Hey all, it’s been a month since our relaunch and we have been busy, busy, busy!
With the way that updates now work, we decided that doing author’s notes fort each individual page like we used to wasn’t really going to work. Not going to lie–not having to think of something to say for every single update when I think that each page should be able to speak for itself has been kind of freeing. That said, it would feel weird to say nothing ever, so we will be using the website’s blog at least once a month, coinciding with updates. Ideally I’d like to use it as as a newsletter, and I’ll likely be posting the same info over at patreon.
I have a lot to cover this month, so let’s just jump right into that.
WHY WE LEFT HIVEWORKS
So last month with our relaunch I promised details on why we cut ties with Hiveworks. On January 12th, the Hiveworks Guild, assisted by the Cartoonist Cooperative, posted an open letter about their experiences with Hiveworks and the terrible conditions we were working under. You can read it in full here!
The link contains a general statement outlining the conditions that led to the Guild being created, our efforts over three years to try and help Hiveworks pull things together, and the reasons that this eventually failed. It also has a statement from the Co-op, and a list of ways you can help displaced creators going forwards.
I also posted my own personal account on bluesky of an event that set the tone for my time at hiveworks, and was acknowledged by staff as having happened to me. The thread begins here, but I’ll just go ahead and post the screencaps where staff confirms that Hiveworks CEO Xellette Velamist bought a car with combined funds from the kickstarters for our comic, Sister Claire and Go Get A Roomie.
I’m very proud of the work we did as a guild, even if it ultimately failed to fix Hive’s problems and make things better for everyone in their catalogue. When it became clear that this wasn’t in the cards, everyone in the guild worked really hard to help people jump ship, tie up loose ends, keep on the right people for unpaid invoices and so on.
A lot of us jumped ship, but a lot of us also decided to form a collective to get the benefit of sharing our respective audiences and keep the sense of community we formed as the guild going, minus the miserable, ulcer-inducing elephant in the room. You can check out other works from the Chimera Comics Collective on our hub site, OR check out our jump bad under new comics pages.
MY CURRENT TO DO LIST
I have a lot of things on the go, and honestly, nothing keeps me on task like a good list. SO:
- Finish the last
batch of pages for this chapter!two batches, I messed up on page count, two batches of 4 pages now! - When the poll ends, do a couple fun illustrations/wallpapers for Valentines day.
- Reformat the first ebook with the updated art and extras and find a home for it.
- Do the cover for Book 05!
- Chapter 25 planning with Shay
- Thumbnailing and storyboarding for chapter 25
- Start the first batch of pages for chapter 25
I’ll keep this list updated and cross things off as I go!
WHAT’S NEW ON PATREON
One of my new-years resolutions is to use Patreon consistently! This is especially necessary because Shay is still job hunting and Hive is no longer giving me my meager ad revenue. Our site currently does not host adds (and also never will!) because they are essentially worthless, and also ugly as hell.
I’ve decided to treat Patreon with a ‘pay what you want’ model–all paid tiers get access to the same paid content, and you can pick whichever tier you like and use it like a recurring tip. I’ll also have free content occasionally, including a monthly newsletter.
Here are the things that I have added to Patreon since our relaunch. I will clearly mark content that is free for everyone to read–you don’t have to be a member to access it, but if you subscribe even just on the free tier, you’ll get notifications for future free content.
Dec 2025: Quick Update + Free Wallpaper
This post contains our welcome back to posting on patreon, as well as a free wallpaper for public download.
NO MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED
Sketchbook Dump: CH24 Pages 32-37
Sketchbook dump featuring most of the sketch-work from pages 32-47.
PAID CONTENT
BEHIND THE SCENES: Scripting???
A previously paid article from Feb 2024 about our writing process/finding what works for you! Now free to read!
NO MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED
A quick January 2026 update and a free wallpaper based on one of the Neeli sketches form the latest batch of pages.
NO MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED
VALENTINES DAY ART
It’s been quite a while since I’ve had time to do art for this comic that was not like…just making the comic or using a sketch from a page of this comic for some faux-watercolour experimentation in Rebelle 5, and since Valentines day is approaching, I’d love to do a couple of arts for both patreon and for the public, so I’ve quickly thrown together a poll for you to vote on! Shay and I just did some very funny brainstorming for some of the more toxic options on here, so I’d legit be stoked for any of these to win!
