FAQ
Which comics publisher do you work for?
So, do you work on [insert name of book]?
The titles I work on vary. Right now, I’m assisting on a number of horror comics; co-editing a couple projects; and editing The Marquis, The Last Dragon, Mogworld, and a handful of other comic and prose books. I do not currently work on any manga.
Will you tell me what’s going to happen in [insert name of book]?
No.
So, what does an assistant editor do, anyway?
Will you read my comic / pitch and tell me what you think?
Possibly. If I have time, and if you approach me about it beforehand (rather than just sending me the material), I’d be happy to give feedback. However, if you just send me a pitch or a comic, I will delete it unread.
I want Dark Horse to publish my comic. Will you help push it through the submissions process?
Probably not, unless it’s something really damn special, and you’ve filled out all the paperwork. Also, please bear in mind that a contact at a publisher is far from a promise of publication.
Can I send you a copy of my comic / book?
Oh, Hell, yes. I love getting free comic books. However, if you’re looking for a published review, please see the next question.
Will you review my comic in your column?
Quite possibly. However, please ask before sending me review copies if you have a limited supply–there’s a chance, albeit a slim one, that I may need to turn something down because I feel it would create a conflict-of-interest with my day job, and I don’t want to waste your time and money.
I dig your writing. Where else can I find it?
I’m a regular contributor to Sequential Tart and freelance for Gulf Coast and Looking Glass Magazine, among others. I also write, letter, and self-publish comix and other zines (in collaboration with kickass comix diva Jen Vaughn); you can find more information about those over here. My fiction and personal essays pop up now and again around the net and a couple print publications, but the highest concentration is probably in The Lake of the Dead Sessions, which I also co-edited. (And yes, I’m available for freelance gigs, as long as they don’t conflict with my day job.)
Will you be at [Convention]
Probably not, unless it’s in the Pacific Northwest, and even then, it’s far from a sure bet. I try to get to SDCC or WonderCon every few years, too.
I want to start reading comics / get my partner or friend to start reading comics. What titles do you recommend?
Depends on what you like. Seriously–there’s as wide a range of comics as of any other print media. I recommend searching around for something that catches your fancy, asking recommendations from friends who know your taste, and generally sampling a bit of everything. There are some great recommendation threads you can check out on the G-W forums, too.
What are your favorite comics?
Too numerous to list.
You describe yourself as queer, but you mention in your column that you have a husband. What’s up with that?
I’m in your schema, fucking with your labels! Seriously, though, for me, “queer” is a term that carries a lot of connotations aside from actual sexual orientation: it implies a radical and somewhat activist view of both gender and sexuality. I’m also queer in the more banal sense. I’m attracted to both men and women (and some persons who don’t fall neatly into either category; I shy away from the term “bisexual” for a lot of reasons, one of which is that I shy away from the idea of a strict gender binary). Miles is my primary partner and legal spouse, but we have an open relationship, so I also date and play with both men and women. So, even though my primary relationship is technically hetero, it’s pretty queer, too.
I or a friend or loved one of mine has been sexually assaulted. What should I / they do?
RAINN has really good information on what to do if you’ve been assaulted. Here is my advice for secondary survivors.