Civilians Interview: Natalie St. Pierre with Jeff Lemire

Last week I interviewed out Civilians Read panelists, but for the final week before the competition, I wanted you to get to know this competition’s real celebs a little better. So I asked the Civilians to chat with the authors they’re defending and share their conversation with us. To start us off, Natalie St. Pierre asked Jeff Lemire, author of Essex County, a few questions about small towns, graphic novels in Canada Reads, and Twin Peaks.

Natalie St. Pierre:  Your latest work has been for DC Comics and its Vertigo imprint. How have your hardcore comics fans reacted to Essex County‘s Canada Reads nomination?
Jeff Lemire: The Canada Read selection has brought a lot of renewed attention to Essex County and as a result the fans of Sweet Tooth and Superboy have been going back and checking it out. It’s always nice, and rewarding, when your work can cross over and find a broader audience, from superhero fanboys to the literary book crowd.

NSP: During both Canada Reads and Civilians Reads, I suspect that Essex County will be challenged based on genre alone–the graphic-novels-aren’t-actually-novels argument. How would you respond to this?

JL: I agree. I think the biggest obstacle that EC faces is its medium. It will be facing a lot of prejudices on the limited definition of what people think comics are. The fact is that comics are a medium capable of dealing with any genre, just like literature or film is.  Luckily there is a wealth of amazing material on the bookshelves now, from historical fiction to autobiography to fantasy and memoir, that back up the argument that comics are capable of the same depth, intelligence and complexity as any other art form.

NSP: If I were to generalize, “home” and many of its permutations–exile, diaspora, homelessness, belonging–emerge as central themes in Canadian literature. Essex County, which is a very intimate work, also speaks to these themes. How did writing about your own home affect your approach as a writer and artist?

JL: Well, it was the first time I started looking inward, at my own history, as a storyteller. Up to that point I had been struggling telling stories that had no real connection to me or my life. The decision to look back on my own past, and specifically where I came from, helped ground my work and focus my narrative ideas. And as a result I think it helped me finally find my voice as a storyteller and artist.

NSP: Even though you now live in Toronto, small communities–Essex County, Large Mouth, Smallville–figure prominently in your work. What is it about these communities that fires your imagination?

JL: Well, it’s hard to say for sure, but I guess I like the idea of using a small community as a microcosm for a larger society. I also like dealing with the isolation and insular nature of small towns. On a purely aesthetic level I like drawing open spaces and rural landscapes much more than urban centers. It just seems to suit my sparse drawing style better.  Plus so many movies, comics, books, etc are set in the generic “big city” its important to remember that there are other perspectives and other stories out there to be explored.

NSP: To end things on a fun note, I’ve read that you’re a fellow Twin Peaks fan. Which Twin Peaks character would have Essex County on his or her bookshelf and why?

JL: Definitely Deputy Hawk. He seems like an enlightened, interesting guy who would enjoy EC. Or maybe Sherriff Truman. Michael Onktean, the actor who played him, was in Slapshot after all.

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Big thank yous to Natalie and to Jeff Lemire for taking the time for this interview. To find out more about Jeff, check out his website and his blog, and stay tuned for the return of Books in 140 Seconds on February 10th, when Erin and I talk about issues 1 & 2 of Sweet Tooth!