This week, we’re talking with CJ Standal about his book, Rebirth of the Gangster Act 4: Inheritance
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I used to teach high school English, including a graphic novel class I created.
Why do you write?
To entertain myself and others. To explore questions about life.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
100 Bullets and Ed Brubaker/Sean Phillips’ Criminal.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
It excels at examining society in a thrilling manner.
How would you describe your writing process?
I used to heavily outline but now I write with more flexibility.
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
Connecting with people with similar interests and sharing my work with others in a more meaningful way.
What advice would you have for other writers?
Try new things. Each new project I tackle has something wildly different from my previous project, which leads to a lot more learning and fun.
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
For titles, I look for something short and snappy that also conveys plot and theme. For covers, I try to tell a story with few, but strong, images.
What book do you wish you had written?
The Maltese Falcon
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
With excitement and a little trepidation.
What's your next step?
I’m still writing my B. A.E. Wulf graphic novel series (a modern day mashup of Beowulf and Lovecraftian horror). I also am finishing the first draft of Comics Tell the Truth, a book about the history of nonfiction comics in the US. I’m early in the outlining stage for a superhero graphic novel. And I’m putting the finishing touches on Mapping Mythland, a fantasy book where Neil Gaiman meets the Marvel Cinematic Universe and YA’s romance.
CJ's TWITTER: @cj_standal
FIND HIS BOOK ON AMAZON
