Bastardized Knights - Hellspawns (challenges)

If anyone tells you that a manga is easy to draw and write, they’re lying (or using AI, which counts as THEFT). But you already knew that, right? Making something is never easy. Manga, light-novels, etc. Creating comes at a cost: it’s mental chaos.

Is it worth it, though?

Yes.

I’d be lying if I told you that Bastardized Knights - Hellspawns is a bestseller. The paperback version is already on sale in France, and it should be live in the US soon. The digital version is already HERE though.

As said in another post: BKH is a seinen manga, a fantasy book about two demon Knights, Edge and Blaze, who end up being assigned to Timothy Pendragon’s protection. As the potential heir to the demonic throne, Tim should be overjoyed… Except he didn’t even know he was a demon until the two Knights waltzed into his life with an impressive lack of grace.

The thing about Knights is that they’re often abused (or killed) by their masters. They’re seen as lesser-than, and their lives don’t have any value in the eyes of the high-rank demons.

But Tim doesn’t want to have slaves, and he most certainly doesn’t believe in his own demonic nature.

Ah, and his best friend is an angel…

With all that said: this manga is one of the few things I’m proud of. I’m proud of having thought of this story. I’m proud of having finished a first volume.

And yet…

The hard part is what’s coming next.

I’ve been traditionally published in the past, and I also self-published a bunch of books I’m not that proud of anymore, even though my readers did like them.

One thing I learned the hard way is that both routes have their pros and cons, and that marketing your book is hard work. You want to find your audience and, most importantly, you want to see your book appear in the bestselling ranks of Amazon.

The thing is, you’re not alone on that path.

Aaaand let’s just say, some people can be RUTHLESS.

I had a small community on social media before I started to do anything with my manga.

But this doesn’t mean every single person who follows you will buy your book. Of course, being able to be seen on TikTok or Instagram IS important, and it DOES help a lot.

But there is one thing you need to know.

Having a bestseller on your roster is…

Pure luck.

Yeah.

Pure luck.

That’s it.

Having skills and experience helps. Knowing your audience helps.

Being aware of trends and knowing what hashtags work best helps.

Let’s face it, though: your book is lost in a sea of other self-published books, that are ALSO lost in a sea of traditionally published bestsellers.

I don’t want to discourage anyone from writing what they want to write.

Far from it.

But you need to know that you’ll face MANY hardships during your journey.

Contact local newspapers. Contact book influencers on social media. Contact your local bookshop.

Support other writers.

Learn from them.

This is a world of sharks.

And that’s a shame, isn’t it?

We need to learn how to support each other.

Bisous!

Facing Challenges

I'm still practicing the "no sketch" method. Also, since I wanted something very textured, with a different vibe, I decided to try and use the chalk brush.

So this is Tim, from Bastardized Knights - Hellspawns. I'm still trying to figure out if I should unpublish the book or not, since the paperback version is (a priori) not available in the US. But it seems to be back to normal in France, so we'll see. I'm just annoyed because it's technical issues after technical issues.

I almost gave up on that book as a whole. Almost decided to not finish volume 2.

But I can't do that to my readers, so back to work I go.

Also, my brother pointed out that I tend to write seinen stories and not shonen ones. I just never realized it before, which means I've been marketing this book to the wrong niche this whole time.

The thing is, when I think "seinen", I think Berserk.

Which is quite reductive, since there are PLENTY of different seinen mangas in this world. Berserk is the most famous example, but it's just that: an example.

Oh well.

I'm also having difficulties with the script. I don't write scripts. I hate writing scripts. I have a rough outline, and then I draw. But sometimes, I get stuck. Which is exactly what's happening right now.