Meet K. J. Eldridge | Novelist and Comic Book Writer and Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with K. J. Eldridge and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi K. J., how has your work-life balance changed over time?
When I first started writing stories and creating comics, I was single with no real responsibilities outside of myself. Work/Life balance wasn’t really a huge issue for me. I worked my day job, engaged in a social life, had fun playing video games or pursuing many other interests, while still having plenty of time to work on all of my artistic endeavors.

All of that changed when I got married and started a family. It’s a difficult transition to make in any situation but for the creative it can present many new obstacles. So much of what any artist produces comes from within. When you have a family, they become the most important part and time-consuming element in your life. That’s not a bad thing but it is something you have to figure out.

It forces members of the artistic community with an admittedly scattered attention span, myself included, to focus. To choose how you spend your free time a little more wisely. Instead of leaping from project to project whenever the mood hits, I’ve found with the more limited amount of time that I have every day, it forces me to prioritize. I find myself asking what is the most essential thing to get done on any given day. It’s an hard question to ask yourself: Is this amazing, fun thing that I just thought of something that is truly important to me or is this more of an inspirational whim that has caught my attention for the moment. With that added focus, it’s amazing to see that sometimes you can be even more productive than when you had more free time. Plus if the new thing is good enough, you can always come back to it later.

This is not to say I don’t ever go down creative rabbit holes or indulge my shifts in inspiration (because that is important to keep yourself in a good head space). It just means I can get things done in more limited time while still being present and enjoying being a part of a happy, thriving family.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve just always loved stories. I was a voracious novel and comic book reader as a kid, watched a ton of movies, cartoons, and shows. The idea of making my own stories seemed to be the next logical step in my experience with media. I always wanted to know what happened next, so I started writing and drawing my own next episodes. Eventually, I started making up my own stuff and I never really outgrew it. I found the most difficult thing about “doing the thing” as an adult was just “doing the thing”. There are so many reasons you can come up with not to, but honestly most of them stink. You’re not good enough? You’ll never know if you don’t commit to it. Plus, you’re going to get better… There are other people that are way better than you? So what? There are always people better in every part of life. They can’t tell the story you want to tell because they aren’t you.
The second hardest part is the actually learning about the craft of art and storytelling. You may think you know how to do something well at some point (and that’s a good thing. Bravery through ignorance!) but then you learn something new and it changes everything. It’s why many artists don’t like looking at their older work. Usually they’ve evolved. It’s a double-edged sword, and can cause you to stall out or plateau as a creative. I always try to build on what I’ve already done but accept that it exists and try to move on to the next thing when it’s time.
I don’t really think about having a brand other than I want the world to know that if you pick up one of my stories, in whatever form it takes, that I gave everything I could at the time I made it. I write and draw with myself as well as a potential reader in mind as the audience. My theory is that if I’m entertained or moved by something I wrote or drew then whoever reads it will be as well. It doesn’t always work out that way and that’s okay. I’ll get you on the next one!,

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Lately, when someone comes to visit me in Atlanta I’ve liked to take them to Little Five Points. Start the morning with a cup of coffee and doodling at Java Lords, check out all the crazy spots they have to shop down there, and probably eventually end up at Criminal Records where they have so many of my favorite things. Then let’s hit some hiking trails, Kennesaw Mountain, Sweetwater Creek Park, the Etowah Mounds, etc. Finish the night grabbing a Guinness at Meehans Pub in Vinings, where I used to work, and say hello to one the friendly regulars. Can’t not hit all the local comic shops around town during the week, Infinite Realities in Tucker, Dr. No’s in Marietta, Titans in Smyrna, Oxford downtown. Can’t go wrong with any of those and maybe they can pick up one of my books if it’s in there.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many have touched my life and have contributed to my growth as an artist and storyteller that it would be impossible to list or single them out. I’ve worked with and learned from so many talented people over the years in the creative community. My first comic book artist partner from when we were kids, Jovan Tamayo (R.I.P.), who started with me on this journey and whose line finds it way into everything I draw. My first collaborator with Wulvern, Chris Gaynor, a gifted and incredible comic writer and filmmaker in his own right, the fellas from the Studio Fizzy era who are still a major part of my creative and personal life: Cameron Jefferey aka the Black Rabbit, Nate Perry, Zeke McNees, and James Boyd, they continue to inspire and push me to level up as artist to this day, Josh Hood a long time comic industry pro who has become a great friend and mentor (though he hates when I call him the mentor thing lol) to me. Most importantly I must shout out my wife, Mia “Suj” Eldridge. She has supported my career and work from literally the first day I met her. Not only that, but she has become my partner and collaborator on for current major graphic novel project I am working on, TreeFlower. She wrote the story and I am currently making the art for it. Her words have inspired and challenged me throughout the process of making this book but I believe I am coming out of it on the other side a better artist and storyteller than I ever was before. I can’t wait until you all see this beautiful thing we’ve made.

Website: Www.kjeldridgeworlds.com

Instagram: @kayjaylunar

Twitter: @KJLunarKnight

Facebook: Other Worlds of KJ Eldridge -NEW Page

Other: @kjeldridge.bsky.social on Bluesky