Sunday, September 1, 2013
Happy International New Trials Day 2013!
I'm here for you, Syaoran... S+S in Hong Kong by ~wishluv on deviantART
Happy International New Trials Day 2013! I can't believe it's been 14 years since I began writing this fanfiction but think its a blessing that I undertook this because I met all of you wonderful readings and the awesome CCS/New Trials community.
I've been working on the next chapter already, though I've sort of remained low key since the release of Chapter 69, but I'll just say I'm excited by the level of discussion and theories that have been floating around since then. It takes a lot of restraint on my part to not say a word. I came back from a short business trip and holiday (and perhaps the hottest summer I've experienced in my life) and am excited to get going with Chapter 70.
I'm very happy to see how active the New Trials community over at the Yahoo Group (btw what what's with the unnecessary new layout?) and Facebook has been thriving, as well as all the fanart, manga, drama CD, etc is coming along and how Amethyst Beloved is keeping everybody updated here.
As you know, there are times that I am very active in the community then I go into submarine mode and disappear usually because I'm feeling guilty because I haven't finished the next new chapter of New Trials. Luckily, I quit freelancing doing radio on top of my job, so I have some more time. Seriously, when I was doing radio three times a week, I was waking up at dawn or staying up late writing radio script after I got home late from my job.
My top priority is always finishing the next chapter. I work on fanart for special occasions or when I have a writer's block. I try to refrain from chiming into any discussions online because I have strange notions that I don't trust myself not to give away spoilers. But I just wanted to ask all of you what are things you want to see from me.
1. Do you want to see more frequent blog posts? I sometimes write posts on various things and just end up not posting and use the blog simply for updates nowadays unlike when I first opened the blog. I also tend not to give in-between updates because I'm afraid to break promises.
2. What are some of your top scenes you want to see illustrated? I'm pretty sure I have more than 50 pieces of artwork that I started on and never completed. Which characters do you want to see more artwork on?
3. I've been pretty horrible about getting back to individuals emails as of the past year. It's partly because I have a policy of replying back to all emails or none. Lol. I know it's ridiculous. I just need to sit down and have a day for correspondence. But I was thinking it might be fun to do an author Q&A session sometime. Maybe people can post questions on FB or Yahoo Group and I can collect them and answer them here.
4. Over the years, I've had so many different New Trials projects I wanted to do including the special series such as the Legacy of the Five Forces and the Kaitou Magician special. I also started editing the earlier chapters. This is something I just thought of recently but my ultimate vision for New Trials I think is to go back and edit all the chapters once I'm done with Arc 4 and maybe make a mobile devise friendly E-book version with perhaps a "cover art" and also select artwork from the fans to create an ultimate "illustrated" version, which Amethyst Beloved's project probably has made a good head start with and will of course need all your help.
I've made "Ending Theme" Youtube videos for New Trials, but I've since circa 2003 wanted do make an animated "Opening Theme" for New Trials using a cut of Utada Hikaru's Sakura Drops. However, I'm afraid that Youtube will probably delete the video. Does anybody know how things work these days with deleting samplings of songs. I'm also going to do an updated New Trials trailer for Yesterday's Letter in Arc 3 which Youtube unceremoniously deleted. I mourn the wonderful comments more than anything else.
Or 5. Just go back to writing silly Wish-chan.
The song spotlight of the day is one of my ultimate favorite songs, Cyndai Lauper's "Time After Time," sung the the legendary Eva Cassidy in an acoustic rendition which I believe is the ultimate version of the time-old song which has seen many different covers and renditions over the years. It's a song I've always liked but I think it became one of my top favorite song in more recent years when I stopped and thought about the lyrics.
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I was wondering where that trailer went. You worked so hard on it. Honestly, sometimes Youtube can be a pain. We all love to hear from you, so don't fret. *support, support* Is it alright if I ask you right now if Eriol's powers are suppose to be split in NT? I'm sure you mentioned some related stuff in NT, but didn't confirm or deny it? It's definitely way too early in the stages of CD DRAMA to even get into that, but I want to have as much of the whole picture as possible for continuity. I'm kind of peeved about that. I have to immerse myself in the story of the Great Five too. Don't have NT without it.
