Donna Barr's Blog, page 6

ShortRun 2017

Me and Ka-Blam at Shortrun 2017. Photo: Anne Bean © 2017Shortrun 2017 was simply wonderful. 
As usual, I must post the photo of the Ka-Blam tshirt, and let my favorite floppie comics (and more!) company know I'm getting the word out. There sales page is Indyplanet.
Once again, I neglected to take a bajillion photos of the events. Mostly because I was too busy talking to fans and new friends, and roving over the floor to look at the plethora of wonderful books and ideas.
So let me put in some links.
To ShortRun itself. And its Twitter and Facebook links, available there. 
Emerald Comics Distribution has a wonderful Instagram feed, and a Facebook page, for starters. If you want to see some great photos of the show, be sure to hit those pages. Pretty easy to find, just by name. 
Of course, had to hit the Fantagraphics party and say hello to all my old and new friends. A lot of people didn't know it was me until I said my name. This even happened at the Sunday Farmer's Market by the Seattle College on Broadway. I guess I've changed! I didn't recognize them either, though. Didn't matter. Had lots of fun talking to them anyway.
The Vera Project after-show party was pretty great, including the DJ. Lots of 7/8 beat, which I prefer. Lots of fun people to talk to and see what they're doing. Wonderful Vietnamese art show on the walls, including some fascinating little horror-erotica fans.
I probably won't be tabling in the future, because these shows are getting so crowded. Since Clallam County offers the Strait Shot bus, it's harder to bring books for direct sale.
I used to suggest panels all the time at shows, and that's what I'll do. And spend time on the floor. For sales, I'll use my internet show. Like I should be doing!
But you know where to find me - right here - and all the links. Be sure to check out the bookstore on this page, especially! 
Special hugs to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Grateful for the sit-in. I just needed some of your good vibes.The Little Store: http://donnabarr.blogspot.com/2007/04...

Shadow And Kiki - Happy Anyway

Kiki, with toys Shadow in the sunWe're getting lower on cats, and now Kiki has joined Shadow in that walk to the last days. She has a heart condition. Every other day she tolerates a little pill from the vet.
Tolerance!Shadow is taking water for renal failure. He doesn't like it, but he and Kiki both like the special treats they get when they've had their meds.
This is all normal for a household with old cats, and we've done this many times before. 
Both cats are happy, eating, enjoying themselves. 
They've evan taking to sharing the heat lamp on the afghan together! 
We've learned not to hang on forever when a loved one is dying, and let them take their own course.
When my time comes, I plan to subsist on chocolate and coffee.The Little Store: http://donnabarr.blogspot.com/2007/04...

OLYMPIC COLLECTIBLE EXPO 2017

KaBlam was there too!Made it again to the Olympic Collectible Expo! 
It's tough for me, because I have to drive four hours down and four hours back, but we little comicons out here on the peninsulas need to support each other. 
And I'm glad I did!
Not only is it the same wonderful crew at the very nice Silverdale hotel, but I picked up two people interested in tables for the Clallam Bay Comicon. If they do get them, we'll be sold out for 2018 (although I don't mind them subletting tables to other creatives - so long as they let me know they're doing it, so I can put it on the blog page in time).
Sat next to a fun artist named "Blacky" Shephard, who in many ways reminded me of myself in earlier days. Hard-working, snappy patter, good advice and great sense of humor. When I explained how I plot by saying "I was the weird girl in school," he said he'd been the weird girl in school, too.
The photo is me in my Ka-Blam Printing t-shirt. Best little company to produce small-page-count comics at nearly 1980's prices! Since I'm working with Emerald Comics Distribution, they'll be just the thing to send out limited monthly releases of both old and new books. 
The show is too close to get a room, but too far to drive, and make the whole show, before and after daylight. But if I show up a bit late in the morning, I'll be able to stand a dark drive home - especially since I now have anti-glare glasses that will defeat even those pesky halogens on rural roads.
I'm going to ask OCE if I can just send some backstock and goodies forward for people to see, and even take, and then bring back for me to autograph when I can get there. 
One way or the other, I want to make the shows out here happen. And keep an eye out for the Forks Comicon, coming soon!









The Little Store: http://donnabarr.blogspot.com/2007/04...

Desert Peach Concert Kickstarter

Who wants to see a concert based on a book about a nice gay man who ends up in the German army because he doesn't want to do politics?
Yes, we're doing it again - going for a Kickstarter to turn the 1992 Desert Peach musical into a concert. 
If you want to earn a rank in our army, our just be a private soldier, go to the link. 
If you want to see the Alternate Timeline video, go to this link. 
It won't be full costume, but it will be ten singers, at least, doing all the great parts from the wonderful songs by Michael Seyfrit. We may even have some of the original cast on board!
Share this as much as you can, and help us make it happen again. It was so much fun for everybody last time - and it's time for it again.

