Q1: How long have you had the idea for Parallel? How long did it take for your idea to come to life?
A1: The existential dread that is at the root (thematically) of PARALLEL has been with me for a LONG time. The idea of time passing, dreams deferred (specifically my dream of writing a comic), and doors closing permanently has been something slowly gnawing away at me for over a decade. The idea of a parallel universe with another ‘you’ (Landon) who might be offering a second/another chance at a price is about 3 years old. The process of getting a 64-page indie comic out in the world took just about that long as well! Indie comics have a TON of blood, sweat, tears, and dreams in each and every one of them, but they don’t have the huge 80+ years of infrastructure and corporate gears behind them (like a Marvel or a DC) that makes the production and distribution a bit easier. They take a long time, but the freedom of storytelling and idea building that comes from being Indy, I think, is worth it!
Q2: Who/what inspired Landon Smith?
A2: As I mentioned earlier, the despair, rut, gnawing dread that Landon experiences are certainly something I have struggled with and have experienced in my own way, but as a specific character he actually is VERY much inspired by former students of mine (I am in my 21st year as a public school teacher). I have former students who are currently pushing 30 themselves. There are two young women, in particular, who I had conversations with at almost the same time that PARALLEL’s sci-fi construct was being thought up that were the true catalysts for me taking the leap and writing the book. They were at that point in their lives where the ‘quarter-life crisis’ was coming on strong. They, like Landon, were wondering where the last 5+ years had gone. Why were they still in that job they took right out of university just to pay the bills and just as a placeholder until they pursued their dream of (fill in the black here) off in Chicago or New York?
Q3: Do you know many Landon Smiths? How common is it in your life to meet people who have given up on their passion?
A3: I know too many Landons. We are all Landons. Possibly the thing that I am most proud of, when I look at this book in its published state, is the fact that the central theme of PARALLEL is such a universal one. While it is true that Landon (like so many of us) go through times like this, however, it manifests for us (depression, anxiety, existential dread, a stagnant rut) alone and in isolation, the great irony comes in the form of the equally true fact that just about everyone you know is going through or had gone through, their very own similar struggle. We all feel it in one way or another (it unites us and is all but universally experienced) and yet we tend to suffer it alone.
Q4: How has the response to Parallel been so far? Do you view comics differently now as a published creator?
A4: I have been pleased with the response so far. People like it, are relating to it, and (most pleasing to me) seem to be re-reading it (I like value for my buck through readability in the comics that I buy so…)! It has sold pretty well for a first time (unknown) author, a small press outlet, and without the benefit of signings or conventions (due to covid). Two of the three variant covers even sold out and can be found occasionally on eBay!
I have been a comic fan for close to 30 years but my eyes have been opened by this process. As much as I “thought” I appreciated the hard work and creativity that went into comics, being a part of the other side of that curtain has made the experience and my fandom that much richer. I got to work with an amazing artist in Adam Ferris, I got to bat the tightening of certain scenes back and forth with an amazing editor in Bob Salley, and I even got to watch the great Justin Birch letter a couple of pages on MY WORDS in speech bubbles on Adam’s art, truly bring the book alive for me! It has been long, it has been hard, but it has been amazing and I would not trade a second of it!
Q5: What advice would you give to the 21-year-old Landon Smith if he were a real person trying to survive in this economy?
A5: In a lot of ways I am the absolute worst person to be giving Landon advice. Knowing me, I would probably be the one who encouraged him to set music aside for awhile-, “hey, you always have time right?” (so not true)! The right answer is to pursue your dreams, go for it while you can, and yet, I doubt that is what I would tell him at that moment. Heck, look how long it took me to finally take the leap and pursue my own dream!
Q6: Any last thoughts for aspiring creators?
A6: I will pass on the exact same advice that the great Neil Gaiman himself once gave me. If you want to make a comic, the very best thing you can do… is make a comic! On the surface, it sounds almost trite, flippant even. But if you dig a little deeper (or have Neil around to explain it to you) what that means is, nothing will exist unless you make it. The first step is always the hardest. Once something exists then you can improve upon it, expand it, change it, and there is no guarantee that it will be any good, but it WILL exist. I guarantee that if you do NOT write that song, that comic, that book, paint that painting, then it will NOT exist and nothing will happen.
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Diamond Order Code: FEB20 1983
