Chris Barcomb's Blog
May 11, 2017
It's been a while...
I know it's been a while since I've posted anything, so here's what's been going on...
In December I had surgery on my back to remove my spinal cord implant and since then have been recovering well. During that time my publisher went out of business, so with that I've decided to self-publish The Amazing Adventure of Superior Sam as a comic book series. It will be available in both online and in physical form. I'm hoping to have the 1st issue out sometime in June and have already begun working on issues 2 and 3.
So that in a nutshell has been what's going on. Hopefully once the comic goes to the printers I will have more information available and even post a few more events as well. Thanks for all the support!
Chris
In December I had surgery on my back to remove my spinal cord implant and since then have been recovering well. During that time my publisher went out of business, so with that I've decided to self-publish The Amazing Adventure of Superior Sam as a comic book series. It will be available in both online and in physical form. I'm hoping to have the 1st issue out sometime in June and have already begun working on issues 2 and 3.
So that in a nutshell has been what's going on. Hopefully once the comic goes to the printers I will have more information available and even post a few more events as well. Thanks for all the support!
Chris
August 14, 2016
Where I sell the most books, believe me it's not where you think
As you can tell I’m probably not the best at keeping up with my blog, but if you’ve checked my Facebook page you’d see I’ve been a bit busy. I’ve been getting ready for a few upcoming events at the end of the month and the beginning of next month. I’ve also spent the day a summer camp for children with limb loss, started working on a new manuscript for another project but also began the illustrations for my next book (The Amazing Adventure of Superior Sam and Billy B), and lastly I’m getting ready for another surgery to remove my spinal cord implant. But I always try and make myself approachable and talk to a lot of people. With that said the most common question I get is “where do you sell the most books?”
Well the answer is “the gym where I work out daily.” Of the 500+ books I’ve sold/donated I’d say close to 100 of those sold were sold in the gym. I’ve sold at book signings, speaking events, and other places. My book is available to order nationwide in most bookstores, and online with Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The thing is with no real advertising most people hear about my book via word of mouth, and I’d like to think the biggest mouth talking about my book is my own. I talk to people daily, whether at the gym, the doctors/prosthetics office, the comic shop, or just out and about. A lot of people just walk up and start talking to me, a lot has to do with my leg and how I lost it. I take this time to talk to people, answer questions, sometimes I mention my book and sometimes I don’t, just depends, a lot of times though I give out my business card which mentions the book and my speaking.
But the reason I say the gym is because that’s where I talk to the most people. I meet someone new daily, a lot of times they want to ask about my leg or tell me I motivated them to keep working out once they saw me working out. As I talk almost everyone asks what I do or if I do motivational speaking, and that gives me an opportunity to talk about the book. I also keep copies of my book in my gym bag with me, so if they’re interested I can sell them a copy on the spot. At the minimum I give them a business card so they can learn more about me or have a way to reach me. This is great because I’m never shocked when I get an email from someone else saying a friend of theirs meet me at the gym and told them about me and they want me to come speak somewhere. I also get a lot of recommendations on smaller bookstores I should look into about trying to do a signing. I take all this in and its not uncommon that I have notes written on my hand or Post-Its so I can follow-up with later. But no matter how the interaction goes, if I see that person again, I make sure to say hello or at the minimum wave (it all depends on what they or I am doing). This is also a signal to other people that I’m approachable, which leads to the above happening all over again.
So if you take anything from this blog, it’s that you’d be amazed where you can sell a book but most importantly take the time to talk to people. I never force a sale on anyone, I genuinely just like to talk to people and get to know them. These interactions I’ve found have been the most helpful in spreading the word about my book and my public speaking.
Well the answer is “the gym where I work out daily.” Of the 500+ books I’ve sold/donated I’d say close to 100 of those sold were sold in the gym. I’ve sold at book signings, speaking events, and other places. My book is available to order nationwide in most bookstores, and online with Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The thing is with no real advertising most people hear about my book via word of mouth, and I’d like to think the biggest mouth talking about my book is my own. I talk to people daily, whether at the gym, the doctors/prosthetics office, the comic shop, or just out and about. A lot of people just walk up and start talking to me, a lot has to do with my leg and how I lost it. I take this time to talk to people, answer questions, sometimes I mention my book and sometimes I don’t, just depends, a lot of times though I give out my business card which mentions the book and my speaking.
But the reason I say the gym is because that’s where I talk to the most people. I meet someone new daily, a lot of times they want to ask about my leg or tell me I motivated them to keep working out once they saw me working out. As I talk almost everyone asks what I do or if I do motivational speaking, and that gives me an opportunity to talk about the book. I also keep copies of my book in my gym bag with me, so if they’re interested I can sell them a copy on the spot. At the minimum I give them a business card so they can learn more about me or have a way to reach me. This is great because I’m never shocked when I get an email from someone else saying a friend of theirs meet me at the gym and told them about me and they want me to come speak somewhere. I also get a lot of recommendations on smaller bookstores I should look into about trying to do a signing. I take all this in and its not uncommon that I have notes written on my hand or Post-Its so I can follow-up with later. But no matter how the interaction goes, if I see that person again, I make sure to say hello or at the minimum wave (it all depends on what they or I am doing). This is also a signal to other people that I’m approachable, which leads to the above happening all over again.
