FantasyCon 2008

Well, I know everyone else has posted their thoughts on FantasyCon, but I don't think I'll go into much detail. As much fun as name-dropping is, it isn't really productive. Let's just say I met a lot of people I'd only known via the internet before, and managed to talk to many people I'd never before spoken with. Sometimes (usually) I didn't really have much to say, so shy am I, but I did my best and that's what counts.

The only name I'll mention here is one separate from my "life" as a writer. I was able, for a few moments, to speak to Dave McKean as he stood by the hotel bar, having returned unexpectedly from wherever he had been going. Dave McKean is one of the most influential visionaries in comics and film, and to let him know how his work touched me was a thrill. Now that I think of it, it's telling that the one scene from his work I brought up was a moment of writing in his seminal series CAGES. Leave it to me to skip his drawing, painting, etc., and go straight for the writing.

The book launch apparently went very well. I've not seen any numbers yet, but I'm told it sold the best of all the books on Humdrumming's table. We almost sold them out, if I'm not mistaken. I know I brought home an armful from England and now have only a few left (not to worry, Titles Bookstore in Hamilton has more). It's a funny thing, signing books for people, especially people I don't even know. I kept wondering if I were somehow related to them and didn't remember. It's a bit of a thrill, too, no doubt. It won't last long, but for a weekend I enjoyed it.

While I was there I picked up a lot of books. The titles are coming, but for now I just wanted to point out that Mark Samuels's new collection, GLYPHOTECH, is perhaps the best collection I've read in a long time. I'd forgotten just how good Mark is, and this reminded me with a vengeance. I can't recommend it enough. PS Publishing sold out of the copies they brought in 15 minutes, so I suggest you don't dilly dally and start ordering!

I'm still quite jet-lagged, so forgive the brevity here. Rest assured, it was a fun time ... even if it cost me significantly more than the book can ever hope to make.