Now I’m NOT talking about the BIBLE…Yeah, that one–the book of morals, prophecy, wisdom and suffering written by several authors, interpreted in many ways and used as tool for good and evil throughout human history. Not that book.

I’m talking about a story bible!

If you are a creator of any universe that comes form your mind…then if you want to make that universe a reality, the first thing you need to do is get your bible in order.

When I create a world, I create a Bible…first and formost.

My story bible is the book of knowledge I create that tells me everything I need to know and then-some, about the story I’m working on. Whether it is a comic book, short story, novel, screenplay etc…I always make a bible in one form or another.

I have almost finished building my Bible for I Never Sausage A Place, the sequel to the comic book, Gates–that you can view for free on this website.

A PITCH BOOK vs A BIBLE: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
Below is a video of the pitch book I made for the Gates comic book.  This is basically a nicely designed representation of my bible with major edits and the inclusion of new chapters used to sell whoever reads this on the world of Gates.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Pitch books are used to pitch your idea and are an abridged and more advanced form of a bible. They typically have more imagery and are much more geared at selling the awesomeness of your universe to others.

A story bible is a collection of information that allows me as writer to have every secret and detail of my universe, plotted out so that I may write my story.

So here’s a little info about it for all of you folks that are curious as to how I prepare and create a story bible.

HOW I BUILD A STORY BIBLE:
I love to build the bible for my universe. It is the most fun thing that I do because I get to combine all of my  favorite create juices into one collection. And by creative juices I mean my art, design and writing skills being used to bring forth my vision.

Now for someone who doesn’t draw or design, just writes, your bible may look different. That is cool. Your bible is a reflection of what you need to get your project completed. Every bible is different…not one are the same. It is the culmination of all of your exciting ideas you are going to be using for your project. Now mine just happens to be a transmedia eBOOK, with art, imagery, video and of course, pros, so it’s got some interesting additions…and it is pretty large.

You have to take into account that the length and complexity of your story idea will usually dictate the size of your bible.

So in building my bible, one must first have the ingredients to cook up their creative masterpiece.

THE MAIN CONTENTS OF MY BIBLE:
At this stage in the game, to me, nothing is sacred in terms of ideas so I will always be editing BUT the bible helps you commit to some ideas more than others as you know they are the backbone of your story.  The bible for me is a psychological conquer for my story as it gives me the first semblance of a solid foundation. In my opinion, my bible keeps me from unnecessarily changing things. Sometimes, it is an easy trap for writers to  fall into in terms of changing things just for the sake of changing things.

So here are the contents of my bible for my transmedia project, I Never Sausage A Place.

1) Brief Synopsis: 
My bible begins with a brief synopsis. For my current needs right now, I have a nice four paragraph (one page) synopsis that summarizes the story of I Never Sausage A Place as well as I need it to be. As This is what I lead off my bible with.

2) Detailed Synopsis/Outline:
Next section is where I take the synopsis and expand it…I write something of hybrid synopsis and outline. These are the major plot points of my story, flushed out in clear fashion. It is here that I have the bones and the guts of my idea, laid out clearly so that I may use them as my guide when I write the story.

3) Characters:
This is the ultra detailed version of my character descriptions. Along with my character descriptions, I always include an image. I would prefer to use my art for the images but if  I don’t have the artwork completed, I will use some kind of representation of who I think would be a great actor or person in my life, that could play the part of that character.

4) Source Material:
This is usually the biggest chapter of my bible because it contains all of the background history about the setting of my story. For this section, I have a ton of collected articles, wikipedia entries and other resources I have found online that comprise all of the information I need to make my setting consistent. This is the research I need to keep my story entrenched in my world. These are details I need to write fearlessly and educated on my topic.

WORSHIPPING MY BIBLE:
So now I have my bible…what do I do next?

I get old school…and I print it out!

I just print all the four sections I just outlined above and punch holes in them, and place them in a three ringed binder.

Now I have a physical specimen of my ideas in my hand, advancing the psychological foundation of my ideas, even one step further.

Cherish your bible and be grateful that you have completed it because now you are on to the next magical journey…WRITING YOUR STORY!

And remember, you are the GOD of YOUR BIBLE and the creator of your world and all of its’ inhabitants.

WHAT I LEARNED PUTTING TOGETHER MY BIBLE:

1) You can never have to much information when creating a bible for your universe.

2) Specifically in my source material section, when editing out info that I may not need, taking a conservative approach to deleting was a smart move.  I feel like the more I have, the better because even if I never use it is there to support me.

