Sunday, September 30, 2012

CON JOB

Wanted to let you know that I'll be at the ever-growing New York Comic Con for one day only—Saturday, October 13th—taking part in the IDW panel to promote my upcoming mini-series The Adventures of Augusta Wind.  I won't have a table at the convention—I'll just be wandering the floor in goggle-eyed wonder like everyone else—but if you catch me after the panel I'll be happy to say hello and sign any books you've got.  (Within reason, of course!)  I haven't been to NYCC for three or four years and I hear that it's mushroomed to near-San Diego proportions. Should be a madhouse (especially to a somewhat crowd-phobic soul like me)...and a lot of fun.

If you're looking for a more intimate convention experience, you might try the Albany Comic Book Show on November 11th.  It's a one-day affair, packed with fans and pros, but nowhere near the numbers you'll find at NYCC or SDCC.  The Albany Con allows for a fun, intimate give-and-take between those of us who write and draw comics and the folks who read and appreciate our work.  I'll be taking part in a panel there, too:  a discussion of fantasy world-building with Ron Marz and David Rodriguez.  The rest of the time I'll be at my table, signing comics and chatting with anyone who's in the mood.  It's a terrific day and, if you're within driving distance of Albany, one I suspect you'll enjoy.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

LET ME TAKE YOU DOWN

I came across this YouTube gem yesterday:  a blow-by-blow account of the making of one of the Beatles' true masterpieces, "Strawberry Fields Forever."  The video begins with John Lennon's first attempts at the song—as he gropes with the melody, toys with the words, molding and shaping it with each new attempt—and then moves into the Abbey Road studios where Lennon and the Beatles run through several different arrangements before transforming "Strawberry Fields" into the song we all know.  (Each of these versions could have been released and become a classic in its own right.)  It's a fascinating look into the mind of Lennon as a composer as well as a window into the workings of the Beatles as a band, deep into their most creative and adventurous period in the studio. 



On another front:  You may have noticed that things have been relatively quiet here at Creation Point this summer.  Life has provided many distractions, not the least of which was sending my daughter off to college.  (I'm still not sure how my little girl—wasn't she a toddler just five minutes ago?—morphed into the beautiful and elegant young woman we deposited on campus.  "Time," as Mr. Dylan observed, "is a jet plane.  It moves too fast.")

As the temperature starts to drop and the first breath of autumn blows in, I'd like to get back to regular blogging. There are many things on my mind that I'd like to share with you, so keep your eyes peeled for more frequent posts.  If they don't appear, feel free to (ever-so gently) berate me in the comments section.  

Be back soon, I hope. 

Saturday, September 8, 2012

IT'S STAR TREK'S BIRTHDAY

Let's celebrate with the greatest Captain Kirk speech ever:  the essence of Star Trek, in one memorable, perfectly-delivered monologue.