• -

Following the labotomy of Armageddon... I scraped myself up from the floor, and have spent the last month chipping away at the next issue (DIGESTED.03)...

... and have just finished the first short story.

Here's one of the inked panels.

-Bobby.N

• -

Another meetup was flagged on the calendar, and so I eagerly weathered the stinkin' heat to be there with my fellow comicbook fetishists on a Saturday afternoon at 2pm.

The friendly regulars were there.


Then I spotted something strange looking from outside ('The Ring' style)...


He was even in the framed wall picture reflection.


It was PAul Bedford, and after sitting down, it became apparent he was peeved we weren't sitting outside in the sweltering heat.. because (get this) he brought along some sunscreen.





As gay as two straight guys can be.


A very 'chunky' turnout.



Philip Bently brought along his new issue of Word Balloons featuring Doug Holgate. A good read. Pick it up!


Daniel Reed looking sheepish as Greg Gates rifles through a new story he's working on. Very nice looking pages Daniel.


Colin Wilson got me onto this nifty idea... so here's the obligatory Monthly Meetup panorama shot from my camera. (Click on the image above).


... and here's one from Colin Wilson's iPhone.

There were a whole bunch of new faces this month. The most ever! Some even finding their way down due to this very blog.

One more comics meetup left for the year, so don't miss out y'all.

THE PRINCE ALFRED HOTEL
191 Grattan St, Carlton (opposite Melbourne Uni)
Sat - 5th December - 2009
2-6pm


-Bobby.N

• -

As mentioned in the previous post, the 'official' launch of a number of new local books took place just a little while ago. New books from Jason Franks, Matt Emery, Brendn Hallyday, and James Andre. It was a great night.

Most of us local creators came along to show our support.


The renaissance man Avi, with THE LIST artist Henry.




TANGO publisher Bernard Caleo dropped by with great Melbourne cartoonist, Jo Waite.




Paul Bedford did a wonderful job MC'ing the launch.


LOOK!... a photo of Jason Franks NOT drinking. Oh wait, Paul's holding Jason's beer while he speaks.



The Loop Bar was decently packed...


...with comic people everywhere you looked.


Matt was impeccably dressed as he foisted his books into the crowd.


Awwww.


The talented Brendan Hallyday has a great affection for indie comics... and is a maestro with the brush.


Aside from launching his books on the night, James Andre dished out kung-fu lessons.


Jason drinking. Again.




Congratulations to all the authors on the birth of their new books. A great time was had by all.

See the rest of you at this weekend's November comics meetup.

MELBOURNE 'COMICS' MEETUP:
Prince Alfred Hotel
Grattan St, Carlton
Sat-November-7th
2pm - 6pm


-Bobby.N

.

• -

Armageddon. It's over. It was great... and I feel like hammered shit.

You see, I've averaged about 5 hours of sleep in the weeks leading up to this convention as my new book (DIGESTED.02) had to be completed in time for it. Late nights were standard. With black swollen eyes, I'd go to work looking like an addict. In many respects I was. Finishing this book on time was a must. No two ways about it. Quit whining and just get it done.


As for my new book DIGESTED.02, it arrived from the printers the day before the convention. I had no idea what I was going to do if the book didn't get to me before Saturday morning, but thankfully Gestalt (the publisher) did their best to make sure it did. It's always the way just before these conventions. Stress and anxiety.

This year, I split the cost of a table with my fellow author friend Jason Franks. Similarly, he also couldn't remember what 'sleep' was leading up to this event. I was in good company. We both had a brand new book to sell, as well as a slew of our other previous creations to foist onto the public.

I arrived slightly late on the Saturday morning due to roadwork delays on the Westgate freeway. Jason had already set up and was waiting for me to arrive. It took me 20 minutes to lay out my stand, and I was ready to rock 'n' roll.

Sitting there in exhausted anticipation, I was suddenly hit with the dreaded feeling of 'Will my hard work mean anything to these people?" It's a bitter pill to force down, but you just have to remind yourself of why you do it. It's always for yourself... Always.


Matt & Brendan selling their books.


My main man Paul always sells a truckload of books. This is a guy that's doing it right.


Of the independent stalls, the pinups and sketches of fairy-looking manga characters seemed to do really well. The very talented girl to our right was selling sketches for $25 a pop, and did very well.


The dynamic duo working their 'Star Wars' crowd.


Colin Wilson... one of the most humble and gracious professional illustrators there is.


A few locals dropped by our table to chew the fat...




.. including Brendan, Trev...


... and even 3CR's THE COMIC SPOT radio host John Retallick bought a copy of my new book.


Jason's not only a great writer (check out his latest offering KAGEMONO - Tooth & Claw), but he's an amiable guy as well. It sure takes the sting out a grueling day to share it with your comic-buddies.


Sprung hoofing down some grainwaves chips.

As I talked to other exhibitors, it seemed that they were finding the Saturday utterly tiring (as I was). It was very hard to stay energised (let alone awake). Don't know why, but most felt that way... and considering the event went from 9am-8pm that evening, it just compounded the heavy feeling. I think we did well not to fall over. With a good night's sleep, and a conscious effort to 'have fun' (damn it!), I was determined that the Sunday was going to be better.

The final day of a convention is always enjoyable for me. The jitters are gone. I've given a solid effort on the previous day, and now I just want to make the most of what's left. I walked around, chatted to a few people, and bought some books.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS:

• DIGESTED.02 arriving in my hands.
• Sharing a table with Jason Franks.
• Zora's food. Thanks babe - x.
• The peculiar mindset of cosplayers.
• Bill Sienkiewicz's sketches for fans.... amazing.
• Exposing my work to new people.
• Chatting to buyers and my comic buddies.
• Sunday.
• The ridiculous safety rules at the convention (don't ask).
• Sleeping afterwards.

Despite my nervous apprehensions before the event, it actually turned out to be extremely rewarding for me. I'll definitely aim to do it again next year. But next up is Supanova (which I'm not sold on just yet), as well as the upcoming Doujicon (which I'm definitely attending.)

Also...
This Thursday (well, tomorrow actually) is the book launch of a few local authors and their great books. Namely... Jason Franks, Matt Emery, Brendan Hallyday, & James Andre.

BOOK LAUNCH (3 Books released!)
Loop Bar
Meyers Place, Melbourne 3000
Victoria, Australia.
Thursday the 22nd of October 2009
7.30pm

... be there!

And the next event after that is the always popular....

MELBOURNE 'COMICS' MEETUP:
Prince Alfred Hotel
Grattan St, Carlton
Sat-November-7th
2pm - 6pm

Come along, and enjoy a casual drink with folks that read, talk, and make comics.

-Bobby.N

• -

These coming weeks are ramping up for me. Not long now before Armageddon (a week and a bit to go). And while the book has been sent off to be printed, I still have to prepare for the convention, as well as start stories for the next issue. I'm excited, as well as a little nervous. Some momentum has kicked in, and I just want to keep it steam rolling ahead.

Anyway, after waking early to see about some cheap black work shirts (nice), I spent a lazy morning strolling around the Werribee mall eating my pizza roll and sipping a BigM. The meet was a few hours away as I stopped in the sunshine and enjoyed the relaxed pace. Haven't felt this in months. Usually Im racing somewhere trying to be on time. Now that DIGESTED.02 is finished, I can really breathed some fresh air. Have to do this more often.

Well, after driving down into town to check out some comic book shops (Alternate Worlds (Chapel St), and then to Minotaur (City))... I slowly made my way down to the monthly comics meet. I agot there about 2.30pm to see (as usual) the regulars. They teased me again for being late. Usually I was always the 'seat warmer' as everyone rolled in. Now I've lost my title.



An intense debate. Who says comics is kids stuff?



Jason Franks was looking at Jason Franks being interviewed. This video interview (along with other local creators like myself and Paul Bedford) will soon be up at OzComics. Stay tuned.


While Greg Gates was looking over the new Robert Crumb 'GENESIS' comic that I brought in (hot off the shelves of Minotaur)...


...I was flicking through Greg's beautifully inked/sketch book. Done on various stocks of paper, it really was a joy to drool over his artwork.



Paul NOT drinking alcohol as this glass of Coke can prove. Paul is doing it sober for 'Oc-Sober' this month. Basically, you're suppose to sponsor him to lay off the booze for 30 days... yeah, right... nice try.




This may be the only photo of Jen reading a 'Superhero' comic.


Click on this great panorama provided to me by Colin Wilson (yes, THE Colin Wilson)... to see a bunch of us fanned around the table.

