Last summer's release of 'Castle Dracula & Dungeon: Employee Handbook Illustrated' was such an amazing experience... quite easily, the summer of my life. First, the release part at the George F. Boyer Museum in Wildwood, NJ was SUCH a success - we apparently had over 70 guests come through the doors to take part in celebrating this long-lost Wildwood dark ride's demise, twenty years ago. The museum said it was likely the biggest turn-out for a Wildwood book release yet.
One of the great surprises at the event, along with my family and friends who came out, was the involvement of Castle Dracula's co-creator, Angelo Nickels and my now fiancée, Kathleen Henry. Angelo came out of Suprise, as we were actually expecting his brother, John to make an appearance... but it just so happened that Angelo found his way to the museum a week prior to get a full inside scoop of the event we were throwing together... and let me tell you:
It was a hit!..Angelo was so gracious with his time and was willing to give stories to each of the residents of Wildwood and beyond -- Many of us couldn't help but to ask continuous questions on how things in the castle or dungeon boat ride were conceived, run or obtained. It was perfect for an Employee Handbook release party to have the boss himself there!
Another special person at this event is my now fiancée, who, at the time, I hadn't proposed to... yet. Katie was so gracious to help me collect the compensation for the comic book at the release party and looked quite amazing doing it. I'm so excited for our new partnership. I proposed to her at the great mid-century motel gem, The Pink Champagne Motel. A motel I had lovingly drawn in my last Wildwood adventure book, 'The Wildwood Days of Doo Wop.'
Pals from my hometown, like Joseph Gourniak, a fellow artist whom I once shared a studio with, also came out for the fun!... My uncle Mike and aunt Annamarie made a surprise appearance, along with Wildwood personalities, Stella Star and Wildwood historian, Kirk Hastings - which, was so cool!
I had the fortune to meet fans of both 'The Wildwood Days of Doo Wop' and 'Mr. Fascination and the Fascination Machines' as well, at this release party. It was also a joy to get some loving feedback for books that took years to produce. I'm really proud that I got to have this amazing summer experience... you could say it had a hand in bringing me back to the east coast - for I'll be moving to New York City this coming May... and I'm pumped for a new chapter in my life!
