I got this awesome email today from an APE attendee, and was told I could share it with all of you:
Dear amazing comics people:
I want to thank each and every one of the hundreds of people I spoke to at APE this weekend for all the encouragement and positive feedback I received about my bookmobile project. This is truly an amazing community of talented artists, writers and supporters, and I couldn’t be more excited to take part in it. I felt so welcomed.
Most of you, I met and spoke to personally. Some of you, I ran by your table, grabbing a card and mumbling something about comics before falling over backwards in an over-stimulated coma, unable to give all of you the money you deserve, but unable to turn away. Must… have… visual… art! Too! Much! Talent!
For those of you who I may not have fully shared with, here’s the plan: I intend to raise the funds to purchase a used bookmobile, fill it with three to four thousand individual graphic novels representing the entire breadth of the medium (piece o’ cake) and drive it to high schools, colleges, street fairs, book festivals and community events in Southern California, directing attention to this amazing, powerful medium. This will be a non-profit effort – a showpiece for the medium that will also be a mobile bookstore (only for books in print or easily replaced) and a reading salon. Number one goal – create new readers! It is my firm belief that there are many thousands out there that love comics as much as we do, but just don’t know it yet. I’m their comics delivery system – or as one friend put it, Johnny Comic Seed.
I can’t do it alone. APE was the first step to building a community around the creation of the bookmobile, and I welcome any and all participation. As this project moves closer to fruition, I will be sending out newsletters, with bells and whistles, keeping you updated on progress. In each, I will offer something and request something(s).
Something offered – click on this Facebook album: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2315441879298.128448.1046972026&type=1
for the first tool I’ve created that will help visitors to the bookmobile navigate their initial experience. These pages will be laminated and ring-bound to guide readers. Each section reflects an equivalent shelf or set of shelves they will be able to browse. Let me know what you think!
Something requested –
· Please send me contact info of any artist, company or fan who you think would like to hear about the project.
· Anyone wants to draw me a cute anthromorphized bookmobile to sit at the top of future newsletters (in advance of actually choosing a name for this organization)?
· Please contribute any semi-related cartoons or short strips to appear in future newsletters (will be seen by many professionals)?
· Or just send me a note of encouragement.
For thirty years, I’ve gained immeasurable joy from comics, and this is my thank you to the artists who made that possible. I want to make promoting the graphic novel medium my life’s work, starting with this new experiment in marketing and sales. Sky’s the limit!
Sincerely,
Allen Rubinstein
20810 Amie Avenue, #11
Torrance, CA 90503
310-924-0982
allenrubinstein (at) verizon (dot) net
Sounds pretty awesome to me! Spread the word, everyone, and tell Allen how you can help make his dream a reality!
Dear amazing comics people:
I want to thank each and every one of the hundreds of people I spoke to at APE this weekend for all the encouragement and positive feedback I received about my bookmobile project. This is truly an amazing community of talented artists, writers and supporters, and I couldn’t be more excited to take part in it. I felt so welcomed.
Most of you, I met and spoke to personally. Some of you, I ran by your table, grabbing a card and mumbling something about comics before falling over backwards in an over-stimulated coma, unable to give all of you the money you deserve, but unable to turn away. Must… have… visual… art! Too! Much! Talent!
For those of you who I may not have fully shared with, here’s the plan: I intend to raise the funds to purchase a used bookmobile, fill it with three to four thousand individual graphic novels representing the entire breadth of the medium (piece o’ cake) and drive it to high schools, colleges, street fairs, book festivals and community events in Southern California, directing attention to this amazing, powerful medium. This will be a non-profit effort – a showpiece for the medium that will also be a mobile bookstore (only for books in print or easily replaced) and a reading salon. Number one goal – create new readers! It is my firm belief that there are many thousands out there that love comics as much as we do, but just don’t know it yet. I’m their comics delivery system – or as one friend put it, Johnny Comic Seed.
I can’t do it alone. APE was the first step to building a community around the creation of the bookmobile, and I welcome any and all participation. As this project moves closer to fruition, I will be sending out newsletters, with bells and whistles, keeping you updated on progress. In each, I will offer something and request something(s).
Something offered – click on this Facebook album: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2315441879298.128448.1046972026&type=1
for the first tool I’ve created that will help visitors to the bookmobile navigate their initial experience. These pages will be laminated and ring-bound to guide readers. Each section reflects an equivalent shelf or set of shelves they will be able to browse. Let me know what you think!
Something requested –
· Please send me contact info of any artist, company or fan who you think would like to hear about the project.
· Anyone wants to draw me a cute anthromorphized bookmobile to sit at the top of future newsletters (in advance of actually choosing a name for this organization)?
· Please contribute any semi-related cartoons or short strips to appear in future newsletters (will be seen by many professionals)?
· Or just send me a note of encouragement.
For thirty years, I’ve gained immeasurable joy from comics, and this is my thank you to the artists who made that possible. I want to make promoting the graphic novel medium my life’s work, starting with this new experiment in marketing and sales. Sky’s the limit!
Sincerely,
Allen Rubinstein
20810 Amie Avenue, #11
Torrance, CA 90503
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