Here's my swag...

...and a few of photos from the excellent Alternative Press Fair , which I went to today (incidentally I advise caution to any of the Expat File's many epileptic followers wishing to click on that hyperlink; there is some sort of strobe effect going on across their banner). The fair was at the St Aloysius Social Club near Euston station, wonderfully no-frills, slightly down at the heels, not seen a lick of paint since the 1970s. It seems like an actual working social club. There is a bar at the end of the hall and in one corner sat four old fellas who looked like ardent News of the World readers. It was obviously their local and they seemed bemused at the collection of art school hipsters and comic book nerds, although they were quite appreciative of the comely girl with the pink hair and 1950s cocktail dress as she sashayed past them.




As I make my coin serving mainstream media masters it was refreshing seeing all these folk who are scribbling, drawing and crafting away, just for the love of it. And it is inspiring, and makes my own project [see resolution 2 in previous post - ed.] seem a bit more manageable and less daunting.

It was a bit disconcerting going through the stalls, with the creators eyeballing you expectantly as you leaf through their work, work that because of small print runs and niche-within-a-nicheness is so intensely personal. That did put a bit of pressure; Khaled Hosseini or Dave Eggers don't hover nearby in anticipation as you peruse their books in Waterstone's. I did look up from reading Skinny Bill in...Bill's Birthday, half-smiling at its funny/sad tone to see the author staring at me intently. It was a slightly awkward moment, and to fill the silence I asked her if it was strange watching people react to her work. She said yes, it is like having a conversation with someone but they're not answering back.