1. Tell us about yourself and your project/s?
I was born and raised in Florida but now I live in Italy with my wife, Francesca Fantini, who is also a comic book creator, as well as an amazing artist! I’ve been writing comic books for about 7 years now and moving to Italy has helped me focus on the craft fulltime. My current project that will be launching on Kickstarter in February is called “Hospice: Tunnel of Love.”
2. Where did the inspiration/idea come for this project?
It’s a combination of two things:
1. “Hospice” is a shared comic book universe on Kickstarter. There was a series of successful campaigns back in 2023 that were all one-shot, self-contained stories with a single common thread; the “Rising Suns Hospice” which is an evil place people go to crossover near the end of life. My story is set in this shared universe but there’s no required reading to understand and enjoy it.
2. I always thought Bruce Springsteen’s song “Tunnel of Love” had a creepy and haunting sound to it, so I pay homage to my own interpretation of its theme in this story.
3. What does the writing process look like for you?
I like to set micro goals for myself. I find this works the best for me by not overwhelming myself. Hitting these smaller goals can add up fast and keeps me feeling productive and accomplished.
4. How do you handle writer’s block?
By looking for inspiration in other forms of media. I take a step back and binge watch a series, or listen to some music without doing anything else at the same time. Essentially, pausing to allow myself to focus on only one thing.
5. How do you feed your creativity when feeling drained?
When this happens to me, I look to the classics. What has been considered a masterpiece and loved for years? Shakespeare, Poe, Stephen King, etc. There’s a reason why the works of these famous writers have lived on for decades, or even centuries. I can usually pull inspiration from them.
6. What advice would you give writers who feel stuck or uninspired?
I’d first say that this is completely normal and you’re not alone. Take a step back and work on something else other than writing. Do something tactical with your hands such as a puzzle, planting a garden, building a Lego set, etc. Exercise another part of your mind and body, then return to writing when it comes. Just don’t force it to happen.
7. Have you ever thought about giving up writing? If so, what pulled you back?
I wouldn’t say I’ve thought about “giving up writing” but I have, at times, scaled back the amount I write and who I will or won’t write for. Take for example, after getting burned by a publisher one too many times, I decided to focus on my creator-owned projects until a better work-for-hire project presented itself.
8. How do you keep your voice or ideas fresh over time?
I do this by writing multiple genres. I’m a horror writer at heart, but I’ve also written science fiction, romance, all-ages, slice-of-life, and political thrillers. Also, a benefit of horror is that there are so many subgenres: zombie, supernatural, vampire, eco, etc. I’ve made it a point to not box myself into a corner so that I can cast a wider net of stories and ideas.
9. What do you wish more people understood about the creative process?
That everyone has their own process and nobody is more right or wrong at how they conduct their creativity. There’s a lot of advice out there that is being projected as rules that you must follow. But who are they to tell you, or anyone else, how to write your story?
10. What is the most honest thing you’ve ever written - and did it scare you?
A few years back, I was invited to write a shorty story for a graphic novel anthology called “Lower Your Sights” for Mad Cave Studios. The project raised funding and awareness for the children impacted by the war in Ukraine. The editor asked for stories that didn’t glamourize war, but instead, showed the unseen effects caused by it. So, I wrote a story about my time in the Army and how I lost someone I cared about when I was away. Though I changed a few details so it wasn’t completely autobiographical, it was still scary to be so honest.
Where can my audience find you and your work?
Check out my Linktree to find where you can buy physical or digital copies of my work, back my crowdfunding project, and also follow me on your preferred platforms.
Thank you for interviewing me, Michael! I appreciate you sharing your platform.