Public Input, and Explosively Addictive Insects!

So we just recently held our Creative Development Meeting for October, and ofcourse we're all walking away from it with reinspired fervour. While our direction is remaining much the same, our focus is adjusting. We've laid out a very good structure in the past month, no we're starting to pay attention to the impact that our efforts are having. Are we being noticed? Are we being heard? The common theme of this month is progress, and the main milestones we are watching for is shown through public input. My belief so far is that The Underground does NOT have as much of a following as Paul Reaume does...if that makes any sense. People are supporting me, and it is greatly appreciated, and we can have no success at all without that support. But in order to survive, and indeed make an impact of any sort in the industry, The Underground needs a following. People need to to support and follow our story, our characters. One way of measuring this is the level of input we get from the public. What is the public interested in, if they are indeed interested at all...
So on that note, I'd like to take this opportunity to let you in on what The Underground is to me, and what keeps me so passionate about it. This story is not set in a far away land, it's characters are not larger than life superhumans that you could never hope to see in your own daily grind. The Underground takes place in my backyard, in all of your backyards. It's inhabitants are insects that you've seen in your travels, it is real and surreal at the same time. I mix alot of reality in to the story and use alot of real events to help guide the story, and answer my own questions. Like today for instance; it is pouring rain outside, I wonder how the bugs in The Underground would react to this. I can imagine them running for shelter, trying to escape the devasting tears of the sky! What if it started to rain during a battle? What would happen then? A simple rainstorm is so much more tremendous when considered on their scale, and this fact is true for many things that we take for granted in our world.
So I ask you. What have you noticed? What are you pondering in regards to these bugs? Does your pet chase them? Do your kids? We've all got something that we've seen that can help guide the story and characters. My wife Giovanna tends to the Facebook group and would welcome your input there, Chris Walker has been tending to the forum on the Dimestore site, and would appreciate your insight there. In anycase, there is much opportunity to let your voice be heard, and help us understand that we are indeed being heard and noticed after all.

Insect-0-Fact #10: Flanged Bombardier Beetles
It has beeen asked what Raymus' explosives would be made from. The answer is not too far-fetched. Bombardier Beetles have some pretty volatile fluids in chambers located within their abdomen. When these two fluids are mixed together, they reach boiling heat and explode from the body. This is used as a defense mechanism to ward off any attackers, the explosion does actually get very hot, and makes a popping sound during eruption.
Raymus' explosives utilize these fluids, and to shards of stone to create a spark. The spark ignites the combustible fluids and creates a much more dazzling, and destructive display. The same fluids are also used in Raymus' gun.
What makes Flanged Bombardier Beetles even more interesting is their oddly shaped antennae. The antennae become large, and strange looking, but they also secrete a sweet fluid which is readily consumed by ants and their larvae. No one is sure as to why the ants are so favourable of this fluid, but the bigger question is...where is the insect addictions counselour?