Terry M. West's Blog: Confessions of a Darkly Disturbed Ink Slinger
October 21, 2018
My Favorite Foes of Godzilla
Being a rabid Godzilla fan, even the embarrassingly bad G movies do not have an effect on my love for the King of Monsters. Having a seven-year-old son who is now discovering Japan’s biggest (heh-heh) export rekindles many fond memories of quivering suitmation and bad dubbing.
Explaining the appeal of a Godzilla film (especially the crude films of the 60s/70s) is similar to explaining the virtues of professional wrestling or Mob Wives to the uninitiated; there is a vicarious rush to be found that some will most certainly not appreciate.
But if you are a fan, there is no need for me to sit here and convince you that Godzilla films were an absolute blast for kids young and old. You get it. You will also realize that Godzilla was the biggest badass of all and few monsters got the upper hand on him. The fun part of the movies, for me at least, are the colorful enemies that Godzilla is often pitted against. And, since this article is titled My Favorite Foes of Godzilla, here they are (my top five):
5. King Kong: When you get past the utter implausibility of King Kong vs Godzilla, it is actually a pretty fun film. The producers fixed the deficiency in size between the two beasts by explaining that Kong grows because of a berry diet on his island. He also likes to drink wine made from these berries and pass out. After having his drunk ass hauled on a giant raft from his island to Tokyo, Kong pusses out in his first confrontation with big G. He does sober up long enough to use his inexplicable ability to harness electricity (WTF?) and his superior intellect to win their next encounter and grand finale. It should be noted that Kong spends most of the film either drunk or knocked out. It’ll make you want to scream at the TV, “Get up you lazy drunk sumbitch!”
4. Megalon and Gigan: I am listing these two knuckleheads together. If there were ever a Beavis & Butthead of the Godzilla universe, it was these two. They are a couple of B+ monsters who teamed up in Godzilla vs Megalon (which is most definitely the Plan 9 from Outer Space of Godzilla films). Both creatures look as if their design was inspired by a blast of LSD: Megalon is an insect/moth/ladybug with waffle irons for hands who can tunnel like a damn gopher and spit explosive mud at his enemies. Gigan looks like he was slapped together with what could be found in someone’s long abandoned wood shop; scythes for arms, a buzz saw in the center of his chest and a laser eye. Even as a kid, I was pretty sure that these losers had no clue or chance against Godzilla and his robot pal, Jet Jaguar. But still, they were fun to watch.
3. Destroyah: I love Destroyah. And he would place even higher on this list if he didn’t get his red scaly butt rapidly handed to him by a Godzilla in meltdown mode. Destroyah wasn’t really even beaten by Godzilla, but rather by the radioactive waves of energy that were pulsing from big G before he disintegrated and passed his awesome power to Godzilla Jr. (who really took a beating from Destroyah prior to that. Pick on someone your own size, ya bastard!). Destroyah was actually a colony of Precambrian crustaceans that were mutated when Dr. Daisuke Serizawa’s Oxygen Destroyer was used to defeat the original Godzilla in the first ever G film (1954). Destroyah has one of the coolest suitmation designs and he goes through several growth stages that begin at the microscopic level. Here comes Destroyah; he’s a berserker…
2. Mothra: Mothra is the exact opposite of Godzilla. While both had similar roles as an agent of the earth (Godzilla represented nature’s vengeance against man’s nuclear science while Mothra was a magical symbol of hope and peace), these two seldom got along, even when they occasionally teamed together against bigger threats (Mothra begs Godzilla to help save mankind against King Ghidorah in Destroy All Monsters. Godzilla’s initial reaction: “Humans?! Eff ’em!”). Mothra was a rainbow-colored champion; a giant tree-hugging silk moth and he had very mystical powers. He flew, as most of Godzilla’s enemies do, and we all know Godzilla hates that shit. As much as I love Mothra, I was always aware that he was no match for Godzilla (think Spider-Man vs Hulk once Hulk got his hands on Spidey). However, it has to be mentioned that one of Godzilla’s few losses in a film (Godzilla vs Mothra) came at the hands (or rather the web-spinning beaks) of two baby Mothra in their larva stage and I am sure it is a defeat that Godzilla has never been able to live down. Sing it with me: Mosura No Uta…
1. King Ghidorah: He is known by many aliases, but this Monster Zero has become Godzilla’s Moriarty. A three-headed powerful dragon and pawn of alien civilizations looking to overthrow earth, King Ghidorah has been Godzilla’s greatest threat many times over. When this guy pops in via a teleportation beam you know shit is about to get real. Whenever Godzilla is pitted against King Ghidorah, he must groan inside and think to himself, “Crap. This guy again?” You try fighting three heads that are biting you and spitting lightning bolts at the same time. The only thing worse than King Ghidorah is Mecha King Ghidorah. This dude’s upgrades include metal armor and wings and a robotic middle head that fires radiation blasts. At times, it has taken the combined might of Godzilla and many of his friends to defeat King Ghidorah. And when Godzilla has managed to best KG in a one on one confrontation, it has never been an easy task for the King of Monsters!
There are many great foes of Godzilla that I haven’t listed- Biolante, Mecha Godzilla, Varan, Manda, Gabara, Hedorah, Ebirah, Baragon, Space Godzilla, Megaguirus, Anguirus, Bambi- and more still.
Explaining the appeal of a Godzilla film (especially the crude films of the 60s/70s) is similar to explaining the virtues of professional wrestling or Mob Wives to the uninitiated; there is a vicarious rush to be found that some will most certainly not appreciate.
But if you are a fan, there is no need for me to sit here and convince you that Godzilla films were an absolute blast for kids young and old. You get it. You will also realize that Godzilla was the biggest badass of all and few monsters got the upper hand on him. The fun part of the movies, for me at least, are the colorful enemies that Godzilla is often pitted against. And, since this article is titled My Favorite Foes of Godzilla, here they are (my top five):
5. King Kong: When you get past the utter implausibility of King Kong vs Godzilla, it is actually a pretty fun film. The producers fixed the deficiency in size between the two beasts by explaining that Kong grows because of a berry diet on his island. He also likes to drink wine made from these berries and pass out. After having his drunk ass hauled on a giant raft from his island to Tokyo, Kong pusses out in his first confrontation with big G. He does sober up long enough to use his inexplicable ability to harness electricity (WTF?) and his superior intellect to win their next encounter and grand finale. It should be noted that Kong spends most of the film either drunk or knocked out. It’ll make you want to scream at the TV, “Get up you lazy drunk sumbitch!”
