• My CBT interview on Globecat is up. If you want to check it out, it’s here.
• Fall trend I’m kind of into: ombre. Reminds me of Perrin from 2001 (2000?) Haven’t picked anything up, but I’m keeping an eye out.
• Too old for HL yet, but still cool: Crayon Rocks
• We’re shopping for a chair for HL. I put four options on his Amazon list here. Moms and Dads out there: any thoughts? Suggestions?
• NPR did a piece on Gaiman’s THE GRAVEYARD BOOK. Check it out here. (I was honored to have been sent a .pdf file of the book to read before it went to print. Unfortunately, I was a little too raw after the birth of my own son for a story that opened with a toddler in peril, but I have since, uh, girded my loins, and had another go and I must say that (unsurprisingly) I love it. I’ll write more in good time, but for the moment: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.)
• We’re having a very hippy dinner tonight. Fraction’s father would be appalled. Luckily, he’s not dining with us this evening!

It’s very simple, I think: 

• Thursday, 12:00 – 1:00 pm Signing at Image Booth, #2729
• Thursday, 6:00 – 7:00 pm Signing at Image Booth, #2729
• Friday, 5:00 – 6:00 pm Signing at Image Booth, #2729
• Saturday, 11:30 – 12:30 pm COMIC BOOK TATOO PANEL, Room 6B
• Saturday, 6:00 – 7:00 pm Signing at Image Booth, #2729
• Sunday, 4:00 – 5:00 pm Signing at Image Booth, #2729

My husband has posted his appearance schedule, appropriately, at Matt Fraction dot com.   Eisner Info is here. General Con schedule info is here.   I forgot to pack a sweater and a belt, so at some point I have to hit the Gap.  Just in case you were wondering.  

The Comic Book Tattoo is out July 23rd! Woo hoo! I have two stories in this fine collection: SILENT ALL THESE YEARS with Laurenn McCubbin and SUEDE with Muscles MacGunshow Andy MacDonald.

Comic Book Resources has a blog up for the book here and a forum here.

(Also, my friend Kathryn’s HELLCAT book is out.  I have read it.  It’s funny and good and ohmygod BEAUTIFUL and you should totally buy it.  I wanted to link to the purchase page on Midtown Comics but apparently they don’t do permalinks (?), which is, in the parlance of our times, a bummer. )  

(The Immonens are revamping their site.  It’s gorgeous and I’m jealous.  Go see.) 

• I usually come down against Cruelty to Animals.  It’s not a controversial position I know, but this morning, where my own canine household members are concerned, I’m rethinking it anyway. 
• I’ll be appearing, along with Tori Amos (!!), editor Rantz Hoseley, moderator Douglas Wolk, David Mack, Ted McKeever and Elizabeth Genco on the CBT panel at SDCC to ‘launch’ the Comic Book Tattoo.  Yeah, that’s right.  My 22 year-old self thinks my 37 year-old self is cool at last.
• Heroes Con remains awesome.  I apparently don’t have it in me to do full con reports anymore so if you’re looking for that sort of thing I’ll point you towards Tom Spurgeon’s full report and collective memory links page.  For my part, I enjoyed myself immensely.  Many thanks to Sheldon, Dusty and their crew.  A couple of bits worth mentioning: 
  • I met Kathryn Immonen (and Stuart!) in person, at long last.  Turns out she’s just as lovely as I’d imagined.  More so, even.  
  • My favorite exchange of the Con:
    • Matt Fraction: Kathryn came by while you were gone.  
    • Kelly Sue: Did she say anything about meeting up later?
    • Matt Fraction: No, but she gave me a Slim Jim and a knife.
  • Fraction said the collaboration panel he did was the most craft-intensive panel he’d ever been on and possibly the best.  I was minding the table, so I missed it but The Dollar Bin recorded it and posted it here. 
  • Newsarama documented my potty mouth on the Creative Household panel here.  (Incidentally, Russ Lane came up and introduced himself later.  What an interesting guy — turns out he lost 200 pounds five years ago.  TWO HUNDRED POUNDS.  I find that fascinating and inspiring.  It takes such courage and faith to make profound life and identity changes like that.  Russ writes some about his accomplishment here. )
  • Steve Niles and I talked a bit more about a project he suggested that’s got my wheel’s turning.  That’s all I can say without jinxing it, but yeah.  Wheels: totally turning.  
  • Sarah Wilkinson and I also chatted about doing a little something together.  I think I know what it’s going to be, but again with the jinxing.  
  • Fraction’s parents made us all FRACTION t-shirts, which might have been the cutest thing ever.  (Well, next to the little boy dressed as Iron Fist.)  The genesis of the idea came from a photo of Fraction and his dad when Matt was about three.  They’re wearing shirts that say “Fritch” and “Little Fritch.”  We’ve now got a shot of Fraction, his dad and Henry in shirts that read “Fraction,” “Dad Fraction” and “Lil’ Fraction.”  We’re going to frame the two together.  
  • I adore Ivan Brandon and Rick Remender.  Can I just say that?  Cool.
  • I didn’t do a lot of shopping but I did pick up this print by Imaginism for Miss April.  (I nearly picked up one of a Lady Snowblood-esque kimono-clad woman wiping blood off her sword for myself, but I couldn’t think of where I’d hang it.  And — go figure — it’s not on their site.  Alas.)
  • Miss April also scored a monster print moleskine cover by Sarah Dyer.  
  • Introduced myself to Chris Sims from the Invincible Super Blog.  I find that guy’s blog utterly hysterical.  And clearly he’s got great taste: Fraction’s Thor: Reign of Blood is his Pick of the Week.  
• Speaking of Fraction’s books this week, did you all pick up his Young Avengers Special? I know I’m not unbiased but I particularly loved this one.  
• I’ll probably add more to this post as I think of things.  
• Okay… back to work.  

• Holy crap, the dummies of Comic Book Tattoo (pictured above) are gorgeous, no? Rantz, you should be very proud. You have the patience of a saint, corralling eight gazillion creators the way you did, but it looks as though it’s going to pay off in spades. I’m certainly proud to be a part of it.
• Preview Kathryn Immonen’s Hellcat here. (Kathryn, on whom I have a truly embarrassing girl crush, was kind enough to let me read the pitch for this series and I assure you it’s a HOOT with a capital HOO.) I should also note that I will get to SEE the lovely lady live and in the flesh at Heroes Con next week. Here’s the kicker: if you come to Heroes Con YOU CAN SEE HER TOO. And me. And Fraction. And Stuart, even. And even more lovelies, all of whom are listed here.
• I’m working on the very last volume of Black Cat today. Sniff, sniff. I’ll miss you Train Heartnet. You’re a scamp.
• In domestic news, I made a batch of Green Tea cupcakes at 7am this morning and had walked the dogs 2.75 miles before 9. I like mornings. Go. Me.
• EDITED TO ADD: Kevin Mellon sent me a link to this girl’s awesome softies.  Thanks, Kevin.  Wow.  
• Okay… back to work.