Ditchland From Screen And Playwright Tim Mulligan Your Hometown In Now A Graphic Novel

0:00This is Dave Roberts. If you're heading into summer without a medical emergency kit, you're taking a risk most people don't think about until it's too late. Summer colds linger and can turn into sinus infections at last for weeks. Getting sick right before vacation can derail everything and we are traveling, finding a doctor and pharmacy is stressful. That's why I ordered medical emergency kit. It's like having an emergency care and a pharmacy right at home. It includes essential prescriptions like a moxasillin and generic z-pack to treat a wide range of common and serious illnesses. So if you wake up sick at home or on the road, you already have what you need. No waiting for your doctor, no hours at urgent care, no pharmacy lines, no copays, just match your symptoms to the right prescription in your guidebook or call their telemedicine doctor standing by. Start on your med sooner and feel better faster. Every home needs at least one medical emergency kit. 40 years online in minutes and it's shipped to your door and say $45 with promo code blue at urgentcairedkit.com slash blue. Are you tired of confusing bait and switch pricing on GLP ones? Then visit

1:05happyGLP.com where it's always $99 a month. At happy GLP, whether you're brand new or renewing, it's $99 every time. No teaser price, no switch up. Getting started this fast, convenient and happens virtually with a licensed provider. Check it out for yourself at happyGLP.com. Compounded medications are not FDA approved. Eligibility required and determined by a licensed provider. Individual results may vary. See website for details. Enjoy your exploration. Hello and good morning. How's everything going today? Good. Thank you. Dude, I got to tell you something. I love your storytelling. I know I'm jumping right into it, but if I don't say it, then somewhere along the line, I'm going to go, damn it. Why didn't I say that I love his storytelling?

2:07Well, thank you. That's nice. Thank you. Well, it's because you have learned the art of story sharing and I can feel that everything that you've experienced comes through in a very magnetic story form. How did you know when it was time to put it into that storybook form? You know, I started as a play. I wrote my first play during the pandemic. I wrote the play, Witchland. And it's a very specific story I had about my hometown in the strange place. And my experience is there and such a unique, crazy place. And I never, I did it as an experiment. And the play I finished it. And then as my first story, my first play, it actually got produced and took off. I went to New York and now they're places. And so then to get it into a wider audience, I thought, well, I, you know, I love graphic novels. I love comic books. I like I'm a big kind of art and graphic graphic design. So I hired a graphic designer and just kind of tried to, you know, convert it into graphic novel format and people seem to like it.

3:07So it's taken off from there. And now this new book, Ditchland, is the fourth in the series. Well, and I want listeners to understand that they need to go to your website and go through the experience that you offer. First of all, you impressed me so much with your website. And I did giggle like a child when you called your books plays. I just thought that was the most creative thing that anybody has put on their website. Well, thank you. You know, so I've written, you know, the, the right two things are right plays and graphic novels. So kind of, I do, I do juggle back and forth. But the graphic novel series just kind of is taking a life of its own. It's a world of which lind and yeah, so people seem to enjoy them. Well, graphic novels are the thing right now. In fact, I've talked with more people that are going to move away from the actual story telling in the way that we've grown up with. And they're going toward graphic novels. And you're so far ahead of the curve that it's like, you are, you know where our imaginations are right now. We want to have something visual to hold on to. Yeah, he especially with the horror genre of people, you know, scary, scary stories are very popular right now.

4:07And I think with the graphic novel that kind of takes you away into this other world, I can get really creative and show, you know, that what I have in my mind about these stories, I can have this. Have a put to print and have some beautiful artwork to kind of paint the picture. So yes. What is that like for you? Because when you deal with stories that have been on a live stage where you're dealing with real honest to God people plus you've written books that don't deal with the graphic. Now when you've got the graphic novel and those those pictures are right there in front of you, how does that charge up your imagination? Because I can't imagine the high that you're on when you see all of this come together. Yeah, I think I've been really lucky with my the partnership I have with the graphic designer. You know, when I when I decided to convert the first book to a first play to a book, I just kind of did a search for a graphic novel. I'm a graphic designer and found this gentleman out of New York as I mean out of Mexico. I'm sorry. He's his pyrink and he seems to give me seems to get my vision. And now, you know, as the fourth and each book has a different kind of supernatural bent.

