Alright, here is the complete TV Interview I did for Talk Ottawa last June. This is a big file so I'm not sure how long I'll be able to keep this up on our server (and many thanks to kevdead for that, of course). As long as I can, anyway.

For those who have watched the 15 minute part, you should be able to skip to that point fairly easily. I think. Ahem. I'm a little new to this whole video editing thing. :)

So just hit the little "Play" button at the bottom left and it should go!



And a snapshot from the interview (all official like!):



Let me know what you think!

Von

(edited to add that I gave it a wee bump)

quietdarkness was nice enough to do an interview with me for Collector Times (for the December/Christmas issue, no less). It's just over here.

I yabber on about the art corrections to "the road to god knows...," mental illness, Diamond Distribution, and other blather in general. And there's some side by side comparisons of old RTGK art and new RTGK art, too.

Von

Jen Contino over at The Pulse was nice enough to do an interview with me. It's right here.

A sample:

THE PULSE: Speaking of tough, in these economic times it must be a challenge to find the funds to self-publish your own work, especially considering how hard it is to get potential readers to try a new book. How long did it take you to save enough to collect your short stories "the road ...," Li'l Kids?

ALLAN: Well, the costing and expense tends to be a subtle thing. The main expense has been lost income as I gave up a full-time job to do art. So there's been part-time and freelance work, but I definitely lost money doing art full-time. I consider it an investment in my future, though, so that's not a big deal. In terms of actually self-publishing, though, I've done things in a bit of a different way than traditional offset printing. I printed "Li'l Kids" using Lightning Source (LSI), a print on demand company owned by Ingram. The reason I went with LSI over other POD companies like Lulu is that they have an unparalleled ability to feed data through a variety of channels. That's meant that my little book is available in many more places than it would have been if I had done it through anyone else. And what's amazing about it is that it's done in an extremely cost-effective way; in a nutshell, I'm using a short discount publishing model that's more closely aligned with academic book publishers than it is traditional small press comic book publishers. With very little effort on my part, my book is available through retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble and also distributors like Ingram and Baker & Taylor. And on and on.

Where my book is not available is with Diamond and thus Direct Market retailers. That probably won't change anytime soon. Why I chose this model and my rational behind it is probably something we just won't have time to get into now. I do think, however, that the next decade or so is going to change fundamentally how graphic novels are delivered. While I'll never fault Diamond for what they do (they are a remarkably efficient distributor), the problems for small press that deal with them are daunting (discounts off cover to the tune of 60%-65%, short discounts to retailers (to the tune of 45% and lower), the re-order penalty if a retailer sells out, and the lack (for the most part) of any type of stocking support over and above initial retailer orders). The math is pretty simple and straightforward and it's not good. A publisher needs to really understand what they're getting into when working with Diamond and, on top of it, what Direct Market retailers will need to make sure they try a book (always remember that when dealing with non-returnable material at less than ideal discounts, retailers will always order cautiously if there isn't a proven track record and other clear marketing interest from their customer base).

The danger, I think, that both Diamond and retailers face is that other avenues of publishing and distribution have opened up over the past 10 years or so. Webcomics being an obvious example. By side-stepping the Direct Market channel and using a short discount philosophy for graphic novels, creators and publishers can be profitable by selling far fewer copies then they'd need to in comic shops. If new talent can't find a way onto store shelves, then the intelligent ones will look elsewhere. They'll develop their talent elsewhere and then, down the road, when they're more established may not look at the Direct Market at all. I think the danger of being stale is actually something that more retailers as well as Diamond should consider.

Hopefully I'm not yabbering like a mad man. :)

Von

An interview from lokicarbis...

1) Who are you?

I'm Moggy. I'm a 32-year-old woman who frequently behaves like a 14-year-old, I have red hair and green eyes, I live in Ottawa, and I work as an editor during the day and a bookseller in the evening and on the weekends. I love music and books and movies, I'm a bit eccentric, and I often laugh so hard that I cry.

2) What do you want?

The ability to do without sleep, more travelling, laughs, a publisher for Von, my own bookstore, and maybe a dish of chips and dip...and happiness, above all.

3) Why are you here?

There is too far away. And it's cold out. And I'm not packed.

4) Do you have anything worth living for?

Yes...many, many things. I never forget that, even on my worst days.

5) Where are you going?
To the kitchen to get a glass of water. Need anything?

Moggy

From pyat...

1. Why did you marry Von?

Because he didn't even flinch when I introduced him to my goose-headed umbrella back in 1995 (Albert). Because he's creative. Because he loves me, eccentricity and craziness and silliness and all. Oh and because he brings me coffee in bed every morning.

2. If you had to leave Ottawa, where would you move?

If language wasn't an option...Montreal. If citizenship wasn't an option...New York City or Boston or Berkeley. If reality wasn't an option, I'd just spin the wheel and pick a place.

3. Do people in Ottawa still go out and do touristy things, like visit Parliament?

Not me. I sometimes walk up and around Parliament Hill at lunchtime but it's mainly to have a destination and because I like the view of the river. I haven't been in the Centre Block since grade 10.

4. What's your all time favorite comic book? (Or, if none, do you even like comics, or is that more a Von thing? I can't remember if the comic he posts is a joint effort!)

I only ever read Star Wars comic books while I was growing up...but Von is big into comics and partially responsible for the fact that I've read more in the last ten years then ever before. I don't really have a favourite, though I am really liking Top Ten so far (on loan from a friend). I also really liked Starchild, V for Vendetta, Astro City, and Bone.

Von's comic is all his; he wrote and drew it all and I'm very proud of him...http://www.vonallan.com, of course.

5. What's it like working for The Man?

It's boring, dry, and frustrating...but it's steady, secure, and pays well. It's also the first job I've ever worked where I'm the office freak.

If you're interested, comment and I'll ask you five questions!

And now...movie on TCM! I love this channel.

Moggy

Hey,

Thanks to the wonderful Lisa of Neptune Comics for the great interview she recently did with Von! Very much appreciated-- go check it out, please!

And when you're done, don't forget to have a look at the Neptune Comics website, as well as Von's own site.

Moggy

The fantastic chrisarrant and I did an interview a little while ago that's now up on Newsarama. You can find the interview right here.

A very big thanks for Chris for taking the time to do the interview. And thanks to Matt Brady and crew for putting the interview up in the first place. Much appreciated.

Let me know what you think!

Von