The Midnight Library: Seattle

Showing posts with label Seattle. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

ShortRun Seattle, 2023

If you want all the details, you need to keep an eye on ShortRun's link. The show happens every year in early November. There were great events, talks, and just a bunch of wonderful creative people at the show. Thunder, lightning and a downpour turned into a beautiful autumn day, the bright yellow trees around the Seattle Center fountain sparkling in the sun, and as the sun set, the winter lights came on.

This report leads off with the beautiful railing art across from the Fisher plaza, detailing the history of the Duwamish people's area. There are 85 panels in the metal sequence, making it a very large and durable comic book.

BE SURE TO SCROLL TO THE END OF THE PHOTOS to see the beautiful Hmong regalia. I'd seen Hmong people strolling around the area all day, and only at the last minute discovered they had an exhibit in the Seattle Center Armory. They were gracious enough to give me a chance to get a few photos, even in the middle of their busy takedown.

The evening before, Fantagraphics Bookstore presented the usual author party, that's always such a treat at ShortRun. For more details, and even some interviews, including with the delightful people pictured below, check out the ShortRun episode of my podcast, A Bazillion Ghost Stories.

Tuesday, March 12, 2019

CNW Speaker - and paper jam.

I'll be at Cartoonists Northwest during the 2019 Emerald City Comicon. Saturday, March 16, 5:30 pm, at Artists and Craftsmen Store, 4350 8th Avenue NE, Seattle, in the U-District (right around the Petco on 45th Ave. NE.

We plan to lay down a big piece of butcher paper of such, and have me draw all over it.

Why lay it down?

SO YOU CAN JOIN IN. Once I get it started, you'll have an opportunity to draw your characters interacting with my Bethlehem folk. Will it be the end papers of the comic? We shall see.

There will be markers....

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

ShortRun 2017

Shortrun 2017 was simply wonderful.

As usual, I must post the photo of the Ka-Blam tshirt, and let my favorite floppie comics (and more!) company know I'm getting the word out. There sales page is Indyplanet.

Once again, I neglected to take a bajillion photos of the events. Mostly because I was too busy talking to fans and new friends, and roving over the floor to look at the plethora of wonderful books and ideas.

So let me put in some links.

To ShortRun itself. And its Twitter and Facebook links, available there.

Emerald Comics Distribution has a wonderful Instagram feed, and a Facebook page, for starters. If you want to see some great photos of the show, be sure to hit those pages. Pretty easy to find, just by name.

Of course, had to hit the Fantagraphics party and say hello to all my old and new friends. A lot of people didn't know it was me until I said my name. This even happened at the Sunday Farmer's Market by the Seattle College on Broadway. I guess I've changed! I didn't recognize them either, though. Didn't matter. Had lots of fun talking to them anyway.

The Vera Project after-show party was pretty great, including the DJ. Lots of 7/8 beat, which I prefer. Lots of fun people to talk to and see what they're doing. Wonderful Vietnamese art show on the walls, including some fascinating little horror-erotica fans.

I probably won't be tabling in the future, because these shows are getting so crowded. Since Clallam County offers the Strait Shot bus, it's harder to bring books for direct sale.

I used to suggest panels all the time at shows, and that's what I'll do. And spend time on the floor. For sales, I'll use my internet show. Like I should be doing!

But you know where to find me - right here - and all the links. Be sure to check out the bookstore on this page, especially!

Special hugs to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Grateful for the sit-in. I just needed some of your good vibes.

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

ShortRun 2017 - I'm there!

See you all at Shortrun in Seattle this year! For more info, click here.

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Black Lives Matter March - Seattle, March 5, 2017

Many great signs

All ages participated

On March the 5th, 2017, a good-sized Black Lives Matter march took place in Seattle, protesting the building of a new juvenile "justice" center.

It was an energetic march, and well-attended.

Flyer and book table.

A good live report can be found here. It does a better job reporting the march itself, and getting live video interviews.

This is so much different from the WTO marches, when media concentrated on a few marchers who attended for the purpose of making trouble, instead of on the thousands of marchers there to be seriously involved and to make a statement.

