 |
| Illustration by Luke Spooner, © LVP Publications |
Welcome to The Pulp Horror Author Interview Series. Today's interview is with Jay Seate who explores the fear of justice in his short story "Destiny's Road Trip" in The Pulp Horror Book of Phobias.
LVP PUBLICATIONS: What draws you to horror, both as a writer and as a reader? Who is your favorite horror creator? Who are your inspirations or influences?
JAY SEATE: Horror allows one to experience extreme reading adventure without leaving the house. I cut my teeth on “The Twilight Zone” and Stephen King, but all avenues come into play when creating my tales.
LVP: What were your biggest fears as a child? Do you have any current phobias or fears now as an adult?
SEATE: Still afraid of deep water. I’ve never allowed one of my characters to drown.
LVP: Horror has a million sub-genres, from psychological to splatterpunk. Which sub-genres have you written in? What's your favorite flavor of horror?
SEATE: Although I stand on the side of the literary highway and thumb down whatever genre comes roaring by, I lean toward the psychological and supernatural storytelling as I find those tropes much more frightening than obvious monsters.
LVP: Is there any sub-genre or area of horror that you won’t go anywhere near? Any one area that is completely off-limits?
SEATE: As above, whatever genre tickles my fancy at the time.
LVP: In your opinion, what is the scariest or most terrifying thing you’ve ever written?
SEATE: A series of three novels concerning horrible things that could really happen. Now that’s scary.
LVP: Have you ever had an idea for a story so scary or disturbing that you couldn't bring yourself to write it down? Tell us about it.
SEATE: If it comes to mind, I write it. Kind of enjoy scaring myself.
LVP: Are there any ways that your interest in horror bleeds over (so to speak) into other areas of your life? Do you throw legendary Halloween parties, do you dress like Alice Cooper when you go grocery shopping, do you have a pet albino snake named Nosferatu?
SEATE: My son has taken up the slack for me here. He designs Halloween costumes and throws a monumental Halloween bash each year.
LVP: What advice would you give to someone who wanted to try dabbling in horror writing for the first time?
SEATE: Read lots. Different authors with different takes on the genre and sub-genres. Decide on what gets your gears going and write, write, write.
LVP: What would you like your legacy to be? Or alternatively, what should your survivors engrave on your tombstone?
SEATE: That one of my tales will scare the bejesus out of someone. Tombstone: “On the whole, I’d rather be in Castle Rock”
LVP: Anything else you'd like to say or add? Any final thoughts?
SEATE: In an often chaotic world, storytelling condenses life, gives it order. Maybe what it had to say was simple, even naive, but there was meaning. Stories are like medicine for our lives.
~ Jay Seate is a writer who stands on the side of the literary highway and thumbs down whatever genre that comes roaring by. His storytelling runs the gamut from Horror Novel Review’s Best Short Fiction to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. His memoirs and essays report fact while his fiction incorporates fantasy, horror, or humor featuring the quirkiest of characters. His longer works can be found online at Amazon and B&N.
Pre-order The Pulp Horror Book of Phobias (paperback or hardcover) from your local indie bookstore through IndieBound, from Barnes & Noble or Amazon now... or come see us at Crypticon in Seattle, WA and StokerCon in Grand Rapids, MI to read this story along with all the other madness contained in The Pulp Horror Book of Phobias (including limited edition autographed phobia card sets, available at conventions only)!
No comments:
Post a Comment