1/21 January - April 2012 Schedule

Hey folks,

So this year is gonna be a bit different. Every time you saw me in 2010 and 2011 I was either at artist alley or with Epic Cosplay wigs in the dealer hall with copies of my book. This year, just because you see I'm at a specific con doesn't mean I am selling books myself personally.

Over the next few months comic book stores and other shops will start carrying my book. There's already a few dealers carrying my book - probably the biggest one will be Comic Cellar since they hit most if not all the major anime and comic book conventions in the country. At the end of Jan 2012, I'll be shutting down my online store and I'm doing $5 off the book and free shipping within the US until the end of the month saving you about $10.

The following is a list of cons I'll be at for the next few months as well as what I'll be doing at each. Some I'll have the book with me, others not.

OHAYOCON (Columbus, OH)

I have no artist alley table nor dealer space so don't look for me there. Instead I'm gonna set-up my backdrop somewhere at the con and just take photos. I'm not charging anymore and I'll photograph anyone. The only thing you should know is I won't be sending you photos. Reason ? I'm hoping to do another book down the line in a few years so I'm holding on to the photos.

I'll have a display copy of my book if you wanna look through it and if you DO want the book, just buy it from my site and when you get to the spot where you can add comment, just say "Ohayocon" and I'll bring a copy with me so I can sign it in person and hand it over to you. How's that for customer service ? lol !

KATSUCON (Washington DC)

Okay, this is gonna be a bit crazy. I'm bringing a whole different set-up specifically for the World Cosplay Summit US preliminaries . That will be used at night for the WCS. During the day, I'll be somewhere at the con (thinking gazebo area right now) with my usual set-up. Again, I'm not charging and will photograph anymore. Epic Cosplay Wigs will be in the dealer hall as well as Comic Cellar with my book so you can get it from them. I *may* hang out at the Epic Cosplay booth on Sunday but not sure.

Katsucon is really gonna be a see-what-happens con for me. I'm not sure how it'll work out but you can follow me on twitter or Facebook for up-to-date info.

WONDERCON (Anaheim, CA)

Yes, WonderCon will be held in Southern California this year and I plan to be there. I have no artist alley table, no dealer space. Instead, I'll be somewhere set-up just taking photos. Again, not charging anyone (I usually charge if I'm in the dealer hall since well, y'know I have to pay to be in that room). Will photograph anyone. Comic Cellar and a few other vendor will have copies of my book here. I'll have a display copy on me if you see me and just wanna look through the book.

COMCOM (Mexico)

I've been invited as a guest at this Mexican con so I'll have a table as well as my set-up and will be giving a little talk about my adventure with the book. Pretty excited about this one since I get to go out of the country to photograph and talk to cosplayers. This con is a few miles from the border so those in SoCal can easily check it out if they wanna.

ANIME BOSTON (Boston, MA)

I've been confirmed to have an artist alley table here and the AA hours are crazy ! 10 am to 10:30 pm Fri & Sat with 10 am to 3 pm on Sun. That's 12 hours a day ! I will not have my set-up with me at all and plan to be at my table pretty much all the time. If I do take a break, I'll have a sign up that will tell you what time I'll be back.

That's it for right now !

12/4 "Cosplay in America" hits Bookstores in 2012

My book at Kinokuniya Bookstore in San Francisco

Okay, y'all, some great news ! Starting in Feb 2012, my book will be available nationwide in bookstores and comic book stores ! World domination ! ... okay, make it national domination. *sigh*

But wait ? Isn't your book already available at stores ?

Yup, it is but it isn't as far reaching as it will be in 2012. Right now only a handful of stores around the country carries it. Starting in Feb, my book will be able to be ordered from *any* bookstore and comic book store in the country.

And here's where I need your help.

