2/8/09
4:15pm/11:31pm

I am sitting on the blue carpet floor of the Javits Center in New York City, the first real time I have ever been here. It is Comic Con New York and it has been an interesting day.

I didn't think I' make it here but I grabbed the last spot on the college van that was going from college, sponsored by our own Comic Club. I woke up at 5am for the five hour drive. We wound our way down to Pennsylvania and around through New Jersey and finally up to New York City. I felt like I was going to Jersey but I was headed here. Funny how you have to go out of state just to get back in it.

We arrived and made our way to the convention. My heart started pounding in my chest in flutters at the surreal feeling of seeing people passing with The Warded Man Comic Con passes. Every one I saw seemed to bring a higher amplitude of "this cannot be real" "holy crap this is real".

It is one thing to talk about it, to have anticipated it, to have read about it from beginning to end, to comment on posts, to have the Advanced Reader Copy of the British version in my hands, to keep up to date on the latest blog entries, to see Peat move from the humble beginnings of Journalscape to his own website, to world domination of publishing companies, for the facebook group to have 100 members and growing, for the book to be coming out in 30 days.

It is quite a whole different experience to meet in person, for the world to so completely become a reality in one moment.

There was a great sense of anticipation as I wandered through the aisles of Comic Con attempting to find the Del Rey booth.
It was strange and and wonderful at the same time to hear "Lo!" Five years of reading, friendship and words smashed in to a moment and a face, black hair greying and dark eyes shining bright with a smile. The voice was strange to get used to after hearing his own personal blog voice in my head for so long..."That does not sound like I thought..." But my mind accepted it anyway because that was Peat before me without a doubt....though for a moment my personal Peat voice and the real one did blend.
We smashed together in a hug like long time friends. He was doing an interview so we met back up later.

That moment will stay with me forever.
It is truly an amazingly deep feeling to meet a journalscape person in person. It runs deep. It truly is family. I'm not even sure I can completely describe my gratitude for that moment.

We met back up later. I didn't receive a Warded Man weekend pass myself but Peat's supa dupa farking fawesome agent convinced someone to trade with me. Peat has my before face where I am frowning and disappointed with the other pass and the after picture where I am super smiley and happy. Good stuff.
He gave me and my friends Tina and Deja free ARCs of the American version.
What he signed in mine made me like...yeah...whoa.
"Loey, You will be my favorite annoying teen well into your 90's. Thanks for all your support, even from back in the journalscape days (insert signature)."

I had a moment later in the day, taking a moment to rest my feet. I had already read the words before but it was a different thing to hold the American version of the book in my hands, to really read the autograph words and feel them. I scanned the dedications in the front and smiled to my soul as I recognized most of the names. I flipped through the pages slowly, taking in the avatar designs that I had seen on the website, looking at the bio, the question and answer in the back. Reality and beauty of the moment were upon me.

People walked around me but really it felt like there was nothing except me and The Warded Man sitting together, sun setting through the Javits Center windows. The journey was worth it for that alone.
That was why I was there anyway.

This book is different and people know that. There is an aura of anticipation because it is something new in the sort of old ways. It is a good book. But I think it is a better book after you know the person behind it.

So thank you, Peter V. Brett.

It means the world to me.
Peace.
~Lo

aka Your Favorite Annoying Teen
for 38 more days
and no, I have not thought of a new name yet...


End note: I will write about the rest of Comic Con after I have slept. But I had to write about the most important part before I lost the full effect feeling I still have from it.

P.S. Netta I swear you are next on my list. This summer....