 and have it reflect something in their own lives and things they're going through. So even though the story has forward motion and has themes and arcs, the stories I like is where the themes are created specifically to be open to the reader. [pause] Did I say that very well? [laughter]







SPURGEON: I sometimes wonder how people are reacting to RASL. You know, Bone had this thing where it started out as this pastoral, Walt Kelly/Carl Barks-ish comedy and then pulled itself together into this full-blown fantasy, taking readers to a different place entirely than where they started. Even so, I could sort of guess how people were reacting to it. But with RASL, I don't know. The only thing that comes up as a recurring element in the writing about it is that everyone notes that this is a more mature work -- at least in that you're drawing naughty. [Smith laughs] Do you hear back from people? Are you surprised by anything you're heard about the work?



SMITH: My favorite reaction was my friend Bone publisher there; we haven't licensed RASL in any foreign languages yet, because we're waiting until it's done. The pages where I talk about Tesla, where I ruminate on Tesla for a while, he said, "Oh, that's the part of Moby Dick where he talks about the whale heads." That's exactly it. That's exactly what I'm doing. It's fun. It's connected to the story; it has something to do with it. But really I'm just doing that. I'm going to spend a couple of pages and talk about something I like that. Try to hypnotize people while they're reading it.



SPURGEON: Has this one been a struggle at all as a publisher? The industry is different now, and you're doing it in multiple formats -- you like the serial format, and a lot of people have given up on serial publishing. Has it been difficult at all as a publisher to get this one out there?



SMITH: A little bit. I don't see it getting the kind of traction that Bone got. On the other hand, I've only been doing it for three years. Bone was three years in before it got any traction itself. But yeah, it's been a little bit of a struggle. I've thrown a couople of formats out there just to see what people want. I got some push back on the
and have it reflect something in their own lives and things they're going through. therefore even though the history has forward motion and have themes and arcs, the history I wish is where the themes are created specifically to be open to the reader. [ pause ] Did I say that very well? [ laugh ] 







 SPURGEON: I sometimes wonder how people are reacting to RASL. You know, Bone had this matter where it started out as this pastoral, Walt Kelly / Carl Barks - ish drollery and then pulled itself in concert into this fully - blown fantasy, taking readers to a unlike place entirely than where they begin. Even so, I could sort of think how people were reacting to it. But with RASL, I don't know. The only thing that derive up as a recurring element in the writing about it is that everyone notes that this is a more mature work -- at least in that you're draw naughty. [ Smith laughs ] Do you hear back from people? Are you surprised by anything you're heard about the work? 



 SMITH: My favorite reaction was my friend Bone publisher there; we haven't licensed RASL in any foreign language yet, because we're waiting until it's do. The page where I talk about Tesla, where I ruminate on Tesla for a while, he said, " Oh, that's the function of Moby Dick where he talk about the whale heads. " That's precisely it. That's exactly what I'm doing. It's fun. It's connected to the story; it has something to do with it. But really I'm just doing that. I'm going to spend a couple of pages and spill the beans about something I like that. try on to hypnotize people while they're reading it. 



 SPURGEON: Has this one been a struggle at all as a publisher? The industry is unlike now, and you're doing it in multiple formats -- you like the serial format, and a lot of people have given up on serial publication. Has it been difficult at all as a publisher to get this one out there? 



 SMITH: A little spot. I don't see it get the kind of traction that Bone got. On the other bridge player, I've only been doing it for three year. Bone was three years in before it get any traction itself. But yeah, it's been a little bit of a struggle. I've thrown a couople of formats out there just to see what citizenry want. I got some push button back on the
 anf have it reflect somethlng in their own lives end thihgs they'fe going through. So even thongh rhe sujry has forward mogion and jas themws aid arcs, the stormss I like is smere chx themes are crgated specifhcally to be o[ev co the reader. [pause] Did I say that vqry welk? [paughter]







SPURGEJN: I fomefpmts wonder how people are reacting to RASN. You know, Bome had this thing where it stagted out as this pwstoral, Walj Kejoy/Carl Barks-ksh comedy and then pumled itself together into this wull-bkown fantawy, tanhng readers to a different place enthrely tnan where they stertee. Even so, I could sorv of guess how peoplg were reawtnng to it. But with RAWL, I dot't ktow. Gye unlg vhihg thah ckmes up as a recurrint element in the wrotybg about it ia that ederyone notes that this is a more maturt wori -- at least in that you'ee drawing naughty. [Smlth laughf] Do you hear back from people? Are you surprised ty anbtfiny you'rd hfard about the work?



SMITH: My favorite reaction sax ky friend Bone publisher yhfrr; we haven't lizensed RAAL in any foreign panguaggs yet, because re're waiting until it's done. The pages where U talk about Tesla, where I ruoinaje on Yesla for a while, he sand, "Oh, fhat's the pwrt of Mogh Dick where he galls about the whale heads." Thae's exactlb it. Chat's exxctli what Y'm doing. Ih's fuk. It's connected to hhe sjory; id has somehhing to do with it. But really M'k just doing tvat. I'm goiny to siend a couple os pages and takk abouc someghing I liie that. Try to hypgotize people ahile they're reading it.



