Did you go to school for art?

SHORT ANSWER: No, not really.

LONG ANSWER: My initial plan out of high school was to attend the University of Findlay to major in Children's Book Illustration. I changed my mind at the last minute and opted to stay close to home at a branch of Ohio University. I didn't declare a major my first year and just took gen eds.

After my first year of college, I transfered to Indiana Wesleyan University where I declared a major in Youth Ministry. I found out pretty quickly that I didn't really want to be a youth minister, but I learned there was an art class taught by a cartoonist who worked for Jim Davis (creator of Garfield). I was able to meet with this professor and show him some comic strips I'd made. He encouraged me to keep cartooning.

At the end of the semester, I transferred back to Ohio University and declared a major in graphic design. I took an art appreciation class and a basic drawing class among a few other gen ed classes. I finished out the quarter and decided to take a break from school.

By this point my college transcript was a mess. My class subjects were all over the place. I had performed poorly while I was at Indiana Wesleyan University and was put on academic probation when I transferred back to OU. On top of that, Indiana Wesleyan operated on a semester schedule and Ohio U. was on quarters. So that had a negative affect on how my credits transferred back and forth between the two universities. I had two years of college under my belt, but I still didn't have enough credits to be a sophomore.

A few years passed before I tried to take some night classes again at Ohio University. I performed much better during this last stint, but — ultimately — I decided to drop out for good at the end of the quarter.

The thing is, I've always wanted to make comics. And I was teaching myself how to do that and fighting for my own opportunities while I was in and out of school.

To be clear, I would never discourage anyone from attending college. However, if you're a drop out like me (or you have no desire to go to school), it's OK! There are plenty of opportunities for creatives who work hard and push themselves to get better. Keep moving forward!

Can I commission you to draw something for me?

Due to my workload with comics I no longer take commissions or freelance work.

Will you illustrate my children’s book or graphic novel?

Maybe. Serious inquiries should be sent to my agent, Jennifer Azantian. Otherwise, I'm not taking commissions for personal or self-published projects.

If you have an idea for a picture book or graphic novel and you're seeking representation, you don't need someone to illustrate it for you! Just put together the full synopsis/text along with a full script (for graphic novels) and submit it to agents. Interested publishers will pair you with an illustrator.

How do you pronounce your last name?

Exactly how it looks. MOLE (as in the rodent) BASH (as in "to hit or strike forcefully").

DISCLAIMER: I do not condone violence against outdoor rodents.

Where can I get your older books?

Copies of You'll Have That Vol. 1 & 2 are out-of-print, but you may be able to find used copies somewhere. My self-published collection of comic strips about fatherhood, MOLEBASHED, is available exclusively at Wheatberry Books.

Can I talk to you about some personal stuff I'm dealing with?

If you follow me on social media, then it's no secret to you that I suffer from depression. I like to talk about my struggles in hopes that I can encourage creative people who struggle with dark seasons like I do. With that said, I am NOT a counselor.

If you are currently struggling with depression and/or anxiety, I strongly encourage you to talk to a trusted friend or family member about it. Also talk to your doctor, and — if you can swing it — make an appointment with a counselor. Counseling changed my life, and I know that, as long as you enter counseling with an open mind and heart, it can change yours, too.

To find a counselor in your area, check out this database from Psychology Today.

If you need financial help for counseling, here are some tips from Mental Health America.

Here's an article I wrote on how to deal with depression as a cartoonist.