HIGHLIGHTS THIS MONTH:

• Picking up Crumb's new book GENESIS. (His first graphic novel!)
• Looking over Greg Gates' inks.
• Chatting to various people.
• Paul's joke.

See you all at Armageddon on the weekend of the 17th-8th October in a week-or-so. I'll be sharing a table with the prolific Jason Franks. Come past, say hello, and get a sketch when you buy any of our books.

DIGESTED.02 will (finally) be on sale there too!

See you there.

-Bobby.N

.

• -

Exciting news! The second issue of the DIGESTED series is complete. The book is assembled and about to go out to the printers. It will be available at the upcoming Armageddon Expo here in Melbourne, so drop by, get a sketch, and buy it!

It will then be available online (as well as through stores, and other places... more news to follow)... but rest assured, its very exciting, trust me. People will be able to get it at a lot more places than just my website from now on. And I've already started on the next issue.

Watch this space.

DIGESTED.02
Size: 6.625"x7"
Cover: Colour
Inside: B&W pages
Pages: 64. (square bound).

-Bobby.N

.

• -

For those who aren't locals... Saturday-26th-September was the AFL Grand Final for football in Australia. (The equivalent to NFL or NBA to people in America). It was a windy, rainy & COLD day. The upside was the roads were relatively clear of traffic as the 'Paper Lifeboat' exhibition was at 2pm (just on the start of the football grand final) and so it was a good run on the roads. Virtually everyone was either at the MCG stadium or glued to a television set indoors somewhere watching the event. Anyway... after stopping by a shopping centre with my woman for some errands, we made our way down in quick time to walk into the exhibition just as Bernard Caleo was in the middle of his theatrics playing the parts of Charles Darwin & Germain Greer...


I know its hard, but try to guess which was which.

Following Bernards performance of how comics changed the lives of these people... it was time to take a closer look at the fine artwork hanging on the walls and talk to some of the folks.

Jo Waite



Pat Grant



Bernard Caleo


M.P. Fikaris


Mandy Ord
(My personal pick of the exhibition. Great story and, as usual, beautiful artwork). I should have taken a closer photo.


My contribution...


..and a detail of the artwork.


The crowd was nice in size. It was obvious that comics were more important than beer and football to these people today. Godbless'em.


We all sat down and doodled a few drawings relating to the event. A lot of fun chatting and scribbling. Zora & I left early, and I forgot to take a detailed photo of the drawing that people were doing on the large green 'Wattle' horse (oh you noticed it in the photos?). Sorry Jen.

See you comic nuts at the next weeks monthly meetup:

WHERE: Prince Alfred Hotel on Grattan St, Carlton (across the road from Melbourne Uni.)
DATE: Saturday 3rd October '09
TIME: 2-6pm

-Bobby.N

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• -

I had my Godson's birthday party the Melbourne Zoo in the morning (Happy B-Day Athan!), which wound up just in time to make me fashionably late to Melbourne's Monthly Comicbook Meetup at 2.30pm. I was greeted at our usual corner table by the regulars..

In the corner of the bar, there was Trev Woods filming Jason Franks for a group of online interviews that should be online at Oz Comics soon. Keep an eye out.


Here's Jason Franks being interviewed

I was interviewed also, but don't let my ugly mug put you off... the other interviews should be good. Some interesting questions and insights of local comicbook authors were asked and answered. Great stuff Trev!

I was only away from the main area for 15-20 minutes, and upon my return the place was packed! I understood what Trev meant when he said, "I got here first and had the best seat at the window and now someone's taken it!"

But who cares!?... this month's meet was packed full of like-minded comic nuts. I'll gladly trade my seat for that.












Yes, you're not seeing things... even the Bernard Caleo attended!


Lots of discussion on comics were had, as well as people's new projects shown...


Bernard looking gobsmacked over some amazing work by Renan Le Bolloc' h. Really great stuff!

MEMORABLE MOMENTS THIS MONTH:

• The chats with various people
• Bernard's preview copy of the upcoming 'best of' TANGO' anthology.
• Trev's filming/interviews... & his funny convention story.
• The amazing artwork many people brought along. Some wonderful stuff.

Geez, what a fantastic meetup we had this month. For no special reason, the turn out was huge. Next month's meet will be a week-or-so before the Armageddon expo. Make sure you get along.. as I'll be releasing the next issue of DIGESTED. It'll be 60 pages packed full of Bobby.N goodness. I'll be sharing a table with Jason Franks & J. Marc. Schmidt. Along with our own books, we'll be selling books by Trev Woods & Tom Bonin also. Come by and say hello and even a sketch in any book you buy!

