No Friends Like Old Friends (also links)

Dreadlocks? Dreadlocks?!?

. . .

Okay, so I've done a few online interviews recently! Two of my favorites just came out: A Q&A with Jules over at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast (a fantastic book blog), and another series of questions answered on Wired Magazine's Geek Dad blog. Both of these have quite a bit of art posted alongside the text and, if you're interested in what goes into making a graphic novel, I talk a bit about my process in the Geek Dad interview. There's also art showing how the cover goes from thumbnail sketches to final illustration.

Oh, and remember, the Baltimore Book Festival is coming up this weekend! I think it's been more than six months since I gave a talk in front of an audience and I think I might be a little nervous...

Finally, here are a couple sketches from my Robot Comic sketchbook:

Travels and Thanks

I want to thank everyone who bought a copy (or two!) of Legends of Zita. Not only did it I manage to meet my Scanner-fund goal, but when I went back to the store I found that the Epson scanner had, since just the day before, been marked down by $50! I am now signing and making drawings in all these books and hope to have them sent out sometime in the next few days.

Another thing I've been meaning to mention here is that I have some travels and appearances coming up. I'll try to post a full list soon, but the most immanent events right now are the Baltimore Book Festival and the New York Comic Con.

I will be at the Baltimore Book Festival on Saturday the 29th (of September), speaking, and signing, at the Children's Book Stage. My talk begins at 2:30 and you can find all the information HERE. This is my second year at the BBF and I think it's a really great family-friendly event. It's all about books, but it has a lovely festival atmosphere with street food and tents and music and cobbled streets. Can't go wrong with those cobbled streets. Will I see you there?

New York Comic Con runs from the 11th to 14th of October and I'll make a separate post about that, since it's looking to be quite a busy weekend.

Here are the first few things I scanned today -two bits from my sketchbook, and an old red-chalk sketch I found in one of the cantinas before we left Gravagna:

Box o' Books

The girls and I are back, safe and sound, from across the Ocean. I miss Gravagna but it is beautiful here in September.

One year ago, at about this time, I turned in Legends of Zita. It was one of the best days in my recent memory. The book was a struggle to make and I was not always certain that it was any good, so when I turned it in I felt like a great weight had left my shoulders. It was a beautiful september day and Anna drove me in to Strasburg in the morning. I bought snacks at the dollar store (to share with my role playing group) and then I hiked back home along the railroad tracks and through pastures and woods.

Now, about a year later, my author copies show up on my doorstep in a big cardboard box, while I frantically work to finish the third book (I'm always a little frantic at the end).

If anyone is interested in a signed, doodled-in copy of the book, I am going to sell about 10 copies of the softcover, and 5 copies of the hardcover. Softcover is $15, and hardcover is $21. Proceeds from these sales will go directly into my "New Scanner Fund." Regular readers of this blog may remember that my last scanner blew up. If you would like one of these books just click here for the hardcover or click here for the paperback.

Oh, and since I mentioned Strasburg: this weekend I finally got to see, in person, the sign I designed for the excellent Cristina's Cafe!

Andiamo

Poor Angelica. She's not really thrilled about going back to the U.S. of A. Here's a recent picture that she drew. I found this taped to the tiles in the kitchen:

And on a different note, here is an interesting article about the publishing process at First Second, and why it takes a year (or more) for a graphic novel to see the light of day, even after it's all written and drawn.

See you on the other side, my friends.

Funghi, Funghi, Funghi

I should have made more of these scribbly little shorts, I think.

When I first met Giuseppe he was (I think) 79. And he was standing on his head. You all may recognize Giuseppe from this painting.

Pack it Up

I don't want to leave Gravagna! How am I supposed to carry all this stuff home?

I was very proud when we came here for a five-month trip. Everyone had a backpacka dn we checked one duffel bag. That was it. Now the tables have turned...

Worlds Collide

Today is the big day for Legends of Zita the Spacegirl! Today the book is released! I hope you love it!

One of the things about making books for large publishers that took some getting used to is the tremendous long wait between the time you turn in your book and the day that it actually becomes available to the readers. In the case of these graphic novels that wait is a full year. This is nothing at all like the instant gratification you get from posting comics on the web.

When I turned in Legends last September I was just chomping at the bit to share it with people. I still am! But now that the story is heading out into the big world most of my storytelling brain is wrapped up in the third Zita story -and I find myself at least equally as eager to share this new story with you.

So here is a panel from Zita 3, that features a cameo appearance by the Little Robot (and his girlfriend!):

And here, for those interested, are some nice reviews and things about Legends:

A BoingBoing Review by Cory Doctorow.

The whole gang on Goodreads.

Kirkus.

Booklist.