So if you take anything from this blog, it’s that you’d be amazed where you can sell a book but most importantly take the time to talk to people. I never force a sale on anyone, I genuinely just like to talk to people and get to know them. These interactions I’ve found have been the most helpful in spreading the word about my book and my public speaking.
June 23, 2016
Summer Camps!
When I was a kid, my mom sent me to summer camp and I swore I would never go back after the second time, but now that I’m older that’s not the case. In the last few weeks, I’ve been asked to participate at two different summer camps this year. The first is a writing camp for kids put on by WriterHouse, the second is summer camp for adolescent amputees put on by Adventure Camp Inc. (aka my prosthetic’s office). To say I’m excited is an understatement.
The first camp I will be at is the WriterHouse camp in July. I will be a guest and I will be speaking to the campers about writing from experience and also about writing a children’s picture book. Right now I’m scheduled to appear during the first week but I may be back for the second week, this depends on whether or not it’s different campers.
The second camp I will be appearing at is a kid’s amputee summer camp. The office that makes my prosthetics puts this camp on and since I’ve been going to the office I’ve been reading about the camp and it’s goals. I was really excited yesterday when I was asked if I was interested in coming by and spending a day or two with the campers. I had already planned on saying yes (which I did) but before I could they upped the ante and said they had a zip line, a rock wall, and an oversized swing to play on (the likely hood is I won’t be able to do any of these activities but doesn’t mean I won’t cheer on those that can). Additionally this is a chance to spend for me to spend time with kids who are amputees and to talk and listen to them.
Additionally with all the camps, those in attendance will be receiving copies of my book.
If you’re interested in learning more, attending, or would like to make a donation to ether camp information on each camp can be found below. Thanks for reading and have a great day!
WriterHouse: http://writerhouse.org
Adventure Camp Inc.: https://www.adventurecampinc.org
The first camp I will be at is the WriterHouse camp in July. I will be a guest and I will be speaking to the campers about writing from experience and also about writing a children’s picture book. Right now I’m scheduled to appear during the first week but I may be back for the second week, this depends on whether or not it’s different campers.
The second camp I will be appearing at is a kid’s amputee summer camp. The office that makes my prosthetics puts this camp on and since I’ve been going to the office I’ve been reading about the camp and it’s goals. I was really excited yesterday when I was asked if I was interested in coming by and spending a day or two with the campers. I had already planned on saying yes (which I did) but before I could they upped the ante and said they had a zip line, a rock wall, and an oversized swing to play on (the likely hood is I won’t be able to do any of these activities but doesn’t mean I won’t cheer on those that can). Additionally this is a chance to spend for me to spend time with kids who are amputees and to talk and listen to them.
Additionally with all the camps, those in attendance will be receiving copies of my book.
If you’re interested in learning more, attending, or would like to make a donation to ether camp information on each camp can be found below. Thanks for reading and have a great day!
WriterHouse: http://writerhouse.org
Adventure Camp Inc.: https://www.adventurecampinc.org
June 21, 2016
New Blog and Website Coming Soon!
Sorry for the delay, I've been in the middle of moving the last couple of weeks and only got internet late last week. I'm working on a new blog and also in the process of creating a new website. I'm hoping to post the blog next week or late this week and have the new website up by the end of July. I'm really excited about the website because I'm trying some new things (making videos for one and posting pics from some of my speaking presentations and book events).
So thanks for the patience and have a great week!
So thanks for the patience and have a great week!
May 2, 2016
Why I read Comic Books: A perspective from someone living with a nerve disease.
I spend a lot of time speaking at schools around the state where I live, most of the time in libraries. While there I am always looking to see what comics, trade paperbacks, and graphic novels they carry. I see the regulars like Bone, and Amulet. Great reads, but a lot of the time the librarians are looking for other suggestions and also talking about trying to get regular comics as well. They also ask why I read comic books versus regular books and are surprised by my reasons.
As someone with a progressive nerve disease, I am in constant pain. It takes a large amount of energy, focus, and concentration to go about my regular day. As someone who before my accident enjoyed reading after my accident it became very difficult. In order to read, I would (still do) have to shift my focus from trying to control my pain to trying to focus on what I was reading. It would become very painful and it made it hard to focus and concentrate on what I was reading. It would take hours and even days to read a few pages or a chapter. So I stopped reading, I would watch a lot of TV’s and movies because I could watch and listen but eventually that even became hard to do.
After one of my surgeries I received a copy of the trade version of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. I assumed I would just look at the pictures but what I found is that I was able to read the story and when I couldn’t I could still follow the story by looking at the pictures. I also found that comic books where just the right length for me. I could read one and after I finished it, take a few minutes to refocus and then start another. I still can only read a max of 3 in a sitting but just to be able to read again is a great thing. I don’t even mind the constant cliffhangers or having to wait a month or several depending on the writer/artist/publisher because one of the things I never lost was my ability to remember things.
