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
To Purchase A Printed Copy of this book or other Graveside Tales Books
Visit GravesideBooks.com
THE BEAST WITHIN, edited by Matt Hults: $16.95
Grab a silver bullet and prepare yourself for 20 tales of animalistic terror crafted by authors from around the world. Travel across the ages and go beyond the myth to discover the horrific secrets of the werebeasts. From ancient cultures to the high-tech future, nowhere is safe from the shape-shifting bloodlust of The Beast Within.
HAWG by Steven Shrewsbury: $14.95
Blue collar tough Andrew White knows that in the rural community of Miller’s Fork bad things are best left in the dark. He soon learns that monsters wear many shapes. In a populace rife with of vice and deception, something has broken loose … something hidden and feral.
EVERDEAD by Rio Youers: $14.95
Toby Matthews has come to San Antonio to recover from a broken heart, and it seems that beautiful Cass Tait may be the cure. But as their relationship begins to bloom, they stumble upon an unspeakable darkness. They stare evil in the eye, they see its true heart, and know that only they can stop it. Before the sun goes down, they must decide whether to run …or whether to stand like heroes and fight.
FRIED! FAST FOOD, SLOW DEATHS:
Edited by Colleen Morris and Joel A. Sutherland $14.95
23 stories of monsters, maniacs, murderers and milkshakes.
Devour the tale of a band of hobos who crave human flesh. Chow down on the myth of an abandoned restaurant that serves as a gateway for lost and demented souls. Gorge yourself on the story of the veggie burger that turns human beings into human beans. Pig out on the account of the fast food joint that stands as humanity’s last hope for survival in a zombie-infested world.
SIDESHOW P.I.: THE DEVIL’S GARDEN,
By Nathaniel Lambert and Kevin Sweeney: $12.95
New Ramoth. A city covered in scar tissue, where survival of the fittest decides who’s on top and crime is the only promotion system. Enter Eddie “Dog Boy”
Gnash, ex-carnival freak turned private investigator. Now the bodies are piling up, and the fate of New Ramoth rests in the hands of this fur-covered freak—
Eddie Gnash, Sideshow P.I.
HARVEST HILL: edited by Michael Hultquist and Douglas Hutcheson.
31 Tales of Halloween Horror
Welcome to Harvest Hill, Tennessee: a seemingly idyllic community. But within the shadows of this restful town roams a centuries-old evil that rears itself in some awful form or influence every Halloween when the veil between worlds is thinnest. We offer a choice crop of truly disturbing accounts - large and small, stretching from the 1700s into the present day - as a warning to all.
DOPPELGÄNGER by Byron Starr: $14.95
James Taylor has always had strange dreams.
Now a new terror has entered James’s sleep, bringing with it visions of death and carnage. Visions of a beast that stalks human prey and slaughters without remorse. Visions that soon become a reality for the residents of Newton, Texas as the creature’s victims are discovered. Like it or not, James knows it is up to him to act. Alone or with the help of local law enforcement, he plans to use his special talent to stop this monstrous Doppelgänger before it strikes again.
Table of Contents
Graveside Tales
Table of Contents
Graveside Tales
Michael West, Skull Full of Kisses
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends