Back On the Road

Making my way to a cool gig.

Continuing the annual convention trek

After a couple of quiet months (professionally, at least) I’m getting back on the road to hawk my comics. Just yesterday saw my acceptance letter from the SF Zine Fest, scheduled for the last Sunday in August. That’s always a nice affair on the City View space at the top of the Metreon in San Francisco. The vibe is easy and I love being a part of the creative crowd here in my hometown. Even though I was born in New Jersey, I like to think I’m “practically” a native after 48 years.

In September, I’ll be traveling to Ohio for the first time, to exhibit at CXC (that’s Cartoon Crossroads Columbus, in case you’re wondering.) Aside from the sheer novelty, I’ve got a couple of reasons to be excited. The festival is a European-style celebration of comics and animation, spread over four days and several venues across town. The premiere attraction is The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, which is a fantastic repository of comics history. But based on their past guest list, it’s also a sweet spot for a graphic novelist like yours truly, and I hope to find an interested audience there.

Speaking of interested audiences, my next stop on the Trekkies Tour is a career highlight: I’ve been invited to participate as a panelist at the biggest Star Trek convention on the planet. I’ll be joining the Inglorious Treksperts in a conversation about the earliest days of conventions. STLV: Trek to Vegas will be held at the newly-renovated Rio Las Vegas Hotel and promises to attract hundreds of guests and thousands of fans. (Thanks to host Mark A. Altman for including me!)

Fingers crossed that my appearance might make it onto their podcast, and I’ll also be recording an interview for a tribute documentary. If you haven’t already heard it, I first discussed my fan history on an earlier program in 2020, back when the memoir series was still a twinkle in my eye. Of course, if you’re going to be in Las Vegas on August 9 and 10th, I hope you’ll stop by and say hi! I’ll be signing books and soaking up the Class M atmosphere all weekend. (Not to mention a cameo at the IT booth in San Jose the following weekend!)

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August 10

YOU HAVE THE CON: TREK CONVENTIONS THEN & NOW. A look back at 60 years of Star Trek conventions with Creation Entertainment impresario Adam Malin, cartoonist Joe Sikoryak (“When We Were Trekkies”), attendee Zazie Sales (seen in Vanity Fair), and Trek movie publicist Eddie Egan. 11am, on the Inglorious Treksperts Stage in STLV

August 15-17

GALAXYCON SAN JOSE, San Jose Convention Center

August 31

SAN FRANCISCO ZINE FEST, Metreon City View, San Francisco

September 18-21

CARTOON CROSSROADS COLUMBUS, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Main Branch and other venues