The following is an interview with writer Brian Gonsar (Twisted Tales of Scary Stories: Werewolves) regarding the upcoming release of the middle grade graphic novel, Dracula’s Brunch Club, with Oni Press. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Gonsar about his shared creative process in working with artist Keenan Gaybba to bring the story and characters to life on the page, the themes that he hopes will resonate with readers, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of Dracula’s Brunch Club! What can you tell us about the premise of this frightfully fun story?
Brian Gonsar: Thank you very much! This is a funny story that combines two fun kid things: vampires and donuts. When Count Dracula returns from his worldwide donut tour, he discovers his nemesis, Constantine, has taken over his brunch club and kicked out all the humans. To make matters worse, all the jelly in the land has disappeared. And it’s the blood orange jelly Dracula uses in his donuts that gives the vampires their all-night energy. So, to get back on the good side of the vampires, he must find a suitable alternative to the energy-giving jelly, while making sure not to jeopardize the strong human-vampire relationship he worked so hard to develop.
BD: How would you describe your shared creative process in working with artist Keenan Gaybba to not only bring these incredibly fun characters to life on the page, but in crafting a story that delves into the spooky realm without being scary?
BG: I wanted this book to be for the kids who wanted to read Goosebumps or Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, but didn’t want to be up all night, scared of every creak in the house. So, while the settings are gothic-feeling and the colors are cool blue and purple tones which we’ve come to expect from vampire stories, we made sure to soften all the tense and scary moments with the cartoon-like art and comedy.
It was a very collaborative process with Keenan. We had met online after I saw a music video he did for All Time Low called “Monster.” Being this was both of our debut graphic novel, we did a lot of learning and experimenting together. He didn’t shy away from making some plot suggestions and I weighed in on the characters, cover, and the illustrations. Luckily, I didn’t have to do much, since his color palette, design sense, and ability to draw expressions added so much to the project, so I trusted him immensely. I do feel it’s important, in any creative field, to have a creative partner. Another person to bounce ideas off of, pick you up when you’re feeling unmotivated, and help elevate one another’s abilities.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Dracula’s story may connect with and impact young readers?
BG: The story tackles a few things: bullying, getting along with someone who is different than you, and what happens if you give into someone who uses fear to divide. Now, I don’t go out and directly say these things, but you can see it in the story. I never want to hit someone over the head with a message, but rather have the characters lead by example.
The characters don’t say they are doing something because it’s good – they just do it because it’s part of their character and readers will see that. For example, Count Dracula’s lack of jelly not only hurts the energy-level of his fellow vampires, but it also jeopardizes the promise he made to his human friend, Elena, that he’d donate a year’s supply of jelly donuts for her charity auction to help sick kids. At the end, you can see how he makes good on his word to help those in need, as well as his vampire friends…just in a different way than we expected.
BD: What makes Oni Press the perfect home for this story?
BG: Oni Press is so solid and well-known in the comics and graphic novel space, I knew they’d be a good home for this. On top of that, I knew that they’d be excellent guides for Keenan and I who are taking this publishing journey for the first time. They’ve proved time and time again that they’re the right fit for a story like this. Their team has elevated the design work, made the dialogue stronger, sold it to a bunch of booksellers, and helped make a splash at ALA (the American Library Association’s national conference).
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
BG: This is my debut book, so I don’t have anything else to bring up, but the book that got me to write this story as a graphic novel is Camp Midnight by Steven T. Seagle. My agent, Stacey Graham, gave it to me when she suggested I turn this story into a graphic novel. Camp Midnight took the spooky and the funny and tied them together in a way that made me hooked. And with my producer background (I’ve built a career making commercials, music videos, and feature films.), the script format that graphic novels are written in was a familiar space.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Dracula’s Brunch Club and your other work?
BG: You can check out my website at www.bgonsarbooks.com, my Instagram at @bgonsar, or find the book at any retailer that sells books. Also, if you’re looking for a donut recommendation, check out my donut blog at www.thedonuthunter.com.
