3Q’s – John Mantooth prefers to come home to the lights on!
Today’s guest is an author whose work has captivated readers and has recently released a stunning novel that is getting tons of rave reviews. John Mantooth came onto my radar (as a lot of authors do) because of a recommendation from fellow reviewer, Tony Jones.
I knew I had to invite John to come do a 3Q’s, so I’m super excited to have him as today’s 3Q’s guest!
Welcome John!
Steve: What does your process look like once you finish your first draft? Do you immediately dive back into it, or do you take some time away?
John: My process is so messy that it is sometimes difficult to determine what my first draft really is. I rewrite a lot as I go. But, when I have what I’d call a readable draft, yeah, I like to take some time off. Usually this is when I send the manuscript to my agent for feedback. He’s good about responding quickly, but I often continue to wait before diving back in, even after I’ve seen his comments. The more time I can stay away, the more likely I’ll be able to read it with fresh eyes when I return to it. I want it to be a little foreign to me when I go back, otherwise, I can’t get a good feel for what is working and what isn’t working.
Steve: Do you believe cryptozoological creatures exist? If so, which one do you think has the best chance of being proven to exist?
John: Twenty, even ten years ago, I would have said, “No, cryptozoological creatures do not exist.” Now? I’m not so sure. As I’ve gotten older, I find certainty is an increasingly difficult wall to scale. The nature of this world is a mystery to me, and the possibility of such creatures only serves to deepen that mystery. So, I guess my answer is “maybe?” Sorry if that’s a bit of a cop-out. Like I said, certainty and I aren’t really on speaking terms these days.
Steve: Of the books or stories you’ve released, which is your personal favorite and why?
John: I think the purest story I ever wrote was “The Water Tower.” It’s in my collection Shoebox Train Wreck and was selected by Paula Guran for one of her Best Dark Fantasy and Horror books in 2010. Most of the stories I’ve ever written have been a struggle, usually involving multiple drafts and extreme agitation. But not that one. The idea occurred to me on a drive in rural South Alabama. By the time I got to a computer, I had the whole thing in my head. I sat down and wrote it fast, and it was pretty much done with that draft. It’s also, in many ways, the story that best represents me as a writer, and what I am trying to do (if that doesn’t sound too presumptuous). Which is to make the world, the real world, strange, to make the reader—and myself—see it as the alien and beautiful thing it really is. That story comes closest to accomplishing that, I think. Of course, I might be wrong. They say authors are always the worst judges of their own work.
Steve: Bonus Fun Question – What was the best practical joke you’ve ever been involved in?
John: Oh, I’ve been involved in a few. But the one I’ll share was a joke played on me. When I was in college, I lived with three other guys in an apartment. One night when I came in after a late shift at work, I noticed all the lights were off in the apartment. That was unusual. We typically stayed up until all hours of the night. This made me uneasy. When I went to the door, I saw it had been left open and some of the furniture had been turned over, as if there had been a struggle. Cautiously (stupidly), I went inside. There on the wall, was a message written in what appeared to be blood. I killed them all. At this point, I backed out. It’s easy to remember this now and think, “yeah it’s obvious they were pranking me,” but in the moment, late at night, when the apartment is silent and dark, it’s pretty damn scary. I went down to a friend’s apartment and called my apartment. Luckily, one of my roommates had been expecting a call, and answered. That was when I knew. I wasn’t to upset at them. They all owed me for the pranks I’d pulled on them over the years.
Steve: Oh, that’s great! Good thing you called the apartment and not the police!
Thank you so much for doing this, John!
To find more of his work, check the links!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/John-Mantooth/author/B006Z1LDA4
Twitter: https://twitter.com/busfulloflosers