You'd think the larger story would have been better Pulitzer bait. The media did a better job this time. Then again, when everybody there has camera phones, traditional media has to get its act together.

Me and Barbara

The pink sign around my neck says "Jews for Black Lives Matter." The woman passing them out said that, before, when they'd made signs for different groups, they ran out, and then everybody wore the Jewish signs. So she just made the Jewish signs this time. So I wore one.

Pink is the color of Resist, of course. We all know why.

Barbara is a woman I met at the march. She didn't have a hat, it was drizzling, and I had an extra Nasty Woman Pussy Hat (my amateur crocheted hats). So I gave her one that fit her. I soon lost her in the march; I hope she's enjoying her wicked Resist hat! It's darned cute on her.

More signs

There were a lot of signs, and a lot of people.

Of course, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were there, as they always represent for good causes. You can't become a full-fledged Nun in the Sisters until you've run your own charity event.

The march stopped at certain intersections, so individuals could give speeches and point out how many people in government and even the college had money in the detention center. The mayor and the college were outed for having monetary connections with the center.

The Sisters

One wonders how anyone can think anything's secret any more. I guess the same people who think emails are "secure?" The old Right-wing line "If you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear" is coming back to bite them in the butt.

The police were well-behaved. The vehicles were there to guarantee our safety in traffic, and the bicycle police accompanied us on one sidewalk. I told one of them I'd been in the WTO marches, and I liked seeing the police not wearing riot gear.

Pause for speeches

After WTO, the best of the police knew they'd been had by the city and their commanders, and decided to do things differently. But we still have too much police action against POC and immigrants. Which was pointed out by the marchers.

The march went down to Yesler and turned up the hill. After a few blocks, we were asking whose idea it was to trudge up a Seattle hill. But the march only slowed down for a couple more blocks before regaining its energy. It was up for any challenges.

BLM hoodie

A few masked folks showed up at this point and tried to escalate, but we pretty much ignored them. You'd think they'd know they've been outed by now. Masks and yelling, "Fuck the Cops!" - really? Like you don't think we know who you are, or what you're trying to do?

The cops are a uniformed fan club, and if they're poked, they panic, especially when they're been cool. We know that now, and we're not letting anybody steal the thunder, no matter who they are. They know they're going to look bad, attacking nice protestors when there are so many cameras.

Resist

That doesn't mean the message was weak. The people speaking demanded better treatment of all Seattle's people, and pointed fingers at business interests in the prison industry, which concentrates people of color.

As one woman said, we white people KNOW we have privilege, and standing up for these historically attacked groups - who were a major force in building this country, or victims of its expansion - is our duty. We need to not bite the hand that fed us.

Speeches - lots of folks

At about half-way through the march, I hit my second wind, and got pretty drunk on adrenaline, marching up the hill too fast, especially for the hard driving I would have to do the next day. Me and the stronger kids, leaving the parade behind.

As we were near where I was staying, I left the march and took some final photos.

The march continued on, energy unabated.

Up Yesler

Saturday, November 19, 2016

George Jartos Memorial Mermaid

A long-time cartoonist and member of Seattle's Cartoonists Northwest, just passed away.

This is based on his best-known cartoon. In the original, the water and land are full of garbage. It looks better in my cartoon because George helped change that for the better, although we can still see the smoke stacks in the background, smoke beginning to fade.

This is pen-and-ink and watercolor on paper - with just a touch of digital cleanup.

Monday, November 7, 2016

ShortRun Seattle 2016

WOW.

ShortRun Seattle audience hard at play

Best show yet from the all-woman team! Note the photo - only partial - of the herd of amazing artists, writers, all-creatives, pin-and-tschotzke-makers. The tables - even those crammed together, four artists to the space - practically sparkled with color, innovation and just plain fun.

I barely had time to zip around the floor passing out souvenir/badge-sticker/business cards for the 2017 Clallam Bay Comicon.

I wish I'd had time to attend the drawing and animation events, some of them no more than a table and some floor and window space, but chock-full of action, joy and creativity. You notice I'm not using the word "talent," as though creativity is some easy magic spell. Creatives have to work to get where they're going, even if the power of that work is obsession.

