Your friendly neighborhood JD Estrada will be at 101 Tales

I had 4 events scheduled for 2020, but because this year is what it is, I’ve gotten 4 rain checks. Still, if life has taught me anything, it's that great things can happen thanks to applying creativity and winging it. 

 

That’s why this week I’ll be joining a wide variety of creators from around the world in a free online event called 101 Tales, hosted by Comix Plex. This is a little different and it is so for a couple of reasons. As everyone runs to adapt and improvise in their events, numbers of attendees, interest, and all sorts of variables have been impacted. Some events were hosted on facebook, others had their own website, others had a variety of panels of YouTube and the fact remains that everyone’s still trying to figure things out and find a way to recapture some of the magic that you have when you go to an event. So the event organizers are going for something a little different. 

 

So let’s get to the basics. 101 tales will go from Nov 17-21 and will include even more than 101 tales told by creators from around the world…including yours truly. I’ll have a 1-hr slot on Friday November 20^th where I’ll read two of my Daydreams from the Sherbet Shore live as well as a couple of chapters from my middle-grade adventure Given to Fly.

 

Beyond this, will there be other surprises? 

 

Why yes, because it’s not like it’ll take the full hour to read those tidbits. So as it is, I’ll start off reading the first 2 Daydreams on the Sherbet Shore and then read 2-3 chapters from Given to Fly. Why did I pick these stories? Because things are heavy enough as it is and all of these stories are whimsical and fun, which I think we need a bit more of. That leaves me a nice chunk of time…so I wanted to get creative to make it worth your time and it’s not the first time I wing things. 

 

So after the stories, I’ll be performing a couple of songs on my acoustic guitar. Why? Because if you buy any of my books, take a selfie, and share it on social media, you’ll get a demo from some of my tracks. There are 3 guaranteed tracks, but knowing my love for the #4, who knows if I’ll throw an extra one for good measure. After that, I’ll take questions until the hour runs out. So if this sounds like something you’d like to be a part of, you’ll need to sign in at Comix Plex www.comixplex.com (free of charge, no worries) and you’ll get to visit several virtual booths and enjoy this unique and free event including 5 nights of stories and good times. 

 

There will be presenters and creators of all types during the event including some of my author friends whom I’ve interviewed on my blog, including Joshua Pantalleresco and the author-duo Maple Lion Fiction (Sophie and Chris Brousseau), some creators like Mog Park and Anh Vu,  and plenty of other cool people from around the world. That last tidbit is a BIG part of why I wanted to be a part of this event. We have people from the UK, Europe, Australia, all across the US, and beyond in our efforts to blur the lines of distance and connect to people and fellow creators. As it’s a convention, you’ll see artists offering designs and doing commissions, authors offering their books, and creators of all races, genders, and nationalities sharing their tales.  

 

Although the event will run the entire week, here’s the date again for when I’ll be on live:

 

November 20, 2020

8:00-9:00 PM EST

5:00-6:00 PM PST

 

Remember that to attend, you’ll need to sign up at Comix Plex www.comixplex.com (and yes, it’s free of charge). 

 

So if you needed something to do next week, then now you have an option to connect to creators and disconnect from the news. My best to you and hope to see you there…also…might be some other goodies for anyone who tunes in…but I can’t tell you just yet, because, you know, spoilers. Until then…

 

 

Peace, love, and maki rolls

Atlanta Comic Con 2019: Lessons Learned and Fun Had

Earlier in the year I had my best show ever at the 2019 Puerto Rico Comic Con. I sold out a couple of titles, I saw a lot of familiar faces, and I also met a lot of new ones. It was good to shake off the rust before my first event stateside since I hadn’t done an event since 2017, but even then I knew my experience in one event should never be used as a realistic gauge for another, especially since these were uncharted waters. I mainly wanted to prove I could do it, do it to the best of my ability, and enjoy myself… and for the most part I did… I just didn’t sell that many books.

