Fyredrake.net Announcements

WINTER 2012

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 09:30:00 GMT

I have been very busy over the past few months, I haven't had time to update the website! Since September, I've been to J-Con in Derby, I've taught at the British Museum, attended London MCM Expo, performed at J-POP Go and been a guest at Malta Comic Con! All this alongside working on two How-To-Draw books (one for Ilex Press, another for Quarto) AND I'm pregnant with my first child! Life is crazy, but I'm going to pull back from a lot of events next year to focus on family and GETTING MORE COMICS DONE :D

I'm writing fortnightly tutorials for Letraset's blog on drawing Manga Characters. But the biggest new comic project I'm working on is 'A Brush With Magic', a fantasy light novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo, which I'm illustrating. It's gonna be huge! And the first volume out next year. If you want to find out more about it and read excerpts or view related artwork, head to my Tumblr and view the 'brushmagic' tagged posts. I also intend to get volume 2 done of Love Stuffing, and to pick up FujoFujo again!

Remember to check out my ongoing deals~ BUY AYA TAKEO vol.3 FROM THE SWEATDROP ONLINE SHOP! or buy my EVENT SPECIAL PROMOTION DEAL: complete series BUNDLE PACK of all three volumes AND 18' x 24' Aya Takeo print for UKGBP25! Also, you can buy Once Upon a Time for only UKGBP5.00 from Sweatdrop's store!

Remember that if you want to keep up-to-the-minute with anything I do, make sure to check out my Twitter, Tumblr or for the odd sketch and things, my deviantArt page! To catch up on past news, please read my RSS feed.

SUMMER 2012

Sat, 01 Sep 2012 12:32:00 GMT

I was at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, last night for a special event: Friday Late Loli-POP! focusing on lolita fashion and all aspects of cute. I was giving the kawaii illustration / chibi manga workshop. If you attended, thank you so much for coming! It was incredibly popular and as such, we ran out of worksheets. But if you want to download it for your reference, you can do so here: DOWNLOAD/VIEW CHIBI WORKSHEET FROM DEVIANTART
If you haven't yet picked it up, BUY AYA TAKEO vol.3 FROM THE SWEATDROP ONLINE SHOP! My ongoing EVENT SPECIAL PROMOTION DEAL: complete series BUNDLE PACK of all three volumes AND 18' x 24' Aya Takeo print for GBP25! For more details view this Tumblr post. Furthermore, discounted from Sweatdrop's shop, you can buy Once Upon a Time for only GBP5.00! In other comic news ~ my webcomic FujoFujo will come back soon. Remember that if you want to keep up-to-the-minute with anything I do, make sure to check out my Twitter, Tumblr or for the odd sketch and things, my deviantArt page! To catch up on past news, please read my RSS feed.

SPRING 2012

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:12:00 GMT

So, what have I been up to in the past couple of months? LOTS OF STUFF. Firstly, regarding my comics... BUY AYA TAKEO vol.3 FROM THE SWEATDROP ONLINE SHOP! Also, as an EVENT SPECIAL PROMOTION DEAL (subject to availability) I will offer BUNDLE PACKS of the complete series of all three volumes AND a large 18' x 24' Aya Takeo print for UKGBP 25 (saving you UK GBP 6.97)! For more details and pictures, view this Tumblr post. Furthermore, now reduced in price, you can buy Once Upon a Time from Sweatdrop for only UK GBP 5.00! In other comic news ~ I'm very sorry, but my webcomic FujoFujo is still on hold due to too much other work getting in the way! I will bring it back soon. Artwise, I have been playing a bit of Professor Layton, so I had to do a bit of fan art... And I've been involved in doing a fair amount of work for CamCon, the upcoming Cambridge convention! Finally, a little update on Love Stuffing with a Valentine's picture. So that's mostly everything! (Head to my website if you want to see the images in question). Remember that if you want to keep up-to-the-minute with anything I do, make sure to check out my Twitter, Tumblr or my deviantArt page!

WINTER UPDATE

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:53:00 GMT

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone! It's hard to believe that time has flown by so quickly! I haven't got too much stuff to show you I'm afraid, as most of it is publisher-linked. But I do have a couple of artsies I've added recently. Also, don't forget that you can often see little sketch updates here and there on my deviantArt page.

