Hello, Reader! I hope you had a pleasant February.
In the month of love and romance, we see everyone in loving spirits of the season, but does it really have to stay within this month? No. Love itself is everlasting. Speaking of love, this month’s gazette is going to be more personal, where I share my creative origins with you and how Bad Bunny’s halftime show in the Super Bowl helped me love who I am again.
Do you ever wonder why I decided to become an author-artist? At the very core of who I am, I am a storyteller, and I love sharing the world I created with you. How did it all start? It started in my childhood.
Growing up, I didn’t see many positive representations of the Latino community. Many times, I would see films, books, games (overall stories) that featured stereotypes, dismissed, and even erased Latin culture. Growing up with that made me question if that is what my culture really is, and it defined it, making me hate my lineage more than loving who I am. I became someone else in their eyes to avoid discrimination and lost connection to my Puerto Rican heritage and language.
As a little girl, when I watched my father doodle for fun of cartoon heroes carrying the Puerto Rican flag, I knew right away that he wanted to see Puerto Ricans in pop media represented with light and compassion. That's what sparked the flame inside of me to become an artist and a writer. Today, I am that person, writing stories with a Puerto Rican protagonist who's rediscovering her heritage and learning to love who she is. It has helped me find forgiveness and to fall in love with my culture again by being that voice as a Puerto Rican author & artist.
It wasn’t until the past few years that we are finally seeing more positive Latin representation in cartoons, books, film, and more. Without the stereotypes interfering with the writing and production. For example: the extensive research that the producers did for the 2021 adaptation of West Side Story by going to the University of Puerto Rico to hear from the people themselves about what they can do to improve the remake. To see that was amazing, considering how the 1961 adaptation of West Side Story was full of terrible stereotypes and hatred towards the Puerto Rican community (seriously, it was that bad; look up Rita Moreno’s interviews of how she was treated behind the scenes as the only Puerto Rican woman in the film). Today, we’re seeing more Latino creators have their stories told and studios taking extra care in writing Latino culture in their stories.
“The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
Watching Bad Bunny sing on stage at the Super Bowl and show the Puerto Rican culture with love made me even more hopeful for our culture and its future. It brings me hope that by courage, love, and care, our voices can be heard and our stories will be told. With that, I am excited to share my stories with you as a Nuyorican.
In this next segment, I am so happy to announce that I am done with my job. What an honor it is to work on such a project, and I am so happy with how it turned out. It will help so many people as a self-help therapy/spirituality visual novel series. 💜🥰
Currently, The Gift of Unconditional Love is available on Spotify. The episodes with the art I have done will be coming soon to YouTube! Be sure to follow me on my social media for updates, or wait until a future gazette.
I finally rewrote the summary for my comic, The Elements of Luna and Origins! The old one did not fit with the essence of the story, and I'm happy with my new one. 💜
New The Elements of Luna Summary
Haunted by reoccurring nightmares, Kristal Lunestia searches for answers to what keeps her up at night. As a social outcast for her elven ears and a mysterious talent, she keeps to herself with a small group of friends until her life is turned upside down upon the discovery of her heritage. Spirited away into a fantastical world unknown to discover her origins, her journey begins.
Old The Elements of Luna Summary
Kristal Lunestia is not your average teenager; from her elven ears and a half-baked talent in the arts, she keeps to herself amongst her peers as a social outcast trying to fit in. Her anxiety turned into a nightmare when she discovered there was more to her heritage than what meets the eye. Spirited away to a world of magic and new expectations, her journey begins…
New Origins Summary
Travel 10,000 years into the past...
The Celestial of the Moon, Luna, falls from grace after being tricked by Keir to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. Washed ashore into the mortal world below, she begins her journey to reconnect with herself through trials and tribulations in search of returning home.
Origins is the prologue to my main story, The Elements of Luna, which takes place over 10,000 years ago during the ancient era. A time when legendary cities, powerful beings, and fantastical beasts lived with humanity before they became myth.
Old Origins Summary
After falling from grace, her journey begins thousands of years ago…
Origins comic will be on hiatus.
Origins will be put on hold for the time being so I can focus on finishing The Elements of Luna, Volume 1. However, with Origins being on hiatus, it is to put the scriptwriting on hold and focus on writing the story as a whole book. With five chapters already being planned out to outline and develop. Once that is done, then I can move forward in making the thumbnails for comic pages!
Being the only author-artist creating the majority of the work in comics, I need to set myself in a healthy schedule to not overwork or overwhelm myself into burnout. Therefore, while The Elements of Luna is being drawn, I can also balance it by writing the story for Origins to expand my creative activities.
The Elements of Luna: Chapter 04 will return to production in spring and will be first published on Patreon. 📖
I also run a monthly Patreon membership! Join the membership for early access to new works (illustrations and comics), works in progress, digital downloads, and more.
Art prints are available on my InPrnt store! If you’re looking into adding whimsy to your home, please take a look at my gallery for the artwork that calls out to you.
Word of mouth helps me so much. If you know anyone who loves whimsical fantasy art and stories. Please share with them my illustrations and comics.
Until then, I hope you continue to journey with me as I create The Elements of Luna comic book series and join in the adventure! 💜🌙
