Pop-up Prototypes

I have been playing around with the idea of pop-up version of Pet My Dragon? for a couple of days.  There has been a pretty steep learning curve but I think I am finally starting to understand the mechanics of pop-ups.  So I thought I would share a couple pages with you as I work through the fine tuning for this project.

I am pretty close to being finished with the first opening sequence.  You can see that the paper parts are hidden when the pages are closed and extend nicely past the confines of their borders when the page is open. Next step will be to move to a full color mock-ups.

The videos look pretty grainy at the stop or pause but play very clear.

This next sample will need a little more work with sizing as you can see the speech bubble sticking out of the closed page.  

The mock-ups will be made from double sided brochure paper.  This paper is more substantial than regular printer paper but easier to work with than card stock.  I am hopeful that by the end the week I will have a finished mock-up of the "Way too hot" pages done and a "final" draft done for the "Paws not claws." page.

Facebook: Curtis Taylor-Author and Illustrator      Twitter: ctillustrator

www.curtistaylor.biz     e-mail: info (at) curtistaylor (dot )biz

Facebook Profile Pictures

Lately, I have been trying to streamline and optimize my various web, blog and social media pages.  It isn't much fun and it can take some time to complete but it won't be long before all that work will pay off.  Let me explain a bit.

I have been researching meta data and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) quite a bit lately and have come to realize that my sites haven't been optimized.  I figured Google would automatically see my website and spread the word for me.  Well, that wasn't quite the case.  I would get a steady traffic here on this blog of 2 to 4 hits a day before the SEO.  I know that isn't much in the grand scheme of things but the last three days (after SEO and meta data enhancements and nothing else, not even a post) I have seen jumps to my daily hit counts.  Now this blog is receiving 10 to 12 hits a day and my older posts (which virtually nobody read) are moving up the ranks of my most visited posts.

So take the time to updated your meta data and SEO.  Here is a nice blog with loads of helpful tips and instructions on how to go about this.  You won't be sorry you did.

http://seotools.bloggertricks.com/


Also I found this great article that explains how to expand your Facebook profile picture.  There are a lot of questions answered in the comments and they helped me troubleshoot a couple issues.  So if it doesn't work at first then read down the comment list and I bet you will find your answer.

http://www.clear-river.com/weblog/comments/making_the_most_of_your_facebook_page_profile_picture/

Free e-Picture Book

I have just published “Pet My Dragon?” on both the Kindle and the Nook formats and I will be giving away free e–pub versions of this book to anyone who is willing to write a review of this book on either the Amazon Kindle page

(http://www.amazon.com/Pet-My-Dragon-ebook/dp/B004HZX7X6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=merchant-items&qid=1296049847&sr=1-1)

or Barnes and Noble Nook page

 (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Pet-My-Dragon/Curtis-Taylor/e/2940012066343/?itm=1&USRI=pet+my+dragon%3f)

The nitty gritty:

1.     For one week only! (2/8 – 2/28) 

2.     The e-pub version can be read on the free Nook reader from Barnes and Noble.  

3.     E-mail me if you want to participate info(at)curtistaylor.biz

4.     I will e-mail you the e-pub doc titled pnlost.epub

5.     Read, enjoy

6.     Review (they can be short) at Amazon or B&N

7.     Please don’t share the book with others, send them back here and I will be happy to e-mail them their free copy.

Follow me @

Facebook @ Curtis Taylor-Author and Illustrator

Twitter @ ctillustrator

www.curtistaylor.biz

e-mail @  info(at)curtistaylor.biz

Follow me @

You can find me on

Facebook @ Curtis Taylor-Author and Illustrator
Twitter @ ctillustrator

www.curtistaylor.biz

e-mail @  info(at)curtistaylor.biz

No Way Jose!

Panel 1: Evil Ninja breaks into a store and there is a security camera watching him.  The name of the camera is "NOWYHOSAY".  Ninja thinks "?"

Panel 2: A booby-trap rope wraps him up as a hammer drops from the ceiling. Ninja says "Huh?"
Panel 3: Hammer drops on Ninja's head and he scrams.
Panel 4: The owner of the store stands over him shaking his fist.