3) A synopsis is there to be edited. But get it to a good point and move on. There will be lots of time to edit your synopsis.

4) The psychological power of having completed a bible I can hold in my hand is incredibly strong.

5) Be organic with the contents of your bible. This is all about what I need to create my story. Period. Everything I need is here at my fingertips so I can write unchained.

FOLLOW HAL HEFNER’s JOURNEY INTO THE HOLY BIBLE OF 1987–I NEVER SAUSAGE A PLACE!!!!

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My goal was to get:

1) Photos: to use in the book to use as is or to paint over and manipulate in Photoshop.  I can also use all of these photos in videos and  as inspiration for all of the additional transmedia elements that go along with the I Never Sausage A Place Property.

2) Videos: I needed to get some great authentic footage of everything from farmlands, to people.

3) Inspired: I needed to get inspired, informed and engulfed by the Mohawk Valley, the woods, the climate and the people.

I needed all three and I got them all.

eBOOK PRODUCTION ON LOCATION:
I was born in a a small town called Ilion, NY, located in the town of German Flatts. I just got back from an 8 day adventure (7 days in New York + 1 day of travelling) in this area of upstate NY, as my crew and I took over 1600 photos, shot hours of video and went on endless journeys of adventure in the outdoors.

Any good writer will give you the advice to “write what you know”. Well I know this place well–Mohawk NY. I know the people, the philosophy of the old, middle aged, young and dead. I know the waterways, trash dumps, woods, forests, caves, sports fields, water towers and oh so much more. I know it’s soul and it knows mine.

Mohawk is named after a tribe fo Iroquois indians that once dominated the area. Some say the name Mohawk menas “people of the flint” others say it was “people of the crystal” and some speculate the word Mohawk is Algonquin for “eaters of flesh”, which is my personal favorite.

Welcome to the town of MAN EATERS! I have always loved these man eating spirits. As a kid, I could feel the spirits of the Indians when I would walk in the woods by myself. There was a smell of olden times in those woods that was in harmony that can only be seen or felt from a child’s eye in such pure form. My goal is to write an ass kicking science fiction book to bring that feeling to all of you in I Never Sausage A Place, the prequel to the Gates comic book.

So I went back to rekindle those senses, memories and realizations once again.

Mohawk is an old, historical area that was integral in the revolutionary war. It is the area in which the Last of The Mohicans took place, in the book by James Fenimore Cooper. The small town of Mohawk is located in the Mohawk Valley. After my recent trip I can honestly say that it is loaded with love, goodness and naivety while also full of evil, mystery, fear, hatred and negativity. And energy.

It was good to go back in the womb and see my roots for inspiration. Inspiration for the ebook I am writing, I Never Sausage A Place.

THE PRODUCTION JOURNEY:
Going back home is an emotionally draining journey that always leaves me feeling cheated that I didn’t get to see enough of this person or that person. Family can take up a lot of your time and then when you add in the friends factor that eats up a lot too…on top of this I was also trying to get a bunch of work done. For the most part, I achieved what I wanted to accomplish but there is more stuff I could not get done.  But that’s okay, I have enough to work with for sure.

It was a hell of a ride but one I will never forget and file as one of the most awesome experiences of my life. With some really great people, I experienced the greatest and most puzzling pieces of Mohawk Valley history as I could in seven days.

I felt like I died and rose from the ashes of my corpse while I was there. Just like old times.

To start with, it was hot as hell and I was on the road most of the time hunting for the bizarre, dilapidated, timeless, natural and quintessential staples of the Mohawk Valley. In some places, 1987 is the same, just a little more withered.

MANY THANKS TO MY CREW:

A big thanks goes out to all of my family, friends and acquaintences that helped me on this journey of retrieval.

Nobody helped me more than one creative dude named, SEAN BERRIE . To me he is the THE PHOTO/VIDEO WARLOCK.

This guy was a one man wrecking crew of knowledge and photo and video wizardry. He knew where to go to get what I needed and he was available at all hours of the day and night. We had one hell of a trip and I look forward to our next journey.

SNEAK PEEK: HERE ARE SOME OF THE COOL IMAGES I GOT ON THIS TRIP -
(no explanations–sorry you’ll have to read the book!)

WHAT I LEARNED ON THIS TRIP:

1) BE PREPARED: Do as much as you can to prepare, even if you never need it. The fact that you have it, will help you tremendously.

2) BE ORGANIC: No matter how much you prepare, schedule or hope when laying out plans for production, you always have to consider other factors that will throw a wrench into the inter workings of your design. Whether it’s the weather, or some sort of natural happening, be prepared to be organic and flexible. 

3) DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF: Things will go wrong. ALWAYS. So don’t piss and moan about it, suck it up and move on. Focus on the good and the things that went right.

4) IF YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO DO IT, FIND SOMEONE WHO DOES TO HELP YOU: Just common sense. Throw down your ego and ask for help. It’s okay to ask for help.

5) FRIENDS and FAMILY are invaluable. Respect and love thy friends and family. They will be there for you in your darkest nights and brightest days.

FOLLOW HAL HEFNER’s VOYAGE THROUGH THE TRASH HEAP OF HIS SOUL

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GOING TO NEW YORK FOR PRODUCTION:
In just a matter of hours, I leave for upstate NY. Many of you around the world have no idea what upstate NY is…well it’s called Up-State because it is the top of the state, near Canada. It is a very interesting place that many people haven’t a clue that it actually exists. The area is rich in history from many points of you, many documented and others not so documented.

The eBOOK I am currently working on, the prequel to the Gates Comic Book, I Never Sausage A Place, is ALL about upstate NY, in the year 1987. This is the flagship story that falls somewhere in between a John Hughes film and a short story by HP Lovecraft.

WHY NEW YORK?:
Any good writer will give you the advice to “write what you know”. Well I know this area well. I lived around it or in it for 24 years before I moved to Los Angeles in the late 90′s. Like I mentioned in the paragraph earlier, upstate New York has been the home of many historic events and continues to be a hot bed of strange happenings to this day.

The place, mentioned in I Never Sausage A Place, is called Mohawk NY. Mohawk is named after a tribe fo Iroquois indians that once dominated the area, but where cheated, murdered and unfairly treated by white settlers.  As a kid, I could feel the spirits of the Indians when I would walk in the woods by myself. I want to bring that feeling to all of you in the eBOOK, I Never Sausage A Place, the prequel to the Gates comic book.

Mohawk is also the area in which the Last of The Mohicans took place, in the famous novel by James Fenimore Cooper.

The area is beautiful in the summer and boasts some of the most exquisite natural waterfalls, creeks and streams in New York. It is also loaded with myesterious places that I cannot reveal today as it might tip my hand at some things to come later in the book. But here is a little hint, UFO’s, Haunted Places, Conspiracy Theories and oh, so much more. SO MUCH MORE!

VIDEOS ABOUT THE MOHAWK VALLEY:
The town of Mohawk is nestled in the Mohawk Valley and is loaded with goodness, evil, mystery, terror and much more. Below is a cheery side to a slice of American Pie. Here are some videos about this place to give you an idea of what is ahead of me.

As the nuttiness ensues, I will keep you all posted! Until then…

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Mohawk Museum at Weller Library open Monday Nights from 4-7 pm

FOLLOW HAL HEFNER’s JOURNEY THROUGH THE DEPTHS OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY:

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halhefner@gmail.com and please make sure to sign up for the Gates mailing list, or I’ll change my name to Ryan Dempster and you can trade me to the Braves!

Let’s face it. Originality is rare. An easy formula for originality is to digest what you love, MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF VARIOUS MEDIA! Once you eat a good helping of art, music, books, movies, games and  more…YOU use small pieces of ideas of influence from each thing and regurgitate the combination of ideas into one NEW IDEA!___YOUR IDEA!!!!!

But you can’t get there unless you study the past, present and future. So let’s focus on that for a minute.

You have to learn from everyone else’s mistakes, so that you can make your own.

And you have to pay attention to how things are done.

For an example, last night, I saw the Dark Knight Rises at 12:15 AM. After two hours and forty-four minutes, I still wanted more. I didn’t want it to end.

Why?

Well many folks might answer that it was because it was Batman and they have always loved this character, yada, yada, yada. But the reality is, that we love the Batman Trilogy by Chris Nolan, because they are awesome stories.  Now if you haven’t seen the Dark Knight Rises yet, I highly suggest you do. It’s well written, well directed and the production design is brilliant.  Are many people saying the same thing about DC’s newest Batman comics?

The thing that stood out the most was character development. Currently DC Comics is producing something I’m really not interested in, in their “New 52″ lineup. They lost me a long time ago. So I’ve been a bit jaded and scorned because I love these characters so much and they have helped to shape me as an artist, writer and creator. But I get it, you need to sell books so whatever, I’ve moved on. I get my Batman fix on the big screen and in cartoons these days.

The Batman movies are just amazingly produced pieces of film. The Dark Knight Rises is an exemplary piece of film making 101. You cared about these characters from start to finish. EVERY ONE OF THEM–from the villains to the heroes.

