Category Archives: Events

One Month until Amazing Las Vegas Comic Convention 2019

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Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con is on June 14 to 16 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and penguinate.com will be there! While we’re still awaiting word on panels. You can be sure that we will be bring our cosplaying penguins, books and posters to the convention. Join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/penguinate, and you can get $1 off for every $10 you spend at our table.

My wife handmakes the penguins and their outfits, so we won’t know exactly who will be available until days before the con. Watch her Instagram feed or join our Facebook page to see the latest penguins. If there’s one you like, you can preorder to make sure that you get it before anyone else grabs it. Because these penguins are unique, once they’re sold, they’re gone. Don’t worry too much though; if you’re willing to wait for a handmade penguin, we can take orders at the convention.

Do you love Disneyland? Do you wish you were more creative? I will be bringing books that address those two things and more. “Disneyland Is Creativity” and “The Haunted Mansion Is Creativity” use the structure and history of their subject to illuminate principles of creativity while you tour through the park or attraction. I also plan on having the Adventures on the Amur series and the Penguinate! series on hand. And if you’re a fan of 90’s pop culture, you’ll want to grab a copy of “The Pirate Union.” Want to make sure you get your book and we don’t sell out? Preorder here.

Penguin motivational posters, Russian lobby cards, and prints of now gone Disneyland Resort details will also be available. Offerings are subject to change. We look forward to seeing you in Vegas!

Lilac City Comicon 2019: Panel Schedule First Look

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YAY! Lilac City Comicon 2019 posted its panel schedule, and I will be hosting “The Haunted Mansion: 50 Years of Creativity” on Saturday at noon! So, you know I’ll be there.

The good thing about Lilac City Comicon is that you can do almost everything you want without having to worry too much about seating. There are some panels that will be packed full and you might have to sit in the back row, but for the most part, you’ll be able to see the panels you want without having to sacrifice.

So, while spending time on the floor getting your favorite con swag and meeting cool people is great, if I were going to go to Lilac City Comicon as a journalist or guest, rather than a vendor and presenter, here’s what I would do.

On Saturday, there’s plenty of time for me to be on the floor and go see panels. Since the first performance on the main stage is music and trivia, the morning is the best time to get my shopping spree first look on. Take a spin or two through Artist Alley, se who’s there, what they’re offering, and what kind of contests and freebies there are. We all love freebies! I generally look for books to read from authors I don’t know, and new books from indie writers that I can’t find anywhere else like Kaye Thornbrugh, Fishtank Books and Catbeard the Pirate.

At 11 am, I’d catch Carrie Merrill talking about “Understanding and learning the writing process,” and I’d stay for my panel because I’m a Disney fan and I love creativity. At 1 pm, it’s a toss up between Randy Havens and “Indie Publishing” with Oneshi Press. I’d lean toward Randy Havens because he’s closer to the food court and “Stranger Things” is a great show.

At 2 pm, it’s another tossup. Chris Kattan is a bona fide star, but “Jedi Philosophy” is intriguing, especially for Star Wars fans. I’m going to Ogden UnCon a week later, and Kattan will be there. That makes it easier to choose “Jedi Philosophy.”

The three o’clock hour brings a panel on cosplay and a Power Rangers panel on the main stage. Neither one of those is really my thing. I might get a snack, some water or coffee and then walk around the floor again. Supporting authors and artists is important. IT would also give me an opportunity to get a closer look at the booths that I passed by earlier. And if Hacksaw Jim Duggan is at his booth, I’d seriously consider stopping by for a photo and a HOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

At 4 pm, I’ll definitely be hitting up the main stage for Brian C. Baer’s presentation. (Full disclosure: He’s scheduled to be signing books at my table at some point during the convention.) “Horror in Comic Books” with Blacky Shepherd will be a cool panel, but I’ve got to support the guy who wrote a complete book on “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” that changed my entire view of history and children’s television. Seriously, Baer’s book is amazing.

