An Interview with Award-Winning Horror Writer Jack Ketchum

Horror writer Jack Ketchum is a busy man. To date, he's penned eleven novels and more short stories than you can shake the proverbial stick at. He's won the Bram Stoker Award from the Horror Writers Association four times--twice for Best Short Story, once for Best Collection, and once for Best Long Fiction. His novella The Crossings was even cited by master of the macabre Stephen King at the 2003 National Book Awards. In fact, when speaking of Jack, Mr. King had this to say: "Ketchum has become a kind of hero to those of us who write tales of terror and suspense. He is, quite simply, one of the best in the business." Much to my delight, Jack recently took time out of his hectic schedule to talk with me about writing, cats, Reese's peanut butter cups, and much more...

SUZANNE: Welcome, Jack. Let's begin at the beginning. Did you start writing stories as a child, or did that come later? And what were your other main interests growing up (books, theater, TV, comics, etc.)?

JACK: I started making up stories with my little plastic soldiers, knights, pirates, and dinosaurs on the floor of my bedroom or back in the woods by the brook. They were pretty elaborate. The first fiction I ever did was in the seventh grade, a "paper" for social studies class, in which I told the story of Achilles dragging Hector around the walls of Troy--from Hector's point of view. A-minus.

My interests... Books, comics, movies, rock 'n roll, show tunes, TV, dinosaurs--the woods again--pretty much any activity that didn't demand too much socializing, or where I could easily walk away from socializing. I didn't care for most of the neighborhood kids much.

SUZANNE: Were your childhood Halloween costumes run-of-the-mill, or did you really go for it horror-style and whip out the disembodied hands and fake blood? And would you please nominate your choice for the best Halloween candy in the entire universe?

JACK: The best candy? Reese's peanut butter cups, hands down.