SeaHeart

Jenn and I are on our way to the Buffalo Small Press Book Fair today, but I have a few minutes before we have to start getting ready, and wanted to make a quick post of PEEKTURS of PINK HAIR, since I've been horrible about showing it in all its pinkness, and you had to actually ask for pictures. That's like...epic lameness right there. XD

REMEDIED. ALSO, ruffled-lizard-cardigan. ;D



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Today, Jenn and I went to the Buffalo Small Press Book Fair, where we were able to meet up with our dear friend, Hugh (of the Way of the Buffalo Podcast), and network and meet eleventy billion passionate, vibrant people who are doing amazing things in the world of independent press, and I'm kind of still euphoric from the experience, and since I decided to pull a (somewhat) all-nighter to finish Braided, I thought I'd start the Night!Of!Writing!(tm) by talking about the fair~

The venue itself was to DIE for at the Karpeles Manuscript Library at Porter Hall. Massive, brilliant stained glass windows gave the gargantuan, sprawling, wood-floored room an echoing feel, and everything (even the way the tables were laid out) seemed to point to the towering organ that was situated off to the side. Though the event space was very large, it retained a cozy aspect by how small the vendor tables were, and how there were EIGHTY MILLION PEOPLE there, shoulder to shoulder, coffee cup to coffee cup. Tattooed indie chicks and plaid shirted dudes laughed and touched each other's elbows and made jokes and had massive, intellectual, literary debates over hand-printed zines and business cards as they ambled down the lines of little tables. There was book arts and artists, enough hand-made journals to make any word lover swoon, and so very many self published books, and books and zines through small or independent presses that the array was staggering.

The energy was palpable. Whether there was a group of young people discussing feminism in the Bronte novels or what cover they preferred on a limited edition zine, there was passion and a deep sense of commitment to language and words that fueled Jenn and I on so many discussions and introductions. Whether we were talking about the Fable Tribe or my novels (or our lesbian fairy tale project), everyone we met was as excited about our ideas as we were about theirs. The brilliance of the artistry and community in that space was beautiful and humbling, and I think I'll carry that fuel of creative possibility with me for a very, very long time.

I met fellow lesbian author Deanna DiLorenzo on Twitter of all places, and have conversed with her for over half a year now. She's an awesome person, and I was tickled pink (HAH) when I realized she was also from Buffalo. She tweeted this morning, saying she was thinking of going to the fair, and I said I hoped she would, and she did! Her and her lovely partner spotted us (PINK HAIR FTW), and we talked for a little while about self publishing, her forthcoming novel and GLBT literature in general, and we are TOTALLY meeting up for coffee someday soon to discuss eleventy million more things. She is a fabulous, fabulous lady, and I was so effing excited to finally meet her in person~ <3

Afterward, Jenn and I went over to Hugh and Jer's for dinner (where Hugh made pan-seared sesame tofu, which was kind of one of the most amazing things I have ever nommed in all of my days. He is an EXQUISITE chef, and I kind of crave his cooking pretty much constantly ;D <3), and we talked for a wonderful long while about independent publishing, gay YA, and we sat around the kitchen table with our mugs of tea and talked about possibility, which is one of the most powerful things for any artist or writer or creator, of which we saw many, many manifestations of today. The synchronicity of one creative person touching another, a jumble of words, a smile, a business card exchange...it's a type of artistry in and of itself, these human connections.

And now, I sit in the quiet of the night, mug of coffee beside me, several cats and pups curled up around me, Jenn fast asleep...and I ready to take the final dance with a novella I love, to finish her. This is all, of course, in preparation for a much larger dance of a novel project I can't yet talk about (WHEN DID I START WORRYING ABOUT JINXING THESE THINGS? Oh my. ;D And, anyway, those who know my old project list will probably recognize the rough sketch for the cover~ ;D <3), but will hopefully within a week...I am fueled by creativity, by common passions, by the beautiful and completely wonder-full knowledge of community and fellow artists, and I am--in all of these things--joy-filled and content.

<3 It has been a truly beautiful day.