Been busy!

Whew!

Mel and I have been going gang-busters on the site, and have added sections for the writing I've done over the years for various fan groups.

As well, we're relaunching our webcomic "Drew's End", and have currently posted all the original comics.

And yes, more is coming!

On the Naming of Pets

There are certain names out there that seem synonymous with certain kinds of pets. For dogs, it's names such as Rex, King and Butch. And how many feline Fluffies, Mittens and Socks have you known?

For me, the naming of pets is a long process, one that must result in a moniker that is meaningful and unique.

Let me introduce you to my pets, past and present.

The Dog

Cindi. Cindi was a Springer Spaniel - Beagle cross (which I called a spanxbeagle). She had a Spaniel's build with a Beagle's markings. Her fur was of medium length and straight except for cutls behind her ears. My mother wanted to call her 'Cinnamon' (after the colour of her fur).  I suggested we shorten 'Cinnamon' to 'Cindi' as I had heard that dogs respond better to names that are one or two syllables long. (My cousin's wife Cindy was not sure if she should be flattered or not.)

The Gerbils

Stonehenge, Nutmeg, Reepicheep and Pandora. This quartet of gerbils represented the eclectic interests of my wife and I. Pandora was named for the Greek mythological figure, Stonehenge for the monument in England, Reepicheep for the valorous mouse in the Narnia novels, and Nutmeg for the colour of her fur. Coincidentally enough, Pandora was the longest lived, goig on to live alone in the habitat we had built and dubbed 'Pandora's Box'.

The Rats

Gorm 'n' Ghast. These two hooded rats were named after the Gorminghast novels by Mervyn Peake. (I must admit though that I have never been able to get through the books. I did however enjoy the television adaptation.) Though between them Gorm was the dominant one, it was Ghast who told off our cats whenever their feline curiosity led them to peer inside the cage.

The Cats

Shimmer, Spark and Sigil. Alliteration was never the original goal, but when both Shimmer and Spark ended up with names beginning with 'S' it was inevitable that any cats that followed would also be similarly dubbed. Shimmer is a Russian Blue with a glossy black-grey coat, which many people believe to be the origin of her name. In truth she is named after the dragon 'Shimmergloom' from an R. A. Salvatore fantasy novel. Spark got her name from a talkative knight in an anime called 'Record of Lodoss War' (since she was also extremely noisy). After Spark died, we got a third cat to keep Shimmer company. Enter Sigil-glyph Deathward (shortened to just Sigil), the large black polydactyl cat with extra toes, extra claws (between those toes), and a patch of fur on her throat resembling a priest's collar. Though sinisterly named, Sigil is a suck to the nth degree, being in constant need of physical proximity (if not contact). Paradoxically, the name Sigil came with was Ares (the Greek god of war). As a side note, 'sigil', 'glyph' and 'ward' are all words that mean 'symbol'.

As you can see, our sources were varied, ranging from Greek mythology to linguistics, from literature to the spice rack. All in all I think we've come up with a menagerie of unique names.

Credits

Artistic Credits

Client: The Artificer’s Club, 2010 – logo design

Client: Dale Percy, 2009 – cover design for the book ‘Everyone’s Everyman’

‘Drew’s End’, webcomic, 2007-2008

Client: Henry Street High School Yearbook, 1991 – layout and spot piece illustrations

Client: private individual, 1991 – logo design

Client: private individual, 1991 – face painting

Client: St. John Ambulance, 1991 – flier illustration and design

Client: Downtown Oshawa Board of Management, 1991 – flier illustration and design

Client: private individual, 1991 – clock blueprint

Client: private individual, 1988 – mural drawing (a woman’s history in Canada)

Client: Ajax Missionary Alliance Church, 1998 – mural painting

Editorial Credits

Editor, ‘Ursus’ (medieval newsletter), 2002-2004

Editor, ‘Games Period’ (medieval newsletter), 2002

Editor, ‘TankArd’ (medieval newsletter), 2001-2002

Editor, ‘Kidsworthy’ (CNIB audio magazine), 2001-2006

Photography Credits

Schmap Toronto (9^th ed.), 2009 (Metro Zoo section)

Maine Office of Tourism, 2010 (various promotional materials)

Voice Credits

‘Kidsworthy’ (CNIB audio magazine), 2001-206

Various talking books for the blind, CNIB, 2001-2010

Web Credits

Webmaster, central Ontario medieval society (SCA)

Webmaster, GTA east medieval society (SCA)

Webmaster, Bardic College of Ealdormere (medieval)

Webmaster, Games Guild of Ealdormere (medieval gaming)

Writing Credits

Contributor, Biff Bam Pop (webblog), 2008-2009

Contributor, Spaceship Zero RPG, Green Ronin Publishing, 2002

Correspondent (Ontario), SCAtoday (webblog)

