Small Press Expo Related Book Signing Events for the Washington, D.C. Area

Small Press Expo Related Book Signing Events for the Washington, D.C. Area

For Immediate Release
Contact: Warren Bernard
Phone: 301-537-4615
E-Mail: webernard@spxpo.com

Bethesda, Maryland; September 21, 2007 - A number of Small Press Expo (SPX) creators attending this years event will be at a series of book signings that will take place at various locations and dates across the Washington, D.C. area.

This year's SPX will be held October 12 and October 13 at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland, across from the White Flint Metro stop on the Red Line.

The book signings will feature such creators as Bill Griffith (Zippy The Pinhead), Kim Deitch (Alias The Cat), Ted Rall (America Gone Bonkers!), Richard Thompson (Richard's Poor Almanac", "Cul-de-Sac”) and Matt Wagner (Grendel).

The book events are as follows:

will be signing his latest acclaimed graphic novel, Laika, which is being released in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the launching of the first manned satellites.

Date: September 29
Time: 12:30PM and 2PM
Admission Fee: Free
Location: National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C.

Rutu Modan will be part of the Washington DCJCC Book Festival to discuss and sign her new graphic novel, Exit Wounds.

Date: October 11
Time: 7:30PM
Admission Fee: $8 Adult/$6 Children
Location: Washington DCJCC 1529 16th St., NW Washington, D.C.

Kim Deitch (Alias The Cat) and Cartoonists With Attitude with Ted Rall, Jen Sorensen and Keith Knight will have a joint signing event including a slide presentation about their respective works.

Date: October 11
Time: 7PM
Admission Fee: Free
Location: Barnes and Nobles Bethesda 4801 Bethesda Ave, Bethesda, MD

Matt Wagner is one of the pioneers of indie comics with his original creation of “Grendel”, which celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year. Matt also created, wrote and drew “Mage”, and has worked on a number of projects for both DC and Vertigo.

Date: October 11
Time: 5PM-7PM
Admission Fee: Free
Location: Big Planet Bethesda 4908 Fairmont Ave. Bethesda, MD

Nick Abadzis will once again be signing his latest acclaimed graphic novel, Laika.

Date: October 11
Time: 5PM-7PM
Admission Fee: Free
Location: Big Planet College Park 7315 Baltimore Ave. College Park, MD

Richard Thompson, will have a discussion on creating comics. His cartoons "Richard's Poor Almanac" and "Cul-de-Sac" appear in the Washington Post, with Cul-de-Sac going into national syndication this fall. There will also be a display of his original art work.

Date: Friday, 12 October
Time: 7.30PM
Admission Fee: Free

Location: The Writer's Center 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, MD 20814; four block south of the Bethesda Metro stop, just off Wisconsin Avenue.

Bill Griffith is known world wide for his syndicated strip, Zippy The Pinhead, which runs daily in The Washington Post. He has a new Zippy collection out from Fantagraphics entitled “Zippy: Walk A Mile In My Muu-Muu”.

Date: Friday October 12
Time: 9PM
Admission Fee: Free

Location: Politics and Prose 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, DC 20008

For further information on the artists or to request an interview, please contact Warren Bernard at webernard@spxpo.com.

SPX, a non-profit organization, brings together more than 300 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers and distributors each year. Graphic novels, political cartoon books and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. A series of panel discussions will also be held of interest to readers, academicians and creators of graphic novels and political cartoons.

SPX will be open to the public from 2 pm - 8 pm, Friday, October 12 and 10am - 7 pm Saturday, October 13. Admission is $8 for a single day and $15 for both days.

SPX culminates with the presentation of the 11th Annual Ignatz Awards for outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning. The Ignatz is the first Festival Prize in the US comic book industry, with winners chosen by balloting during the SPX.

As in previous years, all profits from the SPX will go to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), protecting the First Amendment rights of comic book readers and professionals. For more information on the CBLDF, go to their website at

http://www.cbldf.org/.

Founded in 1994, SPX is North America's premier alternative comic-book festival. This annual event brings together comic creators, publishers and more than 2000 fans together to celebrate the art of storytelling.