Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!
Where we celebrate new books by Michigan's children's book authors and illustrators
Congratulations to Jim Benton on the release of his new book, Attack of the Stuff, The Life and Times of Bill Waddler!
It’s a pleasure to have you back on the blog, and congratulations on the release of Attack of the Stuff! What inspired this story about Bill the duck and his ability to hear the complaints of everyday appliances?
Thanks very much. I guess it began with a simple cartoon that I posted on Reddit and GoComics and Imgur that had a character that was being picked on by all of the people and things around him. I felt that the funniest part was when the objects picked on him. I started writing a story about a guy who is kind of bullied by stuff.
Graphic novels are known for being quite labor-intensive, both in the writing and the many, many illustrations! What was the process of creating Attack of the Stuff like? What was your favorite and least favorite part?
The only part I don’t like is when I’m done. I hate when projects come to an end. I love everything else.
Do you have advice for anyone looking to write and/or illustrate their own graphic novel?
Dive in. Take note of the proportions of the book you want to make, and sketch with those sizes in mind. It makes the finals easier. There is no good reason to hesitate. Just jump in. You can always erase, rewrite, redraw later. But in order to do that, you have to start. Be reckless and brash. Go. Stop reading what the dumb cartoonist has to say and go start your book. NOW.
Attack of the Stuff is described as “an 8 year old’s fever dream”, and many reviews have made note of how imaginative your narrative is. How did you keep the story cohesive and engaging while using a more surreal premise and fast pace? Do you have any tips for other writers looking to use surreal or absurd humor?
You know how in Looney Toons cartoons, the character doesn’t fall until he looks down and realizes that he’s not standing on anything? My tip is NEVER LOOK DOWN. I really can’t explain how I get where I’m going except I just scribble and scribble and scribble and then I’m done. And sometimes the results are just awful, and sometimes people like them. Then I get another stack of paper and start over.
You’ve mentioned liking PG Wodehouse’s writing in your last interview on the blog. Do you have any other favorite writers or artists?
I can honestly say that I have never seen a person’s art in which I did not see flashes of brilliance. This makes me a huge dopey fan of SO many artists and writers that it’s really quite impossible to list.
Is there something you hope your readers take away from Attack of the Stuff?
Well, I know what I see in Bill Waddler. I see a nice guy who is heroic in spite of it all, and even though listening can drag us down, it’s through listening that we prevail. Also, I’d like to believe that they might find it funny.
Can you tell us a little about what’s coming up in the next few months for you?
Sure! I have a new FRANNY K. STEIN book coming out called RECIPE FOR DISASTER, and another CATWAD book. My book CLYDE is now in Spanish, and just went into its second printing, and for Christmas, I have a picture book called COMET, THE UNSTOPPABLE REINDEER. Also, look for an announcement coming soon about me and DC.
A Little Bit About the Book:
Jim's newest title, Attack of the Stuff, The Life and Times of Bill Waddler (112 pages) is a full-color middle grade graphic novel from Papercutz. Bill is a duck who dreams of being smothered by farting snakes. He also has a special gift. He is able to hear appliances complain. Imagine what toilets would complain about. Bill doesn’t need to imagine. While working as a cash-only hay seller (that doesn’t accept credit cards), Bill doesn’t know that he, and a very confused orange juice sales clerk, are about to save the world. If you could hear this book complain, it would be saying “where have you been all my life?”
A Little Bit About the Author:
Jim Benton is the award-winning creator of more than thirty books, including the New York Times best-selling series Dear Dumb Diary, the series Franny K. Stein, the series Catwad as well as the international licensing hit, It’s Happy Bunny. His books have sold more than fifteen million copies worldwide, been translated into more than fifteen languages (and Braille), and have garnered numerous honors (like LIMA awards, Addy awards, Eisner nominations, Reuben divisional awards, an Eleanor Cameron award, and a NAPPA award to name a few). Benton is a member of the Writers Guild of America, the Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators, the National Cartoonists Society and The Society of Illustrators. He has also contributed to The Licensing Book, Writer's Digest Magazine, Reader's Digest Magazine, Kidscreen Magazine, Dark Horse Presents, MAD Magazine, and The New Yorker. Learn more about him at www.jimbenton.com.