My Resting Bitch face

Now for a work photo. Me wearing my Ka-Blam t-shirt. Because when I do that, and post it, I get another $10 printing money! I might use the war chest I've built up with this excellent company to put together a smaller, SECOND Afterdead collection until I get some more pages done.

Now some photos of good friends and long-time colleagues. One of our new young compatriots said she was excited to be sitting next to the old-guard bad-asses. So let me show you some of the baddest!

Here's Roberta Gregory and Dave Lasky, setting up, and revving up for this powerful one-day show.

Roberta Gregory - Dave Lasky

And here's Dave, as superhero as it gets on a floor full of originals and single creators.

I didn't get a shot of Linda Medley, who spent a lot of time at Roberta's table, next to me. :(

I had copies of the new Afterdead Full-Color collection, volume one. Wesely and Ash, here, bought up pounds of collections including The Desert Peach, Stinz and the Afterdead collection. I'd like to thank Square-Up and their offline mode for making everybody's credit cards work without having to find working bandwidth!

Super Dave!

Weseley and Ash weren't the only people wearing great outfits. Everybody had stepped it up, wearing their best Seattle rain street fashion. A lot of nice rubber boots and some lovely embroidered hoodies.

Sadly, I missed both the Fantagraphics and ShortRun parties, but that's pretty much because Roberta and Linda and I ended up both nights at Roberta's, talkinga and sharing stories and eating leftover Hallowe'en cakes, shortbread skulls and drinking blush wine.

Wesley and Ash - best show customers.

Considering the long drives and shopping I have to make both ways, and the intensity of ShortRun itself, it was just as well. And a lot of fun!Of course, everybody was well aware of the presidential election, and one girl showed up with a hat I had to get a photo of. You gotta love her wry expression as the Gringette agrees with the sentiment.

Best political gear

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Emerald City 2015 - Bestest Friends

Proof I was at ECCC 2015

In my Ka-Blam shirt, again. Told other artists at Emerald City Comicon about the $10 print deal for wearing and promoting the shirt. They liked.

Wow, what a show. Four days next year? Madness! But in a good way.

Had an infection that ALMOST canceled the show for me, but the right antibiotics for the strain of nasty I'd contracted finally put me on my feet for the 4 hour drive and the load-in. I don't count the ferry ride from Bainbridge Island - it's too relaxing. It's just the Road Trip.

So wasn't quite together a lot of the time. Those of you who saw me bouncing off the walls in Con Mode were watching the last sizzles at the bottom of the battery before I crawled back to my table - and at one point, under it.

But I got to meet a lot of old friends and make new ones. Roberta Gregory was sharing the table with me, with her new "True Cat Toons." Bruce Taylor shared her half of the table as author AND booth babe, so we weren't so locked down. He was really in sales mode, and moved some books. Then again, he always is.

Didn't make a lot of sales - but that's not really what the shows are for any more, are they? Especially now, with the internet. And I was concentrating on promoting the Clallam Bay Comicon (CBCC). MIGHT we be honored with the presence of Linda Medley, author of "Castle Waiting"? We have Roberta Gregory ("Naughty Bits," and many others), of course, who is always a splendid addition to any show.

My "How To Draw A Horse Correctly" panel went well. I was a bit confused by the new overhead technology, and kept sliding out of the screen - tape the pad of paper in place next time! - and trying to remember how the old panel went.

The original was called, "How To Draw A Horse Right, Damnit!" but ECCC Familied it up.

I'm planning on holding it again at the CBCC, and if all goes well, it will be filmed and loaded onto Youtube, so you can all watch it.

At the end, those who stayed - most of 'em, I think - came crowding up to remind me I'd promised to pass out the sketches. And I gave them the "passes" to the CBCC - you know, the one with no admission fees - and wished I'd remembered my comics for the panel.

One young man said, "This is the best thing I've been to all weekend!" which surprised and pleased me. A woman showed me her sketchbook, and it looked like she'd been xeroxing my sketches from the air! Not to give away the farm, but expect a comic book about Rome.... with the horses drawn correctly.

