Once again, I will not be at San Diego Comic-Con. I went four years in a row (four wonderful years), but I've taken a sabbatical from pop culture mecca. One of the main reasons is financial. I braved the pilgrimage during some rocky times -- almost always with negative results. And since I'm oh-so-close to getting out of debt, I decided it would be better to wait until things are more stable. Another reason is obvious. I don't have any new books out.
However, if things go the way I hope they do, come next year, I should have a lot to promote. My tentative plans for 2010 include Stumptown Comics Fest in Portland Oregon, BookExpo America and MoCCA Art Festival in New York City, Comic-Con in San Diego, Texas Book Festival in Austin, and several store signings throughout the summer.
For those of you who are going to San Diego this year, might I recommend...
Daniel Warner, the artist of COCOPIAZO from SLG, who I collaborated with on "50 Miles to Marfa" in POPGUN Vol. 3, will be signing copies of POPGUN at the Image Comics booth from 9 AM to 10 AM on Saturday. He's a great artist and a good friend. You should say hi.
Grant Alter will also be signing at the PopGun booth. He'll be there with Lars Brown on Friday from 2 PM to 3 PM.
Scott Zirkel, the writer behind A BIT HAYWIRE, will be at J07 with Josh Howard, Pat Bussey, and Bryan Baugh. Scott is signing at booth #2002, Blue Dream Studios, on Thursday and Saturday from 12 noon to 2 PM.
Joshua Fialkov will be at the Archaia Comics, booth #2635, with his limited edition ashcan (I call them "minicomics") of Tumor, chapter one.
In Artist Alley, Otis Frampton will be at CC-18. Katie Cook will be at BB-18. She posted some great con advice on her site. Dave Crosland (who did the art for my website) will be at EE-04. Jim Mahfood will be next door at EE-05.
Viper Comics will be at booth #1903 where you should be able to pick up copies of EMILY EDISON and KARMA INCORPORATED.
Oni Press will be at booth #1833. While there, you can get YOU HAVE KILLED ME, the new hardboiled hardcover graphic novel by Jamie S. Rich and Joëlle Jones. Antony Johnston will debut three books at San Diego -- WASTELAND: THE APOCALYPTIC EDITION, DEAD SPACE: EXTRACTION, COLLECTED SCRIPTS: VOLUME ONE (convention exclusive).
Make sure to attend the Oni Press panel tomorrow at 3 PM to 4 PM in room 10. There will be an announcement about a new book from Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir. If you ask nicely, they might say something about the roller derby anthology.
If I've forgotten any dear friends, please mention in the comments section where you'll be.
