Eric Orner (Cartoonist & Author of Smahtguy: The Life & Times of Barney Frank): “You Should Stick to the Kinds of Fairies That Wear Chaps”

Dennis is joined via Zoom by cartoonist Eric Orner, who is best known for The Mostly Unfabulous Life of Ethan Green, to talk about his new graphic novel Smahtguy: The Life and Times of Barney Frank. Eric talks about meeting Congressman Frank when he was in his 20’s, going to work for him in his congressional office and describes why, decades later, he wanted to turn Barney’s life into a graphic novel. Eric also talks about getting Barney’s blessing on the project, interviewing him over four months to get the full story, and the reaction Barney had after reading the finished book. He also discusses when he first knew he could draw, his use of hand-drawing mixed with computers and what comes first when he’s creating, the words or the images. Other topics include: Barney Frank’s role as Clinton’s top defender in the early days of the Lewinsky scandal, Barney making a pivotal deal with singer James Brown back in the 1960’s, Nancy Pelosi cutting a rug at Barney Frank’s wedding and how Barney Frank is a horrible backseat driver but an excellent boss. https://us.macmillan.com/author/ericorner