-Bobby.N


.

• -

Ok. just finished the 4-pager for TANGO-9 (Love & War), and will be burning it to CD & sending to Mr Caleo during the week (4 pages shown below):

Every so often while doing a story I discover new tricks & techniques that I think worked really well for me. So too was the case with this story. I got the hang of a certain construction & execution that I'm really pleased with & that I'll carry forward into my other work if it continues to work well and add to the look of the page.

I also did some work on my bigger secret project. Ah well... its my Moby Dick.

I've come full circle to the realisation that I really enjoy cross-hatching and adding 'volume' with it in my work. It always use to grate at me when I'd try to do a 'clean-line' style (like Tintin or Charles Burnes) and fall short in my goals. (I guess its the artist in me thats always trying extend and cover new ground)... but it just doesn't look right in my style. I always feel like I'm paying most of the attention to the drawing (and I think it shows)... rather than just drawing a well-read comic in my natural style. Thats one of the things I learnt in doing the previously mentioned short TANGO piece... that of just sitting down and doing a natural story in (as Crumb puts it) my lite"E-Z duz-it" style... my "get-it-done-already" style... and I had a wonderful time at it when I approached it this way. It just flowed.

Anyway.. spoke to Jason Franks this morning, and we're all set for Armaggeddon this October-17th in Melbourne. We'll be sharing a table (Possibly with J. Marc Schmidt)... so put it in yer diaries.

Later.

-Bobby.

• -

Here's the first page of my submission to Bernard Caleo's upcoming TANGO-9 anthology. I hope Bernard doesn't mind me showing a preview (consider this post free publicity Bernard!)... come to think of it... geez, I hope i get into TANGO-9!.. otherwise won't I look stupid?



So as not to spoil the final story (and the wonderful 'printed' experience you'll get when you read it on paper), this is all you're getting of this. Remember paper everyone?... well.. I personally think comics are best experienced that way. No offense to the handful of excellent web-comics out there, but I think online comics resemble something akin to 'advertisements'. They're far too disposable when viewed on screen (in my opinion). To me, comics attain their 'fetish' aspect (as Wolfgang puts it) when you can hold them in your hand and 'touch' them. Read them alone & 'covet' them.

Anyway... the above image is part of a 4-page story. I only have 2 pages left to ink and then I'll send it off to Mr Caleo. I really had a ball doing this, and even if this piece doesn't make it into TANGO-09... I'll probably release it in a mini book of my own.

Later.

-Bobby.N

• -

A
A nice cold & drizzly day greeted this month's local Melbourne comicbook meetup. I got there about 2.30pm and was greeted by the regulars...




Colin Wilson had just come back from the San Diego Comicon where he & Tom Taylor had spent a week signing behind tables for their new DC comic Star Wars Invasion. This was one of the rediculously massive bags at the convention for patrons to put their 'stuff' in. Geez, and I thought we were a consumer culture here in oz?





Ant playing charades with Henry...

HIGHLIGHTS THIS MONTH...

• The meetup itself. It really was that good.
• Brendan Halyday's little comic
• Colin Wilson's stories from the San Diego ComicCon
• Greg Gates' & Colins' books that they brought along. The Moebius comics were just amazing.
• Greg Gates' sample inked pages done on the back of magazine pages.
• Talking Bukowski with James Andre.

It was a nice big turnout this month. Lots of people, hot wedges, and drinks. For the absentees... you sure missed out.

-Bobby.N

• -

James Andre is a talented writer who's part of the local Melbourne comics scene. The other day he asked me to produce an illustration to accompany a short piece of writing on his new blog so I had some fun drawing the above piece today.

James' imprint 'Milk Shadow Press' has already produced some very nice material. Have a read of his work, and if its your cup of tea, email him for some more.

-Bobby.N

• -

Ok, Im in the homestretch, & I know i winged about this a while ago, but im struggling with the colour scheme for the cover just a little. I've redrawn & inked the original because, well, I didn't like the inking in certain parts.


Anyway... these 2 covers are the final contenders.

-Bobby.N

• -

Just so you all know... to now get to my site, redirect your browsers and emails to my new domain.

www.bobbyn.com

I've decided to ditch the 'bluetoaster' moniker because, while I liked the quirky name, I think its better to associate my work with my name rather than an obscure moniker that i continually have to explain to people. It's just been a drag over the last few years as people have gotten to know me and my work, and bluetoaster has just become counter-productive. I'll be re-jigging the site over the coming weeks to be in line with the 'bobbyn' idea, so stay tuned for a slightly new look.

Anyway, for now... my previous emails are the same but you need to replace the word 'bluetoaster' for 'bobbyn'.

So bobbyn@bluetoaster.com is now bobbyn@bobbyn.com

Got it? Good.
Later.

-Bobby.N

.

• -

A cold wintery-day... but this month's meet was great. I arrived at about 2.25pm, and was greeted by Greg, Colin & Jason sitting around chatting...


"You're late!" Greg teased - as I'm usually one of the first 'seat-warmers' there. Jason was on anti-biotics nursing a bad cold, but impressively made it down to the meet... or perhaps he just wanted to spread the pig-flu around... dunno. Anyway, soon Paul Bedford mosied on in lookin all 'chirpy'...


How Paul manages to sell books with THIS attitude I'll never know.





Greg was lucky enough to have a pre-release copy on show of Bruce Mutard's upcoming book THE SILENCE. Wonderful stuff. Definitely on my 'to buy' list.

Colin also brought in a signed & sketched copy of a massive hard-cover book of his (for one of Greg's friends). All black & white and simply beautiful. Can't for the life of me remember the title.



John Retallick was like a finch... too fast for my camera to capture. Stand still man!


The the old faces like John, Jen & Avi graced us with their presence. John 'hoofed' into some delicious looking hot soup and bread, while others drank beer while dipping hot pototoe wedges in sour cream. Ooh yeah.

The afternoon was a great light-hearted romp in the warm confines of the Prince Alfred Hotel as the overcast cold blew outside. Funny enough, we discussed 'movies' more than 'comics' this time. We reminisced and laughed out loud about the fantastic old 'dont-make-em-like-they-used-to' Warner Bros cartoons like Daffy Duck in ROBIN HOOD, and Buggs in THE BARBER OF SAVILLE, and WILE-E COYOTE, etc, etc.... it was great.

For those of you that missed out... suffa.
You missed a good one.

See you all next month.

-Bobby.N

• -

I've always got a pad or sketchbook with me soemwhere. In my sketchbooks (the cheap A4 ones with black covers you buy in artshops) I tend to always use blue pencil... I just like the look & feel of it & my brain-to-hand really gets firing with this colour pencil on this textured paper. Can't explain it. Don't ask. I also carry around basic lined notebooks (again standard from most newsagents of stores) and always write/sketch in a black BIC finepoint pen (one of those 'el-cheap-o' type pens... but man they're nice on notepad paper.

Anyhow... here is a page from one of my sketchbooks.


Later.

-Bobby.N

• -

Well the next issue of DIGESTED is coming along very nicely indeed. It's about 4 times the page count of issue-1 already, so Im polishing all the corners, and tying up all the loose ends, and making sure it makes a nice splash this year in our humble Melbourne scene.

So while you continue to be so patient, I thought I'd post the lineart for part of the continuing OXYGEN story that you'll see in the upcoming issue. Enjoy.

DIGESTED.02: (Sample page from 'Oxygen')

-Bobby.N

.

• -

I was looking forward to the coming long weekend. Feels like we haven't had a meetup in ages. Must be the cold weather. Anyhow... noon arrived, and i left my girlfriend Zora to her escapades at Highpoint Shopping centre, while I made off to this month's meetup. First, was a short pitstop at my favourite artshop ('WestArt' on 46 Buckley St, Footscray), where I picked up a few things. Then it was onto Cartlton & the meet.

I get there early at around 1.30, and was the only one there for a while until Mr Greg Gates turned up. Her ordered a beer, and people slowly dripped in like a tap. It wasn't too long before the place was jumping with comicbook enthusiasts.


The regulars were all there...

Chatting away about comics, movies, and everything else.


An absent regular, Dave Cunning, showed up. It was good to see him again, but it may be a while before we see him at another meetup, as he's moving to Bendigo for good. A damn shame, as Dave's one of the very few local creators that I feel simpatico with when it comes to his views and approaches to producing comics. Lets hope we still see him contributing to comics in the future.

