This post is very late, but I came back Monday night from ComiCon with (a) great memories and (b) the onslaught of bronchitis, which manifested itself in full force this past week. So I’ve been mostly down the past several days, coughing up things that I won’t describe because anyone who’s had bronchitis already knows.
But enough talk of being sick. As the subject line states, let’s talk New York City ComiCon. I arrived in New York Thursday afternoon and had time to unpack and freshen up before going to HarperCollins for a late afternoon “happy hour” with several other authors and some of the awesome Avon and EOS staff. My editor kindly arranged for my drink of choice – Coke Zero – to be there in addition to the beer and wine. Then we were lined up for pictures like the one below, which I swiped from one of Pam Jaffee’s posts because I am terrible about remembering to bring my camera. Click on any pic to make it bigger.
Friday morning I started out with meeting my sister for breakfast at the Top of the Towers restaurant. She was in New York celebrating her 40th birthday with some friends, and if my brother-in-law is reading this, they did not go to clubs, but spent the majority of their time in art museums instead *wink*.
After that, I headed to ComiCon, almost being late for my own panel because it took me over half an hour to find a cab. I’d allowed fifty minutes for a ten-minute commute from my hotel to ComiCon, thinking that was an abundance of time, and it turned out to be just barely enough. If I knew where the hell I was going, I could’ve walked in almost the same amount of time that it took me to finally get a cab, but calling me directionally challenged is a kind way to put it. Thankfully, I made it in time to moderate the Fighting Like Cats and Dogs panel which was all about shapeshifters and were-creatures. We had a great bunch of panelists, and the audience had the chance to win several large stuffed animals in homage to our topic (side note: I wanted the dog, but someone else won it, damn it! :)).
After that, I wandered around for a little while before heading to – what I thought was – our arranged author signing section. A note about ComiCon? It’s big, and there are so many things going on that it’s easy to get lost, especially for someone with no internal compass like me. My editor found me and led me over to the section with our tables, but since we were early we just hung out instead of starting to set up. I met up with Pam Palmer, who showed me her signed James Marsters picture that she’d gotten for around forty bucks. He was signing a few rows away from our section of tables. Then it was time to set up so we went to our spots, but didn’t see any boxes of books where they were supposed to be. My editor started texting to determine what was up and I started to look for the boxes. While backing up to see if I could spot any boxes hiding underneath the black-draped tables, I bumped into someone with my usual grace (read: I almost knocked him through the cloth divider wall). I was in the midst of babbling out an apology and doing that whole let-me-steady-you-since-I-almost-knocked-you-on-your-ass thing when I recognized who I’d rammed into. James Marsters, a.k.a. Spike from Buffy / Captain John Hart from Torchwood.
He was very gracious, and as he walked away, I blurted out, “Just so you know, I didn’t do that on purpose…but I would have!” That got me a little grin from James and a snicker from his companions.
Finally, my clumsiness pays off, lol.
Afterward, my editor said, “I saw it about to happen, had a split second where I could’ve warned you, and figured…nah. Let her do it.” Pam Palmer quipped something like, “Well, that was cheaper than my photograph, and you got more contact than a handshake!” Sadly, neither of them had their cameras ready to snap a picture of it. How funny would that have been?
As it turned out, the reason our books weren’t there is because we were reassigned a new signing spot at such last minute, no one knew about it. Apologies to any readers who went to the table number listed on my website and couldn’t find where they’d moved us to. Luckily, many readers did find us and I had a great time signing books and chatting with them. A few even had on tee shirts from my shop!
- Harder to see, but her shirt said, “Hallo, Kitten.”
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I also got to meet Maria from Last Bite Podcast, who’s bravely interviewed me live not once, but twice. Usually people who’ve been subjugated to my babbling only put themselves through that once, heh.
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After ComiCon, I met up with my agent, Nancy Yost, and went to dinner. Nancy is such a warm, funny person that it’s always a joy to spend time with her.
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Saturday I made sure to allow extra, extra time to hail a cab, which of course means I found one in five minutes flat. Or, rather, Pam Palmer hailed it and we shared the ride to ComiCon. After wandering around, we settled into the Spotlight on HarperCollins panel where my editor, Erika Tsang, and EOS editor Diana Gill showcased all the upcoming titles for the next six months.
