Still more lazy thoughts from this one…

‘Not Bad For A Human’ Book Launch

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It doesn’t happen often (or often enough), but there are times when you know you’re encountering a highlight. I’m not talking about those life-changing experiences for the better (like meeting your future bride, marrying her, the birth of your children, etc.), those are at another level entirely for the mind and heart (at least for me). No, I’m referring to moments where your interests in the things you enjoy pursuing (in my case that includes the popular arts of watching film and reading books) meet their human manifestations. Those creative people who hold up the expressions on-screen, voice characters you can’t help being drawn to, or responsible for the ideas on the page that contribute to who you’ve grown up to be. I guess that makes me fan.

Last night was one of those high points. It was the book launch for Not Bad for a Human, the biography of one of my all-time favorite actors, Lance Henriksen (the subject of a recent blogathon). It was co-written by the actor and author Joseph Maddrey (he the one responsible for Nightmares in Red, White, and Blue: The Evolution in the American Horror Film). The independent bookstore, Dark Delicacies hosted the event in grand style. Besides Mr. Henriksen and Joe Maddrey in attendance signing their work, publisher Steve Niles, cover artist Bill Sienkiewicz and HELLBOY creator Mike Mignola were right there with them.

I can’t emphasize enough what a great set of people I met there. Lance and Joe, who I had known only in the briefest of online exchanges through the blogathon, exceeded all of my expectations. Both were gracious to a fault, obviously dedicated to their craft, and generous in their time with the people, like me, who eagerly came there wanting to meet them in person. Speaking with Lance directly was such a blast — he’s a one-of-kind artist. It was one of those rare experiences you just wanted to immediately repeat… and with the same crowd. Plus, the packed venue was one those wonderful indy book stops that specialize in the subject, horror/fantasy, they obviously love and support. I know I’ll be back there. The whole occasion, in a word, was awesome.

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To see more images from last night’s event from AP images, click here.

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17 Responses to “‘Not Bad For A Human’ Book Launch”

  1. Pop Culture Nerd

    This is great. Thanks for sharing one of your life’s highlights with us, especially since I was never invited to your wedding many years ago. I think this might be the equivalent of me meeting someone like Harrison Ford. I’d temporarily lose my ability to speak.

    And nice pics! Did you take those? What plug-in are you using for that slideshow? I want!

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    • le0pard13

      Thanks, Elyse. Yes, I took those shots, Believe it or not, I just used WordPress.com’s built-in slideshow capability.

      p.s., I would have invited you to our wedding. But, you were just 4 years old in ’89, yes? 😉

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  2. Terri Wilson

    You should put a link to this post on his Facebook page, if you haven’t already. People love new pictures over there, and these are great.

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    • le0pard13

      I probably need to bite the bullet and sign up with Facebook so I can post this link. Thanks very much, Terri.

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  3. The Sci-Fi Fanatic

    Let me begin with my envy…. that is so cool. When I first saw it noted over at JKM Reflections I checked to see the location and of course my car simply wouldn’t make it there. Argh!

    Leopard13, your first few sentences of your post are heartfelt, sincere and well-articulated expressions. I couldn’t have put it better myself, but you really took the words out of my mouth.

    It sounds like an amazing time. I wish I could have gone with you. I would have had a blast and I would have hung out with you. : ) Dinner and a book signing!

    I did order my book last weekend and well, I’m not sure if it’s going to be personally autographed but I’m hoping for a Lance auto at least.

    I absolutely loved your collectible pics of the Aliens Blu-Ray with the auto and the book. Thank you for sharing these special moments.

    I just picked up Millennium on CD with a Mark Snow auto. It cost a bit, but I needed to get it after covering the series. I just loved the music and 2 CD set seems to be quite rare.

    I’d love to get a copy of Bone Dry on CD. I have the DVD on my shelf for viewing in the near future. Cheers my friend. What a great experience!

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    • le0pard13

      If you could have joined in this, SFF, we really could have set this off! And if JKM could have teamed up with Lance and Joe, along with you and me, it’d have been perfect. Thanks so much for the kind and supportive words, my friend. It means a lot.

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  4. Joe

    Michael –

    It was great to meet you last night! Thanks for coming!

    I’ve stolen a few of your photos for the notbadforahuman website (giving you full credit, of course). I think you took the only photo of me and Lance apart from the rest of the crowd, so for that I am personally grateful.

    I hope you enjoy the book!
    Joe

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    • le0pard13

      It was great to have met you and Lance, too! And you’re more than welcome to use the photos for your website, my friend. That’s a great shot of you both, if I do say so myself ;-).

      Best of luck with the rest of the book tour, Joe. I’m sure, given the turnout I saw last night, it’ll turn out very well. And you thank you!

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  6. Naomi Johnson

    I’m so happy for you. Such times are indeed all too rare. I’m still waiting to meet Paul McCartney and it’s only been 47 years since he first made an impression on me.

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  7. John Kenneth Muir

    Hi Michael!

    This wonderfully-written post — with accompanying imagery — is almost as good as being there!

    Thank you for sharing your experience at the Dark Delicacies signing, and man, I really, really wish I could have been there to share it with you and Joe! 🙂

    This looks absolutely awesome…

    best,
    JKM

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    • le0pard13

      Yeah, it was really was a great experience, John. And Lance and Joe made it so. See, we need to bring you out to the left coast more often, my friend. Thanks so much.

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  8. Kevin (Col. Mortimer)

    I am so happy that you got to meet Lance, sorry that I didn’t comment on your posts for the blog-a-thon, but I read them and your enthusiasm for him certainly came through in each very well written piece.

    I googled Dark Delicacies, I believe I have been there once, probably 7 or so years ago, I need to go back there.

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    • le0pard13

      Thanks so much, Kevin. Writing about my experiences with the films he was in, and then meeting the man, doesn’t get any cooler than that.

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