We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Andrew Frink. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Andrew below.

Andrew, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Nonna Mia started as a small test project. Meg and I wanted to see how well we worked together professionally since we worked so well romantically. We talked to various writers and artists from the comic book industry about the idea of us working together on a graphic novel. The responses were mixed. Some said it was a good way to end a relationship, others said that they were surprised we hadn’t done it already. Meg is an illustrator with multiple self-published works under their belt. I am a screenwriter with a decent portfolio and moderate experience writing comics as well. The fact that we weren’t knee deep in drafts was shocking. Either way, the consensus from the pros was clear; Writing a comic together was either going to make or break our relationship.
We tossed around ideas ranging from robot cowboys gaining sentience to couples getting lost in haunted national parks, but the tale we kept coming back to was a simple one; a story about an Italian grandma who solves mysteries. Once we settled on the “what”, we started on the “what if’s”. What if we had cute little spirits in the story? They don’t have to play a big role, but it would be cute. Let’s make our Nonna a witch so she can interact with those spirits. Maybe we give it some Studio Ghibli vibes since it’s getting a little more supernatural. Well if we’re getting Miyazaki involved we might as well throw a military narrative in the mix. And so on and so forth.
I did what I usually do, took the simple idea and blew it up into a massive and complex epic. Meg was apprehensive at first, but pretty soon, the “small test project” became a full fledged graphic novel series in the works, with five books planned and a Kickstarter campaign on the horizon. You can follow our progress on Instagram at @nonnamiacomic .

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I and Andrew Scot Frink, and I have been a few things in the past decade; I’ve been a screenwriter, a photographer, a director, a barista, a producer, a novelist, a hearing aid technician, a dungeon master, and a comic writer to name a few. The job title has always changed, but the heart of it remains the same to this day. I am and always will be a storyteller.

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

In todays ecosystem, the best way that people can help artists or creatives is by simply being there to witness and respond to the wonders they strive to create. Going to shows, sharing posts, giving even the simplest of feedback is fuel in the fire for artists like myself, and it enriches your own lives as well.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

When a story comes to me, it arrives more or less fully formed. Unfortunately, there have been a number of stories that have come to me before I had developed the skills necessary to tell them effectively. My goal has always been to develop my skills to a point where I feel confident enough to let them out into the world.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewthefrink/profilecard/?igsh=a25rcnJxYnV2N3l4
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/nonnamiacomic/profilecard/?igsh=bnloeGhpOThvN3Q=

Image Credits

Nonna Mia Artwork by Meg Tosi