I should point out that my riding chops are nothing to write home about, so thanks to audience members who ACTUALLY know how to ride. As a kid, I just jumped on whatever woods colt was going and went off through the woods, while the pony's owner looked out the back window and said, "Huh. No horse. Must be off with the kids in the woods again." Rope bridles and hanging onto a mane are no substitute for the Vienna Riding school.

I had SOOOOO much fun being able to yack with Michael McAdam (old friend and former Peach Pitt) at ECCC 2015. However, I apologize for making the man go red as a balloon in his face and almost choking to death laughing. He said, " 'I'm bored" should be on my tombstone, and I said, "No, I want the line from Desert Peach #3: "The slut used duct tape."

New fabulous smart friend Meghan (booth babe and sound design) for the people by our table said the most dangerous words in the world are "I'm bored." Because I'd said, "I got bored and learned to crochet," while pointing out my new beret.

Damn' infection. I'm making all kinds of health changes THIS year, to keep me moving for upcoming years. The girl is 63 this year, but I'm not quitting. Not yet. Us artists and writers die at the drawing board and the keyboard, you know. When we're not out clearing potato sprouts out of the kale beds or catching the chickens trying to scam us.

Next year: Emerald City made purring noises about my presenting the horse panel again - and possibly, "How To Hold Your Own Comicon." Cross your fingers.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

ShortRun Hooked

Me and Mark.

I am so going back to ShortRun, the Seattle Indie comics, zines, blah blah festival. It was a chance to see old friends again, like Mark Campos, here.

Roberta Gregory shared the table with me, and wished she'd brought more of her Cat Toons books. She had to leave for work after a couple hours, but I could have sold a lot more of those books. Unlike my books, which take a lot of marketing - and cough drops - Roberta's books sell themselves.

Got to see Gary Groth, the surviving owner of The Comics Journal. He'd just written a long article talking about webcomics, so I clued him in that webcomics are like the old periodicals - but free or for low cost - that build a market for hard-copy collections. He'd never heard of ProjectWonderful, and after hearing my description of the micro-payment ad-bidding format, said he wanted to look it up, so there's more grist for the TCG mill. Maybe a more up-to-date article in the future. Always love seeing Gary, old buds from way back.

The show was held in Washington Hall, a handsome building from what looks like the turn of the last century, or the 1920's - someplace in there, when women wore a lot more beads.

Speaking of "wearing," everybody stepped it up for the show. They were dressed in their best. And unlike so many fan groups, it's a place where the question of the safety of women and children never even came up. When I mentioned it, people were, "Oh - yeah. You're right." Everybody's treated as an equal.

Of course the show is run by three women, which makes it like my Clallam Bay Comicon. Us girls aren't in love with the process. We just want to put on a good show and enjoy ourselves. Like my show, ShortRun has no admission fees.

Wonderful books and art and people. And the bake sale - which includes gluten-free goodies. And that hot coffee you need to keep going for a Seattle show.

Ka-Blam!

This is me in my Ka-Blam Tshirt. Earning more printing money. The Indyplanet reprints were a great hit, and I walked out of there with a much skinnier bundle of $1 bills - they'd been exchanged for a great run of sales.

ShortRun, as I understand, was originally for zines and hand-bound books and pamphlets. But as the show has expanded, so has the definition. Since print-on-demand can turn out any number of books - even though there is no end to the number itself - it's technically a short run of books. Again, girls aren't in love with any process, but the show itself.

After the show and a supper break, everybody was back to watch The Shivas perform their infective version of punk surf-rock. I know I kept warm, bouncing up and down. Couldn't stay for the whole show, but it was sold out, so I could give my place to a young woman who was next in line.

For those of you who need a near-by place to eat supper, Seattle's R&L Home of Good Bar-B-Que is just up the Yesler Hill, on the north side of the street. But when they ask which sauce you want, say "Mild." No, really. There's no reason the place shouldn't be packed for ShortRun.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Shortrun Maybe?

Shortrun needs a square thang.

