very flattering, but I'm always skeptical of
such pronouncements; only the readers can decide that).

Anyway, for those who are B5 or comics fans and want to check it
out, them's the figures. There may be shortages, I'm told, even though
they're going for a huge print run on issue 1 and the preview issue, so
you may want to place an order with your local comics store to hold 'em
for you.

The great thing, for me, is that even though we're doing this
story for adults, with a lot of hard hitting stuff, it's a) at heart,
in the end, an optimistic story, and b) though it has adult themes, and
some elements that may be controversial, they're handled in a way that
parents shouldn't worry about their kids seeing 'em, as B5 dealt with
themes in such a way that they crossed generational lines.

Anyway, if you couldn't tell, I'm *real* proud of the book, and
wanted to pass that along.

jms

{original post had no questions}

Thanks for providing that; hopefully some kind soul will place
that info elsewhere, such as the newsgroups, so they won't get shorted
when the things hit. Thanks again.

jms

{original post had no questions}

Cool, I didn't know about the GO COMICS forum. Yeah, that
should make it easier to get the things, thanks.

jms

Richard M Perry <76461.2737@compuserve.com> asks:
> (this week's episode changed their opinion though) A question
> from class, in the scene where we see Gideon and Lochley heading
> toward the shower together, did you intentionally pick that
> specific ship to dock with the station? The ship docking was
> obviously placed for its subliminal value, but did you
> intentionally use that ship design? Who was Mr. Kitty?
> Was he your cat?
> How are things going with you?
> Have you played the South Park or Star Wars Racer games yet?
> When you play as Jesus and he gets hit, his comment is "You don't
> want to go to hell, do you?" What else can you say about racing
> your friends at 600 MPH? So, when is the next time you'll be in
> Florida? Is Top Cow bringing you back to Megacon next March?
> (Maybe next year though) Speaking of which, have you gotten back
> into your comic book habit yet? What books are you reading lately?

Don't know about Marcon yet; nothing's set. As for the image of
the ship docking at that particular moment...yeah, that was most
definitely deliberate. When I, er, inserted it during editing, the
editor just *looked* at me and said "you are just sick and wrong."

jms

>My local shop didn't know when I stoped in last weekend. However,
>Diamond Dist. has it listed for the 18th (I'll believe it when I see it)
>and they also had No Honor #3 listed for the same week, which seems to
>be a bit early IMHO.

That actually sounds about right on both counts, though you need to add a day
for the holiday, so both books are out on the 19th.

jms

(jmsatb5@aol.com)
(all message content (c) 2001 by synthetic worlds, ltd.,
permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine
and don't send me story ideas)

>OK, stupid question time. I'm probably asking the question in the wrong
>forum,
>but here it goes. I think that No Honor #4 will be released in
>June. Why did Top Cow choose to release two issues of it April? Why not
>release
>issue #3 in May?

Dunno...my guess is they're taking advantage of the fact that, as I understand
it, they got all the scripts in for that book early, and since some other books
tend to get delayed for various reasons, they wanted to go the other way for a
change.

But that's only my theory.

>One last thing. Sorry about the 'I'll believe it when I see it' crack. I was
>a
>little disappointed when I found out it was going to be two weeks
>late. I should have held my tongue.

It's okay. We hit a delay when the artist cut out on us, but we're getting
back on track again. The art on this new issue is easiliy the best we've had
to date.
jms

(jmsatb5@aol.com)
(all message content (c) 2001 by synthetic worlds, ltd.,
permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine
and don't send me story ideas)

>Has anyone heard any updates on this? I have not seen any on JMS's website,
>but I know sometimes people here have access to information. Supreme Power
>is definitely filling a void, but we need closure on The Specials!

I've asked Top Cow for three things: for Dream Police back, since they've had
it now for 3 years and have done nothing with it...for confirmation that the
Joe's Comics title belongs to me, and for an apology for deliberately keeping
me out of the loop on my own project at the feature stage and misleading me
about drafts that had come in.

Once those three things have been attended to, I can finish the series.


jms

(jmsatb5@aol.com)
(all message content (c) 2003 by synthetic worlds, ltd.,
permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine
and don't send me story ideas)