Sunday, July 29th 2012 was the memorial for my 13-year-old cousin, Sabina, who at age 13 passed away after a long battle with cancer. It was a beautiful afternoon held at her Florida home, surrounded by lush trees and filled with friends, family, and food. Music from her iPod played over hundreds of smiling photographs, and wonderful stories were shared.

Sabina was one of the bravest, and strongest people I have ever met. I have so much love and admiration for her wonderful parents Suzanne & Dionicio and siblings Sophia & Adonis, who have gone through so much, but continue to be the most welcoming people. Like Sabina, they all have an infectious spirit and passion for life that will forever inspire me and my work.

At this year’s San Diego Comic Con I’ll be hanging out at the Bolt City Productions booth #2235 as well as signing different books at specific locations, so check out the info below so you can find me:

THURSDAY JULY 12th

1:00-2:30 Book Signing at SLG Publishing booth #1815
Signing copies of Agnes Quill: An Anthology of Mystery.

3:30-4:30 Book Signing at the :01 First Second booth #1323
Signing copies of Astronaut Academy and Nursery Rhyme Comics.

FRIDAY JULY 13th

2:30-4:00 Book signing at SLG Publishing booth #1815
Signing copies of Agnes Quill: An Anthology of Mystery.

SATURDAY JULY 14th

11-12pm Book Signing at the Bolt City Productions booth #2235
Signing copies of Explorer: The Mystery Boxes with the rest of the contributors.

12:30-1:30 Book Signing at the :01 First Second booth #1323
Signing copies of Astronaut Academy and Nursery Rhyme Comics.

3:00-4:00 Cartoon Art Museum Sketch-A-Thon, Table #1930
Drawings on request in exchange for donations to the San Francisco museum. I’ll be with Teen Boat collaborator, John Green!

SUNDAY JULY 15th

12:00 – 1:00 Kids Draw! – How do comics get made? Come find out in this interactive program where kids will create their own characters that four great graphic novelists will integrate into a story. With authors Zack Giallongo (Broxo), Dave Roman and John Green (Teen Boat!), and Rafael Rosado (Giants Beware!) moderated by Cecil Castellucci (LA Review of Books). Room 11AB

3:00-4:00 Book Signing with John Green in the Autograph Area upstairs sails pavilion. Area: AA4
Signing copies of Astronaut Academy and Teen Boat! This will be the BEST place to get a copy of Teen Boat! and if you specifically say the special code word “Boat-of-Car” you’ll get an extra prize!

*And of course, keep an eye for me at the Seaport Village!

Had a wonderful time at the Kids Read Comics Festival in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Here is a short video capturing some of the fun.

I’m excited to return to the Kids Read Comics festival!

Kids Read Comics
Ann Arbor District Library
July 7th & 8th

Check out the wonderful poster designed by Raina Telgemeier:

Here is some of the stuff I’ll be up to:

SATURDAY

10:30 am – 11:30 am
Comics Quickfire!
Part drawing jam, part fast-paced game show! Volunteers from the audience are paired off with (or against) professional cartoonists in a series of fun-filled drawing challenges! Comics Quickfire attendees are encouraged to participate, even if they can only draw stick figures or make silly suggestions. Featuring Dave Roman (Astronaut Academy), Raina Telgemeier (Smile), Chris Houghton (Reed Gunther), Gale Willams (Patbird & Galesaur), Jerzy Drozd (The Front) & Kevin Coppa (Puppetbenders)!
Multi-Purpose Room – All Ages

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Comics Are Great! Recorded in front of a live studio audience!
The Comics Are Great! video talkshow has been broadcasting live on Wednesdays out of the Ann Arbor District Library Netcast Studio for just over a year, but never in front of a studio audience! Join host Jerzy Drozd as he talks with KRCC guests about the event and what makes comics so great for kids and adults. Participate in the discussion as the show is simulcast on the web!
4th Floor Meeting Room – All Ages

SUNDAY

10:30 am – 11:30 am
Librarian/Educator/Cartoonist Mixer!
A special event for comics advocates before the Sunday festivities begin! Join us for refreshments and discussions on how to make comics more accessible in libraries and schools. Registration is required – RSVP HERE!
Hatcher Gallery Space (University of Michigan) – Professional Development

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Comics Quickfire!
Part drawing jam, part fast-paced game show! Volunteers from the audience are paired off with (or against) professional cartoonists in a series of fun-filled drawing challenges! Comics Quickfire attendees are encouraged to participate, even if they can only draw stick figures or make silly suggestions. Featuring Dave Roman (Astronaut Academy), Raina Telgemeier (Smile), Scott Chandler (Three Thieves), Ruth McNally Barshaw (Ellie McDoodle), Jerzy Drozd (The Front) & J.Torres (Teen Titans Go)!
Multi-Purpose Room – All Ages

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Interactive Graphic Novel Theater
A live comics reading involving lots of audience participation and silliness. Raina Telgemeier (Smile) and Dave Roman (Astronaut Academy) will perform chapters from their all-ages graphic novels, including a scene from Raina’s upcoming book Drama! Illustrated panels will be projected onto a large screen for all to see, and volunteers from the audience will be chosen to play some of the characters.
4th Floor Meeting Room – All Ages

Back from a wonderful time in California for ALA and Disneyland! Raina and I met a ton of awesome librarians & of course we could not get enough of our favorite theme parks.

Sometimes I think I like all the signage, art direction and packaging of Disneyland as much as the rides!

How amazing is this retro Donald Duck drawing?

More Disneyland photos

Here are some links to recent interviews…

Bildungsroman I talk with Little Willow about Teen Boat, Jax Epoch, my art style and transferring ideas to the final page. Plus favorite books, movies and tons more! I even discuss what I think “yaytime” is all about.

IRA Engage: Teach to Teacher blog
For the one year anniversary of Astronaut Academy: Zero Gravity I reflect on the adventures I’ve had over the past year, and dealing with the deadlines for Book 2.

Jerzy Drozd & I have started a new podcast called Kids’ Comics Revolution! Connecting the worlds of comics, graphic novels & kid lit, each episode features interviews with authors and illustrators and reviews from teachers, librarians, booksellers, and kids!

Official webpage with show notes & links:
http://kidscomicsrevolution.com

iTunes link:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/kids-comics-revolution!/id533692812

On twitter:
twitter.com/KCRpodcast

*If you like what you hear, the best way to support the show is to give us a written review on the iTunes page. That helps the KCR podcast show up as a recommended listen, which helps in our larger goal of getting people excited about reading comics!

There are so many amazing photos and videos from our Teen Boat Book Launch that I can’t possibly post them all!

But check out the ARCHIVE POST for a taste of just how unbelievable a night we had!