20 questions and a selfie: A day in the life of Dani Dixon, comic book creator and founder of Tumble Creek Press

For this installment of “20 Questions and a Selfie,” we catch up with Dani Dixon, the creator of Tumble Creek Press, an indie publisher of comic books, manga and graphic novels.

Dani is a prolific creator who writes, directs, produces and publishes. As an expert in both publishing and filmmaking, complete with her own IMDb page, Dani has spoken at the Writers Guild of America on the influence of comics on Hollywood; she is a frequent guest speaker at many of the largest comic conferences in the country; and she regularly consults on comic book adaptations to film.

You can connect with Dani on Twitter @TumbleCreekDani and on her website, www.danidixon.net.

Our 20 questions with Dani start now:

1) What is your full name?

Dani Dixon

2) What is your professional job title?

Writer

3) Describe your organization.

Tumble Creek Entertainment is a creator-owned media company. We started with comic books.

4) Describe your surroundings right now.

It’s a somewhat cluttered, but creative space.

5) What was your first paid writing gig?

I think it was a horror movie called “The Hiding” five years ago. I don’t count my comics. I pay myself lousy.

6) What was the last thing you wrote?

I did Nanowrimo again this year, so I wrote a novel. I just read the draft and I don’t hate it. So—win!

7) What is the next thing you plan to write?

Editing doesn’t count, right? I have a lot of spinning plates right now, but most likely some scripts for my manga series “M.I.S.//ing”.

8) Finish this sentence: The ideal way to start my day is …

writing. Usually it gets pushed to after company-related work.

9) Besides your computer, what is sitting on your desk right now?

Lots of books: research, inspiration, tutorials. Drawing tools. Notebooks. Promo stuff to review. I have a big desk—which is good and bad.

10) So-called writer’s block is no match for you! What is your antidote?

Being indie takes care of most of what people think of as writer’s block. I only write when I have something to say. When I’m done I switch.

11) Finish this sentence: I hate it when I read …

yet another movie/TV show is going to be “re-imagined” when I know how many amazing new stories are out there.

12) What are the most important tools, programs and systems you use for your work?

At the end I use Adobe, but I start simple. It’s more about process and inspiration than programs. Especially with art. That’s tactile.

13) First book that comes to mind? Go!

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, I’m reading that now. Also just finished Gaiman’s Hansel & Gretel. Haunting art by Mattotti.

14) What are your favorite smartphone apps and why?

Twitter. Even if I only have a few minutes I can check in with different segments and see what’s going on in the world.

15) What have you always wanted to write?

A multi-volume novel series. Mostly likely sci-fi or fantasy. I’m getting there.

16) What is your advice for aspiring professional writers?

Write when inspiration hits you. You may remember the premise later but it’s often hard to recapture the tone and breadth.

17) First famous writer who comes to mind? Go!

Toni Morrison. She was on Colbert recently and funny as hell. Also she’s brilliant. I want to be her if I grow up.

18) Finish this sentence: My favorite thing about being a writer is …

the worlds and people I get to bring to life. Then sometimes, much later, I meet someone who likes those places and people I’ve created.

19) Pencil versus pen—who wins and why?

Erasable pen wins. Is that cheating? However, if I’m drawing then pencil wins because I’m in no way cool enough to sketch/draw in pen.

20) Finish this sentence: One word or phrase people will never read in my writing is …

a dinosaur, a faerie and an alien walk into a bar

Would you like to be featured in our “20 Questions and a Selfie” interview? If you’re a published writer, we’d love to interview you. Click here to do your “20 Questions and a Selfie” now.

September 3, 2015
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