Once more into the breach
I think we're ready. I still have a couple of weeks, but it seems like I’m already out of time. A World Tour is one of the most complicated undertakings we’ve ever gotten tangled up in. Vijaya and Kathleen worked for over a year putting this deal together. It’s not just a tour, it’s a publishing venture and a nearly simultaneous release party of BONE in color across Europe. We coordinated gang printings between publishing houses (which involved making sure the brand new translations were complete), book tours & festivals in ten countries, and Steve and I just finished putting together a 40 piece exhibition for the Frankfurt Book Fair and a 33 piece show of original art for Athens.
Many things changed or fell apart completely over the last twelve months, but ultimately all the publishers came through and many festivals invited me to be a guest.
I'm really enjoying the daily blogs of Scott McCloud & family while on their Making Comics Fifty State Tour , so as I travel across the European continent, I’ll take my laptop and digital camera along and blog as I go. I’ll share my run-ins with cartoonists and get-togethers at pubs. I will try to capture the Spinal Tap highs and lows. If we have a good signing, I’ll post it, if we have a disastrous one, I’ll post it. And when I get left at the border between two countries, with no one to pick me up – - I’ll post it.
I am still working on Shazam: Monster Society of Evil, and I’m taking pages with me. I have a very strict schedule and I have no intention of messing it up – - but if I do, you’ll be the first to know.
The second leg will be here in America and will concentrate as much on my black & white roots as on the new color books. That’s still coming together, so there will be more announcements as we go. Don’t forget to check the official schedule by clicking the Bone World Tour button. Talk to you soon.
Hey Jeff!
I write and draw my own comics and was just wondering if there was any way that I could sell them to a broad audience besides at conventions.
Thanks!
-Tanner
Comment by Tanner — September 16, 2006 @ 5:39 pm
Tanner,
Have you ever sold your comics at conventions? I’m curious to see what your experience was.
Comment by Jeff — September 16, 2006 @ 5:53 pm
I can imagine it now..
“Yeah, This is Jeff… no, I don’t know where we are. There’s a lot of sheep, some trees, a very old funny-speaking man… and right now we’re on the back of a horse-drawn sow-cart. I just wanted to call ahead and make sure you have running water for a bath.”
Comment by Will Terrell — September 16, 2006 @ 8:49 pm
Is bad I won’t be in Oslo at the time your visiting Norway Jeff! I very recently bought my first Bone-book, and I am a big fan of your drawing already! I draw some comics myself too, on a comics website, here in Norway.
So is there any chance you will be visiting Bergen and the Raptus comics festival in the next years?
Comment by Torgeir — September 17, 2006 @ 4:02 am
Have a great time on your world tour.
If you get lost…just head over to Barrelhaven and hang out there for a year. Ask for Lucius.
Looking forward to the trip updates. Have fun!
Comment by Chris Neeson — September 17, 2006 @ 12:16 pm
Hey Jeff,
That’s the problem. I don’t go to conventions. The first one I’ll be going to is NY ComicCon to see you!
-Tanner
Comment by Tanner — September 17, 2006 @ 8:30 pm
Aw, no California cons are running during the World Tour dates. That bums me out a teensy bit, but hey, one day I’ll get off my rear and drive down to Comic-Con, right?
Good luck on the tour! It’ll be cool to hear the highs and lows on the site.
Comment by John — September 18, 2006 @ 1:33 am
Hey Jeff !
Once again in Athens ! I will be very happy to see you again ! This time I will bring my son !
Andreas
Comment by Andreas — September 18, 2006 @ 12:21 pm
Salut Jeff
Looking forward to your visit in Montreal, ever been? Don’t let the recent events happening here get you down, we’re a great city.
A bientot
Comment by Paul — September 18, 2006 @ 2:14 pm
Incredibly cool! I’ll be paying very close attention!
Comment by ~raina — September 18, 2006 @ 2:22 pm
Jeff,
I remember a while back in one of you’re posts you wrote that you had a book shop in your town called “Book Loft”. Well, so do I. I don’t live in OH, I live in NJ, BUT I was born in OH. But anyway back to the story, so about 5 years ago we had a Walden Books in a small mall, but it got knocked down, so for 5 or more years we had no book store for miles. But afew weeks back a place called Book Loft moved in. BUT they didn’t have a graphic novel section. (gasp!) So I asked them if they did, incase I missed it, but nope, then the owner told me that afew people had asked and that they were going to get one because of all the requests. So now I’m just waiting for it.
-Tanner
Comment by Tanner — September 18, 2006 @ 6:09 pm
Hi Jeff…
I hope you and yours have a great a safe quest. And remember when in the UK:
Stick to the road, and beware of the moors!
And when you get back to the states, how about a quick book stop in the Gulf Coast? It gets too quiet here in FL. Plus,my wife makes a mean quiche…
Best,
Scott
http://scottbrown71.blogspot.com/
Comment by scott — September 19, 2006 @ 10:23 am
I was in Bergen for Raptus Fest in 2001, so this visit will be in Oslo. Glad to hear the weather in that part of Norway isn’t bad this time of year, since I understand the festival is held outdoors!
Comment by Jeff Smith — September 19, 2006 @ 1:53 pm
Northern California is definitely on the list for the second leg of the tour in 2007. Stay tuned…
Comment by Jeff Smith — September 19, 2006 @ 1:54 pm
Looking forward to see you again, and this time on our territory – Montreal! Woohoo!
I’ll be telling my friends the fun news. Very happy that you’re taking time to visit our city.
All the best!
Johane
Comment by Johane Matte — September 19, 2006 @ 2:30 pm
Jeff
Thank you for Bone. I never of good comics other then the mainstream superheroes comics existed until I read Bone. When I was in first grade, I read a piece of Bone in the Dinsey Adventure Magazine. It was the first story I truly enjoyed reading. Now I tell my friends and family of Bone and they also enjoy reading it as well. You inspired me to write a graphic novel. Thank you
Jonny
Comment by Jonny — September 19, 2006 @ 4:30 pm
so the Belgium part of your tour is in Caen and Paris? Sniff
Why must you spurn us, Jeff. We Belgians are nice people! Come to us as well!
Comment by mario boon — September 20, 2006 @ 4:16 pm
The schedule is still changing a little at this point. I am at the wish of my publishers, and they may need me to spend more time in one place than another. I have been to Brussels twice before, so I can tell you I love Belgium (best beer in the EU!).
Comment by Jeff Smith — September 20, 2006 @ 6:09 pm
Johane,
Can’t wait to visit with you. I hope you received my e-mail!
Comment by Jeff Smith — September 20, 2006 @ 6:10 pm
Hey Jeef! Just tell me which arms to twist and I’ll do so AND buy you a beer
Comment by mario boon — September 27, 2006 @ 6:39 pm
Hi Jeff Smith
i want to order the book that was made with a yellow cover that says “BONE” by Jeff Smith.
Comment by Steve Yang — October 11, 2006 @ 12:46 pm