If you aspire to make moves or write or create anything at all, watch this movie and enjoy it AND learn from it.

This is one example of something currently happening that is something to pay attention to and learn from…But there is more!

SUPER COOL NEW TRANSMEDIA eBOOK PROJECTS TO CHECK OUT:

I have found two very cool interactivity entertainment pieces that fall within the transmedia umbrella. They have also caught my eye and I have been paying attention to them as inspirational examples for creating I Never Sausage  A Place, my transmedia eBook follow up to the Gates comic book.

1) The Numinous Place by Mark Staufer

The Numinous Place is actually a very, very cool Transmedia Project being developed by a very talented writer by the name of Mark Staufer.  The Numinous Place is a mind trip of astronomical proportions and Mark has done an amazing job of getting the mythos for his world flushed out and built up. They currently have a kickstarter campaign that needs your support. Please check it out!

It has a very nice alternate reality based vibe. http://thenuminousplace.com/ The official website gives you more details about all of the realistic news reports, documents and other cool things that come into play to get into this world.

2) Tim Street’s new eBook: VIDS
I met Tim Street last week at a TransmediaLA event at USC. We connected immediately over eBook geekery. He just released a new Transmedia eBook called, VIDS exclusively with iTUNES.

Tim Street is a Transmedia pioneer who has produced some really amazing things since his career kicked off in the 90′s. His wikipedia entry is pretty impressive.  Tim has done many things in his career, with Disney and Nickelodeon and he also created the popular website FrenchMaidTV. In addition to this he created a website that was his first real delving into transmedia, called fortheloveofjulie.com fortheloveofjulie.com.  Wired magazine called it, “one of the Internet’s creepiest sites… and one of the most convincing hoaxes to hit the Net.”

So we shouldn’t be surprised that Tim has continued on his path of transmedia exploration and has taken on a new project entitled VIDS, which is now in the Itunes store.  Tim built it entirely in iBook Author: Which I spoke of in my Journal entry Number 3!

Here is an awesome video from Tim, about Vids. Like my intentions for I Never Sausage A Place, it uses images, pros and videos.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Tim has been kind enough to share his secrets with me about using iBook Author. I’ll keep you posted!  In this video Tim says something that rings very, very true. “Whatever you were working on ten years ago, take a look at it and see if you can monetize it now.” Ironically I Never Sausage A Place was something I was looking to do about 13 years ago…but now, just now has it really evolved.

 
my name is Hal Hefner, AND I wish I was Batman today. halhefner@gmail.com
FOLLOW HAL HEFNER’s TANTALIZING TRAVELS THROUGH GOTHAM CITY AND HELL:

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If you feel lucky, bored or lonely, you can sign up for the Gates mailing list. This is listed on the very top left hand column of the website. I promise that I will not email you pictures of the Westboro Baptist Church making their daily offerings to Satan.

FINDING MY TRIBE:

There is something to be said for the phrase, “birds of a feather, flock together.”  It is a very true statement in many ways. I think it definitely applies to all things in life but most importantly a person’s career. If you’re not chasing your passion or working in a place that you like or with people you like–my advice is to leave and find your “kind of people” to work with.

In addition to my illustration and design career here in Los Angeles, CA, I’ve also spent many years as a recruiter for the tech, creative, advertising, marketing and PR industries.  When you know exactly what you are staffing because you have personal experience in it, it makes you better than the other goombas doing the same thing.

So the advice I always give people, is find a company to work for that does what you love, when you’re NOT working. For example, if you like cupcakes and you design websites, well find a company that specializes in food and or try approaching your favorite cupcake places to see if you can help them.

My point is this: FIND YOUR TRIBE

And this can either be a social “tribe” to chill with…or a “working tribe”.

But finding a tribe to gel with is important for many reasons and here are a few.

1) These are the people that share the same hobbies, love and passions as you.

2) They can teach you more about what you love and want to know.

3) They can open new doors for you in areas you may not know of currently.

4) Synergy with like-minded folks is priceless.

TRANSMEDIA LA:
I have a couple of tribes I belong to. Transmedia LA is one that I am pretty happy with.

I am on the board of directors for a very cool group in Los Angeles, CA that organizes monthly meetups that focus on Transmedia Storytelling. It’s a really awesome group of human beings, and a very talented core of folks who have loads of experience to offer and are kind and willing to help anyone who asks.

