Saturday, January 16, 2010

It Doesn't End Here!

ICBW was a mixed bag for me - it was great to be part of, but it almost unravelled at the nth hour, when my delivery of books was delayed and I had to wait until nearly 6pm on the 30th for delivery.

Luckily most of the stores that were part of the event were happy to honour the orders that they had placed, and I was able to get the books out in time for the last two days of the official Week...

But it doesn't have to end here...

Indy Comic Book Week was full of amazing books by talented creators, all of whom showed that some gumption and a little omph can get a book out there. To the organisers, I doff my hat in eternal gratitude, it was a joy to have a deadline and to be a part of.

However, indie books are a year round thing - it showed that it doesn't end with Diamond, but we shouldn't stop there.

Indie books are, for me, where the interesting stuff is happening. Unhindered by the constraints of schedules and continuity, it's where - when we try not to beat the big boys at their own game - we all experiment, grow, develop and stretch our artistic wings. Some of it works, some of it doesn't - but at least we're trying!

And so we should look to the new year - 2010.

One thing that may be of interest to you all is the UP FAIR - Lexington, November - a "fair designed to celebrate independent creators"


Follow the link for more information.

We don't have the luxury of 80 years of public recognition, billion dollar movies or advertising firms up the wazoo, but we do have the means of getting our books into the hands of the fans...

Long may the Indy Spirit reign!

Jamie Gambell
Writer, Omnitarium

2 comments:

  1. Now that the ICBW has come and gone the main question on my, and I'm sure other folks, minds is pretty much summed up in the following three words, did it work?

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  2. I have to admit that I wished I had hustled it a bit much more to take full advantage of it.

    I think the best thing to do is just arbitrarily declare another week at some point (maybe free comic book day). Screw it. If retailers notice and influx of weird Indy guys peddling their wares all spouting off about "Indy Comic Book Week" then maybe there will be a snowball effect.

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