Jen Vaughn is a woman of many talents. By day, she’s a narrative game designer who has worked on some very popular games, including Plants vs. Zombies and Nicki Minaj: The Empire. By night, she draws and occasionally writes comic books, including Avery Fatbottom: Renaissance Fair Detecive, Deadwater, and Cartozia Tales, as well as the anthologies The Secret Loves of Geek Girls, The Secret Loves of Geeks and Gothic Tales of Haunted Romance. And on Nov. 4, she’ll be appearing as a guest at the 10th annual Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival! Here are the essential things you should know about Jen Vaughn:
1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
High highs and low lows, without the bad we don’t know what’s good!
2. What is your greatest fear?
Not being able to draw.
3. On what occasion do you lie?
Trying to get into the hospital to see a friend.
4. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Nothing, all the bits make me me! OR maybe learn languages faster.
5. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Being paid to make comics multiple years in a row.
6. What do you most dislike about yourself?
See question 4.
7. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“No doubt.” “Judas Priest!” as an exclamation.
8. What is your most treasured possession?
A Nightmare Before Christmas promotional baseball hat with a 3-D diorama on the bill my dad gave me and an original Gargoyles figurine. Also, my cat and dog, HEMLOCK and ARYA, respectively.
9. What do you most value in your friends?
The ability to be flexible, make the most of any situation.
10. The quality you most admire in a person?
Compassion and patience, I’m low on those.
11. What supernatural gift would you most like to possess?
FLIGHT
12. What is your favorite food?
Tacos! Could eat them for every meal!
13. What is your favorite color?
Black and silver or red and gray (I’m about those color combos).
14. Who is your favorite fictional character?
Elisa Maza from Gargoyles. As a kid it was definitely Cimorene from Dealing with Dragons book series by Patricia C. Wrede.
15. Who is your favorite person in history?
They haven’t been born yet but sporty Babe Didrikson is a close second.
16. Who is your favorite artist?
Basically any woman artist in comics but especially Becky Cloonan.
17. Who is your favorite musician?
Disasterpeace for wordless work music. SEXWITCH for magic. Kali Uchis for every other situation.
18. Who are your favorite writers?
Zoraida Cordova of Labrinyth Lost. Nnedi Okorafor of Lagoon and Who Fears Death. Creators of podcasts, so currently: Kyle Brown and Eric Kimelton of King Falls AM, the McElroys of the Adventure Zone, Phoebe Robinson of 2 Dope Queens and So Many White Guys (podcasts) and You Can’t Touch My Hair (book).
19. Who are your heroes in real life?
My mom, of course! Also, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
20. DC, Marvel, Lovecraft or Whedon Universe?
The Adventure Zone universe! A D&D podcast by the McElroy brothers and their dad.
21. What is your present state of mind?
If you’re mad or sad, make something with your hands.
22. What is your motto?
READ OR BLEED.