I've Never Been One to Settle

Why would I start now?

Ennead: The Rule of Nine is more than just a comic series.

It’s an expression of my lived experiences, a collection of lessons I’ve learned, a summation of everything I love about storytelling, and an opportunity for us all to re-envision the way we see the epic fantasy genre.

Ambitious you say?

Hi, I’m JL Johnson Jr., and I am the writer and creator of Ennead: The Rule of Nine. I kind of skipped that part because I assumed you knew who I was. I shouldn’t have. My apologies. Big ideas are kind of my thing…

I’ve loved the fantasy genre all my life. Its grandiose worldbuilding, devotion to long and far reaching story arcs, the care paid to its characters, flaws and all, make it special. As I’ve grown into the writer I am today my mission has become to use the genre I love to share myself with the world.

Why? Hold on. I’m getting to that.

You see, each of us has a one way trip around the sun. Packed full of personal opinions, long held values, and specific types of external influences we’ve experienced along the way. That is what makes you, you, and me, me.

We each have a one of one take to offer the world. To be ourselves is our highest calling; to share our gifts with others in the hope that we can inspire them to do the same.

The web is changing. The ways in which we interact are becoming more and more impersonal.

Every time I sat down to write an email newsletter (well, stood up, I have a standing desk) I felt like a robot. Each message felt like it had to be about selling Ennead, or my next Kickstarter, or new art, and nothing else. I felt boxed in. This already feels different. More free. More honest.

I’ll use this newsletter to discuss what I’m reading and watching right now (mostly fantasy or sci-fi with a dash of trashy reality TV… yeah, sue me), insight into my writing process, what it takes to make a comic and manage a team, as well as sharing my knowledge of and experience with crowdfunding on Kickstarter. I’ll also veer from these topics from time to time as well. The world is an interesting place and I’ve never been short on things to say.

For now, everything I offer here will be free. And going forward this newsletter will remain that way. Forever.

In the not too distant future I’ll create a subscription model that will allow folks to read Ennead: The Rule of Nine digitally here on Substack. Until then, check out what I’ve got coming to Kickstarter on 3/21!

Until next time,

JL