Home Blog Interview Ronnie Sidney, II, Shares How His Indie Comics Help Children ‘Beat the Odds’
Ronnie Sidney, II, Shares How His Indie Comics Help Children ‘Beat the Odds’

Ronnie Sidney, II, Shares How His Indie Comics Help Children ‘Beat the Odds’

I met Ronnie Sidney, II, LCSW, after a lecture he gave at a community college in Virginia. Ronnie’s story is really interesting. He created his own line of comic books for a couple of reasons. Among them are to share his story with young people, and to give people a positive and uplifting tale. Ronnie overcame childhood ADHD and Dysgraphia to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a best-selling author.

Starting with his first indie comic book, “Nelson Beats The Odds,” Ronnie self-published his titles and has made a one-shot into a series. Ronnie’s stories follow a theme where young people face a challenge, they persevere, and eventually come out on top. I caught up with Ronnie recently and asked why he was drawn to comics, and why he’s chosen to continue the series.

INDIE COMICS ZONE:
Thanks for talking to me Ronnie! I appreciate it. Can you tell us about yourself, and how you got started in indie comics?

RONNIE SIDNEY:
Sure. I’m working currently at a detention center as a behavioral health provider. On the side, I do public speaking engagements. I recently did a writing workshop and an assembly at an elementary school.

I also have a young family and am involved in sports, so that keeps me pretty busy too. Working full time, doing speaking engagements, and also raising my family.

Initially, I was thinking of doing a picture book. But once I sent the draft to the illustrator, she felt it more appropriate to do a graphic novel because I told her the age range that I was focused on. And the story line… she thought that it would be better suited for graphic novel.

INDIE COMICS ZONE:
That’s great! You had an idea, and through collaboration, it evolved into a graphic novel?

RONNIE SIDNEY:
Right. I was able to get in contact with an illustrator about in New York City, as a freelance illustrator, and my share of my book idea with [Traci Van Wagoner]. You know, when you’re a creative or illustrator, you can pick up the context.

The illustrators, who are a husband-and-wife team, mentioned that he was diagnosed with dyslexia. So since my book being about learning disability, I felt that it would be appropriate to have someone who has some inside knowledge of what it’s like.

Ronnie Sidney’s story about Nelson rising above a learning disability is based on his own experience. Art by Traci Van Wagoner
Ronnie Sidney’s story about Nelson rising above a learning disability is based on his own experience. Art by Traci Van Wagoner

INDIE COMICS ZONE:
OK. So, the main character of your book, Nelson… is he based on you? Are you writing about your own story? And trying to get the young people to understand a little bit about yourself through this character that you created?

RONNIE SIDNEY:
Yeah, yeah. So, Nelson is actually a middle name. I took my middle name out and I created the character. The first graphic novel in the series is semi-autobiographical. So that’s probably the only thing I’ve written right now that is loosely based on my life.

But yeah, so the main character notes, I did sort of create them. He’s based after myself with my mannerisms and personality traits.

INDIE COMICS ZONE:
By using a comic book that was the way of sharing a story about somebody who has a learning disability, but they shouldn’t feel ashamed of it? Is that the gist of your story?

RONNIE SIDNEY:
Yeah, yeah. Not just being seen, but also, having a challenge and disability struggle, and really doing what it takes to overcome it.

That the story of resilience is the overarching theme of the comic, and over the series. So each of the books really just touch on that resilience piece. It’s not just young kids trying to figure things out, but they get there with the help of adults and friends and community.

Even after I published “Nelson Beats The Odds,” I learned a lot about comics. The way that educators are using them to encourage kids to read. I also understood the structure of the comic book. it really helps kids who have reading learning challenges, because with the illustrations, it helps them through the text.

INDIE COMICS ZONE:
How did you get “Nelson” published?

RONNIE SIDNEY:
So for me, back then, I was just getting familiar with the business aspect. Getting my LLC, getting the ISBN numbers and barcodes and really just understand that the structure around publishing. My illustrator worked on the technical parts of the book, and when I was able to get the PDF form from them, I uploaded it onto Amazon. I also used Ingram Spark for the print copies of my book. So when I go to conferences or events, I would print 100 copies and sell it at events.

