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Thursday, October 08, 2009

Awakening Halloween Tour: Next Stop - Baltimore Comic-Con!

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I'm so freakin' excited right now I could mess myself. Or you. Either way, I'm PUMPED about this weekend. Why?

BALTIMORE COMIC-CON!

Not only is it always one of my favorite shows each year, but this year it's the first stop on our Awakening Halloween Signing Tour! The best part is that we get to spend the weekend hanging out with friends, like the talented David Petersen (Mouse Guard, AA Table #58), Kate Glasheen (Hybrid Bastards! AA Table #59), and Jackie Santiago (talented illustrator and darling fiance, AA Table #59) AND we get to talk comics with people alllll weekend and disguise it as "work."

I'm also pretty tits excited to let you guys know that Alex is going to be taking commissions at BCC. That means you not only get a signed book, an exclusive free print, and equally exclusive Halloween access to the first chapter of Volume Two, you can ALSO get original art from Eckman-Lawn, The Man-Machine himself! Pencil or ink commissions will be done on site but full digital pieces will have to be done at home and mailed. This is one of the first shows where he'll be readily accepting commissions so don't miss out!

Bonus points to anybody who comes by the table in Awakening costume. I dunno, what you'll get, but it'll be something cool. Maybe an original zombie haiku in your signed book? At the very least, you'll get our undying love.

What's that you say? You want to know the details of our illicit Halloween Signing Tour? I thought you'd never ask:

1 - Do you already own a copy of Awakening Volume One but can't make it to one of our four signing stops? Then hurry up and send a picture of you with the book to AwakeningComic@gmail.com by 11:59pm EST on 10/30/2009!

Example: A one Miss Chandra Free exhibits her hunger for her Volume Two Halloween Preview:

[click thumbnail to enlarge]

(FYI, get ready for her book, The God Machine, to hit shops this month!)

2 - Are you waiting to try out the book but can't make it to one of our four signing stops? Do you want to see some of what comes next so the wait for Volume Two isn't as excruciating? Pick up the book at your local comic shop (and promote them by taking your photo with the book in front of the shop) or, if you can't get it there for some reason (and shame on them for not ordering it for you!), go ahead and grab it at Amazon.com (Awakening Volume One on Amazon). Same deal, email a pic of you with the book to AwakeningComic@gmail.com by 11:59pm EST on 10/30/2009.

Everyone who emails a picture in by 11:59pm EST on 10/30/2009 is going to get an email from us at 12am, Halloween morning with an exclusive link and login info to read the entire first chapter of Volume Two!

3 - Now, let's say you're near one of the four signing stops listed below. If you come by and pick up a copy of the book, or bring your copy to be signed, not only will we take down your email so you get a link to the exclusive preview, but you'll also get an exclusive, signed print created by Alex just for this Halloween tour! Mark these dates on your calenders:

Oct. 10, 10 a.m. -6 p.m.; Oct-11, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Artist Alley Table #60, Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Convention Center
One West Pratt Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
(Separate admission fee required for entry into Baltimore Comic-Con)

Oct. 17, 1-5 p.m. [Nick Tapalansky only]
Upstate Comics
Freedom Business Center
1097 Route 55
LaGrangeville, NY 12540
(845) 432- 3320

Oct. 24, 12-4 p.m.
Brave New Worlds Comics
45 North Second Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 925-6525

Oct. 28, 4-7 p.m.
Jim Hanley’s Universe
4 West 33rd St.
New York, NY 10001
(212) 268-7088

NEW ART!

That's right kids, time for some new stuff. Since these debuted on Newsarama today (more on that in a minute), I think it's high time you got a lookee-loo:

[click thumbnail to enlarge]

This here is the cover to what would have been Awakening #6, now Volume Two, Chapter One, and is one small part of the awesome preview you can get on Halloween. We've been sitting on this image for a loooooong time, so it's nice to finally put it out in the world! When Volume Two comes out next summer, there'll be 'covers' for each chapter which'll serve as chapter starts, just like we did in Volume One.

[click thumbnail to enlarge]

This piece is really exciting - this is the exclusive print you get for coming out and getting a book signed at one of our four stops this month. Anybody who brings a book to be signed or buys one at the signing gets one of these bad boys signed by Alex just for supporting the book.

AWAKENING IN THE NEWS...

Exciting week for us so far!

Item the First: MTV Splashpage names Awakening one of its Top 5 Favorite Comics Featuring The Living Dead! Considering the company we're in (The Walking Dead, Marvel Zombies, Dead@17, and Xombie) it's incredibly humbling. - MTV Splashpage Top Five Zombie Comics

Item the Second: We talk with Newsarama's own Vaneta Rogers about the signing tour and what to expect from Volume Two, not to mention debuting those two new images! - Newsarama Interview

Item the Third: Fun interview over at Horrorview where, amongst other things, we get labeled Archaia's prize horse (sorry Mouse Guard. Ha!). - Horrorview Interview

IN OTHER NEWS...

