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Yo guys, the name's JasonDeroga. I was directed here by the absolutely amazing Matt Zimmer. The fact that his journal's avatar features the character Fone Bone already confirms its awesomeness. Matt, if you're reading this, thanx for being so welcoming! =D
Date: July 1, 2023
It's the start of July, and I'm proud to be alive and finally witness a beautiful sunny day. I just recently met a cool dude, Matt Zimmer, who along with a few others have opened my eyes to see that now, more than ever, I've got a right to exist, and a right to help others. I do that through my awesome job and thru my talents in art. I remember being discouraged at every turn to use this gift growing up, from jealous bullies to "educational" skeptics. But here I am, a successful graphic novelist in my own right, gatekeeper blessings be damned.
I've been featured in a gallery art show focusing on environmental issues and climate change with my newest graphic novel series, "Sneakers' U-Force". I've also achieved my previous dream of being published under an indie graphic novel banner known as Alterna Comics. They helped shape me into the artist I am today, and they're knocking it outta the park in the industry with their eclectic titles - without Diamond's status-biased monopolistic arm to boot. My other work, "Lil' Hero Artists", is my very first graphic novel project, which won a digital submissions publication contract under Alterna back in 2008. Though I left them on good terms, I am eternally grateful for their support for LHA. And now, my local bookstore has sold out the first batch of copies of the original 4-chapter series and is showing interest in more of them, as well as Sneakers and the LHA sequel series, "Curse of Creation".
From these experiences, my message to any aspiring artist or author out there is pretty much what many greats like Scott McCloud and Neil Gaiman have stressed time and time again: Forget the gatekeepers and the perceived "prestige" supposedly required from the industry at large and GO FOR IT. The tools are out there. Your drive is there. What's stopping you? I believe EVERYONE has a story to tell and a right to tell it (within reason, of course). Don't believe me? This is 'Merica, baby. Just ask my good friend the First Amendment. This nation, this WORLD needs your stories, your ideas, your perspectives (again, within reason). Standards do not exist, nobody has the right to shut you up 'cuz you're not with the status quo.
Peace and love to you all, and keep telling stories!
J.D.
Date: July 1, 2023
It's the start of July, and I'm proud to be alive and finally witness a beautiful sunny day. I just recently met a cool dude, Matt Zimmer, who along with a few others have opened my eyes to see that now, more than ever, I've got a right to exist, and a right to help others. I do that through my awesome job and thru my talents in art. I remember being discouraged at every turn to use this gift growing up, from jealous bullies to "educational" skeptics. But here I am, a successful graphic novelist in my own right, gatekeeper blessings be damned.
I've been featured in a gallery art show focusing on environmental issues and climate change with my newest graphic novel series, "Sneakers' U-Force". I've also achieved my previous dream of being published under an indie graphic novel banner known as Alterna Comics. They helped shape me into the artist I am today, and they're knocking it outta the park in the industry with their eclectic titles - without Diamond's status-biased monopolistic arm to boot. My other work, "Lil' Hero Artists", is my very first graphic novel project, which won a digital submissions publication contract under Alterna back in 2008. Though I left them on good terms, I am eternally grateful for their support for LHA. And now, my local bookstore has sold out the first batch of copies of the original 4-chapter series and is showing interest in more of them, as well as Sneakers and the LHA sequel series, "Curse of Creation".
From these experiences, my message to any aspiring artist or author out there is pretty much what many greats like Scott McCloud and Neil Gaiman have stressed time and time again: Forget the gatekeepers and the perceived "prestige" supposedly required from the industry at large and GO FOR IT. The tools are out there. Your drive is there. What's stopping you? I believe EVERYONE has a story to tell and a right to tell it (within reason, of course). Don't believe me? This is 'Merica, baby. Just ask my good friend the First Amendment. This nation, this WORLD needs your stories, your ideas, your perspectives (again, within reason). Standards do not exist, nobody has the right to shut you up 'cuz you're not with the status quo.
Peace and love to you all, and keep telling stories!
J.D.
