Origin Story

What happens if your mother never throws your comics books away?

 

Then you, too, can spend your career strip-mining your childhood!

Faraway Press is home to yours truly, John Jackson Miller, writer of comics, books, games, and nonfiction works about  those things.

My first novel, Star Wars: Knight Errant, released in 2011 from Del Rey — alongside a comic book series of the same name which I write for Dark Horse Comics. I've written several Star Wars: Lost Tribe of the Sith eBooks for Del Rey; a print collection is coming in 2012.

My comics work ranges from umpteen small-press ventures to such titles as Marvel Comics' Iron Man and Crimson Dynamo, Bongo Comics' Bart Simpson, and Star Wars: Empire for Dark Horse Comics. I've been the regular writer of Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic since the beginning, and I wrote the comics adaptation of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. 

In games, my work includes writing for the Star Wars Role-Playing Game, the massively multiplayer role-playing game, Sword of the New World, and reference guides including the Scrye Collectible Card Game Checklist & Price Guide.

In non-fiction, my research specialties include studies into comic-book circulation history, which in 2002 spawned the first of four Standard Catalog of Comic Books volumes. I've also edited magazines including Comics Buyer's Guide, Comics & Games Retailer, and Scrye: The Guide to Collectible Card Games, serving also as Collectibles Editorial Director and later, Interactive Media Editorial Director for F W Publications. Since that time, I have continued my research interests on my other website, The Comics Chronicles. I occasionally write a column for Comics Buyer's Guide called "Longbox Manifesto."

With a master's in comparative politics from Louisiana State University, I've sought to play on international and political elements in my fiction and games. I hold a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Tennessee, where I served as editor for The Daily Beacon eons ago. Before that, I was active in the fanzine and minicomics community, the 20th century equivalent of webzines and webcomics. I also have a webstrip with Chuck Fiala, Sword & Sarcasm. 

This site provides behind-the-scenes information about my works, as well as answers to frequently asked questions. Here are some now...

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find out more about your upcoming comics?
I try to get pages online here soon after their solicitations are made public, but I can't reveal more information than the publishers have. I do try to link to interviews when they appear. I also have a blog — the feed is here on the front page, but you can access the whole thing at FarawayLooks.com.

How do I get copies of your work?
Many pages here include links to comics retail sites, Things From Another World, and and Amazon.com, where my books are sold. Also, a limited number of autographed copies are available directly from me in the Shop.

What's the origin of your Faraway Press studio name? Is it Star Wars?
Ironically, no. I wrote a small press comics series by the name Faraway Looks -- one of the collections is here -- and also a column for Comics Buyer's Guide by that name in the 1990s. I took the name from a reference in a Carl Barks Uncle Scrooge story.

My later connection to Star Wars is completely coincidental, but it's a fun coincidence.

Where do you answer questions about comic book circulation history?
Over at Comichron. I may not have the answers, but often someone on the boards does.

Are you the same John J. Miller who wrote the Wild Cards novels?
Nope — nor am I the John J. Miller who writes for National Review. Sure are a lot of us out there!

Do you make convention and store appearances?
Occasionally, as time and travel allow; use the address at the bottom of the page to contact me. That is also the temporary address for interviewers; questions from the general public can simply be posted in the blog. No promises that I'll be able to answer, but I do read them!

Do you have a Facebook page?
Yes, it's here. Always happy to friend readers, but for spam control please send me a message with your friend request letting me know what work you know me from.

How about Twitter?
Yes, my Twitter account is http://www.twitter.com/jjmfaraway.  

Do you ever get tired of reading comics?
I get tired of carrying comics — which is why collectors loathe moving so much!

Contact information