When you try something new, by the very nature of the situation, odds are highly in favor of you learning a thing or three. In my case, all of that held true. After Puerto Rico, I was well aware that I had to manage and lower my expectations because it was my first show stateside and I knew better than to be lulled into a false sense of security since I’m not at all that known here in the ATL. So I made sure to keep expectations “realistic” but I quickly learned that the term “realistic expectations” changes from context to context… and so do buying habits.

Card readers are a must.
If you take anything from this blog post, please take that sentence and apply it to yourself. Life, work, and several other situations had meant I was doing last minute things before the Atlanta Comic Con, which should have included buying a card reader and setting it up… which takes all of 15 minutes, if that. I did not do this until Saturday evening where lost opportunities demanded that I go to my nearest Apple store to remedy the problem. Seriously, it’s super easy and it was an oversight that cost me a couple of sales, but you live, you learn, and you keep on keeping on. A lot of people do not want to carry cash and although this sounds like a no-brainer, it’s best to repeat out loud for the people in the back not paying attention. In short, have as many sensible and secure ways to receive payment. If not, you’ll bang your head against a wall and you’ll find plenty of other challenges that you’ll have to face.
 

One of many.
In most major cities, there are quite a few large events you can attend as a vendor. People also have the same variety of options so they are selective in regards to the events they go to and what they buy at each event. Being a large city, that also means there are a LOT of vendors. Both of these factors were not unknown to me, but after one weekend, it became clear that to be successful at an event you have to do way more than just show up and know your stuff. There are so many ways to set up your booth and in the end, you have to set up in a way where you’re visible, comfortable, and in control. You also have to know how to make a sale where there isn’t one to begin with. I definitely picked up a couple of tips and pointers in regards to what I should offer and how I should offer it and I also saw quite a few things not to do, at least in my opinion. And yes, a lot of what goes into your exhibitor includes you.

Smile for the camera.
You’d be surprised how many long faces I saw at this show. Trust me, I learned how it felt like to have a bust of a show, but even so, I was always friendly, always had a smile on my face, and quickly learned that the more I enjoyed myself, the better the learning experience would be. Some people could only talk about how slow sales were and how much of a bust it had been. It’s not to say I don’t understand where they’re coming from. After all, if you drove or flew, paid for a hotel, and invested in inventory for it to not sell, then I get why you’d be upset. But for me, if you look pissed off, it’s not exactly appealing to engage you… and in a show with so many exhibitors, it’s amazingly easy to not stop at a booth with funky vibes coming from it. And speaking of funky vibes…

Be kind to people’s sense of smell.
I’ve always been of the mind that you should be pleasant to the senses in any context and one of the most important ones is the sense of smell… I won’t name names, but during the show, one or two particular booths were borderline unapproachable and I swear I’m not exaggerating. I interacted with people who were setup nearby these booths and you could see in their faces that they were struggling and even so, they were chatty, friendly, and pleasant smelling. Seriously, I wish I were exaggerating, but if onions had arm pits, I smelled a couple after they had run a 5K through a field of steamed broccoli. Fortunate for me, both of my neighbors were pretty cool, pleasant smelling, and they were actually a big part of the weekend being as fun as it was, because when it comes to events, sales are nice, but…

Connections are priceless.
When I say connections, banish the word networking from your brain, if only for a moment. That’s not what we’re talking about and although that’s also extremely nice to have, there’s nothing quite like connecting with people for real. This happened on a couple of occasions and it just goes to show that during your journey, you end up finding your tribe. On the one hand, one of my neighbors and her husband were some of the nicest people I’ve ever been next to at an event. Katie Olivia White and her husband David were all sorts of lovely, as was the quirky and awesome Proton Factories, the uniquely artistic Triple7Sp, the talented and humble lover of Hollow Knight - Studio Penpen, the super kind guys and gals at Incubator Comics, the quirky and kind Daniel Kozuh, and the nonstop JH Glaze, who gave some great pointers and support and had a solid show, to mention but a few. There were also some nice people who swung by my booth Apart from nice people, there were also some really nice surprises.