4. Megalon and Gigan: I am listing these two knuckleheads together. If there were ever a Beavis & Butthead of the Godzilla universe, it was these two. They are a couple of B+ monsters who teamed up in Godzilla vs Megalon (which is most definitely the Plan 9 from Outer Space of Godzilla films). Both creatures look as if their design was inspired by a blast of LSD: Megalon is an insect/moth/ladybug with waffle irons for hands who can tunnel like a damn gopher and spit explosive mud at his enemies. Gigan looks like he was slapped together with what could be found in someone’s long abandoned wood shop; scythes for arms, a buzz saw in the center of his chest and a laser eye. Even as a kid, I was pretty sure that these losers had no clue or chance against Godzilla and his robot pal, Jet Jaguar. But still, they were fun to watch.
3. Destroyah: I love Destroyah. And he would place even higher on this list if he didn’t get his red scaly butt rapidly handed to him by a Godzilla in meltdown mode. Destroyah wasn’t really even beaten by Godzilla, but rather by the radioactive waves of energy that were pulsing from big G before he disintegrated and passed his awesome power to Godzilla Jr. (who really took a beating from Destroyah prior to that. Pick on someone your own size, ya bastard!). Destroyah was actually a colony of Precambrian crustaceans that were mutated when Dr. Daisuke Serizawa’s Oxygen Destroyer was used to defeat the original Godzilla in the first ever G film (1954). Destroyah has one of the coolest suitmation designs and he goes through several growth stages that begin at the microscopic level. Here comes Destroyah; he’s a berserker…
2. Mothra: Mothra is the exact opposite of Godzilla. While both had similar roles as an agent of the earth (Godzilla represented nature’s vengeance against man’s nuclear science while Mothra was a magical symbol of hope and peace), these two seldom got along, even when they occasionally teamed together against bigger threats (Mothra begs Godzilla to help save mankind against King Ghidorah in Destroy All Monsters. Godzilla’s initial reaction: “Humans?! Eff ’em!”). Mothra was a rainbow-colored champion; a giant tree-hugging silk moth and he had very mystical powers. He flew, as most of Godzilla’s enemies do, and we all know Godzilla hates that shit. As much as I love Mothra, I was always aware that he was no match for Godzilla (think Spider-Man vs Hulk once Hulk got his hands on Spidey). However, it has to be mentioned that one of Godzilla’s few losses in a film (Godzilla vs Mothra) came at the hands (or rather the web-spinning beaks) of two baby Mothra in their larva stage and I am sure it is a defeat that Godzilla has never been able to live down. Sing it with me: Mosura No Uta…
1. King Ghidorah: He is known by many aliases, but this Monster Zero has become Godzilla’s Moriarty. A three-headed powerful dragon and pawn of alien civilizations looking to overthrow earth, King Ghidorah has been Godzilla’s greatest threat many times over. When this guy pops in via a teleportation beam you know shit is about to get real. Whenever Godzilla is pitted against King Ghidorah, he must groan inside and think to himself, “Crap. This guy again?” You try fighting three heads that are biting you and spitting lightning bolts at the same time. The only thing worse than King Ghidorah is Mecha King Ghidorah. This dude’s upgrades include metal armor and wings and a robotic middle head that fires radiation blasts. At times, it has taken the combined might of Godzilla and many of his friends to defeat King Ghidorah. And when Godzilla has managed to best KG in a one on one confrontation, it has never been an easy task for the King of Monsters!
There are many great foes of Godzilla that I haven’t listed- Biolante, Mecha Godzilla, Varan, Manda, Gabara, Hedorah, Ebirah, Baragon, Space Godzilla, Megaguirus, Anguirus, Bambi- and more still.
Published on October 21, 2018 09:04
My Top 5 Made for TV Horror List
When I was a kid and there were only a few television stations, it was always a thrill when a made for TV horror movie or mini-series was announced. I was a horror junkie before I hit the age of ten. But there were many movies I was not allowed to go see at the drive-in.
So when a made for TV horror flick hit the airwaves, I was allowed to watch it without question. At this period in time, there were no television age ratings and very seldom would you see a viewer advisory.
But make no mistake: some of these TV terrors made me plead for a nightlight after viewing them. They may have been relatively clean of foul language, sexual situations and gore, but those have never been the ingredients required to make something frightening. These spooky television adaptations were scary as hell. Many left a deep impression and have become favorites of mine.
Here are my five top Made for TV Horror films:
Gargoyles
5. Gargoyles: This was released in 1972. I was seven years old. The story: an anthropologist and his daughter who, while traveling through Arizona, stumble upon a settlement of evil gargoyles. Though the plot and writing were barely above mediocre standards, the award-winning effects provided by Stan Winston (his earliest professional effort, I believe) allowed this flick to rise above its cheesiness.
It
4. IT: Definitely Stephen King’s most terrifying creation, Pennywise the clown was brought to manic life by Tim Curry. This mini-series was aired in late 1990 and boasted a cast including the late John Ritter, Annette O’Toole and Richard Thomas. This was a highly enjoyable viewing experience, but even with the great Curry personifying IT, this adaptation felt like a diluted version of its source. Still, it provided enough chills to make my #4 spot.
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
3. Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark: Kim Darby plays a housewife stalked by little demons living in the hellish bowels of her mansion. This 1973 TV gem was remade not long ago by Guillermo del Toro. And while I adore his work, his version isn’t even half as creepy as the source.
Salem's Lot TV
2. Salem‘s Lot: It was a coin toss between this one and the number one on my list. Tobe Hooper’s 1979 mini-series which was based on Stephen King’s bestseller was an event in my house. It was looked forward to as feverishly as the Oscars or Superbowl. My family was hooked on the work of Stephen King, and everyone talked about this one for weeks afterwards. The casting was fantastic and standouts were David Soul as Ben Mears, a writer returning to his childhood home to bury his fears and James Mason as Straker, the (somewhat) human harbinger of Barlow the vampire.