5:09And so I can throw him a witch story, a ghost story. And then the latest book involves animal testing and kids that actually turn into werewolves and it's just fun to watch how he puts all that, you know, into into our work and creates this beautiful frightening, you know, our work that. Yeah, so that I never imagined would would would would come alive so much on the page. So it's really fun. Like you said to to see what he comes back with when I write the words, I write the story, I have it all visualized in my head. And then to see how he really gets that concept and turns it into this, you know, stunning artwork. Well, how about that book cover? My God, it starts right there. Have you have you studied it all how people react when they see this book cover because it's the type where people look at and go, oh my God, they become so intrigued into what's going on. You got to be selling some t shirts on this one, dude. I would like to you. I really wanted to have you know the book tells a story of a bunch of kids who in this home, my in a real life place with a who lived by this nuclear reactor cleanup site is where I was born and raised inside.

6:09I thought, you know, let's put him in a hoodie. You know, these kids are something's happening to them and they're transforming into something. So let's put a werewolf in a hoodie and see how it looks. And I love how it turned out. So yeah. Well, you're speaking my language when it comes to this new book, Ditchland, because I mean up there in Montana, I mean, we didn't have the nuclear power plants, but we had those minute men missiles in our ground, which I always was horrified of and you're talking about where was. Well, I know for a fact that I think I am aware of what I just don't know it. Don't we all feel that way? I say, I know that beast is inside of me. No, you know, there's a full moon and you know things happen from within and you transform into something. Yeah, who knows. So then to bring it to life the way you do, you have to experience it before I do. So what is your fear factor level? Do you get into one of those moments where you two chuckle like a child going, oh my god, I can't wait till they react to this. Well, you know, I'm a big fan, like I said, of the horror genre. And so I'm really trying to stretch myself and say, you know, with each, with each book that's come out, I've tried to tell a real life aspect of living in this town with this, you know, nuclear cleanup site and there's 50, you know, million new tons of toxic waste buried in the ground.

7:18So every story tells a different aspect of that. And then I throw in my own supernatural bent. And so yeah, it's really so it's a kind of dichotomy. I want to tell a little on below educational and then a ton of research on that aspect of the nuclear site. But then I throw in this family, this based on myself and my partner and my daughter and our own family. And then I throw in a supernatural, you know, force. And so I really have to kind of juggle all that and try to make it fun. I try to make it funny. I try to hit the heart of it. It's a funny, you know, warm family story. But then it's awful terrifying things are happening all around them, you know, I was going to talk about your humor because I am blessed with the opportunity to share conversations with comedians who will tell you until they're blue in the face that it takes months and years to craft a joke. But I sit here and I read your book, Tim, and I'm going, how is it that he is able to put all of this funny stuff in there? Is it the art of relating that we can all relate with it? So we laugh about it. I think so. And you know, for me, it's for me the best horror, especially, you know, I'm not a big fan of just, you know, slasher, you know, scary thing.

8:21I, to me, the best horror are ones that have like a family drama at the, at the center. And I think for, for this, for the, for me, this is the most successful scary stories or movies are ones where you're. You laugh and you are laughing while you're also covering you covering your eyes because you know what's going to happen. So I think it's important. And for me, it just kind of comes naturally. I'm writing about what I know it's my own hometown. It's my, it's based on my family. The main character is based on me. So I kind of know what if I was thrown into this, you know, thrown into this scary situation, how would I react? And so I try to make it, you know, be light and funny, even though stealing with some very dark subjects, you know, please do not move. We'll be right back with Tim Mulligan. This is Dave Roberts. If you're heading into summer without a medical emergency kit, you're taking a risk. Most people don't think about until it's too late summer coldslinger and can turn into sinus infections at last for weeks, getting sick right before vacation can derail everything. And we're traveling, finding a doctor and pharmacy is stressful. That's why I ordered medical emergency kit. It's like having an emergency care and a pharmacy right at home. It includes essential prescriptions like a moxasillin and generic Z-pack to treat a wide range of common and serious illnesses.

