New York Times best-selling author Gene Luen Yang will discuss his graphic novel “Secret Coders” at the Chapel Hill Public Library this afternoon.
Yang spoke with Daily Tar Heel staff writer Cate Alspaugh about his career and the importance of computer science.
The Daily Tar Heel: When did you first become interested in graphic novels and comics?
Gene Luen Yang: I started drawing comics in the sixth grade, and I kind of stopped in junior high because I had this friend that was way cooler than me that told me if kept reading and making comics, then I would never get a girlfriend.
When I graduated from college, I really wanted to do comics. I looked into it, and at that point, it was the mid-90s, and the comic book industry in America was not doing very well. I didn’t think I could make a living at it. But I still wanted to do it as a fulfillment of a lifelong dream. So I started as a self-publisher.
DTH: What was your experience like with self-publishing?
GY: It was fun. It was not lucrative at all. It was the exact opposite of lucrative. I would lose a couple grand every time I did it. So I only did like three issues. Then I moved on to what are called minicomics, which are Xeroxed comics. And with those, I would only lose a couple hundred bucks every time I did it — but it was a ton of fun. I went to shows to sell my stuff. I met some other cartoonists who lived in my area, some of whom are my best friends now.
DTH: Describe your transition from being a computer science major at Berkeley to writing graphic novels?
GY: I had a regular job. I would get home, and I’d do comics at night. I did comics really just for the love of it. I majored in creative writing, too, so I did do some college work that was related to making stories.
