SUBSCRIPTION

Why subscription?
Please read my chibi manga. The manga will explain why I started a subscription but the information about the subscription there is out-dated. Read below for correct and updated information.

How much is the subscription?
1 EURO per month. Payments are collected every 6 months or every year. Below is the list of fees for different payment method, location & duration. If you recon that you pay more than 1 EURO per month, it's because the exchange & transfer fees are included. For currency conversion rates & questions go here.

Which payment method do you receive?
PayPal, it is important to know that you can set up a PayPal account even without credit cards. PayPal works off credit cards AND/OR active bank accounts.
Beside PayPal I also receive offline payments like direct bank transfer, money order, cheque, cash through registered mail etc.
We have payment contacts who take care of payments in Europe, USA, Canada, Australia & the rest of the world. Depending on your location you will get a payment instruction via email.

Do you accept other currency beside Euro, USD, CAD and AUD?
No I don't.

How does the subscription work?
Here are a step by step explanation:
1. Sign up.
2. Check your email for payment instructions.
3. Make payment & wait for it to be cleared.
4. Once we get your payment, your account will be activated. Check your email for account activation.
5. Login with your username & password.

I've signed up but choose the wrong subscription type! What should I do?
Don't worry I can change the subscription type for you. Just write me an email & let me know your name, username & email address you've used to signed up so I can find your account. Also let me know the subscription type you want.

I've signed up but I don't get any emails or payment instruction?
After sign up is completed you will automatically get an email with payment instruction in it, sent by the system. If you don't get this email 1 hour after signing up maybe:
1. the email is filtered as spam and transffered to your junkmail folder.
2. you have mistyped your email address when signing up.
3. you have entered an invalid email address.
4. your inbox is full.
If any of this happens please let me know & please make sure your email account is working.

I've made my payment with PayPal. Why is my account not activated?
Whenever I see a notification from PayPal about received payments, I usually activate the accounts right away. Except when I'm asleep, away from home or in a holiday. If your account is not activated after 3 days of payment, please check your PayPal account because you might've sent me a pending payment which usually need one week to be cleared. If you have more questions regarding PayPal please mail me.

I'm not a PayPal user but I've sent my payment. Why is my account not activated?
Please ask your payment contact about this. Unfortunately I don't know how long a payment took to arrive in your country. Here are the payment contacts:
1. For USA & South America, please contact Shuuki.
2. For Canada, please contact Ki-chan.
3. For Australia & New Zealand, please contact Cristian.
4. For Europe & the rest of the world, please contact me.
If you're account is still not activated don't hesitate to ask me directly.

Can I cancel my subscription after making a payment & get my money back?
Unfortunately not. As soon as your account has been activated, it will be available until it's expiry date. If you don't wish to continue subscription, just leave the expired account & it will automatically be deleted after 2 months.

How do you count account duration?
From the date when your account is activated and not from your signup date.

How many pages each update?
5-20 pages. It varies depending on the story flow but you will get at least 50 pages in one subscription period, which is targeted to be 6 months but according to experience 9-12 months is more realistic. All delays will be added to your account duration.
For example: You've signed up for 6 months subscription and the update is 3 months late, your account will then be extended for 3 months too, means your account will last for 9 months and so on.

How often are the updates?
I used to say 10 pages a month but that only happens when my Muse is overfriendly with me. Learning from experience my updating schedule is a mess, it depends on inspiration, story flow and how real life is treating me. So please read the update meter and take a good look at the dates and you'll get a picture of what I'm talking about.

I didn't get to read 50 pages during my membership?
Write me and let me know your username, name & email address. I'll extend your membership.

Do I really have to subscribe?
No, all updates will be free for public after one period is over. Learning from experience; whenever I'm late with releasing restricted pages, releasing public pages will be late too. I try to keep the restricted pages amount in about 50 pages. The 6 months is therefor not definite.

I can't subscribe and I don't want to wait for the pages to be freed, what should I do?
There are fanart and fanfiction contests held each period. If you win the contest you'll get one period subscription (6 months) for free. So get out your art supplies and sharpen your pencils. Good Luck!!

MANGA

Who's the main pairing? Will Ken end up with Suoh? Will Ethan end up with Ken? Will Ryuji... will Kaede... will Meiko... ?
Sorry but I never give out spoilers. The story will reveal it to you in time.

