Questions and Answers
Are you a member of any writing groups?
I belong to a writing workshop that meets weekly. We have about half a dozen people. Each person reads either a chapter or a short piece aloud, and then the others give feedback. I enjoy being able to observe people’s reactions while I’m reading, to tell if a particular passage is working or not. And if it works well, it gives me something we writers don’t get too often--instant gratification!
Who or what has been a major influence on your writing and why?
The first horror writer who influenced me was Ira Levin (ROSEMARY‘S BABY, THE STEPFORD WIVES, THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL), and I think I still have more in common with him than with someone like Stephen King. He wrote about sophisticated, unsuperstitious people who should have control over their lives, which I think makes it even more of a shock when bizarre circumstances send their lives out of control. He wrote female characters well, and he wrote about people being betrayed by those closest to them, which is a theme I also like to use.
Is there a book or story you wish you had written?
Probably JURASSIC PARK. Years ago, I wrote a lake-monster story novel that never quite came off. I was thinking of reviving it with a cloning twist when Michael Crichton came out with JURASSIC PARK. I loved the book and the movie. It made the point that if dinosaurs came back today, they’d still be at the top of the food chain! But he never did use my monster, an elasmosaurus. So there may still be hope...
Is writing your full time occupation, if not what is?
Yes, I make most of my living writing nonfiction--public relations and magazine articles, dealing with architecture, interior design and fine crafts. I used to work full-time for a daily newspaper, but now I freelance.
As a reader do you prefer Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror?
I like horror, and the kind of Science Fiction that comes closest to horror, such as H.P. Lovecraft and stories like ALIEN. I think each of these genres has a distinct appeal. Science fiction people like more intellectual stories that deal with scientific and sociological questions. Fantasy has some of that, and also the idea of playing with ancient or imaginary civilizations. Horror is much more emotional--it aims to scare you, and maybe leave you with a sense of awe. I guess I go for the emotional rather than the intellectual wallop. "Shock and awe," as our esteemed military leaders would say! (Horror writers do it better.)
Who is you favourite author?
In horror, I prefer Dean Koontz to Stephen King. I relate more to his characters. I identify more with his female characters, and even his grislier stories have a more liberal, positive outlook. King’s books have a working-class, gritty, macho feeling, which is fine in itself, but doesn’t appeal to me as much.
If you could give one piece of advice to a would-be author, what would it be?
Read constantly. If you’re worried about being too influenced by a particular writer, read a lot of different writers! You’ll synthesize what you like from all of them, to develop a style of your own. Mostly, you’ll get an idea of all the choices available to you, in terms of plotting, storytelling, description, etc.
When did you first decide that you wanted to be an author?
Very, very young. As soon as I learned to print, I started folding sheets of paper in half, drawing cover illustrations, and trying to write "books." I’d only get a few pages into one before losing my momentum, but the urge was there! I used to say I was going to write and illustrate my own books. I didn’t realize then that adult books don’t have a lot of pictures!
Are you for or against e-books?
I prefer to read a printed book, but because my publisher produces e-books as well, in principle I’m all for them! Online publishing has helped me break through. I’ve read a couple of my colleagues’ books on the computer, so I’m getting used to it. And it does save on paper and shelf space.
Do you enjoy book signings/conventions?
I’ve only done a couple so far, but I get a big kick out of them. I attended them for many years as an unpublished writer, and it feels great to be among the published. Still, I’m less concerned about whether people fuss over me and ask me for my autograph than with whether they’re actually going to read the book! That’s what it should be about.
What is the scariest story you have read?
There are a lot of horror novels, such as DRACULA, that I really enjoyed without necessarily feeling frightened. One of the few books that really frightened me was THE EXORCIST, partly because of the subtle way it builds up to the possession. Mysterious scratching noises, Ouija board messages...it’s like some horrible, fatal illness that starts with the sniffles! And the voices coming from Regan, and from the tape recorder, that sound as if they’re coming from some faraway dimension, possibly from Hell itself…That stuff gave me a serious case of the creeps! It did what a good horror novel should do.
Have you ever used real life horrors for inspiration?
The villain of DANCE WITH THE DRAGON was somewhat inspired by David Koresh, the leader of the Branch Davidian cult in Texas that was massacred by government agents. Of course, he’s actually very different, as anyone who reads the book will see. First I conceived of my hero and heroine, Armand Renascut and Kat Van Braam, and then I needed a villain who’d give them a serious challenge. I also wanted to do something with vampirism a bit different from anything I’d seen before, and the cult situation seemed ideal. Stephen Farkas isn’t really a religious leader--he’s actually after a more political kind of power. And he’s far from crazy!
Given the high quality of horror fiction available, why do you think there are so few great horror movies?
In terms of modern movies, I think directors have become too reliant on special effects rather than good stories. Also, modern horror novels and movies both have become over-saturated with violence. They’d rather shock or disgust you with gore than creep you out in a more subtle way. I think that’s why M. Night Shyamalan’s movies (THE SIXTH SENSE, UNBREAKABLE, SIGNS) have been so successful. They use good writing, good acting and genuinely clever twists that get under your skin emotionally, instead of just making you sick.
Many Thanks!
Relevant LinksE.F. Watkins Main Bibliography