The Night Stalker
1. The Night Stalker: The year was 1972 and this made for TV movie introduced us to a protagonist that would influence horror creators and fans for decades. Played by character actor Darren McGavin, Carl Kolchak is a tackily dressed but tenacious investigative reporter in Las Vegas. Hot on the heels of a serial killer claiming young beautiful women on the strip, Carl discovers that the suspect, a 70 year-old Rumanian millionaire, may actually be a bloodthirsty creature of legend. A huge inspiration to the X-Files, Night Stalker would spawn a made for TV sequel and an often maligned and short-lived television series that is still more enjoyable than most modern horror fair. This is due to the dry wit, subtle genius of McGavin and Kolchak’s ability to embrace a situation (no matter how unlikely) when left with only the dark facts that can’t be dispelled. This is my favorite Dan Curtis production ever. The Night Stalker became ABC’s highest rated original TV movie, earning a 33.2 rating and 54 share.
So when a made for TV horror flick hit the airwaves, I was allowed to watch it without question. At this period in time, there were no television age ratings and very seldom would you see a viewer advisory.
But make no mistake: some of these TV terrors made me plead for a nightlight after viewing them. They may have been relatively clean of foul language, sexual situations and gore, but those have never been the ingredients required to make something frightening. These spooky television adaptations were scary as hell. Many left a deep impression and have become favorites of mine.
Here are my five top Made for TV Horror films:
Gargoyles
5. Gargoyles: This was released in 1972. I was seven years old. The story: an anthropologist and his daughter who, while traveling through Arizona, stumble upon a settlement of evil gargoyles. Though the plot and writing were barely above mediocre standards, the award-winning effects provided by Stan Winston (his earliest professional effort, I believe) allowed this flick to rise above its cheesiness.
It
4. IT: Definitely Stephen King’s most terrifying creation, Pennywise the clown was brought to manic life by Tim Curry. This mini-series was aired in late 1990 and boasted a cast including the late John Ritter, Annette O’Toole and Richard Thomas. This was a highly enjoyable viewing experience, but even with the great Curry personifying IT, this adaptation felt like a diluted version of its source. Still, it provided enough chills to make my #4 spot.
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
3. Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark: Kim Darby plays a housewife stalked by little demons living in the hellish bowels of her mansion. This 1973 TV gem was remade not long ago by Guillermo del Toro. And while I adore his work, his version isn’t even half as creepy as the source.
Salem's Lot TV
2. Salem‘s Lot: It was a coin toss between this one and the number one on my list. Tobe Hooper’s 1979 mini-series which was based on Stephen King’s bestseller was an event in my house. It was looked forward to as feverishly as the Oscars or Superbowl. My family was hooked on the work of Stephen King, and everyone talked about this one for weeks afterwards. The casting was fantastic and standouts were David Soul as Ben Mears, a writer returning to his childhood home to bury his fears and James Mason as Straker, the (somewhat) human harbinger of Barlow the vampire.
The Night Stalker
1. The Night Stalker: The year was 1972 and this made for TV movie introduced us to a protagonist that would influence horror creators and fans for decades. Played by character actor Darren McGavin, Carl Kolchak is a tackily dressed but tenacious investigative reporter in Las Vegas. Hot on the heels of a serial killer claiming young beautiful women on the strip, Carl discovers that the suspect, a 70 year-old Rumanian millionaire, may actually be a bloodthirsty creature of legend. A huge inspiration to the X-Files, Night Stalker would spawn a made for TV sequel and an often maligned and short-lived television series that is still more enjoyable than most modern horror fair. This is due to the dry wit, subtle genius of McGavin and Kolchak’s ability to embrace a situation (no matter how unlikely) when left with only the dark facts that can’t be dispelled. This is my favorite Dan Curtis production ever. The Night Stalker became ABC’s highest rated original TV movie, earning a 33.2 rating and 54 share.
Published on October 21, 2018 09:02
August 20, 2018
Behind GATE 4
Gate 4 is an ongoing horror serial that features monsters and characters from most of the short stories I have written over the years. There are plenty of new horrors I could pursue. So why dust off some old demons and straighten their ties? I have a few reasons for this series:
TV BABY! I have been flirting with the television market for a few years, and figured I would tailor this as an ongoing horror soap opera. The chapters are presented as 30 to 45 minute episodes. I structure the tales as such. If I were to ever develop Gate 4 for the screen, it would be a smooth adaptation.
PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS People comment that my short stories are superior to my longer pieces. So each episode is written in the 4500 to 5000 words range which is the sweet spot people find in my work.
TOO MANY SEQUELS My stories never really end. They just stop. Readers ask me to bring characters back. Billy Monroe. The Rose Man. Paul Marrane. Weaving them all into one storyline gives me an opportunity to further their tales in one place. Where most stories stop, Gate 4 will resume.
A WRITER WRITES Staying on top of an ongoing series keeps my shiny pale butt at the keyboard. I have a mountain of story notes taped to the walls and I have a self-imposed deadline of one to two episodes a month. If you don’t exercise those muscles, they’ll turn to flab.
IT’S ALL CONNECTED Every main universe story (sorry, no Night Things allowed) has at least one clue to the mystery behind the gate. It wasn’t intentional. I planted the seeds for this without consciously trying.
IT’S FUN! Hey, if it ever becomes a job, I’ll probably hate it. I’ve never been one to pander. If it puts a smile on my face, I’ll write it. If it also puts a smile on your face, bonus!
Gate 4: The Eater
TV BABY! I have been flirting with the television market for a few years, and figured I would tailor this as an ongoing horror soap opera. The chapters are presented as 30 to 45 minute episodes. I structure the tales as such. If I were to ever develop Gate 4 for the screen, it would be a smooth adaptation.
PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS People comment that my short stories are superior to my longer pieces. So each episode is written in the 4500 to 5000 words range which is the sweet spot people find in my work.
