I mentioned in my recap of the Small Press & Alternative Comics Expo this last March that while there I’d been interviewed for a podcast hosted through Comic Related, a site that specializes in reporting on comics. I just got word yesterday that it’s now up on their site, so naturally I wanted to forward it on to you all. You can check it out via the link below.

Comic Related – The Related Recap #120

Wait for the audio to load, then if you want you can forward ahead to my interview, which starts at 40:25—and if you’re interested, right after that is an interview with my buddy Jay Jacot from Lansing.

Enjoy!

———-P.S.———–
The link was working earlier, but seems problematic now…so if you try it and it doesn’t work please give it another shot later.

I’ll be attending an event in Chelsea, MI on the 12-13th of June, called Kids Read Comics. This will be my first time at this show, which is targeted at kids of all ages, promoting literacy in general, but with a strong focus on comics, obviously.

There will be a pack of local creators in attendance, with a variety of panels being held to explore the educational—as well as entertainment—value of comics, the unique qualities of the medium and how comics are evolving. Those of you with young teens and some free time would likely find this show a lot of fun.

For more info and directions to the show please visit the main site: http://kidsreadcomics.org/

A.I. Announcements for Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

Greetings, Everyone! It’s been a few months since I’ve sent out an email update, and with all the springtime happenings going on I decided it was time to catch you up-to-date. Incidentally, there’s a bunch of new readers getting this email for the first time, so welcome!

As for those of you already subscribed to my RSS feed or keeping tabs on me via Myspace/Facebook you may have noticed I’ve been attending some shows lately. The next show coming up is the Motor City Comic Con, May 15-17th. For a recap of the other shows I’ve been at since the holidays, check out the links below.

Recent Event Recaps

• SPACE Recap – April 22nd, 2009
• MSU comics forum recap – March 30th, 2009
• Tails of Sparky – The release of a new Sparky book I contributed to.

TTFN!

E!

FRI. 12:30pm – 7pm / SAT. 10:30am – 6pm / SUN. 10:30am – 5pm

This will be my first time attending the MCCC since 2005, so with my new book in tow it should be quite an experience!

This is Mr. E! to Ground Control…

I’m stepping through the door
And I’m floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today…

For those of you who didn’t get the notice, I went to SPACE this last weekend. FYI, SPACE is the Small Press & Alternative Comics Expo, held in Columbus, OH each year. The last time I attended was in either 04’ or 05’—before all the $#@! in my life hit the proverbial fan—and this year (09’) was an awesome re-entry.

It began at 5am on Saturday with a bitchin’, four-hour road trip with my comic comrades from Lansing, Ryan Claytor, Jay Jaycot and Jonathon Gordon. Couldn’t ask for better company on a journey of this sort.

The show lasted from 10am-6pm on Saturday and 10-5 on Sunday, and it was not only the best SPACE con I’ve ever attended, it was the most lucrative experience I’ve had at a convention to date.

Lightweight Setup

I experimented with a different setup this time, since the carpooling  posed distinct limitations on what we could collectively carry, and I think it may have helped in more ways than one. Instead of the heavy/bulky gridwall I’ve previously used to hang framed versions of my prints, I picked up a foam display from Staples and slapped the prints up with some double sided sticky tape.

Besides being lightweight and far easier to transport, it gave people a better view of the art. It’s a long way from perfect, but the nature of these shows is to constantly improve your game, so this time I think I met with success.

All-in-all it was a fun weekend. I got to reconnect with my buddy Steve Peters (creator of Sparky and Awakening Comics) and a whole host of other sequential artists–plus I met a lot of new folks—many of whom were attending SPACE  for the first time—huzzah!

Workin' on a Sparky Jam comic

Jammin'

I’ll be attending SPACE in April, the Mid-West’s largest exhibition of Small Press, Alternative, and Creator-Owned Comics.

If you’re interested in attending all the info is available on the SPACE website.

The XCape Con was my first convention in over three years (since the release of the LC4 comic at the May Motor City Comic Con, 2005) and though it was a slow weekend for all the guests I felt like it was a success for me, personally.

In the past I was too hung up on how I did sales-wise, and that always led to a certain degree of anxiety, usually exacerbated by the multitude of challenges I was facing in the rest of my life. Now I’ve got a much stronger presentation and am focused on connecting with people and having a good time. I also am getting a better sense of how to approach the people who are strolling by and inviting them in; fortunately I have some new friends who excel at that— Jay Jacot and Ryan Claytor —who I was lucky to be set up next to, and pick up some of their practices.

Xcape Con Setup

Overall, I met a lot of great folks, made some valuable professional contacts and did better in sales than I’ve done at previous conventions—which I chalk up to having a better outlook as well as better product.

My thanks to everyone who stopped by and grabbed something—it was a pleasure meeting each of you…and thank you everyone who offered some form of advice or info—I appreciate every bit of it and will be doing my best to make use of it here in the weeks and months ahead.

I’m looking forward to the next con already!

I’ll be attending the XCape Con in Flint, MI on Saturday Nov. 22nd & Sunday 23rd. All the details are available at the link above. Hope to see you there!