Finding a creative outlet in writing from a young age, Scott Colby is already releasing his 3rd novel later this Summer. However, N0.1R was his first comic book venture!Where did you come up with the concept for N0.1R?N0.1R was originally the idea of the book’s artist, Nic Giacondino. He had a heck of a world and an idea and just needed someone to help flesh it out a bit more. That turned out to be my job. His concept left me with a few questions about the world and the characters, so I got to work answering those myself and the final product was born.
How is it to collaborate in the creation of a story? Is there too much compromise?
I really like collaborating on a story. Sure, there’s compromise, but more often than not something really cool comes out of the combination of two disparate ideas about something. It’s rarely one side or the other coming out on top.
Did you always envisioned it as a webcomic?
That was what I was told it would be. :)
There's a whole debate around comics becoming digital. Do you think webcomics are the gateway for this new digital world?
Definitely. The great thing about the internet is it’s a giant, never-ending rabbit hole. You never know what you’re going to find—or who’s going to find what you put there. Combine those traits and you’ve got a great platform for comics moving forward.
Do you find yourself more driven towards a specific genre(s)? Which one(s)?
A lot of what I write is fantasy, but I try not to get stuck on any one genre. I’ve done a little bit of everything.
Why?
I was just thinking about this the other day. I enjoyed the fantasy genre when I was younger, but lately I feel like it’s lacking depth. Working in that particular genre is a great chance to really challenge accepted norms and build something surprising and new—which are things I feel like a lot of fantasy authors just don’t do.
What was the first thing you ever wrote?
I was always that smart kid who finished his work first, so I needed a way to pass the time in school. I couldn’t draw at all, so I started writing. I can’t remember my first story, but I’m pretty sure it happened in third grade.
What was the first book you ever read (or was read to you)?
No idea.
And comics: which were your favorite ones?
I haven’t read a ton of comics, but I was always partial to the X-Men. Such a cool universe with a great cast of diverse characters.
Nowadays, what can we find you reading?
Lately I’ve been on a science fiction kick—Marko Kloos, John Scalzi, Iain M. Banks. And I read nerdy baseball websites like it’s going out of style. Not that it’s ever really been in style.
Are you a person of idols?
Not really.
Who were your childhood heroes?
Optimus Prime and Bret “The Hitman” Hart.
And today? Who do you look up to?
Anyone who can make a living writing his or her own stuff.
What made you enter the comic universe of storytelling?
I wrote some prose for Jeremy Mohler way back when, and he offered me the chance to write some comics, I decided it sounded like fun.
Of all the projects you've worked on, is there one that stands out from rest? Why?
Probably my first novel, Shotgun. That thing took forever. My style’s changed and improved (I hope) since then, but you can definitely catch a few glimpses of where I was going.
And now a peek into the Future. Can you tell us what project(s) are you most looking forward to?
I just finished the first draft of my third novel, Diary of a Fairy Princess. It’s the most absurd, ridiculous thing I’ve ever thought of. It’s great. It constantly makes me laugh while I’m revising it. Half of it’s written in a spoiled princess voice I had a ton of fun working with. I suspect readers are either going to love it or hate it with few opinions in between—and I really can’t wait to see which way it goes. Hopefully it’ll be available by the end of the summer.
Thanks Scott for giving us access to your creative universe!S.G
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