June, Concentrated
June is shaping up to be one of the most exciting months of the year! Here's what I'm up to during the first month of summer: *****
Technically not even June yet, but there's a contest going on at Scholastic's On Our Minds blog, where you can win a signed copy of my READ EVERY DAY. LEAD A BETTER LIFE. poster! Just tell them your favorite graphic novel! You have until noon on May 30 to enter. You can still bid on my original art in the auction, too! And stay tuned for more information on June 6, about how to purchase copies of the poster...
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The weekend of June 11, Dave and I are celebrating the release of his new graphic novel, Astronaut Academy: Zero Gravity with a Book Launch Party at Bergen Street Comics in Brooklyn, NY! <--- All the info is in the link, but the particulars are:
Bergen Street Comics 470 Bergen St. Between Flatbush & 5th Avenues, Brooklyn, NY Saturday, June 11 3:00pm – 10:00pm Kids Workshop, Kids Party, and Adult Party all in one day!
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The following weekend, we're off to Michigan for a three-day extravaganza with Kids Read Comics!
FRIDAY, JUNE 17
We're kicking things off with a special evening at the Ann Arbor District Library. Dave and I are going to be talking about our work, reading from our books live on stage, and getting everyone excited about the weekend of kids, comics, and fun ahead. Afterward, Dave and our good friend Kevin Coppa will be presenting Puppetbenders, the live, puppet version of Avatar: The Last Airbender!
Dave Roman and Raina Telgemeier, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm Dave Roman and Kevin Coppa, 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm Books will be available for purchase!
The weekend itself will be nonstop Kids Read Comics action, in and around Chelsea, Michigan. The whole event is TOTALLY FREE, and welcomes kids, teens, and parents all weekend with activities, a chance to meet tons of great comic artists, and hands-on workshops where you can write and draw your own stories and characters! Here are my panels, workshops and events:
SATURDAY, JUNE 18
12:45 pm – 1:00 pm Quick Draw! improv cartooning with Dave Roman and Raina Telgemeier New Chelsea Market, 125 South Main Street – All Ages
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm Artist Spotlight with Dave Roman and Raina Telgemeier Chelsea River Gallery, 120 S. Main – All Ages
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm On Saturday evening, there's going to be a reception for a gallery show I have some work in: COMIC JAM at the Chelsea River Gallery. Join us for the opening reception! All of the artists' work will be for sale, and you can see finished original pieces alongside our process work: thumbnails, rough sketches, and so forth. Chelsea River Gallery, 120 S. Main St.
SUNDAY, JUNE 19
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Making Your Life into a Comic Raina Telgemeier shows how everyday moments of your life can be made into a comic strip! Kids will start by making a list of events that will be adapted into comic panels. Chelsea District Library, McKune Room – Ages 8-16
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Interactive Comics Reading Raina Telgemeier (Smile) Dave Roman (Astronaut Academy) and special guests will perform chapters from their all-ages graphic novels. The 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. Chelsea District Library, McKune Room – All Ages
My books (and SMILE t-shirts!!) will be for sale at the Green Brain Comics table all weekend, and you are welcome to bring your own copies of my books for me to sign, too!
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Just a few days later, we're back on the road for ALA Annual Conference...in New Orleans!!
Friday, June 24 - Monday, June 27
ALA is trying something new this year: there will be a special Artist Alley on the show floor for cartoonists! So, Dave and I will have a table (#1665), and you can come get signed copies of our books, SMILE t-shirts, and original artwork! Dave and I absolutely love librarians and libraries, and we'd love to chat graphic novels, comics, and ideas with YOU--so please come find us and say hello!
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We're also doing several library events and school Skype chats, which aren't open to the public, on top of working on our books!! Speaking of my new book...I've finally narrowed down the title, and should have some news about it before the summer ends. Stay tuned!