Withersin’s Damned Interview with:

 

James M Harris

I am a writer from Sussex in the UK – think rolling countryside, cream-teas with extended little fingers, and summer fetes. I spend most of my time searching eBay for old anthologies, seeking out precious little gems from my favourite authors. I adore the short-story, and have yet to rid it from my system before starting the novella, novel.

 

List published works:       

“Making Up For Lost Time” – Blood Blade & Thruster Magazine.

 

“Fritz Volt’s Atomic Stimuli Intensifier Helmet” – Blood Blade & Thruster Magazine.

 

“The Flower Lady” – The Great Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

 

“An Even Existence” – The Horror Library, Shots Mystery Magazine.

 

“Movie Queen” – Withersin Magazine.

 

“Leading Lights” – Distant Passages Vol III (Double-Edged Press).

 

“Undecidedly Peckish” – The Laugh It Off Annual.

 

“Always The Bad Guy” – Crimespree Magazine.

 

List website: http://www.myspace.com/DickDart

 

How can we contact you?

Insert a cassette-tape into an old ZX Spectrum, wrap it in tin-foil, jam a wire coat-hanger into the headphone socket, then type: 100010100101000100101011010 – you may get me that way.

 

 

In your own words, define Withersin.

I envision Withersin as a dark, shrouded female, entwined in nature, seductive, alluring, insidious, and any man would wither at her advance.

 

If you were a sideshow act, what would you be?

The one that makes parents turn away in disgust whilst their children giggle and stare in wonder.

 

What is your greatest non-literary influence?

Lance Armstrong (7 times Tour de France winner, and cancer survivor). He influenced me (changed my life) into becoming regional hill-climb champion, twice.

My Dad for all the old British comedies I watched as a kid – Will Hay, Tony Hancock. I also adore Laurel & Hardy. Contemporary comedy relies on irony and sarcasm too much.

 

Describe your most irrational fear.

When a baby suddenly grins at you – I find this deeply perturbing.

 

How about your most guilty pleasure?

Randomly pulling out cables from important looking hospital machines.

 

Name the most disturbing nursery rhyme/fairy tale you can recall.

The one where a wolf gobbles up the lambs and falls asleep by a well. The mother sheep finds him and slits open his stomach, rescuing her young, and replacing them with rocks, before stitching him back up. He subsequently falls down the well.

 

Do you eat meat?

Venison with an Italian beer.

 

What were the skies like when you were young?

The skies were full of fluffy dreams and promises. Now they seem to contain dark clouds of doubt.

 

Name your favorite garden tool.

I once manhandled a hoe in my garden, but it stole my credit card after.

 

Name your least favorite color, first job and worst job.

Grey.

 

Does a grueling paper-round count?

 

Funeral Assistant.

 

Favorite:  Author, Movie, Music Group, Song, and Quote.

Roald Dahl, Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, James Herbert, Peter Straub, Richard Laymon (for all the full breasts involved), Clive Barker & Jack Ketchum.

 

King Kong & Apt Pupil

 

Pearl Jam – Alive and Jeremy

 

Nirvana

 

Guns ‘N’ Roses – Mr. Brownstone

 

Metallica

 

“When creative people suffer mental problems, the line between seeming and believing disappears." - Stephen King - Bag Of Bones.

 

If you were a loaf of bread what kind would you be?

A fresh, nutty granary please.

 

Weirdest news you have read in your local newspaper:

Bulge In Trousers Was Ecstasy – Police finding copious amounts of pills stashed in a man’s pocket.

 

Why horror?

Because living with a controlling wife and two even more controlling pussy-cats, horror is all I know.

 

Here's a photo. (seen on Interview main page)

“INEDIBLE NOT INTENDED FOR HUMAN FOOD”

You have 112 words. Go.

Frank glanced across at Jim. “So you’re taking the long route? Any particular reason? Only, the depot will freak out if we miss a run.”

 

Jim grinned. “I’ve got that sorted.”

 

Frank raised his eyebrows. “Yeah?”

 

“We’ll have time to make another run,” Jim explained, “because we’ll miss out dumping this load at the Newport depot. We’re gonna go to the lake instead.”

Frank’s forehead creased. “Trout fishing? Incase you’re forgetting, old man Johnson kicked you out the club for littering.”

 

Jim cracked open a beer. “Yep.”

 

Frank sighed and shook his head.

 

“We’re not fishing for trout,” Jim said. He looked in his mirror and winked. “We’re gonna feed ‘em instead.”

 

 

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