Today we’d like to introduce you to Derek Jefferson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Derek. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My name is Derek Jefferson, and I am from Columbus, Georgia. I grew up trying to pursue music and that is still a passion of mine, but as I grew older, I found a new interest in other forms of art aside from music. Comics and animation. I used my creative talents to create my first comic book, No Heroes In The South. Later that year, I released my most successful series, Homeless Homeboy, and currently producing issue #3 of the series. I also created projects with Pastor Troy and Olympian John Carlos, which will be out soon. You can order Homeless Homeboy #1, Homeless Homeboy #2 and First Responders: Go To School from my website at HoldThatDownBruh.com. You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram at @holdthatdownbruhcomics.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The first year was tough. I think my biggest obstacle was money for the first year. Writing the stories are easy and fun, but it gets expensive, outsourcing the illustration part of the process. Aside from that, I encountered a lot of difficulties from trying to figure out Google ads and online sales, I am a natural in person, but online sales are more important and maximizing in that area is one of my main focuses of 2020.
Please tell us about your business.
I am a comic book writer/creator. I sell comics, posters, stickers, bookmarks, clothing and more and my main mission is to tell unique stories from a familiar perspective to inspire more people from my community to create more art, read more books and make a connection with the youth. When you read Homeless Homeboy #1 then I guarantee you will be ready to read Homeless Homeboy #2, I feel like I have created my own genre of storytelling that everyone will enjoy. In the future, I will have an organization dedicated to helping the homeless and Homeless Homeboy will be the face.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I want to give a shoutout to my artists in Nigeria, Yusef Shittuh, Tobe Max, Donald Benedict, Johnfred Franklin, Benjamin Ogah, and many more artists that I work with, they do a great job and they are consistent. My family, Lavisa Jefferson (wife), Cassandra Humphery (mom), Dorothy Fields (Grandma) Quinton Smith (brother), Sharniece Orebo (sister), My many supporters, to name a few, Vic DJ Matrixx, Marcellus Jones, D’Angelo Johnson, Matthew Ferry, John Knipe, too many to name. Dr. John Carlos, for giving me a shot to create a book based on his legacy and my imagination and just for being a great mentor, I get a lot of inspiration from him. I want to give a special shoutout to my city, Columbus, Georgia. I hope that I can bring more opportunities for my city through my art. Everyone that I named had a hand in my journey, and believe me. My support list is way longer than this. Thank you all!!
Pricing:
- Homeless Homeboy #1- $4.99
- Homeless Homeboy #2- $9.99
- First Responders: Go To School- $2.99
Contact Info:
- Website: HoldThatDownBruh.com
- Phone: 470-292-9304
- Email: info@holdthatdownbruh.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holdthatdownbruhcomics
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holdthatdownbruhcomics
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/holdthatdown
Image Credit:
Comic Book Covers- Yusef Shittuh
Action Figures- Rex Barja
Photos of me- myself
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
