The beard of epicness! What an honor it is to have my Kickstarter mentor and this insanely amazing artist, writer, health warrior, and cat dad on my website! ^_^ I’ve met Mr. Rodman as a friend through other creative friends and he is such a stand-up guy, as whimsical and engaging in all he does as his artwork (which rocks!) A supporter, a worker, a dreamer, a nerd, a friend, I know you guys will enjoy his presence as much as all of us in the midwestern creative community! Let’s dive in to learn more about Mr. Brian Rodman!
Author to Author Q and A: Brian Rodman
1. Where did you grow up? Did your childhood have any impact on your writing?
I grew up in the suburbs of Louisville, KY. My childhood was packed with Bible-belt culture which for better or worse, definitely shaped my entire personality which has, in turn, shaped my writing. The biggest impact it had on my writing is the thirst for theology, but not in the way you would think. I very much rebelled against the culture I grew up in (from a church PC perspective) and wanted to know the truth behind what I believed regarding my faith. This thirst for theological knowledge is what led me to create Memoirs of an Angel which has now expanded into an entire universe of books called the Cosmic Wheel.
2. Tell us about the first story you ever wrote, published or not?
The first story I wrote that got published was a short story in Rebel Rouser Comics. It was a very brief version of a subplot from book one of Memoirs of an Angel. It. Was. Terrible. I had never done anything like that before and a friend of a friend, Nathan Thomas Milliner (who would later become my good personal friend) took a chance on a kid in his early twenties who dreamed of being a comic book creator. The story was about an exorcism from the perspective of the unseen realm featuring two angels who go into the mind of a demon-possessed boy. The concept was a winner, but everything fell short. Nate was so encouraging though and really took me under his wing and showed me the basic ropes of the industry. I’ll be forever grateful for that. Thankfully, later on, this same story would come to life in comic book form (soon to be novel form) in “Memoirs of an Angel: The Grey Pilgrim”.
3. What are you currently working on, writing-wise?
What am I not working on? (Haha) My health is currently really poor, so I spend most of my time dreaming up worlds and tying them all together. This has become the Cosmic Wheel universe. Aside from about 15 books I’m writing notes on (cue red twine and post-it notes here), I have two novels that are set to come out this year (2023): Memoirs of an Angel: The Grey Pilgrim (illustrated novel), and The Mysterious Adventures of Eula McDowell (illustrated prose anthology) with Brian K. Morris and Clyde Hall.
Memoirs of an Angel is about a ragtag group of infinite and finite beings who race through time and space to rescue a broken and bitter witch hunter from the clutches of The Dark Kingdom. It’s like LOTR meets The Exorcist.
The Mysterious Adventures of Eula McDowell is about a veteran of the occult investigation community who has faced demons, cults, and urban legends in the flesh. But now, it’s all finally beginning to come to a head as Eula and her make-shift team must face the most diabolical force the world has ever seen. It’s ancient. It’s malevolent. It doesn’t stand a chance. This one is like Nightstalker meets Hellboy.
4. What is your favorite character you have ever created and why?
By far my favorite character is Eula McDowell. She’s based on my grandmother who by no means fought any kind of monsters, but she was a pivotal part of who I am today and I want to honor that by bringing her back to life in this way. She was spicy, funny, and always had a realistic outlook on life that put things into perspective. She passed in 2018 and I miss her dearly, so this gives me a way to spend a little more time with the old lady that I love so much.
5. Do you have to write in order or do your ideas just come to you and you put them in order later?
Oh, I’m a note-taker. I have ideas that get thrown into a google doc and over the course of however long it takes, I formulate a story and characters from there.
6. What was your path like until you found writing?
I’ve always been a writer and an illustrator actually. I’ve had severe asthma my entire life and when I was a kid, to take my mind off of my poor health, my parents gave me comic books, drawing paper, and a pencil. Since then I was hooked. It was an absolute escape from this world and an encouragement to bring others along with me.
7. How is your relationship with your publishing company?
Perfect. My wife and I are my publishing company (haha). I really enjoy the publishing side of things as well, so it works out great.
8. Tell us about your covers.
Well, I design and illustrate/color all of my own covers. I have worked with others to create variant covers for our Kickstarter campaigns, but I create all of my main covers. I like to design something that has an all-encompassing feel to the book you’re about to open and hopefully enjoy. Sometimes I’ll incorporate artwork from within the book alongside something new. That way there’s something that exactly represents what you’re about to see and experience.
9. What inspires you to write?
Pretty much everything, really. I know that’s probably a cliche answer, but it’s the truth. However, the biggest inspiration I have is my faith. Now when I say that, I can feel the eye rolls of the entire world around me. However, what I mean by that is how important theology and mythology are to me. The more I learn what I believe about life, the afterlife, and all the things in between, the more I want to tell amazing stories that broaden people’s minds about this stuff. For example, I think the best movie on faith, in general, is The Exorcist. The movie is of course a horror film, but it’s all about this priest who is losing his faith and this mother who is gaining hers. Eventually, they are thrown together in this battle for her little girl’s life and it is in fact the diabolical evil that affirms both of their faiths. It’s a beautiful story in that regard. That’s what I want to do with my stories and I want to make people feel how I feel when I watch that movie or read the book.
