Skull Full of Kisses
Page 16
I hope the master would approve.
***
God Like Me
“God Like Me” was my first short fiction sale, so it holds a special place in my heart. The title just popped into my head one day, and I had to come up with a story to fit it. I must confess...I had a fun time writing it. Maybe too much fun. It’s probably for the best that I don’t possess any psychic abilities.
***
To Know How to See
“To Know How to See” holds the record for most re-writes.
This tale was initially set in a high school. I finished my first draft, sent it off to my pre-readers, and then, the very next day...Columbine happened. No editor was going to buy a story about a student who goes on a killing spree in his school cafeteria.
I shoved it into a drawer, but I never forgot about it. I would take the manuscript out from time to time and toy around with it, trying to find a way to make it more marketable (At one point, I even changed the main character’s name to Calvin and wrote it as if the kid from Calvin and Hobbes had grown up and finally lost all touch with reality). Then, one day it hit me. I simply changed the setting to a spaceship in a distant corner of the galaxy and turned real-world horror into science fiction thriller.
Still wanting to break into APEX, I sent the re-write to Jason Sizemore, who wanted me to make it more ambiguous. He felt, and quite rightly so, that the existence (or non-existence) of aliens should be left up to the reader. This necessitated draft after draft to get the proper mix—add or subtract one detail and it made it too obvious either way. But Jason was patient, and the final result was one of the most satisfying of my career.
***
For Her
This was written for a horror anthology that never happened—one where every story had to feature a prostitute. I’d been interested in the Cihuacoatl mythos for some time, and, in my twisted little brain, I saw a way to put it to good use here. Having never been to a legal brothel myself, I had to have several lengthy conversations with a lovely lady who worked at a Nevada ranch. Oh, the sacrifices we make for our craft!
When the anthology fell apart, I thought “For Her” would be lost as the market flooded with orphaned prostitute stories. I was pleasantly surprised, however, when it found a home with Tim Deal and Shroud magazine. Something about that first line got his attention.
***
Sanctuary
I’d always wanted to write about Tibet. I’d researched the clothing, the architecture, the food...but I had no story. Then, the opening of this tale played out in my head like a movie—the blowing snow, the glowing eyes, the fear. At first, I imagined the creatures as a pack of Yeti, but then I wanted something more original, a creature people might not be as familiar with. That’s when I happened upon the legend of the Mamo, and the story almost wrote itself.
***
Goodnight
I’d had the idea of twins trying to fool Death for some time, but I didn’t really know what to do with it until I had children of my own. One night, while reading my sons a goodnight story, I had this image of my late grandmother West reading to them instead. She died long before they were born, and I wondered what she would think of them, what advice she would give to them if they asked. I tried to write the ideas out as separate stories, but then my muse slapped me upside the head and told me they were two halves of the same tale.
When I finished “Goodnight,” I showed it to my living grandmother (something I’d written that I thought she might be able to stomach). She read it in one sitting, then told me that her childhood neighbor died when he jumped into a haystack and landed on a pitchfork. She said she didn’t remember ever telling me that, and I didn’t remember ever hearing it.
I like “Goodnight” a lot, and it thrills me that the story strikes a chord with so many. It was named the Best Horror Short Story of 2005 in the annual P&E Readers Poll, and people still come up to me and tell me they’ve read it to their own children. One day, I hope to read it to my children’s children.
***
And that’s all there is to say. I hope you’ve enjoyed our time together; I know I have. Now, if you’ll forgive me, I hate to be a bad host, but I need to get back to work. There are more stories to write, more tales to tell, and I can’t wait to share them with you.
Until next time...
—Michael West
Indianapolis, Indiana
June, 2009
About the Author
Michael West is a member of the Horror Writers Association and served as President of its local chapter, Indiana Horror Writers. He lives and works in the Indianapolis area with his wife, their two children, their bird, Rodan, and turtle, Gamera.
His children are convinced that spirits move through the woods near their home.
“Jiki.” Copyright 2006. Originally published in City Slab #9.
“The Bridge.” Copyright 2005. Originally published in the anthology Wicked Karnival: Halloween Horrors.
“Dogs of War.” Copyright 2006. Originally published in the anthology Dreaded Pall: Chilling Stories of Heart Pounding Horror.
“Trolling.” Copyright 2008. Originally published in the anthology Dark Harvest.
“Einstein’s Slingshot.” Copyright 2010.
“God Like Me.” Copyright 2007. Originally published in the anthology Raw Meat.
“To Know How to See.” Copyright 2008. Originally published in Apex: Science Fiction and Horror Digest #12.
“For Her.” Copyright 2008. Originally published in Shroud #5.
“Sanctuary.” Copyright 2010.
“Goodnight.” Copyright 2005. Originally published in Wicked Karnival #6.
Connect With Me
My Blog: http://www.bymichaelwest.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bymichaelwest
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bymichaelwest
Twitter: bymichaelwest
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/michaelwest
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Table of Contents
Graveside Tales
Table of Contents
Graveside Tales