Interview with Alex Ness: Comic Author and Poet

Alex Ness is a Comic Author and Epic Poet who has explored such topics as the Yeti, Arthurian Legend, Cthulhu,Ancient Norse Epic Poetry among other things. You can follow him at http://www.AlexNessPoetandWriter.blogspot.com , read some of his poetry at http://alexnesspoetry.blogspot.com/ he also contributes to http://poplitiko.blogspot.com/

If you could describe your work in about 50 words could you do it ? Here is your chance.

I write poetry, scripts, comics and prose. My imagination was birthed with myth, legends, and heroes. And my brother, he was a hero too. And with my last words allowed, umm, bite me.

How is your work on comics and poetry different, or is the creative process about the same to you?

Poetry and lyrics have happened in my mind since I’ve existed. It burns in me. Scripts and stories require more thought. While with poetry I tend more towards channeling words and ideas, writing the words and scripts still requires a certain amount of organic thought. But, whereas I write both, the organic process of writing is one where you have to understand the tools to build the work. I love writing poems. I love writing. Scripts are hard, but, when they are finished I generally feel the same as when my poem is finished.

What got you to make the leap, so to speak into writing, poetry, and comics for a living rather than some other job?

I tried a lot of those other jobs. More than 20 different ones. And I sucked at most all of them. Even as a Historian, which I am proud to have multiple degrees in, I was trying to teach and the student lack of interest in subject just bore a hole through my soul. I LOVE learning about the past, and whatever level I had, it just didn’t matter a damn.

So when my wife had my son, we needed someone to be a stay at home parent, and since I have no talent for worldly money making labors, I stayed home. And then we got a computer, and I started writing reviews. Now it wasn’t a new thing, I’d written for grad school and wrote long long letters to friends. But, I hadn’t the belief anything I might think or do was worth being shared until writer Beau Smith said he had enjoyed my letters, like a personally written opinion column. Light goes on. Then I wrote all sorts of reviews, moved into reviewing stuff I like instead of restaurants, and tried my hand at journalism. But, while I’ve always written, I soon learned that whatever opinion you express online, someone will take issue. From the beginning, although I tried to be positive, I got two tons of shit for it.

Then when I was in the midst of some serious self assessment, my brother had two heart attacks. He was just two years older than me, and neither of us had really accomplished anything we had talents for. He survived, and I was left wondering what the hell I was doing with my life. And so I thought, well, I’ve always written poems, so I wrote a very long poem, sent it to Steve Niles, Jamie Delano, Mike Grell, Amy H. Sturgis, Timothy Truman and Mike Carey, and asked them to tell me if I sucked or not. And the reviews were very good. So then I tried to just write creatively, and the books started happening. But I would never have if 1) Beau Smith hadn’t said it was interesting and worth reading or 2) If my writing after my brother’s heart attacks was panned.

You post a lot of your work online via your blog. Some people would say your foolish for giving your work away for nothing, rather than say selling it in a book like some of your other work. What would you say to those people?

If having 800 pages worth of unpublished poems gets published or not, and having a dozen books out means I am giving away too much, I am happy to do so. I honestly think writing online while free is meant to expose your work to people. I am by no means wealthy, hell I am not even lower lower class with regards to my income, but, if I’d never given my work away no one would ever have bought it.

Also, I tend to give things away as a person. I give gifts, not for any ulterior motive, but, because, I think people deserve the kindness of a gift. So, if you or anyone reading this liked my poem that they found online, good. I am glad you enjoyed it.

If you could give a tidbit of advice to everyone on the planet, what would it be?

If you like something a lot that is good, share it with others. Sharing with others makes everyone better off.

Do any of your hobbies outside of work make a big impact on your writing?

I collect books and comics, but honestly I collect most of the books I do to help with my research. But I do read Robert E. Howard, H.P. Lovecraft, Lord Dunsany and many more fantasy/horror authors. So, I guess their subject matter influences my work. I am not suggesting I am worthy of it, just saying the influence is there.

Do you have any obsessions that you would care to talk about?

I love my cats. I love my friends. I love books. And my son is my world.

What kind of new projects are in the pipeline and can we can expect to see them soon?

I have a work illustrated by Trent Westbrook called Empire of Stone which follows an epic last stand of dwarves versus the many evil clans of man and orcs.

I also have a number of nearly done, in progress works, that I’d like to discuss but can’t. But will when I can.

Any other parting words of wisdom, shots, brilliant inspirational words or anything else to leave us with?

Thanks for the interview Donny.

“Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that will never be again. And what do we teach our children? We teach them that two and two make four, and that Paris is the capital of France. When will we also teach them what they are? We should say to each of them: Do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. Your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you move. You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel. And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel? You must work, we must all work, to make the world worthy of its children.” Pablo Picasso

This interview of Alex Ness was done by Facebook email and personal conversation over a few days and finished October 8th 2011.