The Little Store: http://donnabarr.blogspot.com/2007/04...

ShortRun 2017 - I'm there!

See you all at Shortrun in Seattle this year! For more info, click here.The Little Store: http://donnabarr.blogspot.com/2007/04...

Clallam Bay Comicon rescued by Forks Comicon

Just when I thought the Clallam Bay Comicon was over forever,the Forks Comicon* steps up and rescues it!
Evan Sveum, who runs the tiny but elegant comic shop next to Home Slice Pizza in Forks, Washington, wants to run a Forks Comicon.
He wants to learn how I run my comicon. Because of my health, I thought I couldn't do it - but with Evan there, just in case things go wonky, I can run the comicon and nobody and nothing will fall through any holes.
Evan will be like a ghost administrator - fully apprised of all situations - but not needing to activate unless something happens with my health. With him as my adjutant, it will lower my stress levels, and there will be less chance he will need to step in at all.
I've asked him to do a panel at the Clallam Bay Comicon about his own comicon in Forks. I hope he can tell us all the details as it begins to happen.
When you're in Forks, heading west, keep an eye out for Home Slice. Pizza and comics - it's a natural combination. Say hi to Evan, and let him know what you want as comics and for his show. 
Wow. More than one comicon on the West End. Could it be just the beginning?
*Working title


The Little Store: http://donnabarr.blogspot.com/2007/04...

Clallam Bay Comicon - Why it will become the Forks Comicon

Rawr!After a very successful Clallam Bay Comicon, I had begun procedures for time, place, guest artist, everything - 
And then Monsanto and the US Army finally killed me.
(Before reading this, be assured there will be a Forks Comicon. And if you REALLY want to see me again, get your ass up here when it happens, for my insane wake party. Because there WILL be one! I'm not going to crawl off and die like dearly-missed creators - my art ain't gonna be burned! Please wear your Hallowe'en best.)

Anniston, Alabama, was listed as the most toxic place on earth. I was stationed there at Fort McClellan for basic training in 1970-71.
Monsanto settled out with the town of Anniston in 2003. The US Army was not part of that settlement - I suspect because of the badly-stored chemical weapons.* 
Some of you have called the EMTs or taken me to the hospital. Invariably, the condition was listed as "anxiety attack," which is new-doctor-speak for "hysteria." When my symptoms were so obviously poisoning (one of you got me to the hospital when I actually HAD been poisoned - and the symptoms were identical).
I thought I was doing very well after the Clallam Bay Comicon. The Lion's Club hall was rented. Talks were on line for a new Forks comicon. We had a fabulous guest artist for Clallam Bay. Dan and I went for a huge walk on Hobuck beach. I felt invigorated and ready to go.
And then... things happened. Stress-points started to build up. I hit crisis point.
I can only say So Many Thanks to Kevin - an EMT who works at the Forks Outfitters - for refusing to let me simply call my husband and wait out the vomiting and convulsions and passing out for the next 18 hours. I heard him - and the EMTs he called - say repeatedly, "Her pulse is low. Her pulse is so low." I really, truly just wanted them to let me go. I started to fade, and it felt so good, after all the years of suffering and bullshit. For Dan's and the cat's sake, I'm so glad the EMT's didn't let me faint out (although I truly wanted to kill myself AND them when I was dry-horking in the back of the ambulance).
So, I don't want anybody to think this is whining. This is the bullshit thousands of vets go through every single day, from many decades, who were stationed at Fort McClellan. We can't "sue" because it would cause stress - and then it's agony in the hospital. In my case, with hereditary cardiac finally starting to bother me, it could be lethal. If you really really want to do anything for us - GET THE FUCKING RECRUITERS OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS. Those people need slammed through a wall, like the health insurance CEO in The Incredibles - and for the same reasons.
So that's why I'm not running the Comicon. But I WILL mentor and assist at the Forks Comicon. I can DO that! And at a smaller convention, I could even run a table. If I can't, then there's my online bookstore, my Black Manuscripts, and social media.
I love you all dearly, and I wish I could keep doing this for you. But the robot be done, as robots do. Oh, well. It's been a good run.
Now I'm going to devote my time to Dan and my old cats, the beach, and my art. And pissing around with all of you on social media in the morning.
*Trust the Green Machine Generals' fan club to shirk its responsibilities to its play-toys (ALL fighters are like this - regardless of whose side they're on. They fight for no one but their fan club. They certainly don't fight for anybody's rights - or there would be no more FGM in the middle east).The Little Store: http://donnabarr.blogspot.com/2007/04...

