Contemporary Authors

• Fish Wieler ( novel) Fiery Seas Pub., LLC (Point Clear, AL), 2016
• Demon Freaks ( novel) Fiery Seas Pub., LLC (Point Clear, AL), 2017

1. Demon freaks https://lccn.loc.gov/2017936003 Hardison, Jim. Demon freaks / J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison ; [edited by] Vicki McGough. Point Clear, AL : Fiery Seas Pub., LLC, 2017. pages cm ISBN: 9781946143174 2. Fish wielder https://lccn.loc.gov/2016950801 Hardison, Jim. Fish wielder / J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison. Point Clear, AL : Fiery Seas Pub., LLC, 2016. pages cm ISBN: 9780996894371 3. Fish wielder https://lccn.loc.gov/2015959645 Hardison, Jim. Fish wielder / J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison. Point Clear, AL : Fiery Seas Pub., LLC, 2016. pages cm ISBN: 9780996894319

• Amazon - https://smile.amazon.com/J.R.R.R.-(Jim)-Hardison/e/B01FIPZCA4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1526757458&sr=8-1

  Hi! I'm J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison, the writer of the upcoming horrifically funny YA horror novel Demon Freaks, coming from Fiery Seas Publishing in October of 2017. I'm the author of the epically silly epic fantasy novel Fish Wielder, which Hypable calls “Wickedly funny” and GeekMom says is like "Princess Bride meets Monty Python". I'm also the author of the Dark Horse comics graphic novel, The Helm, named one of 2010's Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens by YALSA (the Young American Library Association).

  People have asked me, "Jim, why the three Rs?" Well, Rs are a mark of credibility and quality in the fantasy genre. Think of E.R. Eddings (The Worm Ouroboros) and H.R. Haggard (King Solomon's Mines, She). They each had an R in their name and they wrote great, stirring fantasy novels that are remembered to this day. And then there's J.R.R. Tolkien and George R.R. Martin. Those guys each have two Rs and they are among the giants and superstars of the fantasy genre. You don't get any bigger or more well known in fantasy than those guys. That's the power of Rs in fantasy. They multiply logarithmically. They are like points on the Richter Scale. And I have three Rs. I'm just going to let that hang there for a second. Three Rs.

  So, how did I come to write a fantasy trilogy? That's a long and convoluted tale. I'll try to keep it brief. I started my professional career by co-writing and producing a low-budget direct-to-video feature, "The Creature From Lake Michigan". Making a bad film can be a crash course in the essential elements of good character and story, and "The Creature From Lake Michigan" was a tremendously bad film. I like to think that I learned my lesson well, and after a brief stint recuperating as a freelance writer and film editor, I founded my own production company.

  During its seven-year run, I wrote, directed and edited live-action and animation productions, including educational films, television commercials and television pilots. Shifting my focus entirely to animation, I joined Will Vinton Studios in 1997. There I directed animated commercial and entertainment projects, including spots for M&M's, AT&T, Cingular Wireless and Kellogg's as well as episodic television (the UPN series Gary & Mike). While working at Vinton, I also co-wrote the television special "Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy" with actor Paul Reiser.

  I co-founded Character LLC in 2000--a company that advises brands and entertainment properties on their stories. While working at Character I have given story advice to many of the world's largest brands including Discovery Networks, Target, Verizon, Samsung, McDonalds and Walmart. I even appeared on NBC's "The Apprentice" as an expert adviser on brand characters. In addition, I've done character development work and wrote for the PBS children's television series "SeeMore's Playhouse". After 21 years, I finally completed "The Creature From Lake Michigan" to glowingly positive reviews from lovers of questionable cinema.

  These days, I live in Portland, Oregon with my lovely wife, two amazing kids, one smart dog and one stupid dog.
  See less

• Jim Hardison - http://www.jimhardison.com/bio.html

  Jim Hardison has worked as a writer, screen writer, animator and film director. He started his professional career by co-writing and producing a low-budget direct-to-video feature film, The Creature from Lake Michigan. Making a bad movie can be a crash course in the essential elements of good character and story, and The Creature From Lake Michigan was a tremendously bad movie. Shifting his focus entirely to animation, Jim joined Will Vinton Studios where he directed animated commercials for M&M’s and on the stop-motion TV series Gary and Mike. While working at Vinton, he also co-wrote the television special Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappywith actor Paul Reiser.

  Jim has appeared on NBC's The Apprentice as an expert advisor on brand characters, developed characters and wrote the pilot episode for the PBS children's television series SeeMore's Playhouse and authored the graphic novel, The Helm, named one of 2010's top ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens by YALSA, a branch of the American Library Association. These days, Jim is the creative director and co-owner of Character LLC, a company that does story-analysis for brands and entertainment properties. He lives in Portland, Oregon with his lovely wife, two amazing kids, one smart dog and one stupid dog.

• Too Full to Write - https://toofulltowrite.com/2017/12/30/author-interview-j-r-r-r-jim-hardison/

  Author Interview – J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison – “Fish Wielder”, “Demon Freaks” and “The Helm – Dark Horse Comics Graphic Novel Series” (Fantasy/Horror/Comedy)
  TooFullToWrite / December 30, 2017

  Hello friends and entertainment fiends.

  Looks like we have made it to the weekend again and just a couple more short sleeps until the New Year. I guess I had better wish you all a Happy New Year right now before I forget. I hope you all have excellent celebrations and shenanigans with your loved ones until very late in the evening/morning 🙂

  I’m pretty sure someone mischievous keeps stealing all the time away and hoards it for themselves. Or it could be that I’ve done so many Author Interviews that I’m losing track of time myself. Still I’m having so much fun, long may they continue 😉

  Just a quick note/Public Service Announcement before we get under way properly. I link to a lot of other articles in my posts, so WordPress users please check your Spam folders in your Setting Menus and approve any links/pingbacks that you find from me to improve the visibility of your own blog posts, as well as mine, it’s a win win for us both 😉

  It now gives me great pleasure to finish off the year with a blast of entertainment courtesy of award-winning author J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison, whose novel “Fish Wielder” has been described as Princess Bride meets Monty Python (that alone is worth the price of admission!)

