Tryon, NC on Thursday

In a few days I'll be doing a signing in TRYON, North Carolina, a lovely mountain town situated on the South Carolina border. I'm very excited about it. Why, you may ask? Well, for a few reasons.

1. I genuinely LOVE Tryon. It's the most amazing little town.

2. Tryon was essential to the completion of Crogan's Loyalty. I walked around a lot there, sketching trees and rocks and the like, in order to get the best sense of mountain foliage. I also spent a lot of time sketching at nearby Pearson's Falls in order to get a sense of the environment for the book's climax:


3. I'm doing the signing with my dad.

My parents moved to Tryon a couple of years ago, and it's through them that I became familiar with the place. My dad is mystery novelist Mark Schweizer, the author of the Liturgical Mysteries, a series of funny and engaging stories in which the police chief protagonist is also the part-time church organist and choral director. Most of the murders are church politics-related. They've won mystery awards and are staples at most mystery and Episopal bookstores.
Seeing as we operate in two fairly different literary spheres, I never really thought a joint signing would happen. But it IS happening! Both of our new books came out this week (Loyalty for me, The Treble wore Trouble for my dad), and the town's local bookstore (The Book Shelf) decided to have us both together.
I hope that, should you live somewhere in the area, you'll consider coming by. I do a big, pretty drawing in each book sold, so I'll make it worth your while...

HeroesCon: Map of the BEST BLOCK

HeroesCon is a little over a week away! This is, without doubt, my favorite show, and I hope you'll get a chance to come out. Think you might have trouble finding me? Not with this lil' map:


(click for full-sized version)

That's right. We don't even need table numbers. 'Cause we're the BEST BLOCK. Anybody else think their table block is better? Well, you'd better be ready for a dance off/knife fight. 'Cause that's how the early-mid-400s roll.

In addition to getting new books, artwork, and goodies at the table, you can also see me at the following panels/workshops:

Friday at 5pm:
COMICS CANON
We discuss what comics should and shouldn't be included in a comics canon. Be prepared to be shocked at what formerly esteemed comics I throw under the bus, and my reasons for doing so! Leave convinced!

Sunday at 11am:
INCREDIBLE ALL-AGES PANEL
Jill Thompson, Roger Langdridge, Skottie Young, and Me (apparently, I'm hosting) talk about all-ages comics.

Sunday at 2:30pm:
PITCHING GRAPHIC NOVELS
"Getting a publisher interested in your graphic novel is no easy task, but with the right information you'll be in a better position to do so. Chris Schweizer "The Crogan Adventures) will go over the principles of finding the right publisher, preparing a submission packet, and avoiding the problems that cause promising books to be overlooked."

Also, Crogan stuff in the news this week:

• REALLY long and in-depth interview with COMICS REPORTER. As Jeff Parker says in a very nice post, "Set aside an hour and read it."
• Audio Interview on WAR ROCKET AJAX, the Comics Alliance podcast
• EYE ON COMICS reviews Crogan's Loyalty
• COMIC BOOKED review Crogan's Loyalty
• KLEEFELD ON COMICS reviews Crogan's Loyalty
• BACK TO BOOKS reviews Crogan's Loyalty
• Hopkinsville New Era newspaper article: Former Hopkinsville resident returns for book signing, workshop
• TV feature on a workshop I did in Indiana (NBC 14)
I also did a radio interview (WKMS), but I don't think it's been posted online. If I'm wrong, someone let me know, and I'll put up a link!