Donna Barr's Black Manuscripts Released

My "Black Manuscripts" have been released by the San Diego State UniversityLibrary's Digital Collections.
The twelve ornately-written and -drawn art manuscripts date from the mid-1970's, when I was drawing and writing for my own pleasure, as a self-taught artist and writer.As is often the case for girls of the time, no publication was ever intended. But this work led to my becoming the published author and owner of such classic comics series as "The Desert Peach" and "Stinz," after I was discovered by Lex Nakashima and Steve Gallacci, and published by Eclipse Comics, then Fantagraphics, and Aeon Press, among others.
The full collections are viewable for reading at SDSU's website, here.
Each manuscript is covered with beading, quilting and embroidery. The subject-matter reflects my early interest in the German military - an interest that is now shared by many girls in comics, especially after the introduction of the theme in Japanese Manga. These books led to my study of politics of the time - and the way society actually treats women, peoples of color, the LGBT community, and the Jewish people, as well as the natural world - that now informs all my work. I didn't get it right in these books - but I was starting to learn.
The project has been in the works for over a decade. Fans of my work have been very happy that this early, unseen work by one of their favorite authors is now available. The art is also available for art studies, especially in universities.
Huge thanks to the whole crew at the San Diego State Library's special collections crew, and all their fine work! As you can see, the art was degrading - and they've saved it for all to see! The Little Store: http://donnabarr.blogspot.com/2007/04...

The 2017 Comicon Report

First, I have to apologize for not having a lot of photos - I was having too much fun running around with my guest and friends, and not playing photographer. So if you have any wonderful photos, they are very welcome for this report! If you have links to your use of your own photos, please share?
Diana was here!Here we go with the 2017 Clallam Bay Convention Report! 
First of all, we have Diana Kennedy, our special guest, all the way from Vosges, France - which was so excited about her traveling to another tiny community that sponsors the comic arts that they bought her plane ticket for her! 
Lion Mike and DianaDespite being attacked in Paris for her luggage - where she thought she'd had her passport stolen - she found the passport in her apartment and arrive on time. She was very touched and surprised when Clallam Bay townspeople asked if she was all right.
She shared her wonderful hand-animated "The Vosgian Beast," which also ran silently for the rest of the convention, providing a lively background to the show.
Two years' work! More to come.Diana presented a banner from the Vosges Lion's CLub to the Clalalm Bay/Sekiu Lion's club, where the event was held. The Vosges Lion's Club was delighted to hear about the connection, and had paid for her visa and passport. In return, the CB/S Lion's Club gave her beautiful enameled pins to take back to her own Lion's Club.
Jake and Modest MedusaOn both days of the comicon, a drawing was held for a $15 3-foot half-table for the 2018 Clallam Bay Comicon, compliments on Saturday of Lime Media Hawaii, on Sunday of Combine Magazine. The tables were won by minicomics master Larry Lewis, and Jake Richmond, writer/artist/publisher of Modest Medusa.
Hee haw!Diana then presented a beautiful donkey drawing to Eric Schneider, who had helped so much with the Gofundme campaign to find more cash for her to enjoy her stay in the United States.
Sugar Rush! Roberta & DianaWe all had to attend the Fun-Days parade. Nobody managed to catch a Red-Hats jello shot, which is just as well - those things are loaded with Everclear! All the parade units, no matter how large, small or crazy, throw dangerous amounts of candy - and Diana was right in there participating in this wonderful if very bad American habit.


The only way to print.Of course, I must represent with my Ka-Blam Comics shirt. If you want to print floppy comics at nearly 1980's prices - and Print on Demand, gorgeous quality and color - you go to Ka-blam. Their sales page is Indyplanet.com - and they've finally added a neat little menu to drop down for any search.