  Jim chats about his other releases too, along with generously sharing his writing experiences and writing advice, so without further ado, let’s get a little crazy and do things in an epic way – take it away Jim and thank you all for reading 🙂

  Hi there Jim, thank you for joining us today to talk about your fiction novels, graphic novels and writing experiences.

  Thanks so much for inviting me.

  Let’s start first with your Fantasy/Horror Comedy novels themselves – “Fish Wielder” & “Demon Freaks”. Please tell us more about their plots and themes, their unconventional protagonists and what kind of crazy, adventurous journeys we are going to be taken on when we sit down with them.

  “Fish Wielder” is an epically silly epic fantasy novel. It’s kind of like “Lord of the Rings,” if it were set in Narnia, but written by the Monty Python guys. The book revolves around a quest to recover the magic Pudding of Power, which was cooked by the Dark Lord Mauron about 1002 years before the story starts. Everyone thought it was lost or washed down a drain or something when Mauron was defeated, but of course it wasn’t. The main characters are a mysterious, violet-eyed barbarian warrior named Thoral Mighty Fist and his best friend, Brad, a talking orange koi fish. They stumble into a sinister plot by The Heartless One, the leader of the Bad Religion, to find the pudding and use it to enslave the world of Grome. Along the way, they have to battle monsters, hang out with elves, fight a sentient evil gemstone, that sort of thing. It’s kind of a high fantasy/screwball comedy. My goal with it was to write something funny, but for it to work as a compelling story, too. That’s why I was really pleased when “Fish Wielder” was named one of the five best indie science fiction and fantasy novels of 2017 by Kirkus Reviews and won the TCK Readers’ Choice Award for Best Fantasy Novel of 2017.

  “Demon Freaks” is my second novel. It’s a horrifically funny horror comedy. It’s kind of like punk rock Hardy Boys versus monsters and evil golfers (because everyone knows how evil golfers can be). Here’s the basic plot. On the night before their SAT tests, twin brothers, Bing and Ron Slaughter (and the other two members of their high school punk band, the Ephits) accidentally run afoul of a cult of evil golfers who are trying to summon a demon. The band’s drummer (Meat) and keyboardist (Kaitlyn) get captured by the bad guys, who intend to use them as sacrificial victims. This forces the Slaughter twins to try to come to their rescue.

  I started writing this book to explore that point you hit in high school (or at least, that’s when I hit it) where you first start to wonder if life is just something that happens to you kind of randomly, or if it’s really about the choices you make.

  Fish Wielder

  You have also worked on a graphic novel series called “The Helm” for Dark Horse Comics. Please tell us more about the nature of this particular comedy fantasy series and describe to us your typical work routine about how you go about the process of creating the scripts for your comic books, along with how you collaborate/interact with the illustrator(s) for them.

  “The Helm” was an exploration of what would happen if you had a superpower, but it kind of hated your guts. I was really interested in comic book superheroes and their weaknesses. Many superheroes wind up being so super-heroic that it starts to seem like a foregone conclusion that they’re always going to win. I think that’s why they ultimately wind up getting pitted against other superheroes (Batman vs. Superman, Avengers Civil War, etc.). So, I started thinking it might be funny to create a superhero whose own power didn’t like him and wanted him to die.

  “The Helm” originally debuted as a monthly comic book. That meant that I was writing on a deadline, so my writing process was a little different than it’s been for my novels. I’m usually a night owl and I do most of my writing after everyone goes to bed, but I had two young kids at the time and they hadn’t yet learned about the whole “sleeping at night” thing. So I started setting my alarm for four in the morning and squeezing in a few hours of writing every day before the sun (and everyone else) was up.

  Comic writing is very different from novel writing. Apart from dialogue, you’re basically writing a series of instructions/inspirations for the artist to draw. You want to give enough description to ensure that what you’re seeing in your head makes it to the page, but you also have to leave enough room for the artist to bring their own creativity to bear. If you get too prescriptive, you can wring all the art out of it. If you don’t go into enough detail, you risk the story floundering. And rather than hinting at secrets that are going to be revealed later, rather than trying to surprise the reader (who, in this case is the artist), you have to come right out and explain how and why things are important and what they’re going to mean. That was initially kind of hard for me. Ultimately, comic writing requires a lot of trust. If you’ve got a great artist working on your book, you have to trust them to tell the story with you, as a partner. And of course, they have to trust your instincts and ideas as a storyteller.

  What tools or programs do you use to create your comic scripts and what makes them the “right tools” for you?

  My tools are very basic. Pen and paper, and Microsoft Word. I do most of my writing on Word because I do so much juggling of the words and structure as I write that my handwritten notes become unreadable pretty fast. That doesn’t stop me jotting stuff down on whatever scrap of paper is handy when an idea hits me. I also use the pen and paper to do badly drawn little sketches of important things. For example, I did some crappy thumbnails of what I wanted the helmet in “The Helm” to look like. But mostly, I write on Word, because word processing is AWESOME. And I can say that with sincerity because I grew up writing stuff on typewriters before you could do word processing.

  Once a book is finished, I use other tools, like Photoshop, Illustrator, In Design and Premiere to make promotional materials and art and things. I have a background in animation, and I love messing around with art and images when it gets to the promotional stage for my work.

  Demon Freaks

  If any of your novels were to be made into films (or even a TV series), who would you cast in the lead roles?