Aside from that, please pick up Aya Takeo volume 2: BUY IT FROM SWEATDROP! Remember I need good sales to fund the printing of the last and final Volume 3, to go to print very soon. Everyone wants to have a complete series, right? So please show your support!

My webcomic FujoFujo is on hold until after Christmas as I've been abroad so much recently that I need some time to rest and recover as well as catch up with all the work that's due. But look out for it starting up again in January 2012.

SUMMER UPDATES

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:50:00 GMT

Summer is such a killer for me, even though I tried to pull back from so much events (believe me, less than last year!) I'm still tired! Maybe it's 'cos I'm trying to have fun in my spare time instead getting more work done. It's refreshing! XD

Aya Takeo volume 2 is finally available in print and to buy and SMELL! XD BUY IT FROM THE SWEATDROP STUDIOS ONLINE STORE HERE: GO BUY IT NOW, YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO. Most importantly, I need good sales to fund the printing of the last and final Volume 3. Everyone wants to have a complete series, right? So please show your support!

I have a Tumblr account! I treat it as a mini-blog and I use it more than my LiveJournal now. Please follow it if you'd like little updates here and there, sonia-leong.tumblr.com. Whenever I make a Tumblr post, it cross-feeds to my Twitter account (twitter.com/sonia_leong) and my Facebook account (link here), so there's no need to create a Tumblr just to follow me if you're on those places already.

Unfortunately, I haven't got much art to show you, as over the summer I've done a fair amount of contract and spec work, none of which can be viewed publically for a little while. Only two pieces - a mini comic spread done for Manga Entertainment's Birthday party at Hi!Sushi in Camden, London earlier in August... and some more mermaid mascot artwork I did for all the signage at AyaCon 2011.

To finish, a summary of all the funky things I was involved in over spring, as it seems like only yesterday... My Ludum Dare #20 gameLet Me Save You! Your Faithful Companion. Creating Comics! by Judith Salavetz and Spencer Drate. "47 master artists reveal the techniques and inspiration behind their comic genius". And Super Cute Chibis to Draw and Paint by Joanna Zhou. My new webcomic FujoFujo! has been running mostly on time for its first few months (although I've taken a little hiatus this past couple of weeks as I've a lot of work due in for my regular I, Hero gig with Hachettes).

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Thu, 19 May 2011 00:42:00 GMT

Spring has sprung, it's been really warm, then cold again... I've been enjoying working on my garden. Lots of alpines, herbs and more! Such love for them. Anyway, I've been fairly busy - you can usually tell, if I haven't updated here for a while, so many events amongst all the projects I'm juggling! Check out all the new art additions!

I recently dabbled in making a videogame! I participated in Ludum Dare #20, it's a competition where you make a game in 48hrs from scratch to a theme, which this time round, happened to be -It's dangerous to go alone! Take this- XD So I made Let Me Save You! Your Faithful Companion. Have fun...

Check out Creating Comics! by Judith Salavetz and Spencer Drate. "47 master artists reveal the techniques and inspiration behind their comic genius". And I'm one of the only Manga influenced artists in the book!

The very lovely Joanna Zhou also invited me to contribute to her upcoming book Super Cute Chibis to Draw and Paint coming out next month! I did several chapters for it, see if you can spot them.

Regarding ongoing projects... FujoFujo! is aaaaalmost ready to go. I hope to have a little something that people can buy and keep as a souvenir at the May 2011 London MCM Expo! Fingers crossed. Sadly, the next installment of Love Stuffing is going to be delayed again... but I will get this sorted this year, I promise. A Brush With Magic is coming along nicely... we'll see if I can get this baby out :D

SEASON'S GREETINGS

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:15:00 GMT

Oh my goodness, how the months have flown. Summer weather and overheating on the tube has given way to absolutely freezing cold temperatures... UK, please sort your weather out, kthnxbai!!! Anyhow, I've done soooo many events in 2010, I'm definitely going to take a step back in 2011 to focus more on drawing.

I have several things lined up for release next year. First up, FujoFujo! Simone has moved into a shared house for the first time, with a pal from her university days. The reality is far from the grown-up yet girly lifestyle she was imagining, as her housemates turn out to be "Fujoshi" - the ultimate female otakus! This 4-panel strip will be published online every Tuesday and Friday. Look out for the collectable launch comic in May 2011!

