[Some a-mazing women authors...I was honored to converse with at Push to Publish: Catherine Stein, Nancy Viau, Beth Kephart and steampunk author, Alison DeLuca (my fav). Photo by Cathy T. Colborn]
Hello again, everyone. I wanted to tell you how my time at Push to Publish and Collingswood Book Festival turned out. Also, I'm adding a new event to the bottom of this blog: The Rathalla Review Kickoff Open Mic. It's crucial for artists of all types to network, and give feedback on these events, so others can decide if they want to partake next year. Since I take pictures, paint, and write, I've no problem meshing the worlds in one spot in my virtual artist refuge.
Probably should start with the oldest event:
Collingswood Book Festival.
Yea. Here I am. Nothing fancy. I usually am
extremely fancy and take a whole bunch of wares: zombie, superhero, and steampunk pendants, chapbooks, children's books, and photographs. But this year, I decided that I wanted to promote my blog and skills for hire, and take advantage of being around the people who could network with me in my own town. It was a win-win sit.
Here was my card and coupon holder. It's Poe-a-liscious. I hand-painted the raven dangling from the fishline. It was a great conversation starter, most people like Edgar. Even if they aren't avid readers. Usually, everyone knows a reader or writer though. So it was a good piece to bring them over and get to know the people in my hometown and have them pass My Philly Flash Inferno autographed cards off for networking.
Hint: this cigar box also makes a great candy holder...but it must be creepy Halloween candy, or Poe and the raven turn violently in their graves.
This is
Robert Hoskins, Jr. He's the proprietor I owe a great thanks for letting me crowd into his comic displays. We have been besties for over eight years now, and he's very generous. I'm glad to be submerged in his passion and always meet the coolest people when I go into his store, Stormwatch Comics in Berlin, NJ. If you have been looking for anything from your childhood, such as a toy, or rare comic...Bob is your man. He is the finder of lost things (though he still hasn't found me that Predator plush doll, but usually, nothing escapes him). I'll post the commercial link to his store here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qhSGnhtuy6g
Thanks again, Bobala! xoxo.
Also submerged in boxes of comics was my bud, the beautiful comic cover artist,
Laura Guzzo.
Dr. Who and Shakespeare fans, you want to visit the link I'll give you. This girl has mad, mad, mad, talent. Never have I seen a colored pencil piece done painstakingly with a million pin-headed dots, to achieve a perfect shadow. She's that dedicated and passionate to her craft. Laura also makes cosplay outfits and silkscreened shirts. Yea, definitely hang on to that link I'm about to give, I swear. But first, writers: check out
Shakespeare Shaken. It's an anthology of William's tales, turned on to their heads for something new. Laura has four pieces in the book, but it's a collaboration of brilliant writers and artists. Check it out and get it signed by the author if you can.
Finally, LG's link:
http://lauraguzzoart.blogspot.com/
*Tiny Sidenote* This is why I firmly believe my art has kicked off as of late...because I'm blessed to be surrounded and inspired by talented people. If I can recommend anything that I've learned, struggling with some bad luck over the last seven years; it would be...seek people like these guys out (on this entire entry) and submerge yourself in a variety of their passions. It will pay off naturally. I swear to it. Even if they do not write...it will give you the desire to be as passionate and connected to your own gift as they are. Amazing.
Ello, ello, do you Push to Publish, Sweetie? Well, I sure do. Now. Not ever before, but definitely as long as it lasts. This year, I wore my black gear, victorian pearls, and fancy headband, loaded with samples and pitches, to try and get a speed date with agents. After all my prep, it was my first time, and I thought I gave my info to the right people, but apparently; I was distracted by caffeine in the crossfire and missed the sign-up sheets. Yea, I felt stupid, and felt like maybe the point over to the clipboards had to happen for first-timers with no breakfast tables in the way. There were some time slots left, so I made the best of it. Honor students have brain farts; it happens; we let out the steam and straighten right up again.
I know it was chaos, and no one should hold my hand. Anywho, I didn't get in with the agent I wanted because of my error, but by some dumb luck (which was my trend for the day), my buds, suggested a few tables to meet with
Alison Hicks. I received amazing advice. She told me that my book was ready to go after the last page of sample and the elevator pitch came down. It was up to me to push it to agents now, and I'll be less nervous knowing a seasoned author gave me that advice. See, It all works out. Never, ever panic anymore.
Finally, on the couch in the auditorium, before the last panel with these funny souls...
We somehow...just by goofing and being human...end up running into more agents, editors, poets and idols...just catching their breath after running around on the quite cold campus (it was the coldest day this season). I was very excited to speak to
Alison Deluca [Pictured in the first photo @ the top of this entry, last person]. She's a Steampunk author, and I'd been researching her and
Gregory Frost's work, before the conference, because I felt they would understand what my manuscripts were channeling. Steampunk and "Chick Pulp"(a term I coined for Female Thrillers with some violence and romance), gets pin-holed into boxes that don't make sense, or are just plain misunderstood altogether. The minimal violence in my military or street-fighting scenes raises the unthinkable, even though they're the real violent crimes that happen in the world. Steampunk stories are not those with an airship just thrown in or a bunch of people running around in hoodwinks. Ugg!
But there was
Alison DeLuca, just giving me great advice on publishing Steampunk, signing her book,
The Night Watchman Express, and asking me to send some chapters if I wanted more help. Wow, I was star-struck while handing her my card. What a great day! What great people!
Overall, my review of Push to Publish, was great. I would suggest somehow extending the sign-up table to include the sign-up sheets for speed-dating agents in one long walk; it would be less confusing for newbies. I'm sure it made perfect sense for those who are seasoned at this event. I would suggest to newbies to have a VERY long list of agents you want to date with, because it fills fast (especially after a flub). Otherwise, the keynote speaker was brilliant, the hosts very gracious, the breakfast and lunch were delish, those on the speed-dating tables were knowledgeable and popular, and the panels were brilliant and informative.
What made Push to Publish even more exciting was the ability to socialize in one huge group, all day long, and experience some crazy escapades with a few friends. We had agents and authors just plopping down eating a bagel and sipping some joe right next to us. It was very memorable! I would recommend Push to Publish to any writer seeking that next step.
The link so you can join in the fun for next year is this:
http://www.philadelphiastories.org/push-publish-2012-strategies-and-techniques-get-your-work-print-and-online
Finally, something you writers and artists want to keep on your calendar:
Upcoming Open Mic For Rathalla Review: October 26, 2012 @ 7P.M. (See link below for more info)
http://www.facebook.com/events/157701897706849/157778207699218/?
comment_id=157845204359185¬if_t=event_mall_reply
Rathalla Review is Rosemont's new journal. They're kicking off this new venture by networking at a restaurant in Ardmore (a few stops on Regional before Rosemont) with an Open Mic.
GREAT OPPORTUNITY! Anyone is welcomed to read their poetry, nonfiction, or fiction at these events. Try out that new piece you've been editing. See which poem makes the audience whistle. Hey, get some grub...it says "dinner" on there. I'm going to put money on some kind of cookie being there...but I could be wrong. The beauty of these things are, if you come from far away, no one will know you, and you can be at ease. The Rosemont crew is an awesome group of people, and they'll support you. Come on out and perfect your craft with Rathalla Review. Who knows, maybe the editors will take your piece. But first, edit, edit, edit. Not like this blog;p JK!
Until We Type Again,
Cathy T. Colborn
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