  When I first wrote “The Helm” I pictured Jack Black in role of Mathew Blurdy. It’s been ten years since the first comic was published, though, and it might be pushing credibility to have him play the role now. He’s still the guy I’ve got stuck in my head for the lead, though. For “Fish Wielder” I kind of pictured the young Dolph Lundgren doing an Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonation in the role of Thoral. Of course, he hasn’t been “the young” Dolph Lundgren in a long time. Maybe Jason Momoa? And for Demon Freaks, I’d want the characters played by unknowns—first time actors who were really high school students.

  What would you choose as your own personal mascot or spirit animal when it comes to you and your style of writing?

  The platypus. It’s such a weird, silly combination of attributes that come together to make a unique creature that’s not really like any other.

  What do you think most characterizes or defines your writing? Do you have any writing quirks or themes that constantly crop up in your stories?

  Well, I hope the thing that defines my work is its sense of humor. I like to jump into genres that are usually taken very seriously and bring humor into them, not just by making fun of the conventions of the genre, but by playing with them—and also by bringing in notes of how a real person (or at least a real person like me) might think, react and feel in those kinds of extraordinary situations. Other than that, I seem to write a lot of stories in which characters accidentally stumble into evil plots to rule the world. Go figure.

  The Helm

  What do you find the most difficult thing about writing? And what do you find the easiest?

  The most difficult thing is just sitting down and getting it done. I’m a streak writer—which means I get these incredibly fertile hot streaks where I’ve got an idea burning and I can just follow that for thousands of words until it burns out or something interrupts me. When I’m on a streak, everything’s clicking and I write really fast. The problem comes when I’m not on a streak, when the writing is more like a job that has to be threaded in around a schedule, or done in twenty-minute increments while sitting in the waiting room at the orthodontist’s office or something.

  Who are some of the authors, poets and/or historical figures that inspire you?

  I love the writing of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, H.P. Lovecraft, Fritz Leiber, L. Sprague De Camp, Lloyd Alexander, Piers Anthony and Ursula LeGuin. Their books influenced me the most when I was first thinking of becoming a writer. These days, I’m very into Nick Harkaway, Christopher Moore, David Wong and Grady Hendrix.

  What sort of research do you do to write your books?

  I do “spot” research. In other words, when I hit a spot where I don’t know enough about a subject to feel like I can write about it, I dive in and start exploring. For example, I’m currently writing something that’s got pirates in it. So, I’ve picked up five books on pirates, several books on sailing that were written during the age of pirates, and several works of fiction that helped shape the way we currently think about pirates. Then I also hit Google and the library and sometimes call friends of mine who are pirate enthusiasts and re-enactors. That’s pretty typical of how I do my research. As a fantasy writer, I have it a bit easier than someone writing historical fiction or non-fiction because I basically get to make everything up.

  The Helm Sequence

  Why do you write? What inspired you to become a writer?

  I’ve wanted to be a writer for so long that I can’t remember what initially got me started thinking I wanted to be one. My mom saved one of my assignments from first grade where my teacher, Miss Rainwater (I am not making this up) had us write down what we wanted to be when we grew up. I wrote, “I am gong to be a wrytr.” Spelling wasn’t my thing. If I had to say what inspires me to want to write, it’s the feelings I got from reading and being read to when I was little.

  What keeps you motivated during creative slumps? How do you deal with Writer’s Block?

  I find it very hard to stay motivated during creative slumps. I’m an inherently lazy person, which makes it hard to write when I don’t feel like it. The three tricks that work for me are deadlines, other writing and getting the ink going. Deadlines have to be real, so I work hard to try to find people willing to pay me to write, but who need the writing by a particular time. I can write like nobodies’ business when I’m on deadline—but the deadline has to be real and have consequences or my laziness overwhelms it. Another trick I sometimes use is just starting to write something else—something completely unrelated to what I’m working on. When the thing I’m supposed to be writing starts to feel like work rather than pleasure, it helps me to just spin off into something else for a while. That can re-fire my creative spark enough to get back to the thing I’m supposed to be doing. And then, my final trick is to just get the ink going. I’ll lock myself up with my word processor, make sure that I have no access to social media or other distractions, and just force myself to write anything. It might be nonsense at first, or complaints, or reasons why I’m not into writing at the moment, but what I find is that once I start putting words down, they start coming easier and faster. It’s like a car with a dead battery. If you can get it moving, get it rolling along, then you can pop the clutch and it will force the engine to turn over and then you can drive it long enough to recharge the battery.

  You have access to a time machine. What advice would you give to your younger self?

  I would never get in a time machine. My days have been filled with crazy good luck that has helped me stumble backwards into a great life that I really enjoy. I couldn’t have made it work out like it has by conscious effort or trying—so I’d hate to mess it up by trying to fix anything. The hard and bad stuff has been valuable for what it’s taught me, the good stuff has been largely out of my hands. The one thing I try to remind myself of all the time, in lieu of a time machine, is that today is always the best day to start something. I could probably have gotten started with a lot of things in my life sooner than I did, and it gets tempting some times to think that I’ve missed an opportunity or it’s too late to start something. But it’s never too late to start something.

  TheHelm Video

  How do you spend your free time when you are not writing?

  I love music and I play a lot of it, poorly, on a lot of different instruments. I love movies and try to spend time watching them. I love reading, and try to have several books going at all times. Most of all, I love my family, and I like to be with them, playing music, watching movies, reading books and just hanging out.

  Tell us more about your upcoming projects. Are you working on anything specific or have plans in the pipeline?

  The thing I’m working on most furiously at the moment is the sequel to “Fish Wielder”, “Fish Wielder II: A Fish Out of Water”, but I’ve also got a manuscript for a children’s Christmas book being reviewed by a publisher, another children’s book manuscript in the works, a potential sequel to “The Helm” and another music album in the works.

  Finally, are there any nuggets of wisdom that you can impart to other aspiring writers?

  Don’t think you can’t write just because you can’t write. No one is born knowing how to write. They learn how by trying. Don’t be discouraged just because you are discouraged. Everybody feels discouraged at some point when they’re writing or trying to get published. You just have to keep going despite feeling like you can’t. Don’t give up just because you gave up. You can always start again until you’re dead. And even then…who really knows?”