9:29So if you wake up sick at home or on the road, you already have what you need. No waiting for your doctor, no hours at urgent care, no pharmacy lines, no copays, just match your symptoms to the right prescription in your guidebook or call their telemedicine doctor standing by. Start on your med sooner and feel better faster. Every home needs at least one medical emergency kit. 40 years online in minutes and it's shipped to your door and say $45 with promo code blue at urgent care kit dot com slash blue. That's promo code blue at urgent care kit dot com slash blue. For yourself at happy GLP dot com that's happy GLP dot com a happy price for a happier you compounded medications are not FDA approved eligibility required to determine my license provider individual results may vary.

10:30See website for details. They told them because they said yeah that's not who I am that and I go it really is who you are and I mean do you run into that I mean do you for warn somebody that I say some stuff in here about you that you might agree with you may not. Yeah especially here because it's based on a real place and so I you know I was born and raised there my family is all born and raised there I have tons of friends and family who still live there so I try to be you know differential to. The beauty of the place and what a great place it can be but yet there's this threat of you know sickness and toxic waste and radiation and so I had to really I tried to be. To be differential to to that and trying to balance all that so otherwise I think everyone I know it is turning us me so more I think it more like a fun loving tribute to the strange place where I was born and raised you know well I'll tell you what my wife the school teacher loves your stories and the reason why is it in fact she always calls you the middle guy and I go why do you say that she goes because he's in the middle he's experiencing something he puts it in a way where people can relate with it and he says then then she goes I can take what he's saying and I can build a study for the students to go into and dig deep.

11:52And teach them to research to understand their surroundings I mean it is such a tool for school teachers because you're the middle guy. Well I love that because I you know with each of the graphic novels is the four and then a fifth one will come out in January which is based on kind of UFO experiences at Hanford and so but I but for each one I've done you know meticulous research and so I do think I love what you just said about your wife said you think that you know I was born and raised there and we didn't learn about any of this stuff when I was in school we were told was happening down. The street with this you know nuclear plant so I think that there's a lot there that people can't believe is true like this this new book ditchland is based on decades of animal testing and what you know what animals were subjected to I think that the stories are the people just don't you don't hear about and people can't believe it's a real place and so I do think there's a lot there to dive into for class scholastically you know well I can I can totally get into this because we talked about Montana with those minimum missiles but I'm here in Charlotte where we have two nuclear power plants. And of course you spoke animals now you're speaking my street I have a force with all these animals in it which is authentic of course I'm on the same pages you are but I don't want that that bad energy to get into my birds here.

13:03Well what don't we soon you start digging into the research of the stories of radioactive animal in the wildlife there the stories are crazy this crocodiles on the loose that are radioactive and there's radioactive bats and there's you know so the story is not the stories are too strange to be to believe to be believable that they are true. So now did I read right where you kind of like look at the world you observe everything around you you see somewhat of maybe a weakness and you go oh I can build a story on that. I mean it's because I just feel your energy in so many places where most people would walk away from but then we're drawn back into it because you wrote about it. Well that's funny so like yeah the graphic novels completely it's all based on this like I said this place that I think this I could go I could probably do 20 plus novels about this place and and tackling a different topic every time but in the place that I write I also I hear about something real or true and then I think that's going to be a great story I've a new play opening up in December.

14:08Big picture it's about bank fraud and you know and I read about these bank fraud screens it's about that I wrote a book about a real life on a house I know I play called point Loma so there's always a negative truth is I do like you said I do hear something I think I like it turned it into a really fun story. See I keep waiting for Netflix and Hulu to tap into every one of these things that you guys are doing on these stages because I'm inshara you're probably doing this in a much bigger city and the thing is is that I want to see it on a live stage and I keep waiting for these platforms to say. We're going to bring those live stages to you it's going to cost you 29 99 but we're going to bring it to you and I would jump on that heartbeat. Well I mean thank you for saying that I think the witchland the world of which on the graphic novels I mean that's the that would be the dream if someone could take it and adapt it I've had some conversations but I'm with you like I love to twin peaks I was inspired by that that's Washington state also and and this is the same thing it's based on a real town you know my hometown is famous for I'd say two things. Spud nuts which are potato flour donuts and nuclear waste and so you put all this you put those together you like what and so what kind of places that so it's just it's just so creative and strange and then all the stories that are you know all the the decades of stories from that place I just I think you'd make a great narrative for you know on the screen as well I appreciate that.

