INTERVIEW WITH KEN STARK

I don’t only write horror, but I mostly do. Why? I have no idea. But I grew up during the cold war on a steady diet of science fiction, disaster movies and comic books, and if that heady cocktail of alternate realities wasn’t enough, there were always the nightly newscasts from a far-off land called Vietnam to add even more flavour. Stir in a dash of The Day After, garnish with a soupcon of Night Gallery, and voila, we have the brain of yours truly, served decidedly chilled.

If I can move a reader, I am honoured. If those words I string together resonate with the reader in some way, I am thrilled. But if one reader out of a thousand experiences an actual nightmare because of what I wrote, then I will know that I’ve done my job right, and you may consider me ecstatic.

“I began imagining how I could make some of those zombie traits scientifically plausible, and I realized that there was a great story there.”
Ken Stark

Who is Ken Stark (in two lines)?

Just a guy with stories to tell. I string words together, I splash paint on a canvas, and I spend most of my time in alternate realities.

What was your favourite book as a kid?

The Foundation trilogy by Isaac Asimov. I always preferred authors who didn’t write down to their readers.

If you found a winning lottery ticket, what is the first thing you would do?

I would buy a beach house in Hawaii and spend the rest of my days writing and painting in paradise.

What is your favourite band ever?

I have to say Pink Floyd. There’s never a wrong time for Pink Floyd.

Where did you get the idea, the seed, for Stage 3?

I’ve always loved zombies, but so much about the borders on the impossible. I mean, all bodily functions have shut down, so how do they swallow? How do they digest? Why haven’t their eyeballs shriveled into raisins by now? I began imagining how I could make some of those zombie traits scientifically plausible, and I realized that there was a great story there. Stage 3 doesn’t upend everything we know and love about the living dead, but it does make them a little more believable.

What is your advice for new authors, or what is the mistake you would avoid, looking back in time?

I always say that every author should write their story their way. Whether or not it is a critical success, someone out there is waiting for exactly that book. You can try for commercial success by writing the genre of the day, but that story you wanted to tell and never did will haunt you forever.

Coffee or wine?

Neither, actually. I know, I know, I should be drummed out of the writing community, but I’ve never developed a taste for either. Now beer on the other hand…

Which is the book you cannot put down?

Any book that not only captures my interest, but holds it relentlessly. Usually that involves plenty of action, but not necessarily. A riveting mystery or suspenseful prose will get me every time.

What is the best and the worst on the writing process?

The best is when I try to force a character to say or do something, and they refuse. Of course it’s me doing the refusing, but that means that I’ve created a strong, three-dimensional character who can now dictate much of the action.

There actually is no worst for me when it comes to writing. I love every bit of the process, including editing. The real pain comes after the book is done. No part of querying or marketing could ever be considered fun.

Ironman or Hellboy?

Oh, come now. I’m a Stark. Ironman, of course!

Do you have a message for your readers?

Yes, I do. Dear reader, thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving my meagre scribblings a chance. I truly hope you enjoyed the ride.

Zombies or demons?

I am obliged to say zombies, but demons carry more weight. Both can kill you or take over your body, but only one can torment you for all of eternity.

Do you like poetry or graphic art? If so, do you have a favourite one?

I love all forms of art, but a good piece of graphic art can tell a thousand stories. I grew up loving Frank Frazetta’s work, and as a former comic book nut, I have to throw Alex Ross into the mix as well.

Which kind of horror do you like for your own enjoyment?

I still like the old stuff. 50’s monster movies, and books I’ve read a hundred times like War of the Worlds or anything by Poe. They’re not exactly scary anymore, but they still entertain.

Where do you find inspiration?

Anywhere and everywhere. Pick some random person on the street or a house in the suburbs, and I can create a spooky story just by giving reality a little twist. That’s usually where the best horror stories come from. Real people, real situations, and one tiny little twist followed to its most terrifying conclusion.

“I love all forms of art, but a good piece of graphic art can tell a thousand stories.”
Ken Stark

What scares you the most?

It takes a whole lot to scare me. Honestly, I don’t even remember the last time I was actually scared. I can imagine myself being frightened in certain situations, so I channel that into my writing and pass the scares onto someone else.

What is the greatest challenge you have overcome?

This is the first time I’ve spoken of this, but I suffered from depression for most of my life. I won’t say that I’ve overcome the problem because I don’t think you ever can, but it no longer holds sway. It’s still a part of me, but I no longer suffer.

What would you tell a reader that has still not started one of your books?

Taste in reading material is such a personal thing that I would never try to convince anyone to read anything of mine. But hey, Stage 3 is free right now, so flip through a few pages and see what’s going on. Maybe it’s right up your alley.

If you ended up on a deserted island, what two items would you want to have with you (beyond water and food)?

The practical side of me says a lighter and a tent. The romantic in me says a pad and a pen.

Choose a superpower.

Is complete control over all the laws of physics too much to ask?

Where can readers find you?

The best place to find me is on my website, www.kenstark.ca, or on Twitter under the handle @PennilessScribe. I’m also on Facebook, but not very often.

“That’s usually where the best horror stories come from. Real people, real situations, and one tiny little twist followed to its most terrifying conclusion.”
Ken Stark

Who is/are your biggest supporter/s?

My sister, Nancy. She has been my biggest fan since the beginning.

Pineapple on pizza?

I’ve had it, and it’s not too bad, but who wants a pizza that’s not too bad? Give me meat, baby! Carve up an animal, process that flesh until it’s no longer recognizable, and layer it on. Maybe throw on some mushrooms and onions too, just so I can say I’ve eaten healthy.

Are you a day or night person?

I am a night person, absolutely. I always have been. If I’m in bed before midnight, something is wrong. If I’m up before noon, clearly we’ve had an earthquake.

Have you always been a writer?

Yes, always. Some of my earliest memories are of sitting on my bed with a school notebook, trying to build worlds. I was never any good, and I rarely finished anything I started, but the bug has been with me since the day I could hold a pencil.

What is your favourite quote?

From Winston Churchill: Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with it is a toy and an amusement. Then it becomes a mistress, then it becomes a master, then it becomes a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster and fling him to the public

If an apocalypse broke loose, what is the first thing you would do?

As long as my home remained intact and there was no immediate danger, I would hunker down for a few days or weeks, assess what’s happening outside, and plan my next move. Nothing spells disaster quite like running around in a blind panic.

Do you have new projects going on?

Oh, always. I give most of my time to whichever manuscript is my current main project, and there are always others vying for attention. My current WIP list is two novels and three short stories.

“Nothing spells disaster quite like running around in a blind panic.”
Ken Stark

Is there anything else you’d want to tell our audience?

Watch for a new release soon, and until then, please feel free to drop by my website, have a look around, and download a free short story or two. The address is easy to remember. www.kenstark.ca