Pictures by Dale T. Phillips and Stacey Longo

Once more, I got to travel to another world or a lot of them, by attending Granite State ComiCon, organized by Double Midnight Comics. I was one of two authors at the Books & Boos table. The other author at the table being Stacey Longo. We were signing books for fans, new and old.

Author Stacey Longo at the Books & Boos table.

It was an amazing time at a well-run con, with thousands of fun people enjoying themselves and sharing their special likes of comics, TV shows, books, films, graphic novels, games, and cultural icons of all sorts.

You get to see people like The New England Brethren of Pirates.

The Ghostbusters of New Hampshire

The New England garrison of the 501st Legion.
All three groups make appearances to help raise money for charities. These people put a lot of time and effort into their outfits and shows, and they deserve a big hand for what they do.

Sam Jones

You get to see celebrities, like Sam Jones (of Flash Gordon and Ted fame) and tough-guy actor William Forsythe, both of whom were

Author Stacey Longo with William Forsythe.

extremely gracious and kind to the fans. You also see the people behind the voices of your favorite animated characters such as Richard Horvitz, who voices Zim in Invader Zim, .

Richard Horvitz.

You get to meet writers such as Gordon Bean, Rob Watts, Katherine Silva, and Scott Goudsward, who are all members of the New England Horror Writers.

From left to right: Bean, Watts, Silva, and Goudsward.

From left to right: Gordon Bean, Rob Watts, Katherine Silva, and Scott Goudsward.

Author Matthew Bartlett, another NEHW member, was also signing books at the organization’s table.

Author Matthew Bartlett.

Besides the NEHW and Longo, Chris Philbrook, another author, had his own table at the convention.

Author Chris Philbrook.

During my time at the convention, I also met author John Murphy, who was recently heard on the Sci-fi Saturday Night podcast. I can’t wait to hear their interviews with the cast members of Game of Thrones.

Me (left) and John Murphy (right).

The Game of Thrones celebrities.

Speaking of which, lots of folks were Game of Thrones cosplaying to honor the cast members who were there.

Arya of Game of Thrones.

Arya of Game of Thrones.

Miltos Yeramelou (Syrio on GoT) hosted a Water Dancing class to teach beginning fencers. I watched some of it, and thought it superb– and I’ve been a fencer for over 35 years.

Miltos Yeramelou.

Groot.

You get to see about every superhero and supervillain you can think of.

Catwoman.

Robin and Batgirl.

Harley Quinn, the Joker and the Riddler.

And many other costumes. A guy who plays Mr T. emceed the huge costume contest. I sure wouldn’t want to judge that one, because there are so many cool costumes, it would be too hard to choose a winner!

Two days of fun, and we just saw a small part of it. It’s a total experience, with panels, parties, and participation.

Freddy Krueger and Jason Vorhees.

A Borg from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Loki

Harley Quinn and the Joker.

Haunted Acres is New England’s most exciting haunted attraction, with Maniac’s Midway, live bands, a beer garden, and lots of food and ride vendors.

Frozen’s Elsa taking a trip in the Tardis.

Deadpool and Wonder Woman.

Judge Dredd.

Groot.

Artist Karen Gosselin.

Mr. T with author Stacey Longo, holding her book Secret Things.

Ralphie from A Christmas Story.

Robbie the Robot.

A Medieval Deadpool.

Me with author Rob Watts.

A ruined Stormtrooper.

Batwoman.

Star Trek’s Starfleet officer

Wreck-It Ralph.

The Dome and Kriana of Sci-fi Saturday Night.

Disney Princesses.

A Droogie.

Wonder Woman and Batman.

Guardians of the Galaxy.

Killer Queen.

A Droogie.

Brave’s Princess Merida and Silk.

Performers from Fright Kingdom.

Convention attendees.

Rikki Simons, the voice of Gir on Invader Zim.

Thor and Voltron

May 8 2014

Meet Artists and Authors at the Rock Comic Expo this Saturday

The Rock Comic Expo is a one-day show happening in Salem, New Hampshire on Saturday. The expo will consist of vendors, comic book artists and authors from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The artists at the Expo will include Emily Drouin, John Coen, Jerry Fleming, and Amanda Dufresne. You can see the entire list of artists on the Rock Comic Expo website here.

There will also be authors at the Expo promoting and selling their books. These authors include Gordon Bean, Elizabeth Black, Stacey Longo, Dale T. Phillips, Vlad Vaslyn, and Rob Watts.

Tickets to the Expo are $5. The Expo takes place at Rockingham Park in Salem, NH.

Feb 17 2014

Pictures from Queen City Kamikaze 2014

by Jason Harris

The Books and Boos banner at Queen City Kamikaze.

From left to right: Dale T. Phillips, Stacey Longo, T.T. Zuma, and Mark Wholley behind the Books and Boos tables.

Authors Gordon Bean and Stacey Longo on the Horror in the Movies panel.

Authors Dale T. Phillips, Stacey Longo, and Vlad Vaslyn on the Where Authors Get Their Ideas panel.

Authors Gordon Bean and Dale T. Phillips talk to a visitor of the Books and Boos table.

Authors Gordon Bean and Dale T. Phillips talking with a visitor to the Books and Boos table.

Author Stacey Longo with the Joker.

The Anthocon table at Queen City Kamikaze.

Feb 13 2014

Queen City Kamikaze Happens this Sunday in New Hampshire (updated)

By Jason Harris

It’s February and the third annual Queen City Kamikaze is upon us once again. It’s one bright spot during this cold and snowy month. The one difference this year is that this anime, video game, comic book, cosplay, sci-fi, and fantasy convention takes place on a Sunday. For the past two years, it happened on Saturday.

