Enid once again hosted the annual Comic Con. It was twice the size of the one last year. More costumes, more vendors and more of my writer friends! I promised myself I would be involved this year as a vendor, and then life got in the way. But I did get to attend. A good friend of mine called and offered to go with me. She was afraid I wouldn’t go by myself. I would have, but it was more fun to go with someone else. She is not a fantasy type person, so it was fun to show her around.
I ran into several authors I know through OWFI. Sabrina Fish and Traci Schaffer traveled to Enid and had a table together. They were enjoying the day and selling several of their fantasy books. On down the row we ran into Dennis McDonald of Enid and his wife. He sells horror fiction and she sweet little fairy scenes, much like heaven and hell.
R2D2 ran around checking out the con. He appeared to be alone. Someone might have been pushing his buttons from afar, but he beeped and rolled checking out the audience.
Barry Fuxa, formerly of Enid, showed off his artwork. We talked and found he knew my son and I probably taught him to swim when he was a kid. Now an adult, his art is fabulous!
Enid Author Nancy Chastain sold her romance suspense novels and also an author I didn’t know, Patricia Loofbourrow, sold stempunk novels and trinkets. It is always fun to meet someone new.
Then I ran into Michael Vance and R.A. Jones, cartoonists extraordinaire from Tulsa. I bought a comic book from R.A. written for Star Trek. I’d met Vance online and seen his work before and work with him sometimes with Airship 27 Productions where he acts as the marketing director. Some of Michael’s work is housed in the Oklahoma Historical Museum in Oklahoma City. I was greatly honored to spend time with these giants of the cartoon/graphic novel world and R.A. took my email address to send me some info on learning to write for cartoons. It was an honor, gentlemen.
Vendors from all over graced the Stride Event Center. Enid is working on their arts district with murals on the side of old buildings. The front of some of the older buildings have been redone with a grant appropriated by Mainstreet Enid and the Enid Art District is becoming a reality. The new hotel across the street from the Enid Public Library and the new Enid Brewing Company should be ready by next year’s Comic Con. Enid Brewing Company hosted an after party for the con. They are very involved in the new downtown Enid vibe. I checked out their wares at First Friday the night before and found something I loved. I want to bring out of town relatives to try it soon.
Enid is doing a great job of bringing out of town events to the city and they are growing. Thank you, Comic Con, for coming to Enid once again and I hope to be more involved next year.
What did you do this weekend?