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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Now you can read the answers Grey Griffins fans most want to know.
Just click here.
. . . OR ASK YOUR OWN QUESTION
Email: J.S. Lewis | Derek Benz
MySpace: Grey Griffins | J.S. Lewis
Snail Mail: P.O. Box 2431, Chandler, AZ 85244
* And remember, if your question isn't picked this month, keep trying!
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How long have the authors known each other?
Derek was a Jon's sixth birthday party, and bought Jon his very first Star Wars action figure -- a brand new Obi-Wan Kenobi from Episode IV: A New Hope. That should give you enough information to do the math, but needless to say, it's been a long time.
At what age did the authors start writing?
Jon and Derek started drawing their own comic book characters at eight years old. Then they started writing comic book stories by the age of 12, and finally, fantasy novels at 14. Then stopped writing in college, and didn't start back until they turned 28 years old. Jon and Derek believe that it's never too early or too late to start.
What kind of grades did you get in school and where did you go to college?
We both got mostly A's and B's. Jon went to Arizona State University, and Derek went to a small school in Michigan.
What's going on with the Grey Griffins movies?
Jon and Derek are working with an ?A? list Executive Producer from Hollywood who is working hard to find the right studio and director for the Grey Griffins film properties. Unfortunately the process can take a long time, but they are hopeful that production will begin soon.
When will the Round Table Trading Card Game be released?
There is no hard date connected to the release of the Round Table Trading Card game. Right now the authors are looking at adding a critical online component. In the meantime, on and Derek are busy working on the next novel in the series, as well as a series of comic books that will be bound as a graphic novel.
Are going to make a video game based on the Grey Griffins series?
Though there have been early talks about Grey Griffins video games, the authors are holding off until the movie rights have been finalized.
How long are you going to continue the Grey Griffins series? And will there be another series branching off of it?
The authors have vowed to keep writing the Grey Griffins series as long as their hearts are in it, More importantly, they'll keep writing about Max, Harley, Ernie and Natalia as long as people continue to enjoy the stories. As to other Grey Griffin adventures, the authors have discussed exactly nine other story forms in print:
- The Secret Files of the Grey Griffins
(shorter, action-oriented adventures with lots of pen & ink drawings)
- Grey Griffins comic books & graphic novels
- The Natalia Romanov Detective Series
- The (Mis)Adventures of Agent Thunderbolt (Ernie)
- A prequel in the style of Tolkien about the War of the Jewel of Titania
- A series featuring William Caliburn (Max's grandfather) and Olaf "Iver" Iverson during the war, fighting the Black Wolf Society
- A Vlad Dracula trilogy
- A replica of the Codex Spiritus
- The Round Table Creature Compendium
Where do the authors get all of their ideas from?
The authors get their ideas from a vareity of places, including books, movies, television, and most importantly, from the actual experiences of their own childhood. Their influences include J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Maurice Sendak, Stan Lee, Walt Disney, and George Lucas.
Are any of the characters in the Grey Griffins books based on people the authors have known?
Many of the characters have traits of people that both Jon and Derek grew up with, as well as traits of some of their favorite characters from history, literature, television, and movies. But soon those characters take on lives of their own.
How can I learn how to draw comic book characters?
We started out drawing freehand, but then got frustrated because our characters didn't look like we wanted them to. So we started tracing. Yep. We cheated. But that was okay, because it taught us to carefully look at the form we were drawing and to pay close attention to perspective and proportion. Once we got pretty good at tracing, we pulled the paper away and tried to draw exactly what we saw. Then, once we could mimic what we saw pretty well, we started drawing what was in our head. Basically it just takes lots and lots of practice.
What do the authors like to do in their spare time?
Derek: I play the piano, the guitar, I read A LOT, I collect comic books, play video games, mountain hiking - I always have to be doing something.
Jon: I love to go to movies, read books and watch documentaries about World War II (my grandfather fought in the Battle of the Bulge, was captured by the Germans and then placed in a detainment camp -- he survived, but would never tell me any stories -- the memories were too painful), watch football (Minnesota Vikings and ASU Sun Devils), play Madden football on my XBOX 360, read comic books, hang out with my friends, and spend as much time with my family as I can.
Is J.S. Lewis related to C.S. Lewis?
"J.S." stands for "Jon Samuel". Though there is a slight chance Jon is related to C.S. Lewis, he doubts it very seriously. Evidently his middle name (Samuel) comes from a distant relative who was a wild west outlaw named Sam Bass, from Denton, Texas. Jon hopes that Sam patterned his life of crime afer Robin Hood, robbing from the rich to give to the poor.
* I read somewhere that Derek used to be in a boy band, is that true?
Don't believe everything you read (including this response). Whereas there is no concrete evidence that Derek was ever the memeber of a boy band, there is confirmation that he was in swing choir in both junior high and high school. He was even in the marching band.
Are you rich, and how much money do you make?
The idea of wealth is entirely relative. Though Jon and Derek couldn't afford to buy a shack next door to Bill Gates, they haven't had to miss a meal, either. Both authors feel very blessed that the Grey Griffins books have sold as well as they have, and they hope to continue to write books for many years to come.
Do either of the authors play World of Warcraft?
Yes. Jon started playing with Warcraft II (which is still one of his all-time favorite games). He dove into the World of Warcraft, and is now an Orc warrior in the Horde, as well as a card-caryying member of the Red Branch Guild.
If you had a Bounder Faerie, what kind would it be?
Jon: Tundra Troll
Derek: Gargoyle
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