Potential interview candidates (initial list)

Illustrators

• Bryan Lee O'Malley

An independent comic artist who has experience writing his own series of graphic novels (Scott Pilgrim series) (as well as inking and lettering them himself), and writing an ongoing traditional comic format series (Snotgirl) with an illustrator (see below). He is also the illustrator whose style I most admire.

• Leslie Hung

Fairly new artist (co-creator of Snotgirl with Bryan Lee O'Malley, as artist and O'Malley as writer) - could ask about experience getting into the comic industry recently in the 2000s-2010s.

• Faith Erin Hicks

Another illustrator whose work I admire who has experience of writing and illustrating her own graphic novels 

Image Comics
Could potentially interview this whole team? If they're not busy. I'm sure they all have insights that will be useful to me. Over Skype, as they are in the US!

• Eric Stephenson (publisher)

Image publish a lot of comics that I love, and it would be great to talk to a publisher about the process of making a comic series. From reading their submissions page, I know that they can give feedback to writers and artists about what format (comic series/graphic novel) would be best for a story. I could ask what format would be best for my stories! I could also ask if he knows how writers and illustrators stay focused and up to date, and what happens if they miss deadlines. I know, for example, that Brian K Vaughn (author of Saga) uses Stephenson as a personal kick up the bum!

• Kat Salazar (PR & marketing)

What's involved in PR and marketing in the comics industry?

• Corey Murphy (director of retail sales) 

How is this different to digital sales? 

• Chris Ross (director of digital sales) 

How is this different to retail sales?

Self Made Hero

• Emma Hayley (managing director & publisher)

Pro of interviewing her is Self Made Hero are based in London, so I could potentially travel down to meet her in person, unlike the staff at Image Comics. Ask questions about being a woman in the comic industry!

• Guillaume Rater (publishing assistant & digital content manager)

First Second

• Simon Boughton (publisher)
• Mark Siegel (editorial director)

He did a review of Scott Pilgrim! We clearly share some interests.

• Calista Brill (editor)

Another woman in comics!

• Gina Gagliano (marketing/publicity)

ONI Press

• Joe Nozemack (founder & publisher)
• James Lucas Jones (editor in chief)

All these publishers have published comics and graphic novels that I like, but I need to browse their catalogue fully and do my research on each person (when I decide on my shortlist).