Bherek turns 18

Bherek White turns 18 in the graphic novel of Book 1. His birthday was celebrated with a small group of people.

Bherek’s eighteenth birthday was celebrated at Prava’s insistence. Bherek did not like to be the centre of attention, showing off the new clothes Prava had made for him: A bright tunic of red with gold trim, black trousers and a new cloak of blue. She helped Bherek tie the cloak loosely around his neck. It was supposed to be a quiet birthday, with only the family and Bherek’s friends present, but Vivus made noise enough for ten guests.
“Ha, ha, Aunt Prava,” he said, “Bherek can tie the cloak by himself. You treat him like a child and make him blush!”
“There,” said Prava, patting Bherek on the shoulder, “that’s perfect. He’s always my child, Vivus, you brat, and so are you. Now go and finish the cake while I set the dinner table. Coming, husband?”
“Yes, my favourite wife,” said Rok as he followed her to the hall, and was rewarded by a playful slap on the cheek.
“A child?” said Vivus, “Bher bro, you are eighteen and an adult now! You also look it!”
“Hear, hear,” said Zanny while Brav laughed.
“Don’t laugh so heartily, Big Brother,” snickered Vivus, “You look like a married lion with ten cubs!”
Zanny blushed furiously and marched out to the garden, followed by Brav.
“That because you are so tall, Zan” said Brav.
“Let me go and help Aunt with the table,” said Bherek, but Vivus grasped his arm.
“Are you mad? This is your birthday.”
“But…”
“Come outside, let’s tease Zan a bit more.”

Prava had set the table with Rok’s help. Zanny’s mother had also come to help her with the cooking as some guards from the palace, like Thicker and Cabarone, were expected to bring their families to dinner.
“Now where are your palace friends, Titon Dear?” asked Prava, from the hall. Titon peeped out through the kitchen window.
“They will be here soon, Prava, but come here for a moment, will you?”
“What is it?”
“Look.”
Rok had been looking out at Bherek and friends outside. Zanny and Vivus were sitting on the wall, facing the road, while Brav and Bherek were in the garden.
“Hey, look at that one, Zan,” said Vivus.
A pretty spotard passed them on the street, fluttering her eyelashes in their direction, causing Vivus to nearly fall off the wall.
“That can be mine,” said Vivus, “now pick on one your size, Big Bro!”
“They are not fruits in a shop,” said Bherek, “for you to pick and choose. They are people, you know.”
“Ah, I am willing to be picked and chosen by them,” laughed Vivus, “but they don’t do that. They only speak with their eyes, the cunning charmers. What say, Big Bro?”
He poked Zanny’s side with his elbow, and Zanny smiled.
“Join us, Bherek and pick one for yourself,” he said, “Since it’s your birthday, you get to choose first.”
“You go ahead, friends,” laughed Bherek from the garden, “I need many more birthdays for that.”
“Hey, there’s an amazing lioness! She must be new here!” said Vivus.
“No,” said Zanny, “She’s from Riverside. Lives near my home.”

“Well,” said Rok from inside the house, “Our nephew isn’t interested in girls.”
“All in good time, husband of mine,’ replied Prava.

Later, after Rok’s friends had come and gone, Bherek’s friends said their goodbyes at the gate. They discussed their work and what was to become of them at the palace.
“Now that Uncle Titon is a Valiante, we stand greater chance of our strategies being put to practice.” Rok had been recently promoted to Valiante, general of the armed forces of Auris.
“Yes, Bher,” said Brav, “Uncle Rok treats you not like little cub.”
“Since our training is over, can you ask him about us joining the guards?” asked Zanny.
“But no need to hurry,” added Vivus, being with them only for fun and friendship, not to taste real battles!

But the promotion happened soon enough.

India trip

I spent 3 weeks in New Delhi and a week in Chennai.
Flew from SFO to New Delhi and landed in India on Jan 1.
However, when I flew back from SFO, I did that from Chennai.

3 weeks in Delhi could have been better but for the cold weather there. The houses there are not insulated. But then I had a good time with my wife, baby, in-laws, and bro-in-law. We planned to go to Jaipur, but that off the drain owing to cold weather. Most of Northern India was engulfed with fog and cold weather.

Chennai trip was bit too short. Here again it was mostly spent the time with my family - grandma, aunts etc.

Over all a good break!

Getting ready to leave to India

I am packing off my suitcases to fly to India. Will be in India for a month - starting from Jan 1 to Feb 1. Yeah, I will be working for 3 weeks from India.
I should be meeting Ashok while I am in Chennai.

Update on Book 2

Ashok started writing for Book 2 in beginning of 2009. But he had to stop owing to the projects he had. He manage to add a chapter in Oct. We have added a chapter similar to the Book 1, where the old Fox narrates the story. I am sorry I am not going to reveal the details.

