Stretching my wings at The Birdcage
As a cartoonist getting a late start in the biz, I am grateful for the early boost that I received from J.T. Yost. He graciously welcomed me and When We Were Trekkies into the fold at Birdcage Bottom Books, the comics publishing and distribution house he founded in 2014. I appreciated having my books available to a national audience from the get-go, and even though he stepped away from the company in 2023, I continued to show my support for the business when it was picked up by the new managers at Birdcage Comics Café.
I have visited this unique coffee shop and comix store in San Bernadino a couple of times now and was instantly won over by the concept and its execution. It helped enormously that Daniel Whitfield and Camille Alaras, the married couple who oversee the shop, are charming folks and fine artists in their own right. I could see that their hearts were in exactly the right place and they’ve turned their “Bistro-Distro” into a cultural destination in the Inland Empire, hosting over 100 music events, comics fairs and art classes since they opened their doors two years ago.
Running a successful restaurant of any size is a full time job, which hasn’t left Daniel and Camille as much time as they’d like to devote to the online bookstore. Which is where I come in. I’ve joined the team as Media Rep, to take charge of all incoming and outgoing communications and see that the world knows what we’re up to at The Birdcage. Even over the past few weeks, it’s been exciting to get in touch with the artists whose work we distribute and get things organized for a big year of growth in 2025.
I’m still getting to know my way around the online store (learning which levers to throw at the right time for the right reasons) but I’m here if you have any questions or comments about Birdcage Bottom Books. Thanks to Daniel and Camille for letting me join the flock—together we’ll be working to make BBB an outstanding source for indie comics from around the country—including new works by yours truly. Like that other bald guy used to say, I don’t just work for the company—I’m a customer.
Meanwhile, happy holidays to you and yours!
***
You can reach Joe regarding the store at info.birdcagebottom@gmail.com
Commenti