Interview with Morey Kammerman

International author and artist, Morey Kammerman, is back with a new book: The Creature Under Your Head: (20 stories of horror, sci-fi, crime & fantasy). A world-traveler, painter, poet, and author, he likes to bring unique visions to life through creative mediums.

Q.1 Tell us a something about yourself not many people know?

A. I can do a backflip on both parallel and subway bars.

Q.2 When should we expect your next book? What will it be about?

A. Next one is a novel called, Colton Savage Junior. It’s about a homeless, junkie country musician who meets a mysterious man who offers him the chance to right his wrongs, and make the last bid at superstardom.

Q.3 What made you write The Creature Under Your Head?

A. During the 2020 quarantine, I hit a fit of weird vivid dreams. Waking up in the middle of the night, I felt compelled to jot down my nightmares. It turned out there was a complete story. Four consecutive nights, dreams presented themselves to me - (full stories). So I took that as a psychic cue to write the book. It evolved into 20 stories of horror, sci-fi, crime, and fantasy. What’s nice about books is you don’t need a budget or permission to release what’s in your mind, like a movie script requires. Anything you can think of is attainable.

Q.4 What was your first introduction to horror literature, the one that made you choose that genre to write?

A. As a kid, I spent countless hours in bookstores, looking at Fangoria magazine, (gross I know, I’m more sensitive now that I’m older), and reading Stephen King. Probably Pet Sematary was my first foray into the genre. It was so well-written and scared the living heck outta me! I couldn’t put it down.

Q.5 Do you look to your own phobias to find the subject matter? Are your stories the products of nightmares, childhood experiences, fantasies?

A. Yes, all the above. Fears…Check! Nightmares…check! Fantasies, sure. Mostly, they appear as waking visions and the characters just start talking to me. In my own voice though. Yet, it feels like I’m being informed of what to write down. It’s weird. I know many authors feel this way. As if appearing out of the ether from another universe perhaps…

Q.6 What draws people to horror novels? Why do we, as readers, like to be scared?

A. People like horror because it reinforces their inner strengths. What it means to be truly alive. There are no guarantees; mortality is for every living thing. So, there’s an inherent appeal in hearing of others’ struggles and discomfort. How to overcome our vulnerabilities and hopefully grow, to gain not only awareness but the strength to battle the unexpected.

Q.7 What is the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?

A. I mean, I like writing female characters. Women aren’t given enough credit. They’re so strong, so much perseverance. So much pain and they overcome it. They also seem to have (often), a predilection to scary stories. Many, many female horror enthusiasts out there.

Q.8 Where do you as an author draw the line on gory descriptions and/or erotic content?

A. I think gore should be written poetically. Not just to be gruesome. Any unpleasant description should still be written artfully. Same for erotic content. Poetic in nature is my preference.

Q.9 How many books have you written? Which one is your favorite?

A. I’ve written two books of poetry with original paintings. Plus, many unproduced movie scripts when I lived in LA. Although one did get optioned to an HBO producer. The Creature Under Your Head is the first full book I actually decided to publish. This one is never boring. My new book excites me as well.

Q.10 Among all the protagonists of your titles, who’s your favorite, and why?

A. I like the character Roberta Sarduchi in my short story, The Great Divides. She’s so multitalented, beautiful, fearless, strong, and a take charger. She’s wiser than the others. Also, Sarah Silver from the last story in my book. She’s funny, sassy, and sarcastic. It’s nice to have a sense of humor, even if it’s a belly-dancing school teacher or a female zombie guitarist who passed away in the 1980s.

Q.11 If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in any of your books?

A. No, I’m really proud of the way they’ve turned out. I polished the book of short stories obsessively for several months, just editing the days away. That’s what it takes. Especially if you’re doing your own book. There are a hundred ways to phrase a sentence, and each gives a different feeling. It’s much like painting, just with words as texture.

Q.12 Do you believe in writer’s block? If yes, how do you deal with it?

A. Yes and no. I take a bike ride. Sleep. Sometimes the answers come when you’re doing mundane things like cooking or showering. Other times you can just skip to another scene or project and work your way backward.

Q.13 Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with good or bad ones?

A. I do read them. I’m pleased people are responding to The Creature Under Your Head so favorably. I spent a lot of time, perfecting them for an audience. Of course, no matter what you’re doing creatively, you can’t please everybody. You can win an Academy Award for best screenplay, and there will still be people saying you didn’t deserve it, or your work’s not good. The most important thing is to make work which pleases you, and hopefully, it’ll get through to others too.

Q.14 Do you have any unique and quirky writing habits?

A. I write standing up. Then, I sit and drink coffee with my left hand only. It’s like a silly ritual that helps me get the creative juices flowing.

Q.15 Outside of your family members, name one entity that supported your commitment to become a published author?

A. My friends have always encouraged my creative efforts and for that, I’m extremely grateful.

Q.16 Do you think Americans are reading less than they have before? Why or why not?

A. I think with the advent of cell phones, most people read blurbs and lines here and there. However, right when you think reading is gone, you discover more and more people are excited about books and the endless possibilities of imagination. Perhaps there are more readers now than ever?

Q.17 What three things readers should expect from your books?

A. Unique characters. Highly entertaining narration. And surprise, twist endings that will make your imagination go wild.

Q.18 Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?

A. Bob Dylan. Talk about a great artist! He’s written 1000s of songs. He’s just a fascinating musician. People are either into Dylan or not. He’s polarizing. Anybody who says they think he’s ‘okay,’ aren’t real fans. He’s a musical revolution. Plus, he’s played 200+ shows around the world for the past 50+ years. Incredible.

Q.19 What is your favorite book and why?

A. On the Road by Jack Kerouac. I read that in one sitting back in High School. That was a game-changer. That was the book that made me question my life and the possibilities of art and all things creative. And above all, influenced me to travel extensively.

Q.20 Share the experience of your journey so far?

A. I’m grateful for all the interesting people I’ve met while traveling. I’m impressed by the kindness of strangers. It’s these innocuous little in-betweens when we unconsciously affect one another’s life. I’m not a half-full or half-empty kind of guy. Somewhere in between; perhaps it’s my Libra nature. Maybe we can change the world with the power of thoughts or words. I’ll be trying.

Share your social account links -

Tumblr - moreyartist.tumblr.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/morey.kammerman