'Salem's Lot, a Lot

I read 'Salem's Lot in 1977. It was the first Stephen King book I ever read. I might have sampled some stories in Night Shift prior, but he only had a few titles back then, and it was definitely the first novel of his that I took on. My mother had read it and I became intrigued when I witnessed her shriek and hurl the paperback across the room (I later found out that she was at the part when Marjorie Glick sits up on the morgue table). Thus began my longest affair with any writer ever. 

I'm not sure how many times I have perused the book since. I used to think revisiting novels was a waste of time, but now I do it not only for research into the mechanics, but for pure pleasure as well. I've compared great horror—novels and film—to comfort food, and 'Salem's Lot is no exception. Rereading the book, to me, is like slipping into a favorite recliner, or a warm fireplace on a rainy Autumn day, or having a delicious piece of cake... maybe red velvet.

I'm sure I've read the novel at least five times—once for every decade I've been alive—maybe more, though it's difficult to pinpoint the reasons for its magnetism. It was by no means the first book I ever completed. Perhaps it was the first that I ever thoroughly enjoyed. I relish the nostalgia of the small-town setting, in a decade long before technology kept everyone connected. King himself has described the book as Dracula comes to Peyton Place. Maybe its draw is similar to the addiction people have with soap operas, a voyeuristic peek into the secret lives of middle America (or in this case New England).

Several chapters have become nothing short of iconic (some enhanced by Toby Hooper's television miniseries of 1979). Who could forget:

Mike Ryerson's in the open grave of Danny Glick ("Stop staring at me.").

Danny Glick at Mark Petrie's window ("Let me in.").

Ryerson returning to Matt Burke's bedroom ("You'll sleep with the dead, teacher.").

Marjorie Glick sitting up on the morgue table ("Danny, are you there?...").

And the list goes on. I don't know why these scenes stay with me. King was young when he wrote them—good, but nowhere near the writer he has matured into. Yet this is the book that immediately comes to my mind when he's mentioned. It's magic.

After rereading the novel last month, I decided to watch both television adaptions again—the Tobe Hooper version from 1979, and the 2004 version starring Rob Lowe (skipping the unofficial, un-watchable Cohen sequel, A Return to Salem's Lot (1987). Neither of these two versions capture the overall magic, but both have their charms. 

Hooper's Lot does a good job creating the close-knit feel of the community, but sacrifices substance for scares by turning Barlow into an unintelligible knockoff of Murnau's Nosferatu. The Rob Lowe version has an excellent cast (Donald Sutherland, Rutger Hauer, Samantha Mathis, Andre Braugher), exposes more of the darker underbelly of the community, but manages somehow to mangle the story through modernization—as if the writer is saying, the book is great, but I can do better by changing it—a ridiculous Hollywood paradox (territorial pissing is what I call it—a term I borrow from the late, great Kurt Cobain).

Horrible movie adaptions and Stephen King are in most cases synonymous, and when inevitably admonished by a reader that a movie version has "ruined his book," King simply answers—and I paraphrase:

No it didn't. See. There they all are, lined up on the shelf.

And so, as always, I return to the book because the essence remains unchanged within the binding. And with this recent reading—coupling, again, his lush prose with my mind's eye, I found the answer: 

The magic is in the collaboration.

TWS

The List

One of my regrets in life is not taking time to speak with Karl Edward Wagner.

In the early 1990s, I used to be a member of the HWA (Horror Writers Association). Through their annual conventions I got to meet many of the writers I admire, including heavy-hitters like Richard Matheson, Harlan Ellison, and Robert Bloch. I was once in a huckster room, picking up a paperback copy of In A Lonely Place, when someone said, "You ought to have him sign it. He's right over there," and pointed to a intimidating, biker-esque, bearded man standing alone. "Maybe I will," I answered, and did not. He died a few years later.

KEW was known primarily for his character, Kane, a dark fantasy anti-hero of short stories and novels. Though this is not my genre of choice, I have read a collection of Kane short stories and thoroughly enjoyed it. But he also wrote several award-winning horror stories, originally published in now defunct (and sorely missed) magazines, like Twilight Zone and The Horror Show.   

I won't rattle on about the plots of these stories, but the imagery, subject matter, and prose, have stayed with me for three decades--not unlike other established masters (Poe, Lovecraft, Blackwood, immediately come to mind). There are two collections containing the stories: In a Lonely Place, and Why Not You and I? I believe both are out of print currently, but used copies are out there. I have a couple of the former in well-worn 1983 paperbacks, and the latter in a beautiful Dark Harvest edition, 1987.

Mr. Wagner and I have East Tennessee in common, and I suspect that this is part of my strong connection with his writing. He was born there; I grew up there. Many of the stories are set in and around Knoxville, and the Great Smokey Mountains. I have fond memories of walking slightly off campus while attending the University of Tennessee, and wondering if I was treading the same sidewalks as in Where the Summer Ends. 