At 5 pm, the cosplay contest will be in its pre-setup phase with photos and prejudging. If I were a conscientious journalist/blogger who wanted a maximum number of page views, I would go to this part of the contest. There are sure to amazing costumes and performances that would make for good visuals. The more individuals you get in their cosplay, the more likely you are to get them to share your content. However, seeing the “Lions” short really appeals more to me because I love movies, and since the actual cosplay contest doesn’t start until 6 pm, I could essentially do both.

On Sunday, you’ll have the opportunity to really enjoy the convention’s atmosphere. At 11 am, Selfie Dad is giving away his stuff in a contest. However, I would probably head to the Flash of Earth 90 panel and see what they’re saying about the speedster.

At noon Falk Henstchel is on the main stage, and I’d be there in the front(ish) rows. Hacksaw Jim Duggan at 1 pm follows Hentschel, so I’m only moving seats if someone tall sat in front of me. Duggan was one of my childhood heroes. I got to see him wrestle live, and I always watched the then-called WWF. Bring on the 2×4!

At 2 pm, “Life Lessons from Nintendo” could be a great panel, but it’s up against a film screening of “Moon Knight.” It’s another tossup, but I am leaning toward the film. At 3 pm, I know that there’s only an hour left of the show, so I’m going to make sure I find an artist and/or writer (probably writer first) to buy something from – if I haven’t already blown my budget. Maybe, I’ll be the customer that turns someone’s con from good to great. If I can do that for someone and get a great book or piece of art out of it, then I’ve made my own con experience super.

What are you looking forward to most at Lilac City Comicon 2019? Leave your comments below.

Just one month until Lilac City Comicon 2019!

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With just a month to go for the hottest ticket of the summer, preparations here at penguinate.com are ramping up. Just like last year, we’ll books, stuffed penguins, posters and Russian Lobby Cards (mini movie posters) for movies from 2017 to the present. Preordering is encouraged to make sure you don’t miss out on our great items. If you want something from Russia, let us know, and we’ll do our best to bring it with us. Remember members of our Patreon Penguinators before June 1, get $1 off for every $10 they spend at our booth, so join today.

At our table, we will not only have books by Shad Engkilterra but we will also have Author Brian C. Baer signing copies of his books. A recognized expert in “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe,” his exploration of “How He-Man Mastered the Universe is an enlightening and interesting piece on a cartoon that had greater influence on the future than anyone realizes. His fictional work, “Bad Publicity” is a supernatural noir detective novel and a fun read. His books will be available throughout the convention, and there may be a chapbook “I Haunt the Spaceship” available! Times are yet to be determined for his signing. (This is subject to change depending on Baer’s availability.)

Follow this blog to learn more about Lilac City Comicon and the other things we will be doing on our trip through the west and find us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. You don’t want to miss out on our upcoming announcements and articles about creativity, entertainment, books and penguins.

Lilac City Comicon 2019 promises to be a great event with newcomers like Chris Kattan and Hacksaw Jim Duggan – HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! The returnees like Blacky Shepherd and Burr Martin bring their larger than life personalities back to Spokane. Join us and find yourself at an incredible comicon event where, you’re sure to have a great time.

‘The Haunted Mansion Is Creativity’ eBook Now Available at Amazon.com for Preorder

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In case you missed it, “The Haunted Mansion Is Creativity” is available for preorder at Amazon.com. The second book in the “Disneyland Is Creativity” takes a look at the Haunted Mansion’s history and structure and relates them to creativity principles to help you become more creative.

While the Haunted Mansion opened on August 9, 1969, it’s history dates back more than a decade before when Harper Goff drew the first haunted house concept in 1951 as part of a church and graveyard. The façade was finished in 1963, but it took 6 more years for the technology to develop and the concept to work. This delay allowed the Disney team to learn more as well as explore hundreds of ideas before choosing the right one. Creativity requires lots of ideas, time to be creative, and patience to choose the right idea to develop.

That doesn’t mean there weren’t failures. The Haunted Mansion was supposed to open in 1963 instead, Marty Sklar wrote a sign that said the team was busy gathering ghosts. A short-lived effect called “the Hatbox Ghost” didn’t work when the Haunted Mansion opened, and it was removed until the effect could be done correctly. (It was reinstalled in 2015.) Creativity comes with failures and mistakes.

