Trying to keep up with myself...!

​It's been almost two months since I updated this website-blog, and less that two weeks to go before the Comic Arts Awards of Australia/Australian Cartoonists Association's Stanley Awards-Conference take place. So much seems to be happening, I can't keep up with myself!! (The easiest way for me to keep up with what's going on in my life? Facebook! Here's the link. )

The main news to share with you is that the CAAA and ACA have managed to talk, and that both events are now happening on the same weekend in Canberra. I'm not trying to blow my own horn here, but I do believe I had some influence in this decision. Getting the organisers of both groups talking about the possibility of working together for their own mutual benefit was the first thing that had to happen. So, I put them in touch; common sense did the rest. 

I must confess, though, I did have doubts at some stage that the CAAA was even going ahead. I'm pleased it's still an on-going event, as I believe it's important for the local medium. Not the Awards aspect of it so much, more the fact that its recording of both longlist and shortlist comics will be a valuable resource for future Australian comic historians. Speaking of which, Dillon Naylor's book that I published last year (Rock n Roll Fairies) didn't make the shortlist cut. And while I'm not overly worried about awards, I was disappointed for him that he wasn't listed.

Contrasting viewpoints. In early November (8th to the 10th) it was time for Supanova Comic Con & Gaming. We had Darren (Retro Sci-Fi Tales) Koziol and Sorab (Silver Fox Comics) Del Rio stay at our home. (Darren arriving on the 6th, Sorab the day following.) Interesting to hear their opinions on the CAAA. Darren's not a fan, and Sorab is a newly converted fan. (Sorab scored a nomination on the shortlist for the first time with Bazza the Bogan Barbarian: Vampires and Vegemite. Available here.) 

Here, for posterity's sake, are some of the photos of some of the people I met at Supanova.    

Ever-delightful workmate, Alanis. (I met Merideth and Russell too, but Alanis gets the photo...)

Meeting birthday boy Leigh Chalker for the first time, and forgetting to take a photo of his lovely partner, Kylie.

Meeting former Marvel writer Roy Thomas for the first time, and giving him MY autograph! True story!

Sorab plying his wares to two aware young ladies. They didn't buy.

Christopher Sequeira and Gerry Huntman seeking to talk about John Dixon rights.

In the meantime, for those interested in going to the Comic Arts Awards of Australia, here's a link. It's a free event. 
And for the Australian Cartoonists Association's Stanley Awards and Conference details can be found on the link here. It's not a free event.
There's also an event called Read to Me (A Live Visual Storytelling Event) which, unfortunately, I know nothing about. But it's part of the same evening (November 29th) and venue (Old Parliament House) as the Comic Arts Awards, so I imagine I'll be there for that one too. Maybe I'll see you there?  ​

Out of the blue, on October 28th (at the awful hour of 3 in the morning!) I was asked by ABC Radio National Overnight if I'd be interested in speaking about Australian comics. How could I say 'No'?! Presenter Michael Pavlich and a wide variety of listeners joined me in a surprisingly fun conversation link here You can hear us talking about two hours and fifteen minutes in. I'm not sure how long this link will last, so it's there for the time being. It was fun, and some friends (comic colleagues and non-comic people) actually listened in!

Other events in the past two months:
The Comic Book Cafe (a coffee shop come comic retail outlet) opened on November 2nd. It can be found at 2 Bimbil Street, Albion. A little out of the way if you rely on public transport (surely a future problem for it) but a rewarding experience. Here are some of the visual highlights from the Opening Day. 

Each month lately I try to catch up with Australian comic historians Graeme Cliffe and Neville Bain. We missed seeing each other in September as Graeme was still recovering from a serious motor vehicle accident requiring hospitalisation, sadly. No photos this time of our October 22 get together. Still, Graeme was doing well enough to decide to visit India in early November -- checking out Australian comic research leads??! -- and we hope to resume our monthly 'meetings' in December. Strangely and eerily enough, Graeme and I had discussed not a month before (while Graeme was driving us to Neville's) about what we planned to do with our comic collections when we eventually pass. Graeme's accident made me stop and realise (and not for the first time) the frailty of human life, and how everything can all change in an instance...

Finally, comic-wise, Jackie Burger Force Ryan put on an exhibition of her work on the 13th of November at the Onespace Gallery in South Brisbane. Mate Barney and I went along to the opening, despite the wild and stormy weather outside. About 30 or so people attended. (No comic people from my social set, sadly, despite my promotion of it on Facebook. But that's the way it goes sometimes.) 

Jakie gave a one-on-one interview (and took questions) for the event. Interestingly, she plans on releasing 41 issues of "Burger Force" - she's up to 21 to date - and release ten volumes of the comic series. The sixth was released on this night.

Besides all these comic happenings, there's also the underlying dramas of real life. Carlene, the children and grandchildren. (Wow! One of my girls turned 40! It's a month to my 67th birthday!) The Melbourne Cup. Concerts that Barney and I attend. Too much to share here! There are comic happenings too: The Iron Outlaw book is almost ready to get a proof copy made. Air Hawk 3 is ready for an American printer and distributor. Fridge Boy From Space's Kickstarter is being fulfilled. I can't keep up with myself! I'll share the next big event here a little later: my time in Canberra for the Stanley's...and the Comic Arts Awards of Australia....