Review Fix Exclusive: Inside ‘Death Dreamer’

Review Fix chats with”Death Dreamer” author  Scott Ian Lewis, who discusses the graphic novel, detailing its creative process, goals and inspiration behind it.

The Death Dreamer crowdfunding campaign will run full force for 38 days (June 11 – July 18) up to San Diego Comic-Con, where Lewis is set to premiere the finished graphic novel with a slew of signings.  Fans who partake in the crowdfunding campaign will have the chance to pick up their signed edition in person all weekend long.  For backers not able to attend SDCC, fulfillment will happen the same week.  

Review Fix: What inspired this Graphic Novel?

Scott Ian Lewis: I worked at a mortuary for a number of years following high school. Although this is a fictional story a lot of experiences and emotions I witnessed informed the tone of the story. I have always loved suspenseful murder thrillers and thought that not only would be this a great backdrop for a story but is also has a lot of personal experience ties to it. 

Review Fix: What was the research process like?

Lewis: The research was having the job of funeral director for years. I took that experience and blended it with the best story I could tell.

Review Fix: Was it difficult to put together?

Lewis: Being the author, publisher, promoter and everything in between definitely has had its challenges. Writing it was really just the start of the process. Finding and hiring all the artists, getting the printer confirmed all came with a new set of challenges. It’s a 100% independent book from start to finish, it’s a been a lot of long nights but now that it’s so close to release it was all worth it. 

Review Fix: What did you learn about yourself as a writer through this?

Lewis: A lot honestly. Narrative and story are much different than lyric writing. While this is far from the first fictional story I’ve written, the process to adapting my writing to the very specific medium of comics was new and a lot of fun. Being able to see a scene fully illustrated went a long way in informing my dialogue choices during the rewriting process. 

Review Fix: Who’s your target audience for this?

Lewis: People who love dark thrillers. I grew up on movies like Seven and Basic Instinct. Hard R murder thrillers. Shows like True Detective where you have an arc of suspense across the series but a lot of action and violence along the way. 

Review Fix: How is it different from other comic books in the genre?

Lewis: Like most writers, I draw on personal experience and scatter bits and pieces of my life into my writing. This story more than most because of my background as a funeral director. 

Review Fix: How is it different from your previous work?

Lewis: I’m a full time touring musician so extremely different. Music is very collaborative. I’m in a band with amazing musicians and we all elevate each other. When we’re on tour or in the studio. With Death Dreamer it was just me creating the story. A lot of time sitting alone rewriting and rewriting. It was only in the last few months that I got to bring in more people with the hiring of Christian, Simon and Taylor. 

Review Fix: How would you describe it to someone who has never read it?

Lewis: Troy Graves is no stranger to death. Now that he’s an embalmer at Sunset Hills Mortuary he’s never been closer to it. But behind the closed doors of the prep room, all is not right. Bodies seem to appear and disappear mysteriously. And he’s not the only one who’s noticed… Following the horrific death of a City Councilman, Troy finds himself drawn back into a violent existence he’d kill to forget.