TOO MANY SEQUELS My stories never really end. They just stop. Readers ask me to bring characters back. Billy Monroe. The Rose Man. Paul Marrane. Weaving them all into one storyline gives me an opportunity to further their tales in one place. Where most stories stop, Gate 4 will resume.
A WRITER WRITES Staying on top of an ongoing series keeps my shiny pale butt at the keyboard. I have a mountain of story notes taped to the walls and I have a self-imposed deadline of one to two episodes a month. If you don’t exercise those muscles, they’ll turn to flab.
IT’S ALL CONNECTED Every main universe story (sorry, no Night Things allowed) has at least one clue to the mystery behind the gate. It wasn’t intentional. I planted the seeds for this without consciously trying.
IT’S FUN! Hey, if it ever becomes a job, I’ll probably hate it. I’ve never been one to pander. If it puts a smile on my face, I’ll write it. If it also puts a smile on your face, bonus!
Gate 4: The Eater
Published on August 20, 2018 17:00
June 23, 2018
Nowhere to Hyde Indiegogo
I am an indie horror author. I do what I do because of my passion and love for the genre. But it’s tough sometimes to balance real life responsibilities with the desire to create. Many of my peers use Patreon for support from their readers. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that route, but it’s not something I’m personally comfortable with. I don’t want a supporter to feel obligated to make a monthly donation. So I’ve decided to put my projects on Indiegogo and offer readers of my fiction the opportunity to be a part of the process and read my works months before they are released. I’ve already received an incredibly generous donation toward the completion of my next Night Things book, Nowhere to Hyde. You can give as little as a dollar or a $25 pledge will get you: your name on the dedication page, an eCopy and a signed paperback copy.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ni...
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ni...
Published on June 23, 2018 12:28
January 19, 2015
DREG: 9 Little Known Facts
Dreg
Though you may have only heard of my novel DREG in the recent weeks, it has been around for a long time. The creation of DREG began in the 80s, a comic based on the character was released in the 90s, the novel was published in its first form in 2003 and their have been two film options of my book.
Here are some facts that not many people know about DREG:
KEEPSAKE
When I was 20 years-old (around 1985), I wrote a short story called KEEPSAKE. The tale dealt with a serial killer who was slowly growing enamored with a woman he had kidnapped at a rest area. I would incorporate many elements of this story into Dreg. I even had the press in DREG refer to the antagonist as the “Keepsake Killer”.
THE ROMERO CONNECTION
Around 1992, I had completed a rough first draft of DREG. An independent producer who had worked in the 80s with Laurel Productions (the company responsible for many of George Romero’s films), optioned DREG. The option lasted until 1997. DREG remained unpublished during this period as part of the option agreement.
THE COMIC SERIES
In 1997, the rights to DREG landed back in my lap. I was busy working in the comics industry at the time. Talented artist, Glenn Chadbourne, (who had worked on my independent horror comic, BLOOD FOR THE MUSE) took a liking to DREG and he adapted the prologue and a portion of the first chapter into comic format. We toyed with the idea of turning the entire novel into a limited edition graphic series, but the industry was in a bit of turmoil at that point, and it was too time intensive for Glenn to devote himself to the project. Glenn would go on to become a highly respected illustrator for many horror authors, Stephen King among them.
THE NOVEL
DREG saw print in 2003. A company that turned out to be little more than a vanity press contacted me and I fell for their line of bullshit. DREG became a POD paperback and it garnered some nice press (including a great write-up in Rue Morgue) despite the fact that the “publisher” had not edited one word and didn’t use the proofs I sent back to them with mark-ups for corrections. The “publisher” never made a royalty payment to me, although I could see on numerous book-selling sites that it was being purchased. After numerous threats and cease and desists, the “publisher” removed DREG from their library around 2005.
I HAVE A FEVER DREAM
Around 2006, Fever Dreams (the company responsible for my film, Flesh for the Beast) contacted me about the film option to DREG. We signed an agreement, and I adapted the novel to a screenplay. It was during this adaptation period that I saw things that I wanted to fix and expand upon in the book itself. The novel, once again, sat dormant during this time as I was going to be allowed to use elements of the film version to produce a movie tie-in to the film. But, as often occurs in the movie business, DREG never happened for Fever Dreams and they relinquished their option in 2014.
THE HILLS HAVE BERRYMAN
During the option period with Fever Dreams, I mentioned to the producers quite often that actor Michael Berryman would be a perfect fit for the role of Dreg. And though other actors that I had envisioned in other roles have grown a little old for the characters I once had them in mind for, Michael is just now age appropriate to play Dreg (food for thought).
UNCLE CREEPY
Dreg’s physical appearance was heavily influenced by Uncle Creepy, from the old Warren horror magazine. One of the characters in my novel even compares Dreg to Uncle Creepy.
A WEREWOLF STORY WITHOUT A WEREWOLF
It was pointed out by a few reviewers that DREG was, in essence, a werewolf novel. Yet, the monster of the story never transformed into a animal. My intent was to create a realistic werewolf tale, utilizing all of the actual myths of the condition, and to portray the transformation as one of a psychological process. Lycanthropy was heavily researched for DREG. I had been impressed by George Romero’s vampire film, Martin. In that film, Romero put a rather realistic spin on vampirism. And though my story is nothing like Mr. Romero’s, Martin was still a big influence on DREG.
BRIGHT SEGMENT
Bright Segment is a brilliant horror/suspense novelette written by Theodore Sturgeon. The story concerns a hideously ugly, lonely old man who nurses a near-dead prostitute back to health and then has a hard time letting her leave. Bright Segment was another influence on DREG.
DREG, the revised and expanded edition, is currently available for pre-order! It will be released on 03-27-15!
Though you may have only heard of my novel DREG in the recent weeks, it has been around for a long time. The creation of DREG began in the 80s, a comic based on the character was released in the 90s, the novel was published in its first form in 2003 and their have been two film options of my book.
Here are some facts that not many people know about DREG:
KEEPSAKE
When I was 20 years-old (around 1985), I wrote a short story called KEEPSAKE. The tale dealt with a serial killer who was slowly growing enamored with a woman he had kidnapped at a rest area. I would incorporate many elements of this story into Dreg. I even had the press in DREG refer to the antagonist as the “Keepsake Killer”.
