JAZMA ONLINE INTERVIEWS PENNY-FARTHING PRESS’ PAMELA MILTENBERGER – VP OF MARKETING & MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS by Paul Dale Roberts - (Posted: 11/19/2006)

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PDR: Tell us something about yourself, your family life, schools you went to, etc. Pamela Miltenberger: I am a third generation Texan. I have a heart-shaped scar on my right hand from a car wreck with an 18-wheeler on an icy bridge. I graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in education and earned a masters degree in supervision and education from the University of St. Thomas. I had 15 seconds (not minutes) of fame when Lucky Duck Productions filmed me for an educational segment on Nickelodeon. Trivia note: My former boyfriend’s dad was the coach for the Houston Rockets and the LA Lakers. Can you guess the coach? More sports trivia: My male best friend from college is the best friend of the youngest general manager in the NFL. Hog calling might have been a pastime for the three of us. Can you guess the general manager’s name and team? I really don’t spend much of my free time following sports teams, but I do pray for the Rice Owls and polish my 6 tiaras before I go to bed each night.

PDR: What was the first comic book you ever read? PM: Archie Comics! I still have my childhood collection (about 50 comic books) which is staring at me right now as it ever so gently rests in my office bookcase. I do have some I Love Lucy Comics that I found a few years ago on Ebay and one really cool 1954 issue from a friend who purchased it at Bedrock City Comics in Houston. As far as my Archie Comics collection, I can proudly boast that I have a 15 cent comic book, and several 35 cent and 45 cent comic books. (I learned math by buying comic books and candy bars at 7-Eleven and every 5 cent increase just killed me.) My comic book collection is all about sentimentality. My dad always read comic books (and Westerns) and my mom encouraged reading every night. Their emphasis on reading has served me well in the publishing world.

PDR: How did you start working with Penny Farthing Press? PM: As a 2 week temp! I was taking a year off from the world of graphic design sales and marketing for some soul searching after 9/11 when my friend called to ask me if I’d help her boss for just 2 weeks at his publishing company. 2 weeks turned into 4 years!

PDR: As Vice President of Marketing and Media Communications, what does your job entail? PM: My job entails only glamorous adventure and constant learning. 1. Laughing about bathroom topics with witty Barry Levine and learning that you can buy a heck of a lot of chew toys at the dollar store. 2. Learning a valuable negotiating tool from Harlan Ellison over dinner one night. A round of Rock!Paper!Scissors! with your loved one can solve quite a lot. 3. Learning to stay away from heavy cream sauces when in the vicinity of Steranko, J. David Spurlock and physically ill people. 4. Learning that I could be brave enough to dye my hair purple because Jackson Publick told me that I would look good in purple hair with my coloring. (I haven’t dyed it yet.) 5. Learning that I can laugh the loudest in a restaurant when discussing family vacations with our editor-in-chief. 6. Learning that the Star Trek donut-hole episode really does have entertainment value as our creative director whispers on a weekly basis. 7. The really fun part involves fostering relationships with all types of interesting people in the world of comic books. Think spandex and San Diego...and Len Wein. The really, really fun part of my job entails the ongoing excitement managing and supporting the development of our properties for film and television, and the great media folks I form relationships with...I love LA! 8.When the fun and games are at bay and focus takes hold, the rest of my time is devoted to developing our presence in the comic book industry and book market through increased exposure via distributors, marketing, advertising, promotions, press releases, reviews, etc...

PDR: What are some of the titles that Penny Farthing Press is publishing? PM: The Victorian, The Loch, Captain Gravity, Stuart Moore’s PARA, Decoy, Zendra and Anne Steelyard. I’m pleased to announce our animation project with Stephen Sobisky and Shawn Neider (Sandman Studios) and Ryan Woodward. It is a fully animated 3D short based on our children’s book, The Loch, a trilogy that was created and written by our own Editor-in-Chief, Marlaine Maddux. Look for a sneak peek at our booth at the New York Comic Con! We’re also collaborating on the media opportunities available for Stuart Moore’s PARA with our good friend Barry Levine, and we’re developing the screen potential of our flagship book, The Victorian with a group in LA. Debuting in 2007, Anne Steelyard: The Garden of Emptiness is a graphic novel series written by bestselling author Barbara Hambly (the Benjamin January mysteries). Equally exciting is our new relationship with bestselling author Marc Zicree (Magic Time) and Elaine Zicree who approached us with a wonderful comedy idea this year. We are in the early stages of combining their phenomenal talent with the side-splitting comedic talent of Len Wein. We’ll begin adapting their script to graphic novel format sometime next year. We have many exciting things happening here at PFP!

