Hello everyone, first and foremost, it’s the 4th anniversary of Living Machines as of March 1st! (yes I forgot again this year as well, what can ya do?) Which is just crazy!
So! I had the crashout of the century this November like nobody’s business! Severe family issue that sent me into a mental health tailspin right as I needed to lock-in and get the December chapter done, which severely sucks because this is the only chapter that needed to get done for December specifically. And while it’s annoying I’ve mostly just hit a total breaking point with the mistreatment I’ve been receiving. So, as of the holidays, I have completely cut ties with my mother with no room for reconciliation. I tried to keep the door cracked as long as I could, but some things will never change, and I will not spend another second holding onto something that does nothing but hurt me. I’m done. It’s over.
I needed a lot of time to deal with this and I just needed some time away from the webcomic in general. This lovely little project had been my bread and butter for so long, but it was starting to stop being fun. I needed a big break. And so, I have taken one.
However, I am not one to keep idle hands, my friends. As I have been working passionately on a new project.
Firstly, my website, (You are here!) is now fully finished both desktop and mobile! (with only one real stupid minor problem on mobile that I’m working on fixing but aaa it’s fine!)
Secondly, my husband and I are moving back to America! So, that’ll be quite the adventure coming back home! Norway was lovely, but it’s time to head on back!
And Thirdly- I have written a book!
Book description: Ruaidri was only a young boy of ten years when a demonic parasitic creature known as a beast ripped through his home, leaving him the last survivor of the red fox village.
Years later, Ruaidri had managed to find a place to call home once again. Now the apprentice of the crabby but kind-hearted inn-keeper, Ruaidri is beginning to pull the pieces of his shattered life back together as the seedy bounty hunting bar becomes his new home.
What Ruaidri never anticipated was the horrible demon returning and it was here to destroy everything he loved.
With the help of the eccentric regulars- a bitter exiled magician, a fiery horseback archer, a cheery possessed thief, and the mysterious hooded figure who had been there longer than anyone, Ruaidri has vowed to avenge his family and kill the Beast before it kills him and everyone he loves.
Since my official November CrashoutTM, I needed to do something else. I had totally and completely burnt myself out on comics and needed something new to sink my teeth into and boy did I ever! In the past four months I have been relentlessly writing my first Fantasy novel- Red.
I’ve only just completed the first draft, and who knows how long editing, finding an editor, and beta readers will be, but I’m mighty proud of myself and I’ve never felt so creatively fulfilled. It’s been a long time since I’ve made something new, and I’m just really happy.
I know a lot of my update and hiatus posts are generally kinda negative, and honestly November through January had been some of the hardest, but these past few months I’ve really really been happy. I’ve been happy pursuing writing and story-telling again, making something new, preparing to move back home, and finally accepting that I need to let go of this relationship. I’m finding happiness and fulfillment again creatively, and though you’re probably here for my comics, I truly hope when Red reaches completion, you all would be interested in giving it a read, it would mean the world to me.
So, all that to say, what’s going on with Living Machines now? Well, the hiatus is going to continue. Normally I set myself a time limit for these things, but honestly I’m not quite sure when Living machines will be back as I’m focusing more on writing and finding myself re-discovering my love of animation. It will not be abandoned, but it will definitely be getting a good long rest for a good long while. I’m not sure how long, but I appreciate all of your understanding towards this decision. It wasn’t an easy one. Along with mourning the true ending of my relationship with my mother, I kinda had to mourn the comic a little too. It’s been my baby and my life for so long, it felt sad to admit I needed to put it down for a while.
So, all that to say-
I’m really happy now, and I’m feeling hopeful for the future for the first time in a long time.
I wrote a fantasy book! I’ll keep you all updated and defo stick around for updates and such!
If you’re interested in being a beta reader for Red, please let me know in the comments or reach out to me via the email on my contact page. I’d love any feedback I can get!
Living machines is now on indefinite hiatus, thank you so much for four years, 111 followers, and 36k views of my silly little guys and my silly little projects. I will return, but it’s time to do something else for a bit.
-AJC