THE ROMERO CONNECTION
Around 1992, I had completed a rough first draft of DREG. An independent producer who had worked in the 80s with Laurel Productions (the company responsible for many of George Romero’s films), optioned DREG. The option lasted until 1997. DREG remained unpublished during this period as part of the option agreement.
THE COMIC SERIES
In 1997, the rights to DREG landed back in my lap. I was busy working in the comics industry at the time. Talented artist, Glenn Chadbourne, (who had worked on my independent horror comic, BLOOD FOR THE MUSE) took a liking to DREG and he adapted the prologue and a portion of the first chapter into comic format. We toyed with the idea of turning the entire novel into a limited edition graphic series, but the industry was in a bit of turmoil at that point, and it was too time intensive for Glenn to devote himself to the project. Glenn would go on to become a highly respected illustrator for many horror authors, Stephen King among them.
THE NOVEL
DREG saw print in 2003. A company that turned out to be little more than a vanity press contacted me and I fell for their line of bullshit. DREG became a POD paperback and it garnered some nice press (including a great write-up in Rue Morgue) despite the fact that the “publisher” had not edited one word and didn’t use the proofs I sent back to them with mark-ups for corrections. The “publisher” never made a royalty payment to me, although I could see on numerous book-selling sites that it was being purchased. After numerous threats and cease and desists, the “publisher” removed DREG from their library around 2005.
I HAVE A FEVER DREAM
Around 2006, Fever Dreams (the company responsible for my film, Flesh for the Beast) contacted me about the film option to DREG. We signed an agreement, and I adapted the novel to a screenplay. It was during this adaptation period that I saw things that I wanted to fix and expand upon in the book itself. The novel, once again, sat dormant during this time as I was going to be allowed to use elements of the film version to produce a movie tie-in to the film. But, as often occurs in the movie business, DREG never happened for Fever Dreams and they relinquished their option in 2014.
THE HILLS HAVE BERRYMAN
During the option period with Fever Dreams, I mentioned to the producers quite often that actor Michael Berryman would be a perfect fit for the role of Dreg. And though other actors that I had envisioned in other roles have grown a little old for the characters I once had them in mind for, Michael is just now age appropriate to play Dreg (food for thought).
UNCLE CREEPY
Dreg’s physical appearance was heavily influenced by Uncle Creepy, from the old Warren horror magazine. One of the characters in my novel even compares Dreg to Uncle Creepy.
A WEREWOLF STORY WITHOUT A WEREWOLF
It was pointed out by a few reviewers that DREG was, in essence, a werewolf novel. Yet, the monster of the story never transformed into a animal. My intent was to create a realistic werewolf tale, utilizing all of the actual myths of the condition, and to portray the transformation as one of a psychological process. Lycanthropy was heavily researched for DREG. I had been impressed by George Romero’s vampire film, Martin. In that film, Romero put a rather realistic spin on vampirism. And though my story is nothing like Mr. Romero’s, Martin was still a big influence on DREG.
BRIGHT SEGMENT
Bright Segment is a brilliant horror/suspense novelette written by Theodore Sturgeon. The story concerns a hideously ugly, lonely old man who nurses a near-dead prostitute back to health and then has a hard time letting her leave. Bright Segment was another influence on DREG.
DREG, the revised and expanded edition, is currently available for pre-order! It will be released on 03-27-15!
Published on January 19, 2015 12:29
•
Tags:
dreg, horror-thriller, novel, serial-killer, suspense
DREG: 9 Little Known Facts
Dreg
Though you may have only heard of my novel DREG in the recent weeks, it has been around for a long time. The creation of DREG began in the 80s, a comic based on the character was released in the 90s, the novel was published in its first form in 2003 and their have been two film options of my book.
Here are some facts that not many people know about DREG:
KEEPSAKE
When I was 20 years-old (around 1985), I wrote a short story called KEEPSAKE. The tale dealt with a serial killer who was slowly growing enamored with a woman he had kidnapped at a rest area. I would incorporate many elements of this story into Dreg. I even had the press in DREG refer to the antagonist as the “Keepsake Killer”.
THE ROMERO CONNECTION
Around 1992, I had completed a rough first draft of DREG. An independent producer who had worked in the 80s with Laurel Productions (the company responsible for many of George Romero’s films), optioned DREG. The option lasted until 1997. DREG remained unpublished during this period as part of the option agreement.
THE COMIC SERIES
In 1997, the rights to DREG landed back in my lap. I was busy working in the comics industry at the time. Talented artist, Glenn Chadbourne, (who had worked on my independent horror comic, BLOOD FOR THE MUSE) took a liking to DREG and he adapted the prologue and a portion of the first chapter into comic format. We toyed with the idea of turning the entire novel into a limited edition graphic series, but the industry was in a bit of turmoil at that point, and it was too time intensive for Glenn to devote himself to the project. Glenn would go on to become a highly respected illustrator for many horror authors, Stephen King among them.
THE NOVEL
DREG saw print in 2003. A company that turned out to be little more than a vanity press contacted me and I fell for their line of bullshit. DREG became a POD paperback and it garnered some nice press (including a great write-up in Rue Morgue) despite the fact that the “publisher” had not edited one word and didn’t use the proofs I sent back to them with mark-ups for corrections. The “publisher” never made a royalty payment to me, although I could see on numerous book-selling sites that it was being purchased. After numerous threats and cease and desists, the “publisher” removed DREG from their library around 2005.
I HAVE A FEVER DREAM
Around 2006, Fever Dreams (the company responsible for my film, Flesh for the Beast) contacted me about the film option to DREG. We signed an agreement, and I adapted the novel to a screenplay. It was during this adaptation period that I saw things that I wanted to fix and expand upon in the book itself. The novel, once again, sat dormant during this time as I was going to be allowed to use elements of the film version to produce a movie tie-in to the film. But, as often occurs in the movie business, DREG never happened for Fever Dreams and they relinquished their option in 2014.