They claim it's to add levity to some disaster planning, but I think somebody at the University of Florida knows something: Florida Is All Set if Zombies Invade

Also, just discovered Inappropriate Soundtracks on the YouTube. There are a ton of funny ones, but this one got my attention since it's been a big joke since Awakening #1 came out (for the latest instance, back track to the 4th Letter interview that went up last week):

The best part? It's a fucking zombie song!

Time to start packing and get ready to hit Baltimore in the face with existential horror. Everybody better come out or Alex will convert your breath into fuel for his unnatural body while you sleep.

One. By. One.

See you at the show!
- Nick

Follow Awakening Online:
Awakening on Twitter: http://twitter.com/awakeningcomic
Trailer for Awakening: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qJQB68NkP0
Nick Tapalansky’s website: http://www.nicktapalansky.com/
Alex Eckman-Lawn’s website: http://www.alexeckmanlawn.com/

2:28 AM

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Monday, September 28, 2009

First Look At Volume Two? Free Prints? Awakening Halloween Excitement!

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I love that we're finally rolling into October this week - I think my whole year is a build-up to this month. Leaves are changing, it's cooler out, and the spooks and shadows are creeping to life, peering around corners and following you down lonely streets. Speaking of...

We've got some exciting happenings coming in October, courtesy of the Awakening Halloween Signing Tour! For anyone who missed it, let's run this badboy down one more time because there's something exclusive and awesome for everybody who's reading this blog:

1 - Do you already own a copy of Awakening Volume One but can't make it to one of our four signing stops? Then hurry up and send a picture of you with the book to AwakeningComic@gmail.com by 11:59pm EST on 10/30/2009!

2 - Are you waiting to try out the book but can't make it to one of our four signing stops? Do you want to see some of what comes next so the wait for Volume Two isn't as excruciating? Pick up the book at your local comic shop (and promote them by taking your photo with the book in front of the shop) or, if you can't get it there for some reason (and shame on them for not ordering it for you!), go ahead and grab it at Amazon.com (Awakening Volume One on Amazon). Same deal, email a pic of you with the book to AwakeningComic@gmail.com by 11:59pm EST on 10/30/2009.

Everyone who emails a picture in by 11:59pm EST on 10/30/2009 is going to get an email from us at 12am, Halloween morning with an exclusive link and login info to read the entire first chapter of Volume Two!

3 - Now, let's say you're near one of the four signing stops listed below. If you come by and pick up a copy of the book, or bring your copy to be signed, not only will we take down your email so you get a link to the exclusive preview, but you'll also get an exclusive, signed print created by Alex just for this Halloween tour! Mark these dates on your calenders:

Oct. 10, 10 a.m. -6 p.m.; Oct-11, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Artist Alley Table #60, Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Convention Center
One West Pratt Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
(Separate admission fee required for entry into Baltimore Comic-Con)

Oct. 17, 1-5 p.m. [Nick Tapalansky only]
Upstate Comics
Freedom Business Center
1097 Route 55
LaGrangeville, NY 12540
(845) 432- 3320

Oct. 24, 12-4 p.m.
Brave New Worlds Comics
45 North Second Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 925-6525

Oct. 28, 4-7 p.m.
Jim Hanley’s Universe
4 West 33rd St.
New York, NY 10001
(212) 268-7088

I wish we could branch out further but, for now, we're limited in our travel distance - sorry Mid-West, South, and West! If this tour is as big as I think we're going to make it though, we should be able to go much wider for Volume Two next year!

Hope to see a ton of people at these stops - maybe some folks dressed as Derrick or Cynthia? Zombies, anybody?

AWAKENING IN THE NEWS...

Lot's of interviews and reviews abound, so hold on to your pants:

First, we catch up with Kris over at Broken Frontier about the launch of the book and what comes next - Zombie Awakening - Lowdown

Jill Pantozzi aka The Nerdy Bird says of Awakening, "Forget Zombies for Dummies. This is Zombies for Intellectuals." - Read the whole review here and then check out an amazing interview for GEN where Jill and I talk about zombie survival, Alex's anatomy, and Mexican brothels! - GEN Interview -

Speaking of reviews, here's one in its entirety from Ain't It Cool News (link!) that made Alex and I blush heartily:

