#lefterstein talks

[leftersteindraws]

out of everything i though they might announce, a children's book version is not in my bingo card

[lefterstein]

so kaminaga-sensei had just announced that shinrei tantei yakumo 11 is coming soon and ? let me just fly away i dont even have a clue what happened in vol 10 yet

[leftersteindraws]

Earlier this month I happened to be in Tokyo for the weekend to spend the tail end of my Japan trip this year. It was the first trip in which the timing was decided entirely on my part as the previous times were dependent on the Yakumo kageki / stage play performance schedules.

So it was by unplanned coincidence that Mystery Carnival vol. 4 was being held that same weekend at Tsutaya Books Daikanyama.

The main highlight of the event was the mass signing they held for various mystery writers, in which Kaminaga Manabu-sensei was participating!

Participation was free and without reservation but you do have to buy the books you wanted signed at the event within the list they had available. I chose the first volume of the Complete Edition and the second volume of Shin Yakumo.

When it got to my turn I mentioned how I was an overseas fan and he commented on how the series has a pretty strong presence in Asian countries but no English translations yet, then teased Seikaisha (the publisher that organised this event) to put out one soon (that did mess with me a little bit too from being a little lost in translation 😭).

I also gave him new sets of the Yakumo acrylic stands I made a while back alongside a fan letter I wrote with the help of a friend, which got him conversing with the staff on how Yakumo's sweet tooth trait originated from the manga adaptation.

I wish I could've said more but I was nervous and my broken Japanese was failing me 💀 As an end note I wished him good luck for the rest of the signing as he had a rather impressive queue turnout 😂

And that was how I unexpectedly ended up meeting Kaminaga-sensei for the first time!

[leftersteindraws]

Hi anon, hopefully you'll see this post.

I'm choosing to answer this ask indirectly since I can't answer anonymous questions privately, and I do not want to unintentionally spoil anything for anyone else.

No, I do not know how the Shinrei Tantei Yakumo volume 12 ends. Not because I can't find out yet, I'm simply not in a hurry to. I try to never read too far ahead of my side project, especially with numbered volumes. Frankly, if I do so I might risk losing my motivation to continue the project entirely, and I'd rather not have that happen.

As such, I'd also appreciate if you'd take spoilered discussions off my blog(s) 🙏

[leftersteindraws]

Another year it has been, huh?

Looking back, 2023 was probably the first year in which I felt for the first time in a while that I'm truly glad that I stuck around this far, that it allowed me to experience things I never thought I'd ever had the chance to.

While I doubt that my outlook will ever become truly positive especially with the state of everything that's happening right now, I now find there's still some worth seeing what the future has to offer.

Thank you for staying around, too.

Here's to a more hopeful, if not promising, 2024.

See you next year!

Lefterstein

[leftersteindraws]

alright so the official staff’s Shinrei Tantei Yakumo illustration contest has officially begun, which means i’m officially losing my shit and panicking i’ll have to somewhat set aside my side project for a while until the submission period is over (june 30). sorry for those who are waiting for the next part of the project but i’m gonna have to pour all my blood and sweat over this one (wish me luck)

competition details here if you’re interested

[leftersteindraws]

2021 was a year of self discovery for me. Amidst a lot of fear and uncertainty of what's to come that it caused, it also left me feeling a little more hopeful for the future, and I find comfort in knowing I won't have to face them alone.

Thank you everyone for all the memories, and especially for supporting my art throughout 2021.

See you next year!

Lefterstein

[leftersteindraws]

before the year ends, i'd like to thank everyone for supporting my work throughout 2020, and especially those who have stuck with me for years now.

it has been a rough year all around, but i am also glad that i got to find new friends and discover new fandoms. i don’t talk about it much, but i have been worse off mentally for a good while now that i have forgotten how it feels like not to struggle with anything and everything. i'm genuinely surprised i went through 2020 at all.

i don’t even know if 'happy' new year is the way to say it, but if not happy then let it be hopeful at the very least.

may 2021 be kinder to you all.

see you next year.

Lefterstein