ReplyDeleteEriol's powers are split in New Trials. This didn't happen in the anime, but I've sort of taken liberality pinching facts from both anime and manga to suit me as I please. I personally don't think the power split with Fujitaka was "equal" though. Eriol is the more powerful of the two.
DeleteThanks so much Wish-chan. I hope you won't mind if I ask you more questions later on. As the scriptwriter for the NT CD DRAMA, I want to do your wonderful story justice. We're still some ways away from being able to get the CD DRAMA out, but I suppose we're getting there...
DeleteOops, well I'm glad that Wish-chan settled that because I was ready to commit to Eriol still being at his full power. A second question that S. Halliwell had was, does Fujitaka know about Sakura's magic and the Cards? My answer was that it's never been addressed and if I had to guess I believe that as a single father and a university professor, a lot goes over his head. He married Nadeshiko without knowing her secrets as well. Touya is the one who picks up on everything. When the spotlight is shined on Fujitaka, it's mostly dealing with the Kinomoto Group.
DeleteI think Fujitaka always has known. I think he's known in CCS!canon, as well. Does he know the intricate details of Sakura's powers? Probably not. He trusts his kids, so he respects their privacy (comes from being a single father as you said). He also knows a little bit about Nadeshiko's past, even about Ryuuren, but again, he only knows the bits that Nadeshiko told him. But he's smart so he can fit together the puzzle pieces. I think he depends on Touya to keep an eye on Sakura, which is why Touya's developed into such a siscon and shadowed her all the time when he had more leisure.
DeleteP.S. The Kinomotos are a very weird family. Very warm and loving but distant. Probably because of the lack of a mother-figure. Each family member harbors secrets and their interactions are rather surface-level. Because they don't want to burden or worry each other. Amethyst's right in that Fujitaka's very busy, but I tried to think about whether he's absentminded or not, and he definitely is very sharp though he hides it well (he IS the other half of Clow). Nadeshiko's the absentminded one, on the other hand. They balance each other out.
DeleteI think you're right, Wish-chan. Fujitaka probably does know in some way, power split or not. I think the thing with the family is that they each have complicated issues they have to work out themselves, but they know that the others are there for them in times of need. Fujitaka's relationship with his father and brother has to be resolved by himself. While Sakura and Touya can lend a hand, Fujitaka has to work it out. The same goes with Sakura's card mistress thing. While Touya and Fujitaka will be sure to help in anyway they can, they can't exactly take on the dark forces and help Sakura do her magic. Touya actually has a lot of issues of the heart, but he did talk to his father about his first love, Kaho. Touya spoke to Fujitaka about Kaho coming back to teach Sakura's class back when Sakura was catching the cards. A lot of things seems to happen to the members of this family that they have to personally resolve, but they are silently there for each other and they know it.
DeleteI was really angry at Youtube when I discovered the trailer was gone. YT loves to delete videos on occasion for no apparent reason. I would love to see an opening sequence to Sakura Drops, and the only solution to YT deleting it would be to keep a backup of it and re-upload it if that happens.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, I have no specific requests - any art or blog post will have people excited, you know that. An e-book version sounds really interesting for later on - you'll have a place to start from the New Trials PDFs I did couple years ago (located in the files sections of yahoo group), though of course that was from before when the first five chapters were edited.
I'll be happy to help out with collecting questions from the yahoo group for an author QA if you wish. (And I'm sure Amethyst-chan can ask people over at FB, she's super-organized, we'd be lost without her). We did have that questionnaire back from March, maybe we could add/delete some questions from it as a starting point.
Kirei Blossom~*~
Mindreader Kirei-chan. I actually already answered your questionnaire, at least the parts that I could, and will probably be posting it next week some time. I would love any help on gathering questions not already answered however. Haven't done a proper questionnaire in like a decade. And your pdf version actually is what inspired me to do an ultimate E-book version sometimes for easy access. ^^
DeleteBoo to Youtube for deleting a video that was mostly comprised of my own panel-to-panel hand-drawn artwork. I still don't get how it arbitrarily seems to delete videos. Oh well, I'll just upload a revamped version someday. I have no energy to fight Youtube.
