Richard: Have you read any of Jane Austin's stories?

Trina Robbins: All of them except Manchester Park, which I bought in Europe and read until returning home, then put aside to finish later, and haven't yet picked up -- but I will!

Richard: Was it hard to adopt this story into comic book form?

Trina: Not at all. Jane Austen is very easy to adapt! I adapted her "Emma" into a graphic novel for school kids back in '01, for Scholastic -- and I've received fanmail for it, from middle school kids.

Richard: What is the story outline of "Northanger Abbey"?

Trina: Basically, it's a romance, but the heroine is a sweet, naive girl who loves scary gothic novels, which were very popular at the time -- and she lets her imagination run away from her.

Richard: What did you enjoy about working on "Northanger Abbey"?

Trina: I always love adapting classic novels, and have done quite a few by now, and I always love working with Anne Timmons -- she is such a terrific artist, and we work very well together.

Richard: What will you be working on next?

Trina: I've written another graphic novel for kids, for Stone Arch Press, about a 14 year old slave girl who escapes from slavery via the underground railroad, and the editor is working on the production right now -- it isn't even drawn yet, but it should, hopefully, be out later this year. I'm pretty proud of the story, and really want to do more for kids.

Richard: You write "GoGirl!" what is it all about?

Trina: Anne Timmons and I are the team for GoGirl! (yes, it's spelled with an exclamation point). GoGirl! is the superheroine name of Lindsay Goldman, whose mother was a superheroine (called "Go-Go Girl) before Lindsay was born. Lindsay has inherited her mom's ability to fly, and she wears her mom's old GoGo costume. But she has no other superpowers, no Xray vision, bullets don't bounce off her, basically she's a normal high school girls who just happens to be able to fly. She has adventures with her best friend, Haseena (who has become a teenaged girl detective) and her other friends, and the stories are exciting (I hope!) and lighthearted adventures -- and nobody wears a bra size larger than 36 C!

Richard: Why did you retire from drawing comics?

Trina: I'm so much happier as a writer! I'm treated so much better in the world of book publishing, editors are nice to me, and nobody tells me girls don't read books OR comics.

Richard: How do you and Anne Timmons get along collaborating?

Trina: As I just mentioned, we have a great relationship. I'm so happy with Anne's art! She draws the scenes exactly as I envision them. It was Anne who first suggested we work on a comic together, and I was the one of little faith, who didn't believe we'd ever find a publisher for our teen girl comics -- and I was wrong.

Richard: What do you get out of teaching others to script write?

Trina: I love sharing what I know!

Richard: Why is it important to inform people about the women in comics?

Trina: Back in the '80s, I kept hearing editors and publishers -- and male cartoonists -- telling me that women didn't read comics and that women had never drawn comics, and I knew they were wrong, so I set about researching women cartoonists and found hundreds. Women need to know about all the wonderful women cartoonists who drew comics, because they're inspirations and role models, and men need to know about them, so they won't make anymore stupid statements like the one above!

Richard: Would you like to see more women involved in comics?

Trina: Actually, these days there are more women drawing comics than at any other time, so that part is taken care of. But I would like to see the mainstream publishers start producing more books for girls and women. They still need to understand that not all comics have to be superheroes.

Richard: "The Great Women Super Heroes", why should someone read this book?

Trina: Well, even after making that above statement, there have been hundreds of terrific superheroines out there in the world of comics.

Richard: Why do you love cats?

Trina: Gee, you know a lot about me! What's there not to love? They're beautiful, graceful, cuddly, and they purr. At this very moment, Winston, the most fabulous cat on earth, is curled up next to the computer, gently snoring and giving me inspiration. (and getting fur all over the keyboard!)

Richard: How can someone contact you?

Trina: I'm very easy to reach. mswuff@juno.com

Richard: Any final words of wisdom?

Trina: Gee. When I think about it, the comics industry isn't worth a hill of beans next to the fact that our country is embroiled in a useless, senseless war that has taken thousands of lives and cost us millions of dollars that could be so much better spent on feeding the hungry, and on healthcare. If someone told me we could end war, poverty and hunger, but I'd have to stop writing comics, I'd say, "Done!"