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10.29.07 - BOOK TOUR CONTINUES
Last Saturday, April, Kennedy, and I went to Denton for Pub Fest. We arrived at Dan's Silverleaf (nice venue, by the way) an hour late. We would've been there sooner, but a parade cut off our route. So instead, we parked the car and watched the parade briefly. We then asked for directions at some fancy fragrance soap and lotion type store. Apparently, the scent "grass" comes from combining "dirt" and "lettuce." Learn something new. At Pub Fest, we set up outside. Perfect warm weather. Rob King organized the event, and it's a cool idea, gathering together independent and small press writers working in a variety of media -- poetry, novels, short stories, comics, etc. -- and hosting the whole thing at a club with live bands performing later in the day. In hindsight, it would've been ideal for my friend A.C. Hall (sorry bud, next year?). Not so much with comics, but in the larger literary field, independent writers don't get much respect -- labeled as "vanity press" and such. Must be terribly discouraging to someone trying to find their voice outside of corporate publishing. If there's a way to encourage independent writers, it's probably with something like this.
 It could've been a much bigger event with more guests, a calendar listing in the Observer, FW Weekly, Pegasus News, and KERA's community page, a website, and maybe some larger bands. Charge cover, etc. Maybe some other twist? I'm not on the inside planning, but I know they want to do this again next year. It was a decent start with a friendly vibe, but Pub Fest should grow from here. My friend Tony showed, and it was good to talk with him. Met a guy named Marcus Blake. His book Sex Game is apparently being protested by the Parents for Christ organization, the Christian Coalition, American Family Association, Focus on the Family, and ironically, the Free Market Association. I had him autograph one of the fliers urging his book to be banned. It's pretty hip to be that disliked. I don't think any of my books would ever receive that kind of heat. Maybe I could submit my work to Parents for Christ for ban consideration? Also, met a guy publishing a quarterly journal, Farrago's Wainscot. "Articles on anything from wormholes to haberdashery!" Kennedy was in a good mood throughout, giving hi-fives to people, and reading her own books. We decided to leave early before that mood changed, and not surprisingly she fell asleep on the drive home.
The signing at Zeus went well. We raised $166.35 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
On Saturday (tomorrow), I'll be at Pub Fest in Denton. I'm not really sure what to expect, but I will have my books with me, looking forward to meeting some new people. Pub Fest starts at 1 PM, Dan's Silverleaf (103 Industrial). Later in the day, they'll have some bands performing. Anytime you combine local music with local writers and artists, in my opinion, you've got a worthwhile event. I just set up an author profile on Goodreads (click here). If you have an account, make sure to add me. So far, I like the site. It is well-suited for the kinds of things I need to feature. I also like how it interfaces with Facebook.
The postal gods were kind (and my publisher made some phone calls). Just confirmed that the Karma Incorporated TPBs arrived at Zeus for today's signing. Much relieved.
Quick DFW featured an article about my book tour. (click here) Also, my friend Catherine Cuellar spoke to my Creative Writing class. She is the managing editor for Pegasus News, which should be required reading for anyone living in DFW. UPDATE: Photos from the signing posted on Flickr. 
I was reading my comics update on the Publisher's Weekly newsletter and found this bit of information (click here):
The Middleman, a graphic novel published by Viper Comics, is being made into a one-hour pilot for ABC Family. Matt Keeslar and Natalie Morales will star in it. The comic was written by Javier Grillo-Marxuach and illustrated by Les McClaine; they story revolves around a struggling artist who is recruited by a secret agent to fight villains.Congratulations to Javi and Les. This is very cool indeed. I can't wait to see the pilot. Matt Keeslar, who I remember from Art School Confidential, is perfect casting for the title role. Gotta say I'm proud of Viper for sticking with this series. Anyone who has read The Middleman knows it's good, but by some twist of nature the sales never were what they should have been. My opinion. (Do you have all three TPBs? Buy now. Ask questions later.) Hopefully, you who missed the boat will come back and become a fan, like me. In other updates, The Happy Bullets released a music video for their song The Vice And Virtue Ministry. It features some beautiful animation. The Happy Bullets are in the process of recording a new CD. Information about Art Conspiracy 3 is now available. Tomorrow is my signing at Zeus Comics. I'm worried, because the UPS shipment of Karma Incorporated TPBs hasn't arrived. This might suck. Light a candle and pray for the postal gods to come through.
About once or twice a year, I re-design my site. It's that time again. To the best of my knowledge, this will be version 7.0 of Antihero Comics dot com. I still need to fix a few things here and there -- need to check for broken links, update the fonts for the 140+ preview pages. (I do not skimp on content.) Most importantly, I have a friend working on some art for the noticeably vacant right side of this page. Expect the lovely addition sometime in early November. Until then, enjoy the sparseness of it all.
The site is like an empty apartment.
KARMA INCORPORATED Vol. 1 and ASTRONAUT DAD Vol. 1 trade paperbacks are at the printers, soon to be in stores. I've finished the re-write for ASTRONAUT DAD Vol. 2, and I'm more or less finished with KARMA INCORPORATED Vol. 2. As of yesterday, I sent in my second script to D Magazine for SOUVENIR OF DALLAS.
So what's next? Bolivar. Illustrated by Diana Nock, BOLIVAR integrates the true story of my grandfather's family during World War II with a fantasy journey into the spirit world of Campeche. My Grandpa David was one of thirteen children. Eight of them served in the war. I did extensive research, collecting old newspaper articles and personal interviews with the people who lived through it all. It's going to be the longest story I've written at just over 200 pages. Diana and I want to release the story as a single graphic novel. However, we need to find the right publisher.   
Thank you to the Hastings in Round Rock, their super cool manager David Reamer who organized the signing, and all my friends (and all April's friends) who showed up to lend their support. We raised $103.50 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. My next signing will be at Zeus Comics on October 24th from 4 PM until close.
 I should've taken more photos. The ones of the table were a little blurry, but they had this crazy blue banner hanging from the ceiling and going down to the floor. It was quite a set up. Lots of people brought their kiddos and picked up copies of Emily Edison. Score. (Karma Incorporated and Astronaut Dad trade paperbacks coming soon!) Brock, who recently moved to Austin, was also there for the signing. We hung out at Mugshots on 7th afterwards.
There's a five page preview of Astronaut Dad on Newsarama. (click here) Any affirmations posted on the forum would be greatly appreciated.
Good news: Brent finished the last page of Astronaut Dad, Volume One! We're getting ready for the printer. Thank you Brent and Justin for all your hard work on this project. Amazing talent. Also, I saw the proof for Karma Incorporated, Volume One. Very excited with how it came together. This will be a great trade paperback. My dear friend Scott Hinze wrote a very kind introduction. This weekend on Saturday at 6 PM, I will be signing at Hastings Bookstore in Round Rock Texas. All proceeds from the event benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Random: Have you seen Josh Boulet's artwork?! (click here) I've been a fan for a long time. Damn. Pick up one of his books.
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