Comix awesome!

[kudzuvines]

Today was the most excitingest comics day evar. Here's why:

-I met Allison Bechdel, bought her new book, heard her talk, and then she signed my book afterwards! She's pretty much the coolest published-author-comics-artist-writer-person ever, and she was super cute on stage--every time she wasn't sure of an answer or there was a pause, her mouth would twitch. Also, her favorite book that she'd have on a desert island if she couldn't have anything else would be Pride and Prejudice. How cool is that? And she said that while she started out with Mo as her avatar in Dykes to Watch Out For, Sidney has become her avatar because "well, I introduced her because I realized everyone in the comic was really pretty nice, and I wanted someone who wasn't, and well, I guess I'm not all that nice most of the time. Take from that what you will."

And then she signed my book and I awkwardly talked about Charis and how Sarah and I read all her books on the couches before HS Women's writer's group, and how I used to live in the Twin Cities and so did she. I imagine it must be kind of weird, having to share a Personal Moment with hundreds of people who want to meet you one after another...

-For the second bullet point, which is pretty much the only other one I have, I got to meet Erika Moen who writes Dar (http://www.webcomicsnation.com/erika/dar/series.php), which I love. We chatted for a long time and she was super cool and as awesome as she seems from her comic. I even watched her booth for five minutes when she had to go pee, and awkwardly managed to sort of sell the other guy at her table's comics. I'm pretty sure I was blushing the whole time I talked to her. Radcakes!

And so it was the best day for comix-awesome evar! Hurrah!

Comments

[patriciaburgess.livejournal.com]

Was Bechdel talking about Fun Home? Sooo good. I love hearing Bechdel speak, because with every word you can hear that there's a richness and depth to her inner world. When I try to explain to people how comics can be intelligent, Bechdel is the first example I use.

Also, oh man you met Erika Moen? Awesome! I've read DAR since 2003 and follow her journal comics pretty closely, which almost makes me feel creepy if I think too hard about it! She just got married too, it's so adorable.

Also we should talk soon geez! I am the worst at keeping in touch Corey, woooorst :(

[patriciaburgess.livejournal.com]

PPS You should come to MoCCA next year I have a table!

[haruka27.livejournal.com]

If I end up moving to the east coast for school, I will absolutely come to MoCCA. We shall see what happens!

[sarahpi.livejournal.com]

Oooh, where would you go! East Coast FTW! Although either way, since I'll be living in Atlanta soon and presumably you will continue visiting your family occasionally, we'll soon see each other more often than we have been.

[sarahpi.livejournal.com]

That was meant to be "where would you go?" Punctuation for the win.

[haruka27.livejournal.com]

Yay! I was actually in Asheville last March but we were only there for a day and a half--Peter's dad and stepmom live there. I considered calling you but couldn't think of a good time to come visit.

Also, yay Atlanta! I will be there (albeit briefly) in December some time. And yes, i will continue to visit the fam.

I am looking at schools in Boston and also at Princeton, and I will be applying to Emory as well (although there's nothing in Atlanta for Peter...). Other than that I am looking at stuff in California mostly.

<3! I miss you!

[sarahpi.livejournal.com]

So that answers my next question, which was "I assume Peter will move with you?" That's great news. Are you applying to doctoral programs in bio, or something else entirely?

If you happen to be in Asheville again, let me know- we could totally meet for coffee or something even if you're not here for long. And I've been visiting Atlanta once a month or so; so give me a heads-up when you know the dates of your December visit and I may try to make it down.

[haruka27.livejournal.com]

We are trying to get into grad school in the same place--me for bio PhD and him for linguistics PhD.

I don't know when we'll be in Asheville next, but I will give you a call when we are. I'll also call you when I know what my Atlanta days are going to be.

<3

[userj.livejournal.com]

I know a bunch of people at Emory :) It seems like a good spot.

[haruka27.livejournal.com]

Yeah... I know a couple of researchers there, having grown up in Atlanta. It does seem like a good program.

[haruka27.livejournal.com]

She actually pretty much just talked about DTWOF. Since she just released The Essential DTWOF, she wanted to focus on that. Her inner world must be fantastically interesting.