Some people DO know me.
One of the highlights of the weekend was a kind reader coming along and saying, “Oh, there you are.” They had actually looked for my booth and had kept from buying the book beforehand to buy directly from me and I happened to be their first stop. They’d also had Only Human on their wish list for some time and I can’t even begin to say how happy that made me. Sure, it was only one person that was on the lookout beforehand, but that’s one more than I had before and I’ll gladly take it. Also, by the end of the show I was referring and having people refer people to my booth. That’s because if someone is looking for a genre I don’t write in, odds are someone does and when you meet that someone, sending them over costs you nothing. This is something I do at every show and a reason why I take the first day to check out exhibitor halls. You never know who you will see that you know or who you will meet.

Lessons learned and plans to adjust.
In terms of sales, it was a slow show so I do have leftover inventory. I could see this as a failure of sorts or an invitation to get creative and if I’ve learned anything in life, it’s that it’s up to you to choose the lens with which to see what you experience. I learned a LOT during the event, but here are the top 3 lessons from my first event stateside.

1. Get a card reader! Didn’t you read above????? Lol. Seriously, it’s quick, easy, and will be invaluable.

2. Finding the right event is not about size. I chose the Atlanta Comic Con because I thought it was the most prudent choice for an event stateside. Although fun and I met nice people, I don’t think I was the right fit for this event or at least this year. Being selective means taking more risks and trying different things, but large size does not a good show guarantee.

3. Have fun. Although I’m always about having fun, on this occasion I had to learn new ways of having fun and to take it all in stride.

So here’s to having fun, learning, and keep on keeping on. If you have anything else you’d like to ask about the Atlanta Comic Con, by all means, drop a comment or contact me via Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram and I’ll be happy to answer anything you have in mind.

Here are some more pics though feel free to check the entire gallery on Facebook :D

Puerto Rico Comic Con 2019: Books, Smiles, and Camaraderie

I’ve been going to the Puerto Rico Comic Con since 2014 and every year has been a wonderful adventure. The first year I had one book, one poetry collection, and my Daydreams on the Sherbet Shore were handmade by my family. Every year I meet more people and the genuine enthusiasm over what I do and how I do it is fuel to keep going and giving my best. 

This year I had 13 books and sold out of two of them. I also had the best year in terms of sales, with 118 books sold over the weekend. This happened with me being away from the booth most mornings while I was with Mom at the hospital and the Captain held down the fort at the con. Throughout the event, a LOT of people came by to offer support, see if she needed some help, and always asked me how Mom was doing and shared plenty of positive vibes I passed along to her. 

Over the weekend I saw a lot of new faces, but I also saw a lot of familiar faces and all of them made me smile so much. I truly do love writing and connecting with people and if this year has taught me anything, it’s that people who go to the Puerto Rico Comic Con want to connect with you. I talked to hundreds of people, offered advice to writers of all ages, and in true me form, I dedicated each book with my awful handwriting to capture the joy I experience at an event like this. 

Every year has a particular feel to it and this year, there was a LOT of joy and kindness. People who met me were genuinely thankful for me answering all the questions they had. Then there were the people I’ve been seeing since 2014. Among the nicest things someone said was that they had missed me last year and were happy to see me back at the PRCC. That meant a lot because it validated that at least to some people, seeing me and catching up is a highlight… which it already was for me, but to know the feeling is mutual… that’s quite wonderful to be honest. 

Another highlight for me was to see that Atlantic College from Puerto Rico held a contest to choose several artists to let them have a booth there. In front of me, 6 booths in a row had young, kind, and extremely talented artists showing off their art and as a creator, it was refreshing and lovely to see them have such a solid weekend. Some were a bit shy and learned to come out of their shell during the weekend, while other young artists glowed with enthusiasm. This is the type of effort I support 100% and if anyone from Atlantic reads this, I'd love to help out any way and who knows? Maybe we can collaborate one day, but I'll write more about this in an open letter soon. 