  And that’s a wrap! Our time together has certainly been entertaining, so thank you ever so much Jim for stopping by and giving us more fantastic books to add to our reading lists 🙂

  Thank you! It was fun.

  Bio:-

  Jim Hardison

  Fish Wielder is J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison’s first novel novel (He wrote a graphic novel, The Helm, for Dark Horse Comics). Jim has worked as a writer, animator and director in commercials and entertainment since graduating from Columbia College of Chicago in 1988. He started his professional career by producing a low-budget direct-to-video feature, The Creature From Lake Michigan. Making a bad film can be a crash course in the essential elements of good character and story, and The Creature From Lake Michigan was a tremendously bad film. Jim learned his lesson well, and after a brief stint recuperating as a freelance writer and film editor, founded his own production company. During its seven-year run, he wrote, directed and edited live-action and animation productions, including educational films, television commercials and television pilots. Shifting his focus entirely to animation, Jim joined Will Vinton Studios in 1997. There he directed animated commercial and entertainment projects, including spots for M&M’s, AT&T, Cingular Wireless and Kellogg’s as well as episodic television (UPN’s Gary and Mike). While working at Vinton, he also co-wrote the television special Popeye’s Voyage: The Quest for Pappy with actor Paul Reiser.

  Jim has appeared on NBC’s The Apprentice as an expert advisor on brand characters, did character development work and wrote the pilot episode for the PBS children’s television series SeeMore’s Playhouse and authored the previously mentioned graphic novel, The Helm, named one of 2010’s top ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens by YALSA, a branch of the American Library Association. And after 21 years, Jim finally completed The Creature From Lake Michigan, which is terrible in a fairly funny way.

  You can connect with Jim via the following Social Media channels:-

  Facebook:- Fish Wielder (FB) / Demon Freaks (FB)
  Goodreads:- Jim Hardison (Goodreads Author)
  Instagram:- @fishwielder (Instagram)
  Twitter:- @FishWielder (Twitter)
  Website:- Fishwielder – An Epically Silly Epic Fantasy of Epic Proportions

  You can buy his books here:-

  Buy Jim Hardison’s books in the UK/Europe

  Buy Jim Hardison’s books in the US/Rest of the World

  If you too would like to be interviewed on my blog at TooFullToWrite and you have a book or a series of books that you would like us to chat about then fill out the Contact Me form here with your details and we can arrange a future interview slot.

  Still want more? Well, I can think of nothing that fills me with more happiness than reading and writing. For more articles on the theme of ‘Bliss’ then check out the links by fellow bloggers below:-

• Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-hardison-80144b12/

  im Hardison
  3rd degree connection3rd
  Owner, Character LLC
  Portland, Oregon Area
  Character LLC
  Columbia College Chicago Columbia College Chicago
  See contact info
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  See connections (427)
  427 connections

  Jim Hardison is the creative director and co-founder of Character. He brings the knowledge of character and story he gained as a writer, animator and director in commercials and entertainment to his exploration of brand characters. He started his professional career by producing a low-budget direct-to-video feature, The Creature From Lake Michigan. Making a bad film can be a crash course in the essential elements of good character and story, and The Creature From Lake Michigan was a tremendously bad film. Jim learned his lesson well, and after a brief stint recuperating as a freelance writer and film editor, founded his own production company. During its seven-year run, he wrote, directed and edited live-action and animation productions, including educational films, television commercials and television pilots. Shifting his focus to animation, Jim joined Will Vinton Studios in 1997 as an animation director. While working at Vinton, he co-wrote the television special Popeye’s Voyage: The Quest for Pappy with actor Paul Reiser. Jim has appeared on The Apprentice as an expert advisor on brand characters, has written for the PBS children’s series SeeMore’'s Playhouse and authored The Helm, a graphic novel for Dark Horse comics that was named one of 2010’s top ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens by YALSA, a branch of the American Library Association. In 2010, after 21 years in post production, Jim finally completed The Creature from Lake Michigan.
  Experience

  Character LLC
  Owner
  Company Name Character LLC
  Vinton Studios
  Director
  Company Name Vinton Studios
  Dates Employed 1999 – 2001 Employment Duration 2 yrs
  Will Vinton Studios
  Director
  Company Name Will Vinton Studios
  Dates Employed 1997 – 2001 Employment Duration 4 yrs

  Education

  Columbia College Chicago
  Columbia College Chicago

  Degree Name BA

  Field Of Study Film

  Dates attended or expected graduation 1985 – 1988

  Skills & Endorsements

  Animation
  See 36 endorsements for Animation 36

  Endorsed by Chris Ohlgren and 7 others who are highly skilled at this

  Endorsed by 2 of Jim’s colleagues at Character

  Film
  See 36 endorsements for Film 36

  Endorsed by 3 of Jim’s colleagues at Character

  Endorsed by 8 people who know Film

  Film Production
  See 16 endorsements for Film Production 16

  Endorsed by Dan Ackerman and 1 other who is highly skilled at this

  Endorsed by 7 of Jim’s colleagues at LAIKA, LLC

  Industry Knowledge

  Video Production
  See 12 endorsements for Video Production 12

  Commercials
  See 10 endorsements for Commercials 10

  Feature Films
  See 9 endorsements for Feature Films 9

  Computer Animation
  See 9 endorsements for Computer Animation 9

  Television
  See 8 endorsements for Television 8

  Documentaries
  See 7 endorsements for Documentaries 7

  Character Animation
  See 4 endorsements for Character Animation 4

  Visual Effects
  See 4 endorsements for Visual Effects 4

  Digital Media
  See 3 endorsements for Digital Media 3

  Production Managment
  See 3 endorsements for Production Managment 3

  Post Production
  See 3 endorsements for Post Production 3

  3D
  See 2 endorsements for 3D 2

  Compositing
  See 2 endorsements for Compositing 2

  Entertainment
  See 2 endorsements for Entertainment 2

  Editing
  See 1 endorsement for Editing 1

  Short Films
  See 1 endorsement for Short Films 1

  Tools & Technologies

  Photoshop
  See 5 endorsements for Photoshop 5

  Final Cut Pro
  See 1 endorsement for Final Cut Pro 1

  Other Skills

  Creative Direction
  See 6 endorsements for Creative Direction 6

  Recommendations
  Received (0)
  Given (3)

