Happy New Year – 2012

Seasonal Greetings for the Festive Period

Hi Everyone,

I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas that tonight ends a good year and tomorrow brings you a successful New Year.

We have had delays in the shipping of the graphic novels from our printers in Bosnia, hence the lack of promotional material from us this month. Our momentum was suddenly ground to a halt following the wonderfully successful launches in Malta and here in the UK where we saw all the launch books sell out. The UK ones lasted for only an hour and half before we ran out. Something we always hoped would happen, but something, which one cannot ever predict.

We have now been told that at long last and massively overdue that the books are in the UK in customs, so hopefully they should arrive with us here this week. Once the books have been unloaded, opened and checked over they will be shipped out ASAP. Thanks to everyone that placed an advanced pre-order (some from way back in September when the pre-sales were posted on the Wizards Keep website) – we really appreciate your patience.

Provision is being put into place for any subsequent reprints and the printing of the other graphic novels in the series to ensure this kind of delay will not happen again.

The books are wonderfully printed and bound and I will be posting more about this once the books finally arrive. I will also be Blogging about my fantastic third Malta Convention where I first opened and looked at the launch copies of the books, having arrived at the airport for the flight out to Malta just before the advanced launch copies arrived here at the Keep.

This month has been a time to rest and to catch up with family and friends and I have enjoyed every moment of it. I have watched many films over this time, which has been a great change of pace, especially after the madness that was 2011 – the year of Worlds End for me.

Thanks to my long suffering friends and family that have seen little of me for a couple of years now, whilst I worked on this first volume.

Thanks also to the folks that helped me to create the first book in my graphic novel series, Yel Zamor, Albert Deschesne, Paul Finch, James Hill, and Rob Sharp – Bryan Talbot and John Ridgway for their continued support and writing their marvellous Foreword and Introductions in the book, respectively and those fortunate folk that managed to get hold a book at both of the launches and have since written to me and commented on the Internet with their thoughts on it.

Some exciting news about the Worlds End project; as well as the video trailer, which has been very successful for us as we promote the project, please check out the new “all-ages friendly” WORLDS END Website.

http://www.worlds-end.co.uk/

Here you will see the first pages from the story and lots of extras. You will also be able to purchase the books and other Worlds End related products. Over time you will also see some specially written stories from the saga, which you can read online.

On a personal note I am about to begin writing the final draft for volume 2, later than I had first thought, but I had needed to take the break as a much necessary rest. Once this is done I will begin the process of drawing again. Look for some posts soon here and on the Wizards Keep and Worlds End websites where I will share some early pencil artwork.

All that remains before the next batch of Blogs in the New Year is for me to wish one and all an incredibly Happy New Year!!!

Until next time, have fun!


Tim Perkins…
December 31st 2011

Worlds End – Graphic Novel – Teaser...

Check out the NEW video Trailer!!!

Hi Everyone,

Well it’s been a while, again, and even Bentley was too busy this time around to help me out with the Blog, due to his commitments with his new family of puppies.

Now then, at long last we are able to announce lots of new things have been happening during this quiet lull in proceedings, although it has hardly been a lull here inside the Keep.

Coming up below is the Video Trailer for the first volume of Worlds End, for you to view.

November and December of 2011 are the two biggest months in the existence of Wizards Keep as all the interim years of preparation come to their final fruition, starting with...

WORLD LAUNCH EVENT

The world launch of the graphic novel is going to be taking place during the weekend of Saturday November 26th and Sunday27th at the usual spectacular venue of St James Cavalier in the capital city of Valletta on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Malta.

There will be more guests than ever this year and the line up looks like this:

Christopher Malapitan
David Lloyd
Emma Vieceli
Gary Erskine
Jon Haward
Kate Brown
Lucio Parrillo
Marco Santucci
Michael Golden
Renee Witterstaetter
Sean Azzopardi
Sonia Leong
Steve Tanner
Thomas Gosselin
and of course me

There will also be lots of local talent and I am looking forward to seeing their new work.