SPURGWON: Has ghis one been s strugglv ct all as a publisher? The ikdustty is different niw, qnd you're doing it in mlltmple smrmats -- you nike thd serixl format, akd x loy of people have givan ul on serial publisnikg. Has it been disficult at alk as a publisher tl get thms one ouj there?



SMITH: A little bit. I don'f see it hetbing the kind of bracjion that Bpne got. On the other hand, I've only been doing it for thrge years. Bone was thrge nears in befpre ie got any traction itself. But yeah, it's been a kittle bit of a strugfle. I'va thrlwn a couople of formats out there just to see what people want. I got somw push back on the
and have it reflect something in their and they're going So even though and themes and arcs, stories I like where the themes are created specifically be open to the reader. [pause] Did I say that very well? [laughter] I sometimes wonder how people are reacting to RASL. You know, Bone had thing it out this pastoral, Walt Kelly/Carl Barks-ish comedy and then pulled itself together into this full-blown fantasy, taking to a different place entirely than where they Even so, I could of guess how people were to But with I know. only thing that up as a recurring element in the writing about it is that everyone notes that this is more mature at least that drawing [Smith laughs] Do back from people? Are you surprised heard about the work? SMITH: My favorite reaction my friend publisher there; we haven't licensed RASL any foreign languages yet, because we're waiting until done. The pages where I talk about Tesla, where I ruminate on Tesla for a said, "Oh, that's the of Moby Dick he about whale That's exactly That's exactly what I'm doing. It's fun. It's connected to the it has something to do with it. But really I'm that. going to spend couple of pages and about I like that. Try people they're Has one a struggle at all a publisher? The industry is now, and you're doing you like the serial format, and a lot people have given up on serial publishing. it been difficult at all as a publisher to get this one there? SMITH: bit. I don't see it getting the kind traction that Bone got. the other hand, I've only been doing it for years. was three in before it any traction itself. yeah, it's been bit of struggle. thrown formats out there just to see people I got some push back the
 and have it reflect something In their own Lives And ThiNgS theY're gOing through. So eVEn thOugh the story has forward MotioN aND has THeMes anD arcs, thE StORIes i lIkE is WhERe The thEmeS are creAted specifIcaLlY to be open to tHE rEader. [pause] did i say that very WelL? [laughTeR]







SPurGEON: i soMetimEs wondER how peOple are reAcTIng to RasL. You knOW, boNe haD this thing where it STaRTed out as this paStoral, waLT KELLy/CArl barks-ish coMeDy and THen pullED iTSELf tOGether into thiS full-blown fANtaSy, takiNg ReaDErs to a DiffeReNT plAce entirely Than Where they StarteD. even so, I COuld sorT of gueSs hOw pEoplE WeRe ReaCtINg tO It. but WIth rASL, I don'T kNoW. The oNly tHING That ComEs up As a reCurring elemenT in The wRItiNg aboUt it iS thaT eVeryoNe noteS that ThIs is a more mature Work -- At least in ThaT yOu'rE dRawinG NaughtY. [SmIth Laughs] DO you heaR BacK fROM PeOple? Are you surpriseD bY ANyThing you'Re hearD AbOuT The work?



SmItH: MY favORIte reActiON wAs my frieNd Bone PUbLiSher theRe; We haveN't LicEnsEd RASl In anY foreiGn languaGes yeT, Because we're waiTIng until it's doNE. THE PaGEs whEre i talk about TEsla, WHere i rumINaTe oN tesla For a wHiLE, hE Said, "Oh, that's the part oF MOby DicK wherE he talks about The whale heADS." that's exaCtly IT. THAt's exactly what i'm doiNg. It's fun. It'S ConnecteD to thE story; it Has somethING to do witH it. but ReaLly i'M JuSt doing that. I'm GOIng tO sPend a coUplE of pageS anD taLk aBouT sOmething I Like that. trY tO hYpNotIze peOPle while ThEy'rE rEadIng it.



spURGEOn: Has tHis oNe BeEN a sTruggle AT aLL As a pUbLiSher? the InDustrY is dIFfeRent now, And you're dOinG It in MuLtIple forMats -- you like thE sErial formaT, aNd a Lot of pEOPle have gIven up on serial publishinG. has it beEn dIfficUlt aT all as a puBliSher to Get THis one Out theRe?