THE HILLS HAVE BERRYMAN
During the option period with Fever Dreams, I mentioned to the producers quite often that actor Michael Berryman would be a perfect fit for the role of Dreg. And though other actors that I had envisioned in other roles have grown a little old for the characters I once had them in mind for, Michael is just now age appropriate to play Dreg (food for thought).
UNCLE CREEPY
Dreg’s physical appearance was heavily influenced by Uncle Creepy, from the old Warren horror magazine. One of the characters in my novel even compares Dreg to Uncle Creepy.
A WEREWOLF STORY WITHOUT A WEREWOLF
It was pointed out by a few reviewers that DREG was, in essence, a werewolf novel. Yet, the monster of the story never transformed into a animal. My intent was to create a realistic werewolf tale, utilizing all of the actual myths of the condition, and to portray the transformation as one of a psychological process. Lycanthropy was heavily researched for DREG. I had been impressed by George Romero’s vampire film, Martin. In that film, Romero put a rather realistic spin on vampirism. And though my story is nothing like Mr. Romero’s, Martin was still a big influence on DREG.
BRIGHT SEGMENT
Bright Segment is a brilliant horror/suspense novelette written by Theodore Sturgeon. The story concerns a hideously ugly, lonely old man who nurses a near-dead prostitute back to health and then has a hard time letting her leave. Bright Segment was another influence on DREG.
DREG, the revised and expanded edition, is currently available for pre-order! It will be released on 03-27-15!
Though you may have only heard of my novel DREG in the recent weeks, it has been around for a long time. The creation of DREG began in the 80s, a comic based on the character was released in the 90s, the novel was published in its first form in 2003 and their have been two film options of my book.
Here are some facts that not many people know about DREG:
KEEPSAKE
When I was 20 years-old (around 1985), I wrote a short story called KEEPSAKE. The tale dealt with a serial killer who was slowly growing enamored with a woman he had kidnapped at a rest area. I would incorporate many elements of this story into Dreg. I even had the press in DREG refer to the antagonist as the “Keepsake Killer”.
THE ROMERO CONNECTION
Around 1992, I had completed a rough first draft of DREG. An independent producer who had worked in the 80s with Laurel Productions (the company responsible for many of George Romero’s films), optioned DREG. The option lasted until 1997. DREG remained unpublished during this period as part of the option agreement.
THE COMIC SERIES
In 1997, the rights to DREG landed back in my lap. I was busy working in the comics industry at the time. Talented artist, Glenn Chadbourne, (who had worked on my independent horror comic, BLOOD FOR THE MUSE) took a liking to DREG and he adapted the prologue and a portion of the first chapter into comic format. We toyed with the idea of turning the entire novel into a limited edition graphic series, but the industry was in a bit of turmoil at that point, and it was too time intensive for Glenn to devote himself to the project. Glenn would go on to become a highly respected illustrator for many horror authors, Stephen King among them.
THE NOVEL
DREG saw print in 2003. A company that turned out to be little more than a vanity press contacted me and I fell for their line of bullshit. DREG became a POD paperback and it garnered some nice press (including a great write-up in Rue Morgue) despite the fact that the “publisher” had not edited one word and didn’t use the proofs I sent back to them with mark-ups for corrections. The “publisher” never made a royalty payment to me, although I could see on numerous book-selling sites that it was being purchased. After numerous threats and cease and desists, the “publisher” removed DREG from their library around 2005.
I HAVE A FEVER DREAM
Around 2006, Fever Dreams (the company responsible for my film, Flesh for the Beast) contacted me about the film option to DREG. We signed an agreement, and I adapted the novel to a screenplay. It was during this adaptation period that I saw things that I wanted to fix and expand upon in the book itself. The novel, once again, sat dormant during this time as I was going to be allowed to use elements of the film version to produce a movie tie-in to the film. But, as often occurs in the movie business, DREG never happened for Fever Dreams and they relinquished their option in 2014.
THE HILLS HAVE BERRYMAN
During the option period with Fever Dreams, I mentioned to the producers quite often that actor Michael Berryman would be a perfect fit for the role of Dreg. And though other actors that I had envisioned in other roles have grown a little old for the characters I once had them in mind for, Michael is just now age appropriate to play Dreg (food for thought).
UNCLE CREEPY
Dreg’s physical appearance was heavily influenced by Uncle Creepy, from the old Warren horror magazine. One of the characters in my novel even compares Dreg to Uncle Creepy.
A WEREWOLF STORY WITHOUT A WEREWOLF
It was pointed out by a few reviewers that DREG was, in essence, a werewolf novel. Yet, the monster of the story never transformed into a animal. My intent was to create a realistic werewolf tale, utilizing all of the actual myths of the condition, and to portray the transformation as one of a psychological process. Lycanthropy was heavily researched for DREG. I had been impressed by George Romero’s vampire film, Martin. In that film, Romero put a rather realistic spin on vampirism. And though my story is nothing like Mr. Romero’s, Martin was still a big influence on DREG.
BRIGHT SEGMENT
Bright Segment is a brilliant horror/suspense novelette written by Theodore Sturgeon. The story concerns a hideously ugly, lonely old man who nurses a near-dead prostitute back to health and then has a hard time letting her leave. Bright Segment was another influence on DREG.
DREG, the revised and expanded edition, is currently available for pre-order! It will be released on 03-27-15!
Published on January 19, 2015 12:29
•
Tags:
dreg, horror-thriller, novel, serial-killer, suspense
November 15, 2014
THE TOP FIVE AUTHOR NO-NOs and HELL NOs
I have been an author since the 80's and a professional one since the 90's. I was never that bothered by how other authors conducted themselves. But now in the age of social media and blogs, authors have the ability to interact on a much more instantaneous and personal level with their audience and potential new readers.
