HEROES: Who is Jake Spade?
JAKE SPADE: Jake Spade is my writing alias. I was an idiot and joined the Yahoo Heroes FanFic group under my real name. I am 28. I run a fine dining restaurant that specializes in steak and seafood owned by my family. I originally went to school for computer networking but fell into the family business when the economy went to hell. I am a loyal boyfriend, family member, and friend. I love technology and gadgets. I check my email obsessive compulsively.
H: What’s Your Background?
JS: I am the son of a Greek immigrant who came to this country and made something of his life without using his language barrier as an excuse to not succeed.
H: Where Do You Live?
JS: Massachusetts
H: When Did You Start Writing And How Long Have You Been Writing?
JS: I wrote a lot as a kid but stopped for a long time due to distractions such as reading comics, listening to music, and seeing tons of bands.
H: What Are Your Influences?
JS: Of course the usual suspects like Grant Morrison and Frank Miller. Also movies of all kinds and television. Music always makes my mind tingle with ideas too.
H: What’s Your Philosophy of Writing?
JS: Have fun! No one is paying you or me to write. I am my biggest critic and my biggest fan.
H: Why fan fiction?
JS: Evolution X from thehouseofideas.net made me think. I thought "Damn, if this guy can make such a damn good story then why can't the guys who get paid to do it for a living?" Also, I love comics but my pull list has decreased big time due to the bad stories the big two have been putting out. Fan fiction is so much better.
H: You seemed to just come out of nowhere with your DC YEAR ZERO site. Where have you been all our lives?
JS: Working hard. I came out with guns blazing! That's how I roll.
H: Most fan fiction writers serve an ¡apprenticeship¢ (for lack of a better word) at an established site before going off on their own. But you jumped right out of the gate with your own site and writing your own titles the way you wanted to write them. Why?
JS: Nothing better than being your own boss. I answer to myself and put things out on my own time table.
H: Did you submit any proposals or stories to any established fan fiction sites?
JS: I did a crazy Doom Patrol story with all C Listers for DC Infinity that didn't get released and I also did a Green Arrow story for UltimateDC. That site really wasn't moving so I respectfully withdrew my story and released it myself at DC Year Zero.
H: You write all of the titles at DC YEAR ZERO yourself. Egotism or Confidence?
JS: None of the above. Not ego, not confidence, but the will to put out great stories that are just a little different. And I will not be writing everything myself. This is a brand new site and eventually I hope to gain a bigger writing staff. In a couple weeks we will be releasing Batman issue #1 by Nate Charles. Also, Dave Golightly (fanfic veteran and mastermind) will be doing some work for DC Year Zero as well.
H: Where do you see DC YEAR ZERO as being in October of 2008?
JS: There is something that will happen in Superman that will change the status quo of the DC Year Zero Universe. A new title will result from it. DC Year Zero will still be here where other DC sites have given up. I have tons of stories and more writers will have joined the fray by that point.
H: What’s the toughest thing about having a fan fiction site where you’re literally doing everything yourself?
JS: The web design part of it definitely. I don't have all the know how or time to work on the website. A friend of mine who does web design will most likely help me with the site eventually.
H: How do you feel about the reception DC YEAR ZERO has received so far?
JS: It's a brand new site with an unknown running it. It is too early to be truly received. No one cares enough about the site or me yet. All the elitists out there should wait out the storm and see how we end up.
H: Your favorite DC character?
JS: Batman. And I am not writing the character because I love Batman too much. I can't do better than the greats that have made him or even better than Batman: The Animated Series.
H: Hobbies? Other Interests?
JS: Music. I love music. I actually am starting to make music in the Electronica/Industrial genre. I use Live 6 production software. I also have a M-Audio Axiom 49 midi controller and an Alesis Micron Analog Synthesizer. I also love movies and wine. I love Political talk radio as well.
H: What’s A Typical Day In The Life Of Jake Spade Like?
JS: I wake up and try to go to the gym (try is the word to pay attention to here =]). My girlfriend calls me and says good morning. I try to watch whatever TV show I missed from the night before. I get a coffee and go to work running a fine dining restaurant. I get out of work late and go and see my girlfriend. I usually fall asleep there. I wake up at 2:30 or 3:00 and go home where I write and surf the net for the rest of the night. I go back to sleep and do it all over again. Somewhere in between I call my best friend and after work we get a coffee sometime.
H: Here’s your chance to give somebody a Shoutout. Go.
JS: Dave Golightly! Thanks for the support and introducing me to the HEROES Fan Fic group. And to all writers, come write some stories for DC Year Zero!!
H: What else do you want us to know about Jake Spade?
JS: I am new to all this. I am a good guy. Give me a chance. I'll be sticking around for awhile.