Shannon Muir’s Take on the Animation World

This is an updated status to let you know where my books on animation (and related items that might be of interest to animation fans) books are available. I have another blog at http://shannonmuir.wordpress.com, that caters to writing on a larger scope for a wider spectrum of readers.

GARDNER’S GUIDE TO WRITING AND PRODUCING ANIMATION is still in print and easiest to get via Amazon but it is also listed online at Barnes & Noble.

GARDNER’S GUIDE TO PITCHING AND SELLING ANIMATION is only available in Adobe PDF still and as far as I know is only available at Dedicated Teacher.

For ten years, I’ve collaborated with artist and writer Kevin Paul Shaw Broden on a webcomic called FLYING GLORY AND THE HOUNDS OF GLORY. This past June we celebrated ten years of working on the webcomic with a book dedicated to all the “song lyrics” I’ve written for it, along with a history behind the webcomic. The book is called FLYING GLORY FLASHBACK and is available in print as well as editions for Kindle, iBookstore, and currently via Smashwords for all other ebook compatible formats including NOOK.

Of my fiction novels and short story/poetry anthologies, one story in each of the anthologies is inspired in some way by my time in animation. The short story “When I Grow Up” is about a girl who lived a dark childhood yet still believes in the power of fairytales and is a fan of animated features, and it appears in AT THE END OF INNOCENCE’S ROAD: AN ANTHOLOGY OF STORIES AND POEMS COVERING THE JOURNEY FROM CHILDHOOD TO OLD AGE for Kindle, NOOK, Kobo, Diesel Ebooks, Sony, and Smashwords (including iBookstore compatible). In my other anthology, SEARCH FOR A WOMAN: AN ANTHOLOGY OF STORIES AND POEMS LOOKING AT WOMEN FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, the short story “Lost Souls” is a darker story between a daughter who hasn’t learned enough about life from her eccentric animator mother and made some poor choices - only to find her mother harbors a deep dark secret she’s used her animated films to tell; this anthology is available on Kindle, NOOK, iBookstore, Kobo, Diesel Ebooks, and Smashwords (including for Sony compatible). Both sell at a 99 cent price as they are novella-length, and neither have a print version. I may do a 2-in-1 print volume in the future but this is currently only being considered.

I have released several full-length novels this year set in Hollywood, but the ones listed are my most animation specific works. I encourage you to check them out and wish you all a Happy Holidays!

Just like the book before it, GARDNER’S GUIDE TO PITCHING AND SELLING ANIMATION offers a selection of Spotlight Interviews from people in all aspects of the animation business.  The book is more than just my telling how it can be done, but gives the chance to hear from people in their own words how it has been done.

Look for spotlight interviews from:

* HEATHER KENYON, former development executive at Cartoon Network
* GREG WEISMAN, producer of SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN and many other credits
* LOUISE NEMSCHOFF, entertainment attorney (please note her information is general and does not constitute specific legal advice for any situation)
* STAN BERKOWITZ, writer of the animated JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE NEW FRONTIER and many other credits
* MARV WOLFMAN, with numerous credits in animation, video games, comics and more
* JYMN MAGON, Story Editor for numerous series including many for Walt Disney Television Animation
* VIC COOK, director for SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN and many other credits
* JENNIFER UPTON, Producer at HIT Entertainment London
* BETSY MCGOWEN, former executive for KidsWB!
* KEVIN PAUL SHAW BRODEN, show developer and narrative illustrator
* ADAM BEECHEN, Story Editor for HI HI PUFFY AMIYUMI and other animation and comics credits
* CHRISTOPHER KEENAN, former development executive for Warner Bros. TV Animation and animation development consultant
* STEPHANIE GRAZIANO, owner of Building Your Own Business and former animation studio executive

Get GARDNER’S GUIDE TO PITCHING AND SELLING ANIMATION now from various e-book retailers (who are mentioned in prior blog posts)!  Selected sites also provide a sample of part of Chapter One, which includes the Heather Kenyon interview.  Check it out now!

I’m finding even more ebook retailers offering GARDNER’S GUIDE TO PITCHING AND SELLING ANIMATION in Adobe PDF.   At any favorite book site you want to check, be sure to look it up by title not author as many places have it mis-listed by Garth Gardner as the author, who is only the publisher.

