Michael McCarty - Modern Mythmakers: 35 Interviews with Horror & Science Fiction Writers and Filmmakers

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Modern Mythmakers: 35 Interviews with Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers and Filmmakers is dedicated to the Mythmakers who have since passed away:

Forrest J. Ackerman

Ray Bradbury

Dan Curtis

Richard Matheson

Ingrid Pitt

Ben Baldwin for the awesome cover!

Also to my friends and collaborators Mark McLaughlin, Cristopher DeRose, Amy Grech and Holly Zaldivar who helped me with the lions share of interviews in this book.

And the Source Book Store in Davenport, Iowa and The Book Rack in Moline, Illinois and Davenport, Iowa.

Lastly to Svengoolie who always keeps me laughing in the dark.

Copyright 2015 Crystal Lake Publishing

All Rights Reserved

ISBN: 978-0-9946626-6-8

Cover Design:

Ben Baldwinwww.benbaldwin.co.uk

Interior Layout:

Lori Michellewww.theauthorsalley.com

Edited by Joe Mynhardt

Proofread by Hasse Chacon, Joshua Hood, Paula Limbaugh, Chad Lutzke, and Nancy Scuri

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the authors imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Published by Crystal Lake Publishing

www.CrystallakePub.com

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PRAISE FOR MODERN MYTHMAKERS

These people are bizarre yet normal. They are just like us, but they are somehow different. These are the people that can see into that place, interpret it, and hand us back some of our most frightening nightmares... Highly recommended.

Alex ScullyHellnotes

Ranging as they do from genre giants to semi-obscure cult figures, all of Michael McCartys interview subjects in Modern Mythmakers are fascinating artists and engaging speakers. The erstwhile stand-up comedic, music and entertainment journalist casts his net wide, serving up candid chats with an eclectic group of players in the horror, sci-fi and fantasy fields. And its clear from the get-go that McCarty is a thoughtful, workman-like interviewer who knows and loves his subject matter

Rue Morgue Magazine, John W. Bowen

... McCartys flowing interviews delve deep into the hearts of our favorite fright masters. With knowledgeable enquires that will entice newcomers and bedazzle hardcore fans, McCarty offers an inside look at the dark world we horror-hounds keep barking for.

Kristopher Triana, author of Growing Dark and head of Tavern of Terror

I was struck by the skill with which Michael McCarty conducts himself. He should have his own nightly talk show or at least a radio program dedicated to his work.

Jim DodgeZero Signal Magazine

No matter where you open this book, a rainbow of information bursts from the pages. This is not your normal interview book of some of the greatest writers, actors, filmmakers and entertainers. Insightful, unusual and personal questions are poised in a conversational manner, prompting some of the most fascinating responses from those interviews included in this one-of-a-kind book... Since several of those interviewed have passed away since the initial publication of this book, this is an amazing collection that belongs on every horror lovers bookshelf, whether youre a connoisseur of the genre or a hardcore aficionado.

Holly A. Zaldivar, English ProfessorAdjunct Faculty, Northwest Vista Community College

Modern Mythmakers: Interviews with Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Writers and Filmmakers, 2008 (McFarland & Company), Modern Mythmakers: 33 Interviews With Horror and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers and Filmmakers, 2011 (BearManor Media) and Modern Mythmakers: 35 Interviews With Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers and Filmmakers, 2015 (Crystal Lake Publishing)

Previously unpublished work:

Ray Bradbury included 25% new material

Joe McKinney included 50% new and unpublished

Christopher Moore included 50% new material

William Nolan included 50% new material

David Snell Interview 100% unpublished material

Previously published, but not in any Mythmakers books:

Graham Masterton (Giants of the Genre, 2003, More Giants of the Genre, 2005 and previously unpublished material 2015)

C. Dean Andersson (Masters of Imagination, 2011)

Foreword by Alan Dean Foster (2011 and 2015)

Afterword by The Amazing Kreskin (2008 and 2015)

Preface by Michael McCarty (2008, 2011 and 2015)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Greetings and salutations, genre fans!

Id like to thank all thirty-five interviewees for taking time out of their very busy schedules to do the interviews in the first place and providing whatever assistance, photos and additional material needed for this book.

Id like to thank editors Scott Edelman, James J. J. Wilson, David Silva, Pitch Black, Garrett Peck, Judi Rohling, Tony Lee, Lin Stein, Sharon Dodge, Romie Stout, Michael Romkey, John Betancourt, Dominick Salemi and Joe Mynhardt.

Also Alan Dean Foster for writing the introduction, The Amazing Kreskin for writing the afterword, and Charlee Jacob.

Thanks also goes to The Midwest Writing Center, the Rock Island and Davenport libraries, Joan Mauch, Mel Piff, Chef Steph, Michael Faun, Eric Beebe, Lyle Ernst, Sherry Decker, Janet Clark, Bonnie Lou, Connie Sherwood, Bradley Heden, Ben Eads, Donald Pierce, Jean Brandt, Dave & Julie, Greg Smith, Terrie Leigh Relf, Janet Clark, Brian Kronfeld, Kimberly Cole Zemke, Christopher & Val, Latte The Bunny, and the memory of Kitty The Bunny.

Finally, Id also like to thank Joe Mynhardt and the rest of Crystal Lake Publishing for making this book possible. Also thanks to McFarland & Company and BearManor Media for publishing the previous editions and letting me publish this one. And Im so blessed to have Cindy McCarty, my beautiful and brilliant wife, who traveled with me on this journey, helping with the difficult task of transcribing, proofreading, going to book signings, and believing in me again.

PREFACE

I am constantly asked, Why would you want to interview horror and science fiction writers?

When newspaper reporters ask me this question, I feel as though Ive been consigned to the literary ghetto: horror, science fiction, fantasy. Those are the bad places. Why would you want to go there?

I have no simple answer, no handy sound bite. My answer is that this is who I am. When I was a kid, I thought science fiction writers actually lived on other planets and sent their stories to earth via rocket ships.

It wasnt until college that I even met a real writer. The first professional writer I met was David Morrell, the author of First Blood and literary father of Rambo, whom I met at a party at the University of Iowa. I told him how I loved his book and I wanted to be a writer, too. He smiled and gave me some great advice I still keep close to my heart: This is a tough profession. Not for the faint of heart. Keep up the good fight. Then he asked me when the last time I had written anything was and I told him, Fifteen minutes before coming to this party. I told him I write every day. I still do.

A year later I would see Morrell at a writers conference in my hometown. He was teaching a class on writing horror. There were only a few students in attendance. Across the hall was a class on writing poetry; the poetry class was full. Morrell looked across the hall and said, People dont make money from writing poetry these days, then began his class. I wouldnt interview him for an article until fifteen years later.