This was my first time at SPX, but it was by far the best experience I’ve had at any show. The staff were few but phenomenal and helpful, and had arranged for a great deal of events for everyone (including one with a fucking chocolate fountain for the win!!!). I wish to thank all of the staff organizers and volunteers for making it the best con I’ve done, yet. I will definitely be going back!

We even got an impromptu model to pose with one of our shirts and our super-classy plastic bottle of bourbon!

I think people were really interested in what we had done and were doing. Ami debuted her first major book: Milkshakes and Highways there, as well!

Some good friends were there, including Dern and Bryan Prindiville of Hello With Cheese and Jamie Baldwin of Sudden Valley. Later in the weekend, we even got a brief visit from Ross of The System. Christine, the brilliance behind one of my webcomic favs, Sticky Comics, was also there to drop by (guys, encourage this gal to get her ass in a table for a show one of these days!!!)
In addition, I met some cool cool cats (as many of whom as I can remember I will try list):

Some of the first people we met were at our table: Pop Culture Shock Therapy and Outhouse Press. We were smack dab in the middle of these two talented outfits, so it was a little intimidating, but they were great neighbors.

I had very little time to wander, but also met the lovely couple and great team behind Robot Martini. Those are two things I like a great deal, robots and martinis, and their comics are fan-tawesome. They were giving out little paper-crafts robots wearing manties. I need to spend more time with people like that.
On Saturday night, we crashed a party with a bunch of cool cats from New Reliable Press who were nice enough to let us drink with them. Ironically, several of them had come in from my boyfriend’s home town, Victoria/Vancouver. We met Jason Turner, writer of True Loves (which I bought) who did a jaunty “British Columbia” dance and Simon Roy, awesome writer of Jan’s Atomic Heart (which I also got) from Van, and an adorable slight boy from Michigan (whose comic I have to relocate), who Brian wheeled frightened down the hallway in a chair.

Later, we met two other Canuks (they’re invading!!): Brian Evinou, artist and the lovely Jules Faulkner, who writes a friggin HILARIOUS comic about girls and weight loss called Promises, Promises.

I bought a really weird post card from the Curt and Chris at Let’s Be Friends Again with a unicorn on it. This made me happy.  They currently have a comic up with a tank loaded with unicorns, and claim it’s the first time— I think unicorns have secretly been there all along…

The Bee Keeper, as he calls himself, gave us each a free copy of a wonderfully tragic collection of drawings and stories from his time as a NYC domestic violence counselor. The work is hard to describe— it’s as poignant as it is enigmatic.

Also local NYC peeps were Tom Forget, (amazing pinup artist and jack of strange trades) and Ben Marra (of Night Business, a badass comic about strippers), who have some great boobs for all yall (not ON them, just in their comics). They are partially responsible for Mammal Magazine. Look for these guys at King Con Brooklyn this year.

EDIT: Met some other gals also from NYC: Colleen and Marianne, creators of the Lumberjack Field Guide, and if that doesn’t sell you on the book—it comes with a jaunty fake beard for FACE.

I introduced myself again to Danielle Corsetto of Girls with Slingshots, who may not remember the other times I’ve come to bug her, but I do love her comic and think she’s one nice gal! I also went over to harass Erika Moen of Dar comics, whose comic I’ve read and to whom Gary of Fleen told me I should say hi— so I did. She is cute as a button!

Some of the minis/comics I collected were:
Paper Stars, I like Girls, Writing Love Letters to your Pants, and Girl Fuck by Erika Moen
Good Morning You by Caitlin McGuck
Ramona and Imogene by Erin Colby Griffin
Groceries by David Allan Duncan
Cheesed Off by Darren Gendron and Bryan Prindiville
Ace Dog Trainer by Jamie Baldwin
Skeleton Balls by Nils Balls
The SPX Special from Haiku Life
Carnival Comics (a giant box of like 15 minis!) by Jim 8 Ball
The North (Pittsburgh) publication
Dave the Wank by Nathaniel Hawthorne

I think that’s most of it! I met some great people and am trying to remember them all, but damn is my brain bogged down by the drugs!

Expect edits as I remember important people who I may have met and/or gotten a kidney from!

I just found out yesterday that I am the proud owner of a spot at the MoCCA festival this year! YAAAAAAAAAAY *does a crazy dance* I had been put on the wait list (#16 to be exact), and had dismissed the chance altogether. Then, as I was checking my email around 11PM, I got a message saying there was a table available. Of course, despite the $400 fee, I quickly put in my request, and, in theory, will have a table at the festival.

I will be (hopefully) there with a mini book, some art prints and those fabulous tote bags you see in the Sex Shop (the menu bar). They just arrived Wednesday, and I have been strolling around the city with mine since. I think they came out very nicely, and have the rugged, recycled fabric feel that we green peeps have come to love! I will provide cute pictures of them being modeled shortly.

Also, I expect to have some shirts made, but probably not by June 6, so they may just be for the site and for Small Press Expo this September.

In other news, still hacking away at the grad school portfolio. Wish me luck!