I also saw artists from the states who had taken a gamble on this show and time after time I heard how good of a show people were having and that they made their booth and covered their expenses before the halfway mark of Saturday. Some even sold out of inventory (see the pics below). I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, fans of the Puerto Rico Comic Con are some of the best because unlike other major US cities, San Juan and Puerto Rico in general for that matter aren’t spoiled with event after event after event. In addition, since autograph sessions are pre-sold, that means people have more to spend the day (or days) that they go. 

As per usual, cosplayers were showing off their skills and my highpoint was a magical unicorn (pictured below). I stood next to her and could not find one flaw in the craftsmanship of the suit and SO MANY of the cosplayers brought their A+ game. I wasn’t able to take as many pictures as I wanted, but definitely brought a smile to our faces and the Coraline and other Mother cosplay just had me grinning from ear to ear. 

As for the books, Only Human sold out early Sunday morning as did Black Tie Affair. I am always happy every time a book title sells well and I promised a ton of people that I’ll finish the Human Cycle for next year, so hold me to that. Given to Fly also sold pretty well as well and only left a handful of copies left over and everybody loved the concept of a boy who dreams about flying. I’ve already read some new reviews from readers and that’s also something that encourages more than people know. 

In terms of quirky stories, I got the visit from Eric AKA Average Joe on Instagram, a super nice guy who blogs and shares tips on how to save money and make more money. It took a couple of attempts, but we finally met and he was a super nice guy. Also kind enough to take a couple of books and I gifted him an extra one, not because he's always on the lookout for a deal, but because he passed by not once, or twice by the booth, but five times until we connected, so it was the least I could do. 

In addition, a fellow Puerto Rican with a comedy channel on YouTube called Alex Manuel also swung by. He was actually cosplaying as the ex-governor of Puerto Rico, Ricky Roselló and even took pics and recorded a get-well video for Mom. He passed by each day and asked how she was doing and like many other people, kept in touch after the con to see how things were going. If it wasn't clear by now, I think it's obvious that the fans of the Puerto Rico Comic Con are some of the nicest and most genuine in the world and although I always get a lot of love, this particular year was very special and people outdid themselves in offering love and support. 

So all in all, it was a lovely show and even with the challenges my family was facing, we had a great show, a lot of people sent love to Mom, and we even got some videos recorded by people in character. It was a weekend full of joy, happiness, kindness, quirkiness, geekness, support, and enthusiasm. Some people might say it was even a little bananas :) I’m thankful to each and every Geekrican that passed by my booth and all my fellow writers, artists, and creators. I’m proud to know you and call you friends y los quiero de todo corazón. 

Til next we get our Geek on. 

Peace, love, and maki rolls

Ps.: for more pictures from the comic con, check my facebook page.  

See you at the Atlanta Comic Con

In a year of a couple of firsts, I’ll also be having my first official event in Mainland US. This year will mark the second year of the Atlanta Comic Con and I can’t wait because it will be my first as an exhibitor. If there’s an abundance of anything in Atlanta, it’s big events and conventions, so I took a look and really gave some thought to what event would be a good fit for me and my works. After going to several events last year of several sizes, The Atlanta Comic Con feels like a great fit to who and how I am as an indie author.

Some people have asked me why I don’t do Dragon Con and although I could go into specifics, I think a better question would be why not the Atlanta Comic Con? 

It’s got great guests, a good location, accessible parking, and since it’s still in its early going, crowds are large but you can still have a conversation with people and that’s what I truly love about conventions: connections. My first convention was the Puerto Rico Comic Con in 2014 and I’ve come a long way in regards to the books I’ve published, the people I’ve met, and the milestones I’ve had… and evolution should be a constant, so this is my next step.

Let us also remember, being an indie author, it means that any and everything I do is down to what’s in the budget and since I have a day job as well, I needed something that fell into a very convenient spot, schedule-wise. It’s a 3-day event which is also much more my speed than the gauntlet that is the 5-day Dragon Con. And actually, last year I was on a panel at Dragon Con and I’d do that again in a heartbeat for any convention actually. It’s a lot of fun and it allows me to meet new people, which is always great fun. 