Then in May 2011 is the next installment of Love Stuffing! A girly sleepover gives rise to various plans to get Jenny and Steve together. The love stuffing throws all sorts of problems at the girls as they discover just how testing life can be for someone who is faking it! Meanwhile, why does Steve seem so popular... has he got a secret too?

Finally, high fantasy hi-jinks ensue as sword-wielding foxgirl meets sorcery-powered guy in the all-new A Brush With Magic! Rua is a Vulpine mercenary with considerable combat talent; no job's too big or too small. Silas is an Elven mage and the youngest, most powerful postgraduate student of the Lyceum Arcanus. But being a prodigy often means common sense and basic survival instinct are non-existent! Can Rua save Silas from himself as he attempts to finish his thesis?

SUMMER DRAWING FUNS and future plans :3

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

And so it is the height of summer and the tube makes for unbearable journeys. Hello to the many, many people I've been fortunate to meet and work with over the past few months! It's been totally hectic with journeying all around the UK, but I've had a great time - and since when is talking about Manga ever boring? Sorry for the long delay in updating my website, I hope you can understand with the flurry of events recently.

BUT BUT BUT!!! I have some new artwork to show you and a NEW COMIC added to my site.

And in case you haven't already heard about Sweatdrop Studio's latest anthology (You haven't? WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!), read a little about it and see samples from my chapter and links to buy. Telling Tales!

Now I'm beginning to get back into much more drawing and less travelling. So I'm working on Love Stuffing vol.2 at the moment, hopefully be out by October Expo (good news for lots of you, I hope) and for those who are lamenting the end of AyaTakeo, I'm planning another webcomic, I will talk about it soon, ohohohoho... And those who want some fun action stuff, I have a new series I'm working on... again, I can't say too much. But I hope to make a teaser by Christmas, with a view to get this standalone (with optional further stories) volume out for early next year. Busy, very busy! I promise I am working on stuff you will like! Anyhow, time for me to knuckle down into relaxed summer drawing mode. Ciao, my darlings :3

NEW! Mini online shop (UK only)

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:56:00 GMT

Oh my, how time flies! I've been jetting around a lot recently giving many talks, workshops and demonstrations across the UK and Europe. So my house is a tip, but I'm getting there. cbr>
I have a wonderful website amendment! I have jigged things a round a little and I have added a SHOP! Now you can buy a selection of prints and books from me direct with online payments! Please note that automatic checkout is available for UK BUYERS ONLY with Royal Mail 1st class postage calculated per item. Email me for bulk orders, secure/fast delivery and overseas orders.

Happy New Year!

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:07:00 GMT

Happy New Year to you all! Hope that everyone has had nice holiday season. Sorry for the long absence of an update on here, I've been away for about a month (but I'm still feeling tired, hehe).

Have a nice piece of artwork to show you, it is my holiday picture of Briony reading books by lamplight. It will be featured on the cover of the Publishers' Supplement of Peters Bookselling. Also did a couple of cute Final Fantasy XI fanarts!

Got a lot of little things here and there to work on, many new things indeed! I am working on getting a couple of things out for May Expo, but in the meantime I will be at various events in the lead up. Can't say more than that! Don't forget to head to my Comics Section if you haven't yet seen my latest works in DOMO: The Manga and Talking to Strangers. And check out my Other Projects page for more info on Girls FC (Walker) by Helena Pielichaty.

Winter Wind Down

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:54:00 GMT

Yoohoo! I'd like to say Hiya! and Thank you! to all the schools, libraries and museums I've visited over the summer. I hope to see you guys again at some trade shows, you know that you can always meet me at any of the events that I list above. Of course, if your school will have me back, let me know! And if you have any feedback to give, please email me or leave it with the lovely guys at Authors Abroad if they organised the visits.

Well, the summer has been ridiculously busy, finally my workload is winding down a little. Looking forward to settling down into some proper illustration work AT HOME rather than on the run, jet-setting around, hehe. Don't get me wrong, I love travelling but it does make getting books done a little difficult!

Domo: The Manga (Tokyopop) has just been released! It is a very silly full-colour anthology which I contributed to. Other artists include other Tokyopop stalwarts, Jared and Lindsay Hodges and REM. And my latest comic baby with Sweatdrop was the anthology Talking to Strangers written by Fehed Said, a truly amazing anthology featuring work from Faye Yong, Wing Yun Man, Nana Li and Chloe Citrine. It is AWESOME and has caused nightmares. Cool. Head to my Comics Section for purchasing information! If you buy directly from Sweatdrop's shop, we will heart you forever! We take paypal, credit cards and ship internationally ^w^ Or you can wait until you see me or the team at a UK event!

