Today on MASTERS OF HORROR we get to know one of the best new writers I’ve discovered in the last few years, Johnny Compton. Johnny is a San Antonio based author whose short stories have appeared in several publications since 2006, including Pseudopod, Strange Horizons and The No Sleep Podcast. His fascination with frightening fiction started when his kindergarten teacher played a record of the classic ghost story “The Golden Arm” for her class. The Spite House is his debut novel.
For those of you who haven’t read this book. First, shame on you. As a horror fiction fan there is zero purchase friction - from the amazing cover to the exciting synopsis - it’s all top notch, and don’t even get me started on the writing. The man can write y’all. I am in awe.
The Spite House started out strong for me and kept me guessing all the way to the end with some of the most unique characters and tragic moral dilemmas that will have you thinking about this book long after the last page is turned.
But enough about the book, let’s get to know this amazing writer a little more.
Tell me a little about yourself.
I grew up in Mississippi, in a town called Ocean Springs, along the Gulf Coast near Biloxi. My parents are both retired Air Force, but I didn't move around as much as most other "military brats" I've known. Never went overseas even once, for instance. Still haven't. Anyway, just before high school I moved to live with my grandparents for a year in the small town of Belton, Texas while both of my parents were sorting out military assignments that would have disrupted my school year if I had tried to stick with one or the other of them. Eventually we all came back together in San Antonio, where I've been since. I don't currently have a day job at the moment. I'm fortunate enough to be a full-time writer, at least for now, and hopefully well into my future as well.
Why write horror?
I tend to think horror is prominent in the majority of works of fiction anyway, as well as in assorted documentaries. From children's fables to non-fiction made for adults, it's frequently present. Horror is the common denominator between a true crime podcast and an animated Disney film, and because of that I'm fond of saying most people read / watch / engage with horror whether they realize it or not.
For instance, the newest adaptation of The Little Mermaid was just released. Haven't seen it, but I did watch the 1989 version when I was younger, so I know that this lovely story about a mermaid who falls in love with a boy and wants to become human to be with him also features a soul-stealing witch, essentially The Devil for this undersea kingdom, who keeps the shrunken, dessicated forms of her victims in her lair, and who also eats a shrimp live in an environment where we're explicitly shown that all sealife is as intelligent and self-aware as human beings are.
I remember The Judge in Roger Rabbit dunking a terrified, very aware cartoon shoe into a substance made specifically to do the previously impossible: "kill a toon." And I remember the boy who was painfully transformed into a donkey to be sold into a life of slave labor in Pinnochio, screaming for his mother for as long as he could until his capacity to speak was replaced by braying. These are just a few quick examples from whimsical fantasy stories made primarily for younger audiences.
I mentioned the immensely popular genre of true crime earlier, and I don't feel I need to provide examples of horror in that because it's built on murder, violence, and fear--not just the fear of those who were victims of the events discussed, but the fear of people who read, watch, or listen to said events being recounted, wondering if they might ever end up in or near a similar situation. Horror is all over the place. Again, I think most people consume it, and most authors write it, it's just a matter of how much. So ultimately for me the question isn't why write it, but why write so much of it? Why focus on it instead of using it in passing?
I suppose at an early age I was drawn more to the examples I gave of characters who are, in a variety of stories, subjected to explicit, undeniable horrors primarily or solely to raise the stakes, and who are then cast off. I understand why it's done, but I find it more interesting and... let's say "respectful" to the character (I'm using that word loosely here, I don't think other creators are being disrespectful, per se, but hopefully it helps make my point) and this overall type of character--as well as people who are subjected to horrors in real life--to actually spend more time with them. The bulk of my time, in fact. Also, I think horror can be healthy for us all, but I think I'll be here considerably longer detailing all of my thoughts on that, so I'll save them for now.
What’s the scariest book you have read and why?
I can't stress enough how hard it is to pick just one. Do I pick The Amityville Horror? I read it when I was eleven or twelve, if I'm not mistaken, and scared me so much I didn't want to keep the book in the house overnight, so would take it out to the shed after I was done reading for the day. Do I go with the unexpected pick: Jurassic Park? I had seen the movie already and was not prepared for the considerably more vicious and violent novel to give me repeated nightmares of velociraptors. (Incidentally, Jurassic Park is another example of horror being everywhere, and quite popular; it's not entirely a horror movie, but Spielberg loves to put horror set pieces in his stories. Jurassic Park was once biggest movie of all time, and has multiple horror sequences.) I'll go with Michelle Paver's novel Thin Air, which takes place in The Himalayas, capitalizing on my fear of heights, and features a pivotal moment involving altitude, isolation, cold, and cruelty that still freaks me right the hell out.
Describe as best you can the first or most significant success you’ve had in your writing career.
I’d say the first significant success I had in my writing career came with my first official sale, of a short story called "Vanish Child," which I think is a little on the melodramatic side, and I'm not very fond of anymore, but I'm grateful for the sale (the magazine that purchased it went defunct long ago, and unfortunately I don't recall its title). It was the first time anyone ever decided, "I'm willing to pay this guy for something he wrote," and even though it wasn't even semi-pro level payment, it was still an important moment for me, personally.
The first short story sale I made to Pseudopod, a respected horror podcast that has published my work four times now, was critical to me as well, as it was my first sale to a publication I was already a fan of. It felt great to be published alongside works and authors I loved.
My novel, The Spite House, is my debut, and it's not an exaggeration in the least to say it's acceptance and publication by Tor Nightfire has changed my life, so ultimately it's hard to argue with that being the most significant success I've had to date. I try to avoid reviews, positive or negative, because ultimately reviews are designed to be beneficial or informative for readers, not for authors. Nonetheless, some things trickle my way. Early on, I stumbled upon a review of The Spite House in which the reviewer said my book gave her nightmares. Reading that felt like I'd received everything in life I ever wanted.
What are you working on now?
It is a standalone. My second book after The Spite House. I'm also working on a third book, and a potential short story collection, among a couple of other things. If I had to describe The Spite House for a Hollywood pitch: Poltergeist meets The Shining.
Where can we find you?
HealthyFears.com (my long neglected podcast that I'm nonetheless very proud of, and hope to resurrect some day)
I’m not gonna lie, I wanted to interview Johnny Compton from the very beginning. His book The Spite House and his writing was that good. Trust me. Buy it or download it today and get into it. You will not regret it!
I want to give a huge MASTERS OF HORROR thanks to Johnny Compton for taking the time out of his busy schedule to answer the 5 Questions and let us get to know him a little better. I know I loved it.
I love learning about the lives of fellow horror writers. Where they grew up? What jobs have they done? Or still do while they create these amazing stories? What scares them? What they’re reading? What drives them to create the stories we all love to devour? So thanks again to Johnny for letting us peek behind the curtain on the life of an amazing talent!
If you are a horror writer who would like to be featured on MASTERS OF HORROR for some free publicity just click the link below, answer the 5 Questions as fully and completely as possible and soon, you too, will be a MASTER OF HORROR!