TMLA was originally started in 2009 by Scott Walker, founder of Shared Storyworlds.com , Tara Brown and Jay Bushman. These three individuals form the core group of intellects and story lovers who have welcomed me into the Transmedia space with open arms.  Through Scott and Tara I have met some AMAZING people and I have learned a ton of things.  Jay Bushman, was very instrumental in introducing the founders of Fourth Wall Studios to me–a place I currently work as a contract recruiter, 3 days a week.

I am the Transmedia LA Community Director, meaning I greet folks when they sign up and at meetups and try and help people mingle with others who could help their careers. In this role I have been to some amazing events and I’ve met some awesome people that have helped me out greatly.

 Join us if you are in the LA area!

WHY THIS  TRANSMEDIA LA TRIBE GOOD FOR ME?
My art tells stories. I write stories and I live life like it is one big story…so I sought out storytellers and found Transmedia LA.

I have always felt like I was more of a storyteller than just a comic book artist, comic book writer or illustrator.  I hate labeling myself anything as it limits you and I always feel uncomfortable calling myself anything as I feel I disrespect the other talents by not mentioning them.

I’m at home with other storytellers.

STORYWORLD:
From Transmedia LA I found Storyworld! 2011. A very cool convention that is like one big Meetup that brings the best transmedia folks around the world together, in one building for three days. It’s cool, it’s fun and I met so many great people…from Rich Silverman to Brian Clark. These are good people.  Smart people.

It is happening in LA this year…and the leading minds in Transmedia from the entertainment industry including game developers, publishers, film, television and marketing executives, as well as indie producers and content creators. This is the place to learn about what and what not to do and strengthen your story as well as make connections, forge new partnerships and plant the seeds for future collaborations.

It fuckin’ rocks!

If you want to do something creative to tell your story…this is the place to go.

 WHAT I HAVE BEEN GRATEFUL FOR IN REMINDERS AND NEW LESSONS THIS WEEK:

1) I’m a lucky guy because I have found my tribe of transmedia enthusiasts, creators and nerds to bounce ideas off of and collaborate with and LEARN FROM!

2) I’m a lucky guy because I have met some really talented people over the last year through this transmedia tribe. They have extremely helpful and influential in my life and creative direction. It’s something to be grateful for.

3) Health brings happiness and happiness is even better when you live your life following your passion.

A GOOD WEEKEND OF TIGHTENING UP THE STORY:
For me, as a writer, tightening up the story in areas of weakness is an ongoing inner struggle. But my writer’s path, is one that is extremely rewarding when breakthroughs appear and I know that I’ve gotten it right finally.

I had a weekend of this.

I tackled character development, themes and consistency. I won.

And now, I am all excited about my trip to the Mohawk Valley, to explore the mythology, history and energy of the landscape that I am embedding into my story.  There are some pretty amazing things and people nestled in the Mohawk Valley that have shaped my brain creatively.   I am looking forward to experiencing everything I love dearly that has inspired my journey on the path of  life that I currently walk on.

Now I’m organizing a tribe of really talented people that are helping me with my vision.

Once I go back to upstate NY to film, record, photograph and experience– the story will be completed.

THEME STRENGTHENING:
Last night, I was asking for location and mood recommendations on Facebook, to my friends and family I grew up with in upstate NY. I am looking for some ideas for strange places in the Mohawk Valley, Herkimer County area. I need mood pieces that capture the good and the bad and the aging and naturally beautiful and decrepit things that I grew up with.

Someone left a sizzling comment on Facebook that got me thinking…and reevaluating and then I realized one important theme that I need to drive home. I mean REALLY NEED  TO DRIVE HOME!!

The philosophically life changing  journey that our protagonist, Holden Gates, must endure! The theme behind his character growth and the outcome of his life and destiny!

DUH!!!!!

I just reinforced what I knew I needed to reinforce.
A THEME AND A CHARACTER ARC ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO ANY STORY:

At the most basic level of story breakdown, I Never Sausage A Place is about a young man who is fed up with life in a small town and appreciates nothing and nobody in it.

The meat of this book is about the life changing events that take place over the summer of 1987 and how our protagonist, Holden Gates, develops compassion and an appreciation for the smaller and simpler things in life. This is the foundation of the strength he must summon from within to survive and rise up.

These are  the character traits and developments that carry him to his accomplishments, victories and his failures!

WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEKEND:

1) To listen to my gut about things because it is always spot on.

2) To listen to people and try and understand where they are coming from in their point of view, by the way they live and things they say and do.  To have compassion. Compassion is the key to life. It’s simple and we all could use a few more sprinkles of it in our everyday life.

3) How exciting it is to watching a character’s arc develop and complete the test of  a lifetime.

