https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1viyeyUR_4Y
Lots of other comics people were interviewed that day too, including Rachael Smith, Marc Jackson, Sonia Leong and more. You can see them at this link...
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmhgGLE_aJkCa7EU_KRN5dg/videos
Screen grab ©Leonard Sultana.
I did three video interviews last Saturday at the Meanwhile in Coventry festival. Here's one of them on Leonard Sultana's YouTube channel. After 18 months of barely seeing anyone my voice was wearing a bit thin after talking all day but I hope it comes across ok....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5ycQyt7RLs
Thanks to Leonard for the interview. Don't forget to like and subscribe to his channel to see more interviews he posts with other comics people in the future!
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| Coventry Cathedral yesterday. |
After two years without comics conventions (due to the pandemic, if you're reading this in the far future) it was a pleasure to attend the Meanwhile... In Coventry festival yesterday as one of the guests. I'm still cautious about traveling any distance by train now that many people have abandoned masks or respect for personal space (in other words, abandoned common sense) but as Coventry was only half an hour away on my local bus route I thought I'd go for it.
I arrived at the venue around 9am, which was a spacious tent erected in the ruins of the old Coventry Cathedral. (In case you didn't know, the old Cathedral was bombed in WW2 and they've kept the remaining ruins as a tourist spot and for quiet contemplation.) I've wandered through those grounds many times during my life but never expected to attend a comics convention there! As it turned out, it proved to be an ideal venue, - in good weather at least. Thankfully yesterday was mostly a day of glorious sunshine and the well ventilated tent provided lots of light and fresh air.
My table was situated alongside my good friends Marc Jackson and Rachael Smith. Across he way were more friends, Laura Howell and Sonia Leong, and elsewhere familar faces such as Nick Brokenshire, John Higgins, Al Ewing, Ian Churchill, Kev F Sutherland, Tony Lee, Colin Mathieson and many more. Over the road in the Herbert Art Gallery were Shane Chebsey, Sam Morgan, and Chris Ball doing their live stream interviews for the ICE podcast. Leonard Sultana was also there filming interviews for his podcast and it was great to see Jeff Chahal of the NICE comic con drop in for a visit. Yes, comic conventions had returned and the positive vibe throughout the day was tangible.
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| Artist Sonia Leong. |
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| Minnie the Minx artist Laura Howell |
Attendance from visitors was steady but not packed, but that's often the case at new events, and no doubt the pandemic played a part too. I think we all appreciated it being comfortable rather than rammed under the circumstances. There were lots of visitors throughout the day though, with many enjoying the sun in the outdoor activities and strolling over to the Herbert gallery where more exhibitors were situated.
My thanks to Simon Mayers and his team for putting on such a well organised event that provided a genuine boost for us all after two years without shows. I hope it proved a success and, I hope, showed what Coventry has to offer in this year being its turn as City of Culture.
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| Artist Rachael Smith with her partner Rob. |
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| Cartoonist Marc Jackson, also the organiser of Macc-Pow! |
This is most likely to be the only comics event I'll attend this year. As situations are so uncertain these days I don't know when my next one will be but I'll always appreciate the lift that Meanwhile... In Coventry gave me. Definitely one of the few highlights of the past two years.
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| With fellow creators Rachael Smith and Marc Jackson |
Links:
Meanwhile festival Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/meanwhilefestival
Sonia Leong's website:
Laura Howell's website:
https://www.laurahowell.co.uk/
Rachael Smith's website:
Marc Jackson's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/marcmakescomics/
Shane Chebsey's ICE Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/ICECOMICON
Leonard Sultana's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/anenglishmaninsandiego
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It's going to feel very strange setting off for a comic convention again after two years but I'll be in Coventry on Saturday for the Meanwhile comics festival! Feeling a bit anxious about it but at the same time excited to see my comics pals again.
Here's the floor plan of where you'll find me, in the grounds of the old Coventry Cathedral at table No.8. (Saturday only. I won't be there on Sunday but other guests will.) There's been a slight change since the floor plan was designed and you'll find Rachael Smith on the table next to mine now.
I'll be bringing along some of the remaining stock of my comics (Derek the Troll, Combat Colin 2 and 3) and a few issues of The77. I'll also be available all day for A4 size sketches on request.
Admission is FREE *but* you'll need to download a ticket first from their website. A safety policy will be in place so you'll be asked to wear a mask when inside the venues and respect social distancing. It's going to feel different to the pre-pandemic days but we'll still have fun! See you there!
https://www.meanwhilefestival.com/
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| Click to enlarge map. |
I hope to see you at the MEANWHILE IN COVENTRY comics festival this coming Saturday! It's on all weekend but I'll only be there on Saturday 18th September. (This is likely to be the ONLY comics event I'll be at this year!) I'll be doing sketches on request and bringing some of my comics along.
You'll find me at my table in the artists area of the old cathedral, right in the centre of Coventry. IMPORTANT: You'll need tickets to gain access to the event though, but the good news is tickets are FREE! Go to the website linked below to download your tickets! See you there?
https://www.meanwhilefestival.com/
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Only a few weeks to go until Meanwhile in Coventry takes place in the 2021 City of Culture. This is (so far) the only comic con I'm attending this year, and the first one I've done in two years so I'm looking forward to catching up with my comics friends and meeting the readers!
It's a two day event but I'll only be there for the one day, Saturday 18th September. You'll find me in the marquee in the ruins of the old Cathedral.
There are new comics guest being added all the time and currently they include Laura Howell, Sonia Leong, Micke Collins, Rachael Smith, Marc Jackson, John McCrea, and many more!
To find out more, visit their website at this link...
https://www.meanwhilefestival.com/
See you there?
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