Greetings, G-Fans!
Another G-FEST is now, sadly, in the history books. The period immediately following the end of the con is always a sad time, as it means saying goodbye to friends, leaving behind a community of like-minded fans, and not seeing the majesty of the Dealer’s Room for another 12 months.
However, while the conclusion of G-FEST – and subsequent return to the “real world” – is always hard on fans like me, I’m glad to say that I left the show a little happier than usual this year.
Why? Because, perhaps more so than any of my preceding eight G-FESTS… this year was AMAZING.
And not just because of the camaraderie, the incredible work that is put into making the show so wonderful, and, of course, getting to meet my childhood heroes face to face. This year was special because, for the first time, I was actively promoting myself. I was there to represent a massive writing project in probably the single best place to promote a Godzilla-related creative endeavor.
To that end, I’m thrilled to report that the GODZILLA NOVELIZATION PROJECT was VERY warmly received at G-FEST XXV!
Here are a few of the amazing GNP-related highlights from the weekend:
1) I was able to talk about the project with fans and readers in person. It was incredibly humbling to see so many people interested and supportive of the idea, and excited to check it out! I went through the lion’s share of business cards between Thursday and Sunday!
2) I was actually RECOGNIZED for the project on several occasions! Being told “Oh yeah! I’ve heard of that!” or “Wow, I’ve read your stuff and I love it!” is remarkably humbling, and it meant a lot to discover that word of the project is spreading.
3) I got to meet with fellow writers (many of them with far more experience in writing kaiju stories than me) and pick their brains for tips and tricks on how to make my own novels better.
4) I made some important and exciting connections with researchers in the field of kaiju history, including the incredibly generous John LeMay, author of several exhaustively researched books on the history of Japanese giant monster films! I’ve loved John’s work for a long time now, and his works (especially The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies: The Lost Films) are essential reading for any kaiju lover. As anyone who has read The Lost Films knows, John has acquired a staggering amount of material pertaining to kaiju movie scripts and deleted/altered scenes. Needless to say, any help he can give me will only make anything I write better, and his offer of assistance to me was appreciated beyond words.
5) I was able to connect with some potential merchandising partners! Producing GNP-related swag (t-shirts, keychains, coffee mugs, stickers, etc.) has been a goal of mine since launching the project, and now that my audience is growing, the possibility of creating some of these items (perhaps as Patreon rewards for supporters) is starting to look more and more likely. Nothing is set in stone yet, but thanks to a few generous individuals who’ve expressed interest in helping me, the future is looking bright for GNP merch!
And finally…
6) I WAS INTERVIEWED ON THE KAIJUVISION RADIO PODCAST!!!!
Yep, you read that right! Thanks to the support and generosity of hosts Brian and Nate, I was given the opportunity to promote the GODZILLA NOVELIZATION PROJECT via an in-depth interview on their show!
For the uninitiated, KaijuVision Radio is a massive – and highly entertaining – labor of love for its duo of hosts. They’ve exhaustively analyzed the entire Godzilla series in chronological order, focusing on the economic, political, and cultural factors that’ve shaped even the silliest of the Monster King’s films over the decades. The amount of research that goes into each episode is staggering, and the information is truly fascinating. In fact, several of their episodes have become crucial research elements to me as I continue my writing for this project. Check out their website here, and give them a listen!
Needless to say, it was a surreal thrill to be interviewed on a podcast, and one that I listen to on a regular basis, no less! I had an absolute blast doing it, and couldn’t be more grateful to Brian and Nate for their support, their interest, and for simply being awesome guys to nerd out with.
Expect an update when the episode goes live!
And with that, my wall of text has reached its conclusion. This was a long post, but hopefully an enjoyable one to read! Before I go, I’d like to once again express my sincere gratitude to everyone who took interest in the GODZILLA NOVELIZATION PROJECT over this last weekend, and to all of you reading these words right now. Your support truly means the world to me, and I hope I can continue to be worthy of it.
Expect more updates soon as this wonderful, crazy journey continues!
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Is it time for G-FEST XXVI yet?
The Godzilla Novelization Project 