Withersin’s Damned Interview with:

 

Ty Schwamberger

I was born in 1977 in Troy, Ohio.  After high school, I attended Heidelberg College and graduated in 2000 with a BA in History.    

 

Really, ever since I can remember, I have enjoyed writing, reading and watching scary tales.  My first with writing them was back in 5th grade when I wrote a series of stories called, In The Woods, for English class.  Looking back at the notebook (which I still have), it was pretty scary for a kid to be writing about.  Growing up I also digged the Friday the 13th movies and other ’slasher’ type films.  I am just happy I am now able to contribute to something I have always enjoyed.

 

Between writing and my day job, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Katie and daughter(s).  I currently live in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio.

 

List published works/accomplishements:

My first short story, Gnomus’, was published in August of 2008 in Orion’s Child Magazine.  My second short story, ‘The Ringmaster’, will be published late winder 2008 with Orion’s Child Magazine, as well.  Another short story, ‘Thirst’, will be published in the January 2009 (#9) issue of Werewolf Magazine.

 

My first novel, Night School, was released in November 2008.

 

I have also written several reviews for Withersin Magazine and been interviewed by Blood Moon Rising and The Horror Writer (magazines).  The middle of this month, I also have an interview scheduled with hellnotes.com.

 

List website: http://tyschwamberger.wordpress.com

 

How can we contact you? Either through my website or at ty_schwamberger@yahoo.com

 

 

In your own words, define Withersin.

Edgy, new, gripping, intense and will come looking for you if you don’t go out and buy a copy of the mag.

 

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

A Ringmaster at a circus.  Then everyone/thing under the Big Top would be under my control.

 

What is your greatest non-literary influence?

My day job.  Because if I don’t make it in writing, I will forever be there…then again, perhaps that isn’t an influence but rather a fear.

 

Describe your most irrational fear.

Tall women and garden gnomes.  You know those little garden dwellers come alive at night, don’t you!?  Yikes!

 

How about your most guilty pleasure?

Little Debbie snack cakes…I’ll eat a whole box if they’re in front of me and no one takes them away.

 

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

Hansel & Gretel, I would say is pretty jacked up.

 

Do you eat meat?

“You kill’em and I’ll grill’em” – that’s my motto.

 

What were the skies like when you were young?

Purple Rain…Purple Rain.  Damn, why did Prince jump in my head after reading this question?!  Ugh.

 

Name your favorite garden tool.

A hoe.  You can do lots of different things with a hoe.

 

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

Black & Gray.  Simply because people say/think they are colors, when they really aren’t.

 

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

Richard Laymon

 

For Love of the Game – non-horror

Friday the 13th – horror

 

Justin Timberlake?  Uhhh…I mean Korn..yeah, Korn…I’m hardcore like that.

 

Every Rose Has It’s Thorn – Poison

 

"If your determination to succeed is strong enough, failure will never overtake you"

 

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

Beer bread.

 

Weirdest news you have read in your local newspaper:

Take a whiz with a prosthetic penis

 

Why horror?

I pretty much stick to the scary stuff, simply because that is what I have always enjoyed watching and reading.  I like how a horror writer can make pretty much anything into something scary.

 

You can start a story with a man walking a cute dog down the street, enjoying the outdoors, his life and his dog. Now, you can make that scary by having a madman in a car jump the curb, taking them both out. Say the dog dies but the guy ends up in the hospital and has to fight for his life. Then after getting out of the hospital, perhaps the guy goes on a mission to find the reckless driver and put him out of his misery.

 

See what I mean? Even the everyday things we enjoy can turn into someone’s nightmare.

 

That is what writing horror is all about. You have to try new angles on a classic story or character or writing about something no one else has ever thought about before.

 

 

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