I said “hi” to Travis Hanson about twenty times at the Phoenix Comicon. Hanson’s booth was in a high traffic area: by the main walkway, next to Mike Mignola’s table, and right across from the concession stand. Despite the high traffic and craziness, Hanson didn’t seem to lose energy. Hanson operates Bean Leaf Press, which publishes the illustrated novel, Tales of The Broken Moon.
Pink Raygun: Can you give me a synopsis of Bean Leaf Press and your project?
Travis Hanson: I’m a professional illustrator. My project with Amy Duncan is Tales of the Broken Moon: The Bean’s Song and it’s an illustrated story book. It’s the same vein as Tolkein’s The Hobbit or Harry Potter. An adult can enjoy it as well as a young adult. Tales of The Broken Moon is self-published, which has been an awesome experience. The reviews have been solid and really strong. The only draw back is we need to have another book under our belt to be picked up by a distributor. We’ve been approached, but we’re working on the second book.
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PRG: This project grew out of your previous comic series. How did that happen?
TH: The book was originally a comic book. Then in the middle of the third issue, some people that were working with me weren’t able to fulfill their responsibilities, which threw the whole thing into a tizzy. I wanted to continue with the story and I decided that writing a book was a better way to do it. That’s when one of my fans, Amy Duncan, approached me. I’ve never met her, she lives back east. We started a dialogue and I started passing her illustrations . Then I signed her on as a contract partner and we wrote the book together.
PRG: How did the collaboration work?
TH: The internet is awesome. We have special forums set up just for us. I write out the general feel of the chapter, where it’s going, who’s doing what, and most of the dialogue. Then she goes in and weaves the tale, puts all the words together and cleans it up. Then I’m able to illustrate. Every two pages there is an illustration.
PRG: What led you to wanting to do comics and illustrated novels?
TH: I grew up with comics. I’m a big fan of Elfquest and William Stout. I got the big nod from William Stout last year at San Diego when he asked me to come over and show him what we’re doing. It was awesome and I was in heaven. Illustrators from back then inspired me to live in a world of fantasy. And then my kids are the other big thing. I watch them play and what better inspiration and stories could I get than what I get from them?
PRG: What comics, movies and books have been influential for you?
TH: Anything from the 80s. I’m a big fan of Indiana Jones, particularly Raiders of the Lost Ark. I look at The Goonies as a big inspiration, more the imagination part of it. Terry Brooks and his Shanara series is a big one.
PRG: I thought I was the only one who liked Terry Brooks!
TH: With the Shanara series, what works for me is that he ends it and begins again with another generation. I like Robert Jordan, but I wish he would end it! But at the same time, I like the way he writes. I’m a big fan of Tolkein. I read the Lord of the Rings trilogy every year just to remind me of why I do what I do.
You can read the first chapter of Tales of the Broken Moon: Bean’s Song at Bean Leaf Press. The book and Travis Hanson’s art prints are also available for purchase at the Bean Leaf Press website. Book Two, The Lost Prince of Darkleaf is currently in production.
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