Look, I'm not a well-known author. It's not like I'm J. K. Rowling and bookstores orders hundreds of copies. I haven't been on Oprah or have a name Kardashian so honestly, I don't expect the person who orders books for bookstores may know what cosplay is plus I'm sure they are swamped with new titles every week. Chances are, they probably won't order copies of the book unless say...... a customer wants it ? ^^

If you like your local bookstore / comic book store to carry it, please ask them to carry it. If you need the ISBN number, it is 978-0615349060. What would even be *better* is that if you want to buy a copy of my book, please order through them. Support your local bookstore / comic book store !

So starting in December, my book will be available for bookstores/comic book stores to order. How it works is this : bookstores order the books, my distributor tells me in Jan how many books they need. I ship it out to them, they ship it out to the bookstores and Feb. rolls around and volia !

That's all I ask :) Please help me spread the word :)

In the meantime, I'll be shutting down my online store at the end of December. I figured if it goes nationwide in Feb, and it is already available on J-List and Amazon, then do I need to maintain my own store ?

So for the month of December, I am offering the book at $5 off as well as free shipping (it'll save you all together about $10 bucks) plus I will sign the book as well as include free stickers and postcards. This offer unfortunately is only available here in the US (sorry Canada, Mexico, and the rest of the world). Remember, it takes 7-10 days to get to your location so if you want to get it for someone for X-mas, order early ! After this, only way to get signed copies is to find me at a con.

That said, it has been an *incredible* experience for me for the past three years. When I started taking cosplay photos at AX 2008, I had no idea that 4 years later I would have a book available in stores across America. I spent the past 20 months at 29 cons talking to cosplayers from coast to coast. I can honestly say the thing I take away from my whole adventure was the opportunity to just talk to people all over the country and realized how cosplay has really inspired their lives. And really, that in turn, inspires me. I've always rooted for creativity and despite the negative aspects of cosplay (i.e costs, dramas), I believe it is a very positive aspect in one's lives.

I'm not sure what 2012 will bring but I can tell you one thing - I won't be hitting that many cons next year. It'll be much, much less and I hope to get into cons I've never had a chance to attend - such as Anime Boston, Animazement, Youmacon. Please follow my Facebook and Twitter and I'll keep you up to date on what's gonna happen.

You can also relive my 2012 by visiting my YouTube channel - most of the cons I attended, I made a video for and you can also check out on Flickr where I posted from cons I've attended in the past few years.

Hope y'all have a wonderful Christmas holiday !

cheers :)

ejen

10/4 Save the date ! "Cosplay in America" Exhibition (10/28)

Mark your calendar folks !

Halloween weekend here in Los Angeles and I'll be having a two part exhibition event coming up Friday October 28, 2011. The night kicks off at ICON Projects for the opening reception of "Cosplay in America" exhibition. Come by and check out a gallery of images from both the book as well as my 2011 tour throughout the United States. Reception is 7-9 pm and open for all ages.

As you know I traveled America in 2009 to 6 cons photographing over 1,600 cosplayers. Since I released the book in May 2010, I've been on tour promoting the book to 25 cons from San Diego Comic Con to Anime Expo to DragonCon. In many of my stops, I bought along my photo booth. What you see in this exhibition will be between 2009 and 2011 with DragonCon as the most recent.


First 300 people will get a wristband allowing them complimentary entrance to the second part of exhibition taking place at Boulevard 3 night club on Hollywood Blvd. Here will be the multimedia exhibition of my images as well as afterparty. Images from the book and my 2011 tour will be projected on two screens at the main dance floor as well as on closed-circuit television running throughout the complex. Outside my images will be projected in the outdoor area. At midnight there'll be a special performance on stage (shhhh !)

Since this is Halloween, come in costume and get 50% off entrance fee (regular price $20) or come to my opening reception @ The ICON for a wristband that allows free admission to the club. RSVP at cosplay@boulevard3.com.

Man, it's gonna be an epic night !

Press release here
Facebook event page

7 - 9 pm
The Icon
5450 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
All Ages

10 pm - 2 am
Boulevard 3
6523 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028

21+

9/12 AFEST "I'll Make a Man Out of You"

Awesome video done by T-Dragon at AnimeFest 2011 @ Dallas, TX.