The Con Artist
Paperback | Kindle
Written by Fred Van Lente
Illustrated by Tom Fowler
Publisher: Quirk Books
Release date: July 10, 2018

Mike Mason lives at conventions… literally. He loves the feeling of creating something from nothing, at the behest of fans of his art. When he arrives at the biggest con of the year, San Diego Comic-Con, he has to face his ex-wife and the man she cheated on him with, plus he’s hit with the news that his mentor, Ben K, has died. If only that was the worst of it! Spontaneous actions coupled with alcohol leaves Mike with little recollection of the night before. If only Danny hadn’t gone and died during that time! Now a suspect, Mike is on his own case, tracking down his alibi and sketching the clues. Can he elude the fuzz and various enemies long enough to solve the crime before he is arrested?

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Hope Never Dies: An Obama Biden Mystery
Paperback | Kindle
Written by Andrew Schaffer
Publisher: Quirk Books
Release date: July 10, 2018

He doesn’t call. He doesn’t write. Joe Biden is feeling abandoned by his former bestie, Barack Obama, since the end of their administration. When a close friend is found dead on the train tracks, Amtrak Joe is compelled to follow up, especially when his name is among the dead man’s belongings. When his BFF finally shows up with pertinent info, Biden is on the case. He, Obama, and Steve, the Secret Service guy, embark on a super fun adventure. However, can Joe Biden get past his flat-left hurt in order to trust the Former President of the United States once again?

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The Quotable Negan
Warped Witticisms and Obscene Observations from The Walking Dead’s Most Iconic Villain
Hardcover | Kindle
Written by Robert Kirkman
Publisher: Skybound Books
Release date: July 3, 2018

On AMC’s The Walking Dead, Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is my favorite character. I know, I know… he killed Glenn and Abraham (also 2 of my faves), but it is not his murder streak that makes me love him. It’s his goddamn witty sayings that accompany his actions. It’s his way of finding the humor in everything, even when surrounded by a horde of hungry zombies, or handing out death like a deck of cards. I just about ate up Skybound’s little book about TWD‘s big man.

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Beautiful Scenes From a Fantasy World
Background Illustrations and Scenes from Anime and Manga Works
Paperback
Edited by PIE International
Publisher: PIE International; Bilingual edition
Release date: February 1, 2018

Everyday Scenes from a Parallel World: Background Illustrations and Scenes from Anime and Manga Works from PIE International is a collection of art that displays ordinary life in extraordinary beauty. Works from 39 artists capture the eye and heart. It is no wonder that manga and anime are so popular all over the world.

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Beautiful Scenes From a Fantasy World
Background Illustrations and Scenes from Anime and Manga Works
Paperback
Edited by PIE International
Publisher: PIE International; Bilingual edition
Release date: May 1, 2018

I had the pleasure of running into Smith Publicity, representing PIE International, Inc, a Japanese publisher known for their gorgeous art and design books, at Book Con earlier this month. One of the dazzling titles that caught my eye was Beautiful Scenes From a Fantasy World: Background Illustrations and Scenes from Anime and Manga Works. The cover alone is magical, with gorgeous color amidst a magical scene of caring (look closely). This book displays beautiful fantasy world art, each that tells its own story.

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