Ides of March
22 days ago
– Sat, Mar 14, 2026 at 08:41:41 PM
Hello All!
February was a short month, with lots of hospital visits for my family [ even my dog! ] But I've been working hard. I've reached out to my friends at publishers to help me formulate my plan for this project. I'm taking on more work to meet requests and save up for printing costs, which I anticipate to be about 15K - 20k
I had a show last month that got cancelled due to the storms that blew through Chicago, so not getting paid last month was disappointing. BUT I have a few shows scheduled this year:
C2E2 - Chicago
Boston Comics in Color Festival
Baltimore Comic Con
With my Husband off work this month, I'm working my buns off on commissions. But I've finally written out the first stories that will be included in the book. Each story has the word MER in it:
DulciMER - DreaMER - MERit - ChiMERa.
Progress Progress
More soon - Afua
Happy New year
3 months ago
– Sun, Jan 04, 2026 at 06:56:44 AM
Howdy All! Happy 2026
It has been a long time since this project has started. It has taken on so many forms and seen so many challenges. But it's nice to see it start to make momentum after so many starts and stops. From Assault to theft, relocation and several hospitalized health crisis, Afua has gone through things most people would have quit and caved in on. But she's still trying and still fighting. So thanks for supporting an artist who is willing to put everything on the line for an idea. You didn't give up on her and she isn't either.
For those who have, that's understandable. She thanks you for the support at the time and hopes you'll reconsider in the future when she's on the other side of this.
She is only working on this presently. She may accept a small 10 page writing assignment to help fund the many refund requests. But as you can see, she hasn't done any covers, hasn't taken on projects and only makes money from commissions, conventions and store sales, so that will take some time. She has considered doing a smaller project to fund the production of this one. She has a love of birds and through her recovery she has found joy in observing them. Perhaps a series of paintings or a small children's book will revitalize her spirits and create resources to replace the stolen ones. She thanks those who purchased from her store last month. She has placed your funds in a small savings account to help restore what was taken. Afua thanks you for her generosity in these uncertain times.
Afua spent most of the holiday organizing her notes sketches and concepts and writing legends to include in the first issue. She has considered changing the audience type to include stories that require a more mature audience. I'll sign off for now with this final note from Afua.
From Afua:
Legends like Senda from the Inuit nations include graphic imagery of the goddess's father cutting her fingers. Atargatis from Heliopolis accidentally kills her human husband with her godly power and throws herself into the sea. Even Yemoja is attacked by her son. Crocodile gods eating villagers, Murder of the Sun. Those kinds of things are a bit too much for a general audience. I don't want to write a story that a 3 year old might pick up and see images of a woman throwing herself from a cliff even if she does become a mermaid. So As I'm writing, I have the difficult choice of either cutting out a story or including something that will change the audience from General Audience to Teen and above. Much like my life has played out, this is turning into thriller and almost horror. So I have to think about if that's what I want this to be.
I like stories where everyone can be included to read and participate. But in executing this, I think I will have to reconsider that and allow parents to decide if it's suitable. I've deliberated long enough on it. I'll just have to let the stories be what they are. Some of these stories don't really make sense. So modernizing them has taken a lot of editing. I'm bringing on a guest editor to help me sort this out before I start drawing again and have to cut it anyway. Wish me luck guys.
______
Next month we should see page layouts and new sketches.
Happy new year.
Freya
Clarifying December Update
4 months ago
– Sat, Dec 13, 2025 at 01:14:36 PM
Freya Here.
To clarify: Afua has mainly recovered from her surgery and is now working on her long-overdue project. Her funds were taken by her former partner. She will issue refunds as funds are made available to her. Which means they will not come immediately. She derives her income solely from conventions, but since she's not working on new projects, invitations to those shows have diminished. She's turned down Major projects to focus on healing and THIS project. She appreciates your encouragement and light. I've seen the outline for this new iteration of the book, and it's looking really cool. She's deciding NOT to share the written works in these updates as other creative entities have nabbed them. [ then ask her to work on THEIR mermaid book, which she politely declines]
However, a new update will be released in January. The next few weeks, we'll focus on finishing the mer legends for this issue, the graphic design and layout, and search for grants to replace the stolen monies for production. In the interim, other funding options may be available; we just need to do some research.
Have a happy Holiday!
Frey!
Afua's December update
4 months ago
– Sat, Dec 13, 2025 at 10:33:51 AM
Here is a Link to the video update for December 2025
Anyone requesting a refund, please email [email protected] with the subject KICKSTARTER REFUND and send your backer number or a snapshot of your backing receipt.
Afua is not currently working on any other projects, so refunds will take time. She is willing to exchange refunds for commissions for those who are willing.
Next update January 2026 - Happy Holidays.
Freya
The Road to Recovery
10 months ago
– Tue, Jun 03, 2025 at 12:42:27 PM
Freya Day here, with another Aquarius the Book of Mer Update.
Above: Afua Post Op Day 0
Afua's Tumors were successfully removed. The biopsy returned no signs that this has extended to her lymphatic system. Which is excellent news. That means it only gets better from here. In the meantime, she appreciates your encouragement and kindness. She's walking without a cane now, but is still in the final weeks of recovery. Her tumors were so large that they were impacting other organs and weighed more than 90% of the organs in her body. But without them, things have shifted, and she's in the process of recovery. It's a very delicate state, but one that improves every day.
She has begun sketching again, but sitting at her computer desk adds a lot of pressure to her incisions and internal stitches, so she has to take it slow.
She has two more follow-ups before she can have an all clear with her doctors.
Thank you to all the people who visited her in the early days. The phone calls and virtual hugs.
This was really scary. Just watching the tumors grow and watching my friend shrink away quickly as time went on. She was an echo of her former self. Cloudy thoughts, sadness, pain. Now being replaced with clarity, excitement to create, and hope. The kindness and support have been monumental in her healing.
She's had a rough go of it for a few years now. It's nice to see AFUA returning. We will get her on a production schedule as soon as the docs give the all clear.
Questions? email me at [email protected] with the subject ATBOM.
Freya Day.
Above: Afua Week 4 [ this week]