  Jim Richardson
  Jim Richardson

  Character Animator / Story Artist / Instructor

  March 19, 2012, Jim managed Jim directly

  Jim Richardson always delivers. His drawing, timing and ability to dissect a performance and get to the essence of a character have been extremely valuable. I originally hired Jim to lead my traditional animation group and we worked closely to translate a wide range of projects from script to finished animation. Jim participated in initial brainstorming, lead story sessions with the animators, created rough and finished storyboards, and brought a great comedic voice to our productions. I’ve also worked with Jim while directing high profile national and international spots and again found his animation and story contributions invaluable. He is creative, collaborative and very funny. I recommend him highly.

  Brian Lanahan
  Brian Lanahan

  Director of Strategy, Corporate Responsibility at AHA

  March 19, 2012, Brian worked with Jim in the same group

  Brian co-founded and ran Character LLC with David Altschul and me. Coming out of animation and trying to find our legs in the world of marketing, Brian was as essential in getting the business on its feet as he was in shaping it into the successful venture it is today. We couldn't have managed without his vision, ideals, passion and well honed business sense. His energy and creativity were as valuable as his deep, thoughful analysis when it came to understanding the market and our place in it. I really enjoyed the time I spent working with Brian and I highly recommend him.

  Janelle Schneider
  Janelle Schneider

  Virtual Materials Designer at Nike / Mixed Media Artist

  January 14, 2010, Jim managed Janelle directly

  I directed Janelle on computer generated M&M's and Frosted Miniwheats commercials at Will Vinton Studios and found her to be a skilled and dedicated technical director. She was thorough, had a good eye both for detail and the artistic aspects of her shots, was always on or ahead of schedule and also brought an excellent sense of humor to the job that made her a pleasure to work with.

  Show more
  Accomplishments
  Jim has 4 publications 4
  Publications

  Demon Freaks Fish Wielder Fish Wielder The Helm

  Interests

  BoomAgers
  BoomAgers

  484 followers
  Columbia College Chicago
  Columbia College Chicago

  70,970 followers
  Film & TV Tech Professionals
  Film & TV Tech Professionals

  476,254 members
  LAIKA Alumni
  LAIKA Alumni

  577 members
  Characters Engage (Animation, Games, Toys, Children's Publishing, Comics, Licensing Books Toy Game)
  Characters Engage (Animation, Games, Toys, Children's Publishing, Comics, Licensing Books Toy Game)

  53,616 members
  Character
  Character

  237 followers

• Demon Freaks - http://www.demonfreaks.com/hardison.html

  Hardison Bio Pic

  Demon Freaks is J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison's second novel novel (He wrote a graphic novel, The Helm, for Dark Horse Comics). His first book, the epically silly epic fantasy Fish Wielder has been called "Princess Bride meets Monty Python" by GeekMom, "Wickedly funny epic fantasy" by Hypable and "A wild romp" by New York Times Bestselling author Piers Anthony.

  Jim has worked as a writer, animator and director in commercials and entertainment since graduating from Columbia College of Chicago in 1988. He started his professional career by producing a low-budget direct-to-video feature, The Creature From Lake Michigan. Making a bad film can be a crash course in the essential elements of good character and story, and The Creature From Lake Michigan was a tremendously bad film. Jim learned his lesson well, and after a brief stint recuperating as a freelance writer and film editor, founded his own production company. During its seven-year run, he wrote, directed and edited live-action and animation productions, including educational films, television commercials and television pilots. Shifting his focus entirely to animation, Jim joined Will Vinton Studios in 1997. There he directed animated commercial and entertainment projects, including spots for M&M's, AT&T, Cingular Wireless and Kellogg's as well as episodic television (UPN's Gary and Mike). While working at Vinton, he also co-wrote the television special Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy with actor Paul Reiser.

  Jim has appeared on NBC's The Apprentice as an expert advisor on brand characters, did character development work and wrote the pilot episode for the PBS children's television series SeeMore's Playhouse and authored the previously mentioned graphic novel, The Helm, named one of 2010's top ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens by YALSA, a branch of the American Library Association. And after 21 years, Jim finally completed The Creature From Lake Michigan, which is terrible in a fairly funny way.

