Hamilton's paradise lost

 Saturday was a sunny day for Hamilton Zinefest 2015.

 Brent Willis was among the first to get his stall set up. The early bird catches the worm, as they say.

 Tim Danko and Three Words co-editor Indira Neville were fine company and at 12.30, we channelled the spirit of Sarah Laing as we talked about Three Words.

 There was live comic drawing in the afternoon.

 And table holders were often absent from their seats, mingling and chatting to other comic folk.

 The crowds ebbed and flowed as the day progressed.

 And more comic drawing and reading.

 Four o'clock was "Swap o'clock", when zine-makers exchanged their remaining fare for their neighbours'.

 Then it was time to go home (after "Fearless" played out on vinyl), via a little detour: Hamilton Gardens, with Taylor Swift fanziner Erin Fae.

All in all, a lovely way to lose a Saturday.

Wellington books

I'm delighted to be taking part in Wellington City Libraries Comicfest 2015 along with Indira Neville and Sarah Laing, to discuss Three Words; an anthology of Aotearoa Women's Comics and Cartoons we are co-editing.

We'll be taking part in a panel discussion, from 1-2pm on Saturday 2 May, to talk about women's comics and the genesis of the Three Words book, moderated by Pikitia Press' Matt Emery.

Great fuel

The New Zealand Book Council have included my recommendations for NZ's next Great Kiwi Classic on their Booknotes Unbound site.

And my list gets another favourable mention on Wellington City Libraries' News Blog.

I hope there's something in this little lot to fire up your interest in graphic fiction!

Boy comics

Many thanks to Matt Emery, founder of Pikitia Press, for interviewing Sarah Laing, Indira Neville and me, about "competent boy comics", "community" and, ahem, rabble rousing, but mostly about Three Words.

Three words

I'm co-editing an anthology of New Zealand women's cartoons and comic art, Three Words, along with NZ comics scene stalwart Indira Neville and novelist and cartoonist Sarah Laing. 

We’re open to submissions now. If you identify as a woman and make comics or cartoons in NZ, Three Words wants you!

Interested parties can find the submissions guidelines and read all about the anthology and the editors at the Three Words blog. I’ll be posting art and links to some of New Zealand’s amazing women comics creators in the coming weeks – if you’d like to be profiled or know of anyone you think should be, tweet us @threeword3, or join the Facebook group here, or simply tag along for the ride - we'd love to have your support!