4) Kevin Bryce has another pretty cool video you all need to see. This one is called Horizon. It’s a trip. A very cool trip.

Click here to view the embedded video.

my name is Hal Hefner, and I’m just a guy trying to create things that I think are pretty cool. halhefner@gmail.com
FOLLOW HAL HEFNER’s TANTALIZING TRAVELS THROUGH THE NETHERWORLD:

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MY INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC OF THE LAST TWO DAYS:

It’s the 4th of July and scientists believe they have discovered the GOD PARTICLE. I’m gearing up for some fun time with the family, and listening to Kevin Bryce’s new ultra psychedelic ambient album, entitled Open Spaces–which has a God Particle vibe. If you haven’t had a chance to listen to Kevin Bryce’s music, you’re missing out. The guy is brilliantly talented and his music to me gives me great vibes to write and work to. Check it out if you dig ambient music. It’s very sci-fi and pulls you in on the journey.

Kevin provided some great tracks for the Gates universe already and he has more o contribute as well. Glad to have him onboard for the journey.

Here’s one of his videos. And like me, this guy is a one man production shop for music and psychedelic videos.  Enjoy!

Click here to view the embedded video.

eBOOK PLATFORMS:

The last couple of days have been pretty interesting. I’ve been noodling around with some images, gathering old photos and some old art, which I will share later on, but the bulk of my time has been spent researching eBOOK platforms.

1) What I’ve Learned So Far:
The eBOOk space is constantly changing–at light speed. Things are advancing technologically and companies that are not only aggregators for distribution, are popping up all the time, but also production companies who will convert your files for you. And then their are those who do both. So there are basically two roads to travel, do it yourself or have someone do it for you. Which one you will chose depends on your skill set and your budget.

2) The Players:
There are quite a few players in this arena.  I could go on about them all but I’m just going to focus on the ones I have chose as who I want to work with. So here they are ranked in order of importance for me.

• iBook Author:
  Apple’s iBook Author is the way to go for me because it is so graphically friendly AND you can embed video. It basically allows you to build your book into an app. Now you can go with basic books as well, but for what I am trying to do with I Never Sausage A Place. I need this platform first and foremost. It’s free software you download and has been compared to building a powerpoint presentation which is pretty basic. The cool thing is, there is already a growing number of templates and other enhancements around this community so you can really push the boundaries of what can be done in a book. This is the best artistic platform for sure. You just create and upload and once it is approved, you are ready to be sold in the Itunes store! I can’t wait to dig in to this software!TEMPLATES:
  http://www.ibooksauthortemplates.com/ DOWNLOAD IBOOK AUTHOR:
  http://www.apple.com/ibooks-author/ 

   

• Smashwords:
  For me this platform is number 2. They are a cool company with a good philosophy and they campion the indie author for sure. All I have read up on them is nothing but positive reviews. You can easily create your books and bam, they are ready to be distributed almost everywhere, including Barnes & Noble’s eBookstore, Apple’s iBooks, Sony, Kobo, and Baker & Taylor’s Blio and more. However it seems that the only drawback they now have is that their books don’t sustain the type of graphic look and I feel I need…But that’s okay, it still allows me to reach some folks that just want to read the book. I’m hoping I can get some images in there, but not sure yet as I need to investigate this further. But I like them a lot.

• Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP):
  This platform sounds similar to Smashwords in a way, so less graphical control. I hope that things can advance between the time I finish the novel and now but ya never know. Either way, I need to get on Amazon, it’s huge.  And with this, I have covered myself on all major eBook platform fronts to sell the book.

FOLLOW HAL HEFNER’s JOURNEY SOCIALLY:

deviantART   twitter   Facebook   Google+

halhefner@gmail.com and please make sure to sign up for the Gates mailing list, listed on the very top left hand column of the website!

So, I decided to go with WordPress because it allows people like me who have no idea how to write or read code, the ability to create my own website and customize it.  So if you plan to build your own website for your own project, I highly recommend installing WordPress. It has a really solid content management system (CMS) that is pretty simple to use, even for the less advanced web development explorer. You can literally go as basic as you want or as complicated as you want by downloading thousands of free templates to customize and play with.

For an example, the Gates comic book website is a free WordPress template created specifically for comics called ComicPress. I then just edited this template to feel like the tone I was going for which was dark, science fiction. What I couldn’t figure out by myself, I luckily had was able to get some help from my pal Chad Kukahiko and his company, Superfreako Designs.

