Most authors come to us with a book idea and need some help getting their book on shelves. Michael Adam Jones isn’t most authors. An author-illustrator, Jones published his first comic, Nerds in the Burbs, years earlier. But something went wrong. So, he came to us to republish. We were delighted to play a role in reintroducing the world to his quirky, hilarious tale. Keep reading to learn more about Jones and his creative mind.
It was such a joy helping you republish Nerds in the Burbs. But before we get into that, tell us about yourself. Who is Michael Adam Jones?
I’m an artist, writer, and illustrator who drinks too much coffee. I’d also say I’m a student of life and humor who tries to find the latter in every situation.
Now, Nerds in the Burbs. What is it about and what inspired the story?
Back in 2001, my sister had the idea to write a children’s book based on characters I had scribbled down from high school. She added some of her own and we were in the process of writing the pilot and whatnot, then it fell by the wayside for a number of years. I later picked it up and started over, revamping characters, world-building, and adding life experiences to give the stories more depth. Writing was fun, as I’ve had a large number of influences growing up on everything from The Carol Burnett Show to Monty Python to Mystery Science Theater 3000 to the Sunday comics and on and on. Nerds involves a villain trying to conquer the world but gets bogged down by the everyday responsibilities of life and the local nerds he runs afoul of.
You initially released Nerds in the Burbs a few years ago. Talk about your initial publication, why you chose to republish, and what made you think Argyle Fox Publishing would be a good fit.
It was definitely a trial-by-fire type of situation. Every mistake I could make, I did, and Murphy’s Law filled in the rest of the equation. The old publisher made numerous mistakes and took to ghosting me. I happened upon Argyle Fox Publishing when looking to change publishers, and it has been going exceedingly well.
My sister has also changed publishers, turning to Argyle Fox Publishing for her first book, Mr. Lee D’Looo: The New Year’s Imp, and was very pleased with the process and her recent release.
As an artist and illustrator, what is your process for creating your comics?
I follow M. Rasheed’s (Monsters 101) method as far as formatting goes, and I keep with hand-drawn art (and a lot of Bristol board and burnt-out Micron pens). I’ve kept a large binder of notes, ideas, and jokes since I was about twenty, so I have material enough for the writing. I fall back on Photoshop and Illustrator to edit and finalize the pages of the book.
Now that Nerds in the Burbs is rereleased, how will you measure whether it’s a success? What is your goal for your comic book, and how do these goals differ from your goals from the initial release?
Just seeing a tangible copy in my hand that matches my original design has been a great initial goal. It’s been tricky navigating a rerelease, but I’ve taken baby steps and am focused on the next book in the series.
What are you doing to market your book and let folks know it is available?
I’ve been excited to get Book 1 into local libraries and to set up book signings with smaller independent bookstores that I frequent. I’m a big fan of building an organic fanbase that stays loyal and interested over time (so long as I keep up the standard). You’ll be surprised to see the number of people who come out to cheer you on that you didn’t even know were following your progress.
What feedback have you received so far?
I think most people are just shocked it finally came out. The conception was 2001, so it’s been years of talk and little to show for it until this past year. Most people didn’t know what to expect but, as with any new IP, it’s coming out of its initial awkward phase.
What advice do you have for comic book authors who have yet to publish their first book?
Keep moving forward and put your all into your work. Your audience is waiting. M. Rasheed told me he coached a number of cartoonists who were as far along as “ready to pull the trigger.” All the work had been done, and then many backed out at the last second.
Believe in your own work and don’t stop (I know it’s easy to be your own worst critic). I don’t believe there’s such a thing as failure in the literary world. Granted, authors like Poe and Lovecraft are bigger today than they ever were when alive, but there is always an audience out there.
I know you have big plans for future books. Do you mind giving a sneak preview of what we can expect?
Nerds: Book 2 is wrapping up, and Book 3 is already halfway done. I love the idea of experimenting with new genres, so I have a children’s book in the vein of Wind in the Willows in the works as well as several other stories of different genres and art styles. Lastly, I have a high-fantasy novel series I’ve been slowly working on. I realize novels are a whole different beast, and the general concept for the story came to me when I was nine years old. It has gone through heavy revamps about once per decade, but I like where it’s at now and have finished the first draft.
Where can readers find you online?
My site, nerdsintheburbs.com has all the up-to-date information, a store, and my blog. I write and cartoon about various pop-culture things there—mostly nostalgia and video games or interviews with celebrities and authors I find interesting.
Is there anything else the world should know about you or your writing and illustrating?
A book can be anything but boring. Your art is important, yes, but the humor, character development, and writing must be good. Yes, your art can be subpar, but it will improve with time. Think of Peanuts, Dilbert, Retail, Garfield, and even Calvin and Hobbes! The old material looked much different from later work, but the heart was there, and audiences were ensnared early by the charm.
Thanks again for trusting us with the rerelease of your comic book. It was a true pleasure. Here’s to more people falling in love with your burb-livin’ nerds!