Going to California

I’m still putting together a schedule of events to promote Comic Shop. But here is a great one I can share right now: On Saturday, Nov. 4, I will be at Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff in Concord, California, joined by many of the people I interviewed for the book. The location is a appropriate, considering that the Bay Area is such an important part of the history of comics retail, and that Flying Colors’ owner, Joe Field, was a key interview subject.

Here is what Joe posted on his store website:

Join us for this very special evening at Flying Colors.

With the release of COMIC SHOP: The Retail Mavericks Who Gave Us a New Geek Culture, we’re inviting some of the key players from the early days of comic shops in and around the Bay Area. This is going to be a fun evening of lively conversation and a look behind the history of comic shops, especially in the greater Bay Area.

Guests include: Author Dan Gearino, writer/publisher/business executive/talent agent Mike Friedrich, comics retailing pioneers Bud Plant and Dick “BigGuy” Swan (Comics & Comix), Joe Ferrara (Atlantis Fantasyworld, Santa Cruz), and Brian Hibbs (Comix Experience, San Francisco).

The Geek Speak Video Show will be shooting a live interview with author Dan Gearino and the attending guests.

Beverages and appetizers will be available.

The Flying Colors event will be just a few days after the Diamond Comics Distributors release of the book.

I will post here as I finalize the details of other events this fall, winter and into next spring.

Before I go, here is a photo of Dick Swan, before he grew his formidable mutton chops, standing outside of one of the country’s first comics specialty shops, Comic World in San Jose: