Dudes, never let it be said that I do not know how to have a good time. Maybe I’m not a wild child, maybe I can’t party until dawn, but when I travel amongst my peeps, the happy vibes flow. Comic Con was too much fun. I didn’t feel that way in the beginning. I grumbled. I looked at the all the people and had a moment of panic. But by the time Saturday came along, I was a steam train rolling down the river, happy as a clam. Man, oh, man.
Thursday’s panel and signing went off without a hitch, and what a pleasure being in a room with so many readers. Everyone was incredibly nice. I had met Laurell briefly before, but never Carrie and the others, and oh, I’m glad I got the chance to sit down with them. They are such wonderful people.
Here’s a picture of Carrie and me, as we were waiting to go into the panel room. All the pictures of the signing and discussion were taken by her friend, Max, who was so sweet and kind and good with the camera.
And here, the signing and the panel (Laurell K. Hamilton, Jeanne Stein, Laura Anne Gilman, Carrie Vaughn, moi, and Samantha Sommersby)…
So, that was Thursday. And here’s what happened on Friday and Saturday:
See Optimus Prime. See me grinning like a fool. No other words necessary (except to say that the sweetly befuddled dude beside me is comic book guru Ruwan Jayatilleke).
This is a picture of my friend, Erik. He and I went to school together and I’ve known him since the ninth grade. He was one of the exhibitors, working for Privateer Press. He’s such a bad boy.
Here is Jodi, a fellow reader and lovely woman. We had such a good time talking inside the crush of the Marvel booth. What a delight meeting her (there, and at the signing).
Dante, of YOLK:
I was also accosted by some pirates. Oh, yes. Bad pirates who wanted to put me in chains (literally), to which I cried a hearty, “Hell, no!” So this fellow here called me a feisty wench and loaded me up with all kinds of weapons. I think I almost took his eye out. Serves him right for wanting to flog me (I am totally not kidding about that part…what a cheeky monkey). He did give me HOT PIRATE BABE tattoo, though. HOT PIRATE BABE! Call 1-900 for a high seven seas good time.
Or not.
Syndee Barwick is one of my favorite people. Rascal, rascal, rascal. So here’s the deal: I totally invaded the DC Direct booth to hang with her and all the other wonderful folks in her department—and man, did I get an education in action figures. Talk about an industry. But she and I both are huge SUPERNATURAL fans and were desperate to see the Winchester boys in action. Alas, the line into their panel was TOO LONG.
But…there was a signing on the main convention floor. Oh, yes. And Syndee and I took off like bats outta hell, thrashing the crowds to hit the WB booth. And when we got there, it was a mad house. Insane. Crazy. Oddly enough, more men than women—and all of them pushing and shoving to get close to the autographing table. You had to get a red ticket in order to attend the signing—which we did not have—but that did not stop us bad girls from playing the roles of rock star groupie stalkers and surfing the crowd to get photos. Crushed—we were crushed—but we shuffled inside the river of people, I held my camera high—and lo. Hot, hot, hot. And it was totally worth getting sweated on.
A sweet girl from Quebec came by the DC booth about thirty minutes later, asking questions about the SUPERNATURAL comic book. Syndee and I both started fanning ourselves, the sweet girl started fanning herself, and before we knew it, we were all whipping out our cameras to compare photos. Oh, the bonding.
Justin Hartley was also there. So cute. Nice body. I’m shallow and don’t care.
Finally, though, the highlight of my day, and even my entire trip: meeting Peter S. Beagle, sharing words with him, telling him what his books have meant to me. I cannot adequately express what it felt like to be in his presence. I know that sounds corny, I know that it’s hard to explain, but my gosh, THE LAST UNICORN…that movie, the book…it has always been magic to me, since I was four years old.
I did have a very brief conversation with Mr. Beagle, though, and he told me that it had been a long struggle, but that he felt that the tide was finally turning in his favor, and that the legal battle he had been fighting for so long just might be coming to an end. He also said to pass on the following advice to writers—that you all must be stubborn, that you must not give up, that you must keep on. What a lovely man. What a lovely, sweet, endearing man. It was such an honor meeting him. Remember, though, his legal battle continues (over nonpayment on the animated version of THE LAST UNICORN—a problem stretching back more than 20 years) so if you have ever been a fan, or worse, have never read his work, you can order his books directly from this website and contribute to his legal fund (as well as get them signed).
So, there. Comic Con. I had a really good time, and can’t wait to go back. I understand the addiction now.
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In other news, here’s PART ONE of a recorded interview that the wonderful ladies at Romance Novel TV did with me. This is the first taped interview I’ve ever done, so it’s rather daunting seeing (and hearing) myself on tape. There’s also a message board if you’d like to discuss anything I had to say (though the farm and my jewelry seem to have been a hit).