I am going out for longer this year, as along with David Lloyd I will be delivering a series of workshops in schools and a children’s workshop on Saturday morning. Both David and I are also scheduled to deliver a seminar each, which is going to be fun to do. I am really excited this year because of the launching of the book, but also because I will be around the week before the convention, as everything is set up for it.

This is a very special trip though due to the launching of my first graphic novel and also due to the warmth and support that has been afforded me by the organisers and my new found fan base over there.

As usual I will be blogging about my experience out there when I get chance after the launches.

UK LAUNCH EVENT

The UK launch is taking place on December the 1st, the day after I arrive back from the Malta trip. The venue for the launch is Darwen Aldridge Community Academy and starts at 6:30 p.m.

There will be complimentary drinks and nibbles and of course I will be there along with close family and friends and invited guests, including some stalwarts of the comic industry, which I am really looking forward to – the folks not the drinks... LOL.

I will be signing the books on the night and I will personalise and also remark them if you want me to.

Please feel free to come along for a chat and to check out the graphic novel.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as I can at both events.
Well the moment of truth is almost at hand and I will finish by saying that I hope you like the Trailer. Please feel free to like, favourite, subscribe to the channel and comment on the trailer itself.

Coming along soon will be the release of the brand new Worlds End Website, where you can follow all the current news on the project.

For me December will see me begin the final draft of the script for Worlds End Volume 2 – A Hard Reign is Gonna Fall. January will then see me begin working on the pencils for the book, whilst James edits the script for me once more.

The production of these second and consecutive books should be far easier to manage, as the dream team are now in place. But that is later next month, there is still a lot to sort out this week.

Just before I sign off, however I would just like to say a few words about the Bogtrotters. We’ll be showing some wonderful photos of Bentley with Pixie and their four puppies soon. One pup, a little female called Alexis, has already been taken to her new home. The other two females, awaiting names are due to go the day before I set off for MaltaComicCon 3 and the little male, Bentley, named after his dad will be going, sadly, the day before I arrive back, so I will be saying goodbye to him before I leave for the sunny shores of Malta. It’s been really nice having four extra Bogtrotters around and Bentley’s legacy is now set to grow.

Until next time, have fun!

Tim Perkins…
November 17th 2011

Worlds End – Graphic Novel – Pre-Orders...

Now available to order from the Wizards Keep Website + Entry into a Grand Prize Draw

Hi Everyone,

As reported yesterday, Worlds End – Volume 1 – The Riders on the Storm is now available on Pre-Order in advance of its launch in November of this year from Wizards Keep Publishing

Each pre-order will also receive an exclusive signed and numbered limited edition print, created especially for this event that will never be made available after the general release of the book. This is in thanks for your support with this project.

And always ones to make it worthwhile to our fans and supporters here at Wizards Keep we thought we do something a little special, so here's a little extra something we neglected to mention yesterday.

The name of everyone that makes an order between yesterday Friday 26th August 2011 and midnight of the day the books arrive here at the Keep will be placed into a draw.

The winner of the draw will receive a very limited edition Gweldar Bronze resin figurine one of only 5 in existence.

The draw will be made by a comic book celebrity during the first week of the books arrival here at the Keep.

Will you be the lucky one?

Good Luck everyone!!!

And Jack, if you are watching and I hope you are...

Happy Birthday for tomorrow to the King of Comics!!!!

Until next time, have fun!

Tim Perkins…

August 27th 2011

Worlds End – Graphic Novel – Pre-Orders...

Now available to order from the Wizards Keep Website

Hi Everyone,

Yes, at long last I am able to tell you that Worlds End – Volume 1 – The Riders on the Storm is now available on Pre-Order in advance of its launch in November of this year from Wizards Keep Publishing.

Each pre-order will also receive an exclusive signed and numbered limited edition print, created especially for this event that will never be made available after the general release of the book.