  Demon Freaks © 2017 Jim Hardison all rights reserved

Hardison, J.R.R.R. (Jim): FISH WIELDER
Kirkus Reviews.
(Aug. 15, 2017): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Hardison, J.R.R.R. (Jim) FISH WIELDER Fiery Seas (Indie Fiction) $16.99 8, 23 ISBN: 978-0-9968943-1-9
This debut novel finds a swordsman and his talking fish battling a heartless mage, minions, and a doomsday dessert. In the magical realm of Grome, Thoral Mighty Fist wars against evil with his enchanted broadsword, Blurmflard. He also has incredibly white teeth, a best friend named Brad--who's a koi--and a heart "too heavy for adventure." As Thoral finishes drowning his sorrows at a tavern, he pops the air-breathing Brad into his belt pouch and heads outside for his steed, Warlordhorse. He's attacked by three black-cloaked figures, members of the Bad Religion. Thoral dispatches them speedily and then travels to the Godforsaken Swamp in search of a mood- enhancing escapade. He eventually finds a ruined castle and runs afoul of Necrogrond, the sorcerer, who wonders whether Thoral is the "Chosen One" from the Goomy Prophecy of Doom. After matching wits and magic with his new nemesis, Thoral frees an imprisoned elf princess, Nalweegie, daughter of King Elfrod. He then learns of Necrogrond's plan to wipe the elves from Grome. Teamed with Elfrod's army, the hero begins tracking a grasthling (flying squirrel) who will hopefully lead them to the Heartless One before the Pudding of Power and the Bracelet of Evil render the sinister forces unstoppable. In this deliciously deadpan fantasy, Hardison (Demon Freaks, 2017) parodies a genre that's too often humorless and convoluted. He names people and places with childlike silliness ("The Gap of Goosh," for example) and rivals the wryness of Neil Gaiman with explanations like "She is called Nalweegie, the Evening Snack...because to look on her in twilight quells the hunger of one's heart without making one feel overfull, as can happen with a more substantial meal." Thankfully, the author loves gore, too, and serves fans plenty of it ("He tore both of the elephant trunks off the gorilla body and threw them" so that they "splatted against the black altar and writhed around like huge worms"). Even if readers believe fantasy should always be dark and epic, Hardison's comedic inventiveness and stamina are miraculous to
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behold. An irreverent fantasy crammed full of sunlight and surprises.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Hardison, J.R.R.R. (Jim): FISH WIELDER." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Aug. 2017. Book Review Index
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Hardison, J.R.R.R. (Jim): DEMON FREAKS
Kirkus Reviews.
(Aug. 1, 2017): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Hardison, J.R.R.R. (Jim) DEMON FREAKS Fiery Seas (Indie Fiction) $16.99 10, 3 ISBN: 978-1-946143-17-4
Plans to study for the SAT go horribly wrong when they are interrupted by a golfer cult's demon- summoning plot in this comic YA horror novel. Bing and Ron Slaughter are identical twins and half of the Ephits, a punk band (formerly the Angry Red Welts). Bing is the frontman and songwriter, and Ron plays bass. They've got to do well on their SATs to get into good schools. Otherwise, it's goodbye to their parents' financial support and hello to careers at McDonald's, where Mr. and Mrs. Slaughter work as operational planners. Maybe it's not the best idea to study at a remote cabin in the woods the night before the SATs with the other Ephits, Prathamesh "Meat" Kimitri (drummer) and Kaitlyn Krimpsen (keyboard), but that's the plan. Things soon go awry when a monster lightning storm strikes, cutting off the power, and the twins' history teacher, Mr. Brom, pounds on the cabin door wielding a dagger--which has a mind of its own. Through its manipulations, the group dodges dangers, arriving at a golf-course clubhouse, but it's no sanctuary. As Mr. Brom explains, "Insane cultists, Satan worshipers and evil wizards are like elderly nuns compared to the Golfers' Association." It's up to the twins to save their friends from becoming blood sacrifices and prevent a powerful demon from being unleashed on the world. Hardison (Fish Wielder, 2016) writes an exciting tale with nonstop action, supernatural horror, and plenty of humor. Pop-culture references enliven the dialogue, as when Kaitlyn tearfully whispers, "The needs of the many" (from Star Trek II) to the band's bus, demolished in getaway service. Hardison writes amusingly that his protagonists "had almost been killed, and they were experiencing cheap and melodramatic personal revelations," but in fact the characters do come to new--and not at all cheap--understandings about their roles, relationships, and life paths, a great strength of the book. A nice twist at the end isn't easy to see coming and works very well to tie things together. A funny supernatural tale with spooky scenes, sincere emotions, and a solidly satisfying ending.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Hardison, J.R.R.R. (Jim): DEMON FREAKS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2017. Book Review
Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A499572512/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=c5989b06. Accessed 19 May 2018.
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"Hardison, J.R.R.R. (Jim): FISH WIELDER." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Aug. 2017. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A500364650/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=34e974ee. Accessed 19 May 2018. "Hardison, J.R.R.R. (Jim): DEMON FREAKS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2017. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A499572512/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=c5989b06. Accessed 19 May 2018.

• Monster Librarian
  http://www.monsterlibrarian.com/TheCirculationDesk/book-review-demon-freaks/
  Word count: 421

  Book Review: Demon Freaks by J.R.R.R. Hardison
  Posted on September 1, 2017 by Kirsten Posted in Uncategorized

  Demon Freaks by J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison

  Fiery Seas Publishing, 2017

  ISBN-13: 978-1-946143-16-7

  Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

  Jim Hardison’s Demon Freaks pits high schoolers on the eve of their SAT exams against wicked would-be wizards and monsters, with the fate of the world at stake. The story is written with irony and humor from the viewpoint of teenagers. The protagonists are members of an ad hoc school band, including twin boys who don’t look or think alike. The drummer, who is the low-achieving son of a high-achieving family, is the comic foil. The female member is a “brain” who is happiest taking a shower.

  The night before the SAT, the band members plan to meet to jam and cram, but are caught in the middle of a deadly rivalry between two groups of elderly, evil golfers, the Servants of Darkness and the Golfers’ Association. The Servants of Darkness are led by the teens’ sarcastic, vindictive English teacher, while the Golfers follow his power-hungry brother, who looks like a twisted Santa Claus. Both groups want to possess a magical dagger that traps souls, communicates telepathically with its victims, and can control their minds. Think of the Ring of Power in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring.

  Each group plans to use the dagger for a human sacrifice, in order to open the gates to Hell and release a powerful demon that they hope will help them dominate the world. Two of the teens are captured, possibly to be the human sacrifices. The rest of their friends, along with commandos from a clandestine division of the McDonald’s Corporation called McODD (McDonald’s Occult Dangers Division) fight the Servants, the Golfers and Teethheads (scaly, fish-headed monsters with hundreds of teeth) in tunnels and chambers under the golf course.

