Allen: Stefan. I have noticed you have been busy since our last interview.

Stefan: Hi Allen! A pleasure to be back.

Allen: Tell me about some recent work you have been doing for the Papercutz Nancy Drew graphic novels.

Stefan: Lately, I’m having a great time co-writing Nancy with Sarah Kinney. The newest book, out later this month is called Sleight of Dan, the fourteenth in the series. It’s about a magician who gets a little too good at making his assistant disappear. He’s so good, she vanishes completely – and it’s up to Nancy to find her. The usually wry and level-headed Bess, it turns out, is a total wide-eyed fan of magic, which makes it difficult for Nancy to debunk some of Dan’s tricks in front of her friend. Kind of like telling someone Santa doesn’t exist. We also have a lot of fun with cell phones and anacondas. After that, Nancy gets involved with the illegal trade in big cats in Tiger Counter.

Allen: Please refresh our readers memories on the cast of characters in Nancy Drew graphic novels. Also, what is it that makes each member essential to Nancy Drew stories?

Stefan: Nancy is the archetypal girl detective. Her two best friends are cousins Bess and George, George being the wry computer expert, and Bess the more idealistic and maybe naïve of the two – but with a knack for fixing mechanical things. They complete her – sort of like Spock and McCoy to her Captain Kirk, for the old Star Trek fans among us, or Xander and Willow for Buffy fans. Her dad, Carson Drew, is an attorney, and her boyfriend, Ned Nickerson, is an all around swell guy.

Allen: Are there any new Nancy Drew characters that our readers should know about? Are there characters that might have appeared in Carolyne Keene novels?

Stefan: We were very happy to have re-introduced Nancy’s dog Togo in the thirteenth book, Doggone Town, about an entire town that goes missing. Togo first appeared in The Whispering Statue, published in 1937.

Allen: What do you like most about working on the Nancy Drew graphic novels?

Stefan: It’s an honor and a hoot to work with the original figure of girl empowerment. We work very hard at being respectful of her history while at the same time translating her to the current day. And of course it’s always fun to write an intriguing mystery.

Allen: What do you feel makes Nancy Drew interesting to new generation of readers?

Stefan: The same things that have made her popular for over 75 years, really. She’s smart, stubborn, highly moral and fearless. She makes mistakes, like anyone, gets so excited about a mystery she sometimes fails to see what’s right in front of her, but always comes through in the end. It’s shocking, really, that there aren’t many more figures out there like her even in the 21st century.

Allen: Stefan. Are you still set as constant writer for Nancy Drew graphic novels?

Stefan: Yep. Along with Sarah.

Allen: What do you like most about working with your wife writer Sarah Kinney? Also, do you have any new information about her first animated screenplay. I recall you mentioned screenplay in our last interview.

Stefan: Well, aside from liking Sarah in general, we’re comfortable enough with each other that we can easily discuss what works and what doesn’t. We play to each other’s strengths – and it’s nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of, and keep you honest. With two of us involved, it’s also easier to catch mistakes! No new info on the screenplay, though – it’s still in production.

Allen: Tell me about the artists and art style used in the Nancy Drew graphic novels. Stefan could you also tell me why this style of art was chosen?

Stefan: Sho Murase has done a beautiful job of translating Nancy into a quasi-manga style that not only looks great, but appeals to our main demographic of tween girls. It made perfect sense to use the most popular style for the most popular girl detective, and it’s really clicked with readers. Even folks who don’t particularly like manga as a style admire Sho’s work on this.

Allen: Tell me more about "The High Miles Mystery,". It was the biggest Nancy Drew graphic novel adventure ever. I liked how happened over three books. How did you convince Editor-in-Chief at Papercutz Jim Salicrup to let you work on a story longer than one book?

Stefan: It was easy to convince Jim, actually. He said, “We’d like to do a mystery that extends over a few books, maybe a three-parter.” And I said, “Okay.”

After that it was a question of coming up with something that was worth the space. We tried to give it a wide breadth – from a creepy forest to a runaway train to a car race. The energy crisis is both important and in the news lately, so that seemed a nice backdrop. Things just developed from there.

Allen: Would you say that all your Nancy Drew books are interconnected?