It was a great gathering this month. Many, many new faces who looked to have enjoyed themselves. Now it's the long wait until the next one.

Keep those fists scribbling.

-Bobby.N

.

• -

The good news is, I've found a day-job and can now resume finishing the last parts of DIGESTED.02 and be able to actually pay to get it printed for all of your greedy little mits. The not-so-good news is, my new job takes a lot out of my day. I start at 8.30am and finish at 6.00pm. I leave my home for work in darkness and I finish work in darkness. Suffice to say, I only see my house in daylight on weekends. Within the first few weeks of this new gig, I've tried working on my book after work and dinner (and notwithstanding rare moments of success), I've found my brain is putty.

I've resigned myself to the system I used in finishing my previous book WITHHELD, where I'm getting up before my day-job to work on my book. So far, it's been very good. The routine has kicked in, and the weekends are an added novelty of watching my right hand ink a page with sunlight falling on it. Sunlight!

So, here's a sample of one of the last short stories I'm inking before I start the final book construction. Should be about 56-70 pgs when DIGESTED.02 is all put together.

DIGESTED.02 Short Story: Pavlov's Dogs.

Anyone obsessed (or even mildly interested) with comics is welcome to Melbourne's informal monthly gatherings on the first Saturday of each month. We discuss, show work, and generally have a relaxed afternoon in leafy Carlton. Come along.

This month's
MELBOURNE 'COMICS' MEETUP:
Prince Alfred Hotel
Grattan St, Carlton
Sat-June-6th
2pm - 6pm

See you there.

-Bobby.N

-

Well, the night finally came. The publisher Gestalt swung by my city of Melbourne and launched their new book FLINCH. I finished work at 6.20pm (yeah, I got a job a few days ago... that means that DIGESTED.02 should be published soon-ish), and rushed down to Dymocks on Collin's St. A great big wonderful crowd turned out to listen to the speeches, see the original artwork on the walls, get their books signed by the authors, and pick up a great selection of books by Gestalt.

Tom Taylor's friend (who's name escapes me) MC'ed the evening.

And everyone enjoyed the speeches, nibblies, and drinks.

Even 'Secret Life of Us' actor Samuel Johnson was there...


Local comicbook writers and artists were smattered amongst the crowd... as Tom Taylor, Shaun Tan, and Wolfgang Bylsma got up for their respective speeches.

Wolgang Bylsma (Gestalt Publisher) and Shaun Tan (Picturebook artist) got up and talked about how much they adore the comics medium, how it's emerged from below the waterline, and how hopefuul they are of it's continued growth. They talked of a deep-felt obsession that I myself have long had... it was very affirming to hear.

After the speeches, I got to catch up with some of my comicbook buddies.

Some of my original artwork from WITHHELD was up for people to have a squiz at.

Then it was down to getting RSI through frantic signing.


The famous Shaun Tan being swamped with sketch/autograph requests. Check out his website.

The moment above when actor Samuel Johnson came up to Shaun Tan wanting books signed was a memorable one. Shaun had no idea who he was, as he proceeded to sign his book he asked "and what's your name?"

A peculiar moment when the world seems flipped up-side-down... and you smile. Good on you for digging picture books Samuel. (BTW: Liked your work in the recent UNDERBELLY.)

MEMORABLE MOMENTS:

• Seeing FLINCH in print. Wolfgang went through a real rollercoaster getting this book out to the public. It's great to see a publisher who cares about the importance of the work itself.
• All the speeches... particularly Wolfgang's & Shaun Tan's.
• Seeing/chatting to Tom Bonin again. He only recently came back to Australia from the UK, and flew down from Canberra just for the launch.
  
• Chatting with various people at the event. Fans, newbies, my friends, and my betters. Thanks for supporting this great medium.
  
• Talking to Shaun Tan about THE LOST THING, and sitting next to him in the signing. One thing I admire about Shaun is that he's a real illustrator. He lives what he does on paper. It matters to him. Each of his signed sketches for people was different and considered. Its great to meet someone like that. Its rare.
  
• The chat about THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL that myself, my girlfriend Zora, Greg Gates, and Jason Franks had. Don't ask.
• The finger food.
• All the author signatures in my copy of FLINCH.
  
• The late train ride home with Zora.
  

So... congrats to Wolfgang and all the authors. FLINCH is wonderful. Do yourself a favour and buy it.

-Bobby.N

.