Just in time to celebrate Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion’s 50th anniversary, the eBook is scheduled to be released June 1 and 2 to coincide with Lilac City Comicon 2019 in Spokane where I will be presenting “The Haunted Mansion: 50 Years of Creativity.”

The book tour will continue at City Cakes and Café in Salt Lake City. On June 7 to 9, we’ll be at Ogden UnCon where I will present “The Haunted Mansion: 50 Years of Creativity” on Sunday. Currently, our last scheduled stop will be at Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con from June 14 to 16.

Click on the link to preorder “The Haunted Mansion Is Creativity” in paperback. Get “Disneyland Is Creativity” in paperback here and in eBook on Amazon.

Preorder ‘There Are No Penguins in Alaska” before May 7, 2019

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If you know you want a hard copy of the coloring book “There Are No Penguins in Alaska,” now’s the time to preorder it. Because we will be printing them in Russia, we will be unable to replenish our supplies between events. While we would love to sell out of them at Lilac City Comicon 2019 on June 1 and 2, we would hate for anyone to miss out on the coloring book just because they were later on our journey.

So, if you’re going to be at City Cakes and Café for my author signing on June 5, or you’re going to find us at Ogden UnCon on June 7 to 9, or you’re coming to Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con June 14 to 16, preordering ensures that we will have a copy with your name on it  ready for you to pick up. More importantly, you can order them at the convention price of $5 and not have to worry about shipping and handling. Just click on the link to the event you’re going to.

If you aren’t going to make it to any of the events listed, but you can meet with us while we’re in Salem or during our journey, you can still get the $5 price. You just have to be able to pick the coloring book up. Otherwise, they are $8 plus shipping.

If you have no idea how to order, or you know you are going to get one but you don’t want to officially order, leave a note in the comment or contact us through our Facebook page. We’ll set one aside and contact you about payment and delivery.

Of course, preordering anything else you might want is also a good idea. Penguins take more than a day to make, so if we sell out of them, they’ll be gone. Other books we may be able to replenish, but there’s no guarantee. The best way to get what you want is to preorder! You can also order items directly from Amazon or on Amazon Kindle, but they will not be eligible for any discounts.

Remember, members of our Patreon Penguinator team get $1 off for every $10 they spend at our table during an event. If you know you’re going to buy something from us, you might want to join our Patreon and get your discount as well as more information on creativity and stuffed penguins.

Penguinate Makes Epic Comic Convention Trek in just One Month!

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It’s just one month until we board the train in Blagoveshchensk to head to Khabarovsk. From there we’ll fly through Seoul and Honolulu to touch down in Portland, OR as we make our way to Lilac City Comicon 2019. Before we get to Spokane though, we’ll make a stop in Independence, OR to get our supplies and make any last-minute preparations. (If you’d like to see what we did last year, check out our archives and videos.) At Lilac City Comicon, I’ll be presenting the sequel to “Disneyland Is Creativity” with the release of “The Haunted Mansions Is Creativity.” Come see my panel “The Haunted Mansion: 50 Years of Creativity.”

From Lilac City Comicon, we’ll head toward Salt Lake City, with a short stop in Idaho to relax, for my author signing at City Cakes and Café on June 5. I can’t wait to see what they have for dinner, and I’m sure I’ll grab some great vegan pastries.

Ogden UnCon 2019 will be from June 7 to 9 in Ogden. The stars of “Black Sails” will be on hand as well as stars from “The Land of the Lost” – talk about retro! Drue M Scott is scheduled to be at our table, and we may have another special guest. On Sunday, I’m schedule to present “The Haunted Mansion: 50 Years of Creativity,” which will give attendees ideas for habits and activities they can do to become more creative.

When we leave Ogden, we’ll head over to Moab in the hopes of seeing Arches National Monument. After that little bit of relaxation (and celebrating Jenya’s birthday), we wind up the tour at Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con 2019.