I have to tell you, there are a lot of current practices that I just don't agree with. I am going to list my top five NO-NOs, and please don't take it as anything other than my own personal observations and opinions. If you want to come across with any kind of professional air and you want to be taken seriously, it is my recommendation that you avoid the following:
The Review Exchange- This is number one on my list of NO-NOs. I am approached daily by authors who think we should review each other's work. And if you are going to engage in this practice, at least try to find an author in the same genre as you. I don't know how many times an author with a work totally out of my sphere of interest hits me up. This is a slippery slope. If someone praises your work but you can't stand what they sent you in exchange and you are honest, you will have just made an enemy. And if you soften the review or praise it when you know it was bad, there goes a little of your soul and a lot of your credibility. I don't publicly review or rate a lot of books (I don't consider myself a book reviewer) but when I do, I am honest and when some of the writers in my circle review my work, so are they. There are beta-readers out there; people who will read and critique your work before it is published or sent out for consideration. There are groups of them on Facebook. If you are fortunate enough to find an author interested in reading your work, ask for feedback, not a review.
Let's Buy Each Other's Book to Manipulate the Amazon Rankings- Now, this one is a HELL NO. Rankings on Amazon fluctuate all of the time. If your book has nose-dived into the basement, you are in good company. Often a book will come out, do what major business it is going to do, and then it will plummet. It happens. A better way to stimulate the numbers on your title is to offer price cuts or a limited freebie download (the two best features of the Amazon KDP program). Trying to bump your title with a back scratch is just a silly practice, folks. You want to be high in the numbers? Entice people to buy your book. Promote it. Using this artificial way to make your sales appear higher is like spitting in the ocean. There is no shelf life on most books, these days. What is currently swimming in the abyss might re-surge to a top 100 list with a handful of sales. Don't be so anxious or worry if you aren't always in the top.
(not so) Professional Animosity- Let me explain something to you: another author's success is not your failure. If you remember nothing else I have said here today, commit that to memory. We are all on different journeys and we arrive when we arrive. You are not in a competition with anyone. Stephen King is not stealing your readers. There are many writers out there and we all try to grab an audience and build it. It is pointless to get angry when someone makes a little headway. If an author on your level or in your circle starts to build a little momentum and catch some interest, you should take this as a positive example that the little guy can still succeed if the talent and drive is there. We all get jealous, sure. But if your emotions drive you to try and tear the other guy down because, in your mind, pulling on that person means elevating yourself; you need help. Serious help. I have seen many authors bad-mouthing each other all over the Internet and it only makes them look awful. Look at the true professionals out there; the ones who have made it. They didn't get where they are by holding pubic grudge matches with other authors and defecating on another's work. They focused on their writing. Let your work speak for you. If you need to release some bile, do it with a close friend who knows, despite the occasional moment of weakness, that you are a good person who is only human. Authors who rant and rave publicly alienate potential readers. Be yourself, sure, but speak reasonably and maturely if you need to air a grievance. The world has enough assholes.
Let's Talk About Bad Reviews- And here is one that I see ALL of the time: authors complaining about less than stellar reviews. I have seen rants which led me to a review that, honestly, seemed fair to me. Listen, not every bad review is an attempt to make you look bad by a shadowy organization that has everything to gain by your failure. And, sure, some bad reviews do come from people who want nothing more than to tear you down (see section above). You know what I do about a bad review? Nothing. I don't cry. I don't comment on it or engage the reviewer. I move on. And, take my word for it, if you try to defend yourself against unfair reviews, you are filling the Troll feeding trough. And they will come. Something else that needs addressing: 3 stars is not a bad rating/review. You are not going to bowl everyone over. If someone liked your story enough to give it three stars, don't complain.
Just Give me the Good News- (Another HELL NO) If you are fortunate enough to earn a circle of beta-readers, take their opinions seriously. Don't just look for a pat on the back. This is your advance screening, and the opportunity to fix things that may not work. Don't engage readers simply to stroke your ego. Use this precious gift to improve your story. I saw an author once ask his readers not to point out any mistakes or typos, because he just wanted to know how the story worked. Never discourage your readers from pointing out mistakes. For those of you who can't afford an editor (and even for those who can), this is crucial. I have seen mistakes float by several people and you can't have too many eyes looking out for the errors. And don't argue with your readers. Appreciate their feedback, whether you agree with it or not.
Well, the soap box is straining, so I am going to climb off of it before it breaks. Again, this is just how I see things and it is not a swipe at anyone. I think we forget that our main reason behind the keyboard is our love of writing. Don't let anyone taint what you love to do and be happy with the successes, no matter how small they may seem, and take the failures as part of the process. And celebrate and brag about the good if you want; you're entitled. There is very rarely an easy accomplishment in the world of publishing.
But most importantly: Be happy and enjoy this life that is really too short for all of the bullshit out there. And remember: real writers never stop writing. They just die.
I have to tell you, there are a lot of current practices that I just don't agree with. I am going to list my top five NO-NOs, and please don't take it as anything other than my own personal observations and opinions. If you want to come across with any kind of professional air and you want to be taken seriously, it is my recommendation that you avoid the following:
The Review Exchange- This is number one on my list of NO-NOs. I am approached daily by authors who think we should review each other's work. And if you are going to engage in this practice, at least try to find an author in the same genre as you. I don't know how many times an author with a work totally out of my sphere of interest hits me up. This is a slippery slope. If someone praises your work but you can't stand what they sent you in exchange and you are honest, you will have just made an enemy. And if you soften the review or praise it when you know it was bad, there goes a little of your soul and a lot of your credibility. I don't publicly review or rate a lot of books (I don't consider myself a book reviewer) but when I do, I am honest and when some of the writers in my circle review my work, so are they. There are beta-readers out there; people who will read and critique your work before it is published or sent out for consideration. There are groups of them on Facebook. If you are fortunate enough to find an author interested in reading your work, ask for feedback, not a review.
Let's Buy Each Other's Book to Manipulate the Amazon Rankings- Now, this one is a HELL NO. Rankings on Amazon fluctuate all of the time. If your book has nose-dived into the basement, you are in good company. Often a book will come out, do what major business it is going to do, and then it will plummet. It happens. A better way to stimulate the numbers on your title is to offer price cuts or a limited freebie download (the two best features of the Amazon KDP program). Trying to bump your title with a back scratch is just a silly practice, folks. You want to be high in the numbers? Entice people to buy your book. Promote it. Using this artificial way to make your sales appear higher is like spitting in the ocean. There is no shelf life on most books, these days. What is currently swimming in the abyss might re-surge to a top 100 list with a handful of sales. Don't be so anxious or worry if you aren't always in the top.
