I have to admit I'm a relatively new convert to the work of Joe R Lansdale. Everyone has to start somewhere, right? It actually started when one of my favorite “celebrities” Bruce Campbell announced he was signing on to do a movie based on a short story by one Mr. Lansdale. Curious, I sauntered over to his website . What I found there was a bit of a coup for me.
As some of you may or may not have gathered by this point, I fancy myself a bit of a writer—primarily of short fiction. On weekly basis, Lansdale features a new (and reliably good) short story on the site. Over the ensuing months/years I kept creeping back to the site and checking out what bit of literary yumminess was presented for general consumption. I became more interested and found myself buying books and then, finally, seeing the film that had started it all—the instant cult hit Bubba Ho-Tep .
Being a good little obsessive-compulsive I resolved that the man referred to as the Champion Mojo Storyteller should be a guest on this, our little humble webpage of freaky happiness. Fortunately, it appears the Mr. Lansdale agreed and swapped a little Q&A with yours truly:
Joe Mammy : One thing I find particularly interesting with authors is how they react in relation with where they live/were raised. Obviously Texas plays a significant role in your work; how would you describe your relationship with Texas in your writing?
Joe R Lansdale : I was born in Texas and have lived here all my life, except for a few months here and there, including some summers in Europe, but for the most part, I'm a Texas boy, and specifically an East Texas boy. Texas is bigger than life, and it's kind of a cross between what everyone things it is, the truth, and myth. I find folks have no idea what Texas is really like unless they live here, or have lived here a while. I, for example, am a liberal in what is considered a conservative state, but I find the real difference here is that people are independent and self-reliant. There is also a lot of darkness to East Texas, as I'm sure there is to most any place, but that's the darkness I write about. Those that see Texas as idyllic or as the pit are both wrong. It's both of these simultaneously. I think if I were writing about Omaha, Nebraska, I'd find the same things to write about, but the voice would be different. I love the Texas voice as well. It's descriptive, colorful and original.
Joe : I have to admit that I was first introduced to your work through your website. I really like your writing style with your short stories and I even borrowed some of the idea from your site when I set up the fiction portion of mine. I've read that you don't really have a preference between novels and short stories anymore. How do you view short stories—a lost art form, a survival mechanism for writers without a lot of time or attention span or something else completely?
JRL : It depends on what day you talk to me. I actually do prefer short stories, but I've learned to love novels. I like writing screenplays, comics, teleplays, essays, reviews. But, prose is my favorite, and the short story is more fun than anything else. To be technical, it's actually the novella form I most enjoy. A tough length in modern times, but I've been fairly successful with it. THE MAGIC WAGON, THE DRIVE-IN, THE BIG BLOW, DEAD IN THE WEST, other works of mine, are actually novellas.
Joe : One thing that impresses me is that most people I think would consider you a genre writer, which I guess I generally equate with crummy romance novels or mass-produced westerns. What you've managed to do in the work I've seen is take a genre and turn it into something that's distinct and unique without making it too gimmicky. Is it a balancing act or just something that comes naturally to work within the boundaries of a genre but still make it something more than just a western, horror, sci-fi piece, etc?
JRL : To some extent it comes naturally—after thirty years of writing. Truthfully, I think it was always in me and it took me a few years to understand that, and I've spent the rest of my writing career trying to figure it out and do better and not become satisfied, but to keep reaching.
Joe : In reviewing your bio it looks like you've done a bit of everything, writing-wise. How did you end up doing cartoons and graphic novels? Did it just feel like a natural extension of what you were already doing or a conscientious effort to try something new (or a combination of the two)?
JRL : I grew up on comic books, and they were my first reading love. I really learned to read reading comics. I always wanted to write them, and eventually, I did just that. I loved cartoons as well, and when I was asked if I wanted to write teleplays for the Batman the Animated series, I jumped at it. I also did one for Batman and Robin, and also worked on an animated Superman. So, both are extensions of childhood loves.
Joe : How would you differentiate between a writer/author and a storyteller?
JRL : A write is someone who can learn through examination what the elements of writing are, and storyteller is a weaver of natural stories that may be outrageous, but somehow always seem acceptable real, at least while the tale is being told. And if they seem outrageous in the telling, then the storyteller is able to make you suspend belief, or at least enjoy the step over the cliff. Both require practice and training, but I do think storytelling tends to be a bit more of an innate ability. Mine was awakened by reading, especially by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Joe : Champion Mojo Storyteller—is that a title like in wrestling that comes with a belt, something you're born with or something you need some sort of holy man to bestow?
JRL : That's something my webmaster dreamed up, and it's memorable. I would never call myself that.
Joe : “ Bubba Ho-Tep ” a short story you wrote was recently made into a movie. What was your involvement in the film and what did you think about the finished product?
JRL : I loved it. I was consulted all along the way, and my son and I went out to watch some of the filming. Don and Bruce just knocked it out of the park. And so did Ossie Davis.
Joe : If someone asked you if they should/could become a writer, what would you tell them?
JRL : If you have to do it you will. If you can quit, quit. That means you didn't really want to do it.
Joe : What's the biggest misconception people have about writing and writers?
JRL : That it's glamorous and romantic. Well, actually, sometimes it is. I get to travel a lot, on publisher's dime, all over the world, and I make pretty good money, so that's nice. I live a pretty nice life.
Joe : Free rant section: take a topic of your choosing and go for it, man.
JRL : I'm not up to a rant, except to say I'm worn out with the Bush administration and its religiosity, misplaced macho attitude, and it's anti-intellectualism, it's stupid choices and all the dead Americans that accomplished something all right, but not something that really needed to be done, and then there's the fact that there are dictators all over the world, baby. And what about the Saudis, they are not a democratic government either, but no one is taking democracy to them, or Iran, or North Korea, who we actually know is making weapons of mass destruction, and they say so and thumb their nose at us, but we say we must go to Iraq do that shit. The Bush administration can blow me. As long as their mouth is clean.
Joe : You've won numerous awards, started your own school of martial arts and have the coolest title (the aforementioned “Champion Mojo Storyteller”) in recent memory—what do you consider to be your greatest achievements?
JRL : My family. Hands down. My friendships.
Joe : What are you working on now and any idea what's coming up?
JRL : I'm working on a screenplay.
Joe : Any parting words of wisdom for the kids at home?
JRL : Always check your zipper before going out in public. It should be up.
*****
Joe R Lansdale continues to kick ass and take names from his home in Texas. Check out the Joe-Mammy.com Store for some of Joe's (not me, the other one…) work including (but not limited to) Sunset and Sawdust , The Bottoms , Captains Outrageous and A Fine Dark Line .
To check out a more recent interview with Joe (complete with audio clips!) click here.