In other news, I've been working on lots of very fun children's books - specifically, Girls FC (Walker) by Helena Pielichaty. Really recommend this series for 9-12yrs, even I personally enjoyed them at my age :3 Very characterful and not just fluff. Head to my Other Projects page for more info!

Finally, check out some of my latest arts! Only a couple of things, but I hope you like them anyway XD

It's the Summer - How are you doing? Shout outs!

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:55:00 GMT

Yo! I think I should stop apologising for the long breaks in between my updates - if I don't post, just assume that I am incredibly busy, okay? LOL! As always, you can check my livejournal for signs of life (amidst day-to-day waffle).

Anyway, I wanted to give a shout out to all of the schools that I've visited over the past 2 months - Hi guys!! I've had a great time working with you all, thank you so much for being so enthusiastic. I hope to see you guys again at some trade shows, you know that you can always meet me at any of the events that I list above. Of course, if your school will have me back, let me know! And if you have any feedback to give, please leave it with the lovely guys at Authors Abroad, who organised all the visits.

I had a fabulous time at the Japanese Art Festival last weekend, I love the atmosphere and the crowd who go - so much talent in such a small space! A wonderful way to meet creators up close and personal. And such lovely food and other products too! If you've never been to one, please try! It's absolutely free and perfect for all Japanophiles ^.^ Next time will probably be February 2010?

Love Stuffing and Aya.Takeo were strongly featured in this month's NEO Magazine! Issue #61 August 2009, page 14 - I got a little box all to myself called "Suddenly Sonia"!! Thank you sooooo much NEO, it is super appreciated!! *bows* If anyone wants to buy the comics featured, please head to the Comics Section for purchasing information! If you buy directly from Sweatdrop's shop, we will heart you forever! We take paypal, credit cards and ship internationally ^w^ Or you can wait until you see me or the team at a UK event!

Speaking of comics... you may have noticed that I've added an extra bar to the top of my website, which displays thumbs of all recent comics I've done. It is pretty! Clicking the thumbnails will bring you to relevant section in my Comics page. But... lookie lookie, What's this Domo: The Manga doing here? Ohohohohoho....

To catch up on past news, please read my RSS feed or my livejournal!

Once Upon a Time reprinted! March Catch up!

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:42:00 GMT

My, weeks can fly by so quickly! Well, I've finished off a lot of work for some childrens' books. Which meant that I've been to progress with not one, not two, but THREE different books that have gone/are going/will go to the plate printers!

First up, the Once Upon a Time... graphic novel (160pgs) has been reprinted!! It looks gorgeous!! It has a thicker spine!! Laminate gloss cover!! BUY IT!! You can buy from me or the Sweatdrop Studios team personally at any event we have a stand at (look above for a list of upcoming events I will be attending) and online from Sweatdrop Studios' online store: Once Upon a Time product page

Love Stuffing volume 1 (192pgs) official release is for London MCM Expo in May. I'm getting so pumped about this!! I love the last few chapters of this book very much. Art and story are by me, concept is by Stereoblind. If you'd like to know more about the story, head to my Comics section.

My webcomic Aya.Takeo is now at 105 pages - this is a webcomic that is published every Sunday, in full colour at www.ayatakeo.com, going since April 2007. It's also being mirrored at DrunkDuck.com, where it was recently a top feature!! The US E-shop offers lots of collectibles! UK versions are also available! Just email me at sonia@fyredrake.net if you are interested! AyaTakeo volume 1 (64pgs) is set for release in May, at London MCM Expo in the UK AND at Anime Boston in the USA!

Next - I've actually been doing TONs of art recently - I've started accepting small little requests for cute avatar artwork on Gaia. I only really want to show case my best pieces officially, so you should see my selection below! If you want to see all of them, you can check out my Gaia thread dedicated to this (I have strict rules about what I am willing to accept, as these requests are only for fun, nothing else):::FYREDRAKE::quality avi art shop or you can head to my deviantArt account here: FyredrakeMagick on dA

And so!! What next, ne? EVENT SEASON!! I'll be heading to lots of anime conventions etc. over the next few months, please please please say hi to me if you can! I won't be cosplaying at all of them though, relish my Trinity Blood cosplays when I do bother with them, hehe!