I am billing the Worlds End Saga as a timeless All-Ages storyline that fuses Fantasy and Sci-Fi into a Science Fusion Epic, creating a NEW mythology for a NEW audience, but what is it all about I hear you ask?.

Well, a Mathemagician, called Gweldar, his familiar, Geek, a young boy, Ralf and a mysterious girl called Zephol are all that stand before an invading alien horde intent of aqua-forming the otherwise tranquil planet in the far reaches of space, but are they enough to stop the myriad forces, known as the Aoevill from the depths of outer space and solve the mystery of Worlds End…?

Above, the front artwork for the wraparound hardback cover.

And so it begins with…

“On the third planet from the outer rim of the Squatsretch system lies a world untainted by evil. Its myriad inhabitants going about their daily lives without worry or fear…

That is until today…”

All content COPYRIGHT © 1987 – 2011 TIM PERKINS – Licensed to Wizards Keep.

All rights reserved.

PRE-ORDER your copy TODAY!

European Format

Case Bound Cover

Fully illustrated

88 full colour pages + Cover and illustrated Endpages

Foreword by Bryan Talbot

Introduction by John Ridgway 

Afterword by Tim Perkins

Product ID Code: WEGN001

Price £15.99 + Postage & Packing

ISBN: 978-0-9570310-0-5

Well it has been a long while in the making, but I hope you get as much fun out of this first volume, as I have had in creating it.

Until next time, have fun!

Tim Perkins…

August 26th 2011

BLOGTROTTING with Bentley...

Emerson Lake & Palmer Bentley – the untold story Part 05

Hi Everyone,

Well here we are for the fifth and last for now in my series of fun Photo-Blogs, as promised the other week.

This latest one has me appearing on the Mussorgsky inspired album cover art... "Pictures at an Exhibition!" Please click on the picture below to see the larger version.

I hope you have enjoyed them, as much as I have creating them.

Thanks to everyone that has commented and sent me emails and joined me on Twitter, since I have started this little Bogtrotting Project.

Please don't forget you can check out the "real" Prog Rock band members via their website here at Emerson Lake & Palmer

Next up will be my Dad again.

Until next time, have fun - I'm off to eat a new bone!

Bentley “Bogtrotter”…
July 29th 2011

BLOGTROTTING with Bentley...

Emerson Lake & Palmer Bentley – the untold story Part 04

Hi Everyone,

Well here we are for the fourth in my series of fun Photo-Blogs, as promised last week.

This latest one has me appearing on the H.R. Giger painted album cover art... Yes, me, as a Giger “Alien”

I hope you are still enjoying them.

Next up is Pictures at an Exhibition... LOL

Until next time, have fun!

Bentley “Bogtrotter”…
July 14th 2011

BLOGTROTTING with Bentley...

Emerson Lake & Palmer Bentley – the untold story Part 03

Hi Everyone,

Well here we are for the third in my series of fun Photo-Blogs, as promised last week.

This latest one has me joining the other band members on the Trilogy – Quadrilogy painted album cover art.

I hope you are still enjoying them.

Next up is Brain Salad Purgery... LOL

Until next time, have fun!

Bentley “Bogtrotter”…
July 7th 2011

BLOGTROTTING with Bentley...

Emerson Lake & Palmer Bentley – the untold story Part 02

Hi Everyone,

Well here we are for the second in my series of fun Photo-Blogs, as promised last week.

This one has me in the title role of the character from the album of the same name - Tarkus...

Next on up is Trilogy – Quadrilogy.

I hope you enjoy this one too.

Until next time, have fun!

Bentley “Bogtrotter”…
June 30th 2011

BLOGTROTTING with Bentley...

Emerson Lake & Palmer Bentley – the untold story Part 01

Hi Everyone,

Well here we are for the first in my series of fun Photo-Blogs, as promised last week.

Mum and Dad bought me a real leather bomber flight jacket with fleeced lining for my birthday back in April of this year and Dad commented on how it looked like the ones that ELP used to wear back in the seventies, so I began to think...