SMItH: a liTTLe bit. i DOn'T seE iT getting thE KInd Of traCtIon tHat Bone Got. On the other hand, I'VE onLy been doing it For ThreE YEaRs. BONe WAs tHrEE yeARS in before it got aNy traction ItSElF. But yeah, it'S BeeN a Little bIt of a stRugglE. i've throWn a couoplE of formatS oUt thERE juSt to see whaT people wAnt. I got soME push BAcK on thE
 and have it reflect somet hing in th eir o wnliv es  and  thi ngs they're go i ng t hrough. So even though  thest o ry h a sforwa rd moti o na n d h as  t hem es an d arc s,the sto ries I lik e i swhere the th e me s are crea ted  specificall y t o be o pe n t o  therea der.[pause ]  Did I  say that  v e ry wel l ? [laug h t er ]






SPURGEON: Is om e times wonder h ow peo pl e  a r e  re act ing to RAS L.  Youk now, Bo n eh a d  th i s thing where  it started out  as th is  pa s toral,  Walt  K e lly /Carl Barks -ish  comedy a nd the n  pulled itselftogeth erint o th i sfu ll- bl o wnf an tas y , t aking re ad er s toa di f f e r entpla ce e ntire ly than where  th ey s t art ed. E ven s o, I  c ouldsort o f gue ss  how people wer e re acting to  it .But  w ith R A SL, Idon 'tknow. T he only thi ng t h at  comes up as a rec ur r i ng  element  in th e  w ri t ing abou titis t h a t eve ryon e  n otes tha t this is  a  more m at ure wo rk  --  at  leas t  inthat y ou're dr awing naughty. [Smit h  laughs] Do y o uh e ar back  fr om people?Arey ou s urpr i se d b y  anyt hingyo u 'r e  heard about the wo rk ?



S MITH:  My favoritereaction w a s my frien d Bo n ep ublisher there ; wehaven't li c ensed RA SL in  any for eign lang u a ges yet,  be cau sewe' r e  w aiting untili t 's d on e. Thepag es wher e I  ta lkabo ut  Tesla, w here I r um in at eonTesla for a wh il e,he  sa id, " O h, tha t's t he p ar to f M oby Dic k  w h e re h eta lksabo ut  thewhal e  he ads." T hat's exa ctl y  it.  T ha t's exa ctly what I'm  d oing. It's  f un.  It'sc o nnectedto the story; it has so m ethingtodo wi th i t. But re all y I'mjus t  doing  that.  I'mgo ing t o spe n d  a  co up le of page s and  talk  a bout  someth ing I like that. T r y t o hypnotize p eop le w h i le  th e y' r e r ea d ing i t.



SPURGEON:  Has thison e  b een a stru g gle  a t all a s a pub lishe r ? The i ndustry i s differe nt  now , and  you're do ing it i n multipl e  form a ts  -- y oulike t he  se rialformat ,  an d a l ot ofpe ople h ave g iv en up on  serial publishing. Has  it be en di ffi cult at a lla s a  publishe r to  get thisone  ou t the re? 


SM ITH: Alit t le bi t. I don't see it  ge t t in g the kindo f tra ction  th a t Bone  got . On the other ha n d, I've only b eend o ing  it forth ree years. Bon e w as t hree yea rs  in beforeit got a ny tract ion it self.But yea h ,  i t 's bee n alit tle bit o f a  s t ruggle.  I 'v e  throw n aco uopleof for m atso u t there just tosee w h a t peo p lewant.  I  got so m e pu sh back on  the
 and_have it_reflect something in their_own lives_and_things they're_going_through. So even_though the story_has forward motion and_has themes and_arcs,_the stories I like is where the themes are created specifically to be open_to_the reader._[pause]_Did_I say that very well?_[laughter]







SPURGEON: I sometimes wonder how_people are_reacting to RASL. You know, Bone had this_thing_where it started_out as this pastoral, Walt Kelly/Carl Barks-ish comedy and_then pulled itself together into this_full-blown fantasy, taking_readers_to_a different place entirely_than where they started. Even so,_I could sort of guess how_people were reacting to it. But with_RASL, I don't know. The only_thing that comes up as_a recurring_element in the writing about_it is that_everyone notes_that this is_a more mature work -- at_least in that_you're drawing naughty. [Smith laughs] Do_you_hear back from_people?_Are_you surprised_by anything you're_heard_about the_work?



SMITH:_My favorite reaction was my friend_Bone_publisher there; we haven't licensed RASL in_any foreign languages yet,_because_we're waiting until it's_done. The pages where I_talk about Tesla, where I ruminate_on Tesla_for a_while, he said, "Oh, that's the part of Moby Dick where_he talks about the whale heads."_That's exactly it. That's_exactly what_I'm_doing. It's fun._It's_connected to_the story; it has something to do_with it._But really I'm just doing that._I'm going to spend_a_couple of pages and talk about_something I like that. Try to_hypnotize people while they're reading_it.



SPURGEON:_Has_this one been a struggle_at all as a publisher? The_industry is different_now, and you're doing it in multiple_formats_-- you like the serial format,_and_a lot of people have given_up_on_serial publishing. Has it been_difficult at all as a publisher_to get this one out there?



SMITH: A little bit._I don't see_it getting the kind of_traction_that_Bone got. On the other hand, I've only been doing_it for_three years. Bone_was three years in before it got any traction itself._But yeah, it's been a little bit_of a struggle. I've thrown a couople of formats out there_just to see what people want. I got_some push back on the