Earlier this month, Book Con 2018 arrived at the Javits Center in NYC. This book lover’s dream convention was not only filled with thousands of books from pretty much every publisher ever, but authors were present for panels, signings, photos, and my favorite… interviews.

Fred Van Lente, author of Ten Dead Comedians was there for Quirk Books, signing for his latest, The Con Artist. The Con Artist is set at a convention (of all places) where the lead character, Mike Mason, is suspect number 1 for his rival’s murder.

Check out my interview with the author here below.

Grady Hendrix, author of such horror gems as Horrorstör, My Best Friend’s Exorcism, and Paperbacks From Hell was signing his upcoming book, We Sold Our Souls, at the Quirk Books booth at BookCon 2018 last week. Resplendent in a white suit with pink tie, I knew I was in for treat with this awesome writer.

Check out my interview with the author here below.

It has been 14 years since the first Incredibles hit theaters in 2004. Back then, superheroes weren’t such a big deal. But now they are at the forefront of the film industry. Most, if not all, are record-breaking films. But what separates Incredibles from the Marvels and the DCs is its timeless classic vibe.

Now Incredibles 2 has finally arrived. The sequel may look like it’s taking place in the ’60s, but it is able to connect to a modern audience with its likeable characters and universal stories. We were fortunate enough to sit down with our fellow journalists to talk to the cast and director Brad Bird about the long-awaited sequel. During our time, Bird spoke about why it took so long to do a sequel, some of the changes he made, and making a film for everyone of all ages. Check out what he had to say, below.

Like all Pixar films, there is always one short that precedes the feature. And Incredibles 2 is no different. Before audiences get into the thrill of watching the animated superhero sequel, they will get to see the tasty Bao.

Pixar’s latest short is a play on the fairy tale story of the gingerbread man. In Bao, a Chinese mother is now adjusting to her new life as an empty nest parent. But she gets a second chance at motherhood when one of the baos she made comes to life. From there she learns to care for it as if it were one of her own. The word bao actually has two meanings. One means the delicious title food. Another means treasure. Directed by Domee Shi, the short draws a lot of inspiration from her own upbringing. So it makes sense that she use the dual meanings of Bao in the film to reflect upon her life. Where there was plenty of food and her mother treated her as one of her precious treasures.

We had a chance to talk to Shi and producer Becky Neiman-Cobb about capturing the spirit and Asian culture and putting it into the short, what its like to be the first Asian female director for a Pixar short, the road to becoming a Pixar short, and more below.

Incredibles 2 follows the Parr family as they enter a new phase in their lives. Helen Parr aka Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) takes up a new superhero job, leaving her husband Bob Parr (Craig T. Nelson) to hold down the fort in their new home. But he soon discovers that fatherhood isn’t as easy as it looks. Dash (Huck Milner) has trouble with his math homework. Violet (Sarah Vowell) has a crush on a boy, who had his memory wiped. And Jack-Jack has developed new powers. All of this is happening as Elastagirl is investigating a new villain who is bent on controlling the world through media screens.

So as Mr. Incredible is trying to live up to his name as a father, he will get some big help from his friend Frozone. Samuel L. Jackson returns to reprise the cool and icy hero. If his role in this and the Marvel Cinematic Universe tell us anything, it’s that he plays characters that are the glue that binds his superhero families together. Whether it’s the father-figure in The Avengers or the surrogate uncle Frozone in Incredibles 2, you can always rely on his character to be there.

We were invited to sit down with our fellow journalists to talk to Jackson, the cast, and director Brad Bird about their experience on the sequel. Check out what Jackson had to say about his parental-like roles in Incredibles 2 and The Avengers, and if kids recognize if he’s Frozone, below.