Comic Book Month, Baby!

It's my favourite month of the Auckland Libraries year - September! This means...

Comic Book Month!

Every year we in the Libraries host a whole bunch of comic/fandom themed events, and generally go crazy about one of my most favourite formats for reading. At first, September was all about celebrating comics and graphic novels, but slowly, this month has also been expanded to include things like movies, cartoons, zines and other geekery and pop culture.

Already underway, Auckland Libraries has had some awesome events such as LibraryCon, a fantastic Panel of comic artists/cartoonists, and other community library based events (I myself ran a small cartooning workshop in one of my fave libraries, ho ho ho).

Displays are up, people are buzzing, and as always we have our comic book card comp - where you get a stamp for each comic you read, open to all ages (not staff, unfortunately ): before I was staff, I went crazy for this!) to get awesome prizes.

If you've ever read any of my posts, you'll know that I am crazy for comics. I go wild for graphic novels, I fangirl over fanart and cry over cartoons. So you can expect, with the amount of buzz about them this month, that I'll be preparing some awesome graphic novel-related posts soon.

But for now, I'll share with you the place to check if you wanna see if there are any events near you - and remind you (or share for the first time, if you don't already know!) about our cosplay workshops! Although they start at the end of this month, I'm still gonna pop the info here so you can check it out.

And remember to have a gander at our new titles page, where you can see all the new graphics we've gotten our mitts on for adults, as well as teens and kids, so you can pass your geekery on to the next generation (and always take some time to scroll through our non-fiction lists for some hidden gems, like this or this).

If that isn't even for you, also check out the popular culture nextreads eNewsletter. Not just for comics, this newsletter puts the light on some new releases, actor/screen related biographies and general popculture-y awesomeness.

Stalking the catalogue: Manga Mills & Boon

"She was a superbabe. Her longs were so long...I'd die for the chance to see her again."

We have Mills & Boon in Manga *blink blink* I'm late to this party. (My life story, I suspect), because they've been around for a while in Japan, already.

I remember watching Guilty Pleasures a couple of years ago, and hearing that such a thing existed but it went in one ear and out the other. And then yesterday I was stalking the catalogue (best job in the world, really) and came across The Forced Bride in eBook...and you know what happened then. That's right. I requested ALL OF THE THINGS *gulps*

So far we have 9 in total and you can find all of them listed here, and I'm going to read them all because CURIOSITY! It will not kill me as it did the cat. Maybe. This particular title pictured above? I chose it because Amelia is a 'typical bookworm librarian' who, by night, sneaks out of the house and works as a 'provocatively dressed waitress named Amber.' QUE? *suspicious look*

People read romance. Don't believe me? Consider this (Romance Writers of America romance reader statistics):

• Women make up 91 percent of romance book buyers, and men make up 9 percent
• The U.S. romance book buyer is most likely to be aged between 30 and 54 years
• The greatest percentage of romance book buyers (39 percent) have an income between $50,000 and $99,900
• According to RWA's 2011 Romance Book Consumer survey, slightly more than half of survey respondents live with a spouse or significant other
• Forty-four percent of romance book buyers consider themselves "frequent readers" (read quite a few romances); 31 percent are "avid readers" (almost always reading a romance novel); and 25 percent are "occasional readers" (on and off, like when on vacation)
• Readers have been reading romance for a long time: 41 percent of romance book buyers have been reading romance for 20 years or more

I read it for the happy ever after moment. I want one of those for everybody in the world. (Just not myself because eww feels).

Title: Amber by night

Author: Sharon Sala

Illustrator: Mayu Takayama

Series: Harlequin Comics

Comic Book Month!

I'm super excited. September is Comic Book Month at Auckland Libraries, which means we get a whole month to celebrate one of my favourite storytelling formats. There's plenty to sink your teeth into, with competitions and events galore.

Show off your art skills and enter our create a character competition. There are some great prizes up for grabs in four age groups, which means that anyone can enter. That amazing picture to the left is of last year's winner, and we've used it on our posters and fliers - so not only are there prizes on offer, but fame too is up for grabs!

If art isn't your thing, and you just want to get reading, all you need to do to enter our other competition is borrow five comics, graphic novels, or manga. You'll go in the draw to win a cool prize, and the top 5 readers in Auckland will also get their hands on some goodies.

There's more information about these competitions and events on our website, or you can come into the library and ask your friendly neighbourhood librarian! Keep tuned throughout September for comics recommendations and reviews.