"Too many zombie comics start with the outbreak and move right into an examination of the human condition when faced with the end of civilization as we know it. We've seen it a million times. And frankly, I'm pretty sick of reading that story. While AWAKENING focuses on the beginnings of what looks to be the zombie apocalypse, this isn't your usual stow a bunch of random people in a house/mall/army bunker/prison/whatever and see them tear each other apart story. At its core, AWAKENING is a detective story, where one private dick is investigating what at first seems like a missing persons case, but soon turns into something a whole lot more diabolical and dire. Detective Peters is a bit jaded, as all good detectives are, but he's good at his job. When the town crazy woman starts spouting stories of zombies, everyone (including Peters) thinks she's just nuts. But then some crazy things start happening and unlike most outbreak stories, this one takes its sweet old time. Literally months pass in this story before anyone even believes there may be a zombie outbreak occurring. It's an extended version of the initial outbreak scenes in SHAUN OF THE DEAD where the dead are walking, but no one is noticing. A very cool statement about the apathetic world we live in and there's no better backdrop than the jaded world of detective noir for this scenario to play out on. Unlike most zombie books that mix genres, this one isn't winking at the reader. This is an all too serious look at one man who is opening his eyes and noticing that there's a problem going on right under everyone's noses that will most definitely get out of hand soon. I love the tension that permeates from every page. Nick Tapalansky has more patience that I've ever seen a writer have, doling out tiny bits of info to disbelieving characters making those who know what's coming chomp at their own bits in anticipation. Artist Alex Eckman-Lawn literally evolves as an artist as you turn through all five issues collected in this novel. His style starts out blocky and overly dark, but shifts almost seamlessly to a more softy, cloudy tone by the end of the book. But in every page, this looks like a detective/horror book with stark blacks with hints of colors peeking through the scribbles. This is a phenomenal achievement in writing and artistry and proof that when done well even when utilizing the most worn out of genres there still can exist something special."

Another fun interview, this one with Gavin over at The 4th Letter - if you've ever wondered what characters I'd want to write at the big two, or how I'd tackle Johnny Storm's pal Wingfoot, this is the interview to read. - The 4th Letter -

FOLLOW AWAKENING...

...on the interweb:

Follow Awakening on Twitter: http://twitter.com/awakeningcomic
Trailer for Awakening: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qJQB68NkP0
Nick Tapalansky’s website: http://www.nicktapalansky.com/
Alex Eckman-Lawn’s website: http://www.alexeckmanlawn.com/

Keep it locked here for updates as we blow through the best month of the year. First stop: BALTIMORE!

- Nick

5:11 PM

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Monday, September 21, 2009

‘AWAKENING’ CREATORS TO HOLD EAST COAST HALLOWEEN SIGNING TOUR !

This is it, kids! That October event I've been mentioning is revealed below!

***********************************
FANS WHO PURCHASE A COPY OF THE BOOK AT ANY OF THE FOUR SIGNINGS OR BRING ONE TO BE SIGNED WILL RECEIVE A FREE, EXCLUSIVE ‘AWAKENING’ PRINT AND ACCESS TO THE FIRST CHAPTER OF AWAKENING VOLUME TWO ONLINE!

Los Angeles, CA (September 21, 2009) – To help get comics fans in the proper mood for Halloween, writer Nick Tapalansky and artist Alex Eckman-Lawn will embark on a four-stop tour to sign and promote their hardcover horror book, Awakening, and will even offer exclusive prints and a link to read a free, online preview of the first chapter in the next volume. Fans who are unable to attend any of the signings but purchase the book, or have purchased it already, will also get the opportunity to read the free preview.

“The amount of support we’ve received over the past few years has been mindblowing,” said writer Tapalansky. “When the volume was solicited back in April, we partnered with DCBS to offer an exclusive print to fans who ordered the book through their website and it was HUGE! Now that the book is available in stores we wanted to do something special for all of our fans, including those who might’ve been waiting to try it, as well as the local comic shops that support us.”

The stops on the tour are as follows:

Oct. 10, 10 a.m. -6 p.m.; Oct-11, 10 a.m.-5 p.m
Artist Alley, Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Convention Center
One West Pratt Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
(Separate admission fee required for entry into Baltimore Comic-Con)

Oct. 17, 1-5 p.m. [Nick Tapalansky only]
Upstate Comics
Freedom Business Center
1097 Route 55
LaGrangeville, NY 12540
(845) 432-3320

Oct. 24, 12-4 p.m.
Brave New Worlds Comics
45 North Second Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 925-6525

Oct. 28, 4-7 p.m.
Jim Hanley’s Universe
4 West 33rd St.
New York, NY 10001
(212) 268-7088

Fans who purchase a copy of Awakening at any of these appearances, or who bring their already purchased copy to be signed, will receive a free Awakening print created exclusively for the tour. Plus, by submitting their e-mail address they will be sent a link to read a free, online preview of the complete first chapter of Awakening Volume Two, due out next summer. The preview will be distributed at 12 a.m. ET on Halloween morning, Oct. 31, 2009

Fans who aren’t able to attend any of these appearances but would still like to gain access to the preview can send in a picture of themselves with their copy of Awakening standing in front of the local comics shop where it was purchased, along with the shop’s information, to AwakeningComic@gmail.com so that they can receive the link in return, while also getting their shop featured on the blogs of the Awakening creators.

