Fleas on Flick

To all people who might be reading this post:  HELLO!!  If you are here, that means either you just recently stumbled onto my comic and are checking it out, OR you must be very devoted to these characters because I have not posted a new comic in over two months.  My apologies to Flick and Francis for being so neglectful, and of course to you, if you happen to be that devoted fan who has continued to check for updates.  I am going to try posting some strips again, but I’m going to try going at a less rigorous pace than I was.  I am also going to be polishing the strip a little in an attempt to streamline my process and clean up its look, so I may be experimenting a little with letters and borders and such.  But do not fear!  The characters themselves are going to be just the same.  I’m going to try to get up at least one comic per week to start out.  If I have time and get inspired, you might get to see some bonus strips in there.  Thanks for stopping by!

Sterling

Hello, Fleas on Flick readers!  First of all, I just wanted to thank those of you who have been sending me messages trying to get me to write new comics.  It means a lot to me that I actually DO have some angry fans out there.  I am sorry I have not been able to keep up with Flick’s life the way I had hoped, but creatively and professionally, I’ve just been spread too thin in the past few months and my comic strip hobby was the first thing that had to be cut back.  I would like to say that I will be back on track to keep producing comics regularly, but I know honestly I can’t make that promise with my schedule the way it has been.

For me, Fleas on Flick has been a great release for me to express what I am feeling about the world, and it has been a fantastic creative experiment.  I know now first hand the demands of a regular comic strip artist’s schedule which was part of my intention.  If I already respected the work of professional comic strip artists when I started, now I bow to them and build colossal idols of their likenesses in admiration for their disciplined and talented lives.  I was able to give the regular demands of a five day a week schedule a go for a few months, but that was during a slow time in my theater career which is my first passion.  I do not doubt that in the future, I will be needing to visit Flick, Francis, and Dee-dee again, but after the past six months of writing, I can better gage how much my time and health is willing to forgive with my other responsibilities.

So for those of you who are fans of Flick and company, stay on my email list and I will continue to write new strips as I am able.  Just know that it may be some time before I am able to find a schedule that allows me to do regular comics again.  It is my goal to find that balance again because there are few things I love more than sitting at my drawing table listening to music and finding new ways to bring these characters to life.  Thank you so much if you are visiting and reading this.  And do not despair, angry fans!  I have every intention for completing a book of Flick comics in the coming year!

Sterling

Okay, so the bad news for Fleas on Flick first: we didn’t make it to the third round of voting in the Amazon.com/Universal Press Syndicate contest.  Boo.  However, the good news: not only is Flick officially  a quarter finalist achiever in an international contest (we made the top 250!), but since he’s knocked out, I have no obligation not to post the material I entered into the contest!  So I can start show the  results of many late nights jacked up on coffee.  Sorry to everyone for the long break in service, but I’ve been having a hard time getting back to work after pushing myself to create these comics.  Things may be a little less regular from here on out, but I will continue to put out Flick comics as I am able.  I am currently about to start work directing a sketch comedy show here in Chicago, so I may be a little busy over the next few months.

“YOU BASTARD!”

I’m sorry Angry Fan, but my directing work actually pays me money where as my comics work has yet to pay me anything but personal satisfaction.

“SUPERFICIAL SON OF A–”

Angry Fan!  Please, kids read this blog.  Nevertheless, writing these comics pays me in ways theater can’t, so I have no plans to close the book on Flick yet.  In fact, speaking of books, sometime next year I would like to self publish a book of Flick comics for myself and Angry Fan and of course for anyone else who may be interested.

“Wha- NEXT YEAR!?!”

Angry Fan, wait!  ANGRY FAN!!! … Well, I guess Angry Fan couldn’t wait so long for that as he just through himself in front of the 73 bus.  Well, hopefully you can wait, and keep watching for the next two weeks as I continue to publish the rest of my contest comics and a few new ones!

Yes!  At long last:  The final comic of the coffee shop series is posted!  Thank you for being so patient, loyal followers, while I took time to create new strips for the Comic Strip Superstar contest.  I worked especially hard to create all new comics (two weeks of daily strips and two Sunday comics), and after meeting the entry deadline without a minute to spare (literally, there was not a minute to spare when I hit send), I have been pretty much exhausted.  However, I am actually quite proud of the comics I was able to produce in the process.  Unfortunately, I can’t post them until the contest is over, but I look forward to being able to share them when it is done sometime in December.  In the mean time, I’m gearing up to start making some new stories for Flick, or rather, some old stories that have been kicking around in my head for awhile.  I’m going to have to think about how regularly I can post them right now as my day job and my teaching job have been keeping me particularly busy lately.  But fear not!  I will do my best to keep us up to date with all the latest goings on in the world of Flick, Tennis Ball, Francis, and Dee-dee.  Thanks for stopping by!

S.

Hello, Fleas on Flick followers and just-stoppin-by-ers,

After all the promises of new regular comics, I am again going to have to take a few weeks off.

“LAZY BASTARD!” you scream.  (I like to imagine someone out there is actually extremely angry there won’t be new comics for awhile.)

Actually, the reason I am taking time off is to enter the Universal Press Syndicate comic contest.  It seems like a good opportunity to get some potentially good exposure for the comic, so during this time off, I am going to be creating new comics exclusively for the contest.

“WHA-? BUT CAN WE SEE THEM??”

Unfortunately, angry fan, no.  The only stipulation for web comic entry is that you cannot submit material that has already been posted, and I am pretty much posted out at the moment.  So, even though I will be drawing new comics, I won’t be able to post them until after the contest is over.  However, after the contest deadline passes on September 12,  I will begin posting new comics again as soon as I am able.  I just won’t be able to show the ones I submitted for the contest.

“YAHHHH!!”

Angry fan, don’t…!  ANGRY FAN!  I guess the prospect of not being able to see the new comics right away was too much for angry fan who just threw himself out the window.  If he had just waited for a moment I would have told him not to despair because, as always, I will try to keep some new material coming up as I am able.  Most likelysome sketches and Orange comics from my alter-ego, Stewart M. Filbert!  So stay tuned, and thanks to all of you who have been checking in!

Sterling