So if you’ve never read a comic, haven’t read one in a while, or a parent/teacher trying to get your kid(s) to read. Try giving comic books a shot. If you need suggestions, feel free to send me a message or check around on Goodreads!
As someone with a progressive nerve disease, I am in constant pain. It takes a large amount of energy, focus, and concentration to go about my regular day. As someone who before my accident enjoyed reading after my accident it became very difficult. In order to read, I would (still do) have to shift my focus from trying to control my pain to trying to focus on what I was reading. It would become very painful and it made it hard to focus and concentrate on what I was reading. It would take hours and even days to read a few pages or a chapter. So I stopped reading, I would watch a lot of TV’s and movies because I could watch and listen but eventually that even became hard to do.
After one of my surgeries I received a copy of the trade version of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. I assumed I would just look at the pictures but what I found is that I was able to read the story and when I couldn’t I could still follow the story by looking at the pictures. I also found that comic books where just the right length for me. I could read one and after I finished it, take a few minutes to refocus and then start another. I still can only read a max of 3 in a sitting but just to be able to read again is a great thing. I don’t even mind the constant cliffhangers or having to wait a month or several depending on the writer/artist/publisher because one of the things I never lost was my ability to remember things.
So if you’ve never read a comic, haven’t read one in a while, or a parent/teacher trying to get your kid(s) to read. Try giving comic books a shot. If you need suggestions, feel free to send me a message or check around on Goodreads!
April 18, 2016
My first blog, why comics mean so much to me.
My first blog, a few weeks ago I attended my very first book festival and had the opportunity to make one of the panels. During that panel, the panelist discussed making yourself more attainable to your fan base and how it helps you as an author. I’m not one to blog, but I thought I’d give it a shot. So with that said, I wanted to talk about my why comic books mean so much to me.
For those that don’t know, I am a huge comic book fan. I’ve been reading on and off since the 90’s but after my accident in 2011 I took a more serious approach to reading and collecting. Due to my nerve disease focusing is hard to do, so reading is hard to do because it requires me to shift my attention, which leads to more pain. So with comics because they’re shorter I can read them more easily and if I lose focus I can still follow the story through the illustrations. But also for me comics, particularly tracking down back issues or hard to find issues, provides a sense of independence. Since my accident I have had to rely on the help of others more than any other time in my life. It’s a hard thing to do and I have now grown to understand why elderly people don’t want to go to nursing homes, why people fight back when their independence is threatened. It is also a very humbling experience as well and I am very grateful for the people in my life and the help they have provided. But anyways, with learning to have to rely on people (less now, than before my amputation) and I lost that feeling after I got hurt. But after my first surgery I received a copy of Captain America: The Winter Soldier in trade. That single trade changed my life in ways I would never realize. After reading it, I wanted to find the rest of the story, I got more trades, but I also wanted the single issues as well. So I went to my local shop at the time Atlas Comics and asked about the issues and was told where to look. Since it was years after the books had been published most of the issues were in back issue boxes, which meant having to search. But due to my injury I couldn’t lift the boxes, so the owner would get a box and set it on the floor for me to go through. I found a lot of what I was looking for but the big surprise was when I found a first printing #1 from that story. Finding that one book changed everything, the rush I felt was the same rush I got just before the horn in a paintball match. I hadn’t felt that way in years and from there I was hooked.
In closing I’ll say this, be who you are and accept yourself for it. It’s difficult to do but once you do, don’t change. Embracing yourself is one of the hardest things to do.
For those that don’t know, I am a huge comic book fan. I’ve been reading on and off since the 90’s but after my accident in 2011 I took a more serious approach to reading and collecting. Due to my nerve disease focusing is hard to do, so reading is hard to do because it requires me to shift my attention, which leads to more pain. So with comics because they’re shorter I can read them more easily and if I lose focus I can still follow the story through the illustrations. But also for me comics, particularly tracking down back issues or hard to find issues, provides a sense of independence. Since my accident I have had to rely on the help of others more than any other time in my life. It’s a hard thing to do and I have now grown to understand why elderly people don’t want to go to nursing homes, why people fight back when their independence is threatened. It is also a very humbling experience as well and I am very grateful for the people in my life and the help they have provided. But anyways, with learning to have to rely on people (less now, than before my amputation) and I lost that feeling after I got hurt. But after my first surgery I received a copy of Captain America: The Winter Soldier in trade. That single trade changed my life in ways I would never realize. After reading it, I wanted to find the rest of the story, I got more trades, but I also wanted the single issues as well. So I went to my local shop at the time Atlas Comics and asked about the issues and was told where to look. Since it was years after the books had been published most of the issues were in back issue boxes, which meant having to search. But due to my injury I couldn’t lift the boxes, so the owner would get a box and set it on the floor for me to go through. I found a lot of what I was looking for but the big surprise was when I found a first printing #1 from that story. Finding that one book changed everything, the rush I felt was the same rush I got just before the horn in a paintball match. I hadn’t felt that way in years and from there I was hooked.
In closing I’ll say this, be who you are and accept yourself for it. It’s difficult to do but once you do, don’t change. Embracing yourself is one of the hardest things to do.
