Free T-Shirts at San Diego!

Thien and I are giving away free t-shirts at San Diego!  The first 25 people to buy a copy of Level Up from the First Second Books booth (1323) can come to Lark Pien’s Small Press table (P-01) where we’ll be squatting and get either a “I Love Thien Pham” or “I Love Gene Yang” t-shirt for free.  Thien’s idea.  He wants to see who is more loved.

We’re also going to be selling full-color minis of our Legends of the Joystick comic with a brand new cover by Thien.  Here he is hard a work on it:

LEVEL UP LAUNCHES TODAY!

Level Up, my new graphic novel with Thien Pham, is available RIGHT NOW from your local indie bookstore, neighborhood comics shop, Barnes & Noble, Borders, or Amazon.com!

And if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, Thien and I will be doing a signing today at the Barnes & Noble in Emeryville at 7pm!  Come see us and I’ll make Thien do a sketch for you!

Level Up Signing at 7pm
Barnes & Noble Bay Street
5604 Bay Street
Bay Street Emeryville, Emeryville, CA 94608
(510) 547-0905

25% Off Any One Thing At Flying Colors!

Joe “FlyCoJoe” Field, the big cheese at Flying Colors, has announced that he’s offering 25% off any one thing in his store during my and Thien’s Epic Draw-Off this Saturday!   Just bring this coupon when you come!

YANG VS. PHAM EPIC DRAW-OFF
Saturday 6/4/11, 1;30 – 5pm
Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff
2980 Treat Blvd (at Oak Grove Rd)
Concord, CA 94518

This Saturday is Free Comic Book Day!

So go to your local comic bookstore and get a free comic book.  Then, if you’re in the SF area, come to the Diversity in YA event at the San Francisco Public Library!

SFIAAFF Interview

A week or two ago, I did a promo interview with the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival.  They just put it up on YouTube!  (I know the YouTube still makes me look like I’m dealing with a serious bout of constipation while a hot Asian woman looks on, but I swear I don’t look like that though the whole video and the hot Asian woman is actually part of a poster.)

What is a film ignoramus like me doing on a promo interview for a film festival, you ask?  They’ve included a panel on comics this year, and I’ve been asked to participate!  I’ll be joining Hellen Jo (cartoonist, “Jin & Jam #1”), Grek Pak (filmmaker and comic book writer, ROBOT STORIES, “Planet Hulk,” “Vision Machine”), and Alex Rivera (filmmaker, SLEEP DEALER).

The panel takes place at 12:30 on Sunday 3/13/11 at Superfrog Gallery @ New People, San Francisco.  More info here.

Comics in Education: Comic Book Literacy

Just learned about this independent film about comic books in the classroom called Comic Book Literacy.  Haven’t seen it yet, but it sounds pretty cool. Dallas Art News reports that the film will premeire at the Dallas Museum of Art on February 26, 2011:

The independent documentary film Comic Book Literacy will screen Saturday February 26, 2011, at 11:30 A.M. at the Dallas Museum of Art. The film showcases the utilization of comic books to promote literacy and education and features writers, artist and historians who speak on behalf of the often misunderstood medium.

The event will be hosted by Scott Hinze, the hilarious host of Fanboy Radio.  I’m not in the Dallas area, but if you are, check it out and let me know how it went!  Full article here.

Here’s the trailer for Comic Book Literacy:

Teachers, What Are You Doing This Saturday?

Well, whatever it is you teachers are doing this Saturday, cancel it.  Instead, come to the SLG Teacher Day in San Jose!  Librarian Eva Volin, cartoonist/teacher Thien Pham and I will be presenting on comics in education.  Doors open at noon, first presentation begins at 1pm.  Here’s the address:

SLG Publishing’s Boutiki
577 S. Market St.
San Jose, CA 95113

Also, Dan Vado, the head honcho of SLG Publishing, is in an awfully generous mood.  He’s offering everyone who comes 25% off on comics and graphic novels!  More details here!