We're lucky enough that WinxC1ub did a voice over, thus saving the video itself. The comments were precious though, and I remember being the first one watching it. I was just about to log out for the night when Ch 53 was uploaded. I stayed up all night (it must have been the weekend!) and after reading Yesterday's Letter I went straight to the link and watched the video. You can find it under the Video and Audio section over at the Fan projects site.
DeleteI look forward to reading your questionnaire, Wish-chan! Thanks for sticking around with us today~ I've noticed your deviantArt comments!
I don't read minds on purpose, I promise you that, it just happens ^^;; (the only other person this always happens with is my dear younger brother..) Anyway, looking forward to seeing your answers, and I'm glad my pdf version helped provide inspiration for a much bigger and more elaborate project! Technically, you should have been the one to sue Youtube/NHK. The deleted video said "NHK has removed this over copyright violation" but more than half the vid was original artwork! I will never understand these people.
DeleteKirei Blossom~*~
Happy NT Day! It's always such a wonderful occasions and such a marvel that one fanfic's journey can last this long. I'm happy that you had a vacation. Where did you go?
ReplyDeleteI've said this many times before, but please don't feel guilty about delaying the chapters. If NT was written in one shot while you were in your teenage years then it would be a totally different story than it is right now. Take your time because it's what's making it the best it can be. That being said, the fact that you have more time is a reason for all of us to celebrate!! Now for your questions:
1) YES to more blog posts even if it isn't NT related. There are so many people in the fandom who adore your taste in music. We love hearing your opinions on what interests you (movies, Broadway, books, fashion). There's no need to make promises for upcoming chapter releases. Honestly, we've questioned more than once over the 14 years if you were still alive (huge concern for us!) and the blog updates let's us know that you're still with us.
2. My current dream fanart that I think would be hilarious is Sakura coming face-to-face with Syaoran wearing nothing but a towel coming out of the steaming bathroom after a shower. Sakura optional. It's the perfect fanart for the "Mist" prompt and you owe it to yourself to draw some fan service. ;-) I would actually like to see more characters that we don't get to see in your fanart. Bring on Aki! He's been patient long enough, don't you think? :-P I would love to see a recent Takashi and Chiharu (wonder why?), Rika and Terada and throw in Naoko too. It would be nice for their NT Wiki pages. I would like to see how Shing and adult Keisuke looks like and Miara as well. I also love scene related fanart because it's more additions for the New Trials Picture Book. And we love your sketches!!! The Sakura, Syaoran and Wolfie-chan sketch that you posted when you reviewed your Wacom pad is a favorite. Even if you have unpolished fanarts, please share it with us especially if you know that it won't see the light of day any time soon. And you can always go back to it if you change your mind!
3. Kirei-chan and I can organize the questions, no problem. It will be fun!
4. You can count on me to keep all of the fanart in one place whether it's posted on deviantArt, Yahoo or Facebook! Though we can't illustrate the whole fanfic, the fanart will always be in chronological order for easy reference. I'm happy to hear that you created an Ending Theme. Maybe WinxC1ub has a suggestion? She's the media-savy member of the fandom.
5. New Trials is an experience that goes beyond the writing. Have fun with the projects! It's what's keeping the fandom very much alive and well as we wait for the updates, and even when it's over it will keep on inspiring the fans.
Loyally yours,
~Amethyst Beloved
^ OMG, it's a mini-blog post in itself. If #2 happens, fandom will be dead, I'm blushing just at you requesting it, Ame-chan. And I just realized though I have a mental-visual of what Aki is supposed to look like, we've never had him drawn officially. (I always imagined him to be like that newspaper-guy in Kaitou Saint tail... the airheaded one, forgot his name.) I should go before I spam this place up.