WASTING TIME:
It drives me nuts when I waste time…and sometimes messing around with WordPress templates all day can drive you insane. You can try tons of things and it will have one little thing off that will drive you insane. Then you abort the template and your time that you put into goes ”Up in Smoke,” like a Cheech and Chong movie. 

So be prepared to feel restless and annoyed for a few days, or weeks until you get it right. BUT remember, sometimes you just have to move on. Getting a little distance from the template and all of the crazy things associated with it, can drive you in the right direction after your mind relaxes a bit.

I’m doing it right now. Taking that step away. The good thing is that I’m not in a rush to get the site finished but I had the urge today to get up and tinker with this.

THE END GOAL:
I come from a design background, working as a graphic designer and art director when I first moved to Los Angeles. I worked in the advertising industry and in my lifetime I have made hundreds of ads. Most of them for magazines. I did do some web design as well and I also really understand user interface design and want things to be really easy to work with. So I was actually considering, forming a company with a friend of mine that we wanted to call Omega Mind.  My friend has since dropped off the canvas for a minute on a “vision quest”, so needless to say, this also went “Up in Smoke,” like a Cheech and Chong movie.

Before things stalled, I actually comped out a page that would be my main portal page. I wanted a lot of control as I eventually plan on turning this over to a developer who could code the portal, that would allow people to get the entire feel for the Gates universe and navigate directly to all of the story portals.

Here was a mockup I designed a few months ago.

Gates Portal Comp November 2011

So in order to get this where I need it to be, I purchased something called Thesis, which is a customizable wordprerss template builder. It is pretty cool but I just scratched the surface of it…and I have yet to get into the backend stuff. But it’s really awesome and I’m excited to play with it

The company I purchased it from has a ton of tutorials, even ones on  how to install Thesis, through GoDaddy ’s back backend.

I’ll keep you posted as to how it comes along…

I NEVER SAUSAGE A PLACE WEBSITE…as of now:

By the end of the day…I had settled on a template..for now. It needs a lot of work, but all in all, it’s not that bad. I knew one thing for sure, is that I need to have this sign in there…BUT I need to edit it, and make it more friendly to the legal system, like editing out the Pepsi logo.  The cool thing is that this is a real sign. When I left my home town in 1999, this was the last picture I took. It resides on the village market in the small town of upstate NY–which is where the story takes place, in 1987.

And here is the EOD progress of template testing…Nothing to write home about, but progress has been made at the least. It takes patience and persistence when you are a one man production team.

http://ineversausageaplace.com/

FOLLOW HAL HEFNER’s JOURNEY SOCIALLY:

deviantART   twitter   Facebook   Google+

halhefner@gmail.com and please make sure to sign up for the Gates mailing list, listed on the very top left hand column of the website!

Today I, Hal Hefner humbly, and officially begin a new stage of development that has been in the works for quite some time.

But now, today 7/1–I make it official. Gates the, free web based comic book, that has been running on this website since 2011, has concluded with the end of Chapter 2.  As of now I have stopped production on the Gates comic book series. I left it in a well calculated cliffhanger so that I may continue it, at the right time and in the right media.

Right media?

Yes, right media. By that I mean that there are other options I would like to explore. These will be revealed in due time, but at the moment, my focus has shifted…to…

I NEVER SAUSAGE A PLACE:

If you are a regular on my website, and have been a fan of the Gates comic book, the news above may disappoint you.

But fear not.

I am embarking on a new journey–IN THE GATES UNIVERSE.

Did you ever wonder, who the hell the ConGenement were? What is the Vril? How did humanity end up in this oppressive, Dystopian world in which Gates finally has escaped from?

Well, your answers are coming.

ENTER: I NEVER SAUSAGE A PLACE

What the hell is “I Never Sausage a Place?” You must be thinking… Well if you look closely, in the graphic above, there is a sign, with a Pepsi symbol on it. This sign is very pertinent to the story, hence it is the title–and a fitting title it will be.  The market that this sign resides on, is also an integral part of the story…the story of Holden Gates.

INSAP is how I NEVER SAUSAGE A PLACE will be abbreviated from now on… IT is the next chapter in the Gates universe.

It is a recipe for fun and exploration.

It starts where the story first began, in a small town in upstate New York in the year 1987.

Add in real life strangeness and then combine conspiracy theories, a big hunk of science fiction and mystery with a pinch of romance, and mix it into a bowl with some high stakes adventure and you have the recipe for  I NEVER SAUSAGE A PLACE.

TRANSMEDIA eBOOK:

Yes, I am calling this Transmedia because I have no other word to describe this project at this time. It is a multi-platform, multi-media based story that I intend to bring to life using every aspect of my creative reach.

