| History of NNK | The New NNK | Associated Websites |

HISTORY OF NATSUNOKOI.COM (NNK)

natsunokoi.com was first founded by Kaori Inoue in 2005. Kaori (affectionately known as Mother K) made a series of Maple Story-based comics to show her keen interest in the mmorpg games itself and her limited skills in Photoshop and Dreamweaver.

Subsequently, I got involved in the comic, Natsu's Love, when Kaori approached me to illustrate for the comics instead of using bits and parts of screenshots from the mmorpg game.

The comic progressed slowly as I was the main factor behind the delays. Illustrating for the comic was a pain because at that time I was being worked to the bone as the owner of my company and its various ongoing projects. As time went by, my daughter was born and looking after the business and newborn cut into my time (and energy). NNK came to a literal standstill with Natsu's Love being delayed indefinitely.

The bright spot of natsunokoi.com was actually my own simple comic of Kaori herself, called K'MA (read as Kar-ma). That progressed pretty well and it became popular with readers as Kaori is really quite the woman. Reflecting on it, Kaori was jealous that whatever energy I had left, I channeled it into K'MA instead of Natsu's Love. However, she enjoyed my retelling of her short stay with me.

Good things come to an end, eventually.

In short, Kaori got married and moved back to Japan. She felt that it was time for her to leave natsunokoi.com to safer hands. I cringed and cried.

Kaori is a very good friend and was a very dedicated employee. I pray for her marital bliss and new goals in life.

THE NEW NNK

Now that I have assumed full control, creative or otherwise (in some circles, lack of creativity), of natsunokoi.com. I have prepared several goals for this little website.

Regular Comics
A singular comic (like K'MA) will be updated weekly and posted up for readers. When a regular comic is concluded, I will move on to develop another one.

Short Stories / Graphic Novels
Along the lines of picture books, these will be written and illustrated by me, and will be released in its sampler form (as in the case of e l x y). These series of works will be available for sale in book form. I don't have a sophisticated e-retailing solution, so I will going along the lines of simple PayPal transactions and postage. Of course, if a book retailer is willing to place my book(s) on sale, I will be happy to negotiate.

Hosted Comics
natsunokoi.com has a large following of independent graphic artists that are pretty much talented and wonderful in their own way. I will be happy to host some artists' works here (like Crimson Legends). I have a few simple requirements though.

Style
It must be attractive and unique. Sorry, but I can't accept works with illustrations that looked like what my two year old daughter was doodling all over the furniture.

Story
A good story will draw readers to your work. If you can draw well, but your writing needs some work. Check out the forums (see Writer's Block sub forum) and get cooperation from the many talented writers who post regularly there. In fact, I strongly recommend working with another person (if you are a writer, look for an illustrator, and vice versa). It makes things easier.

Commitment
You must be able to update regularly (at least once a week). This is ensure that your work will have continued readership and interest will be maintained. I think it'll make you feel good too.

My role in hosting your work is mainly as an editor and advisor. It will be good to send me a summary of the scope of your story (like what is it about) and a sampler of the script and intended illustrative style.

Benefits-wise, I don't think I can offer much benefits other than working together to create a large readership for our works. If there is an opportunity to publish your work in print form, I will be there to help you out in any way I can.

Looking in the future, if your work becomes famous and you decide to move to your own independent website, feel free to do so. Just remember who believed in your work first! Of course a small paycheck to my name will be fantastic.

ASSOCIATED WEBSITES

If you have an unique illustrative style or write well (or something related to illustration or art), and you have a website of your own. Feel free to drop me a message to place a link here in natsunokoi.com. I will look through your website before placing your link on natsunokoi.com.

Please submit a website banner of your own (JPG, 150x 40 pixels, 72dpi) and your website URL to me.

If there is a large number of associated websites submitted, I will rotate the different associated websites on a regular basis.

On a further note...

I can't control what you place on your website (in words or images), but I do hope that you will exercise responsibility and maturity in publishing on the Internet.

What you publish on the Internet is akin to publishing on print form (magazines, books and so on), it is in black and white (for the purpose of illustrations, colour too). Thus you will be responsible for what you churn out.

If you feel that what you are going to write or illustrate about maybe somewhat sensitive to others, please do place your work in sub link and a note attached to it. I mean, I do have children surfing this website and I don't want angry parents to write to me or sue me for having links to sensitive materials (read: porn, violence and so on).

Well, I definitely can't be policing external websites, since they are not my own :P