How long is YWAM?
Unknown, about 10 Acts.

Do you plan to reprint YWAM in books?
Yes and we had vol 1 & 2 sold out long time ago. As soon as I have enough pages to print vol 3, the 1st and 2nd will be reprinted & on sale as well. I'll announce this when the time comes.

SUBMISSION

How do I submit doujinshi?
Be sure that all your pages have the same sizes and are not bigger than 100 KB each. Send the pages directly to me: aoi@aoihayashi.com

How do I submit fanarts or animations?
You have to registered to the forum and submit your works there.

How do I submit fanfics or poems?
You have to registered to the forum and submit your works there.

How do I submit winamp skins?
Be sure that each file is not bigger than 300 Kb. Send them directly to me: aoi@aoihayashi.com

How do I submit wallpapers?
You have to registered to the forum and submit your works there.

What happen to my submissions after I send them to you?
They'll stay in my inbox until I find time to upload them. Check the updates, if you don't see your works anywhere and you're sure you've sent them, just send them once again. I'm sorry but I can't send any confirmations about submissions have been received or uploaded anymore.

LINKING

What kind of website do you link to?
YWAM fan sites and websites which are not half done & will continue to exist thru updating and has this contents:
- Shounen-ai or yaoi online mangas.
- Online mangas.

My website fits your criteria, how can I submit my URL?
Send it to me: aoi@aoihayashi.com

Do you link to fictions & arts websites?
No, not anymore.

Why is the link to my site disappeared?
I've always checked the websites every once in the blue moon. If I see that you don't update anymore or haven't for a long time or will not be again. I'll delete the link.

WORKSHOP

Where did you learn to draw?
Very hard question to answer. I've learn from practicing. I've started drawing since I was small and my references will be all the mangas I've bought. Had some drawing & layout courses while studying at the University of Art.

What tools do you use for drawing?
Pencil & ink pen. Those I'm holding in my hands.

Which program do you use for texturing and shading?
Photoshop

Which program do you use for texting?
Fireworks

ABOUT AOI

Why shounen-ai?
Cause I love guys. The more the merrier :P

What is your first shounen-ai manga?
Zetsuai and Bronze by Minami Ozaki.

How did you get the idea for YWAM ?
I drew 2 guys hugging each other. Then I began to think what their stories could be. That's how it began.. simple isn't it? ^^

Where do you get your inspiration for the story?
Everywhere. From manga I read, anime I watched, movies, songs, real life experiences even from my dreams ^_^

Are you going to make another manga after this one?
Yes I want to but I don't know if I can. Let's hope I'll forever be a mangaka ^^

Who is your fave mangaka?
- Chika Umino (Honey and Clover)
- Urushihara Yuki (Mushishi)
- Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
- Shounen Ai and Yaoi genre: Yamada Yugi, Yoshinaga Fumi, Satosumi Takaguchi, Kaori Monchi, Masara Minase, Ayano Yamane, Modoru Motoni, Mieko Koide, Yukine Honami, Riyu Yamakami.

What is your fave manga?
Rose of Versailles, Candy Candy, Sabbath Café, Kodocha, NGE, BLEACH, BECK, Naruto, CCS, Tokyo Babylon, X, Seimaden, Fake, Peach Girl, Yotsuba to, Love Mode, Koi ga bokura o yurusuhani, Otona no mondai, Gerard et Jacques, Rin, Gokusen, Oboretai, Gekka no kimi, Gokinjo monogatari, Honey and Clover, Mushishi, Skip Beat, NANA etc.

What is your fave anime?
Currently: Rabukon
I love almost everything from Hayao Miyazaki or Gainax studio: NGE, Kare Kano, FLCL, Ebichu.
I really love Cowboy Bebop, Kodocha, Haibane Renmei, Vision of Escaflowne, Azumanga Daioh, Furuba, Inuyasha, Juuni Kokki, Paranoia Agent, Hana Yori Dango, Saikano, Ai no Kusabi, Yami no Matsuei, X the TV, Ranma ½, Get Backers, Rumiko Takahashi Theater, Samurai Champloo, Otogizoushi, GANTZ, BLEACH, One Piece, Naruto, Mushishi, Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu, Honey and Clover, Windy Tales, NANA, Ouran Koukou Hosutobu, etc.