Some bills have come through that I really need to pay off, and I won't be paid for another couple of weeks yet. As I've managed to get leave until Thursday, I'm opening myself up for three written commission slots. Charging $15 per 1k words to a maximum of 10k words, with one free revision if you're not satisfied with what I've written. These will be done by Thursday, as that's when I return to work.

Comment or send me a note if you'd like anything written! Happy to do anything from short fiction, to character bios to website content.

Putting Barantyr up for adoption, as I need the cash and I've not really meshed with him as of yet. He comes with all the artwork of him you see in the gallery, plus an additional picture still in the works. So, if you want him he can be yours for the price of $125. Note me or reply if interested!

Starting date for my basic training has been pushed back a month, so I'm opening new slots for written commissions.

Similar deal as last time: DM me if you're interested in one, give me a brief (preferably no more than 2-3 sentences) of what you want, and it's $20 for every thousand words to a maximum of 10k words. Flexible on topics and themes, and it comes with one rewrite upon delivery of the first draft.

Struck up on some severe financial writing straits lately and currently in between jobs, so I need money to help cover this month's mortgage payment. If anyone is looking for a quick short story following any particular themes, feel free to hit me up with a note. I'm happy to discuss details.

Current pricing is $15 per 1k words to a maximum of around 10k words. Prices are rounded to nearest round thousand words (so 3230 words would cost $45, 3675 words would cost $60).

If you'd like to just donate instead, my PayPal is below. I'll see if I can write a quick one-scene micro fiction about your fursona if you wish in exchange.

Thank you!

Doing a raffle on Twitter. If anyone who's on Twitter wants to give a shot at it, the link is below.

https://twitter.com/Tolgron2/status.....28660537364481

Wishing you all a fantastic 2021! God bless you all!

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Do enjoy your holidays, wherever you are. :D

Well done to the USA for saving your republic and your democracy this weekend. I join the world in breathing a sigh of relief that a degree of sanity will soon return to the White House.

God bless you all, and enjoy a well deserved celebration.

Got a fun little poll running on Twitter that Tol is involved in, hosted by Nasche the Dino. Tol and his very handsome scaly dude Lars will duke it out in the ring, and the winner gets to top the other.

The winner shall be decided by poll so if you want to see Tolgron dominate the opposition or get a taste of someone else's horn for a change, be sure to vote!

I've set up a Patreon to try and raise some extra cash. If anyone likes what I'm drawing and wishes to donate something to show appreciation, I'd be much obliged.

Feel free to throw suggestions and requests my way too. Always looking for the practice. :3

https://www.patreon.com/tolgrondraws

With registration to AC now open, I'm currently puzzling on my plans for next year. I'm of two minds on whether I'll be going. I want to go of course, having greatly enjoyed myself the last time, but the last trip cost me near enough £1500, and I won't run into that kind of money again fast, even with a job.

As well as AC I've also got plans on moving out, getting a car (or at least learning to drive), buying a proper gaming PC or focusing on my re-enactment gear. With 2015's theme being "Viking Invasion!", I really want to come in re-enactment gear, and that means my Dark Age outfit needs to look fantastic. Chainmail, a good helmet, costume, the works.

I'll be puzzling over these things for the next two months. In the mean time, anyone else planning on going next year? If a lot of folks I enjoy meeting are going there, I may eventually decide to tag along as well.

As I've finally come into some stable money for the rest of the year -- hooray! -- I've decided to look at getting a new icon, as this one's been serving me for quite a while now and I think it's about time for a change. Can anybody recommend any artists particularly good at icons? I'd also kinda like a ref sheet so I finally have a fixed image of Tol down if ever I commission someone again. Any hints towards artists good at those would also be very welcome.

