I’m Really Still Here, Honest

I’m pretty swamped with Butterfly Mosque edits, AIR and Another DCU Project, so by the end of the day I cannot bear to look at my keyboard anymore. If I owe you an email, this is why you haven’t gotten it. It’s also why I’ve been updating the blog so infrequently. But I am still here, and I hope--I keep saying this--that things will calm down soon.

Quick updates: I’ll be at the San Diego ComicCon starting the afternoon of July 24. I have signings at the Vertigo booth every day, so if you’re coming to the Con and you’d like to say hi, stop on by. Bring your copy of CAIRO, OUTSIDERS, COMIC BOOK TATTOO or whatever else you’d like me to sign. I’ll probably be at the Image booth for the COMIC BOOK TATTOO group signing as well.

Though I’m not blogging a lot, I am still very much On The Internet, so if you’re looking for casual intellectual chit-chat, go to TalkIslam. I participate in the discussions there most every day.

Speaking of COMIC BOOK TATTOO, COMIC BOOK TATTOO! Order your copy now! It’ll also be in big music stores and comic shops. I like my story less now than I did when I wrote it, but it’s a fantastic book, Neil Gaiman writes the intro, and if you like Tori Amos, you’ll never have another chance to experience her music this way. I got my first Tori album at thirteen (fyi, this is too young to be listening to Tori Amos), so I was really excited to participate in this anthology.

That’s about it. More soon. Promise.

Assalamu Alaykum!

Just read Cairo… took me about two hours. My friend, who downloads comic books online all the time, thought it was incredible, so he gave it to me since i lived in cairo, studied islamic history, and always tell him about Rumi. hehe.

anyway, we both plan to buy copies as soon as possible, and maybe next time i’m in cairo, if you’re there, i could get you to sign it for me.

just found your site now, so havent seen your other works yet, but will be watching....

thank you again, for an amaazing and deep read.

NZ

W’alaykum salam Nuruddin! I’m very glad you liked the book. Thanks for stopping by.

I saw pics at comic-con and saw that you took off the hijab: would it be for reasons similar to Andrea Useem?

Holy sh17. You have no idea how strange it is to get through reading one of the most original and brilliant comic books that you’ve read all year and then find in the back cover the picture of a girl you had a major crush on your freshman year of college. “No, no. That can’t be her, she lives in Egypt now.” And then, yes, I find that it seems you still do. Amazing, but ultimately not that surprising for a girl who started college barely old enough to drive.

I almost ran straight up stairs and starting banging on Trisha’s door. I’m cat-sitting for her best friend this weekend, who lives in the same building. It’s been a strange month, moving back to Cambridge to study Tibetan martial arts and write websites for Rockband2. But I haven’t been to Egypt yet, and that puts my life into perspective a bit.

Also your book, seriously, is a success. Maybe you can’t feel that yet, but from someone who’s been a voracious reader of fine comics for the past 15 years, it’s obvious. Just, congratulations. I know your busy with success, but I’d love to see you again if you’re ever in Boston or NYC again. It seems that God is pretty important to you these days, and I’d really love to talk to you more about that.

all the love and light,

-russen