DeleteLol... I think the response is as long as the blogpost itself. I like Ame-chan. Lol... I was like who is Ame--oh! I thought I was pretty sure I've drawn a sketch of Aki before and I did. http://wishluv.blogspot.kr/2009/11/new-trials-character-profile-akagi-aki.html Of course, I didn't do a color version of him. Aki and Yamazaki-ku in the guy line-up I sketched (equivalent of the one I lineup of the girl's I did). Haha... the airhead guy in Kaitou St. Tail. But he actually ends up with the best friend. Poor Aki. I feel like he's the only normal guy in the whole series. He should get more love--he's the only decent boyfriend material, IMO. I'd doodled Sakura coming out of the bathroom with a towel and throwing a shampoo bottle at Syaoran a decade ago. Must have it somewhere. Hmm... Two requests for smexy out-of-the-shower Syaoran. I do try to keep my pics PG~~
DeleteI took a look at Aki's character sketch and profile description - I can't believe I missed that blog post, and had no idea he'd already been sketched years ago. So thank you for linking back to it again after so long. Oye oye, it's not me requesting the shower-Syaoran, it's the others. *red* OMG... look at Kimmie-chan's comment on that... O____O;; Hoeeee~ you girls are just... *flames up and inches out of here*
DeleteHaha... yes, I know it was Amethyst and Kimmie-chan. But come over to the dark side, Kirei... You know you want it too. Lol...
DeleteYay, all this activity so much fun. All of this chatter makes me think that we're at a virtual slumber party! I haven't forgotten about the Aki character profile~ I even found a way to incorporate it in the NT Picture Book when Kai asks Sakura to use The Age on both him and Aki: http://www.wishluv.revolutionhosting.net/eron_art.htm Ouuu, a boys of NT fanart with Takashi and Aki totally trumps out-of-the-shower Syaoran. Let's not forget that we've seen some fan service by Wish-chan a long time ago: http://www.wishluv.revolutionhosting.net/eron_art.htm But I'm sure if a towel is covering up our Syaoran, it's still PG. Anyway, if something like that ever surfaces, it will be my pleasure to take the blame! ;-P
Delete1) Yes for more frequent blogging---we just want to know that you're well (:
ReplyDelete2) More Mei-chan and Kai! But in truth, any NT art that comes out is great!
3) Q&A sounds like a great idea! Especially for those days where you get stuck and Q&As may help?
4) E-book would definitely be great, especially for mobile. I've been re-reading NT on my phone recently and it's sad that they don't automatically adjust, or the font is small even when I try to maximize it.
5) Do what you need to do Wish-chan! Take care!
4. I do know! I got a smartphone last year (very reluctantly) and now love using Kindle on it but realized New Trials font comes out tiny on smartphone devices!
DeleteHappy New Trials Day!! Really 14 years!!??!!? How the times have flown by. Hope life in general is treating you well.
ReplyDelete1) It's always so good to hear from you Wish-chan! Like what the other girls have already said, a couple more blog posts here and there would definitely be nice. We just want to know you're alive and well. Also don't feel guilty about updates, we know it's well worth the wait and you take as long the time as you need for each chapter :D
2) BUNNY GIRL MEILING!!! Haha I got a bit excited about the propect of that. Syaoran after a shower is a brilliant idea too! I'm not sure if I want to see sexy Syaoran with a carefree smile with a 'I know you like what you're seeing' look (that's more Kai isn't it?) or blushing furiously and embarrassed (much more Syaoran-like) for some good laughs :D. Haha I'm such a fangirl.
Otherwise I'm generally not too fussed about which scene gets illustrated.
3) Yes to Q&A! Or FAQ? I'm gonna have to brainstorm a few.
4) and 5) I agree with Jiri-chan. Wish-chan you just gotta do what you gotta do.
~ Kimmie-chan
Kimmie-chan, I was actually hoping somebody would draw a bunny girl Meilin. I really debated whether or not Meilin would wear one but Kai was just VERRRRY persuasive. And she was very happy with him because of the birthday present he got her recently.
DeleteSyaoran out of the shower will probably have a carefree smile because he has a sexy body--as seen in TRC!Clone's striptease fashion sense.
Lol, I was thinking of asking dreamystarskye! (http://dreamystarskye.deviantart.com/) She would surely do Bunny Meilin justice.
DeleteIs there some New Trials trivia that I skipped over? What did Kai get Meilin for her birthday?
As for Syaoran's expression, I would think it would be pretty much surprised~ :-O
Yes to more blog posts. Like I've said before I adore your taste in music, and I love just hearing about your life in general :)
ReplyDeleteI would love to see the scene where they are in New York and Sakura can't see Syaoran but he puts his arms around her anyway. Also Fantasy Sakura and Syaoran would be cute too. Where he is her dark knight *.*
-Melanie