Yeah, I'm definitely going again next year if I can afford it. o.o

So lessee. I left for the States on the Wednesday with Virgin Atlantic, and much to my relief I managed to get through the whole thing without encountering any major difficulties. I had all my paperwork, I got to the airport on time, I had my passport and I didn't miss my flight. No missing luggage, no crashes, no security guards fisting me or anything! Upon landing I was greeted by and his boyfriend, with whom I'd be staying, and at his apartment I also met up with and the epically-bearded , both of whom were very nice chaps indeed, and Rath's three very vocal cats.

After a nightcap we all loaded up onto Rath's boyfriend's car for the six hour drive from Newark to Pittsburgh, which was interrupted only by a friendly Pennsylvannian policeman because we were speeding. I have to say, I was quite struck by the scale of wilderness in Pennsylvania. It didn't really occur to me how much of the East Coast was still largely unsettled and taken up by forest. That definitely pleased me; large forests on that scale don't really exist in Britain any more.

We arrived at Pittsburgh in the afternoon and booked into the Doubletree, with only a slight hiccup when we were accidentally handed a room with only one bed instead of two as we requested. Deciding to defer the second bed in the new room to the others, we managed to knock together a third bed from an armchair, a coffee table and some cushions from the sofa so I could sleep on something other than the floor. The cushions kept slipping along the table's smooth surface if you moved too much, but otherwise it was surprisingly restful. Once set up I pretty much claimed that corner of the room in the name of Her Britannic Majesty, where I laid down a Union flag and a photo of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. Along with the tea I'd brought for everyone, I think I suitably Flanderised myself. The party at our room was joined by and his non-fur friend (although she pretty much screamed "KITTY!"), , , and . Later on we were also joined by the last roomie, After exchanging a brief tete-a-tete and getting glomped by Gillian, we headed to registration.

FUCK MY TAIL THAT QUEUE WAS LONG. Next time I'm pre-registering.

Fortunately I was briefly entertained with a survey I was handed by some chaps in labcoats, the contents of which dealt with furries and their spiritual identities and beliefs. Rather interesting; I look forward to seeing the results. After all that was over we went to Jimmy John's for a meal before I parted ways with the others to scout out the location of the Trinity Cathedral to estimate how long it'd take me to walk there. Once done I retreated back to the hotel room to watch the fireworks from the window before heading to bed.

Woke up fairly early on Friday, so I had breakfast at the restaurant downstairs before heading to the day's writing panels with Gillian. The panels in question were exceedingly helpful and I honestly feel more motivated to write again because of them. I was honestly in danger of spending the entire convention simply attending them. I had a wander afterwards around the Dealers' Den and Artist Alley, where I commissioned a Torii Gate badge from the incredibly talented Makoto. At the Den a copy of Nordguard and the 10th edition of Heat were picked up as well, the latter with the some very embarrassed flustering. I met up with Rath, Tagg and Fen again and hung out with them a bit before heading to the Adult Writing panel with Gilian and Kitty. The panel, being about penises and boobs, was pretty hilarious as well as being headed by Kyell Gold and Rukis, who are both too awesome for words. After that was done I stumbled blearily back to the hotel for sustenance, a shower and sleep.

The next day I hung out with the others a bit more to make up for being cooped up in the panels all day, during which we did our rounds at the Den again. I picked up my badge from Makoto and ordered an additional one from , along with numerous prints and a copy of Heretic by the aforementioned Rukis. I also managed to snag a sketch from . On display were also a pair of freakish ears that moved in accordance to your brain waves. If you were relaxed, they relaxed, and if you were attentive they perked up. While purchasing one was certainly a temptation, a desire not to spend too much money and a genuine fear that it'd transmit my thoughts to the CIA discouraged the thought. Somehow during the day I also managed to pick up a pair of pauldrons from an SCA stand. Only I would travel thousands of miles away from my re-enactment haunting grounds only to spend $175 on some equipment.

Afterwards we went back to the hotel for food, to the bars for drinks, and to the rave for tinnitus. Unfortunately Rath started feeling a little under the weather, so we beat back to the room and perplexed ourselves with some exceedingly strange anime before falling asleep.

