Paul D. Storrie

Paul D. Storrie was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and despite time spent in Grand Rapids, Chicago, and Los Angeles, has returned to Metro-Detroit time and again. He attended Grand Valley State University and received a B.A. in English Language and Literature, knowing that he wanted to tell stories for a living. His first published work was the comic book series Robyn of Sherwood in 1998. Since then he has written for numerous publishers, including a story for Marvel’s Captain America: Red, White & Blue anthology, the mini-series Gotham Girls for DC Comics, Star Trek Alien Spotlight: Andorians for IDW, and several tales for Graphic Universe, including Junior Library Guild selection Hercules: The Twelve Labors with artist Steve Kurth and Children’s Choice Book Awards finalist Beowulf: Monster Slayer with artist Ron Randall.

Interview

What was your favorite book when you were a child?: The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood written and illustrated by Howard Pyle
What’s your favorite line from a book?: “And I am not afraid to make a mistake, even a great mistake, a lifelong mistake and perhaps as long as eternity too.” —Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?: Dashiell Hammett, Robert E. Howard, and Loren D. Estleman
Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?: I love reading great stories and have enjoyed countless hours between the covers of books and comics written by some terrific storytellers. In some ways, my desire to write is a desire to pay back all those wonderful wordsmiths by “paying forward” my enjoyment of their work by creating stories of my own for others to enjoy. Plus, I just love making things up!
Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?: Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. If you want to write, then write. Write as much as you can, as often as you can. You can learn a lot by reading good writing, but you’ll learn more by trial and error, by doing your own work. My favorite writing professor from college, Paul Johnston, always said, “Assume you’re going to make a million mistakes in your writing. The more writing you do, the sooner you’ll get them out of the way.”