Yeah! Erika lives in Portland and goes to all the comics-y things (and Wordstock, which is the book/lit festival thing that I went to today). She said that sometimes she doesn't get why so many people love her comic--that it's just a dumb comic about fart jokes. I tried to explain why I like them--because most of the things she writes about are something I find hilarious, yet have trouble elucidating why. She does an excellent job of doing so. Plus the comics are just kind of endearing.

Her husband was not at the festival, but we did talk about immigration. And being a lesbian who fell in love with a guy and the kind of identity crisis that brings.

Also, YES TALK SOON ARGH. Will you be in NYC for any of Dec 20-26 (or so)? That is when I will be up there. <3 PLP!

[patriciaburgess.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I didn't know she released a new DTWOF book!

But yeah, I knew she lived in Portland - that whole crew does, which I thought was really funny when you said you were moving out there. I kept wondering if you'd ever run into her, haha.

[haruka27.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I met the guy who does Dresden Codak, too.

And she's released The Essential Dykes To Watch out for, which is a compilation of many of her old strips.

[sarahpi.livejournal.com]

What an excellent Bechdel encounter! Did she give any information about when DTWOF will be back/what's going on in that part of her work? I miss it terribly.

Both times I've met her (once at Charis, once here in Asheville right after Fun Home came out) she's been really nice and receptive to my personal-story doofiness. I think she loves that kind of thing.

Also- Patricia! Hi! I remember you!

[haruka27.livejournal.com]

She said she's not sure she will be bringing DTWOF back--that she's really enjoying the break from it and that she's not enjoying it as much as she used to, but she wasn't sure and that wasn't the final word. I think. It was kind of confusing.

She was receptive, yeah. I just felt sort of awkward because I'm all like "OMG HI I LOVE YOUR WORK AND IT MEANS A LOT TO ME AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHO I AM!!" Which I know she gets a lot, being a famous author and stuff--but still, it feels awkward to me. She said she loves Vermont, a lot. That she moved there for a girlfriend and then they broke up but she fell in love with Vermont (rather than the woman) and so she stayed.

[sarahpi.livejournal.com]

Oy. That just breaks my little heart- obviously I only want her to keep doing it if she's really enjoying the work, but so many storylines were left unresolved, at the very least I would hope for some kind of resolution before we're all left hanging indefinitely. Of course, in my heart of hearts I just want it back, in its usual form, now if not sooner.

Ever since reading the new book I'd been thinking of sending her a letter or email telling her, hey, I love and miss the strip and hope she's doing well. I may just do that. She actually does seem to read emails sent through her site.

[haruka27.livejournal.com]

yeah, she does. She likes talking to readers on her blog and she said she reads it. And I'm sure she would appreciate hearing that you love the comic.

I assume she would wrap things up... I mean, she didn't say anything about that, but it would be so heart-wrenching if she didn't. WHAT HAPPENS TO EVERYONE GAAAH.

[katealaurel.livejournal.com]

Sweet! I wanted to head to Wordstock today but sucked at leaving the house. I'm glad it was so awesome.

Also, I think I heard about Dar through Candy through you. It's like a publicity-chain!

[haruka27.livejournal.com]

Most likely. I may or may not have blathered to Candy about her.

[misshepeshu.livejournal.com]

The Dar chain actually originated with Talia on my end :D .

[chickenblood.livejournal.com]

Mark Twain on Jane Austen:

"Jane Austen? Why I go so far as to say that any library is a good library that does not contain a volume by Jane Austen. Even if it contains no other book."

"To me his prose is unreadable--like Jane Austin's [sic]. No there is a difference. I could read his prose on salary, but not Jane's. Jane is entirely impossible. It seems a great pity that they allowed her to die a natural death."

[haruka27.livejournal.com]

Corey on Evan:

"I always knew he was a giant douchebag. Of course, to each their own, but I believe most people would agree with me."

"He doesn't respond to queries about his girlfriend, which makes me think he's hiding something. Like that she's a man, or maybe she's a vampire"