Stefan: Only in the sense that it’s the same set of characters. Togo will reappear from time to time, but we don’t really work it like a soap opera. We want people to be able to enjoy each story as stand-alone, which was one of the tricks with The High Miles Mystery – making them connect, but stand alone at the same time.

Allen: I noticed the book is published quarterly. How far in advance do you have to work on each script for Nancy Drew?

Stefan: Hmm... let’s see. The 14th book, Sleight of Dan is out late August, and we’re writing the 16th, so that puts us about six months ahead of publication

Allen: Have you ever had a Nancy Drew script rejected?

Stefan: Nope. We’re on the same page with Papercutz and the license owners, Simon & Schuster, so it’s been a very easy, pleasant relationship. Having done a few licensed properties, I know it doesn’t always go this well, so I’m very grateful.

Allen: Tell me about future books. Also, please mention if there will be more multi part Nancy Drew graphic novels

Stefan: The one we’re working on now, What Goes Up is about a ballooning event interrupted by a fleeing gangster. When he steals a hot air balloon to make his getaway, Nancy and co have to follow him up the side of a mountain to bring him to justice.

After that, we have a two-parter coming up with #17: Night of the Living Chatchke and #18: The City Under the Basement. We get Nancy out of the country again (she’s been in River Heights since her trip to India back in #3) and involved first with a statue that seems to come to life, then with an expedition to an ancient underground city. Past that, #19: Cliffhanger will be a lot of fun. Nancy hangs from a cliff the entire story, as she tries to solve the mystery of who pushed her off the ledge!

Allen: What is best way to find Nancy Drew past and present graphic novels in stores?

Stefan: All the major bookstores carry them, but they’re shelved in different places, so it’s best to ask for them directly. Most often they’ll be in the tween section, among the graphic novels, if they have a separate section, or sometimes along with the other Nancy Drew books. They can be a little tough to find, but worth the effort!

Allen: Do you feel that there is any way for Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew to work together on case?

Stefan: We’ve talked about it, plan to do a crossover at some point, but no firm plans.

Allen: What are some of your favorite comics that you worked on in past years?

Stefan: Aside from Nancy, I enjoyed working on Beowulf with Kody Chamberlain, and my Mickey and Donald work for Egmont is always fun.

Allen: What do your children think about Sarah (Mom) and you (Dad) working on Nancy Drew? Has it inspired your children's creativity?

Stefan: I’m pleased to say that our daughters not only enjoy reading comics, they on occasion enjoy writing and drawing their own. They’re both very talented artists if I do say so myself. Margo’s version of Nancy Drew was actually published in the back of #12, Dress Reversal.

Allen: What is best way for people still to contact you?

Stefan: My website, www.petrucha.com or by emailing timetripper AT Petrucha.com

Allen: Please tell me about some of novels that you have published.

Stefan: There are lots. I’ve done licensed books like Dark Ages: Assamite and Shadow of Frankenstein, and more recently YA, such as the Timetripper series from Penguin, Wicked Dead from Harper Collins and Teen, Inc from Walker, which is currently being developed as a TV series. For a complete list, visit my website.

Allen: Tell me about your newest book "The Rule of Won".

Stefan: Basically what we have here is a very wry look at help-yourself books such as the Oprah-beloved The Secret. In Rule, a group of high school students devoted to one such book’s “you-can-and-should-have-it-all” principles slowly turns violent, and the only thing in their way is a hapless slacker, who isn’t sure what he believes, or doesn’t. There’s humor, adventure, message boards aplenty, and the advance reaction has been fantastic. My editor tells me she’s proud to be involved in publishing it, and frankly I consider it my best work to date.

Allen: Tell me about characters and setting and time for "The Rule of Won".

Stefan: The time is now, the place is a sort of downwardly mobile community that doesn’t have much money or spirit. They’re self-identified losers, ripe for an idea that sounds like it will solve all their problems.

Allen: What was the reason for setting the story in Screech Neck High School and the surrounding community?

Stefan: The book is about how groups respond to certain ideas, how easy it is to be swept into something, and how hard it can be to pull yourself out of that group to stand up for yourself. So, the community and Screech Neck High are really characters in and of themselves. They have goals, try to reach them, and go through a character arc during the course of the story, changing along the way.

Allen: Why do you feel readers should read "The Rule of Won"?