Thanks very much. I guess it began with a simple cartoon that I posted on Reddit and GoComics and Imgur that had a character that was being picked on by all of the people and things around him. I felt that the funniest part was when the objects picked on him. I started writing a story about a guy who is kind of bullied by stuff.
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| Bill Waddler's evolution from the early comic... |
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| ...to his appearance as the main character in the final graphic novel! |
Graphic novels are known for being quite labor-intensive, both in the writing and the many, many illustrations! What was the process of creating Attack of the Stuff like? What was your favorite and least favorite part?
The only part I don’t like is when I’m done. I hate when projects come to an end. I love everything else.
Do you have advice for anyone looking to write and/or illustrate their own graphic novel?
Dive in. Take note of the proportions of the book you want to make, and sketch with those sizes in mind. It makes the finals easier. There is no good reason to hesitate. Just jump in. You can always erase, rewrite, redraw later. But in order to do that, you have to start. Be reckless and brash. Go. Stop reading what the dumb cartoonist has to say and go start your book. NOW.
Attack of the Stuff is described as “an 8 year old’s fever dream”, and many reviews have made note of how imaginative your narrative is. How did you keep the story cohesive and engaging while using a more surreal premise and fast pace? Do you have any tips for other writers looking to use surreal or absurd humor?
You know how in Looney Toons cartoons, the character doesn’t fall until he looks down and realizes that he’s not standing on anything? My tip is NEVER LOOK DOWN. I really can’t explain how I get where I’m going except I just scribble and scribble and scribble and then I’m done. And sometimes the results are just awful, and sometimes people like them. Then I get another stack of paper and start over.
 |
A few quotes from Kirkus Reviews on Attack of the Stuff |
You’ve mentioned liking PG Wodehouse’s writing in your last interview on the blog. Do you have any other favorite writers or artists?
I can honestly say that I have never seen a person’s art in which I did not see flashes of brilliance. This makes me a huge dopey fan of SO many artists and writers that it’s really quite impossible to list.
Is there something you hope your readers take away from Attack of the Stuff?
Well, I know what I see in Bill Waddler. I see a nice guy who is heroic in spite of it all, and even though listening can drag us down, it’s through listening that we prevail. Also, I’d like to believe that they might find it funny.
Can you tell us a little about what’s coming up in the next few months for you?
Sure! I have a new FRANNY K. STEIN book coming out called RECIPE FOR DISASTER, and another CATWAD book. My book CLYDE is now in Spanish, and just went into its second printing, and for Christmas, I have a picture book called COMET, THE UNSTOPPABLE REINDEER. Also, look for an announcement coming soon about me and DC.
A Little Bit About the Book:
Jim's newest title, Attack of the Stuff, The Life and Times of Bill Waddler (112 pages) is a full-color middle grade graphic novel from Papercutz. Bill is a duck who dreams of being smothered by farting snakes. He also has a special gift. He is able to hear appliances complain. Imagine what toilets would complain about. Bill doesn’t need to imagine. While working as a cash-only hay seller (that doesn’t accept credit cards), Bill doesn’t know that he, and a very confused orange juice sales clerk, are about to save the world. If you could hear this book complain, it would be saying “where have you been all my life?”
A Little Bit About the Author:
Jim Benton is the award-winning creator of more than thirty books, including the New York Times best-selling series Dear Dumb Diary, the series Franny K. Stein, the series Catwad as well as the international licensing hit, It’s Happy Bunny. His books have sold more than fifteen million copies worldwide, been translated into more than fifteen languages (and Braille), and have garnered numerous honors (like LIMA awards, Addy awards, Eisner nominations, Reuben divisional awards, an Eleanor Cameron award, and a NAPPA award to name a few). Benton is a member of the Writers Guild of America, the Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators, the National Cartoonists Society and The Society of Illustrators. He has also contributed to The Licensing Book, Writer's Digest Magazine, Reader's Digest Magazine, Kidscreen Magazine, Dark Horse Presents, MAD Magazine, and The New Yorker. Learn more about him at www.jimbenton.com.
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