15:26Oh my god and is there anything inside of you now that Johnny Depp is starting to do music again you do you want to do something where you have music in it and just invite Johnny over to be a character. Well funny I you know I love musicals and I'm not a musician but I've been trying to think you know is there a way that I take one of these and and turn it into a musical so I believe it's not it's not out of the scheme of the realm of reality put it that way. Yeah because I mean in reading your graphics I'm going to be very honest with you I do create a soundtrack you'll hear me go from page page I'll go that I can feel it while you while I'm reading it because I just I don't know I just I just feel like that you are listening to music while you're putting this together and it transferred through the transfers through those pages. I always am when I write I have music on I'm always having a certain type of music in mind I actually did help come with a friend we compose the theme and copy right into the theme song to the world of which one first play and so I think that it's fun to have his own kind of you know you curated music and so I'm trying you know I think that it gets tricky with the plays because you have to get the rights and all that but with the graphic novel I can kind of do whatever I want so.

16:37Yeah because I did that with my last two books I did music while with it and people go I don't get it dude I said read the book read the book then go listen to the music don't listen to the music first and then go read the book you ain't going to get it at all because that's just what creative people do. Yeah I mean so I totally agree with that and I but like it's it's tough in the graphic novel because I um you know there's many scenes where there's music playing and you have to kind of depict that in a graphic and that's tricky but with the plays I can have a little more you know we're a play. Creativity with that sure God I'm so glad you give yourself permission to be creative because there's a lot of people that don't get to do this and I just want your energy to get inside their nuggans that it doesn't belong to them and they can share their thoughts. Well you know I appreciate that I um you know I'm a I'm a full-time manager I've been in human resources for 30 years and so and I work day jobs I raise my kids I didn't start writing until I told the COVID hit you know as bad as COVID as bad as COVID was I mean for some of us we

17:37really tapped into our creative side so I was 50 I don't know 53 when I first you know during the when the pandemic first hit and I thought I'm going to use this time differently and I'm going to force myself to finally put something on paper and so I decided I wanted to write two things during COVID I wanted to write a cookbook and I wanted to force force myself to write a play and in two years I did both of those things now it's been what six six years and for four years for five years and I've written you know four plays to have gone to New York for five graphic novel. I really at a very at a very late age of my life I've untapped this creativity and I just say to anybody it's never too late to do so you know oh my God where can people go to find out more about you Tim because I do want them to tap into all of your energy and not just take in one book but you really embrace it. Thank you the website that you mentioned it's a mulligan world that's calm and then you can follow me on social Facebook instead it's under which land play and the books are all available on Amazon and I have an author page on Amazon as well to mulligan.

18:42Wow well you got to come back to this this show anytime do the door is always going to be open for you. Thank you so much and that's book come out it's called switch land the fifth book in the series that'll come out early in the year but for now Ditchland drops a week from today. I'm going to be getting in touch with Heather I want to get this thing booked immediately I don't want to wait in line for you I want to be the guy that gets that backstage past dude. Thank you I want to come back thanks a lot you be brilliant today okay. All right thank you to thank you shop vans and Albertsons for fresh savings every time you shop this week at vans and Albertsons get fresh boneless skinless chicken breast for one ninety nine per pound limit ten pounds and locally grown grapey cotton candy grapes are two ninety nine per pound with digital coupon plus 24 packs of Canada dry or seven up 12 ounce cans are 4.99 limit one with digital coupon enjoy fresh and delicious savings for every meal hurry in these deals won't last visit vans or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. At QVC shopping is more than just checking out it's discovering something new every day.

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