I'd been crocheting Resist hats out of left-over yarn, and gave everybody one. Got a shot of Larry, Diana and Anne Bean, of Emerald City Distribution, looking fabulous. Diana and Anne wore theirs the whole convention - and Anne looked especially fetching! Looks like she'll be representing my books with local comics shops. At the parade!
Alice Ryan, who was our first local dealer ever, showed how to make wire crowns. Diana will go back to France with a lovely silver-and-pink-flower fantasy. She also specializes in very professional leatherwork, including fantasy hats and animal heads with jointed moving parts. Her son ran a kid's gaming event that was enjoyed by adults, too.
Meow!After the show was over on Saturday, many of the friends and dealers went down to the Clallam Bay Inn, for the annual beer-n-fish-n-chips feast. Barkeep and cook Edna made sure everyone had cold pitchers of beer, and hot, juicy, perfectly-fried fish. 
Then off to the beach for the Fun Days fireworks! This year, the ongoing battle between the amateurs and the professionals lasted until midnight, outlasting those of us who had traveled so far. Folks managed to find last-minute places to stay in a town crammed with visitors for Fun Days, even discovering a campsite with laundry and showers behind Sam's RV Park. Comics folk are resoruceful!
Fun for kids! And everyone.On Sunday, Larry Lewis presented "Minicomics In All Their Glory." He brought paper and other tools, and taught how to make the small copier-based comics that everybody in the industry has done to get started. 
The show ended with Modest Medusa creator Jake Richmond, who spoke about how easy - and how hard! - self-publishing is. The audience - comics and gaming professionals themselves - ended his talk with an intense discussion of past and present methods of using webcomics, Kickstart, Patreon, Print On Demand and social media to find and grow an audience. Everyone agrees that comics takes a lot of work, but it's worth it. There was time before the end of the convention for the event to go overtime. Fun with leather!
(Former prison guard Karin Ashton was given time to display her first attempts to produce a mini-comic. She also demonstrated how she runs her class for local school-children and wants to do so for profit-prison prisoners, neither of whom have access to the arts. Industry professionals kindly made her feel at ease.)
(Diana, Roberta, Washburn's TotemThe show ended with Modest Medusa creator Jake Richmond, who spoke about how easy - and how hard! - self-publishing is. The audience - comics and gaming professionals themselves - ended his talk with an intense discussion of past and present methods of using webcomics, Kickstart, Patreon, Print On Demand and social media to find and grow an audience. Everyone agrees that comics takes a lot of work, but it's worth it. There was time before the end of the convention for the event to go overtime.
The next day, I took Diana, and Roberta Gregory on a whirlwind tour of Neah Bay. We looked at all the First Nations art in town we could find, visited Hobuck beach - Diana's first time to the Pacific Ocean - and stopped in for smoked salmon at the Take-Home Fish Company.  Diana and Donna and the Pacific Ocean
They were nearly out - as they usually are at a festival weekend. But they had enough delicious alder-smoked salmon for us stragglers, and the shop smelled of fresh-cut green alder for when smoking started again (the owner was taking a well-deserved rest and had time to socialize with us. Including commiserating over the shop cat that - poor thing - had to subsist on day-old salmon).
Smoked salmon in Neah BayThen it was on to Port Angeles, and a final meal together at the Fairmount Inn and the finest Reuben sandwich and fat salmon. I think we sent Diana back to France with many wonderful memories! Safe travels, my friend.
Winter-Summer Noms!(And thanks to the Winter-Summer Inn for making our professionals and their families feel right at home and feeding them so well.)
The 2018 Clallam Bay Comicon guest artist will be self-publishing master Carla Speed McNeil, author of the popular sci-fi-fantasy comics series "Finder." Preparations are already in the works to ease her long trip to the "Impossible Comicon."
(Note: if we're very very VERY lucky, there may also be a comicon in Forks next year, run by their comics community. Fingers crossed! I want a table.)The Little Store: http://donnabarr.blogspot.com/2007/04...

Making Comics Real

The University of Minneapolis has a DEGREE in comics - and a lot of it is the marketing and networking that makes it possible for young comics folks to make a living, and not have to be team artists, but real creatives. 
A good friend got me together with the San Diego State University to help build the comic book and art collection in the Love Library Special Collections. I am so exceedingly proud that my name is on the entry hall, and that my collection - for fund-raising - is now valued at a quarter million dollars - and I'm getting my name on the wall of major donors to the university. We helped hook up the universities to make comics reconizeable as the art form they are. 
When Booksurge was being bought by Amazon to make Createspace for books, we small publishers and authors were called - on THEIR DIME - and asked for up to an hour what we really wanted. Which is why Createspace works as well as it does, and has direct support we can contact, and that is truly helpful and patient.
I've never worked for team companies. I never drew any of the major characters. Like so many of the wonderful young people found in Artist Alleys today, I worked to develop my own line, ideas, characters and stories. I hope I've made it possible for them to have creative freedom, and to be paid for it, even in the smallest way. 
I like to think I assisted with some of the nuts and bolts of making the form something everyone could admire. I'm still making that work with my Clallam Bay Comicon, too, where rural attitudes toward comics are slowly turning around. No longer will they believe that superheroes or Manga are the only chance they have as comics creators, or genre fan texts as authors. I couldn't do it without the assistance of other truly original comics authors, who bring their work and ideas to share and teach. You have your own voice. Come share it.
You all count, and you're all recognized. If you even have one loving fan, you have your reward. At one time, that's all I had. I never meant to share my work, but that woman laughed and wept and adored my work and persuaded me to offer my work at a sci-fi convention, and to accept publishers who liked what I offered. I've always held her title of First Fan to be among the most honorable ones in the pantheon of the people who have encouraged me. Without her, I'd still be just drawing at home, and while this is an honorable goal, too, it shouldn't be the only one.
If what I've done has helped built the structures that make things easier for today's kids, I thank all the fellow creatives and fans and one very perceptive university library I've known and who have backed me up for the opportunity.
Thank you all.The Little Store: http://donnabarr.blogspot.com/2007/04...