Of course, this travel schedule may seem epic, but it won’t truly be epic unless you show up. Come by and say “Hi!” If you can’t make it to one of our events but are in the area, let me know I’ll see of I can make it work to meet up. We have some time after Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con to set up other events if you have a lead on something in the west that’s inexpensive. For those who want signed books sent to them, just use the order form on this website and we’ll get them to you as soon as we arrive in the U.S.

If you want one of our books or penguins, preordering will ensure that you get what you want. Our supplies are limited, so click on the event links above and order what you’d like. We’ll have them ready for you at the event, and you won’t have to worry about us being sold out! Remember, everyone of our Patreon Penguinators gets a discount on items bought at our events. Join today at any level!

Wicked Comics Goes to the Movies and Every Comic Store Should Follow Suit

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I have been to enough comic conventions to know that people who love comic books complain about the people who love the movies but don’t buy comic books. There’s a whole faction of geeks who love every issue of their favorite comic and consider someone who only knows the character from the movies and abomination.

Comic stores say they haven’t noticed an uptick in individuals coming into their store because of the film. For them, there just is no crossover. Perhaps, that’s because the comic stores need to take more initiative. Call it “The Avengers Initiative.”

A majority of movie-goers don’t go to comic stores. They probably don’t even know where the comic stores are. The simplest way for a comic store to attempt to harness the movie-goers who love the movies is to pay for an ad before the movie. Most movie theaters offer the opportunity to be in a slide show before the trailers. This offers an easy and less expensive way to get the word out about the shop, and placed before a “comic book” movie, it hits the target audience right where they live.

If the comic store can afford it, a comic store trailer, shot in high-def, should be appropriate for the movie screen. A trailer will even reach more people in their seats. Still, this isn’t the most effective way to reach people because most movie goers probably don’t have a reason to go to the store.

Setting up a booth with items themed to the film is the single best way to provide movie-goers an opportunity to find out about the comics. Any comic store that has also participated in a comic convention should already have the tools available to create a booth. By targeting the movie(s) in the theater at the time, a comic store can create an impulse buy and point of contact for new fans. Include a business card with every purchase, and you’re all set for getting new people involved in comics fandom.

It won’t be that easy. “Avengers: Endgame” openings promise to be chaotic. Imagine Free Comic Book Day without the giveaways. That also means more opportunities to generate revenue from the event.

National chain theaters may be less willing to give up lobby space for a booth. Of course, DC and Marvel could step in because it would be good for their comic sales and their movies. The theaters could see a rise in movie goers if the comic store is able to bring their patrons to the movie. Theaters also get the good will of comics fans and the advertisement that comes with the promotion of the event. A local theater may be more willing to partner with a local comic shop, and both could benefit from the exposure.

Most shops are run by one or two dedicated people. Having to give up a weekend, move everything, set up and take down is already a lot of stress. The change in routine, in addition to the increase in dealing with people who may not know what they want, can also be daunting, especially when there may not be any return. The keys to a successful theater run for a comic store setup is a willingness to get out of the comfort zone and a desire to improve sales at the store. Even if there aren’t any sales at the theater, the chance to meet people who love films can be worthwhile in and of itself.

Wicked Comics in Malta has partnered with Eden Cinemas for the opening weekend of “Avengers: Endgame” for Comic Fest. They will have booths, cosplayers, retro-gaming, performances, local artists’ booths and comics. It looks like they’ve organized a mini-comic convention to celebrate “Avengers: Endgame.” Wicked Comics organizes the annual Malta Comic Con, so they have a head start on any comic store that may not have organized events outside the store before.

Private showings are already sponsored by larger comic conventions like Salt Lake’s Fan X’ “Avengers: Endgame” screening. They could add a comic store component to the screening, giving people more opportunity to purchase from local businesses.

It may be too late for comic stores to partner with movie theaters for “Avengers: Endgame,” but it can be something to keep in mind for the next big movie. Of course, it doesn’t have to be applied to just Marvel movies. Disney’s “Frozen 2” and DC’s next film could also make for good opportunities to partner with a local movie theater.

The Secret to Having More Fun at Lilac City Comicon, Ogden UnCon and Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con

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In case you missed it, we only have two months before we begin or first convention: Lilac City Comicon in Spokane, WA on June 1, 2019! We will then hit up City Cakes and Café for an author signing, Ogden UnCon where I am scheduled to present the Haunted Mansion Is Creativity, and Amazing Las Vegas Con.