Sunday was first at the service in the Trinity Cathedral, which I greatly enjoyed. As is typical of worshipping at different churches I was caught off guard a lot by the slight variations in litany and ritual, but it was nice spending a couple of hours at prayer nevertheless. The rest of the day was spent mostly chasing around the Den for last minute purchases and retrieving orders from artists. Then after spending a good hour or two saying goodbye to everyone we bundled back into the car and sped away to Newark. Tagg and Fen left the next day, while I stayed with Rath and his boyfriend for the rest of the week, where I got a good gander at New York Library, the Metropolitan Art Gallery and Central Park. I then left that Friday.

Alas there were many people I wanted to meet up with who I didn't get the chance to and Anthrocon was nothing if not a nightmare for scheduling -- there was so much I wanted to do and only so many hours in the day. But I'll definitely be going next year if I find myself with the means to do so. If not, then definitely 2015. The theme for that year has my interest.

Thought this might please folks on FA. Prince Harry, who is currently third-in-line to the Commonwealth Realms, has recently been in the news again. This time however, there is little controversy. While serving in the Armed Forces and on exercise in Canada, Prince Harry has demonstrated his qualities as an officer by defending one of his squad-mates after receiving homophobic threats by a rival regiment.

So the Royal Family is a backward, out-of-touch institution that is nothing more than a feudal relic? Piss off.

Full story can be found below.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn.....ic-attack.html

Another AC meme because, eh, why not? It's not like I've uploaded anything else lately.

=======================

Where are you staying?

The Doubletree. You get cookies there.

What day are you getting there?

Independence Day. I'll be sure to look suitably irritated for the amusement of the locals.

How are you traveling?

Floo Powder (or more probably by car).

Who are you rooming with?

 gilian,  suunto,  ratharn and his boyfriend,  taggcrossroad and  fendarrah.

Who will you hang out with during the convention?

Presumably the guys I'm rooming with, as well as anyone else who bumps into me and finds my company entertaining enough to want more.

How What is the best way to find you?

Hard to say, really; I've never been one for mobile phones or iPads so giving a number would be useless. I should still have internet access however, so feel free to through me a note on here.

Are there any panels you might be attending?

Depends on what they are. I'm not sure a programme has even been released yet.

What do you look like?

Reddish-brown hair, blue eyes, angled features, low-brow and, apparently, wearing a constantly irritated expression. I'm not really, my face just sticks that way.

Will you be suiting?

No.

Do you do free art?

If you're desperate enough to want my art than I'll be happy to do you a scrappy doodle in your sketch book or something. Certainly I wouldn't dream of charging you for it.

Do you do trades?

You Americans don't even haggle. How can one trade without some honest haggling?

Do you do badges?

See "Do you do free art?".

Do you do commissions?

No. As I said, I wouldn't dream of charging.

What is your gender?

XY.

How tall are you?

About 6'-ish.

Can I talk to you?

Of course, but I'm not exceedingly talkative at first and have difficulty maintaining eye-contact -- some ridiculous part of my brain keeps insisting that it's rude for some reason. But keep at it and I'll eventually warm up.

Can I touch you?

Keep it above the belt and make sure I know you're there, lest I freak out and utter a very British expletive.

Can I visit your room?

If I or someone else sharing it invites you, of course. I apologise in advance for the mess.

Can I buy you drinks?

I'm averse to people buying me things, drinks included, but if you insist then I won't stop you. I'll go by the traditional Japanese method of refusing twice.

Can I give you stuff?

As above.

Are you nice?

Everyone says something to that effect, yes. I'm just incredibly shy, awkward and sometimes rather oblivious. Those lucky chaps who can talk to people they've never met as though they went to kindergarten together? I'm not one of them.

How long are you going?

I'll be there until Sunday/Monday. Depends when Ratharn is leaving.

Do you have an artist table?

Good God no. Anthrocon is far too classy for the likes of me.

Will you be going to parties?

