PinkKryptonite Speaks To Janet Evanovich
Acclaimed novelist Janet Evanovich is coming out with her first graphic novel, Troublemaker in July. I was fortunate enough to have a limited email interview with the writer about her third entry in the Alex Barnaby series, "breaking into comics", and her influences in illustrated prose. Read the full transcript, after the jump.
Having grown up in the same small Jersey town and attended the same liberal arts college, I feel that my education thus far has surrounded me with strong writers and educators with literary knowhow, but considerably fewer graphic arts specialists, or at least people dedicated to telling a story through illustration. Do you think developing a formal sequential art education should be more emphasized in schools, or do you feel that writing courses are capable of preparing students?
I think art courses are fun and expand our universe. I think reading is also fun and universe expanding. I know I'm a dinosaur but the ability to diagram a sentence has served me well, and I think English courses are critical. Since I can only speak for myself, I never had a decent writing course while in school. I learned tons about writing from RWA conferences because the courses were taught by successful, published writers. Every graphic artist I know perfected his or her skills in art programs specific to that profession. So I suppose my answer is no and no. I think writing and art are best learned by doing, and by entering programs specific to your goals.
What was it like collaborating on the script with your daughter, especially in knowing that you'd essentially be teaming up with artist Joëlle Jones as well?
Neither my daughter nor I had an idea of how much hard collaborative work goes into graphic novels. It was both fun and challenging. Joelle is fantastic, as is our editor, inker, colorist and letterer.
It seems like the comics you read are mostly smaller, contained stories, like "Uncle Scrooge". Why do you feel these stories appeal to you more than the standard cape-and-costume fare?
When I was growing up there weren't a lot of caped crusaders. Uncle Scrooge really knew how to have an adventure and he always had it with his family. Adventure and family are still the most important things in my life today.
Do you feel these relatively unconventional titles lent something to your technique in writing Troublemaker?
Definitely. Maybe even some Indiana Jones influence has worked it's way in. I'd like to think Troublemaker is about adventure and family...even though the Troublemaker family isn't related by blood.
Was it your decision to make Troublemaker a collected graphic novel, as opposed to a serial title?
It was a decision made by both Dark Horse, myself and my daughter, Alex. With two print novels a year, there simply isn't enough time leftover to write a serial comic.
You've stated in previous interviews that the Barnaby series was probably the best suited of your stories to write an original comic for; Would you be comfortable in seeing Metro Girl or Motor Mouth directly adapted into the comics medium?
Sure. However, we made a conscious decision this time not to simply re-tell the novels that had already been written. We wanted to bring a new story to folks who were fans of Metro Girl and Motor Mouth.
Rubber Justice
Posted to Interview, PK Exclusive on 27 May 2010
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