The view behind our house and the chill in the air says that colder times are ahead

Yes, yes, ya’ll. Decided to go on that little book tour after all. I’ll be hitting the road the weekend of Oct. 16th – 18th to promote the Funny Aminals Anthology.

I’ll have copies of THE MAGIC INKWELL READER for sale as well as copies of the SECRETS & LIES anthology. We’d be remiss to not mention that SR Bissette’s story for SECRETS & LIES recently received an honorable mention in this year’s edition of THE BEST AMERICAN COMICS series making these last few copies I own a bit of nerdy comics gold. Collector’s items even, sure!

*ahem* N E Wayz…

Here’s the big bad list of appearances for my birthday weekend North East comics tour-o-rama.

If you live in New York, Boston (Somerville), or Providence I hope to see you at one of these crazy things. If you don’t live anywhere near any of these places please consider picking up a copy of my collection THE MAGIC INKWELL READER so that I can raise enough funds to have books to sell at these upcoming events. I would love you forever for it. Seriously.

Photo by Penina Gal

Well, despite the miserable conditions – rain all Friday and an almost unbearably hot convention floor – this year’s trip to the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art Festival was really, really fun and uplifting. So many great moments including:

• Finding out from the illustrious Matt Madden that Steve Bissette’s Secrets & Lies contribution was nominated for inclusion in the forthcoming Best American Comics 2009. It didn’t make the final cut, but did get an inclusion in the Honorable Mentions at the end of the book. This is a really nice epilogue to the book, which totally tanked at last year’s MoCCA and enjoyed a lackluster at best afterlife (in sales).
• Getting a mention from Rick Marshall on the MTV comics blog’s MoCCA report , as well as a nice shout out from Fleen
  
• Getting the royal treatment courtesy of Comicspace, including a very tasty dinner and face time with old friends. Thanks again, guys!
• Having someone I didn’t know come up to me and tell me that he’d been reading my work for many years and enjoying it. “You’re like webcomics history standing right in front of me,” he said. Made my whole weekend. Thank you.
• Selling watercolors to people that genuinely wanted them. Always nice when someone buys a piece of art from you because they really like it.
• Of course seeing old friends again, reconnecting, talking shop , getting out of town, riding trains, going to amazing comic stores – I really live for this stuff.

There were some low points as well, like finding out Nickelodeon Magazine is folding, thus squelching yet another venue for cartoonists/illustrators/freelancers and an amazing and fun entry point for kids and comics. It’s just as depressing (if not more) as when Disney Adventures died. It also puts a couple acquaintances of mine out of work at a time when jobs are scarce in our field. The convention floor was HOT and muggy which made for a sweaty time for all. My buddy Keith Knight punked out on coming out to the show, so I missed him this year. Didn’t get enough time with other buddies as well, but there’s always only so much time at these things. Next year?

There’s many photo evidences that I’m just too lazy to link here.

In other news, I hit the ground running the minute I got back having a page I’d started waiting to be completed when I got back and was able to get a good work day in yesterday. I’m hard at work on YOTR2, the Inkwell Reader, some anthology pieces, a couple commission pieces that need completion and some freelance work.

Here’s a preview of what I’ve got going on with no comment but only for your eyes to feast on because I’m itching to get back to work and tired of trying to post this. OK!

An image to be included in the Inkwell Reader... (click to enlarge)

almost have this one wrapped up... (click to enlarge)

I was a bit torn on whether or not to attend this year’s MoCCA festival in New York this weekend, but managed to find a ride AND a place to stay. The stars are aligned once again in my favor (seemingly) and I’ll be making the trek to participate once again! I’ll be sitting with my fellow tri-state inkslingers, the Trees & Hills group (Table 510) where we’ll be debuting our newest book FIRST HARVEST, a collection of some of the best contributions (including mine) to past Trees & Hills anthologies. Sporting a beautifully watercolored cover by Megan Baehr in a handsome perfect bound edition, it’s going to be a joy to hold in my hands at the festival. Unfortunately the Magic Inkwell Reader won’t be ready in time for the show this year but I will have copies of SECRETS & LIES as well as original art from Year of the Rat and watercolors for sale.

I’m also a bit excited because Comicspace is also going to have a table at the show this year! And I think Rick Geary might actually be there this year as well or at least he has a new book premiering there… Exciting!!

If you’re going to the big show this weekend, swing by the table and say hello! Hope to see you there!