mike mccarty

MONSTER BEHIND THE PEN

An Interview With Mike McCarty
by Connie Corcoran Wilson

Michael [Mike] McCarty is the author of three published books, with three on the way. His collection of interviews with SciFi and horror greats such as Dean Koontz, Ray Bradbury and William F. Nolan, More Giants of the Genre [Wildside Press, 2005] was a Finalist for a Bram Stoker Award in the non-fiction category in 2006. The original Giants of the Genre [2003, Wildside Press] was a critical and commercial success. Mike also wrote a chapter in the anthology On Writing Horror [Writer’s Digest Books and the Horror Writers’ Association, 2007], which was edited by Mort Castle, and wrote the introduction to Tabloid Terrors: I Was a Sasquatch Sex Slave [Skullvine Press, 2007].

Mike’s dedication to “getting it right” in interviews, showed even then. But his writing career has also encompassed fiction, most notably a host of published short stories, many of which became the short story collection Dark Duets [Wildside Press, 2005]. Mike’s first novel Monster Behind the Wheel, a collaboration with frequent writing partner Mark McLaughlin--himself a Bram Stoker winner--will be published in July 2008 by Corrosion Press, an imprint of Delerium Books [www.deliriumbooks.com] in both hardcover and trade paperback editions. Michael and Mark thank everyone for their patience. The novel will be well worth the wait!

Horror Garage: Michael, it's a pleasure to be interviewing you for Horror Garage. For readers who are new to your work, give us a short biography.

Michael McCarty: I am a writer. Short enough? [Laughs]

HG: It can be longer than that. Go on.

Michael McCarty: I’m the author of two interview books, Giants of the Genre , 20 interviews, and More Giants of the Genre, 25 new interviews, where I interviewed the greats of science fiction, fantasy and horror. Wildside Press published both.

I also have written a short story collection entitled Dark Duets. Each of the stories was a collaboration with another author. I also have a completed an 80,000 word sci-fi romantic thriller, Out of Time, another collaboration in search of a publisher.

In July, 2008, Corrosion Press, an imprint of Delerium Books [www.deliriumbooks.com] will publish the first novel I've written, a collaboration with Mark McLaughlin called Monster Behind the Wheel.

In fall, 2007, I have another collaboration with Mark McLaughlin coming out, a collection of short stories, All Things Dark and Hideous, from Rainfall Books. It will also be published in the United Kingdom. The English like us; they really like us. Also at that time (Fall, 2007) Quixote Press will be publishing Ghosts of the Quad Cities, a collection of true ghost stories set in Iowa and Illinois.

I have my third interview book coming out from McFarland & Company in Spring, 2008. It’s called Modern Mythmakers. It's a collection of new interviews with some of the biggest names in science fiction and horror. This is the interview book I always wanted to write.

In early 2008, Skullvine Press is going to publish my novella The Monster Hunter. To learn more about my work, please go to my websites: www.geocities.com/mccartyzone and www.myspace.com/monsterbook.

HG: Do you have a philosophy about writing horror?

Michael McCarty: Writers and editors always say: “You need to grab a reader with a hook.” I use meat hooks. [laughs]

I like to mix a lot of genres together. Probably my love of horror comes from reading a ton of different genres as a kid and growing up reading Dean Koontz novels. He likes to genre hop, too.

I do write in a variety of genres. If you look at my Dark Duets and All Things Dark and Hideous collections, which is 21 short stories from both books, there is a rock n’ roll surreal horror story, a funny werewolf tale, a funny zombie family, five really scary horror stories, an erotic horror story, an epic erotic fantasy, two science fiction comedies, a science fiction epic with shades of horror, a dark fantasy and a funny/scary epic tale about a killer klown, space rats from Punktown, etc.

I try to write the most entertaining tales possible. I haven’t heard any complaints yet or demands for money back, so I guess I’m succeeding. [laughs]

HG: Is there a particular sub-genre that appeals to you most within horror?

Michael McCarty: I really like vampire novels and zombie movies. I’ve written a vampire novel that I’m shopping around, and my novel Monster Behind the Wheel does contain a lot of zombies.

I also like the sub-genre of humor and horror. I like to mix laughs and fear in one story.

HG: Whom would you consider the major influences in your life and writings?

Michael McCarty: It’s a long list. Probably most of the giants I interviewed: Dean Koontz, Peter Straub, Neil Gaiman, Ray Bradbury, Dan Simmons, Charlee Jacob, P.D. Cacek, Graham Masterton, Forrest J. Ackerman, Poppy Z. Brite, Alan Dean Foster, Frederik Pohl, William F. Nolan, George Clayton Johnson, Bentley Little, Whitley Strieber, Laurell K. Hamilton, Harry Turtledove, Joe R. Lansdale, Charles Grant, Terry Pratchett, The Amazing Kreskin, Harlan Ellison, Richard Matheson, Terry Brooks, Ramsey Campbell, Robert Jordan, Connie Willis, David Morrell and Richard Matheson.

Friends and collaborators also influence me, like Mark McLaughlin, Cristopher DeRose, Connie Wilson, Cindy Hulting, Sandra DeLuca, Terrie Leigh Relf, David Paul Miller, Jeffrey Thomas, Gerard Houarner, R.L. Fox, Michael Romkey and the late, great Richard Laymon--a major influence; his daughter Kelly first published one of my short stories.

Also, people whom I have never met, interviewed or worked with: Stephen King, Anne Rice and Edgar Allan Poe.

HG: What would you consider the masterpieces of the horror genre?

Michael McCarty: I could give another long list here because I’ve been a book critic for years. I think Dark Carnival by Ray Bradbury is a masterpiece of horror, especially the Gauntlet Press edition. Ray Bradbury’s first book is still his best book, and the Gauntlet Press Limited Edition makes this outstanding book one-of-a-kind.

Let’s start with the breathtaking cover: a beautiful oil painting by Bradbury--Forry Ackerman owned the painting for years, Albright purchased the painting back. The painting, done in the forties, is of a windswept dark night. It really captures the mood and tone of the stories featured in Dark Carnival. One of the reasons that Bradbury didn’t want to re-release >i was that some of the stories appear in The October Country. This is true. But with the Gauntlet edition, the following stories don’t appear in The October Country: “The Maiden,” “The Tombstone,” “The Smiling People,” “The Traveler,” “Reunion,” “The Handler,” “The Coffin,” “Let’s Play 'Poison,'” “The Night,” “The Dead Man,” and “The Night Sets.” Plus Lost Stories: “The Sea Shell,” “Bang! You’re Dead,” “The Poems,” and “The Watchers.” And Clive Barker does the afterword. Donn Albright did an incredible job as editor. It would take me about 3,000 words to do this book justice.

This is by far the best thing that Gauntlet Press has done by Bradbury. I will cherish this book forever. For more info about the Gauntlet Press edition of Dark Carnival go to: www.gauntletpress.com

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