INSAP, is going to be produced in eBOOK form, and will be loaded with full color illustrations, photos and embedded videos that will enhance the mood and feel of the story, with multiple areas for engagement and outreach into the vast netherworlds of the Gates universe. So…let’s recap:

eBOOK + embedded video + Full Color Illustrations + Photos = I NEVER SAUSAGE A PLACE

In addition to this I will also be launching some fan based Transmedia tentacles that will be revealed in due time. My main goal is to bring the entire Gates universe, into a robust, living breathing form of storytelling that has a unique delivery for the viewer/reader/consumer etc.  All of my favorite books have made me sad because I finished the book, or  left me wanting more, imagining how things might unfold. Well I want to give more extensions at the end of the book–some easy to find, other hidden like easter eggs, to pull you further and further down the rabbit hole.

PRODUCTION JOURNAL:
I am doing something quite different from when I developed the Gates comic book. As I create this eBOOK and bring it to life, I will be documenting my journey. All of my accomplishments, setbacks, mistakes and other odd tid bits I will be running into, will be documented, right here on this website for all to see.  My goal is to educate others so that you may learn from my mistakes, as well as to join me on the journey and hopefully have a hand in participating in creating your own little chasm of this exciting world that will be familiar, yet very alien.

I will try and update my Production Journal on a daily basis but such is life, it may end up happening when I have the time. I’m a busy beaver but I promise to try and keep this updated everywhere I go.

I will be continiuing to document my journey particularly on a few select social networks as well, each site will vary in content, which are as follows:

deviantART

twitter

Facebook

Google+

So please join me on my journey as I take the world of Gates to a whole new level, and I really am excited to have everyone join along!

Also feel free to reach out to me at halhefner@gmail.com and please make sure to sign up for the Gates mailing list, listed on the very top left hand column of the website!

In my last article, I detailed the new directions I was pushing the Gates franchise–beyond comic book format.

AT WYRD CON–On June 23rd, starting at 11:59pm–the doors of Room 1&2 of the Newport building, the of the Orange County Hilton, in Costa Mesa, CA…will open and a new interactive piece of storytelling in the Gates universe–will begin.

WHAT IS IT?
For those of you that have read the Gates comic book on this website (if you haven’t read it, you should), you will have some kind of idea of what this event might be. In the story there is a devious governmental system that rules over Gates and his colony–called the ConGenement. The word ConGenement derives from three words: Controlled + Genetic + Management.

So since the comic book of Gates is rooted deep within an undefined time in the future, the scenario we are playing with at this event takes place NOW.

The event will explore the beginnings of the ConGenement, it’s ideals, it’s secrets and it’s education and recruitment of members. But its beginnings are a much different experience than shown in the comic book.

This event is an hour long end of the night celebration and inspirational meditation that will take you an a ride enhanced by visuals, music and themes to challenge your questioning of reality.

HOW CAN I BE A CHARACTER?
Well all in all, that part will be revealed to you upon your arrival at the event.  It’s a secret so to speak. But if you would like to be, you can become an official member of the ConGenement and be entrenched in Gates lore and the foundation of the story. Sure you can cosplay Star Wars and the Justice League, but this event allows people to be themselves and really be a living, breathing incarnation of the story.

WHAT IS AN ALTERNATE REALITY EVENT?
Well it’s just like it sounds. It’s basically a theatrical form of entertainment where you forget your real life at the door, become a little kid again and jump into a predicated fantasy world where you are a character partaking in the theater.  You are am actor, a playor or just a participant. You decide your level of action.

ARG events often distort reality and this one is certainly in that realm.

THE DETAILS:

Controlled Genetic Management: The Path to Ascension takes place at a convention called Wyrd Con.  

Wyrd Con is a live role playing game event rooted in everything from ancient myths to modern life. At Wyrd Con there is something for everyone and it will allow you to get your freak hat on–or not.

WHEN:  Saturday, June 23, 2012 11:59 PM – Sunday, June 24, 2012 1:00 AM (Pacific Time)

WHERE: Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa - 3050 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, (714) 540-7000
ROOM LOCATION: Newport 1 &2

WHERE TO REGISTER: The Wyrdcon Website http://wyrdcon.com/2012-reg/

As a Fan you can become a living participant in the Gates universe by taking part in this event!

HOW MUCH IS THIS EVENT?:

A day pass for this Event is $45.oo. 

SPECIAL DISCOUNT CODE

It is a special code, good for 10% off badges by letting them know that you are coming to be a part of the Gates universe.

Code: SCIENCE

Come and join us…and demand a better future!