I thought it would be fun to imagine what it would be like if I was part of the original line-up for the band, if I was a puppy back in the ‘70s but they had kept my name out of the limelight. Here I am below with the guys in the snow.

I had a great time messing with the artwork and photos in Photoshop and Dad introduced me to their fantastic progressive rock music too, which is now on my playlist of favourites.

So with that in mind I have decided to look at what the covers to the albums would have looked like if I had been a band member.

Next up will be Tarkus...

You can check out their website here at Emerson Lake & Palmer

I had great fun compiling these and look forward to hearing what you think of my Blogs.

There won’t be too many, but I hope you enjoy them a lot.

Until next time, have fun!

Bentley “Bogtrotter”…
June 23rd 2011

BLOGTROTTING with Bentley...

Bentley takes over this Blog for a few posts...

Hi Everyone,

I can’t believe my Dad has let me take over his Blog for a short while, but with him being so busy working on his graphic novel, he decided it was better to have something up here rather than nothing, so here I am.

Well I thought that with this first Blog of mine I would let you all in on some very exciting news. I have a new girlfriend, who arrived a few weeks ago. Her name is Pixie and she is beautiful.

She is a little younger than me, as she is only sixteen months old.

She is slowly getting used to the ways things work at home and one of her favourite pastimes is tugging on her knotted rope toys, although I like to have my peace and quiet times, so let her get on with it herself a lot of the times, as I need a rest after all the work I do for Dad here at the Keep.

Everyone is excited at home, but not as much as I am and who knows what the future will hold for us both.

I hope you like her photo, which I have posted here.

Over the next few posts I am going to be having a bit of fun with you all and I hope you enjoy them as much as I am creating them.

I won’t spoil things by telling you what the Blogs will be about, but I’ll leave you with a little teaser clue.

“A trio of bards and an alien artist will be the subject of one of the Blogs”

There will be a prize for the first person to give me the correct answer here before the next Blog is launched...

Until next time, have fun!

Bentley “Bogtrotter”…
June 16th 2011

MaltaComiCon3...

Yes it’s back for a third year...

Hi Guys,

I know I promised that the next Blog would be handed over to Bentley and indeed the next one will be his, but with his permission I have commandeered my Blog to announce something big here today.

I am ecstatic to tell you all that I have just recently been invited as a guest for the third year running to Malta’s Comic Convention.

This year the show will be on Saturday 26th November and Sunday 27th November 2011. The organisers are hoping to be able to introduce a pre-opening party on Friday 25th as well.

It looks as though for the first time the event will be able to use the whole of St. James Cavalier this year. This means more rooms and as a consequence more international artists and writers will be in attendance, 10 in total, which makes it even more of an honour to be asked along again.

The organizers have a limited number of free tables for foreign creators/comic related companies who wish to take part in the Comic Con. Arrangements will be made for cheap accommodation rates, as well as the cheaper charter flight prices too. So feel free to spread the word. Although by no means exclusive this initiative is mainly aimed at assisting the independent scene.

There will be the usual panels, discussions, workshops, sketching and signings and I will post more on those as they are finalised.

The line up of guests looks impressive for the third year running and the organisers will be announcing the guest list soon. In the meantime I thought a teaser would be in order.

For any further information please check out the official website:

www.maltacomic-con.com/ 

As any regular readers of this humble little Blog of mine will already know, I cannot say enough good things about the convention. For those of you still to hear what I have to say about the two previous year’s events in Malta feel free to check out my Blogs here:

• 1st Annual Malta Comic Con Part 01
• 1st Annual Malta Comic Con Part 02
• 1st Annual Malta Comic Con Part 03
• 2nd Annual Malta Comic Con Part 01
• 2nd Annual Malta Comic Con Part 02
• 2nd Annual Malta Comic Con Part 03

For me have a book to try to finish before then and I cannot wait to see all my Maltese friends and fans once more.

Until next time, have fun!

Tim Perkins…
May 6th 2011

Return of the Wanderer...

