Sep 30 2019

Shale City: Fox and Faun by Dani Smith #newrelease

Shale City: Fox and Faun by Dani Smith

Welcome to SHALE CITY, a derelict punk rock metropolis populated by the fey creatures that overrun our mythological dreamscapes. A place where magic and technology run thick side by side…sometimes with devastating consequences.

Twinglader swordsman Ashe sacrificed his freedom in exchange for his grandparents’ lives. Now torn away from his faun tribe, he finds himself in the service of Drake, a cunning and powerful satyr chief known for his insufferable cruelty.

But when Drake returns from a raid with a new prize: the intensely beautiful Iona, a fire-haired fox maiden trained in the magic arts, Ashe will begin to question his loyalty… and his own heart. Swearing to protect and free Iona from her captor, Ashe will be forced to risk both of their lives–and a life unborn–for a chance at freedom.

Written and illustrated by bestselling comics artist and creator Dani Smith, SHALE CITY is a dark, gritty, and ultimately gorgeous journey into an urban fantasy world with no boundaries.

Publisher’s note: This illustrated novella contains adult themes including gore and violence, foul language, graphic sex, nudity, slavery, and dubious consent. It is intended for readers 17+ ONLY.

Apr 2 2019

Artist Dani Smith #interview

Please give a warm welcome to my fabulous friend, artist and author Dani Smith

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m an illustrator and book cover designer focusing on fantasy, horror, and romance themes. I have been creating and publishing my own comics and novels through my boutique publishing and art business, QuickDraw Studios, since 2010. I have been on Top 100 Bestseller lists numerous times, outselling select issues of titles like Hellboy, The Walking Dead, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer in digital format.

I currently am at work with my husband and partner, Alex Julian, on numerous novel and comic projects that are projected for publication in the next year. We live in a little white cottage in San Diego, CA. with our boy Ryker, a terrier mix named Arrow, a fat guinea pig named Freckles, and a sassy black cat named Gabe the Prince of Darkness. Our house is full of murals, nude and pinup art, and rock n’ roll. We are the all-American family. 😉

Have you always wanted to become a designer/blogger?

I knew I was an artist from toddlerhood. I never questioned it, though that may not be the popular or “right” thing to do according to the society in which I live. Sometimes you are just born who you are meant to be in a straightforward fashion, no questions asked. I got into book cover illustration during my 2011 pregnancy with my son, and I have enjoyed it ever since.

My favorite book cover projects are illustrated, though I have also created covers using stock photos for authors, if this is requested. I also love doing interior illustration and character design for authors in the romance, fantasy, sci-fi, and horror genres.

What was your inspiration for your current work?

I have always been inspired by folklore, anthropology, fairy tales, film, and music. Lately I have been creating personal works for my Instagram, @daniquickdraw, that reflect my favorite popular characters or portray Instagram models that I find creatively alluring. These personal works have been immensely popular.

What are you working on now?

I am always working on the next comic book project, most recently the next issue of my bestselling Black Dog and Rebel Rose series, and two illustrated novels, ASYLUM and SHALE CITY. You can see examples of work done for these on my Instagram and Facebook pages fairly regularly.

Do you have any quirks while working?

I love to go “sideways”—that is, I drink strong coffee while also drinking a glass of wine or champagne. The alcohol relaxes me while the caffeine stimulates my creative brain and gets the juices flowing. It’s a really great combination. I love to listen to folklore, true crime, and anthropology podcasts while painting, as well as indie soundtracks on YouTube that fit whatever project I am working on at the moment.

What are your hopes for the future?

I currently have a live action film option on the table in Los Angeles for my most popular comic series, Black Dog and Rebel Rose. It has been a long time in the works, and we have had a few hurdles to jump over as time has gone by, which seems to be a fait accompli for indie films. But I remain hopeful that the project will pan out and be a success. Most recently, my producers are planning to film a teaser trailer featuring the five major characters that will be launched worldwide to promote the funding of the project.

Do you have any advice for new designers about the author world?

Make sure your work is top-notch in quality. Try to stand out from the crowd—discover what is unique about your work and focus on that. Let your light shine and the right folks will find you.

Do you have anything to say to your followers?

I love every single one of you. Without my fans and supporters, I would be nowhere.