I'm really not a party person; I tend to stand awkwardly in the corner and wait for a time when it can be polite to leave. However if I'm feeling brave I may go and make an attempt at being sociable, especially if I've been drinking.

Will you be performing?

Depends how drunk I am. If I'm suitably merry, expect some singing. The tracklist includes "Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier", "Kelly's Irish Brigade", "Scarborough Fair", "Haul on the Bowline" and Pippin's song from the Return of the King.

If I see you, how should I get your attention?

The traditional approach is to say "Hello" and introduce oneself. But this is a convention, so feel free to wave, shout "Tol!" or yell "The Duchess of Cambridge just had a baby! It's a boy!" The last one would definitely get my attention.

Where will you be most of the time during the day?

God only knows. Expecting a lot of wandering.

What/where will you be eating?

Mostly pizza. I'll actually be giving vegetarianism a try while I'm in the States, unless I find myself in a steakhouse. Then all bets are off.

Can I come with you for food/fun/etc?

If we've been acquainted, sure. The more the merrier.

Can I take your picture?

Ask first, please.

What's your goal(s) for the con this year?

Avoiding getting lost.

My thoughts and prayers go to the people of the City of Boston, that hallowed cradle of American liberty, which has recently suffered from a double-bombing today at its Patriots' Day Marathon and the JFK Library. Two people have perished and twenty-three more have been injured, with a further two or three explosive devices found by Boston's Police Force.

This is a disgusting act and those who committed it have no shame. I can only hope whoever is responsible will be found and brought to justice. This must not stand.

 schism11 is suffering quite the financial crisis and is in serious need of some help. If there's anyone reading this who doesn't mind lending $20 to someone in need, please read this journal and dig deep into your pockets!

"And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Matthew 10:42

Christ has died!
Christ is risen!
Christ shall come again!

Have a happy Easter/Ostara/Zombie Jesus/Chocolate Eggs and Jelly Beans Day everyone!

A good friend of mine is doing a raffle, and winners can expect their characters to be included in a very thrilling story involving corporate corruption, Matrix-style hijinks and Robin Hood-style fun and action, so be sure not give this a miss!

For further information, please turn your eyes to this journal and make sure you enter. Do it now. Your country demands it of you!

Soooo it seems I'm going to Anthrocon, at long last. Certainly the flight has been paid for and all, so I better bloody well be going. I'll be attending in the merry company of  ratharn,  gilian and  taggcrossroad, so if you spot them you'll probably spot me lurking not far away.

Also: this. Because I may as well on the off-chance people actually want to meet and greet.

What do you look like? How can I recognise you?
I'll probably be wearing a red t-shirt with either Major Pitcairn or Major General Robert Ross on it, probably with a slogan on the back reading "British Expeditionary Campaign 2013" or something. That's my re-enactment group's idea, not mine. Otherwise, I'm not sure how to describe myself. Check out my photos and that should be enough.

Male or female?
Well, the last time I checked I'm pretty sure I had a Y chromosone floating around somewhere. So I guess that makes me a bloke.

How old are you?
In my swinging twenties and rather intent on staying there. Biological and chronological processes be damned!

How do you want to be called?
Tolgron, Tolg or Tol will do. Although if you're one of those few people who know my real name, you can use that too.

Where are you most likely to be?
Hanging around Ratharn, Gillian and Tagg. If you find them you'll probably find me. The only exception will be on Sunday, when I shall be attending the Trinity Epsicopal Cathedral's 8am or 10:30am service on 6th Avenue.

Which hotel will you be staying in?
The Doubletree.

When will you be attending?
From the looks of things, I'll be there for the whole event.

Do you do commissions/requests/trades?
Not really, no. I don't think I'm good enough for those, nor would I be able to draw something in good time. It'd be easier all round if I just didn't. :P If you wanted to request a song, your best bet is to wait until I've had a little to drink.