Recently, having reacquainted myself with the two collections, I got curious as to Wagner's influences. I started with his website, discovering that he has a cited list of what he considered to be the 39 best horror novels (divided into 3 groups of 13--supernatural, science fiction, and non-supernatural). I found a complete copy of this list on the Miskatonic Books Blog here.

Treasure maps are not that easy to come by. When you do happen upon one such as this, the level of excitement is difficult to define. For me--an avid reader who prides himself on being fairly knowledgeable of the genre of my choice--I was simultaneously mystified, unnerved, and giddy. There were several authors and titles on that list that I had never read or--for that matter--even heard of! I am only familiar with five. FIVE! That means there are at least thirty-four titles out there that I am now curious to read.

Of course, many of these are old, out-of-print, expensive, forbidden, or cursed... but that makes it all the more exciting to track them down. I have already pre-ordered Echo of a Curse by R.R.Ryan, being reissued in a brand new edition next month with a forward by none other than Stephen King himself. Happy Halloween!  

So, even 20+ years after his death, Wagner is the author that keeps on giving... to me, at least. Thank you, Karl. I wish had told you in person how much you mean to me.

Before I go, I want to let you know that I now have some free stories up on Wattpad, as well as the first chapter of my novel in progress (see, I don't spend all of my time reading!). Check them out and, if you do, please leave comments. I'm always interested in what you think.

TWS

I have fought with the idea of having a blog for a couple of years now. Granted, I could talk horror movies until the cows come home. I'm a bibliophile, worked a number of years for a large chain bookstore, and can talk about pretty much any category of fiction or nonfiction knowledgeably, if only in some cases, peripherally. I'm a music whore, indulge in pop culture observation and conversation, and have in the last decade, become quite an accomplished cook. But what can I say about these interests (obsessions) that hasn't already been said in hundreds of magazines already, not to mention a ba-zillion existing blogs?

Pretty much nothing.

I've read almost as many "how-to" books about the self-publishing industry as I have independently published zombie novels--and that's a fucking lot, as I have long been obsessed with that sub-genre (over 35 years now). I wish I could say the ratio for good-to-bad was 50-50, but it's closer to 20-80--for both. There's usually much emphasis on marketing and very little on quality of writing and workmanship. That doesn't bother me too much, because I've been writing for a long time and have confidence in my skills and what I create. What bothers me is that marketing, necessary evil that it is, takes away from my writing time.

That includes this blog.

So, I've had to make some rules for myself when writing blog entries. Whether they stick or not, we'll see. But the secret to success is adaptability, and I will commit to these rules loosely with that in mind. I see no reason in boring you with details of the constraints I am placing upon myself, but will reveal the most important one:

Keep it short.

I want to deliver maximum quality in minimum quantity. I strive to be the USA Today of the blogging world. In this era of Facebook pokes and Tweet wars, blog entries should not be overly long and boring. God knows, I've got more important things to do.... like get back to my social media.

And so, back to the legitimate answer of the question from the first stanza. What can I offer here that you can get no where else in the world? Me. My voice. It's aged, but served me well. Perhaps it will one day be of benefit to you.

That being said... I finished the McCammon book, The Border, and enjoyed it. I am currently reading Wait for Signs  by Craig Johnson, of the Longmire series. I have never read anything by Johnson previously, nor have I seen the Longmire television show. But I have to say, this book of short stories is great and I may be indulging in more. Recommendations?

I want to tell you about a dead guy I'm obsessed with but I'm out of time. Soon, I promise.

TWS

Hello, and welcome to my first blog. I'm not much for keeping a journals, but I do have interests and I do write. A good place to find my writing is here on Amazon. I hope to have some freebies up on Wattpad in the near future.

I read a lot of books and watch a lot of movies. My interest in the horror genre goes way back to my childhood and those that know me will attest that I am somewhat of an aficionado. I would like to utilize this blog to connect with other like-minded souls. I don't want to limit it to just horror, as I cover a lot of ground in various media. But horror does bear mentioning as it is a big love of mine.

Other than scary books and movies, I would also like to discuss the writing process. I have been writing for more than half my life, but have just got to where I do it every day and have for the last two and a half years. I am continuously learning and improving with the daily schedule, and I am curious as to what methods you may have tried to achieve results.

It will come up more as we go, but I am in the process of revisions of my first complete novel. This second draft has taken me much longer than I had anticipated. I agonize over it, but it also thrills me. I look forward to its completion and hope that people find it worth the wait.

I am somewhat "old-school," and find much more enjoyment in proven masters of the genre. Examples would include Richard Matheson, Stephen King, and Joe Lansdale... but I am not afraid to sample anything, and frequently read self-published work to discover new gems (I particularly like apocalyptic zombie yarns, and have read my weight in them--good and bad).

I am currently reading The Border, by Robert McCammon. So far, it is a great book that reminds me of earlier McCammon novels like Swan Song and Stinger. It is a welcome return to form, even though I am a big fan of his more recent colonial American mystery series as well.

Well, that's it for this initial entry. You are most welcome to join me on this journey. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, methods, observations, and recommendations.

TWS