Buy links

Strange Days

Boobes: An Adult Coloring Book

Skriker: A Boy and His Beast

Black Dog and Rebel Rose: Chapter One: The Road to Hell

Black Dog and Rebel Rose Revamped

Being Ophelia and Other Poems

Social media links

Dani Smith International Fan Page

Quick Draw Studio

Mar 25 2018

Author and Artist Dani Smith #interview

I’m lucky today to have the fantastic artist Dani Smith from Quick Draw Studios visiting. She was kind enough to answer a couple of questions about herself and her latest release.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m a comic book artist, writer, and all around crazy love able tattooed gal hailing from San Diego, CA, USA. I primarily focus on horror and dark urban fantasy themes, which allow me to draw all kinds of awesome monsters! My partner, Alex Julian, recently became my primary colorist; he also designs some of the creatures you will see popping up in my stories. We live in a charming old craftsman cottage in San Diego with our 6 year old boy, Ryker, a spry Jack Russell named Arrow, a fat guinea pig named Freckles, and a very curious Betta fish named Jack. We are the all- American artist family. 😉

Have you always wanted to become an comic book artist?

Initially, no. I once dreamed of owning an art gallery and being a novelist separately. I started teaching myself the art of comics about six years ago during pregnancy bedrest, and I would never go back. I get to combine art and storytelling…nothing is better. It’s become my absolute passion.

What was your inspiration for the series?

I have a passion for anthropology, folklore, mythology, theology, and the stories cultures worldwide have told for generations. I was inspired by the beings and creatures that have emerged from these traditions, and I wanted to write a story incorporating them, with characters that are both wondrous and relatable. The end result was BDRR.

Do you have any quirks while writing?

I like to go sideways—coffee and a glass of wine or champagne at the same time. Gets me both hyped and mellowed, hahaha! Good music is an absolute…it fuels the creative process. I’ll sometimes listen to the same song over and over for hours.

Do you have any advice for new artists/authors about the publishing world?

First, make a quality product. Quality is absolute. Secondly…DO NOT GIVE UP! This is a rough gig. There will be lean times. Absolute feast or famine. Determination is what will get you through.

What are you working on now?

The next chapter of BDRR hahaha! We are also starting ASYLUM, a series Alex created about a teen insane asylum with a Lovecraftian theme…this will be the next title we put out. Thirdly, we have SHALE CITY, a punk fey fantasy that I’ve been conceptualizing for the last few years. That will hit this summer…the fans are really excited about that one!

What are your hopes for the future?

We have a film option for BDRR that is floating around Los Angeles with a really fantastic producer and a few celebrity fans who would like to play the characters. I’m hoping it comes to fruition. The film world is complicated, so we will have to just kick back and see. Book sales will partially be driving the funding for that, so get out there and buy your copies, kids! 😉 💕🌹

Do you have anything to say to your fans?

You are why I’m here. I love you all and could not be more grateful. I hope to do right by you all by continuing to put out stories that you are excited to read!

Black Dog and Rebel Rose: Chapter I:

The Road to Hell by

Dani Smith and Alex Julian

Blurp

A Beauty and the Beast tale unlike any other…
Skriker, the Halfling son of a demon and a stripper, is a supernatural hunter with nothing to tie him down, and he likes it that way. Between gore-splattered hunts slaying things that go bump in the night, he fills his days and nights with women, cage fights, and hard, fun living. But when the tattooed, Harley-riding bad boy makes a trip out to the abandoned town of Paradise Hill, a rotting burg rumored to be infested by a parade of grisly horrors, he discovers that he isn’t the only hunter to sniff out such a rich prize…and while she just might be the stuff his dreams are made of, she may also lead to what could be his gruesome undoing.

Delve into Chapter One of Dani Smith’s worldwide bestselling comic series, with revamped illustrations, storytelling, and new colors by artist Alex Julian!

This comic is suitable for MATURE READERS only.

Read a FREE PREVIEW at

DriveThru Comics.com

Buy links

Amazon

DriveThru Comics

You can find Dani here

Nov 1 2015

Black Dog and Rebel Rose by Dani Smith @DaniQuickDraw #AmReading

The kickass artist and author Dani Smith is here to introduce her book Black Dog and Rebel Rose

She is the creater of all the artwork below.

Synopsis

Skriker, the Halfling son of a demon and a stripper, is a supernatural hunter with nothing to tie him down, and he likes it that way. Between gore-splattered hunts slaying things that go bump in the night, he fills his days and nights with women, cage fights, and hard, fun living. But when the tattooed, Harley-riding bad boy makes a trip out to the abandoned town of Paradise Hill, a rotting burg rumored to be infested by a parade of grisly horrors, he discovers that he isn’t the only hunter to sniff out such a rich prize…and while she just might be the stuff his dreams are made of, she may also lead to what could be his gruesome undoing.