Meet Barbra Dillon

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Barbra Dillon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Barbra below.

Barbra, thrilled to have you on the platform as I think our readers can really benefit from your insights and experiences. In particular, we’d love to hear about how you think about burnout, avoiding or overcoming burnout, etc.
In the midst of the daily concerns – internationally, nationally, locally, and personally – that impact and distress every single one of us, the short answer is: I don’t.

And, I hope that that honesty is more helpful and comforting to readers who may also be struggling to overcome or avoid burnout. Too often, our perspective of how others are coping and/or succeeding in life is skewed by the image that we portray on social media, only highlighting the “wins” and the positive moments. Rarely do we see the lows and the challenges that plague us all.

The truth is that the world is a very complicated place, and many – if not all – of us are doing our best to process what’s happening in the world, to be present, to work to educate ourselves, and to be involved in making a positive change, but that’s not including what’s happening in our own lives – the barriers and challenges that we meet from day to day. There are so many issues and responsibilities that weigh on us, and many of those challenges are further compounded by financial limitations and insecurity. Very few individuals have the opportunity to apply the general recommendations for avoiding burnout: eating a balanced diet, treating ourselves, or exercising.

I do my best to juggle a demanding full-time job, a publishing company (which provides creative fulfillment), caring for my twin 2-year-old daughters, and my marriage. I often fail more than I succeed. And, to say that I overcome burnout would be a far cry from the truth. If I would offer anything, it would simply be this: Try to take time for yourself to simply breathe and be present at least once per day – even for 5 minutes. If you can, reach out to others for help. Remember that you’re not alone.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I like to say that “by day,” I am the Senior Director of Marketing Operations for a biotech startup, and “by night,” my husband and I co-manage our own company, Fanbase Press.

My partner Bryant and I co-founded Fanbase Press as a way for creators to share their stories and for those stories to reach new audiences. As creators, we recognize the incredible creative process that is needed to bring a story to life, and we empathize with the barriers that exist in trying to publish, market, and distribute those stories – both through the traditional publishing industry and as independent creators.

Serving as both an award-winning comic book publisher and media organization, we’ve worked to build a community for fans and creators. We celebrate and give voice to the themes, ideals, and people who make our favorite art so exceptional.

Fanbase Press produces new and distinctive works, as well as daily reviews, interviews, and podcasts, that span the pop culture spectrum. Over the past 13 years, the Fanbase Press brand has become synonymous with 1) high-quality books featuring heartfelt stories by marginalized creators, and 2) spotlighting the works of other creators across mediums, building a foundation for all of us to succeed together.

We are a two-person operation, focusing on one publishing project at a time, given that we work with the creator for the entire lifespan of the project: from development and production, to pre-press, marketing, distribution, convention and signing appearances, and award submissions. Ultimately, our promotion of the book does not stop after its release; we are here for the entirety of the project.

Our catalog of comics and graphic novels include the 2023 Eisner and Harvey Awards-nominated RIPPLE EFFECTS, 2018 Eisner Award-nominated QUINCE, the 2020 IPPY Award-winning QUINCE: THE DEFINITIVE BILINGUAL EDITION hardcover, the 2022 International Latino Book Award-winning NUCLEAR POWER, the recently released LGBTQIA+ coming-of-age graphic novel, FOUR-COLOR HEROES, and many more.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I feel the need to call upon the words of one of my favorite individuals, Fred Rogers, to answer this question:

“There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.”

I endeavor to be mindful of the struggles that others may be experiencing. Being empathetic to others and approaching each situation with kindness has always resulted in more positive and rewarding experiences, both personally and professionally.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
I will always appreciate my husband and partner Bryant for having an incredibly positive impact on my life. He has been a constant supporter, even when I didn’t believe in myself, and I value his perspective – even when it challenges my own. I know that his input is always in my best interest.

In having been given the opportunity to build our lives together, to partner in our creative pursuits, and to raise two wonderful girls together, I am so grateful to have Bryant by my side through it all, and I never feel alone.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Michele Brittany, Bryant Dillon

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