Day 3 At FanX...Closing Up Shop

The books are packed and all the banners taken down. Thousands have left with their treasures, be they a signed photo, a replica of a sword or a camera full of pictures. The volunteers, authors, artists, craftsmen and women, celebrities and the guests have all earned a well-deserved rest.

I can really only speak for myself, but I had a fantastic time. I made many new friends, had wonderful times on several panels, and even sold some books. That's a win-win-win in my world. This post is simple, just a look back at my day, with photos of some of what I saw and experienced. 

Thanks to everyone who volunteered, who came to the panels, who asked questions, who ate my speckled candy, and who as a collective whole made this weekend something special. Until next time...

Day 2 At FanX...Making A Cool Cosplay Costume

Cosplay--if you're attending the latest local comic con, you'll see a lot of cosplayers dressed as...well, if you can imagine it, there's a good chance someone is wearing it. In the past couple of years, I've attended several of these things and I've seen a lot of costumes--some better than others.

Still, part of the draw for many who go is to see those in costume. Today I saw a great one! A girl dressed up as "Toothless" from the How To Train Your Dragon franchise. She was at the event yesterday and today she stopped at our booth and I was able to get a few pictures.

I have no idea how long it took for her to create this. I can say that she had to figure out how to walk (hopefully comfortably...) on all fours, and how to make the head look like the character's from the movie. She did a fantastic job on both.

It looked like she used a backpack frame to attach the wings and the whole wing assembly slid back when she stood upright when she didn't want to be in character. It actually took a lot of thought to design and build Toothless. 

Cosplay is another reason that if you haven't attended a comic con, you should, at least for one day, and just check out the sometimes amazing things people come up with!

Tomorrow this incarnation of our event comes to an end. I've got two panels: Beyond the Deadly Hallows: The Past and Future of Harry Potter at 4pm in Ballroom C, and the last panel of the day, Sometimes It's Okay to Kill the Good Guy at 8pm in Room 150G. Also, please stop by table Purple 8 in the Dealer's area to check out our books.

Day 1 At FanX, Great Harry Potter Panel...And I Sold A Book!

I always say after coming home from a day at a major convention, "I should have taken more pictures," which is weird  because if anything, I take TOO many pictures. There's just something about being at Comic con where I don't necessarily want to take pictures. I just want to enjoy the experience.

And that's exactly what I did today.

It was a great first day. I even sold a book!

Doors opened at 3pm for VIP's and 4pm for everyone else. Our table (Purple #8) has a great view of those attending. We're also right across the way from the Studio C booth. I met many new authors and hopefully made some new friends. I also participated on my first panel.

And that was fantastic!

The line to get into the panel stretched almost half the length of the hall. The sight of all those people lining up for a panel was a bit daunting. With everyone seated, there were a few seats here and there, but it was mostly a packed house. And the fellow panelists were great! We even had a doctor from Utah State on the panel and she helped SO much to add a depth to the event that I've rarely experienced when doing these type of things.

Tomorrow I've got two panels: How To Get Past Writer's Block, Ballroom C, 11am to 11:50am, and How To Write For Middle Grade/YA To Specific Audiences, Room 150G, 1pm to 1:50pm. If you're in the neighborhood, I'd love to see you!

And finally, I sold a book. I know that's not monumental news and many authors sold many many more books today. But for me, it's a milestone and it made me feel good. Thank you fellow author from Utah County for the purchase!

Day 1 = done. Day 2, bring it on!

2015 Salt Lake Comic Con FanX Is Here...Almost

It's been such a crazy week, I haven't had time to even think about the big event this weekend. I mean, I've thought about it, but haven't had a lot of time to prepare. But, whether or not I'm prepared, the event's coming in a few hours and there's nothing I can do to stop it, not that I'd want to.

Tomorrow is the first day of FanX, even though it's only a half-day. The doors for VIP guests open at 3pm and general admission begins at 4pm. I'm going early to set up our table. This will be the first time our publisher will have an official presence there, even though many of Xchyler's authors have bene involved in the cons since they began in 2013.

I am also participating in a panel tomorrow. If you're going, I'd love to see you there. It begins at 5:30pm and goes until 6:20pm in Room 151G. The title of the panel is: Harry Potter: Why Harry Needed Hermione and Ron to Survive. Every. Time. I'm excited, even though I'm not the most knowledgeable about the subject. Hopefully I'll be able to contribute.

FanX starts tomorrow. If you've never gone, it's an experience like none other. Would I like to meet the celebrities? Sure, but it's not really why I go. I am excited to be with other Xchyler authors who have become my friends over the past few years. And I hope to also spend time with other friends, authors, bookbinders, and artists of all kinds. Let the fun begin!

Discovering Harry Potter...All Over Again

Next week the crowds will gather in Salt Lake for the next installment of our own Comic Con. And some will find their way to the panels. Several of those panels will focus on the Harry Potter franchise talking about the books, the films, and the future of the Potterverse.

I'll be on two of those panels.

I've got a lot of homework to do.

There's no way I can re-read the books before next week, but I can watch all the films again. Today I finished Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and I had forgotten just was an adorable film it was.

There's an innocence in that film, an innocence that mirror's the main character. We learn of the magical world through the experiences of Mr. Potter as he himself experiences the wonders of Diagon Alley, Hogwarts, and everything in between.

I can't believe it's been almost fifteen years since these children entered our lives. We've grown with them, re-lived our own childhoods with them (well, without the magic part...). We've shared their successes and their failures. They're almost family.

Episode one is done. Now, on to the rest!

Check Out McAfee Book Covers At The Next FanX!

I remember going to the first Salt Lake Comic Con back in September of 2013. I had no idea what I was doing, having never attended such an event before. But I arrived early on the first day so I could experience as much as possible.

The first person I ran into on that first day was Christopher McAfee, a friend of some twenty-plus years. Chris and I served in the same LDS mission so we're a part of a rare group--Danish-speakers. We ended up having lunch that day and we talked a lot. He and I attended difference colleges so we never really had a change to talk about families and such. It was a lot of fun.

Fast forward to the next Salt Lake Comic Con, FanX that was held in April, 2014. Chris got into the true spirit of the event and dressed up. He even brought along a ukulele. And and the next and most recent comic con, the one held last September, Chris decided to be more than just a spectator. He got himself a booth.

So, I'm here to let everyone know (everyone meaning those who read this blog...), that Christopher will be at the Salt Lake Comic Con FanX at January 29, 30, and 31 with his table and he's selling book covers for journals and sketchbooks. This is great because Chris's job deals with bookbinding. It's what he studied in school and what he does everyday. So, you can be sure the man knows what he's doing.

You can see more of these hand-made covers at Chris's website: HERE. And if you're going to the big show this month, check out Chris's stuff. I'm not sure where he'll be, but he'll be there.