We were lucky to catch up with Christie Shinn recently and have shared our conversation below.

Christie, appreciate you joining us today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

It’s funny when people talk half the time. Most of the time it’s strange-half truths that they never think about how it actually applies in their own lives, to just repeating what people suggest to them regardless of the results, or some nonsense that people just get upset over just because. In reality, there are very few resonant bits of information that people actually take in and they’re programmed to follow fear as their gut feeling rather than the actual gut feeling. I’ve had people project all sorts of confusing and laughable shit on me, sometimes rather hurtful as I’d never have done things like that before.

I have had people say all sorts of shit about me. Mostly when they’re talking shit they’re being rather hyperbolic – of which most of the time when people do that, it’s based on extremes where they forget the fine, mitigating points. There’s such a dissonance of where they may argue they may support something else and they’re not “the thing” -but then say the exact thing that would make the thing the thing.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I got into comic books and I love them. I always had a feeling I’d be creatively involved in them and I’d be happy. When I first got into it, I wasn’t really sure how I would do it. I’d draw but it didn’t work out.

Then in 2015, it all came together. I released ‘Personal Monsters’, ‘Demon Bitch’, and ‘Mine! Planned Parenthood. It wasn’t all in the same year, but I started to get acclaim one right after another. I then won a Ringo Award for ‘Mine!’ which has been the biggest award yet – but I’m aiming for more.

I have to say what makes me so proud of my work is that it’s invariably me. Now people can tell you to compromise or to work on other things – I don’t think that’s bad – especially when starting out. However, don’t be afraid to put YOU into the work. That’s what matters. I think I love #WEARELEGION as we all felt like we couldn’t be everything we wanted or have because of some bullshit reason. Somehow, my existence defies all of that.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Stop creating drama and bullshit excuses to hate each other in overly dramatic WWE vibes. It gets disgusting. Stop going on overly demonstrative fights online for absolutely no reason because you’re not impressing everyone. Be nice. It’s getting ridiculous to hear of one person pontificating that they’re great and moral when digging in the background they do the same dumb stuff that the “big publishers” do. It’s fine for constructive criticism but do understand people can take it or leave it like you do theirs. You only hold your own authority for yourself and your own stuff. Also, OWN your stance. Speak with your own authority and confidence – not screech or talk down to people that think differently than you.

Obviously stand up for yourself when you need to, but don’t act like an utter asshole. That would be a great start.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Pancreatic tumor. I was told that I had a big chance it was malignant. I also was told I would be diabetic. Funny enough, neither of those happened. That’s probably why I think a lot of current negative circumstances are full of crap. It’s not a complete denial of the world around me – it’s a denial that this is the end state I’m supposed to be in. After a Whipple procedure (it sucks, look it up), I lost 50 lbs and am healthier than ever.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.horatorastudios.com
• Instagram: @horatorastudios
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HoraToraStudios/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christieshinn
• Twitter: @horatorastudios
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLxE8qt85Rac5AfMSnz8-BA