David Avallone

That movie was an absurd collection of lies. And it’s a pity, because Nash’s REAL life was much more interesting than the movie.

Now and forever, fuck Ryan Murphy.

Not only is he endlessly full of shit, his productions are famously awful to work on. All Ryan Murphy shows are hostage videos, made by people who wished they could find other work.

I have an idea what this is about and… I agree.

The only people I’ve met with “mean” cats were lousy human beings.

I’ve only had incredibly sweet cats in my life.

A bullet through the temple?

It feels like pretty vivid recent history to me.

I’ve been biting my tongue watching everyone praise Richardson the last 24 hours. I guess people have short memories. You’re the first person I’ve seen even mention Scott Allie.

I have noticed that some of my most supportive fans are folks who’ve seen me at panels. So I tend to say yes to all panel invites. And by happenstance, I have some friends who moderate a lot of panels…

YouTube video by The Bitter Wolf: Horror & Hijinks! David Avallone talks California Screaming horror anthology w/ Isaiah Swanson!

Don't sleep on this anthology! If you won't take my word for it, here's @davallone.bsky.social with a thing or two to say: youtu.be/TdVWn7rMz3Y?...

And here's the link if you want to make horror happen: www.kickstarter.com/projects/leo...

I don’t think it’s me, so much as the vibe at conventions. And that vibe CAN also suck. But mostly it’s been good for me.

Can I recommend another wartime Bogart movie? Ever seen SAHARA?

It’s a perfect propaganda movie, in the best sense. It sells the idea that diversity is strength, and that it’s only the way to defeat fascism. It’s a masterpiece. Not a love story, but a passionate argument for a United Nations.

It’s more than I’m willing to do and I’m okay with that.

Thanks, man!

I have had amazing times at hotel bars, but to each their own.

The thing about cons: I owe about 90% of my career to interactions in a single hotel bar — the Bayfront Hilton — during San Diego Comic Con. Absurd, but true.

Yeah, I never table there either. At most I’ll do a signing for a couple of hours.

That said, I have been doing like six panels a year there.

There are people -- like my buddy @richardfairgray.bsky.social -- who can make a lot of money at cons, and do a lot of them. But he's also at least twenty years younger than I am.

At sixty I am less enthusiastic for the endless nights and no sleep and no good food and all the other parts of it...

The header photo in the link I sent you is me sitting on someone's hotel room desk, as we hang out and drink in a hotel room, avoiding the hotel bar.

My editors buy me drinks and dinners sometimes.

The last con I just got back from the hotel lobby bar drinks were $28.

I went out and got a fifth of vodka, which fit comfortably in my back pocket.

No rush, and certainly optional.

Worth noting, as an aside: I think it’s easier to make money at a con for an artist (or cartoonist) than a writer. I can’t do sketches or commissions. I’ve tried selling custom writing (haiku for $10!) but that’s not a big seller.

And I can’t bring myself to charge for autographs just yet.

Thanks!

Wrote about it here:

bsky.app/profile/dava...

In February I did four cons. Basically one every weekend. One was local, three were out of town (and covered.) Even with travel/lodging covered it’s still exhausting and also takes you away from your actual work: writing books. But you also have to do it. 90% of my work comes from meetings at cons.

I don’t get bitter about cons (particularly small ones) that decline to pay travel/hotel. My fanbase is mighty but small, for now. The cons that fly me in tend to be run by people who just really dig my work: I don’t think they believe I’m going to be a big draw, and I’m grateful they do it anyway.

Agreed. It’s such a painless and fun part of the process.

I can only afford to go to cons that spot me a table. I can only afford to go to out of town cons that cover my travel/lodging. I make exceptions sometimes if it’s a place I want to visit… or San Diego (dammit.)

A lot of people take huge financial risks to table at cons. Remember that and be kind.

Not coincidentally, I have also titled my book on comics writing “How I Write Comics,” probably for the same reason you did. I don’t like it when people do arts instruction as “this is THE way” versus “this is MY way.” There is no one way.

Mirrors for the apes buying them.

Exactly this.

A few years ago they were crying about their lost apes.

My explosion of schadenfreude when this bubble bursts will rival Krakatoa.

They didn’t like him.

They LOVED him.

He was Bernie But Manly. And let’s just hand wave away his racial violence.

Now who does that last part remind me of…?