Meet Author Jon McBrine

As an author drawn to superhero sci-fi aimed at young adult readers, Jon McBrine adds a unique spin on coming-of-age stories by adding superpowers, snarky villains, and big robot fights.

Focused on pure fun and adventure, Jon also showcases the people under the mask (and spandex).

Jon works in the Dallas area as an author, graphic designer, illustrator, and comic book aficionado. He combines these different fields of work to build interesting projects that capture humor, intrigue, and authentic emotion.

His ever-evolving career trajectory keeps his sense of wonder alive—and his coffee cup full.

Meet Author Jon McBrine

If you could be friends with one character in your debut novel, who would it be? Why? 

Melvin Medina, the classmate/superhero teammate of Eric Icarus - Melvin is tight with his Dungeons and Dragons adventure party and never misses the chance to DM a campaign, so I think he could refresh my D&D knowledge.

What is your favorite food? 

Pizza, but good pizza. Not that I’m a pizza snob, or anything.

What is your preferred drink? 

A heavily carbonated bottle of water or some good ol’ fashioned Diet Coke.

If you could live in any fictional town, city, or world, what would it be? 

Keystone City and/or Central City. The Flash seems to be pretty on top of things when it comes to stopping crime.

What’s your biggest fear? 

It’s difficult to pin it down to just one, but while I wouldn’t say I have a fear of heights, I get very anxious when high up - so, of course, the main character of my novel can fly.

What’s your favorite genre? 

YA sci-fi/superhero.

Do you have any inspirational quotes you live by? 

“No one is asking you to win, just don’t quit.”

What’s one piece of advice you wish you’d known when you first started writing? 

It is going to take a long time, and that is okay.

What was the first piece you ever wrote? (If you’re comfortable, feel free to tell us a little about it.) 

A handwritten novel in high school. I don’t remember many details and that’s probably for the best.

What’s your favorite board game? Cards? Group activity?

I enjoy any game where my understanding of the rules is met with patience.

What is a goal you’re still waiting to start? 

Record an audiobook.

Was there anything else you wanted to be, besides a writer, when you were a kid? 

Draw comics.

Did you have an invisible friend in your childhood? If so, what was their name? 

No invisible friends, but plenty of imaginary stories.

What is one kind of character (baker, ghost, strong female character) that every book you enjoy has in it? 

Comic relief and a coldhearted villain.

If you had to go up against one villain in a novel, what villain would you pick? 

Doctor Impossible from Soon I Will Be Invincible. 

What’s the biggest plot twist you never saw coming? (In any form of media)

Most recently, it was in Dexter: Original Sin.

What’s your favorite show to binge-watch? 

Since it is fresh in my mind, I’ll stick with Dexter.

What do you do to unwind from stress? 

Working on some aspect of my book - a social media post, writing in the manuscript, illustrating, designing something, as long as it is contributing to the overall project.

What are some helpful tips you would give a fellow writer who’s having a hard time plotting, developing, etc.? 

I usually consider whether the scene is the most interesting way to tell the story. And consistency is everything.

What would you tell your younger self not to care about? 

Don’t stress over finishing something before you’ve even started.

What is something that you’ve learned and grown from over the last year? 

Releasing a book and shorts has, and still does, teach me a tremendous amount of various things.

What’s the best way to tackle challenges? 

One thing at a time.

Indoors or Outdoors? 

Inside.

You’re a new character in the town you’re currently writing, who do you meet first and how do they react to you? (How do you react to them?) 

I’d probably be in the middle of a supervillain attack and encounter the city's superhero team, who would recite a canned speech about how property damage is all part of the job. I’d run for cover after that.

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Want to learn more about Jon McBrine?

Instagram/TikTok: @jon_mcbrine_author

Twitter: @jonmcbrine

Website: jonmcbrine.com

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Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

All the best,

Kara