As for my lineup for the Atlanta Comic Con, here’s the rundown… is there a chance for this to change? Knowing me, you know it’s very possible and much more due to more books being available but what I put on this list is what’s going no matter what:

Only Human: Book 1 of the Human Cycle – Urban Fantasy - $20

Shadow of a Human: Book 2 of the Human Cycle – Urban Fantasy - $20

Given to Fly: Middle-grade fantasy - $15

Twenty Veinte: bilingual collection including essays, short stories, and poetry - $15

Daydreams on the Sherbet Shore: Middle-grade fantasy short stories - $15

Peace, Love & Maki Rolls: A guide to creative kindness – Nonfiction - $15

For Writing Out Loud – Nonfiction - $15

Between the Tides – Poetry - $10

Dark Strands – Poetry - $10

Captured Moments – Poetry - $10

Black Tie Affair – Poetry - $10

Roulette of Rhymes – Poetry - $10

Pensando en Metáforas – Poetry/Spanish - $10

In case you’re wondering, yes I’ll probably be offering combo pricing but haven’t finalized those. And actually, if you’re going to the event and would like to reserve copies of your books, orders over $50 will get a free poetry collection of your choosing. If you’re interested in that, feel free to contact me on my Facebook Author Page or other social media platforms. 

If you have any other question, by all means use the comment section down below. 

Peace, love, and maki rolls

JD

Guess who’s going to Puerto Rico Comic Con 2019?

THIS GUY!!!

Greetings fellow humans. So after a rocky 2018 that still saw the publication of not 1 but 3 books (For Writing Out Loud – Non-fiction / Peace, Love & Maki Rolls – Non-fiction / Given to Fly – middle-grade fantasy), I’m happy to report I’ll be returning for the 2019 edition of the Puerto Rico Comic Con. The plan is not only to take these new books but to bring more surprises, but until things are ready, I’ll keep hush hush about it. 

Still, it’ll be great to go back to the PRCC. Last year I went as a fan and although it was a wonderful experience, I still missed being there with my books to meet new readers of all ages. You see, when it comes to book events, I’m a big fan of this event because it’s what has set me on my path and allowed me to reach a wider audience. Every year has had surprises, from people showing me what they can do with the Blanc Comics, to people who come by on Friday and then swing by on Sunday to tell me they finished my book. It is by far one of the most rewarding experiences so I’m looking forward to setting new milestones and meeting new people. 

So what can you expect when you visit my booth? Well apart from my scruffy self wearing some curious socks, for sure I’ll have the 13 books I’ve published, including the ones I mentioned above. As always, I’ll happily sign and dedicate any book you purchase to you or anyone else you’re getting the book for.

Here’s the current lineup with individual book pricing:

Only Human: Book 1 of the Human Cycle – Urban Fantasy - $20

  

Shadow of a Human: Book 2 of the Human Cycle – Urban Fantasy - $20

Given to Fly: Middle-grade fantasy - $15

Twenty Veinte: bilingual collection with essays, short stories and poetry - $15

Daydreams on the Sherbet Shore: Middle-grade fantasy short stories - $15
  

Peace, Love & Maki Rolls: A guide to creative kindness – Nonfiction - $15

For Writing Out Loud – Nonfiction - $15

Between the Tides – Poetry - $10
 

Dark Strands – Poetry - $10
  

Captured Moments – Poetry - $10

 

Black Tie Affair – Poetry - $10

 

Roulette of Rhymes – Poetry - $10

Pensando en Metáforas – Poetry/Spanish - $10

Also, someone asked if I’d be offering combo pricing for multiple titles and it’s definitely something I’m considering. Will offer any info once it’s set in stone. 

Anyways, I look forward to seeing you back home and if you have any question, write me on any of my social media or leave a comment here. Much love and see ya soon.

Cheers,

JD