I published the first 4 Hatter M comic books through IMAGE Comics to learn the in’s and out’s of publishing. After that experience, I wanted to be responsible for all aspects of my graphic novels while building a publishing company that produces other creator’s work.
Frank Beddor – 11 June 2013
The Back Flap
In Vol. 4, Royal Bodyguard Hatter Madigan’s search takes an unexpected
detour when he travels ‘within’ guided by a mischievous and often
maddening young girl named Nekko. Nekko’s origin is a Zen mystery, but
her devotion to Hatter’s quest to find the lost Princess is
unwavering. After Nekko kidnaps his Hat and leads him on a fearless
chase across the rooftops of 1871 San Francisco, Hatter must
acknowledge her as a teacher. It is written that when you are ready
the teacher will appear, but if the teacher is a 12-year-old girl and
you are a High Ranking Bladesman you may discover that all you can do
is laugh.
Hatter and Nekko’s adventure around the ring of fire begins when they
track a stolen samurai sword with a Wonderland connection to San
Francisco’s styling 19th century hiphop crime madam Missy Tong and her
eager protégé, the outspoken Lil’ Dick. A stowaway trip aboard a
shanghai sailing ship ends on the Hawaiian Islands where a surfboard
becomes Hatter’s vehicle to illumination. And then on to Japan! Good
grief it’s Chikao and the gang, schoolhouse demons, cosplay, manga,
noodles and a long lost brother from another world. Duality? No. Milliners.
(Preview pages of this graphic novel are shown below.)
About the book
What is the book about?
Zen of Wonder is the fourth volume in the Hatter M geo-graphic novel series documenting the 13 years search (1859-1872) of Royal Bodyguard Hatter Madigan as he searches our world for Wonderland’s lost princess, Alyss Heart.
The Hatter series is best described as a parallel telling, in a way a companion piece, to volume one of The Looking Glass Wars – the prose trilogy in which I undertook to tell the true story of Alyss of Wonderland. The truth being, Alyss was born in Wonderland and destined to remain in Wonderland but on her 7th birthday her Aunt Redd invaded the Queendom and Alyss was forced to flee accompanied by her bodyguard, Hatter M. They were separated in the Pool of Tears (the portal that connects our world to Wonderland) and Alyss emerged through a portal into 1859 Victorian London. Hatter emerged through a portal into 1859 Paris. And so begins his relentless search. Alyss meanwhile, is adopted into the Liddell family and her name changed to Alice. She eventually tells her harrowing tale to a young man, Charles Dodgson, who plans to become a writer. He writes Alice in Wonderland, changes everything and signs the book, Lewis Carroll.
The Looking Glass Wars volume 1 has about 4 chapters that describe the bodyguard’s 13-year worldwide search; we’ve taken those 4 chapters and expanded them into more detailed story. In Zen of Wonder, Hatter meets a 12-year-old Zen master in San Francisco who leads him to a mysterious sword that was forged by Hatter’s long-lost brother. Hatter and his master (Nekko) track the sword back to Japan as the Zen wisdom flows and unfolds helping Hatter to discover a new way to search and think and experience the world.
When did you start writing the book?
I began writing volume 1 of the Looking Glass Wars in 2000, volume 1 of Hatter M in 2005 and volume 4 Zen of Wonder in 2010.
How long did it take you to write it?
Zen of Wonder took approximately 2 years to complete – no doubt due to its Zen nature, we didn’t push so hard and fast as on the others. We just let it flow.
Where did you get the idea from?
Since we fashion each volume around a geographic area that has been described in Hatter’s cryptic journal notes, we had research documenting his travels in Japan and his fascination with writing haiku. Further research uncovered his stay at Happy Cat Monastery. The rest was filling in the blanks.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
We still do not have the answer to ‘what is the sound of one hand clapping?’
What came easily?
Oh the fun of it really flowed. The lightness and mischievous quality of Nekko as she leads this intense focused Wonderland bodyguard around the world advising him on Zen matters. Laughing at his seriousness. And the homage to the Peanuts gang in chapter 3 really just wrote itself.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
Both and neither. They are real people we do not know but have spent a lot time figuring out.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
Frank Herbert
Tom Robbins
William Gibson
Do a mash-up of these three and you kind of get how my mind works.
Do you have a target reader?
By publishing standards, The Looking Glass Wars is considered Young Adult – but old, medium and not so young adults have been enthusiastic fans as well. My target reader (for LGW and Hatter M) is the person with the questing mind that is open to the ‘what if’ of the fantasy world that exists right next to us – closer than our next thought. I write for these readers – who are all strapped in and ready for the ride.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
Set deadlines and stick to them. I know what I want to get done that day and I do it – but — if it’s just not happening – walk away and go to zoo or the park or just walk. Sometimes my head is a pot that’s boiling and sometimes it’s a pot that’s turned low and slowly, slowly cooking. Know yourself, honor where you are at, and be honest with what you are capable of in the moment.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I outline everything. And I continue to re-work outline – starting with bullet points and then adding details as they come to me so eventually – the outline turns into a series of scenes ready to be incorporated into the text.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I edit as I go and then edit again and again up until it is sent to the printer’s – and then I even get to edit again when the proofs come back and there is that one last chance to change a word.
Did you hire a professional editor?
Penguin provided editors for The Looking Glass Wars, but for Hatter M it is Liz and I for the most part – though we do have other eyes to help us out and have used editors in the past.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
Sometimes I will have music on for a while but I find that if the writing is going really well the music will have stopped and I won’t even have noticed. If I am too involved with music appreciation, I know I am not deep into the writing.
What do I listen to? Right now, I have these great old mixed tapes I made of an extinct Los Angeles radio station (KACE) that played an odd mix of pop and circa. 1960’s ‘adult contemporary’ with everything from Classical Gas to Ferrante and Teicher performing the theme from Exodus.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I did have an agent helping me with The Looking Glass Wars.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
I published the first 4 Hatter M comic books through IMAGE Comics to learn the in’s and out’s of publishing. After that experience, I wanted to be responsible for all aspects of my graphic novels while building a publishing company that produces other creator’s work.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
Me? Hahaha. No. I had the excellent Vincent Proce do the cover art for Zen of Wonder.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
We sit down and create a detailed map of marketing ideas and the sequencing of those ideas.
Then we start winging it…
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Make sure you are having fun doing it because no one wants to hear you complain.
End of Interview:
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