Frank & Hip Get Steampunked, Episode 2

If you'd like to catch this storyline from the first episode, just go here.





















Catch the next episode of "The Wildcat's Lair" on Wildcat Wednesday!

You also still have time to leave a caption for this week's "You Write the Caption!" And if you need some advice with anything from relationship woes to ridding yourself of bellybutton lint, don't forget to e-mail your question to Uncle Kerouac at "AskUncleK@gmail.com!"

Frank & Hip Get Steampunked, Episode 1

Catch the next episode of "The Wildcat's Lair" on Frank Friday!

And don't forget to leave a caption for this week's "You Write the Caption!"

Thursday Randomness: Steampunked & Writing Tech Overlords

This month, I'm using "Thursday Randomness" to preview next month's launch of my comic strip's storyline "Frank & Hip Get SteamPunked." The past two weeks have given you a look at an airship that will appear in the story. This week, I'm going with a peek at a character(s) for the storyline.

Every great steampunk villain needs an army of monsters. Well, my storyline will not ignore this important fact. While I won't tell you what the monster is, I'll give you a look at a cutout of it. What is this creature, and how will it factor into the story for Frank and Hip? You'll have to wait to find out, but I will tell you that it was inspired by the "rotters" in Cherie Priest's novel Boneshaker. For those who haven't read Cherie's book, rotters are her take on zombies.



In the name of being random, I'm gonna throw in another plug here for something TOTALLY different. This year marked my departure from James River Writers as a boardmember, but as Al Pacino said so well in "The Godfather, Park III," just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in. I'll be moderating a panel for JRW's monthly "Writing Show," a week from today. The topic and panel I've been given should make for a great time. Up for discussion will be "A Brave New World: How the Web-Savvy Stand Out in the New Digital Era." I'll be joined by that online guru for writers Dan Blank, the lovely and goofy literary networking diva (and self-proclaimed "recovering high school English teacher") Ricki Schultz and engineering/computer master extraordinaireFrank Petroski. We'll be going over all the ways writers can get out there and get noticed online. Can't wait!

Thursday Randomness: Frank & Hip Get Steampunked

Last week, I gave readers of the Lair their first look at my upcoming storyline for a Steampunk-inspired adventure called "Frank and Hip Get Steampunked." While I won't give up any story details, at this point, I've got another look at some of the graphic artwork I'm doing to get ready for this storyline. This picture just shows you Frank and Hip inside the cabin of a dirigible (which you saw in last week's sneak peak).



Part of what inspired this idea for a Steampunk storyline was reading Cherie Priest's Boneshaker. This was my second foray into the Steampunk genre as a reader, and I enjoyed it enough to explore the genre within my comic strip. As for what will happen to Frank and Hip, you'll find out in June.

In the meantime, don't forget to go vote for my Flash Fiction story "The Third Bear's Revenge" in Cherie Reich's contest. Visit her blog to cast your vote, and then I hope you'll linger to explore her corner of Cyberspace. You've got until tomorrow morning to cast your vote, so get on it! After all, Ted might break your legs if you don't.

Be sure to come back to the Lair tomorrow for Frank Friday's comic strip, and don't forget to submit your caption for this week's "You Write the Caption" contest.