There will be over 25 vendors at this convention including Dandelion Studios, Books & Boos, and Harrison’s Comics.

Mark Wholley, one of the Four Horsemen who founded Anthocon, Northern New England’s only multi-genre literature and arts convention, will be at QCK for his second time to promote Anthocon. He will also be selling copies of Anthology, an anthology that debuted at Anthocon. He wants to make some vendor contacts and meet some artists, Wholley said.

“I like the show because of it diverse audience it draws in, It’s local to me and I like to support other shows when I can. I enjoyed last year so I decided to attend again this year,” Wholley said.

At the Books & Boos‘ tables, there will be six authors: Stacey Longo, Dale T. Phillips, Vlad Vaslyn, Tony Tremblay, David Price, and Gordon Bean. They are all members of the New England Horror Writers organization. These authors will be selling and signing their books. This will be Longo’s third time and Tremblay’s and Price’s second time attending the convention.

“I love this convention and meeting a younger generation of readers,” Longo said.

Along with selling new and used books, Books & Boos will be presenting two panels: Horror in the Movies (1 p.m. to 2 p.m.) and Where Authors Get Their Ideas (4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.).

Horror In The Movies: authors Gordon Bean (Dawn of Broken Glass), David Price (Dead in the USA), Stacey Longo (Secret Things), and moderator Jason Harris will discuss the best and worst, darkest and most disturbing, scariest and silliest examples of horror on the big screen on the Horror in the Movies panel. From the golden age of Nosferatu to the modern-day Conjuring, this panel will cover it all. Questions from the audience are encouraged throughout the discussion.

Where Do Writers Get Their Ideas? Authors Dale Phillips (Shadow of the Wendigo), Vlad Vaslyn (Brachman’s Underworld), David Price (Dead in the USA), and moderator Stacey Longo (Secret Things) will answer the number one question writers hear from their readers: How do you come up with this stuff? From disturbing first dates to summer camp adventures gone awry, audiences will learn how the most innocent of memories and experiences can be turned into scary stories and best sellers. Questions from the audience will be encouraged throughout the discussion.

There is a third panel: How to Create, Publish, and Promote Your Own Comic, which will happen during the convention, but isn’t sponsored by Books and Boos.

The Queen City Kamikaze takes place at 1 Crusader Way in Manchester, New Hampshire from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16. There is a $10 admission price.

Editor’s Note:
Author David Price won’t be able to attend the convention. A family issue came up.

Nov 12 2013

Pictures from Anthocon 2013

by Jason Harris

The third Anthocon has come to an end. All we have left are good memories and pictures until next year’s convention. Anthocon is organized by the Four Horsemen ( Timothy Deal, Mark Wholley, ZjOhnny Morse, and Danny Evarts). It’s an excellent convention where there are panels, author readings and vendors selling everything from books, t-shirts, wooden bookmarks and even lemon curd.

Post Mortem Press table.

Author and Books and Boos co-owner Stacey (Longo) Harris.

Authors Thomas A. Erb and T.G. Arsenault’s table.

The New England Horror Writers’ table.

Author Holly Newstein Hautala giving Anthocon’s Keynote address.

Authors Morven Westfield, Errick Nunnaly, Trisha Wooldridge, and Jennifer

From left to right: authors Morven Westfield, Errick Nunnally, Trisha Wooldridge, and Jennifer Allis Provost.

Artist Stephanie Johnson’s artwork in the Art Show.

Author and editor Stacey Longo introducing Wicked Seasons, which she edited for the New England Horror Writers.

Author Kristi Petersen Schoonover reading her story in Wicked Seasons.

Anthocon organizer Tim Deal.

The Gnombies table.

Author T.T. Zuma behind the New England Horror Wrters' table.

Author T.T. Zuma behind the New England Horror Writers’ table.

Paranormal author Jolynne Valerie.

From left to right: authors and NEHW members Morven Westfield, Scott Goudsward, and Gordon Bean.

Anthocon’s vendor room.

Authors John Goodrich and T.T. Zuma.

Authors K. Allen Wood and Catherine Grant.

Secret Things author Stacey Longo reading her story in Anthology: Year Two: Inner Demons Out.

Author David North-Martino reading his story in Anthology: Year Two: Inner Demons Out.

Author Tracy Carbone at the Shadowridge Press table.

Items on the Books and Boos table.

Author Catherine Grant signing a copy of Wicked Seasons.

A lot of activity at the Books and Boos table.

Author Scott Goudsward reading his story in Wicked Seasons.

More artwork in the Art Show.

Author Tracy Carbone reading her story in Anthology: Year Two: Inner Demons Out.

Authors Gordon Bean and Jennifer Allis Provost.

Authors Stacey Longo and Trevor Firetog.

The offerings of Shock Totem.

Author K. Allen Wood.

Authors Laura Hickman and Kelli Jones.

The artwork of Charles Day.

Authors Peter Dudar and L.L. Soares.

Authors Errick Nunnally and Trisha Wooldridge.

Authors Kelli Jones and L.L. Soares.

Authors Scott Goudsward and Kristi Petersen Schoonover.

Author Rob Smales.

Author Rob Smales reading his story in Wicked Seasons.

Oct 22 2013

Pictures from Rock and Shock 2013

By Jason Harris

Another Rock & Shock has come and gone, the 10th one to be exact. It was another good one with even more vendors this year. The one thing that was lacking was attendees in costume. There just wasn’t a lot of people in costume. Here are pictures from the event.