Like Nikki said, it’s been a looong time and I’m sorry. There are a couple of factors contributing to my absence: one personal, another professional. First, over the holidays I lost a family member. While it was not unexpected, I found myself focused on other priorities. Creating this comic has always been a weekly escape for me, a fun labor of love for Nikki and her friends that I look forward to sharing with all of you. But I temporarily lost the spark and the drive.
On the professional side, as I mentioned a while ago, the company I work for has been purchased by a competitor. When the merger of the two companies completes next month, many people will be impacted as the two workforces are aligned. With uncertainty surrounding this change, and the possibility of my position being eliminated or relocated, I decided to make myself available for more freelance work. To that end, I’ve been very fortunate, having booked three concurrent freelance projects, with another in the wings –all while still working at my full time job. So, just as my passion for Nikki was returning, my schedule completely filled up and overflowed. I have another month or so of a crazy workloads -during which I will know the fate of my corporate job. I can’t wait to get back to Nikki, and will do so as soon as possible. In the meantime, I’ll try to squeeze in some teasers like this one.
Thanks to all for your patience -TK
Hi TK,
I have only just found your site and comic – but I hope that life settles down for you and you get the urge to share back again as I have really enjoyed catching up from the start. The characters are great and the tantalising art is beautifully framed. In short – love your work. Gray
Thanks TK. It’s always good to hear something and know that things are (relatively) OK. Good luck, I hope things go well with your job. Meanwhile, let me assure you that these occasional pictures are very much appreciated 🙂
I’m glad you are planning to continue, I have been checking every day, I love Nikki, it would be so sad to have her story end. Best of luck with the merger, and my condolences on your loss.
If there’s a reasonable chance you will be laid off, now is a great time to look for another job. It’s easier to get one while you are the valued employee who doesn’t like the merger and is looking for something better, than after you are unemployed and look like somebody they didn’t need.
Also, if you do get a job offer at a higher pay then you currently have, you can go back to your current employer and negotiate a pay raise. They are looking to get rid of their marginal employees and keep the best, and having a good offer from another company makes you look good. And if it doesn’t work you have a new job waiting.
Or you could try to get by with freelance work only. This is probably not a good idea if you can avoid it. When times are bad companies prefer to quit paying freelance workers than fire people (right up to the point that they’d rather pay piecework for just what they need than pay employees). T\here isn’t really any security anywhere, but in hard times it’s good to have a full-time job with the water works.
Best wishes and good luck!
I completely understand. Nikki is a labor of love, but it doesn’t pay the bills. So unless everyone reading this comic starts donating and we can turn ‘finishing this comic’ into one of your freelance projects (Kickstarter?), Nikki will always have to wait when RL starts taking up too much of your time. No problem, I’ll wait.
PS: on a sidenote, imho they would have to be crazy to let you go!
PPS: forgot to say Thank You for the update!
Good to ‘hear’ from you, understand that things are crazy hectic right now, and dealing with that is always priority, will continue checking in every day to see if there has been any new images or news, take as long as you need 😀
Do whatever you need for you, TK. “For us” will come in its own sweet time.
Welcome back TK, hope things all work out for you personally and professionally.
I know where of you speak so good luck man.
Woot! Glad for this news! I’m not surprised that you get a lot of freelance work. You are very talented! Nikki has been an escape for many of us too! May the force be with you ! Face piles of trials with smiles! Woot!
You could always consider a Patreon. Though, before you do, I urge you to consider what it means. It can turn what is a labor of love into a job. You have responsibilities to your patrons at that point. However, if you get enough, it could pay your bills and then you could be making money from what you love doing.
Thanks for the kind words and support everyone! J, I have no fear of freelancing full-time -I did so successfully before my current position. It’s just that in my current state of employment limbo, I’m doing my regular job and freelance projects BOTH at full-time capacity. Unfortunately, the comic suffers. But it should all be sorted out one way or another soon. fdas, I have thought about Patreon but will only go that route (or, Melissa, Kickstarter) when I’m sure I can commit the necessary time to the supporters …so if my career path returns me to freelancing, I’ll seriously consider these as part of my self-employed mix. Cheers -TK
I’m very sorry for your loss. I sincerely hope things smooth out for you soon. Take your time. The Internet is unlikely to go anywhere.
It’s better to put the comic on an open-ended Hiatus than potentially letting the quality drop, as long as you at least pop in occasionally with updates slash simply letting us know you are still alive your fans will be okay, but, of course, that is just POO (‘Personal Opinion Only’, and alternate to ‘IMO’, please spread it around 😛 )
Corporate mergers are never good for the rank and file employees that actually do the work. Layoffs aren’t fun, been there before. Good luck, your readers understand that real life has to come before Nikki…
No worries, take all the time you need. Yours is one of the few webcomics worth waiting for.
When it comes to being fair to everyone you have to remember to include yourself. Take care of yourself. We’ll be here when you get the chance.
Ah yes, Twister. The game decried by Christian preachers as Sin in a Box when it first came out.