The following is an interview with Giulie Speziani regarding the Kickstarter campaign launch for the graphic novel, Thanks! Romina. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Speziani about her shared creative process in working with artist S.E. Case to bring the stories and characters to life on the page, what readers may take away from the story’s themes, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on your Kickstarter campaign launch for Thanks! Romina! What can you share with us about the genesis behind this project and its overall premise?
Giulie Speziani: I wrote this when I was living in Los Angeles and remembered how difficult it was after leaving Florida, trying to acclimate to a new city and new job. I think everyone knows what that feels like, trying to adapt to new surroundings. After college you’re expected to be a fully functioning adult but that’s not always the case. Challenging oneself with new experiences and making mistakes is part of growing up in your 20s.
BD: What can you tell us about your shared creative process in working with artist S.E. Case to bring the story and its characters to life on the page?
GS: The first time we connected was back in the Twitter days, where I followed a lot of artists and her artwork showed up. She was (and still is) posting her webcomic, Rigsby WI, and I checked it out. I immediately loved her illustrations and storytelling. For Thanks! Romina, a lot of my characters have nuanced emotions and I knew she would be able to convey those subtleties in her work. I went ahead and reached out and she was game for taking on a new project at that time. We continued to email back and forth, we set out to complete the first issue, and then the rest of the trade.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums – no matter the genre. How do you feel that Romina’s story may connect with and impact today’s readers, and what, if any, conversations do you hope that it may inspire?
GS: I hope it reassures the people who feel out of place in today’s world of side-hustles and the daily grind. When you’re young, bright-eyed and bushy tailed, you do what it takes to survive in the tough job market but really, what is your dream? Sometimes, your goals change over time, and that’s okay.
BD: Why do you feel that crowdfunding has become such a vital resource for today’s comics creators and publishers?
GS: Especially in today’s publishing world, I can confidently say that I’ve been on the receiving end of lots of rejections. That’s part of the norm. But it’s especially tough to clamor for attention in the digital landscape of algorithms and metrics. Thanks! Romina deserved to be told our way, and I’m glad that crowdfunding is still a viable option for creatives to get their work out.
BD: In light of the crowdfunding campaign, are there any reward tiers that you are most excited to share?
GS: I’ve just added a Retailers Only reward tier, where comic book shops can pledge for a discounted bundle. I’ve visited many comic book stores where the owners and staff were incredibly welcoming and showed they really loved supporting indie creatives. It’s great to see that brick-and-mortar stores still have readers who stop by every Wednesday to pick up their favorite titles.
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
GS: Cash & Carrie is a beloved all-ages title that I co-created with Shawn Pryor and Marcus Kwame. I still love those characters and the stories we told with Volume 1 and 2. Hopefully in the future, we get to revisit but only time will tell.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way to learn more about Thanks! Romina and to support its Kickstarter campaign?
GS: You can learn more details and check out preview pages on the campaign website.
