Posted on

What’s it like to be a vendor at a ComicCon?

What’s it like to be a vendor at a ComicCon? Perhaps you never wondered. I’ll tell you my experience with QuadCon in Peoria.

ComicCon
Here’s the start of the ComicCon experience

It all begins when I hear about a ComicCon, especially in my area of central Illinois, Peoria.

I go to the QuadCon website and find out how to get a table, how much it costs, and what the schedule is.

After buying the table and putting it on my agenda. I advertise it to my fans–like you.

By the way, if you want me to come to your area, contact me with the opportunity.

If it works out and I can come, I’ll give you a pick of my books!

The Life After Life Chronicles

Or you can pick my newest book, Secret Supers.

Secret Supers cover

The Day Before the ComicCon

I pack my books to sell–all of them. That’s four different books, about a hundred and fifty copies. Normally I keep them in the Amazon boxes they come in, but I pack about a hundred in my rolling suitcase, until I can barely lift it.

I pack up my posters and most importantly, my zombie turkey puppet.

Andy Zach acting out

You see, I read the first page of Zombie Turkeys and act it out with my puppet.

What’s the first page like?

The First Page of Zombie Turkeys

ComicCon
Chapter 1 icon

Chapter 1


Bartonville

He felt different. More energetic, more alive. He bred with
female after female in his flock without tiring. He stayed
awake through the night. He feared no predator.

Then a turkey hunter shot him.

The setting sun overlooked a crisp, clear evening in early
November. South of Bartonville, Illinois, a farmer had leased
his wood lot to two turkey hunters. Big and burly in their
bulky camouflaged outfits, they had just bagged one.

“Good shot, Pete!”

“He’s a big ‘un!”

Pete and Bob walked up to the tom turkey, bleeding on
the cold ground. The rest of the flock had scattered into the
woods. He had exceptionally good plumage and weighed
perhaps twenty pounds. Pete reached down and picked him
up by the neck.

“He weighs at least twenty-five pounds!”

Then the turkey’s eyes opened—and gleamed red. He
kicked with his spurs and pecked savagely at Pete’s arms and
eyes. Dozens of his hens attacked the men from behind.

“Gobble! Gobble!”

He felt different. More energetic, more alive. He had no
memory of being shot, but a certain turkey satisfaction at
killing his killers. He also enjoyed pecking at their dead meat.
He had always liked frogs, but this meat tasted better. He led
his flock down the road, in search of more predators to eat.

I’ll do this ten to twenty times in an eight hour day.

Andy Reading Page 1 – and more

Andy Zach reading page 1 – and more

Here’s our table at QuadCon:

ComicCon
Andy Zach and Tori at QuadCon

Finally, the End of the ComicCon

The convention ran out of gas by 4 pm and we all closed down. I packed up my books, took down my posters and went home.

Let me know if you have any questions about conventions. I have a goal of going to one a month this year. I’ve done three so far.

ComicCon
First person to identify the character this cosplayer is portraying, gets a free ebook! Email me
Posted on

5 True Science Fiction Reports and fun news

5 True Science Fiction Reports in this blog post: let’s begin with the first that follows below: real hoverboards, like Paranormal Privateers.

5 True Science Fiction Reports

In case you don’t believe hoverboards are in Paranormal Privateers, here’s the chapter icon to prove it:

Here’s a video of one in action:

The Next True Science Fiction Reports

From hoverboards to small fusion plants!

Small mass conversion devices are also in Paranormal Privateers. Here’s an excerpt:

Talana turned her briefcase sideways. Legs descended
and the briefcase unfolded, revealing a cube and two glass
vials, one golden, one scummy green. Disturbingly, the
cube and vials were larger than the briefcase.


“Our first gift”—Talana picked up the cube, the size of
a breadbox—”is a universal power source. Simply pour in
water and out comes electricity. The unit produces
electricity in the voltage and frequency you wish, controlled
by these dials.”

“Hey, Talana!” shouted Lashon Miller from the press
box. The camera panned to her.

“Yes?”

“What’s the catch? This is like those infinite energy
scams you read on the internet.”

“There’s no scam! The unit works by splitting water into
hydrogen and oxygen and fusing the hydrogen. Out comes
oxygen and helium, which you may capture and use.” She
gestured to two tubes exiting the box. “Let me show you.
My cell phone needs charging.” She plugged the charger
into an ordinary socket, and it began to charge.

“How long does it work on water? How much water?
And how much power comes out?” Lashon asked.

“A cup is good for a year of phone charging. But you’re
not limited to that. See this power transmitter on this
socket?” She plugged a black box into what appeared to be
a two-hundred-and-twenty-volt socket.

Read more in Paranormal Privateers

Next, some fun news

I signed books for fans at the comic con QuadCon in Peoria! Let me know if you want me to come to your area. Click here to tell me!

Here’s one of the cosplay people at the QuadCon. Can you identify the character? Please tell me.

Here’s a bit of fun:

Andy Zach reveals what happens when My Undead Mother-in-law versus Zombie Turkeys

What happens when unkillable Zombie Turkeys meet the irresistible Undead Mother-in-law? Find out in the video above.

Another True Science Fiction Report

Imagine the societal effects of hypersonic air travel. How will the world change if we can get anywhere in an hour? That’s the import of the story below.

I’ll give a free ebook to anyone who posts a fiction story of any length on this topic to this blog or in an email to me.

5 True Science Fiction Reports – The Fourth

This story seemed unbelievable to me, but the technique is sound and may be commercially possible. What would we do with material that floats and is light as wood and strong as titanium? Once again, a free ebook or audiobook of your choice for some fiction on this sent to me.

The Last True Science Fiction Story – for now

Going to the outer limits of outer space, we encounter our next story.

How many of you remember this movie?

Disney’s Movie The Black Hole from 1979

To be honest, I was a disappointed in the unscientific nature of the movie–based upon what I knew in 1979 when I was 23. It’s ludicrous now.

Space Balls

Posted on

7 Science Stories – Which Are True? Tell me and win

7 Science Stories – Which Are True? Can you tell? If you can, you can get a free copy of my funny zombie book, Zombie Turkeys.

Let’s start with the first story!

Spooky? Ghostly particles? Have we stumbled into paranormal science here? Decide if this is real science or not and tell me in a comment or send me an email.

Then there’s this science story

Is this for real? If you’re wondering about who Terry Pratchett is, check out this video about the movie ‘The Color of Magic’ based upon Terry’s novel of that name. It’s the first among dozens of novels set in Disk World.

7 Science Stories – The Third

Is this a science fiction book cover? Or is it real? You decide and let me know.

7 Science Stories
Is this picture real?

Moving on to the fourth science story

R2-D2? Where have I heard that before? Oh yes, Star Wars.

You might have heard of Star Wars.

That’s a science fiction movie. Is the Air Force really using R2-D2? Or is this a hoax story? I need to know. You need to get this right to get your free book.

Oh, and Zombie Turkeys is also available for free as an audiobook.

7 Science Stories – The Fifth

This story is a combination of science and history. Or steampunk fiction? Did they really have AI in the 17th and 18th centuries. Reply to this post or
to me

Story Number 6 – Is This Real?

Are these science fiction ideas, or real science? Or are they exaggerated? Our news media would never exaggerate science, would they?
You tell me.

Now, the Last story

Can you really pop balloons with a laser? It’s on the internet, so it must be true! Just like the next video.

Did you get them all right? Contact me at [email protected] or right here with your answers. If you’re right, I’ll reply with a Zombie Turkeys ebook.