Stefan: It may seem difficult to believe that seemingly smart, rational people can be swept up in certain beliefs when proffered by someone claiming to have the secrets of the universe, and sometimes do the wrong thing in the name of them – but it happens often and regularly. What I wanted to do with the book was sort of deconstruct that mob mentality in an entertaining way. I’m not saying I know how the world works, just that everyone should be incredibly wary of anyone who claims they do.

Allen: What compelled you to write "The Rule of Won"?

Stefan: I’ve been fascinated with what people believe and why since one of my first comics, Meta-4 – it’s a theme carried through my first novel Making God and in my work on The X-Files comic. Rule is another variation on the theme – in some ways, as I said, I hope, the best.

Allen: How can "The Rule of Won" be found, who is publisher, and is the age group for young adults?

Stefan: In bookstores everywhere, online and so on. The publisher is Walker Books for Young Readers, and technically it’s YA, but I’ve had many adults enjoy reading it, so I hope it’s appeal runs wide than that.

Allen: What are some novels you presently are reading?

Stefan: I just finished Creepers by David Morrel, the guy who wrote Rambo. It was a nice thriller, a lot of fun.

Allen: Do or you plan on attending any promotional appearances?

Stefan: On August 23 from 12 PM to 3 PM, I’ll be appearing with Papercutz editor Jim Salicrup at the Storefront Artists Projects in Pittsfield, MA, talking all things comics and Nancy Drew. And on Saturday September 20th, I’ll be in Boston at the New England Independent Booksellers Expo at 1:30, signing copies of Wicked Dead for Harper Collins.

Allen: What are some future novels that you are working on writing? Also, how much harder is it to write novel compared to comic book story?

Stefan: We’re in negotiations right now with Walker for a third book, but I’m not absolutely sure what it’ll be. For the second question, well, in terms of difficulty, the only real difference is that a novel is longer. Pound for pound, character complexity, plot, structure, etc. can be as brilliant or banal in one form as in another.

Allen: Are you presently reading any comic book series?

Stefan: Nope. Tried League of Gentlemen: The Black Dossier recently, and didn’t care for it. All the references were fun, but it got tired after a while. It did pull together nicely in the end, though.

Allen: What are some of comic book related movies that you have recently seen?

Stefan: Iron Man, Hulk, Dark Knight. Of those I enjoyed Iron Man most. Got a big kick out of the Hulk, too – love the scene where he’s throwing rocks at the storm. I thought Ledger was brilliant as the Joker, award caliber, but Batman is such a dour, cardboard-cutout character, his world so gloomy, his successes so minor, he’s very hard to connect to, a flaw, I think in all the films about him. In the original brilliant graphic novel, Miller’s Dark Knight derived a gritty pleasure from what he was doing, sort of like Dirty Harry – and that made it work. Not so much the movies. All the new Batmen, from Keaton through Bale, don’t seem to enjoy much of anything.

Allen: Do you like listening to certain types of music while writing?

Stefan: Sometimes. Depends on my mood and energy. I like to think my tastes are eclectic, but they actually tend toward various forms of rock with a bit of folk thrown in.

Allen: Do you like to write at certain times of day or night? How much do you try to write each day?

Stefan: It’s often based on deadlines, but on work days I try to put in a few hours in the morning, then exercise, eat, and put in a few more hours in the afternoon. Life always gets in the way of regular schedules, though.

Allen: What helps you relax? Do you like watching sports games locally or on television?

Stefan: Never been into spectator sports, though I am getting a kick out of the Olympics. Music relaxes me, and I like to pick up the guitar or sit at the piano a bit every day and bang out some tunes with my highly limited abilities. Folks can actually check out some of my limited abilities by visiting the website and clicking on FREE MUSIC.

Allen: Have you ever experienced 'writers block'?

Stefan: No. I get stuck for ideas sometimes, but never for very long. A long time ago I gave myself permission to just sit down and write whatever came to mind. That produces a lot of junk, but that’s what the DELETE key is for.

Allen: Stefan. What do you feel fuels your creative writing ability?

Stefan: For me, I think it’s about building bridges between ideas, feelings and the world. I really enjoy trying to make the bridges as sturdy as I can.

Allen: This end our interview. Would you like to lead our readers out with insightful words?

Stefan: Fools try to change the world to match their desires. Wise men try to change their desires to match the world. Therefore, all progress is made by fools.