Ronnie Sidney’s comic book about Nelson mirrors his own life — Nelson graduated and began a career dedicated to helping people. Art by Traci Van Wagoner
Ronnie Sidney’s comic book about Nelson mirrors his own life — Nelson graduated and began a career dedicated to helping people. Art by Traci Van Wagoner

INDIE COMICS ZONE:
I got it! Thank you. How did people react to your story? I know, it’s been a long time ago…

RONNIE SIDNEY:
It’s crazy. I mean, this story resonated with a lot of people. A lot of people, you know, not just kids, but a lot of adults who went through special education sharing stories with me about their experiences. Special education has improved a lot compared to what it was when I was growing up and even 20 years before that. So it’s starting to become more inclusive, and some of the issues I’ve had a lot of children nowadays are able to navigate.

INDIE COMICS ZONE:
How comics have you got out there now?

RONNIE SIDNEY:
I’ve got seven total, but they’re a little different. So the first comics was “Nelson Beats The Odds,” then “Tameka’s New Dress,” “Rest In Peace Rashawn, Reloaded.” And then a “Nelson Beats The Odds Compendium,” which is just a combination of “Nelson” and “Tameka” books, because those are similar in age range.

And probably more appropriate for the fifth to ninth grade audience, “Rest In Peace Rahsawn, Reloaded” which is a more mature story. That book was inspired by the murder of Tamir Rice in Ohio, a teenage boy who was shot and killed by police officers. That has a lot to do a lot of trauma, there’s some blood and there’s some violence in there. So that one title for more like 14 and up.

When I initially put it out there was a kid holding a gun on the cover of the book. I had a friend who was a principal, and he was just saying, “Hey, we liked your book, however…” Around the time, there was a recent school shooting. He just gave me some feedback. So I ended up changing the cover.

I really got a lot of feedback and input from young people, especially young African American males. I wanted to make sure I acknowledged those young people who gave me feedback on a book, I tried to make it more collaborative, because I really wanted the story to resonate — even the Kaepernick kneeling.

I wanted to really encompass sort of that, that capsule of time. I didn’t open it up to just asking more questions, giving feedback, or hearing what young people are saying. I also ended up listening to some of the stories of the young people who were killed by police and sort of weaving holes into the plot.

Ronnie Sidney’s indie comic books are all about helping young people understand that they are not going through things alone, and that there is help. Art by Traci Van Wagoner
Ronnie Sidney’s indie comic books are all about helping young people understand that they are not going through things alone, and that there is help. Art by Traci Van Wagoner

INDIE COMICS ZONE:
What is your next what is what’s next for you? What do you what are you working on?

RONNIE SIDNEY:
I haven’t really necessarily planned a next step yet. And it’s almost like, you know, when I put those books out, I had a goal in mind to do a book for each character that were on the cover the first book. After “Rest In Peace Rashawn,” I was trying to figure out how to do with the next one, which is actually I’m considering a Hispanic character, but because I didn’t have a lot of experience with Hispanic youth and really hearing their story. Since I’ve been working with a lot of Hispanic men, I’m starting to start to develop a storyline for that character.Right now, I’m sort of in the brainstorming phase to figure out how to create that.

I do have another book that will be more of a picture book about inspiring my mother, which I’ve written. I just need to get the book to editors, to some editors to try to figure out how to frame it and create into a picture style book. Because it’s a little different. And once I do that I can start, you know, working on giving it to my illustrator.

INDIE COMICS ZONE:
Well, I don’t know how you do it — you’ve got a family and you’re a nine to five licensed clinical social worker, you do public appearances and lectures, and you’ve got your comics and project on the side! I don’t think you sleep! You can admit it, to me, I won’t tell anybody.

RONNIE SIDNEY:
You know, it’s really all about staying energized and passionate about the creative process. Working with Tracy managing the design has made the process like so easy. For me, it’s the challenge of doing things that I aspire to. But I’m locked in into a pretty decent full-time job, I don’t have to hustle and grind as much.

Learn more about Sidney’s comics and appearances at his website. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

© 2024 Chickahominy Creative, LLC — All Rights Reserved