Elf~Fin Leaks and Peeks 27

A slightly different snapshot than you're used to... more to come in the upcoming weeks. But more importantly, the first issue of Hyfus & Tilaweed is coming soon.

Photos 1 – The BMP (Classic) Team

We thought we might post a series of nostalgic Black Mermaid Productions (BMP) photos so you can check out what we've been up to through the years—this one is of the Classic team, which included co-writer Bruce Love. This photo was taken in Bruce and Jozef's Darlinghurst apartment in Sydney during the early 90s when we were working on ElfQuest: WaveDancers. Julie lived in Balmain and Birchgrove, which was about 15 minutes away. Most of our creative work was done from the couch with quick sojourns to Jozef's drawing desk where he sketched or painted away. It was a great creative partnership and we bounced ideas around with relish. It's fabulous when a team is on the same wavelength. 


Bruce left in 2003 and is doing wonderfully well in his chosen field. Jozef and Julie are focusing on Elf~Fin as you know. We were fresh-faced, young and naive when we started and now we're a little more seasoned. We also look a little different as one would expect—Jozef's hair is short and Julie has gone from dark blonde to red. 


This photo has been framed in Julie's office all these years, and today is the first time it's been scanned and released on our blog. We'll have more for you soon.

Elf~Fin Leaks and Peeks 26

This is Lyban and Fillayne. We wonder what got her attention... Find out in the first issue of Elf~Fin: Hyfus & Tilaweed to be released in a few months time.

New Book by ‘Hippo’ Author Helps You Become an "Authorpreneurs"

A new book by renowned children’s author Hazel Edwards (and supporter of all things comics on the Australian scene!), has just been published to help writers, illustrators and comics creators build sustainable careers in a rapidly changing industry. Best known for her book There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake, Edwards’ latest title Authorpreneurship: The business of creativity shows authors how they can invest in their creativity to increase their professional opportunities.

Today’s creator needs to be an ‘authorpreneur’—an originator and an entrepreneur. Apart from crafting words or images for specific audiences, this means learning the marketing, publicity, technological, legal and entrepreneurial skills to establish and maintain. Authors have become small businesses, so they need new tools to maximise their business opportunities. They also need support to adapt to a fast-changing, digital, global industry.  

This practical book offers strategies for beginner, mid-list and highly experienced creators to help sell work for longer, in varied new formats and to larger audiences by: 

• Building an author brand
• Networking in person and online
• Becoming a strategic thinker
• Writing effective proposals
• Costing your time
• Delegating or collaborating
• Developing effective business systems.

It includes checklists, hints, case studies and hypothetical scenarios to help authors explore the situations they might encounter as an authorpreneur.

Published by Keesing Press, the print book is available for $24.95 through the Australian Society of Authors’ website.

The e-book will be available from Hazel Edwards' website in a month.