Getting to Know Two Local Graphic Novelists

We asked our authors to do a little 20 question quiz. No, not one of those you find in Elle magazine...much more literary then that! Local authors Manny Trembley and Eric Anderson work together so they decided to answer together as well. In fact, I am beginning to wonder if they aren't maybe the same person with a split personality. They seem inseparable. You'll get to hear about their work as graphic novelists during the festival. But here is just some fun insight into the psyche of the two(?) GNers.

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

Manny- White Chocolate Raspberry Mochas. I mean, the pursuit of creating content. It's always on my mind to tell stories. Spewing out narrative, in any form gets me excited.
Eric- Chocolate Cherry Mochas. And also telling those story things. And watching lots of movies. So we can steal their ideas for use in creating a comics empire.

What is your motto?

We don't have one but here you go:"Create the content you want to see in the market." Don't pander to the man or the woman or the child for that matter. Make "your" entertainment.

Can you describe yourself in three words?

Manny- Short. Stocky. Balding.
Eric- Tall. Stocky. Hirsute.

What is your favorite (or least favorite) word and why?

Manny- Curmudgeon is a sweet word, so is austere and velour. I'm partial to quandary and meander too.
Eric- Ooh, good question. I'm going to have to go with "octagonal." It's got everything: tentacles, cage matches…you name it.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Eric- Manny says "rad-tacular" a lot. It's really annoying.

Who are your favorite heroes/heroines of fiction and why?

Manny- Don Quixote: The representation that chivalry is both alive and dead, all wrapped up in one character. Eric - Easy question, Kermit the Frog because he represents every man and yet he is green and not a man.

Who are your favorite heroes/heroines in real life (dead or alive) and why?

Manny- Dan Cragg, my High School art teacher. Cliché, I know. But there it is. He pushed me as much as he encouraged me. My aunt Jean bought me my first art table. That's got to count for something special in the worlds of artsy-ness.

Choose three people, dead or alive, to invite to dinner. What would you talk about?

Manny- Chuck Jones, Mr. T., and Will Ferrell. I wouldn't direct the conversation, I'd simply watch Mr. T's gold chains sway to the wild riffing of Will and Chuck. It'd be hypnotic. Eric- Jim Henson, Hayao Miyazaki, and George Lucas. After dinner, Jim, Hayao, and I would berate George for making the last 3 Star Wars flicks.

What are your favorite names and/or how do you name your characters?

Weatherby Ian Poppington III and Wikkity Jones. Manny came up with Wikkity and Eric birthed Weatherby. They were both created to represent the absurdity of both characters. I think we succeeded.

What is the first job (or the best job) you ever had?

Manny- McDonalds. Half priced food was a HUGE reward.
Eric- I worked in a little antique shop and repaired lamps. I never managed to electrocute myself even once. Shame, really.

What natural gift would you most like to possess?

Manny- Juggling cats. I can kind of juggle, but if I could juggle cats, the world would be my oyster cracker.
Eric- Laser vision. That's "natural," right?

What has been your favorite journey?

Manny- My marriage to my wife. Not to get all sentimental on you. But being married rocks the box.
Eric- Sorry, I can't answer this because I'm still too misty-eyed from Manny's answer.

What would be your perfect day?

Manny- Waking as I see fit to slither over to the creative weigh station to write, draw, or drink delicious beverages of choice; a simple day indeed.
Eric- Same thing Manny said… only less meaningless weigh station references. It'd be nice to make a living just telling stories and making content—maybe someday.

What makes you laugh out loud?

Manny- Bad puns.
Eric- Jokes about pirates.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Manny- Beef jerky.
Eric- Expensive electronics.

What item are you never caught without or what item is your most treasured possession?

Manny- Treasured possession is my stacks and stacks of art that I completely mistreat. I love it, but I keep it on my floor. My wife had a special cabinet made to store it, but up until recently, I stored it in disorganized stacks. I took pride in those piles of landfill.
Eric- My turn to be sentimental. I'm going to say "my wife," although I guess counting her as a possession means that I might like… end up selling her or something or like losing her at cards. That didn't end up as sentimental as I intended.

What is the oldest item of clothing you still wear…what's the story?

Manny- I still have my baseball glove I had when I was kid and I still use it. It's a Cooper.
Eric- I still wear an old pair of antique eyeglasses I picked up like 15 years ago. They are oh-so-comfortable. And un-trendy!

Do you have a good scar story?

Manny- My sister chipped her tooth on my head. Does that count?
Eric- No, only the emotional kind.

If you could choose what or who to come back as, what would it be?

Manny- I have no interest in coming back.
Eric- I'd come back as me, only hopefully less stupid next time.

What would you like to be your epitaph?

Manny- The date I was born and the day I died. Those would be good things to have. Beneficial for all those grave robbers to identify how decayed I am. Oh, and I'd like my name—for clarity.
Eric- I'd try and break into Manny's graveyard and change his epitaph to "Free Headstone."

Bonus: Finish the sentence, "If I ruled the world ..."

Manny- "If I ruled the world ...I'd rule the world."
Eric- No bonus homework for me. It's the weekend.

Graphic Novels, from Post-it Notes to Publisher
Saturday, April 18 at the Spokane Club (1:00)
Two Spokane comics creators discuss the ups and downs of creating graphic novel content for both the web and print. Eric Anderson and Manny Trembley have created two original graphic novels as well as two mini-series published through Image Comics. They will share their experiences breaking in to the comics industry and be happy to answer questions as well.