In the finest tradition of classic cinema tributes, this episode is titled after the lyrics from Simon and Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson”, which debuted in the film “The Graduate” in 1967. In many ways, I think you will find it wholly appropriate. Enjoy. ;3
~Mace
Couple important updates to our status around here. First of all, Glance and I are gearing up to start Chapter 5: “Goodbye Mrs. Robinson” on Monday with the new issue cover. As for our “absence”, well, it’s been a bit nuts. A while back, I told everyone that Tea would be posting up some juicy filler in our absence. A number of technological failures prevented a steady stream of updates. After A-Kon in Dallas, Tea disappeared on us abruptly, and we all began to worry. She has some health concerns that are not life threatening as long as she monitors things such as her diet, medication and stress levels. Last night, I asked Glance to try one more time to get ahold of her, and it turns out that she had some kind of emergency surgery. I don’t have all the details, but the good news is, she’s out of any immediate danger and is home resting. The bad news is that we are sans colorist for an indeterminate period of time while she convalesces. Which is a “minor complication” because I am working almost full time for Darkbrain, and Glance has a ton of comic work of her own stacking up. In addition to that, while I was stressing about our move, A-Kon and later Tea’s absence, I had sorta let our script backlog lapse. So I had to stop everything ELSE I was doing and write Episode 5.
For this coming update, Glance will take over coloring duties. But subsequent updates are still a touch “in the air”. I may end up doing some, or I may have to temporarily contract out. However, I need to go on record right now and say that the “contract out” option is looking EXTREMELY bleak. We are currently unemployed and living entirely on what we scrape together from our fans and clients online, which is a whole lotta “not much” right now. It’s growing, but far too slowly for our immediate needs. So in addition to wishing Tea well and praying for her speedy recovery, you may wish to strongly consider donating a few dollars to our Chip-in event that is still ongoing until July 21. I figure I’ll need to acquire another $30 to $60 per WEEK in order to hire an artist of sufficient talent to step into Tea’s shoes. Now, I do want to point out that I am also offering bonus incentives as well as access to the Members area (on a lifetime basis) to anyone who donates $5 or more. So please consider helping us out if you have the spare coin. In addition to supporting the fun smut you’ve all come to enjoy, you’ll get some great bonuses to be devised by all of the various artists who have come into contact with Ship in a Bottle in the past, as long as I can afford it.
Thanks for your time.
~Mace
I’m going to try the Juicy Ads Mobile ads. This will be unfortunate for the mobile readers, initially, but I am using my own smartphone to test whether you can actually view the site or not. If not, then I will discontinue it next week.
Ok, so I guess Tea was having some problems with her computer. I have also been incommunicado, but that is because Glance and I have been in the process of moving for weeks and weeks now. Tea had this awesome plan for a month long filler, then it kersploded! So, here we are. Glance and I are now safe and sound in Tucson, but don’t expect a return to the regular story just yet. We’re still preparing for a trip BACK to Dallas on Wednesday to take on A-Kon. As an interesting set of notes, we will be meeting up with Tea and her hubby there, as well as meeting with several key players in the Filthy Figments circles and I will finally meet Kris Overstreet, my on-again-off-again employer at White Lightning. So there’s a metric fuckton of stuff happening. hopefully, tea will be able to keep your butts in the seats a little longer with her hilariously awesome little fillers, and I dearly hope she is able to recover the desire to finish the original filler “Maid Service”, because it sounded hi-lar-ious.
anywho, I gotta go crash now. We have a place, but nothing is set up. So, whee!
~Mace