My latest find offering the book and a preview of Chapter 1 is:

http://www.ebooks.com/ebooks/book_display.asp?IID=400844

GARDNER’S GUIDE TO PITCHING AND SELLING ANIMATION was apparently released to Adobe PDF e-book without much fanfare in DECEMBER 2008. Places I’ve found selling it so far:

http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/cgi-bin/item/1589650581/Gardner’s-Guide-to-Pitching-and-Selling-Animation-eBook.html

http://www.dedicatedteacher.com/estore/product/GGC9781589650589

http://www.lybrary.com/gardners-guide-pitching-selling-animation-p-5326.html

… and (ahem) on an erotic book site I will not repeat the link for.

Dedicated Teacher in particular will show you a free sample of Chapter 1 and the Table of Contents.

Hey, it’s half the price of the first book for double the pages! What are you waiting for?

P.S. A number of the sites - including those that list the never released paperback from last September - have Garth Gardner as the author, NOT me, though my name is clearly on the cover and inside. It’s a genuine Shannon Muir-only book, for sure!

Check out this new local opportunity to hear me speak! I’ll be giving back time and talent to the fans of one of the shows that inspired me to become part of the business with a panel on “Animation from Concept to Production” at JemCon 2008! JemCon 2008, celebrating the ’80s animated series JEM, runs from September 27th-28th at the AirTel Plaza Hotel in Van Nuys, CA. My panel is scheduled for Sunday at 11AM, but don’t miss all the great industry guests on both days of this convention! On-site registration will be available!

More details at http://www.jemcon.org.

If you’re in the San Fernando Valley area on May 17th, Van Eaton Galleries (a major place for finding animation cels and animation art) and the Creative Talent Network are teaming up to present their 2nd Annual Animation Book Look.  Lots of authors will be there with all kinds of books on animation, including myself for GARDNER’S GUIDE TO WRITING AND PRODUCING ANIMATION.  Also, since Kevin Paul Shaw Broden did all the illustrations inside the book, he’ll be there with me to sign books and some of his original art will be available for sale.

 Find out about everyone that’s coming here:

http://www.animationbooklook.com/index.html

An article I wrote early this year about Breaking into the Animation Writing Market (focused on writing for current series versus developing a series or producing yourself) is now available at WOW! - Women on Writing, an online magazine dedicated to women writers and editors from all disciplines.

 http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/20-FE3-ShannonMuir.html

Article, script samples, and personal photo are mine.  The rest was provided by the publisher. 

I have been so busy (in a good way) I hadn’t been able to get the info out about my Anime Los Angeles appearance until now.

I’ll be at the convention one day only - tomorrow, Saturday the 5th.  The panel I’ll be on will focus on ADR writing and production, and appearing with me will be fellow animation writer Craig Miller, and that runs from 2-3 pm.  Planning to just spend some time at the convention besides that but not sure how much yet.

Full details at http://www.animelosangeles.org

Hope to see some of you there!

After spending a month so far at my new job, I have become more convinced than ever that animation as we’ve traditionally known it (movies and TV) and animation on the web (MMOG gaming, user generated content based) are merging together at a faster and faster rate.  As a result this blog may begin talking a lot more about what have previously been seen as two different worlds as I walk the line between them every day.

 I am so happy to be where i am right now.  It’s all the energy and action of an animated series, with art and similar elements to be handled, but unlike a show with a set end date the project continues to grow and evolve and the adventures continue.  The environment feels like being in an animation studio, with people bringing their favorite toys and games and animation/art reference books to work.  Though there’s also the programmers who have their scripting language reference books instead, but otherwise it’s exactly like any artist’s desk. 

 It’s home.

 People have asked how they can order GARDNER’S GUIDE TO WRITING AND PRODUCING ANIMATION.  Major online retailers have it, as does anyone who can get it from Ingram (last I heard).  But also if you have a favorite bookstore who deals directly with this distributor that is the primary handler of all titles by the Garth Gardner Company (GGC, Inc) that’s even better.

Independent Publishers Group
Order Department
814 North Franklin Street
Chicago IL 60610

Phone: 800 888-4741
General Phone: 312 337 0747
Fax: 312 337-5985
email: orders@ipgbook.com
web: www.ipgbook.com
GARDNER’S GUIDE TO WRITING AND PRODUCING ANIMATION

by Shannon Muir
Published by Garth Gardner Company