Interviews

Lloyd Prentice on Aya Takeo

By Leroy Douresseaux
April 11, 2010 - 19:43

Aya.Takeo #1 cover image

Lloyd R. Prentice has written and produced more than 100 software products for major publishers, and his first novel, Freein' Pancho, will soon be published by Writers Glen Publications.  Aya Takeo is his first manga.  Lloyd recently answered a few questions for this Bin Q&A:

BIN:  Would you mind introducing yourself to readers?

LLOYD: I'm of the school that a writer is the figure behind the screen who pulls strings to create a kind of alternative reality out of sticks, cotton, fabric, and paint.

I strive to move imaginary worlds and events that swirl around my head out onto paper.

I'm successful if, for at least moments at a time, you forget yourself, move out of your day-to-day, and take on the challenges of one or more of my characters.

I'm ecstatic if I spark an idea or insight that you've never thought of before.

Beyond the successes and failures of my work, I'm not that interesting.

I care about more things than I have power to effect or change. I wrestle with self-doubt---often wonder if I'm up to the tasks I set for myself.

I've been extremely lucky in life to be well-fed, sheltered, and educated after a fashion. Indeed, I owe much to those who've created and sacrificed before me---not least the many creative folks who've developed and refined the anime and manga genres.

I have a wonderful wife and two successful children. And I have freedom to create and write.

What more could one want?

BIN:  What can you tell us about Aya Takeo?

LLOYD:  Cosmologists tell us that our universe may be one of many.

Aya Takeo transpires in an idyllic realm that's similar to feudal Japan, but with many differences. It's a story of star-crossed love, loss, betrayal, revolution, and triumph.

Aya is a princess of the realm; Takeo is a feisty, but insecure, warrior. Aya and Takeo have been inseparable friends since earliest childhood.

But, now, the realm is under attack by spider-like robots seeking hydrocarbons in the form of human flesh.

The story begins when Takeo sacrifices himself to protect Aya, that is, allows himself to be captured by the spiders. 

BIN:  How did you become involved with this project?

LLOYD:  The story is too long and tedious to relate here.

I short, I've written novels, produced film and software games, started a successful magazine, and even done a bit of radio. When I first came across anime and manga I felt that it was truly a medium for our age---and for those much younger than myself.

But then, I thought, why should young people have all the fun?

BIN:  How do you contribute or what part do you play in the ongoing creation of Aya Takeo?

LLOYD:  I conceptualized the story and characters, wrote the script, and financed the art, website, and publication.

My artist, Sonia Leong, made significant contributions with regard to graphic look and styling---with various script suggestions along the way.

Lloyd Prentice and an ocean-going pal.

BIN:  What makes the Aya Takeo manga unique – that will attract readers who are not necessarily manga or anime fans?

LLOYD:  I'm not necessarily the best person to ask. But, I believe that Aya Takeo reflects universal themes, yet remains light-hearted and fun. Well, there are a few dark and heavy scenes here and there, but all in the spirt of good-hearted adventure.

Romance... adventure... derring do... sly humor... and collect able art. All for the price of two Happy meals at the big McD. What more can we do to make you happy?

BIN:  In my review of Aya Takeo, I talked about the things that I thought influenced it, but what influenced Aya Takeo?

LLOYD:  Sonia can talk best about graphic influences.

I'm a news junky and worry about various threats to our hard-won civilization. It doesn't take much exposure to history and public affairs to realize that civil society is paper thin.

Just underneath the surface lie the beasts of ignorance, arrogance, greed, and unmitigated mayhem and violence.

But more than anything, with Aya Takeo, I just want to entertain. I tried to keep my darker thoughts in check.

BIN:  Aya Takeo is a webcomic.  How often will it be collected in print form and when will we see a second volume?

LLOYD:  The current episode of Aya Takeo is near the end of its run on the web. We haven't decided yet whether or not we'll leave it up.

We have enough material to print Aya Takeo Volumes II and III.

But we need more fans asking their favorite manga outlets for Aya Takeo Volume I, or ordering copies from Amazon, or from the Aya Takeo website vol1.ayatakeo.com.

The Aya Takeo saga was free on the web and we'd like to express our gratitude to the many folks around the world who clicked in and followed it.

And, we're thankful to have recovered the cost of first-printing of Volume I. But that was mostly due to sales at anime cons the U.K. and Sonia's charming salesmanship. I'm too old and ugly to do the same in the U.S.

But, to continue, we need now to see sales pick up through retail outlets, Amazon, and our website vol1.ayatakeo.com.

BIN:  In terms of the story, what can Aya Takeo readers look forward to in the future?

LLOYD:  Takeo, through mishap and accident, returns to the realm and finds a resourceful friend. Ji-Gumo, the fierce spider robot leader, gets a surprising makeover. Council minister Hisoka betrays the realm and deceives Aya into accepting a proposal of marriage. The realm finds itself in the grip of civil war and oppression.

BIN:  Do you have any other work now available or coming in the future about which you would like to inform readers?

No plans at the moment for writing another manga---but who knows?

My novel, Freein' Pancho (freeinpancho.com) will be released for publication within the next couple of weeks. And I'm working on two political thrillers -- The Gospel of Ashes and El Tiburon.

Reader can buy Aya Takeo directly from the publisher: http://vol1.ayatakeo.com/, or through Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Aya-Takeo-1-Lloyd-Prentice/dp/1905038216/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270832828&sr=1-1

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12