HUUUUUGE Update

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:34:00 GMT

Darlings, I am so so sorry for not updating this feed. Bad Sonia. My excuse is that I got horribly busy in November, then horribly ill in December, then abroad for most of January. Forgive me? Now then, a big summary about what's been happening over the past few months.

First off, comic updates - the first print run of Once Upon A Time... totally sold out within 1 month. Thank you to everyone who bought it! I'm organising a reprint this month, should hopefully be done by MinamiCon. The Love Stuffing prequel also sold out! Thank you!!! Sorry about the delay in release schedule for this, my illness really set me back. The graphic novel volume 1 official launch is London MCM May Expo, sneak peeks to be viewed at Minami. AyaTakeo volume 1 is also in the works, for dual launch at both the London MCM Expo in May and at Anime Boston.

Other projects - the How Manga Took Over the World exhibition is touring the UK! Formerly at the Manchester URBIS centre, it is now at the Hub in Northampton until the 3rd May! Randomly and very awesomely, Channel 4's award-winning sitcom The I.T.Crowd season 3 features some of my artwork in Jen's office, look out for it from episode 3 onwards!

Event update! After the October London MCM Expo, I went to the Thought Bubble in Leeds on the 15th November - this was a very wonderful event, thank you to my (literally) hordes of screaming fans!! Then I attended the Grand Cosplay Ball at the Clapham Grand on the 30th November. It was AWESOME, I was so pleased that my cosplay was well received!! Then in late January I was sponsored by the British Council to give Manga workshops at the Children and Young Peoples' Book Fair in Athens, Greece. I worked with some amazing people and was bowled over by the warm welcome I received! And then last weekend I attended the star-studded New York Comic Con which was heaving with attendees! So now you know how ridiculously busy I've been, hehe.

And so! Artwork update? Why yes! Have some.

And I'm tired now. So if you'd like to check up on where I'll be heading next, visit my website home page and read about it there. Thank you very much and good night!!

Two new comics for you!

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:50:00 GMT

TWO NEW BOOKS FOR YOU!! ^_^ Both will be available to purchase from the Sweatdrop Studios stand this weekend!

Once Upon a Time... the collected volume!

---
Briony: What do I say to him?
Mercedes: I'm going to let them all down.
Latisha: Gotta keep up my reputation, y'know what I'm sayin?
Alice: You said you'd always look out for me!
Alexis: I just...can't keep it all to myself anymore.

Once Upon a Time... stories of our time, the here and now. What challenges do we face when we have to grow up? Look through the eyes of different people as they deal with their personal battles, face the truth and determine their futures. Life's lessons can only be learnt from living it.

Details: 9x6"comic digest, 160 pgs (5 chapters), colour cover, age rating teen, UK 5.00

OUAT was my first manga. And this volume is the entire thing - so this is a standalone graphic novel, complete as it is. (Although perhaps in a few years' time, I may release another standalone volume which shows all of the girls' lives several years from now...)

Longtime fans might notice that I have pretty much re-drawn most of chapters 1-3 so they are new and improved! But I have left only a couple of pages here and there in retro style just cos they were so cheesily appropriate XD

Attached is the cover mock up and some sneaky pages! Each chapter focuses on a different girl and her story. I've included two pages per chapter, in chronological order. I hope it whets your appetite and makes you want to find out what happens! Enjoy...

Love Stuffing - the prequel!

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The fluff love is made of!

Jenny is a girl who loves her stuffed animals. Wishing she could get Steve to love her the way she loves her soft toys, she wonders if the secret to being loved is in the stuffing itself. Comparing herself to the more popular girls in class, she realises her problem - she lacks the stuffing! Borrowing "love" from her fluffy friends, she "stuffs" herself and goes to school...

Story and Artwork by Sonia Leong
Concept by Stereoblind (http://www.stereoblind.com/)

The limited edition prequel covers Chapter 1 of the upcoming volume. It also contains concept art and initial character sketches which will not be available in the final volume.

Volume 1 is to be released in December 2008!
192 pgs each, UK 5.99 or US 9.99

Volumes 2 and 3 to be released in 2009 ^_^ The limited edition (30 copies only) prequel comic will be available at the London MCM Expo for UK 2.00. There will also be 30 US versions as well, details on where to get them to follow.