** End of year report! (PLEASE READ!!!!!!!) **

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What an amazing year it was! We really don’t know where to start with everything that’s gone on, but hopefully this newsletter will not only summarize 2019, but blow your minds away for 2020. So, let’s get started! We have a lot to cover! *^^*

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We began the year with a lot of hope, because pages were coming along almost weekly and the fan-base was growing pretty strong. But we really were still struggling because funds just weren’t coming in the way we expected. This is a reminder to everyone: what we’re doing is a lot of hard work and costs a lot of money. We have been paying K.J. $150 for each amazing page done, and as you can probably tell from the quality of those pages, we underpay greatly. Seriously, look at most webcomics out there right now, and our illustrations are superior in every way. We KNOW we’re probably one of the best illustrated webcomics out there right now, and we can compete with anyone.

Not only has it shown in our art, but in our popularity. At the beginning of the year, our estimated visitor count was a little less than 850, according to Google Analytics, and our reports from GoDaddy. 

That has changed dramatically. 

By our count, through ad campaign reports we get from ComicAds, we have now increased that figure to between 4,500 to 5,000 visits a DAY. “The Depths” ranks #1 on Google for adult furry comics, and settles in, at last check, at #4 for adult comics overall. We are also situated nicely at #3 in Top Webcomics, so we want to thank everyone for voting for us still. Our popularity has increased because our reach has. 

At the start of the year, it occurred to us that we CANNOT be in competition with each other’s comics. It’s much better to join others, make friendships and partnerships, so we reached out to other massively popular webcomics out there, like Delve and The Monster under the Bed, and got some link partners. And in exchange, we wrote articles about them for The Depths blog. And now, well, since we’re seeing 5,000 visitors a day, obviously Delve and TMUTB are QUITE pleased because THEY get more attention too. 

This is how the World Wide Web worked in the early-mid 1990s, when everything was fresh and new, and no one knew anybody. Maybe some of you are too young to remember, but the way the web is supposed to work is to connect to one another. Since we went back to the “old ways”, things have paid off amazingly. Our only quest now is to keep getting Patreons, because we have a LOT going on in 2020, which we’ll get to in a minute… *^^*

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Cameos are coming in a few pages! We had to figure out a way how to get everyone in and where, and we promise all that waiting and patience you gave us will pay off soon. Along with cameos, we will include links to each of your Furaffinity or SoFurry pages, or whatever links you want, which will be added to the page description. We want to start with the people who have been waiting the longest, and that includes ElectricFox’s Sly, and MasterofWolves’ Maku. More cameos are coming shortly, so please just continue to be patient with us. *^^*

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Alright, so, starting in January, next month, we say goodbye to the ‘aughts forever and jump in with both feet with a variety of new rewards, new projects, and lots of fun. So, let’s start with the rewards first, since everyone’s really been looking forward to these. First, sneak-peeks of up-and-coming pages from TWO BRAND NEW comics! (which we will talk about in a minute…) Secondly, ART. FINALLY, more exclusive art! We have arranged partnerships with one of our best friends, ABlueDeer, to illustrate a MONTHLY PIN-UP! This pin-up will be VOTED FOR. So, you’ll be voting for the character only, whichever one would like to be seen in a given month. 

Along with the monthly pin-up, we also have another fabulous surprise – MONTHLY SPLASH ART! Splash art will be complete art scenes, with character and backgrounds, that somehow deal with water – and Patreons will be able to REQUEST what they want. For instance, you could request to have sweet Kalea taking a delightful bath under a waterfall – or maybe huntress Malana locked in a death-struggle with an octopus deep below on the ocean floor. However, whoever, and whatever you’d like to see, you can REQUEST it, and if a lot of people love your idea, who knows? Your request could be seen that month. We should mention the wonderful artist making that possible is TwistedPeppermintStars, who has made incredible waves lately with her art – and need we tell anyone she’s a huge fan of underwater art…? *^^*

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As we said before, we have TWO brand new comic projects starting in January. One is called “Island Girls”, which will be a “humanized” version of “The Depths”, with the same characters, but an entirely different scenario, with the girls in their early 20s, and living on Bora Bora in the South Pacific in the mid 1930s. We considered adding World War 2 aspects, but in the end the war would be TOO much of an aspect. After all, we were fighting for the lives of everyone and that was the most important thing. To illustrate the war as a backdrop is insulting and just plain wrong. We already have the first 20 pages or so written, and about 5-6 pages storyboarded. (and yes, for you underwater fans, plenty of wet and wild scenes) We’ll be bringing “Island Girls” to “The Depths” pages for now (since we already have a massive audience there) and then look to include it in comic places like Tapas, to expand our reach. The nice thing though is, you all get to see the pages before anyone else. *^^* Our artist for this venture goes by Ralph Raymond DelMundo, and if you look at his portfolio page, we think you’re going to take to “Island Girls” VERY nicely.

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The other project we’re greatly excited about is called “Insignificant Otters”. Emma and Kevin are two sea otters stranded on a deserted island after a shipwreck. They have no idea where they are but they have each other, and it should all be a really romantic story. 

Well…no…it’s not. As we explained earlier on Furaffinity, she's lyrically beautiful with brains, and he's just plain brains. Kevin's totally head over paws in love with Emma, having originally met her on the ship they went down on, and as it turns out they had a horrific time together and she can't stand him in the least. He's obnoxious, crude, over-imaginative and misogynistic to a point, and lusts after her like dogs to steak.

Emma on the other paw is practical, a bit of a cynic and pessimistic, a realist. She's got the body of a supermodel otter, but lacks the heart.

As their extended stay on the island continues, reality shakes loose entirely at points, and we get a glimpse of how these two interact in everyday, popular cultures and situations. Even television programs, video games, and current news are topics of their conversation or spirited debate, and several hilarious underwater encounters will just add to the delight of the comic strip.  

As for the title, Riff came up with it. We were trying to think of an adorbz title about otters, which would be catchy, easy to remember, and have just the right pizzazz for content. We tried "Significant Otters" (a pun on "significant others"), but it just didn't feel right. These are two otters stuck on an island, with no one else in sight.  

"Insignificant" is exactly what they would be to the rest of the world. *^^*

So, yes, look for exciting sneak-peeks of these pages, and wouldn’t you know it, we’re surprising all of you with a first peek at a sample page!

Love the art? We hope so, the artist is Jim N Jimenez, and he’s worked on numerous Walt Disney animated films and TV series. How did we land HIM, you ask? He LOVES “The Depths”, and tried out as a sketch artist for us at one time. But Patreon funds couldn’t afford him. He’s VERY excited to work with us on this hilarious project. 

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So that’s the line up. We have a lot to look back on with pride, and a lot to look forward to with anticipation and hope. And through it all, we have every single one of our Patreon people to thank for helping us keep going. So thank you, bless you, and may this holiday be your best yet, and may the coming year shine success and happiness to you all. <3 

Our respect and admiration,

Lani, Riff and KJ (Paola, Paul, and KJ)