Those readers who do not have access to a local comics shop and are only able to buy their copy online or at their local book store need only to send an e-mail to AwakeningComic@gmail.com.

Fans who have already purchased their copy of the Awakening hardcover won’t be left out! These readers can also e-mail a picture of themselves with their book to AwakeningComic@gmail.com and receive a link to the exclusive preview.

Awakening takes place in the once-peaceful city of Park Falls, where a series of gruesome murders and missing persons has put the town on edge, and Cynthia Ford, known as the town “crazy,” finds retired police detective Derrick Peters and relates to him her belief about what’s going on. Her explanation: Zombies. Unable to ignore Cynthia’s information, though not sharing her beliefs, Derrick and others in the town explore the mystery as weeks turn to months and the death toll rises. Could Cynthia be right or has she finally gone insane?

“I don’t think we can fall over ourselves enough to say how much our readers mean to us,” said Tapalansky. “Our readers have been amazingly patient waiting for this volume and, now that it’s available, we want to give them something cool to not only show how much we appreciate them, but that Volume Two isn’t so far away either.”

Aint It Cool News said Awakening is “a phenomenal achievement in writing and artistry and proof that, when done well, even when utilizing the most worn-out of genres there still can exist something special.”

Brian LeTendre of the Secret Identity podcast called Awakening “a unique take on the zombie genre that has a distinct noir flavor.”

Follow Awakening on Twitter: http://twitter.com/awakeningcomic
Trailer for Awakening: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qJQB68NkP0
Nick Tapalansky’s website: http://www.nicktapalansky.com/
Alex Eckman-Lawn’s website: http://www.alexeckmanlawn.com/

Diamond Order Code: APR09 0649
ISBN-10: 1932386483
ISBN-13: 978-1932386486

About Archaia

Founded in 2002, Archaia has built an unparalleled reputation for producing meaningful content that perpetually transforms minds. With a slate including such popular Eisner-Award winning titles as Mouse Guard and The Killer, as well as Awakening, Gunnerkrigg Court, Robotika, Killing Pickman, Artesia and the Publisher’s latest additions of Titanium Rain, God Machine, Roddenberry Productions’ Days Missing, The Jim Henson Company library and Mr. Murder Is Dead and Lucid with Zachary Quinto’s production company, Before the Door Pictures, Archaia has become synonymous with quality content. For more information on Archaia or any Archaia titles please visit www.Archaia.com. Archaia can also be found on Facebook (www.facebook.com/archaiacomics), MySpace (www.myspace.com/archaiacomics) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/archaiacomics).

5:14 PM

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Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Wicked October Plans Part 1

First of all, a big thanks to everybody who's been helping out the book by sharing our "Open Letter to Comic Shops." The letter is still being retweeted on Twitter (Are YOU following @AwakeningComic yet?!) and finding it's way onto new blogs every day thanks to you, and Alex and I can't thank you all enough. All the emails I've been getting back from shops have been really excited about Awakening and they're glad to have been able to check out the book before ordering it just to stock it (i.e., without a customer request).

Those of you who read the letter might've noticed a little mention about a big October event... The details are still being finalized BUT part of it includes a few comic shop stops for signings and we want to know where YOU want us to go. We have to keep it to the east coast for now, I'm afraid, but we can get as far south as Baltimore pretty easily, depending on how we schedule things. Here's how we're shaping up so far:

Baltimore Comic-Con: 10/10 - 10/11
Brave New Worlds - Philly Fresh, PA - 10/24
??? (It's a secret to everybody) - 10/28

If you want us to pop in to your shop to hang out, sign books, and nerd out, drop me an email at Nick.Tapalansky@gmail.com and we'll see what we can do!

Some quick hits:

New interview and Making Of feature with Mr. Alex Eckman-Lawn over at Graphic Novel Reporter!

Great review of Awakening Volume One over at View From Heaven!

A fun interview with yours truly, conducted by Bryn Colvin, writer of the forthcoming Hopeless webcomic (watch this space for details!)

A very kind review over at Comixology

Titanium Rain's first hardcover is now available for pre-order at your local comic shop! Hop in there and demand it!

Places on the interweb you should be:

SpookyChan.com has gone live! Check out the work and news of Chandra Free, creator of Archaia's upcoming The God Machine.

