On Tuesday I will give a talk at the GJ Art Center from 6:00-7:30 on conventions, conferences and critique groups for the Western Colorado Writers Forum, so I’ve been giving some thought about what I’d like to say.

I can see structuring the presentation as more of a kaffeeklatsch than a speech: lots of room for audience-generated questions and comments.

While searching for what I’ve already written about the topic, I came upon this. In 2021, The Daily Sentinel interviewed me about our local comicon. Here’s my response. It became self-revelatory in a hurry.

A local journalist sent me some questions for an article they’re working on about our upcoming comicon. I’m not much of a comic book fan, but comicons are about more than comics. Here’s the questions and my answers.

I have a tendency to over answer things like this.

What sparked your interest in ComiCon?

I didn’t go to conventions of any kind until I was in my early 40s. I talked to the editor of a fiction review magazine in 1996, and he asked me if I was going to the World Science Fiction Convention in Anaheim in a couple weeks. I laughed and said, “Science fiction conventions? Isn’t that where geeky people dress up like Klingons?” He said, “Oh, no, no . . . well, yes, but it’s also where a writer can meet other writers, editors, publishers and fans. It’s a way for you to network and be more involved.” So I went. Sure enough, there were Klingons, but also it was the first time I was able to be in a community of people who knew things about science fiction, fantasy and horror literature, films and gaming (and cosplay and filking and numerous other fannish pursuits). I didn’t even know I missed a sense of community! I remember walking from one of the convention buildings to another in the middle of a really hot day. I stopped at a park bench in the shade under a tree. A really convincing looking Klingon was sitting there too, smoking a cigarette. He said, “Nice day, isn’t it?” And I thought, “I’m home!”

Is there a particular character you resonate with?

My relationship with conventions is mostly from the literature end. When I was a kid, I liked the Daredevil quite a bit, but I wasn’t fanatic about reading comics. I idolized authors, like Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Zenna Henderson (and Edgar Allan Poe, H.G. Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs, etc.). I also am a science fiction and fantasy film buff.

Did you collect comics back in the day? Still today?

I did not. Comicon is bigger than comics, fortunately. The World Fantasy Convention or World Science Fiction Convention, are more literary, but there’s a huge component interested in film, graphic novels and gaming. The comic universe, particularly DC and Marvel exert a large influence, even in the literary conventions. At a Comicon, the emphasis is more to the comics side, although in my experience I think that films still generate more interest. At a major comicon, like the Denver one, a ton of comics illustrators are in attendance, and each has their fan base. The illustrators for the major comics are superstars, but the smaller “indie” comic books and their writers and artists catch a lot of love from the fans. Also, budding comic book creators go to meet their idols, make connections and to learn from people farther along in their careers. The fans, of course, benefit from all of this. So a comicon will serve multiple interests too. Someone who likes to cosplay will go in costume to show off and to admire other costumes. Maybe they are deeply investing in the character they are dressed as. Someone else might go, though, because they love a particular comic or a film franchise or graphic novels. The game fans are well serviced too. A good comicon for one person might involve a completely different set of activities and attractions than someone else experienced.

If you attend in costume, what’s your character?

I’ve never gone in costume. It hasn’t been an interest of mine, although if I did, I’d probably go full steampunk. I love that 19th century, alternate universe aesthetic. Most comicons will feature a costume contest that I’ll always attend. The world of costume design and costume performances at comicons and other conventions is surprisingly deep. There are levels of expertise in costuming just for the competitions, from amateur to masterclass. Some people spend hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars on their costumes. Throwing on a Halloween Batman costume would show very poorly at a comicon (although little kids attend dressed that way—they’re way cute).

Your SF is along the lines of Bradbury (whom I adore!) and have comics also influenced your writing?

Of the comics that influenced me most, I’d say TALES FROM THE CRYPT got to me most often. They were horror stories, and for kids of a certain age (my age at the time) they were scary and entertaining. I remember one that has influenced me to this day. In it a jazz saxophone player was obsessed with playing the perfect riff. He was convinced that if he could, the heavens would open and he would ascend to the level of a god. So, one night in the rain he managed to do it. He played the perfect riff. The heavens opened, but it wasn’t angels or God looking down on him. It was some sort of Chuthlu elder god monstrosity, and it plucked him off the Earth. I’ve felt since that I’m the writerly equivalent of that guy. I’m always trying to write the perfect sentence or paragraph or story. I certainly don’t want the heavens to open if I do it, but I understand his goal. There’s something compelling about the pursuit of perfection.

Favorite comic/character of all time?

I mentioned Daredevil earlier. I liked that he wasn’t supernatural or had super powers. He was just a blind guy who developed his other senses.

What do you admire most about comic writers and/or illustrators?

I love the idea that there are people in the world who can make a living entertaining other people with their creative visions. All the creative types (artists, poets, potters, dancers, singers, film makers, etc.) who spend a part of their lives making art are admirable as far as I’m concerned. Not everyone can make money doing it. In fact, most creators don’t make their living with their art, but the impulse to create is a powerful one. I’m glad they pursued their passions.

Anything else you’d like our readers to know about ComiCon or your writing?

I go to comicon because I like to be in the presence of science fiction, fantasy and horror fans. We speak much the same language. I don’t mind that people will buy my books when I’m there, or come to panels that I speak on, but mostly what I love about comicon is it feeds my inner, imaginative self. Frankly, much of the world can be deadening, depressing or frightening—watching too much of the news can do that to a person—while a comicon is a celebration of imaginative play.

I love that comicons exist. They can be an antidote for that which ails us.

Conventions, Conferences and Critique Groups: How to Get the Most from Them with James Van Pelt