Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Barbra Dillon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Barbra thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

First and foremost, I feel that it’s necessary for me to underscore the importance of kindness in my life. It is a guiding principle in my career, in my everyday efforts as a parent, and in the ethos of my company (Fanbase Press). One of my favorite quotes from Fred Rogers is “There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.” Engendering empathy for others will always stem from demonstrations of kindness, and I try my utmost to offer as much kindness to others as I can.

I was blown away by the kindness of a dear colleague and friend, award-winning screenwriter, comics writer, and podcaster Rylend Grant (The Peacekeepers, Aberrant). One of the greatest kindnesses that you can offer to a colleague or friend is to make space for them when opportunities arise, to champion them when they may not have the ability to do so for themselves. To quote an oft-used phrase, “It takes a special kind of friend to mention your name in a room full of opportunity.”

Rylend has cultivated years of success in both screenwriting and comics, and his network of industry colleagues is vast. When provided with the opportunity to champion friends and colleagues, he won’t hesitate, and that’s precisely what he did for me last year in recommending me for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I could not have been more appreciative of his generosity and his genuine kindness in making space for me at the table.

Barbra, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, and I have lived in Los Angeles, CA, for 20 years now. During my early days in Los Angeles, I worked in the TV and film industry with talent managers and producers for Hollywood’s leading comedic talent. It was this experience that truly gave way to Fanbase Press, as I found that there were so many individuals who were not afforded the opportunity to share their creativity with the world.

My partner Bryant and I co-founded Fanbase Press as a way for creators to share their stories and for those stories to reach new audiences. As creators, we recognize the incredible creative process that is needed to bring a story to life, and we empathize with the barriers that exist in trying to publish, market, and distribute those stories – both through the traditional publishing industry and as independent creators.

Fanbase Press produces new and distinctive works, as well as daily reviews, interviews, and podcasts, that span the pop culture spectrum. Over the past 15 years, the Fanbase Press brand has become synonymous with high-quality books featuring heartfelt stories by marginalized creators, and spotlighting the works of other creators across mediums, building a foundation for all of us to succeed together.

We are a two-person operation, focusing on one publishing project at a time, given that we work with the creator for the entire lifespan of the project: from development and production, to pre-press, marketing, distribution, convention and signing appearances, and award submissions. Ultimately, our promotion of the book does not stop after its release; we are here for the entirety of the project.

Our catalog of comics and graphic novels include the 2023 Eisner and Harvey Award-nominated RIPPLE EFFECTS, 2018 Eisner Award-nominated QUINCE, the 2020 Foreword INDIES Award-winning QUINCE: THE DEFINITIVE BILINGUAL EDITION hardcover, the 2022 International Latino Book Award-winning NUCLEAR POWER, the GLAAD Media Award-winning FOUR-COLOR HEROES, and many more.

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

Our fundamental drive at Fanbase Press has always been to celebrate fandom(s) and highlight the importance of storytelling. Serving as both a comic book publisher and media organization for the past 15 years, we’ve worked to build a community for fans and creators. We celebrate and give voice to the themes, ideals, and people who make our favorite art so exceptional.

But, in these past several years, as we’ve witnessed the monetization of fandom by large corporations and the proliferation of AI use, it’s become more important than ever that we not only highlight the value of storytelling, but that we think and talk about how to protect the art we love and the artists who create it. It’s time that we, as a community built through fandom, begin to use the ideals and themes and heroes we look to as a starting point for working together to become our own heroes.

Through our publishing and journalistic efforts, we encourage our readers, viewers, and listeners to dig deeper. For example: *Why* are these stories so important to us? What do they say about the world around us? Who are the creators that brought these stories to life, and how can we demonstrate our solidarity to ensure that they’re fairly compensated for their work?

Fanbase Press wants to weather this storm that the “corporate/industry standard” has created. We look to do it together with other publishers, media companies, artists, and fans. Because we love this medium with all our hearts.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I think that what makes Fanbase Press special is its positive approach to fandom. Our tagline is that we “Celebrate Fandoms and Create New Ones!” At heart, we are all fans of something, and we aim to celebrate the stories that have been meaningful or impactful to us. In addition, we want to give voice to the new creators and stories that will impact future audiences.

For us, it is simply not enough to honor the creations of the past but to pave the way for new generations to share their lived experiences and their perspectives with others. It is here that our positivity is most crucial, as we want to encourage new creators to find their voice, to hone and share their creativity, and to one day create further opportunities for their successors.

Of course, without the support and hard work of our staff, contributors, creators, and fans, this work would not be possible. Fanbase Press is a team effort, through and through, both from our team and the readers, listeners, and viewers with which we interact.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fanbasepress.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fanbasepress/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanbasePress1/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fanbase-press/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Fanbase_Press
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoZay6wk0kCXa7Nb4jsRGLQ
• Other: https://bsky.app/profile/fanbasepress.bsky.social

Image Credits

Michele Brittany, Bryant Dillon