Austin Comic Con! The crazy, whirlwind weekend is over, but even with all the preparation and pre-excitement, I'm always sad when it's done. Still, the best thing is that there is already next year to think about!
A few quick things and then I'll summarize it with pictures...
First, I made the news! Yes, they interviewed me and Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino. How fun is that?
Second, no, I did not meet any cast members from Star Trek: The Next Generation. They were seriously kept "safe" at all times. I did see them quite a bit, but they were never just hanging around at the signing tables. I'm pretty sure they would be mobbed if they did.
(which is why they have these signs around where they'll be)
I got this close to Michael Dorn.
I think he remembered me from the Star Trek convention I went to back in 1995.
Third, I am a bit disappointed. I saw no Klingons (except Michael Dorn). No Borg. I'm told there was one of each at the show, but I had no sightings.
And now, on to the pictures!
***
This year I shared the booth with four other awesome authors:
Jessica Lee Anderson, Mari Mancusi, Madeline Smoot, and Cory Putman Oakes.
Danny Woodfill at THE BOOK SPOT, a great independent bookstore in Round Rock, TX, sold books for us again this year!
Friday and Saturday had me dressed as Alice in Wonderful from the Tim Burton movie, the red court dress.
Saturday at the booth with Jessica, Madeline, Me (PJ), and Cory!
Mari (Friday) as Bat Girl!
Danny, ready to sell lots of books!
And check out all those beautiful Sharpies :)
It's always nice to change it up on the costumes, so Sunday, since Madeline, Jessica, and I were the only ones there, we dressed at the three fates.
Me (PJ), Madeline, and Jessica
We scared kids by handing out eyeballs :)
One of the best things about being an exhibitor is bypassing the huge crowd and getting in early. The con was packed and so much fun, and I was happy not to wait in a single line.
Everyone wants to get in to see us.
And the crew of TNG.
Getting in early allows pictures on the bridge of the Enterprise to be taken when no one else is waiting.
Costumes are fun and all, but changing out of them at the end of the day is always a wonderful thing.
Jessica and Madeline dressed as themselves.
I ditched my dress but kept my fancy hair :)
It's great running into people you know! We saw awesome English teacher, Valerie Burleigh and her husband, Austin writer Zaib Husain, Austin author Jo Whittemore and her husband Roger, Austin author Ernie Cline, and excellent publicist Jennifer Hill Robenalt just to name a few!
With Cory, Me (PJ), Mari, and Jennifer Hill Robenalt
Another great part of a con is meeting your neighbors! We were next to awesome comic artist, Jeff Balke and very close to my favorites, the Vamplets!
Jeff, ready to draw for the day!
The Vamplets booth, dressed up and ready to go!
Maybe the best part of Comic Con is taking random pictures with random people in random costumes!
Everyone needs a little R2D2 love!
I had to lean to the side so his costume wouldn't block my face!
Two Face asked which side I wanted to be on.
I totally picked the non-yucky side.
A little DeLorean time c/o Ernie Cline!
There are always Storm Troopers a-plenty at these things.
Death had some sweaty armpits, hence me leaning to the side here.
No! Don't shoot!
It took the Emperor four hours to get his makeup just right!
p.s. Go, Team Sith!
And of course there is art that must be bought!
(the other Star Trek print is from Dallas Comic Con a couple years ago.)
***
So that's it, summarized in a bunch of pics. Did I mention I love my job?
The only question at this point is...
What should I dress as next time?
*****
P. J. Hoover is the author of the upcoming dystopia/mythology YA book,
SOLSTICE (Tor Teen, June 2013), the upcoming Egyptian mythology MG book,
TUT (Tor Children's, Winter 2014), and the middle-grade SFF series, THE
FORGOTTEN WORLDS BOOKS (CBAY, 2008-2010). You can read more about her
and her books on P. J.'s
website or
blog.