Shadowgirls written by Starkweather: Immortal creator, Dave Rodriguez - awesome webcomic, the #1 Horror Webcomic, in fact, last I'd heard...

Yon Kuma is another sweet webcomic written by another Archaia writer, Josh Hechinger, writer of the very-nearly-released Grave Doug Freshley!

MooreReppion.com, the interweb lair of the wiley and talented John Reppion and Leah Moore, authors of a multitude of great sequential fiction including The Complete Dracula and The Trial of Sherlock Holmes, not to mention Raise the Dead.

Off to fix myself a plate of spaghetti and dive into some ::gasp:: WRITING! With Awakening Volume Two already written and a few other bits already done, what's a guy to work on next? Mystery, Adventure, or Horror? Hmmm...

We love you.

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Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Please Repost! An Open Letter to Comic Retailers - Awakening Update!

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So, the book is out - now what? Now, oh loyal readers, we need to keep the momentum going. Reviews and interviews are abound but now we need to show comic shops that there's good reason for them to carry the book in their stores! Below is an open letter to comic retailers which I emailed out to all the shop contacts I could gather online. What we need YOU to do is repost this on blogs and message boards, Twitter a link, send up a smoke signal - get this info to your local shop to help them sell the book. That doesn't mean you should go in and ask for ten copies of the book to be ordered, that's not what this is about. This is about spreading the word about the book and giving retailers the ammunition they need to confidently recommend and sell the book to their customers.

Let's do this thing! Zombie Noir for everybody! Tweet and repost pleeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaase!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello, purveyor of four-color greatness!

My name is Nick Tapalansky and I'm the writer of the recent Archaia release, Awakening (Volume One). Selling comics is a tough business, and nobody knows that as well as you guys. That said, you do it day in and day out and, one better, you do it well. If I can appeal to your generous side for just a minute, I’m hoping you’ll read on and find your free PDF of the 144-page volume, a trailer for the book, and more. I’m putting in some legwork, trying to spread the word about the book’s release (the hardcover was released in July of this year), and let you know how the team behind the book, as well as Archaia, is working to promote the book and push readers into your stores. First though, a little background.

When the first three chapters of Awakening were serialized back in 2007 the series was nominated for four British Eagle Awards including Favourite Newcomer Writer and Favourite New Comic Book. We’ve also received tons of critical praise, including:

- “The coolest and most original zombie piece since The Walking Dead got under way... This is simply gorgeous art that needs to be lived in. It, like any great art, speaks to you immediately and with authority.” - Lee Ferguson, Broken Frontier

- “Derek Peters is where Phillip Marlowe meets George Romero. Awakening will have readers feeling so lonely that they need someone nearby, but so paranoid that they’ll double-check who’s in bed next to them.” - Nick Kelly, Horrorview

- “Awakening may be the indie runaway hit of the year.” – The Geeks of Doom

- "Awakening is the type of storytelling achievement you often find yourself reading in trade format a year after-the-fact, wondering why the hell you didn't hear more about it at the time of its publishing. The type of book that goes on to achieve eventual cult status and terrible film adaptations that wholly miss the point." — Tom Mattson, Newseed Comics

After Archaia underwent a publishing hiatus for most of 2008, we quietly waited with the book until the business end of things was sorted out. By mid 2009 the machine was moving again and Awakening, now a two-volume hardcover series (more on the format shift in a minute), was ready to make its comeback! The book has since been featured on CBR, in Rue Morgue Magazine, and on various comic news and review sites.

Below is the solicitation for the volume, followed by a link to the trailer for the book:

"The once peaceful city of Park Falls has been tainted by a series of gruesome murders and missing persons. Cynthia Ford, well known as the town crazy, comes forward to speak with retired police detective Derrick Peters one January afternoon. She claims to have information about the murders, but does she hold the key to unlocking the mystery or has she truly gone insane?
To Derrick’s disbelief she utters one word:

Zombies.

Unable to ignore Cynthia’s information, though not sharing her beliefs, Derrick and others in the city explore the mystery as weeks turn to months and the death toll rises. Could Cynthia have been right? Follow the first half of Park Falls’s year-long struggle for answers here."

You can view the trailer for the volume here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qJQB68NkP0

So, where do you come in? Like I said in the beginning of this letter, I know how hard it is to sell comics these days (or even books in general). It’s even harder to opt to stock a new title from an unknown creative team when you’ve got some guaranteed sellers you can put in its place. That’s actually why we shifted formats from floppy issues and hardcovers to just hardcovers – how could we ask you to order a fourth issue from a relatively little known book and put it on a shelf in place of, say a Marvel or DC book after we had an 18-month publication hiatus? It wouldn’t make sense. That’s not to say you guys don’t support the indies, far from it, but something like that just seemed like a bit of a stretch, even from our end of the table as creators.