Or, Bogtrotters, Blogs and Business, as usual...

Hi Guys,

Well, here we are with almost a quarter of the year gone already and nary a Blog in sight from me in recent months, since January. Now for some of you that may be a Godsend, but some of you I know have missed my musings.

With the production of the Worlds End graphic novel in full swing there hasn’t been too much time for anything other than painting the pages and working on the design elements and in a few short days more of the illustrations too, including the cover. I'll post a Blog update on the current state of play with Worlds End soon.

It was with that in mind that I realised something else was amiss. A few weeks ago saw me celebrate my latest birthday with my family, which as those regulars amongst you and fans of his will know already, I share my birthday with my little furry mate, Bentley “Bogtrotter.” Now unfortunately with all the rushing around, and with barely enough time to take some time off to go along with my family for a fantastic meal (as always) to a nearby Italian restaurant, Mangiamos in Darwen, I neglected to Blog about our mutual birthdays.

It was this in mind, however, that a new series of “quick” Blogs, which shall henceforth become known as Blogetts here at the Keep, came to mind.

The first one entitled “BLOGtrotting with Bentley” will have Bentley introducing some exciting news. The ones to follow will also star Bentley in what I hope folks will enjoy as a bit of light-hearted fun before I begin a new series of more serious Blogs, whilst also seeing me start to actively promote the book again.

Thanks for waiting around, your patience and your support.

Until next time, have fun!

Tim Perkins…
April 26th 2011

2011 – Countdown to the launch begins...

Exciting year here at the Keep...

Hi Guys,

I thought I would just drop a few quick lines today to bring you all up to speed and apologise for the distinct lack of Blogs from me over the past twelve months, much less definitely than in previous years.

All I seem to be doing at the moment is working on Worlds End, which is now over the halfway mark, as far as having completed pages, which is excellent news for me and my family too – who look to the days when the book is finally in their hands and they can have a bit more of my time again.

I have just spent the last couple of days, going over and sorting out the artwork files, so I can send off the script for Richard to letter the book. I still have to finalise the sizes of the pages, as we have switched to European, or to be more precise the French Album format and size and to a case bound cover with a bound in ribbon bookmark, or at least that is the plan at the moment.

I have some business stuff to sort out tomorrow and then it is back on with the artwork again. The plan is to produce all the backgrounds for the remainder of the book and then go back in and paint the characters and SFX. In the new week, or two I will also produce the pencils for the illustrations needed to complete the inner pages, no clues here, as to what those are for...you’ll need to get hold of a copy...LOL.

I will also be drawing and then digitally painting the cover too, which I have finally designed.

The cover art is usually one of the first things I create, but for some reason I went through lots of ideas before I finally convinced myself that this was the one to use.

This will be the next full art I will display on-line for promotional and marketing purposes – mainly so everyone knows what the book is going to look like when it is on the shelves for real.

The real inspiration at the moment is coming from the multitude of emails, e-comments on the networks and telephone calls from everyone saying such marvellous things about my latest work. The long hours don’t seem quite, so long and arduous when you guys say such positive remarks...so thanks, it does me more good than the endless streams of caffeine laden drinks I have consumed of late.

I have some new Blogs about comics and the industry lined up, but they are only titles at the moment and take time to write, time I can now ill afford right now, as I try to finish the book as soon as possible. So, if you’ll forgive me I’ll sort these as and when I can.

In the meantime, in lieu of the cover art being displayed, you’ll have seen that there is another miscellaneous teaser panel above for you guys, as my way of saying thanks again for all your support. It really does mean the world to me.

Look out for another teaser panel soon.

Until next time, have fun!

Tim Perkins…
January 18th 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR...

All the very best to everyone, wherever you may be...

Hi Guys,

I thought I would just drop a few quick lines today to wish you all a very happy & Prosperous New Year in 2011.

I hope wherever you are, you are enjoying it with those you love and are safe and well.

See you in 2011...

Until next time, have fun!

Tim Perkins…
January 1st 2010