GUESS WHO’S COMING AS DINNER? Phil Geusz interviews Bill Holbrook

		an interview conducted by Phil Geusz Questions ©2006 Phil Geusz; answers & photo ©2006 Bill Holbrook

   It’s probably safe to say that within the furry community, the creator of webcomic Kevin & Kell needs no introduction. But whereas most furry luminaries’ fame is strictly limited to furdom, Bill Holbrook is also known to the mundane world, whether because of the unusually successful Internet-only distribution model used by Kevin & Kell or, more importantly, because of his two syndicated daily comics.
   Recently, Mr. Holbrook was kind enough to have taken some time out of his busy schedule—see also: 3 (count ’em, three) daily comic strips—to chat with Phil Geusz. We’re pleased to be able to present you with a transcript of this conversation, and we at Anthro think you’ll enjoy reading Mr. Geusz’ interview with…
   Bill Holbrook!

Geusz:	A rabbit and a fox, joined by the sacred bond of matrimony: How did you ever come up with that idea? Does Kevin and Kell's marriage and life mirror your own in any way?
Holbrook:	Kell’s actually a wolf, although I first created her as a fox. My wife suggested the change, which is a demonstration of our collaboration. That’s often reflected in the Dewclaws’ marriage.
Geusz:	According to Wikipedia, Kevin & Kell was the first exclusively on-line comic strip. It took a lot of guts, one would think, to pioneer the internet business model at such an early date. Plus, computers are central to your characters’ lives and adventures. Is it fair to say that you are a geek? Have you had formal training in computers or programming?
Holbrook:	I really don’t know enough about computers to merit the honored title of ‘geek’. Computers just interest me, both in what they can and can’t do.
Geusz:	Have you found that the ’net business concept is workable? Would you follow the same course, if you had it to do all over again?
Holbrook:	As for a business model, after the dot.com collapse the strip has been sustained entirely through donations from the patrons. (For more details, please go here.)
Geusz:	How did you get into cartooning to begin with?
Holbrook:	I’ve never not wanted to become a cartoonist!
Geusz:	Again, is this something you have formal training in?
Holbrook:	Yes; I have a B.A. in Illustration and Visual Design from Auburn University.
Geusz:	What would you say to a young person out to follow in your footsteps?
Holbrook:	When I was 23, Charles Schulz gave me the following advice: Sit down and draw fifty strips. Of those, maybe five will be funny. Build on those and throw out the rest. Do fifty more. Now perhaps ten will be usable. Repeat this process again and again.
Geusz:	In addition to the beloved Kevin and Kell, you also draw two other strips; On The Fastrack and the nationally-syndicated Safe Havens. How did these others come about?
Holbrook:	I submitted *Fastrack* for syndication in 1983 and it debuted in 1984. *Safe Havens* first appeared in papers in 1988. They’re both distributed by King Features Syndicate.
Geusz:	How can you possibly manage the workload?
Holbrook:	I work on a three-week schedule. During this week, for instance, I’ll be writing three week’s worth of *Fastrack* material, and drawing the 21 gags I wrote for *Kevin & Kell* last week. Next week I’ll write for *Safe Havens* while drawing the *Fastrack* batch. And on it goes… On a typical day I’ll begin by writing four gags by 2:00, then I’ll begin drawing, usually doing about four strips. At night, after everyone goes to bed, I’ll write two gags. That leaves weekends free to get caught up on E-mail.
Geusz:	Kevin & Kell has never been syndicated, despite its obvious excellence. Why do you suppose that is? Or, have you simply never marketed it?
Holbrook:	Correct, I’ve never marketed it. That would require a sales staff making in-person visits to newspapers, and I don’t have the resources for that.
Geusz:	Do you feel especially close to any of your characters? If so, which and why?
Holbrook:	No favorites, I enjoy them all—even the villians.
Geusz:	The furry fandom adopted you early on; I personally can recall your attendance at cons as far back as 1998, I think. Were you involved earlier still?
Holbrook:	I was first contacted by furry fans in late 1995, very soon after the strip’s debut. My first furry convention was ConFurence 8 in Orange County, California, in January 1997.
Geusz:	What cons do you regularly attend? What are your favorite con events?
Holbrook:	I always attend Anthrocon, which is the permanent site of the annual *Kevin & Kell* patron social. (That would be my favorite con event!)
Geusz:	Do you consider yourself a furry fan? Do you see yourself as part of the fandom, or perhaps just someone whose artistic interests happen to have taken a furry bent?
Holbrook:	It’s all how you define it. I enjoy the best of anthropomorphic works, such as Walt Kelly’s Pogo and many of the current webcomics.
Geusz:	What’s the single most memorable thing that’s ever happened to you at a furry convention?
Holbrook:	That’s hard to say… but the skit I performed at MFF in 2000 with the three costumed *Kevin & Kell* characters does stand out.