Preordering is the best way to make sure you get the penguin or book that you want. And if you want to rake in a discount at any of our booths at these conventions and author signing, all you have to do is join our Patreon!

EVERY Patreon member gets $1 of for every $10 he or she spends at our booth. It doesn’t matter which level you choose, you still get the same discount! What could be better?

We look forward to seeing you at one or more of these venues. Make sure when you buy your tickets, you tell the person that penguinate.com sent you!

Press Release: Penguinate.com Raising Money to Save Penguins

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For Immediate Release                     Contact: Shad Engkilterra, penguinate.com
Email: shadexaminer@gmail.com

$1 from each penguin sold until July 1, 2019 will go to Global Penguin Society

Penguinate.com will donate $1 for every stuffed penguin it sells between now and July 1, 2019 to the Global Penguin Society (GPS) through the Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN).

 “What can be funnier than a penguin that is running to hug you,” said Jenya Engkilterra, penguin designer at penguinate.com. “Maybe he’s not running to hug you. He’s just running, but it doesn’t make it any less funny.”

Penguinate.com’s handmade penguins are made of faux fur and stuffed with holofiber. The eyes are hand embroidered, which gives every penguin a unique look and means there are no hard pieces for children to swallow. Our penguins love to cosplay, and costumes can be made to order.

Product Availability

Handmade stuffed penguins can be ordered at penguinate.com. They will also be featured at the penguinate.com booths at Lilac City Comicon 2019 in Spokane, WA, from June 1 – 2, Ogden UnCon 2019 in Ogden, UT, from June 7 – 9, and Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con 2019 in Las Vegas, NV, from June 14 – 15.

“Our penguins are made to bring joy and happiness to the world,” said Shad Engkilterra, Owner at penguinate.com. “We want to honor the birds that inspired so many happy moments for us and those who have adopted our stuffed penguin friends.”

Penguins and the Charities

Of the 18 species of penguins, only the Galapagos Penguin lives north of the equator. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists 10 of the species as vulnerable or endangered.

“We are concerned about penguins and their environment,” said Jenya Engkilterra. “We want to save penguins in the wild.”

Charity Navigator rates WCN with a score of 100 out of 100 and four stars. Over 90 percent of donated funds go to programs to protect wildlife. GPS has partnered with WCN and its president, Pablo Garcia Borboroglu, was awarded the National Geographic Buffet Award 2018. The organization also received the Whitley Gold Award in 2018.

DisneyNature chose GPS and WCN to receive a portion of the box office take in the first week for the “Penguins” scheduled to be released April 17, 2019.

###

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

For more information, press only:

Shad Engkilterra

shadexaminer@gmail.com

For more information on Product:

http://www.penguinate.com

Penguin Charity Press ReleaseDownload

Author Event in Salt Lake City: Vote now!

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City Cakes and Café has generously given me space to hold an author signing on June 5, 2019 for my books, including “Disneyland Is Creativity” and “The Haunted Mansion Is Creativity.” I’ll give a short overview of creativity based on Disneyland’s structure and history and answer any questions. Then I will be happy to sign books; there might even be some stuffed penguins available. If you would like to vote on what time you can show up, there is a Facebook poll open until Jan 24, 2019.

Of course, City Cakes will be open for you to purchase refreshments. They specialize in vegan and gluten-free food. My favorite items were the lemon blueberry scones, waffles and the vegan sausage and cheezy potato wrap, but I’m pretty sure I ate everything on the menu. City Cakes is locally owned and operated, and they’ve expanded since I’ve been there last with a second café in Draper and a warehouse that allows them to deliver their baked goods to other coffee shops and stores.

When I lived in Salt Lake City, City Cakes and Café was like my second home. I spent many hours, days and weeks sitting at one of their tables enjoying breakfast, lunch or a snack while writing my next great article. The location in Salt Lake City (1860 S 300 W suite D) is smaller, so we’re going to pray for good weather.