I saw the above poster on a Facebook Friend's Wall Comment ...  Where it had a link to an event that was being hosted at the closest Local Comic Book Shop (LCBS) to us here in North San Diego County.

We had already made plans for the day, going up to Temecula Wine Country to pick up Wine Club Shipment with friends.  Howeve, Tina and I couldn't help but go back out last night because this was going to be Sky High's first show since the new owners, Amber and Dave Self, took over the store!

The following is what the Facebook Event Page showed as what was being featured:

Come out and enjoy a summer evening with Friends, Art, Music and Comics...

ARTISTS: Ron Lemen, Vanessa Lemen, Soudabeh Memarzad, Keith Phillips, Spencer Tiscareno, Jeanette Vieira, Arron Willhite & Artists from Studio 2nd Street.

MUSIC: Freestyle and radical Sounds of Bushwalla
PLUS+ Aaron Jennings

  Well, quite honestly, it was the fact that Erik Hendrix, who is one of the 20 contestants in the Small Press Idol Round 3 with the 'FACTION' entry that I've blogged about before, that induced me to want to attend!   Well, that and the desserts by Elizabethan Desserts, LOL!  Tina took a few photos of the event, the first one of myself meeting Erik for the first time, (above).

  Of course I had to see 'in person' several of the pages from the 'FACTION' project that Erik had brought out to exhibit to those attending the event.  Erik had also brought out other pages, character bios and sketches that he is currently bringing to fruition for other projects.   Erik has a lot of ideas, several of which he shared with me that are not ready to blog about here. He is also broadening his publishing base by having other artists join him in these other projects. 

  Tina and I also met Amanda Hendrix at the event, who is assisting her husband both editorially and in marketing.  It was great meeting both of them last night at this event!

For those of you that are not familar with Erik's 'FACTION' project that is in the Top 3 currently of Round 3 of the Small Press Idol contest, I invite you to check it out by clicking on the following link to the FACTION's Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=55926073990

And then for the most important process.  To vote for Erik Hendrix's FACTION in the Small Press Idol contest, you can do so by following the easy steps below:

1. Sign up - http://www.dimestoreproductions.com/signup.php
2. Sign in - http://www.dimestoreproductions.com/.
3. Go to - http://www.dimestoreproductions.com/forum-t46557.html
4. Click "Yes - As a fellow creator I support this" or "Yes - I am a fan and want to read more".
5. Click "Submit"
That's how easy it is!

Now that you've done it once... You can Vote Daily up through June 7th, 2009!  AND You can vote for more than One contestant besides!  So you should look at what else there is running in this Round 3... However, please Note: Only 3 of the 20 entries are going to make it to Round 4.  Heck this is almost as exciting as 'American Idol'!   

Now, I need to say this... Erik's 'FACTION' project is one of the entries I have followed since first finding out about Small Press Idol 2009 (SPI).  His project is one of several that I have voted for many times during the first 3 Rounds of SPI.

After meeting Erik last night and seeing for myself in person that his vision and enthusiasm as a writer for this project is genuine and contagious, I am endorsing his project as One of the Three entries that should make it to Round 4 of the Small Press Idol 2009!

PLUS: Our Thanks to Amber and Dave Self, who presented this Art - Music - Comics Show at their LCBS in San Marcos, California.  It was their first show, and it was so much fun that Tina and I were there for almost the whole evening that it ran!   Their LCBS was Not included in my Blog on Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) in the San Diego Metro Area, because they did not participate in this year's event.  Their LCBS is located at: 

Location: Sky High Comics
Street: 172 South Rancho Santa Fe Road
City/Town: San Marcos, CA