Effective Nerd Interview with Ronald Cromartie

RC Creative welcomes GXW Rookies.

Thank you for taking the time to chat with me this week. Please tell the readers a little bit about yourself.

My name is Ronald Cromartie. I'm originally from the small town of Southport, North Carolina. I'm a novelist and comic book writer. I went to school for Business Management. I'm a former pro wrestler. I'm also a huge comic book fan and big basketball fan.

I loved reading Born Again. Could you tell the readers about this story? How did you come up with it?

Born Again is about a WW2 vet who passes away, wakes up in another world, and is trying to get back home to his family. It was inspired by my grandfather who himself had passed.

I originally did the comic for a contest. Unfortunately, it was rejected. But I’ve since expanded it.

How did you get into making comics? Do you have any traditional education, or are you self-taught?

I got into comics by making them. I'm from the “spinner rack era” of comics in the corner of the convenience store. My grandmother would give me her change and I would purchase one comic with 75 cents. It's something I always wanted to do, so I did it. All my education has been in business, but I have always read and written since I was young.

Making comics takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Do you have any strategies/routines for maintaining productivity?

My approach to comics is just like being an athlete. You have to practice every day. You have to read and write every day. Study your craft. Read widely, across all genres. And, overtime, you'll make huge progress. Small progress everyday over a period of time equals success.

The comic industry is like climbing a mountain; if you try to focus on the whole thing at once, it can be overwhelming, but if you break it into sections and focus on one section at a time, before you know it, you’ll be at the top.

What are your biggest obstacles when it comes to making art in general? How do you overcome them?

The biggest obstacle is financial- how to pay for everyone. The artist, The colorer, The inker, everyone has to be paid. And you have to do whatever is necessary to make it happen.

To finance my comics, I worked overtime, took a second job buffing and waxing floors, and did a GoFundMe. You do whatever it takes. That's my philosophy.

Who are some of your favorite indie creators, comics or otherwise?

My favorite Indie creators include Vita Ayala and Bryan Edward Hill, even though these guys are doing big-time gigs now.

Some of my favorite stories are The Winter Soldier, For the Man Who Has Everything by Alan Moore, and Time and Tide by Peter David. And my favorite novelists are Wilbur Smith, Ta-nehisi Coates, James Patterson, Napoleon Hill, and Phil Jackson.

I love the indie comics community online. How has your experience been so far?

It has been great. I expected it to be like pro wrestling where everyone is fighting to get that one contract for WWE, but it is not. It's more of a brotherhood where everyone is supportive and encouraging and super nice.

Do you have any advice for those who want to start making their own comics?

Study, study, study. Learn everything you can. Read as much as possible. Read all the big arcs that changed comics and books in general. Read Watchmen, the history of Marvel or DC, hell, read Alice in Wonderland.

Read the top writers and top artists, etc. Success always leaves clues. You'll go through a period of imitating your favorite writers, but eventually, you'll find your own voice. Build your career like you would build a product: sequentially.

The three keys that I have learned so far: imagination, curiosity and hard work.

Do you have any other upcoming events/projects/releases you would like to talk about?

I have a Lady Yasuke short story, a Born Again mini-series. I have Hoops Academy for kids coming soon, February 2020. I have New America #3, more short stories for Ashcan Studios, and two novels that I have been working on for quite some time.

Thank you again for talking to me! Tell the readers where they can find you and your work.

My website is launching soon at rcreative.online, and I have a ton of work on ashcancomicspub.com, ComiXology and Amazon.com, as well as some exclusive projects for Ashcan Studios and RCCreative