Eos, Avon Books and William Morrow set up shop in the Publisher's Alley area of ComicCon New York (Oct 8 - 10, 2010)...gotta say, it was the most fun we've had in a while -- and we're still recovering!
We had some great panels -- Jeaniene Frost, Marjorie M. Liu, Pamela Palmer, Jocelynn Drake, Margaret Ronald, and Juliana Stone let the fur fly at Friday's "Fighting Like Cats and Dogs" panel. And we were amazed to see our room was standing room only for Saturday's much-too-early publisher spotlight session, focusing on what Avon/Eos (soon to be Voyager!)/Morrow had coming forth in 2010 and early 2011. Then, Richard Kadrey (KILL THE DEAD) and Robin Becker (BRAINS) closed down the house Saturday night with the epic "Do Zombies Dream of Dead Sheep" late night panel.
We all had absolutely amazing experiences -- thought it would be fun to share our top moments with you, in case you wanted to experience #NYCC vicariously through your friends here at Harper! (And authors and readers, please chime in and share -- you had some funny-as-hell moments as well!)
Diana Gill:
•Meeting Richard Hatch (Apollo on the original Battlestar Galactica)—my entire family would watch the original BSG repeats when I was growing up, and I’m fairly certain that helped my love for sf/f. And I still want a viper jacket.
•As always, seeing my authors (this time, Richard Kadrey and Jocelynn Drake—thanks for coming!).
•Seeing friends I hadn’t seen in months because we were all at NYCC.
Erika Tsang:
•Our Publisher Spotlight, especially after I said to Diana Gill, “People come to these?” And then to have the room already half full when we walked in 30 minutes before the start time…and for it to be standing room halfway through our presentation.
•Our authors filling out the raffle to win the giant stuffed animals at the “Fighting Like Cats and Dogs” panel…and each of their disappointed faces when someone else’s name gets drawn.
•The autographing where our authors had lines longer than the Hulk, the original Apollo, AND the Three’s Company gals combined.
Esi Sogah:
•Pam Jaffee cozying up to Animal Planet’s Yeti (for a chance to win an iPad, she’ll do anything);
•The "Cats and Dogs" panel speedily and gleefully jumping into the gutter;
•Meeting Lou Ferrigno (aka The Hulk. Yes, he's that big, still)!
Jean Marie Kelly:
- Personally my fave moment was when the hackey sack dude with the Mohawk tried to pick up Christine Maddalena!
- I think the Cats and Dogs panel was my favorite especially when Mer-sex was alluded to but never described. And the look on Marjorie’s face was priceless!
- The delight with which our shot gun shells were greeted and the many guesses at what they were: gum dispensers, whistles, kaleidoscopes…
- Watching folks as the “got” the “Eat Prey Love” title twist; they loved it!
Christine Maddalena:
•Watching people’s complete and utter fascination with the unprimed shotgun shells.
•Learning how to hacky-sack with my hands.
•Talking to the Avatar girls who were covered in blue body paint.
Pam Jaffee:
•Psychotically running across the convention center, pulling a handcart filled with boxes of books from booth to autographing area..and in doing so, running past Joker and Harley Quinn; running OVER Robin. I apologize profusely, Joker looks at me, shrugs, and says, “He was dead anyway.”
•Hearing that Jeaniene Frost had a full frontal run-in with James Marsters (Spike from Buffy the Vampire slayer.). Jealousy!
•OR, having the audience at the “Fighting Like Cats and Dogs” panel scream in laughter – and anticipation – when one author referenced that an upcoming book will feature a shifter snake-man! Chaos ensued :)
•Back at the booth, seven-year old daughter (aka “Amazon Girl”) hard at work, shilling books. “Shapeshifter romance; get your shapeshifter romance. The new Pamela Palmer!”
It was great. If anyone out there went, please let us know how ComicCon was for you!
