The Manga Memoirs Blogs!

"What's the deal with...oh who cares! The anthology is done! It's done! All we have to do is put the thing together with glue and staples, maybe sign our names in crayon, then, it's up onto the BIG FRIDGE for all to see!"

Rooney. He speaks the truth you know...we're nearing that line called finish, where the sunshine, um, shines.

Today, we've got another interview with one of the writers behind a memoir (that you'll soon see in completed form, because they're almost done!)

Jennifer McLeod aka jmcleod


What compelled you to tell this particular story?

The Rotary Youth Exchange program was a wonderful opportunity for both of us. Debbie's experience happened to work for the contest.

Why is a comic the best format for it?

We were teenagers when this happened, the memories are of snapshots in time and feelings surrounding those snapshots. Being 8 pages was limiting, but the whole story was told.

What do you love about Manga or comics in general? (art,pacing etc.)

I enjoy reading it straight through so I know the story. Then another go through to look at each panel and the art in it. I love finding the little things in the panel that an artist has thrown in and I don't think everyone catches.

What brought you to reading comics?

I read my Dad's comics. Oor Wullie and The Broons annuals. I also read some Footrot Flats (I'm now cursed with a dog just like Dog LOL ).

What do you hope readers take away from your memoir?

I hope they take away the beauty and majesty of our two countries and that language barriers don't have to stop you from traveling and having a good time, at any age.


What is your ideal soundtrack for this story? (or did you soundtrack your writing process?)

Debbie took a lot of Canadian music with her to Japan. So I'd have to say Moxie Fruvous and the Barenaked Ladies would be the soundtrack.

The Cliche` question: What is your favorite Manga of all time? (or comic)

Footrot Flats by Murray Ball is definitely my fav comic of all time. It has only a handful of characters, but I read books 1-12 plus the Weekender every couple of years. I wish I had all the books, if anyone would like to send a couple my way, that would be great! LOL

What is the first Manga/comic that you read?

The first comic I ever read was Archie. Not Spidey, or Superman, I watched the cartoons, but for comics when I was really young, it had to be Betty and Veronica and their weird love triangle with Archie.

What do you find most challenging/satisfying about writing for this medium?

Most challenging is trying to trim things down so it will fit into a specified page numbered script and it?s most satisfying when it works.


10) What are your aspirations for your creative career? What do you wanna be when you grow up? (a spaceship, fire fighter, Superman etc.)

The age old question, "What do you wanna be when you grow up?", I dunno. What I do know is that in my next life I'm coming back as a pampered pooch.

FIN.

Updates:

As I mentioned earlier, the production of the books is now (almost) complete. Our crack team of tech dudes/dudettes are putting the book together for deployment on the tubes, and soon it'll be highly clickable AND readable. Soon, soon...

Still Tweeting, still Tweeting, after all these years...






MorganJ
Editor-in-waiting