That Dern Internet! Steve Niles Discusses Social Media at Dallas Comic-Con!

Social media is in everyone’s lives these days and has presented several opportunities for people who otherwise might not know about them. So, I wanted to know how social media has affected guests at Dallas Comic-Con. First up I spoke to the talented Mr. Steve Niles (30 Days of Night, Criminal Macabre).

Previous visits with Steve:
* Steve Niles (writer, 30 Days of Night) at Dallas Comic-Con 2009.
* Steve Niles (30 Days of Night 2: Dark Days Begins Shooting Today)

AFC: How has social media, twitter and Facebook, affected your work?

Niles: It’s completely changed everything. 10 years ago, pretty much the only way anyone could reach me was to find out my phone number, my address, or see me at a convention.

AFC: Pretty much stalk you!

Niles: Stalk me, yes! They would have to break the law, and now I feel like I have regular contact with all my fans. Everything on my website is linked to twitter and Facebook so I can just make one post to advertise my stuff, blast off opinions I have, or whatever I feel like talking about. It really does give you a personal interaction with your fans.

AFC: And you get more direct feedback as well.

Niles: Exactly. Luckily in comics, people don’t realize, if they figure out a mystery in #2, I’m still scripting #3. So I can see that they figured it out and take a left turn. That contact with the fans helps me balance what I’m writing too.

AFC: Then it helps keep the fans interested in return! They think they figured it out, and then they didn’t!

Niles: Exactly. It’s been invaluable. I had to get past the old man, “What the hell’s going on! Grandpa can’t work the VCR” stuff. But I’ve gotten used to it and I love it. As a writer too, I’m isolated. I’m behind the desk all the time, and now it’s like I have company.

Steve Niles is definitely one busy guy. Along side writing, he recently started his own publishing company called Bloody Pulp Books, which just put out Not Bad for a Human, a biography of Lance Henriksen (Aliens, The Terminator). You can find out how to get your copy and keep up with future projects at Bloody Pulp Books. Also, you can keep up with other works by Steve Niles and leave feedback on his Facebook page.

This is the Action Flick Chick, and you’ve just been kicked in the ass!