The plan is to add 4 chapters a month, and about 4000 words a month. We also plan to have the Book 2 completed by the Aug-Sep 2010.

AVATAR

Watched and enjoyed the visual spectacle called the AVATAR. Though there has been critisim about the story itself, you cannot take anything away from AVATAR the visual treat. I was even more rejoiced when people say that Avatar reminded them of the Dynast. This is a great feeling to be a part of the Dynast and being a creator. It creates a sense of pride. I hope in the near future the Dynast also enjoys a similar success as the Avatar.

Avatar the movie

I watched AVATAR here in AMC Mercado (Santa Clara). It was to watch it on the 3D.
AVATAR was a fantastic movie, a great visual treat. It elements of Hero-cycle, which is closely followed in the Dynast.

Minor Characters

Aunt Prava, wife of Titon Rok. More information can be found here

The Rebel Bear

Shakun: A short lion, a hench-man of Gadhya Kraft

The Graphic Novel update

We have now Pages 28. The pages are wonderfully pencilled. I have asked Seb to do the coloring. He says he has been doing some coloring, but I havent seen them after Page 8.

WONDERFUL BIG CATS nagy macskák

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WONDERFUL BIG CATS nagy macskák

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Today we begin the graphic novel

We officially begin the graphic novel. We should have 8 pages ready to send to the publishers.
The content of Book 1 is what we are translating to the graphic which will go with the same title 'Dynast: The Rise of Bherek White'. This should be 110-120 paged graphic novel.

This is the process we will follow.
Ashok does the storyboards
I hand the storyboards to Seb
Seb will do the pencil sketches, coloring with the help of his friend
And finally Asvin does the lettering.

So here I wear multiple hats - as a creator, co-writer, over-see the storyboards, pencil sketches, coloring and then solely incharged of doing the lettering.

Arthika Map

The Map of Athika before Bherek White becomes the Dynast and unites them all to call it United kingdom of Arthika

Arthika is nothing but the current Arctic

Mritor Acerbus in color

Mritor Arcerbus :
Is the a Tyrant who wants to take over the Arthika. He rules the huge kingdom named Orzantia

Mritor Acerbus

Mritor Acerbus :A Tyrant who wants to take over Arthika. He rules over the Lucians, a race of gray lions.

The Submission letter for the Graphic book publishers

Greetings!

This is a submission of my graphic novel, “Dynast: The Rise of Bherek White,” the first of a trilogy. We have planned for 192 pages in full color.

Set in the far future when the human race is extinct and felines rule the earth, ‘Dynast: The Rise of Bherek White,’ the first of a trilogy, promises a treat of the young adult category. When a 14 year old lion cub, Bherek White, comes to stay with his uncle Titon Rok in the demoralized city of Auris, he does not realize that his friends and he would be caught in a net of violence and intrigue which would lead him to be crowned not just king, but the ‘Great Lion,’ the legendary savior of the entire Arctic, as foretold by soothsayers of yesteryear. I have also enclosed a bigger synopsis for your reading.

I am Asvin Srivatsangam, I am the Creator and Co-Writer of the Dynast. I am based in Sunnyvale, California. I have big plans for Dynast and foresee it in many forms: novel, animated movie, graphic novel, and TV serial. Please visit the website http://thedynast.com/
Dynast has been my dream since I was a schoolboy, and I will go all out to give any support you suggest for the good of the book. The books and screenplay are co-written by Ashok Rajagopalan, India, whose first book, ‘Witchsnare,’ has been published by Penguin India, under its Puffin imprint. He has had three other books published since that.
We have been most fortunate to find the talented Sebastian Cardoso, a comic-book illustrator who is great at portraying expression and a fantastic colorist. He lives and works from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Thank you for taking the time to consider publishing Dynast. I look forward to hearing from you.
Enclosed are five sample sequential pages, inked and lettered, the cover and the long synopsis.

Sincerely,
Asvin Srivatsangam

The Dynast Comic book inside pages for the publishers

These were the 5 pages that were sent to the publishers along with the cover art.

The Dynast Cover art

The cover art for the Dynast Graphic Novel was illustrated by Sebastian Cardoso. This is for the Book 1 of the trilogy. This is color one and also has the Dynast logo and text 'The Rise of Bherek White'

Dynast Cover art

This is the inked version of the cover. Bherek killing on the leviathan.

Gadhya Kraft

Gadhya Kraft

Brav and Staur

Staur White

Brav Apogee

http://thedynast.com/thecomic.html

The Dynast Character illustrations

The characters
Vivus Fastus

Labhi Twilit
later

Labhi White

Zanny Vastt