REVISED. I AM going to Shortrun - and I'll be sharing a table with Roberta Gregory!

I MIGHT be at Shortrun in 2014. Everybody tells me I should be. In the meantime, the show needs a piece of art for the application, and this is the page they can retrieve it from (shut up, Grammar Nazis; if I can get over "transpire," you can learn to live with split infinitives. Welcome to English).

Heard many good things about Shortrun. I wouldn't expect loads of sales from it, but there would be a lot of My People there, so it would be another chance to visit.

So I don't have to hear Gary Groth ask me again, "Do we have to SNUFF somebody to get you to come to town??"

Oh, and see if Fantagraphics has money for me, while I'm there.

If I did come, I'll be bringing fewer and fewer books. I'd be bringing the shortest runs ever - original sketches, done for you. No, don't ask me to break copyright, unless you can argue a very very very acceptable parody. And I only do Slash with my own characters, thank you. I'll even do Furry stuff, because they seem to have gotten their shit together, at last. And I still do the best boots and horses in the business.

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Halloween Pah-tay

Minions!

I had a lot of fun in Seattle for Hallowe'en.

Because everybody else was busy I stayed at the Green Tortoise Hostel. They were throwing their own party.

I chatted with a lot of fun people, from around the world, who seemed to think our American costumes quaint. it is one of our better holidays; pretty harmless and hails the silly. Free beer - that's never bad.

Nice taco supper, too! Needed it before heading off to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Hallowe'en bash at R Place on Capitol Hill. Had loads of fun hooking up back with the crowd, including old friend Maggie Bloodstone.

Seriously pimped out.

Anyway, my sparkly Judy Garland ended up looking more like Steve Bascemi in Boardwalk Empire. I'm trying to remember what Maggie was playing, but I think the Gin Collins kind of got in the way of the brain cells. Did too much dancing and admiring of wonderful costumes.

Saw the best twerk on the planet and got an unexpected lapdance from a black-winged angel. Then again, as artist friend Mark Campos points out, since when is a lapdance from a black-winged angel not unexpected?

His Holliness da Pope

As usual, received a grand reception from the Sisters, who love my books and - of course - the condom pack I designed for them. Sister Abbess took a moment to discuss the possibility of arranging the appearance of a novice at the Clallam Bay Comicon, because a comicon needs a charity, and the Sisters are best at it. There is a novice in Bremerton, evidently. Bremerton! That town is improving all the time. The Fire Piper, Niall Townley, lives there too. It has quite the art scene.

Out on the street, ran into a guy who was having a bad night - until the conversation reminded him he was no longer sleeping in a Subaru in a graveyard in New Jersey in winter. And got another hug.

The Sisters hard at work.

The next day, headed to hit the Three Sisters of Clallam Art Gallery party. They were stepping up in the costumes. And the Soul Ducks - the local hard mud-wallow blues band - was doing their damnedest to crack the air. They said I got them. I hope so; I practically shook my head off the stalk.

On the way home, in Bremerton, stopped at our old house, to check out if Tree was still there. Yes, s/he was, in a neatly-laid-out brick-edged raised bed. We have actually lived Under The Deodars. Or at least one.

We're as nice as we sound.

She'd lost that huge limb that really showed her off, but the pruning job was good, and healing well. She used to drop these huge things, the size of trees. I was just sorry we didn't have a woodstove.

Dan made us move because the house was haunted. Looking at it now, I wonder how I ever missed that.

Thu the Pirate

Tree, the deodar fir.

After all, it was between a cemetery - and the world's smallest "Indian reservation" - with fireworks stand - with its scattered graves among the trailers and RVs. And of course, all the cats that passed on while we were there. I was concentrating on Tree and forgot to say "hello." I only remembered Vincent, who disappeared so many years ago. Nobody ever gets over someone who disappears.

Prine family home and fireworks (see link in text).

The whole street is so obviously haunted. Or was it just because it was the Day of the Dead, on a spooky, red-and-yellow-leaved October?

No wonder we love Hallowe'en and the Day of the Dead so much. Sometimes we need the real hurt of memories to clear our souls.

Event and Bookstore links