(not so) Professional Animosity- Let me explain something to you: another author's success is not your failure. If you remember nothing else I have said here today, commit that to memory. We are all on different journeys and we arrive when we arrive. You are not in a competition with anyone. Stephen King is not stealing your readers. There are many writers out there and we all try to grab an audience and build it. It is pointless to get angry when someone makes a little headway. If an author on your level or in your circle starts to build a little momentum and catch some interest, you should take this as a positive example that the little guy can still succeed if the talent and drive is there. We all get jealous, sure. But if your emotions drive you to try and tear the other guy down because, in your mind, pulling on that person means elevating yourself; you need help. Serious help. I have seen many authors bad-mouthing each other all over the Internet and it only makes them look awful. Look at the true professionals out there; the ones who have made it. They didn't get where they are by holding pubic grudge matches with other authors and defecating on another's work. They focused on their writing. Let your work speak for you. If you need to release some bile, do it with a close friend who knows, despite the occasional moment of weakness, that you are a good person who is only human. Authors who rant and rave publicly alienate potential readers. Be yourself, sure, but speak reasonably and maturely if you need to air a grievance. The world has enough assholes.
Let's Talk About Bad Reviews- And here is one that I see ALL of the time: authors complaining about less than stellar reviews. I have seen rants which led me to a review that, honestly, seemed fair to me. Listen, not every bad review is an attempt to make you look bad by a shadowy organization that has everything to gain by your failure. And, sure, some bad reviews do come from people who want nothing more than to tear you down (see section above). You know what I do about a bad review? Nothing. I don't cry. I don't comment on it or engage the reviewer. I move on. And, take my word for it, if you try to defend yourself against unfair reviews, you are filling the Troll feeding trough. And they will come. Something else that needs addressing: 3 stars is not a bad rating/review. You are not going to bowl everyone over. If someone liked your story enough to give it three stars, don't complain.
Just Give me the Good News- (Another HELL NO) If you are fortunate enough to earn a circle of beta-readers, take their opinions seriously. Don't just look for a pat on the back. This is your advance screening, and the opportunity to fix things that may not work. Don't engage readers simply to stroke your ego. Use this precious gift to improve your story. I saw an author once ask his readers not to point out any mistakes or typos, because he just wanted to know how the story worked. Never discourage your readers from pointing out mistakes. For those of you who can't afford an editor (and even for those who can), this is crucial. I have seen mistakes float by several people and you can't have too many eyes looking out for the errors. And don't argue with your readers. Appreciate their feedback, whether you agree with it or not.
Well, the soap box is straining, so I am going to climb off of it before it breaks. Again, this is just how I see things and it is not a swipe at anyone. I think we forget that our main reason behind the keyboard is our love of writing. Don't let anyone taint what you love to do and be happy with the successes, no matter how small they may seem, and take the failures as part of the process. And celebrate and brag about the good if you want; you're entitled. There is very rarely an easy accomplishment in the world of publishing.
But most importantly: Be happy and enjoy this life that is really too short for all of the bullshit out there. And remember: real writers never stop writing. They just die.
Published on November 15, 2014 13:39
November 8, 2014
JOURNALS OF HORROR Virtual Release Event
Just a reminder: today (Nov 8th) is the Journals of Horror virtual release event. It will run on the Book of the Face from 12pm to 5pm PST and many of the contributors will be around to answer questions and, who knows, maybe give a few goodies away. If you have read Journals then you know how incredibly awesome the stories were and here is your chance to get into the twisted minds responsible for the first ever anthology dedicated to FOUND FICTION!
https://www.facebook.com/events/14924...
https://www.facebook.com/events/14924...
Published on November 08, 2014 09:16
July 22, 2014
HEROIN IN THE MAGIC NOW Release Event
HEROIN IN THE MAGIC NOW is the most intense, personal piece I have ever written. I have never bled so hard on the page in my life. Please join the release party event on 8-31, even if it is only to say hello and good luck. I will be giving away three signed paperbacks to randomly selected attendees and I will be available to answer any questions you may have!
https://www.facebook.com/events/15082...
https://www.facebook.com/events/15082...
Published on July 22, 2014 20:04
July 8, 2014
Appearances, Giveaways and Spotlights
Here are some happenings for July:
WHAT PRICE GORY signed paperback giveaway, right here on Goodreads. Available to US residents only (I swear I will open the next one up to other countries).
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
On 07-09-14, I will be on the Whispers in the Dark Talk Radio program, with a ton of other Axes of Evil contributors. I believe my segment occurs around 7pm Pacific Time. Come listen.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/viktorau...
Saturday, July 12th, I will making an appearance in Temecula, California at the Grace Mellman Community Library local author book fair. I will be signing books from 1:30 to 4:30pm.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-...
And finally, I am happy to announce that I am the author featured in the Author's Spotlight at Texas Terror Entertainment this month! Head over and read, for the first time anywhere, my brand new piece of flash fiction, The Thing at the Window Knows My Name!
http://umag666.wix.com/texas-terror-e...
WHAT PRICE GORY signed paperback giveaway, right here on Goodreads. Available to US residents only (I swear I will open the next one up to other countries).
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
On 07-09-14, I will be on the Whispers in the Dark Talk Radio program, with a ton of other Axes of Evil contributors. I believe my segment occurs around 7pm Pacific Time. Come listen.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/viktorau...
Saturday, July 12th, I will making an appearance in Temecula, California at the Grace Mellman Community Library local author book fair. I will be signing books from 1:30 to 4:30pm.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-...
And finally, I am happy to announce that I am the author featured in the Author's Spotlight at Texas Terror Entertainment this month! Head over and read, for the first time anywhere, my brand new piece of flash fiction, The Thing at the Window Knows My Name!
http://umag666.wix.com/texas-terror-e...
Published on July 08, 2014 19:49
Confessions of a Darkly Disturbed Ink Slinger
The blog of Terry M. West, horror author.
- Terry M. West's profile
- 133 followers
