Bristol Comics and Swampy Frolics

It's Sunday afternoon, and the Bristol comics show is still going on, but as I was part of the Saturday-only crowd, I had a nice long lie in this morning and an opportunity to reflect on the events a bit sooner than most people. The main news is that Bayou Arcana has now launched, and it appears to have been quite a successful one. If you were unable to pick up a copy at the show I'd suggest that you pick up a copy on Amazon or through Markosia's own website, because it has come together as a complete book very well. Even better than anyone had hoped, in fact.

My mate and graphic designer-type person Chris Jones was generous enough to give me a lift to and from the event. He can be thanked for the photos from the day, by the way. Chris isn't a comic nerd by any stretch of the imagination, and it was his first comics show, but he was enthusiastic about going and I wasn't about to turn my nose up at an opportunity to avoid a four and a half hour long train journey twice in one day. Twice in one day it would have been, too, because I haven't yet got the hang of spending entire weekends at comic shows. Bristol taught me I have to get out of that habit at least.

So, the day began rather early and rather peculiarly - counting the corpses of animals exploded by cars as we drove past them along winding country roads. We'd been on the road nearly two hours before we hit the first motorway, so as you can imagine, we saw a lot of dead badgers. It was just before 11 when we finally found ourselves at the venue, and I had time for one quick circuit of the hall itself before the busy time began. I stopped by Jon Lock's table, where he was flogging copies of his book Afterlife, Inc, a copy of which I spectacularly failed to pick up due to the almost total absence of nearby cash machines. I shall purchase one soon, Jon, I promise.

Shortly afterwards I met up with Jimmy Pearson, editor and boss of the Bayou Arcana group and my good chums Roland and Caz, and we collectively moseyed on over to the Ramada for the Markosia afternoon. Once the event got started I quickly realised how full the day would be, and I felt slightly regretful that my all too brief time in the hall in the morning was all the time I'd be able to spend there. As a result, I only had time for a quick chat with Jon and the folks on the neighbouring table, and completely missed out on looking for some of the people I had hoped to catch up with. Mostly I'd hoped to see Mike Garley and Jack Tempest again, so if you were there sorry I missed you, guys. Hopefully I'll run into you at Kapow next weekend.

And the Markosia event began. And it was super. After helping to set up the Bayou Arcana table (I use the term 'helping' rather loosely, for I am a klutz and a lummox) there was a chance to meet and chat with some of the other contributors to the book, who I've never had any contact with before outside of Facebook. It was the first time that many of us had met face to face, and I think everyone especially appreciated the effort that Patricia Echavarri-Riego had gone to, flying over from Mexico for the show.

Bayou Arcana wasn't the only book Markosia launched, and the other books seemed to be of an equally high standard. I especially liked the look of White Knuckle, by Cy Dethan and Valia Kapadai. I had the privilege to meet Valia and look through the stunning artwork in her portfolio, which was something to behold. Needless to say, White Knuckle is a breathtakingly gorgeous book. You should buy it and shower Cy and Valia with praise and money.

Cy, however, went on the list of people I regrettably didn't get a chance to meet. I wanted to, as he raised some very good points during his panel and I wanted to pick his brains a little for advice regarding pitching to publishers. But as the day wore on there were fewer and fewer opportunities for a one-day wonder like me to get things done and talk to folks. Hopefully Cy will also be at Kapow, so I can shake him firmly by the hand all manly like and mine his brains for the informations.

When I eventually got home and began reflecting on the day, I realised that I'm going to have to start spending entire weekends at these events in the future if I want to accomplish all I want to in the time allowed. I think it's a blessing in disguise that I'm having to do so for Kapow. Maybe there I'll get the things done that I failed to at Bristol.

Anyway, to be continued...