I thought my job on the panel was just to sit and smile, so I was surprised when I was asked to give a summary of This Side of the Grave. You’d think since I wrote the book, a verbal summary would be a piece of cake, but I suck at those! Don’t believe me? One of the audience members posted an audio of my babbling, so I offer the below as Exhibit A of my verbal summary suckiness. Note: You have to turn volume WAY up.
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After that, I signed books at the Avon booth and then did a video interview with the Science Fiction book club. Then, I left ComiCon to spend some time with my very patient husband, who didn’t get to see much of me for those first two days. We had a really nice dinner and went to see WICKED on Broadway, which I loved insanely. I will forever choose to believe that this was the *actual* story behind the Wicked Witch and Glinda instead of what was portrayed in the Wizard of Oz, and now I’m sorry I didn’t pick up a “defy gravity” tee shirt when I had the chance. We took a rickshaw from the theater back to the hotel, an experience I will never forget. Either my rickshaw driver was high or he longed for death, because he peddled us right in front of traffic on so many occasions that I’m amazed I’m still alive to type this. If you’re into extreme sports, might I recommend riding in a NYC rickshaw as an example of living life on the edge.
Sunday was a travel day, where I boarded a train to head back to Florida. It takes a little over a day to go from FL to NY, so I didn’t get home until late afternoon Monday. I did bring back some swag from New York in addition to bronchitis, so look for contests involving cover flats of This Side of the Grave and hilarious “Team Bones” bracelets in the near future.
I’m sure I’m leaving a lot out in this recap, but I’ll blame the cold meds instead of my bad memory (even though everyone knows the truth :)). I had a great time and want to thank everyone who came to the panels, the signing, or just stopped to chat. You make it fun to travel!
You have no idea how badly I wanted to be there!
It looks so fun! Thanks so much for posting the video!
Leilani
It was fun. Huge, but fun.
It was sooo awesome meeting you! I’m the chapter 32 shirt wearing fan 🙂 You were super nice even when I chased you down for a photo lol.
Great meeting you, too! LOVE the shirt 😉
It was great meeting you! You’re so sweet 😀
Totally made my day when Sunday I read the book news on Vlad and jumped around Comic Con! I was the one with the pink ebook reader 🙂
Aw, thank you! So glad you came to the signing!
You were so sweet and friendly!! I was so happy I got to meet you (I was at Saturday’s panel with my 2 friends in the front row :)). We were all very excited to hear the news on Sunday for C&B AND for Vlad!! Conratulations and WOO HOO for us readers!!!
Ah, front row seats! I would’ve stolen one of those stuffed animals if I were you. I wanted the dog so bad, lol.
And thanks!
great recap! Love the animals in front of the panel . There are so many funny shirts in your store. I don’t know which one to pick! Feel better soon.
Weren’t the stuffed animals awesome? I wanted one! Finally starting to feel better. Good thing – I have lots of words to write ;-).
Thanks for the wonderful post. So lucky of you to meet Spike :).
Well, I didn’t get a chance to shake his hand. Was too busy almost knocking him over, lol.
Totally wish I could have been there. Sounds like you had a great time.
Hope you’re feeling better soon.
Thanks! Finally feeling better now.
Sounds like you had an awesome time! You need to come to L.A.! By the way your photogenic!
Thank you! And I might be in LA next year for the Romantic Times convention. We’ll see.
You ran into James Marsters…. i have never been more envious in my entire existence.
i just read the book news about the vlad books, and i just can’t wait! i love your books and characters so much!
If i were to have an idol, it would be you. so, please feel better soon. =D
Thanks! Just starting to feel like myself again. Damn bronchitis kicked my a$$.
It was great meeting you Jeaniene!
~M.
Same here, Maria! I copied that pic from your blog. Hope that’s okay! I never remember to take pictures *bad, bad Jeaniene, no cookie*
It was so nice meeting you Jeaniene. I’m the one with the “Hallo Kitten” shirt. Although you couldn’t see it clearly. Thanks again for being so gracious.
Thanks for coming to the signing! Great meeting you, and I loved seeing the shirt.
LOVE your books. Hope you enjoyed NYC (for the record, as an indian, Rickshaw drivers everywhere, esp. India, will drive crazy. I should know, I once fell off one!)
Love the chapter 32 t-shirt and ‘Hallo Luv’.
You’re awesome!!!
Hey Jeaniene! I am dressing this Halloween as Cat- got myself faux leather pants, super tight top and thigh high boots with SILVER heels! ;D I hope I do her justice!