I like that of the nineteen panels I appeared on at Comic-Con, only four could in any way be considered "promotional" for anything in which I have even a teensy financial interest. Two of my panels were about a new book I have coming out this October. It's this one — The Essential Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz: The Greatest Comic Strip of All Time — celebrating the 75th anniversary of the most widely-read (and loved) comic strip ever. So we did a panel about it…
The folks on the panel and in the above photo are as follows: First is Charlie Kochman (editor-in-chief, Abrams ComicArts, publisher of the book and one of the best editors I've ever had), then we have Chip Kidd (graphic designer), Paige Braddock (creative director emeritus at Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates), and Alexis E. Fajardo (editorial director, publishing & experiences at Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates). Chip did a superb job with the design and art direction of the project. Paige and Alexis, along with others who protect the heritage of Mr. Schulz these days, could not have been more supportive.
The reason I'm seated in this photo is that this was my fifth (of six) panels that day.
You kind of have to be an author of books to appreciate the above pic. The book won't be out until the first week of October but it's been printed and the printer has bound the books and inserted all the special bonus features and shoved it all into the wonderful slipcases Chip Kidd designed. The first chunk of the press run is currently on a very slow boat from China, inching its way to this country and, eventually, to warehouses from which it will be distributed. But they shipped one (1) finished copy over for the convention and I got to open the package on the panel. I think I looked into the open box and exclaimed, "My God! The Epstein Files!"
It's always a very special moment for an author to hold in his or her mitts, the finished product of what, in this case, was about a solid year of effort and waiting. You know every page of the book from studying and correcting proofs for months…but you're still not prepared to have a completed, you-can't-make-any-changes copy before you. Because suddenly, miraculously, there's a book where there wasn't one before.
Years ago, I wrote a line which has since been attributed to others. It's "When you get the first finished copy off the press, no matter how much you and others proofread it and no matter what page you open it to, you'll find a typo." So far, I'm happy to say, that hasn't happened. I've found all sorts of things I now wish I'd rewritten but I haven't found a typo.
As with everything I've ever written, I will always find things I wish I'd rewritten. On my deathbed, I will be thinking of a better joke I could have put into an issue of Groo I did in 1981. That's just how it is with us writers…most of us, anyway.
Now, this last photo on this page was not taken at Comic-Con. It was taken here in my home office yesterday…
My friend, photographer/designer/model Gabriella Muttone, came over and on her way in, she found a box on my front steps and brought it up here to my office…my first very own copy. I'm still delighted with it and I still haven't found a typo. You'll have to wait a couple of months to obtain yours but if you want to see what Gabriella looks like without a book covering much of her face, you can check out this Instagram page. [CAUTION: Not safe for some workplaces.]
You'll see more photos from Comic-Con here tomorrow. That is, if you can tear yourself away from Gabriella's page.