  The story is told in an engaging, fast-paced, tongue–in-cheek style. The teenagers are quirky, but discover hidden talents that help them outwit the adults. The adults are caricatures of hubris and greed. The plot will appeal to children and teenagers. The monsters are scary, but not frightening. The violence and gore are mild. The author has written another novel, an epic fantasy Fish Wielder. Recommended.

  Contains: Not applicable.

  Reviewed by Robert D. Yee

• Black Gate Magazine
  https://www.blackgate.com/2017/11/09/goth-chick-news-new-treasures-demon-freaks-by-j-r-r-r-jim-hardison/
  Word count: 622

  Demon Freaks-small Demon Freaks-back-small

  As a huge fan of Grady Hendrix’s My Best Friend’s Exorcism, and since I was trying to figure out what to do with myself now that I’ve binge-watch Stranger Things 2… twice… I was particularly excited to open up the latest intriguing book release from my pals over at Wunderkind PR.

  First, the author’s name is J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison, and whether that’s a joke or not, it’s funny, at least to me – like he wanted to outdo John O’s buddy George R. R. Martin by one “R” and see him a “J.” Next, Hardison’s bio is rather amusing, as well as impressive:

  Jim has an epically silly career. He’s been a movie producer (The Creature from Lake Michigan), an animation director (UPNs Gary and Mike), a screen writer (Popeye’s Voyage, SeeMore’s Playhouse) and a graphic novelist (The Helm). He even appeared on the NBC show The Apprentice as an expert adviser on brand characters. This is his second novel following his epically silly fantasy Fish Wielder.

  Last, according to the additional information Wunkerkind shared, Jim would love to entertain interview questions concerning why horror films often feature bands as his current novel does.

  Do they? I mean, Jennifer’s Body did, but that’s the only one I can think of off the top of my head, but okay.

  And… he’s a Chicago boy having attended Columbia College, so let’s give it a go.

  Hardison’s latest work is called Demon Freaks and takes place the night before the SAT test when the forces of darkness are stirring. And though that’s nothing any high school student couldn’t attest to, again… funny.

  Demon Freaks banner

  Horror and humor, now you’re talking.

  Twin brothers, Bing and Ron Slaughter, know they’ve got to cram like their lives depend on it because their college plans sure do. If they don’t ace the test, they’ll be doomed to spend the rest of their days flipping burgers at the McDonald’s their parents run.

  That’s why they hatch a plan to meet up with the members of their punk band, the Ephits, spend the night studying at a secluded cabin in the woods, and maybe squeeze in a little jamming. What could go wrong with a brilliant plan like that?

  Ancient evil, that’s what.

  As a cataclysmic lightning storm rolls in, Bing, Ron and the rest of the Ephits find themselves tangled in a sinister plot to summon a demon. Yes, demons are real. To survive the night, the band must find a malevolent artifact, battle bloodthirsty monsters and stand against the most dangerous and powerful foe humanity has ever faced… the Golfer’s Association.

  Okay, having always suspected there was a hidden evil in the concept of golf, I’m hooked. I mean think about it; secret clubs, horrifying clothing and ceremonial sticks; nothing but evil if you ask me.

  And so, once again Wunderkind saves me from either watching The Shining for the 900th time, or rereading Jaws. I’ve just started Demon Freaks and its as odd and entertaining as I imagined it would be.

  Demon Freaks by J.R.R.R (Jim) Hardinson was released on October 3rd and is available where all fine reading material is sold. Have a question or comment? Post it here or drop a line to sue@blackgate.com.

  Posted in Books, Goth Chick, New Treasures

• Dread Central
  https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/260178/meet-demon-freaks-j-r-r-r-hardisons-new-horrorcomedy-novel/
  Word count: 305

  Meet Demon Freaks in J.R.R.R. Hardison’s New Horror/Comedy Novel

  Published 6 months ago

  on November 13, 2017

  By Debi Moore

  Award-winning graphic novelist J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison (Fish Wielder) has just released the horrifically funny YA horror novel Demon Freaks; and if you’re a fan of Harry Dresden, Laurel K. Hamilton, Patrician Briggs, and/or the John Dies at the End trilogy, it should be right up your alley!

  Hardison’s new book hails from Fiery Seas Publishing, and you can learn more about its quirky combination of comedy and horror below.

  Synopsis:
  It’s the night before the SAT test. The forces of darkness are stirring.

  Twin brothers Bing and Ron Slaughter know they’ve got to cram like their lives depend on it because their college plans sure do. If they don’t ace the test, they’ll be doomed to spend the rest of their days flipping burgers at the McDonald’s their parents run. That’s why they hatch a plan to meet up with the members of their punk band, the Ephits; spend the night studying at a secluded cabin in the woods; and maybe squeeze in a little jamming. What could go wrong with a brilliant plan like that?

  Ancient evil. That’s what.

  As a cataclysmic lightning storm rolls in, Bing, Ron, and the rest of the Ephits find themselves tangled in a sinister plot to summon a demon. Yes, demons are real. To survive the night, the band must find a malevolent artifact, battle bloodthirsty monsters, and stand against the most dangerous and powerful foe humanity has ever faced… the Golfer’s Association.

  BUY IT NOW!

  Comments

• Shelfabuse.com
  http://www.shelfabuse.com/graphic-novel-reviews/helm-graphic-review/
  Word count: 869

  E HELM GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW
  APRIL 5, 2009 CARL DOHERTY LEAVE A COMMENT
  2009, Dark Horse
  Story: Jim Hardison
  Art: Bart Sears, Randy Elliott
  Colours: Dan Jackson

  One thing that always baffles me is why, outside of buffoons like The Simpson’s Comic Book Guy, there are so few bona fide geeks in science fiction or fantasy. Sure, peculiar intellectuals can bring their idiosyncrasies to a team of nonspecific, perfect-toothed clones, such as CSI’s Gil Grissom or Dr Gregory House. Some lucky losers even make it to the top tier of awkwardness that is technical expert or info dispersing nerd – the Lone Gunmen, Marshall Flinkman from Alias and the treasured Q being just a few. And then, of course, there are Hollywood geeks, such as Chuck, or Sandra Bullock’s unlikely computer nerd in The Net… but these guys are always far too attractive or socially proficient to prove authentic outcasts.

