Meet J&B
OUR AUTHORS
Ben Garrido
Originally from California and Nevada, Ben has lived in South Korea since 2009. He has worked as a reporter for the Reno News and Review, an associate professor at Mokwon University, as an auditor for the Korean Institute of Curriculum Evaluation and as an editor for hundreds of projects – everything from books about 14th century rice farming to paranormal romance novels. In addition, Ben is the author of three novels, two textbooks and a book of essays. In his free time, he enjoys motorsports, the Coen Brothers’ films and being a very bad gardener.
Jamal Barbari
Born in Bronx, NY but raised in the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia area, Jamal has been traveling and teaching abroad for most of his adult life.His interactions and experiences with different cultures, people and religions inspired many of the ideas in his short stories, and his love for art prompted him to combine those stories with a strong visual component.
When Jamal is not writing, he’s gaming with friends, trying (and most likely failing) new recipes, and plotting to make himself a full blown digital nomad.
Minjei Cho
Minjei lives in Daejeon, South Korea, where he’s been a political columnist in one form or another since middle school. He’s also active in the Democratic Party of Korea, as a youth organizer and representative. He received special recognition from the mayor of Seoul for his activities with the National Strength Party and had his alternative history novel Führerreich accepted for publication in 2018. He is currently working on the fourth installment of the Enclave Universe, The Labyrinthian.
OUR ARTISTS
Aleksandra Aladina
Aladina Aleksandra was born in Ukraine, but currently lives in South Korea.Never formally trained, her desire to put feelings and emotions into color drove her into the art world. She’s a firm believer in the power of colors to bring life to her characteristically bright, surrealist style.
Follow her on Instagram.
Anh Vu
Anh has moved from a career in cybersecurity to the indie comics scene. Born and raised in Vietnam, Anh’s early life has taken her across Asia to Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. She now resides in Hawaii. Anh has been published on the cover of Totally Rad Comics and as an interior artist for Mayhem Production. Currently, she is working with independent publishers like Onrie Kompan, Philbo Entertainment Production, and Jacob Stem, to name a few. Anh works predominantly with graphites, acrylic, ink and gouache. Find out more about her work and keep up with her via Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Conny Jolitz
Conny is a relative newcomer to the indie comic scene, but brings two decades of graphic design experience and a lifelong love of fantasy, comics, 90’s Euro graphic novels and horror fiction to the table. Born and raised in Berlin, Germany, she made her Indie-Comic debut with her first pinups & covers published in 2021 for Silent Mayhem (Hellbringers & Jengharr & Shredd}, Shaun Barbour’s Belial 3, Michael McGarvey’s Hexing4, and she worked as cover colorist for WhiteAsh #2.
She is an established graphic designer living in Hawaii, with a work portfolio including Harley-Davidson, Hello Kitty, Duke’s, Hawaii Public Radio, Hawaiian Style, Localmotion, T&C Hawaii and In4mation, Get Nutz, and Pipedreams Surf Co. See more on FaceBook, Instagram, and her website.
Darren Botha
Darren is an illustrator from sunny South Africa. A self-described artistic wild-cannon, he bounces between styles as the mood dictates, working on everything from digital illustration to Bob Ross style oil color paintings.
Jessica Mae
Jessica Morgan, online under the name “Jessica Mae Art,” is originally from Georgia but currently lives and works in South Korea. She’s been interested in a wide variety of creative work since childhood, graduating into graphic design.
She’s motivated to portray the little details and oddities hiding just beneath the surface of everyday objects. Mix in a little fantasy, and you get Jessica’s characteristic whimsical style.
Ji Yun Park
Ji Yun always loved drawing, so much so that in school she often blew off class to squeeze in one or two more illustrations. Her father’s well-intended nagging got her on track and Ji Yun was accepted to Konkuk University where she studies animation.
Her Instagram and email are the best ways to contact her.
Kimberly Patton
Kimberly Patton is an artist and designer from Wyoming. She currently lives in South Korea with her partner and cat. She has loved art since childhood and graduated the University of Kansas with a graphic design degree. She devours fantasy novels like popcorn and loves a strong, witty female lead. She has seen the sunrise more than a few times because a book was just too good to put down. Her Instagram is a love letter to both art and the fantasy novels she holds dear.
Nam Ki-seung
Currently a master’s student at Mokwon University in Daejeon, South Korea, Nam Ki-seung’s paintings, drawn over a silk canvas, have won numerous awards, including first place at the Daejeon Arts Association 2022 Gala. His work has been featured at the Seoul Insa Gallery, at the Maru Arts Center in Seoul, The Mori Gallery in Daejeon, and the Mokwon University 45th Anniversary Art Exhibition.
His “Stone Series” of paintings symbolize the weight of expectation, doubt and hedonism facing young people in a materially rich but existentially impoverished age. The stones represent not just the pain of this weight, but the possibility of, through the process of self-development, using these burdens as a means to greater spiritual strength. Follow him on Instagram.
Ryan Sesto
Ryan lives in damp Vancouver where his passion for walking in the rain, malacology (the study of slugs and snails) and drinking sweet cocktails can be easily indulged. Ryan’s biggest influences are the art of Junji Ito, his grandmother, and the existential dread of not accomplishing anything in life.
Follow/contact him on Instagram or email.
Victoria Lipetri
Victoria has had a passion for illustrating since she was a child, finding early inspiration in the pages of children’s books and classic animated movies. She continued her art education at Indiana Wesleyan University, where she graduated with a degree in illustration in 2012. Ever since, she has been working as a freelance illustrator, and in recent years, she has also been tattooing. Her illustrations have been featured in both children’s books and graphic novels.
Follow/contact her on Instagram or email.