Back to the point though – it’s hard to make that decision without knowing more about the book. That’s why, below, you’ll find a link to download a PDF of the entire volume for you to read.

(Email Nick.Tapalansky@gmail.com with your shop's name and location to receive the PDF!)

The book contains the first five chapters of the series, two more than were serialized, 10-pages of supplemental story material (journal entries and illustrations between each chapter), and pinups from a multitude of artists as chapter breaks. It’s also got a sweet dust jacket and an even sweeter price point: $19.95. If the books had all been serialized, they would’ve cost $17.50 combined cover price – for $2.45 more you get it hardbound, with dust jacket, and 15-pages of supplemental material (the journal entries plus the aforementioned pinups)!

I firmly believe there’s at least one (if not two or three) customer in your shop that would love the hell out of this book and that’s my challenge to you: put this book in that customer’s hand. It’s a sale for you, and another reader for us – we both win.

Got a zombie nut? Tell them it’s a “zombie noir,” a murder mystery with a zombie twist.

Got somebody who’s zombied out? Tell them it’s more about the mystery with an entirely different take on the classic zombie (read the book – it’s true).

Got an indie fan who doesn’t dabble in horror so much? Tell them its existential horror, more about the plight of the characters in the wake of this growing mystery (the noir card helps here too).

Got a genre (horror) fan? Tell them its zombies with a Fell feel.

Got all of the above? Go to town! The best part about it is that everything above about the book is true - you're introducing them to something new and exciting they otherwise might not have known about!

Right now Alex and I, along with Mel Caylo, Archaia’s Marketing Director, are working hard to plan an October event for Awakening.
[Details of event edited for now - details will be emailed along with PDF download link, including info on how we'd like to promote YOUR store! - Nick]

We’ll be supporting the event via online news (Comic Book Resources, Broken Frontier, Comic Monsters, Fangoria.com, etc.), social networking (Twitter, MySpace, Facebook), and the like. Our hope is to move more people into stores rather than ordering online, so if you plan to have a copy or two of the book in stock please let me know after I send you official dates for the event so that I can list your stores name and address in any releases, blogs, etc. relating to the event. We want to make push as successful as possible for you and us, so any support or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We're in this for more than just the one day, so anything we can do to help you sell the book beyond the one-day event, please don't hesitate to mention!

In the interim, you can find out more about the book, including interviews and reviews, and follow us online at the following addresses:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/AwakeningComic
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/AwakeningComic
Nick’s Site: http://www.nicktapalansky.com
Alex’s Site: http://www.alexeckmanlawn.com

Thanks for taking the time to read this – I know it was a bit lengthy but I’m hoping with all of this material and information you’ll be able to better sell the book in your store. I’ll be sending out more info about the October event as we’re able to finalize details. Alex and I are always up for store signings, talking at graphic novel reading/creating groups, or any other store events, so please feel free to email if you’d like us to pop in! The east coast, northeast in particular, is where we’re located but we’d be happy to come by around conventions to stores that are out of our relative area so don’t hesitate to ask!

Thanks again!

Best,
Nick Tapalansky
Nick.Tapalansky@gmail.com

5:35 PM

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Saturday, August 01, 2009

Awakening Volume One - Out NOW!!!!!

OUR TOP STORIES...

Ho. Lee. SHIT! It's out! It's out! It's FUCKING OUT!!!

Sorry, had to freak out for a minute there because it FINALLY happened! Awakening Volume One hit comic shops on Wednesday, 7/22 and hit 'em hard. Shops I've talked to have been selling out and placing re-orders which is the awesome.

I've also heard that folks who ordered from Amazon started receiving books this week. In other words, those of you who were waiting to see if it was the real deal this time before ordering are in for a treat - get thee to your LCS stat! Failing a local comic shop, hit up Amazon and help us speed our way up the bestseller lists there:

http://www.amazon.com/Awakening-One-Nick-Tapalansky/dp/1932386483/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242403586&sr=1-1

As always, your friendly neighborhood Barnes & Noble is able to pre-order for you too.

To everybody who stopped by the booth at San Diego Comic-con, thanks for the love and support! More about the con coming in next week's blog, including pics and anecdotes galore.

SPREADING THE WORD...

Alright kids, listen up: The book is out. The trick now is to make sure EVERYBODY knows. Post the trailer hither and yon, cry forth to the heavens (and to everyone you see on the subway), and recommend it to your friends and loved ones. Especially grandmothers - they dig existential horror and zombie noir. Well, MINE does anyway but she may be partial.