PDR: What lies in the future for Penny Farthing Press? PM: World domination. And a sauna in our new office space with an on-call masseuse named Jorgen. Seriously, securing a book distribution deal and big screen fame and fortune in the not too distant future!

PDR: How did Penny Farthing Press get its name? PM: We unanimously chose the penny-farthing bicycle as our logo because it was our hope that it’s interesting shape would somehow convey or brand our uniqueness in the industry. It communicates what we are trying to do in the publishing business and it’s memorable.

PDR: How did you get involved in the comic book industry? PM: Our creative director, Trainor Houghton was the inspiration for PFP along with my comic book loving boss and publisher. They decided to collaborate in 1998 and the best is yet to come!

PDR: What conventions will you be attending or have attended? PM: We have doubled our presence convention-wise this year and plan to triple our con and book market participation in 2007. PFP will be attending the New York Comic Con, San Diego Comic Con, Diamond Retailer Summit, Heroes Con, Small Press Expo, Fan Expo Canada, Armadillo Con, FenCon, APE, Staple!, etc...

PDR: How can someone contact you and what is your web address? PM: Email is my preference - pamela@pfpress.com , http://www.pfpress.com

PDR: What are your hobbies and recreational activities? PM: Decorating, going to B&N and Borders, watching great movies, attending festivals, shopping for house wares (I just bought a home), playing with my cats, traveling to Paris and hopefully traveling to Italy next year!

PDR: If you can have 6 dinner guests who would those 6 people be and why? PM: Jerry Seinfeld, comedian – Need I say why? George Clooney, actor – Need I say why again? Debbie Travis, HGTV interior designer – She’s incredibly talented and creative. She has extremely high standards for perfection. Robert Hand, astrologer – He’s fascinating! Anthony Bourdain, Travel Channel host – He’s hilarious and he’s brave beyond belief. (He samples some interesting food that I wouldn’t dare touch.) Perry Como, singer – I always had a crush on him and loved his soothing vocals. John Edward, psychic – I could ask him all about death and beyond...and what my grandma and Boo, my cat is doing. Dali Lama (and his translator who’d be a necessary attendee) - We’ll need some philosophical discussion and grounding given the above guests! I know that makes nine dinner guests plus me which would make ten total, but noshing with this group would be quite entertaining!

PDR: What TV shows, movies, cartoons do you like? PM: I’m embarrassed to say that I prefer romantic comedies. When Harry Met Sally is the best film ever. The writing was so clever. Girl With A Pearl Earring, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Chocolate, An Affair To Remember, Eve’s Bayou, The Philadelphia Story, One Fine Day, Practical Magic, Frida, etc... Those are all great films! I love foreign films (Balzac and Bon Voyage) and independent films. As far as TV shows, I usually just watch late night television like Seinfeld, SATCity, Will & Grace, Everybody Loves Raymond, The Bernie Mac Show and anything on HGTV and the Travel Channel. PDR: What books do you enjoy? PM: Sad to say, I haven’t been reading a lot because I read so much at work. PDR: What comic books do you read now? PM: Penny-Farthing Press’s comic books and graphic novels, of course! I also like various titles from Ape Entertainment, Oni, Top Shelf, AdHouse and SLG! I really like SLG’s goth comic books. I like the independent stuff I recently came across at SPX. Lots of unbelievable talent out there!

PDR: What gives you your creative energy? PM: Grande Soy Chai Lattes. George Clooney. Art of any kind. Passionate people! HGTV. Good music! Sugar.

PDR: This ends the interview, any encouraging words of wisdom? PM: If a door shuts, look around the room you’re in and decorate it! And never be Jello.

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