The following is an interview with Štěpánka Jislová regarding the release of the graphic memoir, Heartcore, through publisher Graphic Mundi. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Jislová about the creative process for bringing her experiences in dating and love to the page, how she hopes that this personal narrative may connect with readers, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the release of Heartcore! What can you tell us about the genesis of this project to share your experiences in dating and love?
Štěpánka Jislová: Thank you! Looking back, the original spark that carried me through this 200+ page project was one burning question: Can we consider love to be a skill, and therefore can we get better at it by studying it? I mean, just look at how many people seem to be repeating one relationship over and over: It ends as it began, one after the other, almost as if there was a pre-existing script. Just the role of the partner goes to different people over time, the actor changes faces but the lines stay the same.
For most of my life, I was one of these people, and honestly, it was a hellish experience. You keep doing the same thing and keep achieving the same result. Wanting love while being unable to connect with people creates loneliness truly crushing.
BD: How would you describe your creative process in bringing your story to life on the page, and did you find there to be any challenges or surprises as you shared your own experiences within the narrative?
ŠJ: I am a very systematic person with a deep appreciation towards excel sheets (Thank you, autism!), which turned out to be a great tool for trying to capture and explore the various themes of Heartcore. And they are numerous! Toxic patterns in relationships, the connection between one’s upbringing and their preference in romantic partners, but also the pop-culture of the ’90s, living authentically versus masking, the link between feminism and hookup culture, and, of course, the gender of it all. My post-it notes kept it organised.
I think the main challenge was keeping the autobiographical side of things at least somewhat ethical. I tried to get permission from as many people as possible, to share their stories in a way that was truthful. Shortly after the book was published, I realized it was a foolish endeavor. Autobiographies are unethical, it’s part of their nature, the bug is a feature and vice versa. The people who are filling in for your secondary characters can never really know in what context the reader will see them in, and the author can really only do the most basic damage control. That being said? I love autobiographies and I think that we all have indisputable right to tell our own story.
BD: Having published multiple books with Graphic Mundi, what makes the publisher an idea collaborator and home for your work?
ŠJ: As with any home, what makes it cosy is a good company! Graphic Mundi publishes stories that give their audience a unique insight into the lives that they might have never lived, but also offer a unique opportunity to those who can relate a place where they don’t have to be and feel alone.
BD: Graphic Medicine is an emerging genre that combines the field of medicine with the medium of comics. How do you feel that Graphic Medicine stories like this one can allow readers to process their own experiences with romantic attachment, gender roles, and interpersonal connection?
ŠJ: I wanted to make a book containing all of the information that I had such a hard time finding. The little snippets from psychology, sociology, and human development are scattered throughout my personal experiences, packaged in a way that prioritizes the story, therefore making it easier for the reader to relate to the struggle. I am hoping that while comparing their own life with mine, my comics avatar can be this sort of a fucked-up friend, that makes them feel less ashamed of their own perceived shortcomings. And, even better, maybe Heartcore can give people the right label to Google afterwards and find resources helpful for their specific journey.
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
ŠJ: I’d be amiss not to highlight the first book of mine published by Graphic Mundi! Bald, co-created with Tereza Čechová, tells her story of living with alopecia. If you’re interested in exploring the importance and symbolism of hair, how the life and work balance can hurt especially those hungry for validation and what happens when our trust in doctors hits a dead end, give this memoir a read, as well!
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Heartcore?
ŠJ: Come find me on Instagram (@jislovka)! You’ll be the first to know about upcoming events and signings (I am coming to SPX!), and that’s also where I publish sketches, time-lapse videos, and my illustration work. If you are interested in peeking behind the curtain, I will be super happy to see you on my Patreon, where I talk about scripting and storytelling, comics media production, and give tips regarding freelance work related struggles.
