News & Events
Open Studio: Conversations on Art & Why It Matters
I was interviewed along with my buddy Pat Gonder (English & film prof at the College of Lake County in Grayslake, IL) on this radio program out of Wesleyan University (WESU 88.1 FM) to talk about how we use comics in our college classrooms. The host was Maria Johnson, and she found us through our mutual friend, Bill Major (English Professor at the University of Hartford and fellow Indiana University grad). The episode is available at the Open Studio website, available HERE.
A friend of mine from high school--Dr. Ahsan Basha (oncologist/hematologist)--has an ongoing podcast called "The 'C' Word: Community, Not Cancer" where he talks to cancer survivors about their experiences. He graciously invited me on as a guest, and the episode is available HERE.
2019 San Diego Festival of Books
Saturday, August 24, 2019, 10am - 5pm
Liberty Station, Point Loma, San Diego
I moderated a panel on comics/graphic novel memoirs at the third annual San Diego Festival of Books. The other panelists were Mary Fleener (Life of the Party, Billie the Bee), Claudia Dominguez (More than Money), and Fifi Martinez (@baby_misery on Instagram). The panel was held from 1:30 to 2:15 in the Manpower Room, and immediately afterward, we signed copies of our books at the Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore booth.
Panel Discussion on Comics/Graphic Novel Memoirs at the Oceanside Public Library
Saturday, May 4, 2019, 1:30pm
330 North Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA 92054
To coincide with Free Comic Book Day, the Oceanside Library will host a panel discussion on comics with local comic book creators. I will moderate the panel, which will feature Mary Fleener (Life of the Party, Billie the Bee), Claudia Dominguez (More than Money), and Fifi Martinez (baby_misery on Instagram). The event is free and open to the public.
San Diego Comic-Con
Thursday, July 18, 2019, 5pm - 6pm
San Diego Convention Center, Room 32AB
As part of the 50th anniversary of Comic-Con, I was invited to participate in one of the anniversary-related panels that focused on the importance of comics to the local community. The five panelists represented a wide swath of work in comics, including an original organizer of Comic-Con, a publisher, a creator, a librarian, and an educator (yours truly). Here's the panel description from the programming schedule: "San Diego is home to a thriving, year-round comics culture! For 50 years, San Diegans have innovated comics creativity, publishing, and fandom in a way that's rippled out across the world. Meet some of the visionaries who have called San Diego home and learn how their work has changed comics and continues to define this city as a beacon for comics lovers across the globe."
Panel Discussion on Comic Books at the Oceanside Public Library
Saturday, September 29, 2018, 3pm - 4pm
330 North Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA 92054
To coincide with the 2018 "One Book, One San Diego" selection of the graphic novel March (Rep. John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell), the Oceanside Library will host a panel discussion on comics with local comic book creators. I will moderate the panel, which will feature Jackie Estrada (administrator of the Will Eisner Comics Industry Awards), Batton Lash (Supernatural Law), Mary Fleener (Life of the Party, Billie the Bee), and M.K. Palmer (Meraki). The event is free and open to the public.
Interview with The Freeform Review
I was interviewed by the online journal The Freeform Review ("Unconstrained, unfiltered, and unabashed literature") about That Hidden Road, my writing process, and other things.
2017 San Diego Festival of Books
Saturday, August 26, 2017, 10am - 6pm
Liberty Station, Point Loma, San Diego
I was invited to discuss That Hidden Road on the "Journeys in Prose" panel with three other writers at the first annual San Diego Festival of Books. The panel was held at the Main McMillin Event Center, and was followed by a book signing hosted by West Grove Collective Bookstore.
Palomar College Telescope article
Article in the 2/13/17 Telescope about my bike ride, my cancer, and That Hidden Road.
"Writers Read" Reading & Signing for That Hidden Road at Fallbrook Library
Tuesday, February 14, 2017, 6pm - 7:30pm
124 S. Mission Rd., Fallbrook, CA 92028
"Weekends with Locals" Signing for That Hidden Road at Warwick's Books in La Jolla, CA
Sunday, February 5, 2017, 12pm - 2pm
7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla, CA 92037
"Downers Grove Native Talks Cancer, Cross-Country Bike Ride in New Memoir"
Article in the 1/10/17 Suburban Life about That Hidden Road.
Reading & Signing for That Hidden Road at Anderson's Bookshop in Downers Grove, IL
Thursday, January 12, 2017, 7pm
5112 Main St., Downers Grove, IL 60515
Book Launch for That Hidden Road at the Oceanside, CA Barnes & Noble
Monday, October 24, 2016, 7pm
Barnes and Noble
2615 Vista Way, Oceanside, CA 92054
Q & A with author Christine Sneed
Interview with author Christine Sneed (Paris, He Said, Little Known Facts, The Virginity of Famous Men) about That Hidden Road.
"Epic Bike Trip Bookended by Cancer Bouts"
Article in the 7/15/16 San Diego Union-Tribune about my bike ride, cancer, book, and Relay for Life event.
Relay for Life of Vista
Saturday, July 16 & Sunday, July 17, 2016, 9am
Rancho Minerva Middle School
Vista, CA 92084
Relay for Life is the biggest fundraiser of the American Cancer Society; it happens all over the world at various times throughout the year. At this year's event in Vista, I spoke at the opening ceremonies about my cancer experiences and read an excerpt from my book, That Hidden Road. My group--"Team Palomar" (a bunch of highly-motivated Palomar employees and students)--walked in the 24-hour relay and raffled off five signed advance reader copies of my book. VIEW GALLERY
Midwestern Gothic Issue 19 Contributor Spotlight
Profile and interview for the Fall 2015 issue of Midwestern Gothic, in which my piece of creative nonfiction, "Shallow End," appeared.
Midwestern Gothic Issue 13 Contributor Spotlight
Profile and interview for the Spring 2014 issue of Midwestern Gothic, in which my piece of creative nonfiction, "Not in Kansas Anymore," appeared.
"Graphic Novel Shopping at Comic-Con"
Short piece I did for KPBS in San Diego on the 40th anniversary of the San Diego Comic-Con.
"In Print and In Conversation: Rocco Versaci"
Interview and review of This Book Contains Graphic Language on Pop Matters, from 2008.