A big part of self-promotion that I think gets overlooked in comics is the library circuit and, with it, reading groups. I'm talking to as many reading group heads and librarians as I can to suggest the book as a monthly selection (for horror, graphic novel, and mystery reading groups) and to make sure a copy is available in any and every library I can get in touch with, but I need your help! If you're following this blog it stands to reason that you dig the book, so do me a favor: check out your local Barnes & Noble, Borders, comic shops, and/or small indy bookshop (my faves) and see what reading groups they have - if they fit with a group which would enjoy Awakening recommend it to them! Likewise, if you frequent a library, whether at a university or just a city or town branch, recommend the book be stocked in their graphic novel section. Heck, show them your copy so they can see how loverly it is!

The short version is that we couldn't have gotten this far without you and any help you can give would be hugely appreciated. To anybody in the Southern New York or Philadelphia, PA areas: feel free to e-mail me if you get any bites at the libraries/reading groups - either Alex or myself (or both) would be happy to stop by and talk about the book, comics, writing, art, or just the weather. You can reach me at Nick.Tapalansky@gmail.com

AWAKENING IN THE PRESS...

First of all, if you're not following us on Twitter you're not as cool as your friends! Don't be uncool, follow @AwakeningComic for the latest updates on your favorite comic dudes.

Second of all, if you haven't already checked out http://www.NickTapalansky.com what are you waiting for?!

Now then, on with the show...

More reviews for Volume One are starting to roll in! Below is one from The Quarter Bin which has one of my favorite quotes ever:

"Nick Tapalansky and Alex Eckman-Lawn are the perfect team for Awakening."

Read the whole review here:

http://thequarterbin.com/?p=7001#more-7001

We also had the great pleasure of meeting Stephanie from ComicMonsters.com after our panel at the con - in her recap of the day she had this to say:

"One of the surprise moments of the day was the Archaia panel. Now that Zachary Quinto, of “Heroes” fame, is involved with the company, HUNDREDS of people were in attendance for the Archaia panel and gathered in the hall to hear about the recently released “Awakening” by Nick Tapalansky and Alex Eckman-Lawn. Here is Nick (left) and Alex (right) looking stoic and thoughtful immediately after handing out issues of “Awakening” to fans and attendees.

As a fan of the story for over a year, it was great to see them get the exposure they deserve. And congratulations to them both for reaching the best-seller list on Amazon.com on their first day of pre-order: #2 for Mystery (Graphic Novel) and #6 Hardcover (Graphic Novel) and even selling out of copies at Wizard World Philadelphia! Way to go, guys!"

You can read her whole recap for Saturday here:

http://www.comicmonsters.com/ftopict-11751.html

Oh! For you art enthusiasts in the world, Alex was interviewed by our pal Patrick McEvoy for his Ninja Mountain podcast while we were all at the show. You can check out the podcast here (Alex starts around 22:50 if you're just in it for his purdy voice).

"I'm gonna get edited out of that entire episode, aren't I?"

http://ninjamountain.blogspot.com/

IN OTHER NEWS...

First, an amazing scientific discovery:

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/07/14/oldest-male-organ.html

"Now we've actually found it, a specimen with an undoubted clasper with a knobbly end."

Now, exciting Archaia releases!

Both The God Machine and Starkweather: Immortal are in this months Previews for an October release! You can wander in to any LCS and tell them you want it but I'll have more exciting means, like pre-order coupons and links to various sites, posted here in the coming days. In the meantime... Just go tell your shop you want 'em, damnit!

LOCAL SIGHTINGS INCLUDE...

SUMMER/FALL!
New York Anime Festival (September 25th - 27th in Artist Alley with Jackie Santiago)
Baltimore Comic-Con (October 10th and 11th with Archaia)
Albany Comic-Con (November 1st with Jackie Santiago, Mark Holmes, and Luke Mierisch)

KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST AWAKENING UPDATES! WE WANT YOU TO JOIN...

Meh, fughedit for now! I appreciate the sign-ups, guys but at present the idea of writing a separate e-mail newsletter containing largely the info your finding here anyway seems a bit silly. I'm gonna take it back to the lab for a bit of reworking and come back strong though so be on the lookout...

5:53 AM

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Monday, July 20, 2009

Awakening Release Countdown: ZERO HOUR!

Just a short one today, folks. Making some last minute preparations for San Diego (leavin' tomorrow!) but I wanted to make sure you all heard the news...

GET TO YOUR LOCAL COMIC SHOP WEDNESDAY TO GET YOUR COPY OF AWAKENING VOLUME ONE!!

The countdown is OVER and we've FINALLY arrived. Thanks so much to everyone for sticking with us through the roller-coaster getting here. I'm pretty confident it'll go much smoother from here on out.

