The Halloween Kid Reprinted!

I went to my previous apartment today and my old roommate told me that a package had arrived for me. I had no idea what it was, but it was from my publisher and it was slightly heavy. I opened up the package and there were two of my HALLOWEEN KID books inside. This confused me. They had already sent me a few advanced copies and here they were sending me two more. I then opened one of the books and there was this little green index card-sized note inside.


I could not believe my eyes! THE HALLOWEEN KID, a month away from even coming out, was getting a second print run! What great surprising news! I couldn't believe it. This has never happened to me before! My first kids book, CLOUD BOY did get a second printing, but it was months and months after it had come out, but here with THE HALLOWEEN KID getting reprinted before it even comes out, was the craziest news! My heart was racing when I read that little note, it's the smallest note, but I read it over a few times to make sure I wasn't reading it wrong and constructing things in my head. All I can say is THANK YOU SO MUCH, if you pre-ordered the book, YOU DID WONDERS! Thank you friends, librarians, book sellers, parents and children, for taking a chance with the book! I enjoyed the heck out of writing and drawing the story. It wasn't 'till later that I worried about how the book might do. It was a seasonal book after all and would only have a small window of a few months to sell from August to October, but I guess I got lucky. If you are a book dork like me and look for a first printing of a book, there is almost always a small printing history number line on the inside copyright page of a book. It's usually a row of numbers like 1 2 3 4 5 6... or 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2, so if its a first printing, it will have the number '1' in the number line and in later reprints the lowest number is removed. So these same numbers, say in a third print run, will look like this: 3 4 5 6... or 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4. Too much information??? Anyway, back to it- thanks again for everyone who picked up a book!



Now, onto some San Diego Comic Con news! Its just a few days away. My buddy Jamie Baker and I are at the same booth we have been for that last few years- we love that spot! Please visit booth #1329, if you attend the show, it would be great to see everyone. Again, the dates ar July 22-25. Jamie Baker will have his first full color book: Sephilina and here's a peek at some of the new things I'll have at the booth this year. I printed up a new SKELETOWN print, once again with the mighty Bloom Press in Oakland, California, by the powerful Nat. Nat is a perfectionist and it shows in all of his work. If you ever need something printed, this is the guy for the job! This is a very limited screen print run of only 100 made. Each print is two colors and printed on a 16X20 heavy stock paper. It depicts little Skully reading a book and his imagination running wild. Here's a peek at the image (not actual print):



I was also able to print a small run of THE HALLOWEEN KID posters! Full color offset print run of 500 made on glossy stock paper. Measures 12 X 18. Here's a peek:





Finally, I printed a small set of postcards. Each set comes with 5 individual spooky images(+1 free) and are mail-ready. Here's a peek:



We'll have more things at the show! I hope to see you there and if it's your first time going to the show, take it steady and slow and enjoy the ride!

~Rhode