  The Helm TPB
  The Helm TPB

  The Helm’s portly protagonist Matt Blurdy has all of the physical failings and social ineptitude that geekdom brings but none of its ineffectual charms. In his thirties, working a dead end job and still living in his mother’s basement – here in Blighty houses rarely have basements, so I’ve never suffered that predicament – Blurdy’s life is turned upside down when destiny finds its place atop cranium in the form of an ancient talking helmet he discovers at a rather unlikely garage sale.

  The enchanted accessory mistakes him for “the Chosen One,” or Valhalladrim, only to realise after several seconds upon his head that it’s gravely mistaken. Despite the helmet’s rebuffs, the desperately skint Blurdy slips it into his jacket and takes it home. Thus begins a riotous comic act, with our cowardly slob put through a series of increasingly gruelling trials by a mentor who would quite happily see him dead, if only so he can find himself another Valhalladrim – while the mystical Helm grants Blurdy numerous powers, the one ability it doesn’t have is to sprout legs and locate a superior host. Likewise, Blurdy isn’t particularly likeable, and doesn’t inhibit an inner desire to do good, but he doesn’t exactly abuse his newfound power. Essentially, he’s a harmless layabout who probably doesn’t deserve the predicament he’s in.

  Of course, the one requirement of a preposterous plot such as this is that it must be funny, and I’m glad to say that The Helm made me laugh more than any book has in a long while. The titular Helm’s steady insults, (“Vile baseborn varlet!”) presumably a take on Stan Lee’s The Mighty Thor, are utterly hilarious throughout. Jim Hardison, a screenwriter and director new to comics, wisely keeps the plot’s scope compact, feeding us the possibility throughout that the passage of the unlikely Valhalladrim may be fabricated entirely in Blurdy’s head. Conveniently, no one else witnesses his valiant deeds or hears the helmet speak.

  More so than the various monster and sorcerers Blurdy faces in the name of heroics, perhaps the biggest threat to his destiny is his geek-chic girlfriend Jill. Perhaps the biggest niggle I have with the book is with how Jill is depicted; whereas the slovenly Matt comes complete with an immense paunch and drooping man-tits, she’s an attractive and unrealistically buxom comic book cliché. I’m aware that most male loafers probably dream of a Barbie doll partner, but it would have been nice if Jill was just a little more on Blurdy’s level.

  Though the book’s promotional material publicises art by Bart Sears, he was in fact only responsible for the cover and breakdowns, with Randy Elliott finishing the art. Elliott’s illustrations aren’t nearly as sharp as Sear’s, but this is still a nice looking book, even if Blurdy, his domineering mother and Jill do look horrifyingly sinister at times. But the magical headwear’s face plate is the star of this tale, a moustachioed metallic curmudgeon who takes the greatest pleasure in trumpeting Blurdy’s every failing, and gleams prominently via Dan Jackson’s colours.

  With its pathetic but progressively amiable “hero” and Hardison’s knack for playing along with fantasy conventions rather than rigorously following them, The Helm is a charming book that will stick in your mind if only to raise a slight chuckle weeks after. Crucially, it manages to stand out from the deluge of superhero and fantasy comics currently on the market simply by being pretty damn funny.

  8/10

  NOTE: In response to my comments on Blurdy’s love interest Jill, writer Jim Hardison emailed me to say:

  “The original description of the Jill character included the line ‘she isn’t exactly attractive, but you might mistake her for attractive in a dimly lit bar.’ Somewhere between that original idea and the finished drawings, she morphed into a more stereotypical comic babe and a less dimensional character.”

  Which I guess speaks more about the comic industry than I ever could…

• Luxury Reading
  http://luxuryreading.com/fishwielder/
  Word count: 427

  Reviewed by Caleb Shadis

  Fish Wielder is a parody on all things fantasy. I mean all things. If there is a fantasy trope, it is thrown in there. If there is a literary turn of phrase, it is in there. The author even pokes fun of the book itself quite frequently. Prominent lampoonings involve Conan the Barbarian, Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Wizard of Oz, and any book with elves in it.

  I felt I had to read this book since the author has three Rs in his name–J.R.R.R. Hardison. I’ve read books by most of the other authors with multiple Rs in their names…Tolkien and Martin, as well as a host with only one R. The parody started there and didn’t stop.

  Like many parodies, it pushed the bounds of tolerable, but at least for me it never quite crossed that line. Just about when the joke was getting old, Hardison would switch it up again. There were a few good surprises, like some elves spontaneously combusting upon death, just because they were so awesome. Things like that kept me smiling though the book. Not to mention a fastidious barbarian, and a fish that can’t swim.

  Thoral Mighty Fist Wielder is a barbarian like none other. For one thing, he always wins a fight, even if he doesn’t know he’s in one. It’s like the fates are looking out for him, though fate has a little help in the form of Brad, a talking fish and Thoral’s best friend.

  Someone in the Bad Religion has decided Thoral is a threat and must go. So many attempts on his life are made. Thoral, however, is a little slow on the uptake since things don’t seem more dangerous than normal. To relieve his boredom, the duo go adventuring. They save damsels, find treasures, kill bad guys and generally do amazing things. Then the third act comes along and twist upon twist of a twisted scheme is unveiled. And then the cliffhanger comes along asking you to wait for the next book.

  While I think I’d have a hard time reading such a trilogy back to back, I do think that when the second book comes out, I’ll have to give a try to see the further adventures of Brad and Thoral–they were funny and entertaining. Most fantasy fans should give this book a try.

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