Are you friendly?
Very! However, I'm also very shy and have a very reserved manner around people with whom I am not familiar. This will go double because it's my first con and I will likely be rather overwhelmed. If I'm not very talkative or seem withdrawn, don't take it personally.

Can I talk to you?
As I said; I'm generally quite shy around people I don't know or I'm meeting face-to-face for the first time, but that doesn't mean I won't be happy to talk with you. While quiet at first, you can probably get me talking at length with some effort.

Can I buy you a drink?
Usually I'm averse to people buying me things, but I won't say no if you insist.

Can I touch you?
Keep it above the belt, please.

Can I hug you?
If you ask me first and if I know you. I'm stuffy and British and vote for the Conservatives. Then again, I never seem to get enough hugs...

Can I take pictures with you?
Sure. Just ask.

Can I invite you to parties or outings?
I wouldn't say no. Always a great chance to meet new people.

Are you okay with drugs?
If you want to use them, who am I to stop you? I find it unpleasant, but whatever floats your boat. However I won't partake in any myself.

Will you be fursuiting or wearing a costume?
No. One day I'd like to show up in re-enactment kit, but it shall not be this day.

Is that all?
Is that all?! Yes, I guess it is really.

So we've made it to 2013 after all then?

2012 wasn't a bad year, all told. We had the Olympics, the Jubilee, the US re-elections and the Duchess of Cambridge coming down with the most wide-spread STD of all -- pregnancy. It's certainly a year to remember.

Let's see what 2013 brings us. Hopefully not another doomsday warning. They're getting kinda old.

Or Hanukkah, Ramadan, Kwanza, Yule and any other seasonal celebration that takes place around this year. It's all good. Here's hoping y'all celebrating today have a blast, with all the good food, good gifts, good company and crap on TV that is typical of the season. Don't scoff too much now!

So here's a big Happy Birthday to the Biggest of Cheeses upstairs, and goodwill to all men*!

*And women and those of indeterminate gender.

Oi! Americans! Are you tired of the Westboro Baptist Church making life a misery for Christians and npn-Christians alike with their draconian, hate-filled and barbaric twist on Biblical reading? Now's your chance to put an end to it. All you need to do is sign this petition.

If I were an American or a US resident, God knows all too well that I'd sign it myself. Unfortunately I won the lottery on nationality, so I can't. :P

Planning on opening myself up for commissions within the near future. Pieces offered are generally going to be pencil sketches, along with inks and colours done on Photoshop. I specialise mainly in bulls, so if you want a bovine character drawn I'm your guy! However I'd really like to expand and get to work on other species. Likewise I've mostly done portraits so and I'd really like to have practise with subjects moving about more and actually doing things.

Prices have yet to be determined but I'm currently looking at this model:

Pencil sketch, no inks = $5
Inks = $7
Flat colours = $10
Comics = $10 per page

Extra characters = +$5 for each additional character (maximum of four).
Detailed backgrounds = +$5

If I particular enjoy the piece being drawn, I may lower the price. I'm British, so don't feel obligated to tip.

Rules
1) Payment to be sent after the sketch has been finished and approved by the commissioner.
2) The commissioner has the right to ask for updates at any time during the commission. In general, I'll give an update whenever a stage has been completed for more complicated pics.
3) No gore, no vore, no extreme kinks (like pushing yourself into peoples' dicks -- that's just sick, people!) and no generally hateful subjects.
4) Comics are restricted to five panels per page, although I may extend this a couple of panels depending on how I structure it.
5) I reserve the right to request time extensions if I'm dealing with a particularly tricky piece.
6) I reserve the right to drop a commission if I'm not getting anywhere with it. As you'll have not been charged, you lose nothing from this but a very disappointing picture.

These will be scanned pieces, unfortunately, but I'll see what I can do regarding shipping if you desperately want the physical copy. That'll probably require some research to work out how it'd work and probably an extra charge to cover costs.

Artist looking for work! If you're looking for some good artwork, then please consider giving her a message!