Comic Relief: Finding Wins in the Grind of Graphic Novels

Publishing a book is a big deal and a lot of work. Self-publishing is even more work when you’re doing everything — well — yourself. Since 2017, I’ve published 11 books, with my 12th on the way and more lined up: five additional Farm Freaks volumes, four more for The Herd, a short horror series, and two other projects already written, just waiting to be illustrated. Safe to say I’ll be busy for the next decade.
It’s been challenging, especially in the graphic novel market where indie creators like me compete in the shadows of DC, Marvel, and other giants. Being a solo act means long days and late nights balancing writing, illustrating, marketing, consignment deals, book trailers, expanded merch, Kickstarter campaigns — usually with a horror movie playing in the background. But every sale, every positive review, and especially every returning reader makes it worthwhile.
I’m not a New York Times bestseller — most of my sales come through comicons and in-person events. This year’s been tougher, with a few misses, but I still see every book sold as a win: one more pair of eyes discovering my work. This past weekend in Belleville gave me a boost: a returning reader who had burned through the 500-page Herd Volume 1 in a single afternoon came back to buy the entire Farm Freaks set. Hearing how much he loved the series and couldn’t wait for more left me humbled, grateful, and re-energized.
Wins like these remind me why I do this. Passion outweighs challenges, persistence conquers setbacks, and the dream is always worth chasing — even if it isn’t full-time yet.