Editorials, ‘The Vandoo’ Vanier College Newspaper, 1996-1998

Writer, ‘Kidsworthy’ (CNIB audio magazine), 2001-2006

Writer, ‘Ursus’ (medieval newsletter), 2002-2010

Writer, ‘TankArd’, 2001-2010

Writer, ‘Games Period’, (medieval newsletter), 2002

Writer, various publications for local hobby groups, 2001-present

Portfolio Links

Art Links

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/canker_canison/

Photography Links

SCA (medieval reenactment group) photos: http://tworavens.org/gallery/main.php/v/hostedphotos/Colyne/

Writing links

 “Article 1 on the Small Press”, ‘Toronto Computes!’, July 2002 (http://todd-fischer.livejournal.com/2385.html)

 “Canker Canison vs Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock”, Biff Bam Pop (webblog), Feb 12, 2009 (http://www.biffbampop.com/2009/02/canker-canison-vs-guitar-hero-iii.html)

 “Industrial Sing-along: Canker Canison Interviews Dr. Steel”, Biff Bam Pop (webblog), Oct 20, 2008 (http://www.biffbampop.com/2008/10/industrial-singalong-canker-canison.html)

 “Nothing Burns like Pine Boy: An Irrelevant Look at ‘Christmas’ Customs from approx. 600-1600 CE”, various journals, 2002 (http://todd-fischer.livejournal.com/3021.html)

 “The Redemption of Severus Snape”, personal blog, July 2007 (http://todd-fischer.livejournal.com/913.html)

“The Tafl Family of Games: Rules and a Brief History, with an Emphasis on Tablut”, various journals, (http://www.pipcom.com/~colyne/Article/SCA_game_tafl.htm)

“Samhain, Feast of the Dead: Being a Brief History of Halloween”, various journals, 2001 (http://todd-fischer.livejournal.com/1864.html)

“He Screamed, She Screamed”, written with Melanie E. Fischer, ‘Writers Journal’ Vol. 20 #3 (http://todd-fischer.livejournal.com/1348.html)

 “Who Hears the Watchmen? Canker Canison on transcribing the classic novel”, Biff Bam Pop (webblog), Mar 16, 2009 (http://www.biffbampop.com/2009/03/who-hears-watchmen-canker-canison-on.html)

Post the First

Welcome to yet another literary blog! This one is home to Todd H. C. Fischer, an artist, writer, photographer, gamer and designer who is available to help you with your endeavours!

CURRENT RATES

Editing: $50 per hour
Ghost writing: $75 per hour
Illustration (pen and ink): $65 per hour

LINKS

Livejournal: http://todd-fischer.livejournal.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=171564749539483#!/profile.php?id=882730541
Suite101: http://www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/736255
EditFast: http://editfast.com/english/editors/Todd-25310.htm
LinkedIn: http://ca.linkedin.com/pub/todd-fischer/27/87a/6aa

EDUCATION

BA Double Honours Degree, English and Creative Writing, York University, April 1999.

HONOURS/AWARDS

CNIB Innovative Idea Award, 2008 (won)

CNIB Innovative Idea Award, 2003 (nominated)

CNIB Team Spirit Award, 1999 (nominated)

Chuck Award for best story, RAGE machine, July 1998 (won)

Existere 1997-1998 Poetry Contest (runner-up)

Bad Moon Books Blood and Guts Horror Writing Contest 1997 (runner-up)

Entrepreneurship Excellence, Henry Street High School, 1993 (won)

Information Design Award, Henry Street High School, 1991 (won)

SPECIAL COURSES

Creative Writing Workshops, 1989-1994                                
Modes of Fantasy, 1997

Canadian Literature (prose, poetry, drama), 1996-1999           
Story Telling, 1996

Victorian Literature (prose, poetry, drama), 1996-9999           
Prose Narrative, 1998

Satire, 1999                                                                            
Medieval Literature, 1999

Graphics, 1989-1993                                                              
Information Design, 1991

Aboriginal Awareness, 2001                                                    
Intermediate Microsoft Word, 2002     

CNIB Impact Training, 1999                                                   
CNIB Braille (Grade 2), 2000

CS High Rise Window Washing Course, 1995

Writers in Electronic Residence (WIER) Program, 1993

SELECT EXPERIENCE

Freelance Writer and Artist, 2002-present

Wrote a monthly column on small press publishing for Toronto Computes! in 2002; had stories appear in various publications; designed various logos and book covers.

Freelance Playtester, various companies, 2001-2002

Alone and with teams, test the mechanics and playability of various games (board, card and role-playing).

Editor-Publisher, imelod Publications, 1995-2001

Publishing various small press publications, editing manuscripts, assigning and gathering art, and creating layouts using Windows 95 and 98, Word Perfect, Microsoft Works, Microsoft Publisher, and others.

Managing Editor, Vandoo (Vanier College Newspaper), 1997-1998

Accepting or rejecting articles, delegating assignments and working as liaison for the editor-in-chief and the staff.

Cartoon Editor, Vandoo (Vanier College Newspaper), 1996-1997

Accepting or rejecting cartoons and creating layouts.