Be sure to come by booth #2635 and say hello to myself and Alex as well as the rest of the Archaia crew. We'll have Awakening Volume One on hand for you to check out and Alex and I will be happily signing all week (Alex gets in on Friday for all you folks who want to touch true greatness).

Alex and I are also participating on a panel on Saturday, 7/25 with the amazing Chandra Free (The God Machine), Matz (The Killer) and... SPOCK?!

5:30-6:30 Archaia: New Titles— Come hear about the great titles Archaia has in store, including Awakening (with writer Nick Tapalansky and artist Alex Eckman-Lawn), The Killer (with writer Matz), and The God Machine (with creator Chandra Free). Then: You've watched him for three seasons on NBC's Heroes playing Sylar and on the big screen as Spock in the new Star Trek movie, but what do actor Zachary Quinto and his colleagues at media production company Before the Door Pictures have to do with Archaia? Find out exclusively at this panel, which will feature Quinto, Corey Moosa and Neal Dodson of Before the Door Pictures, plus appearances by top-secret special guests with additional announcements! Room 5AB

See you on the left coast, me scallawags. More release news, signings, and all that fun stuff next week.

We love you.

- Nick

www.NickTapalansky.com

11:02 PM

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Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Almost heeeeeeere.... Awakening Pre-Order Initiative!

OUR TOP STORIES...

HOLY SHIT IT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING!

Got yer attention? GOOD! Because Awakening Volume One has just arrived in the states from the printer and should be hitting Diamond's warehouse tomorrow! That means if we're lucky, the books will be hitting stores next Wednesday or, at the absolute very latest, on July 22nd. Get ready, kids.

And for all you California natives or intrepid travelers heading out that way in, oh I don't know, two weeks or so, be sure to get your books and head on over to the San Diego Convention center to say hello. Don't panic, ye of little faithers who might not have pre-ordered - we'll have copies at the show too.

Those of you who want to take advantage of Amazon's sweet discounting, though, can still do so of course!

http://www.amazon.com/Awakening-One-Nick-Tapalansky/dp/1932386483/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242403586&sr=1-1

As always, your friendly neighborhood Barnes & Noble is able to pre-order for you too.

AWAKENING IN THE PRESS...

Check out the newest issue of Rue Morgue (July - #91) for a full-page interview/preview (page 50, "Blood in Four Colors") of Awakening Volume One! It's just hit newsstands last week so be sure to net your copy (not just because of us - it's one of the best horror mags around with an eye towards culture and quality some other gore mags lack).

And in case you missed my ecstatic update last week, check out our sweet trailer for Volume One on the ol' YouTube:

Or, if you prefer, hit the direct link (with embed code for all your interweb plastering needs) here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qJQB68NkP0

Big thanks to all our pals who've posted this puppy up for the world to see. Spreading the word about a new book these days ain't easy and everybody's help and support is HUGELY appreciated.

Last, though certainly not least, I'm happy to announce the launch of NickTapalansky.com! While some of it is still a work in progress, the site is up and mostly operational. It was designed by the illustrious Kate "Monster" Glasheen (http://www.katiecrimespree.com), the illustrator of Archaia's Hybrid Bastards!. Check her out, check the site out (http://www.nicktapalansky.com), and check YOU out. Wrrd.

Not familiar with Awakening? Unsure still what it's even about? Check out a sweet preview/interview and an exclusive preview of the full first chapter of Awakening Volume One, supplemental material and all! Get over CBR STAT!

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=21437

And don't forget to follow us on Twitter with @AwakeningComic.

LOCAL SIGHTINGS INCLUDE...

SUMMER/FALL!
San Diego Comic-Con (July 22nd - 26th with Archaia)
New York Anime Festival (September 25th - 27th in Artist Alley with Jackie Santiago)
Baltimore Comic-Con (October 10th and 11th with Archaia)
Albany Comic-Con (November 1st with Jackie Santiago, Mark Holmes, and Luke Mierisch)

KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST AWAKENING UPDATES! WE WANT YOU TO JOIN...

...our brand spankin' new Awakening mailing list! Sign up and receive release information, special promo news, signing and convention appearance updates and more! Just sling an e-mail* on over to AwakeningComic@gmail.com with the subject "Sign Me Up!" to get started. You'll be happy you did.

First edition was held off until the book was confirmed as in-country and ready to roll - watch for it pre-SDCC!

*Remember kids, ask a grown up first!

10:07 PM

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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Awakening Volume One Trailer!

Watch. Love. Pre-order.

http://www.amazon.com/Awakening-One-Nick-Tapalansky/dp/1932386483/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246374754&sr=8-1

3:15 PM

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