10. How do you get book reviews?
Mostly by sending my stuff to as many places that I know of that will give it a fair and balanced take. Also by getting on as many shows as I can.
11. What is harder: writing, editing, or marketing?
Marketing is the hardest part I think. Because you never really know who you’re going to reach or when you’re going to reach them. You can always take out ads, go to shows, and do all you can to get your work in front of people, but eventually, they are the ones who have to make that call on whether or not to buy your stuff, and that’s completely out of your control.
12. If you could publish every book idea you’ve ever had, how many books would you have out right now?
Ask me that question in 20 years when my 15 books are published 😉
13. Have you ever considered co-writing a book or series with another author?
I am currently doing that now actually. The stories Brian K. Morris and Clyde Hall are writing in the Eula McDowell series are actually collaborative efforts that we are having an absolute blast with!
14. What do you do to relax?
I read and watch movies/tv mostly. If I’m taking a complete day off, I might play my Super Nintendo.
15. If you could tell your 14-year-old self one thing, what would it be?
Don’t go to college. Get a decent day job and work on your craft and start self-publishing asap. I’m thankful for the thirst for theological knowledge that my college experience gave me, but there are cheaper ways to gain that.
16. What advice would you have for this upcoming generation?
Don’t listen to the critiques about you and your peers. Create real art that represents who you are and don’t apologize for it or pander to others’ opinions. But at the same time, listen to those who are wise. Know why you believe what you believe, be humble, and ALWAYS be kind.
17. Have you ever read a book that changed your outlook on life?
The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis is probably the most profound book on life and death I’ve ever read. It’s about a bunch of ghosts who are bussed from hell to the gates of heaven and have a chance to enter, but almost every one of them finds a way to justify getting back on the bus. It’s a profound take on who we are as the human race and what we are robbing ourselves of by simply remaining in our own selfish pride. It’s both tragic and beautifully hopeful.
18. Do you have a classic piece of literature or a classic author you are fond of? How about one that is overrated?
Dracula and A Christmas Carol are two of my favorite novels that I read annually at Halloween and Christmas (respectfully). Both have captivated me on many levels regarding their own messages on ghosts, monsters, and life in general.
I have to say, I don’t think I’ve experienced a book or author that I would call “overrated” mostly because if I don’t like a book, I stop reading it. Therefore, I really can’t give a fair critique of the ones I stop reading.
19. Any type of music that gets your writing juices flowing?
Although I don’t listen to music while I write, I certainly do when I illustrate. That depends on the mood I’m in and/or the mood of the piece I’m working on. I have a wide range of music interests from instrumental movie/game scores to jazz, to lofi, to metal, to rock, to rap/hip hop, to 90’s country (haha).
20. If you could pick three people who are your heroes or role models, who would they be and why?
C.S. Lewis, Mike Mignola/Neil Gaiman (they’re tied), and ultimately my Dad. He has always been a blue-collar guy who worked hard and sacrificed so much for my family. He showed me what it means to be a good man with an honest character. Who you see is who you get, for better or worse with no malice and a kind heart. If I am half the man he is, I’ll think of myself as a success.
21. Dog or cat person?
I love dogs, but I have four cats. So you be the judge.
22. What do you want to eat right now?
Boneless Buffalo wings. Always boneless buffalo wings. My childhood love for chicken nuggets simply matured with me.
23. If you could be in any movie that has already been made, which one would it be?
A Christmas Carol as The Ghost of Christmas Present. That’s pretty much what my personality has turned into anyway.
24. What is your favorite holiday or time of year?
Halloween-Christmas, which I believe starts at the end of August and ends on January 6th. There’s just really nothing else like that time of year.
25. Anything else you would like to add?
Writing/illustrating is what wakes me up in the morning and keeps me going throughout the day. If I didn’t have that, I don’t know what I would do with myself.
BIO:
Brian Rodman is an independent comic book creator and novelist who lives in Louisville, Kentucky with his wife/business partner, Robyn, and their four cats, Phoebe, Luna, Beesly, and Stanley. Brian is currently working on The Everlasting Epoch of The Cosmic Wheel universe in novel and graphic novel mediums which includes, “Memoirs of an Angel”, a horror/fantasy series that follows characters in the seen and unseen realms as they war over the fate of the universe. He is also continuing a series called “The Nebulizer”, a humorous action comic about a chronic asthmatic and his feisty A.I.-controlled nebulizer suit as they fight through a post-apocalyptic world filled with allergen mutants.