Write Club!

So, it took a while. It took some planning and some soul searching. It took some realization that doing this podcast was something that we enjoyed doing, as long as we were doing it the way we wanted to do it. So, we're back. Perhaps a bit leaner and meaner, but back nonetheless.This podcast covers the Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival that took place back in December, specifically the LYNDA BARRY AND CHARLES BURNS IN CONVERSATION program. Kurt and I are planning on doing at least 3 podcasts a month, more if time allows, and we're pretty psyched with some of the things we have planned.Enjoy the recording, and as always comments are welcome via email here: Write.Club1@gmail.com, Twitter here @Write_Club, or in the comments section on this post.

Write Club can't always be about comics, right? Right! So in this episode Tim & Kurt take the podcast out into the streets of Brooklyn to cover a Slice Magazine reading event.The event, coordinated by Slice's resident blog czar and online editor, C.A.B Fredricks was your basic head-to-head reading competition featuring the best and the brightest up & comers of the indie publishing world!photo courtesy of Amy SlyPIETHOS! A Reading, works like this: Five independent literary organizations were chosen, each selected a champion, and presented a challenge for an opposing organization. Each reader had about one week to compose a story in answer of their challenge. The prize? A FRESH BAKED APPLE PIE!The event was held at LEGION bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.Listen to the event here: And now, THE READERS, with visual aids and in order of appearance:Liz Matthews (Slice Magazine)photo courtesy of Amy SlyLiz's story involved some visual aids. To get the whole experience, click on each link as she prompts the picture in her story.WindowBreakfastLeavesCorey Eastwood (Book Thug Nation)photo courtesy of Amy SlyKate Axelrod (Featherproof Books)photo courtesy of Amy SlyMartha Raoli (Canteen Magazine)photo courtesy of Amy SlyThe Prize:photo courtesy of Amy SlyNow Dear Write Clubbers, after listening to the event, who would YOU have chosen to win the nommy pie?

Day 1:This is a short one folks! Kurt, Tim and later Phil, take a walk through the con and are struck with a volley of emotions. The British are killed, and Tim & Kurt ask "What's it all about?"Luckily they're saved by a girl named Gabby. Intro: "Four Colored Universe" MetasciencesOutro: "Write Club Theme" Scott St. Pierre

Day 2: Tim is joined by Pete Lenz, who is having fun. Then Tim tries to find the screaming women, and when that doesn't pan out Pete, Tim and Phil head down to the basement to check out Anime Fest. Apples are eaten, smiles are shared, and perhaps the oddest interview I've ever done takes place.Seeing as how this is a major comic event, I thought I'd check out Marvel's Cup O' Joe panel. That kicks in at about 7 minutes, and therein you'll hear about some of Marvel Comics upcoming plans. This, of course, was a slide show, so you will not be able to see what they're talking about. Here are some bullet points:Marvel to publish at least two CrossGen titles. From the images it looks like they'll be SIGIL and RUSE (penned by Mark Waid). Brian Bendis and Michael Oeming will be putting out a creator owned, all-ages book named TAKIO.Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev team up to reinvent MOON KNIGHT.Marvel + ESPN? I don't know either.A teaser of a web-series about Marvel editor Steve Wacker auditioning for the Broadway play based on SPIDER-MAN. I think it's called SPIDER-MAN: WTF am I doing on Broadway? (JOKES!)Intro: "Kingdom Come" Jay-ZOutro: "Write Club Theme" Scott St. Pierre

Day 3: LAST DAY OF COMIC CON NY 2010! We start this off with Phil Gelatt, and you can tell that the con has taken its toll on this strong, strong man. We then chat with Nikki Cook about her upcoming book, MEMOIR, written by Ben McCool.After that we catch up with Reilly Brown to discuss his con sketches and his new ALPHA FLIGHT project. And, finally, Rick Lacy appears on the scene to detail his plans to take his life down to zero, and then build it back up to 11.If you understand the plan, please let me know.We end with a haunting scene at the AnimeFest. In my mind, I'm still there.Intro: "I Am the Law" AnthraxOutro: "Write Club Theme" Scott St. Pierre

The big brains behind Write Club tackle the life, work, and reputation of outspoken and ofttimes problematic comic legend Alan Moore. If you haven't listened to the previous episode, where Tim Mucci interviews Moore, you may want to do so; it does come up and you will be tested.Kurt Christenson, Phil Gelatt, and Tim Mucci discuss Alan Moore. Intro: "Oh Somba!" ElectrelaneOutro: "Write Club Theme" Scott St. PierreWhat do you think of Moore? Let us know in the comments!

This is what happens when the theme of the next issue of Slice Magazine is Villains: You get a crazy idea in your head that just won't leave. At the last Slice Magazine editorial meeting I was asked if I wanted to contribute an interview for their upcoming Villains issue, issue 7. I'm pretty sure they asked me because A) I'm into comics B) I'm into comics C) Most, if not all of my friends are either into comics also, or work in the comic industry.As soon as they announced the theme I immediately knew who I wanted to interview. I wanted to talk with Alan Moore. I tried to get such a crazy idea out of my head, I mean...Alan Moore? Me? How could that happen?? Suffice it to say, I couldn't get the idea out of my head. I had a great spin on the interview, I'm a tremendous fan of Moore's work, and here was the perfect reason to try and contact him. So I set to work. Moore doesn't have an agent, he doesn't have any official representation, so I just sent out an email to pretty much every publisher he'd ever worked with. Blanketed the field, and heard nothing back.Until. Until some nice folks at Avatar emailed me and told me that they'd forwarded my request to Top Shelf comics, which is his main publisher here in the US. Not long after, Chris Staros over at Top Shelf emailed me back to let me know that he'd contacted Alan with my request, and that I should be hearing something soon. Let me pause for a moment here to say how awesome Chris Staros is, because he is. In all of my communications with him he's been nothing but friendly, and professional. A true gentleman. Eventually I was contacted by Mr. Moore's assistant editor at his magazine Dodgem Logic, Joe Brown, and Mr. Brown said that Alan would love to speak with me. He gave me a time and a date. I threw up. Well, almost, because I had about a week to prep.Background: One of the first comics I can remember reading (and understanding) was Swamp Thing #40, which was about this woman who was a werewolf. The central idea was that werewolves and women both cycle with the moon, and it was horrifying, and sad, and human, and amazing. And written by Alan Moore. Alan Moore is pretty much responsible for my comic book obsession.So, I had a week to prep to talk to one of the most influential figures in my life.Here is the result. Write Club and Slice Magazine presents Alan Moore: