In praise of Ramsey Campbell

While Lewis Carroll opened the door of my imagination at a very young age, it was almost certainly Ramsey Campbell who made me want to be a writer, and a genre writer specifically. I would have been around 13 or 14 years old when I discovered his collection Waking Nightmares in my local library (a library is a place where you can borrow books for free! (I know, crazy isn't it? Won't catch on)). Before that time my horror reading had been pretty much limited to Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Richard Laymon and James Herbert. I had fun with all of those authors, but it was Ramsey's short stories that revealed to me how broad a genre horror is.

With this collection the possibility that horror offered blossomed in my mind, and I fell properly in love with the genre. This is a fine collection, with many great stories, but the one that stands out for me is 'The Trick'. The last line of that tale froze me with fear when I first read it, and re-reading it has not lessened the impact of the story.

I began looking for any of Ramsey's titles I could get my hands on and the next book I picked up was his novel The Count of Eleven.

As soon as I had finished it, I wrote Ramsey a letter. It was pretty much fan-boy gushing but I also asked Ramsey how he suggested I should go about becoming a writer, and what sort of books I should read. I was abolutely thrilled when Ramsey replied. He emphasised that it was important to read as widely as possible, not just within the genre. He also recommended some other writers in the field I may enjoy. Thus I found out about such authors as Robert Aickman and Fritz Leiber.

The next book of Ramsey's that became a fast favourite and an important marker on my road to discovering all that was best in the genre and developing as a writer was Demons by Daylight.

This is an earlier collection of works than either of the two books above, but is no less a brilliant selection. I would read some of these stories to friends. The Sentinels was a particular favourite, with its depiction of something pacing around the outside of an ancient stone circle.

When I went to university to study English (Luton University if you must know, don't laugh. It was one of the few places that took genre seriously and lead to me studying Science Fiction at Reading for my MA) I knew when it came to write my BA dissertation that I wanted to focus on horror. The title of that piece was Miserablism in British Horror Fiction. Miserbalism was a term that I came across in The BFI Guide to Horror. I think that Kim Newman wrote the entry and he took it to be a movement within the genre that focused on urban decay and social realism amongst the tropes of the supernatural. The main practitioners of this genre were listed as Ramsey Campbell, Joel Lane, Mark Morris (Mark has never struck me as miserabalist, much as I enjoy his fiction), Conrad Williams and Nicholas Royle. Using this entry in the guide as my launch pad, I decided to focus on these authors and wrote to many of them asking if it would be possible to interview them. Naturally, Ramsey was one of the authors I interviewed.

I arrived in Liverpool and Ramsey picked me up from the station. I remember thinking that he'd likely take me to a nearby pub to be interviewed. Instead, he drove me to his house and we sat in the backgarden, drinking wine and chatting for hours. I remember being overwhelmed at Ramsey and Jenny's hospitality and kindness, but also at Ramsey vast knowledge and enthusiasm. It was fascinating and deeply exciting to have this private audience with my favourite writer.

But that's Ramsey. He's a hugely generous person and is often the life and soul of any horror convention. I suppose the term Elder Statesman may seem a bit patronising, but Ramsey to me is a link to those great writers of the past (he knew Aickman, Robert Bloch and many others of the greats) and the future of the genre. Ramsey is still a hugely productive writer and his work has never been in danger of decline. His novels and short stories continue to be challenging, meticulously constructed and deeply unsetting. There is nothing quite like a piece by Ramsey. His style is unique. When I edited my first horror anthology, The End of the Line, Ramsey was the very first writer I asked to be involved. I was delighted when he accepted and his story, The Rounds, is a triumph of the short form.

I realise that a part of me is in danger of turning once more into that gushing fanboy that I once was, but sod it! A talent this prodigous, a man this generous with his time and advice to other writers and fans of the genre, deserves to be celebrated.

Mr Campbell, you are one of the greats and my life and work has truly been enrichedby your writing.

Something I've written and something I've read

Hulloh

Just a quick one this time. Firstly to let you know about a new short story of mine which is being published. You will be able to find my ghost story 'Don't You like the Bird Man?' in the latest British Fantasy Society Journal.

The British Fantasy Society is a marvelous organisation and it's an honour to be in one of their publications.

Secondly,  I want to tell you about a rather marvelous book I had the privilege to read an advance copy of. It's called Fizzlebert Stump: The Boy Who Ran Away from the Circus (and Joined the Library) by the brilliant A.F. Harrold. I've known Ashley for a long time now (he compered my first ever go at stand-up) and he's a dazzlingly talented performance poet. I urge you to seek out his live work and get hold of his beautiful collections. But most of all I urge you to pre-order this massively entertaining book.

Anyway, that is all. Next week, the oft-promised and yet to be delivered blog on Ramsey Campbell.

A love supreme does not come with caveats

As you probably have already figured out if you've been reading this blog, or if you know me out there in the real world, I am a Christian. I was raised a Christian and faith has continued to be a hugely important part of my life. We go to church pretty regularly, my wife and I had a church wedding and our daughter was baptised (rather nicely by my father who is an Anglican priest). However, I'm not one of those dinosaur disbelieving, evolution denying, climate change nay-saying, gay-hating Christians so beloved of the media. Which really brings me onto what this post is about: the issue of homosexuality and the church.

This is an issue that continually drives me up the bloody wall, mainly because the Church (and when I use the capital C I'm mainly talking about the Anglicans here, as that's my own backround) should have far weightier concerns on its mind than sexual preference. Quite why some people of faith get so hung up about sexual orientation is quite beyond me. I believe that God is love. Remember that bit about him so loving the world? Well, guess what, that includes everybody! It isn't a case of our Lord is an all-loving God, apart from this here list of people we've put together.

Also, what the church and those of faith (of whatever denomination) should be celebrating and trying to bring to everybody is this idea of the love supreme. Christians should be at the forefront of campaigning for gay weddings in church, as love between two people (of whatever gender or sexual preference) and the commitment that a marriage brings should be seen as something to treasure and encourage. To not celebrate this all-encompassing love of God would appear to suggest that there is something missing from a life of faith.

So, when there is conflict in the middle-east, issues of climate change, not to mention the many issues of justice and social rights in this country that we all face, it seems to me that the Church should be focusing its energies on fighting the good fight while opening up faith and spreading a message of love and tolerance.

Anyway, that maybe wishful thinking, but I just thought I'd let you know where I stand.

Big Black Cloud Comes

Hello

So, rather than being a hub of exciting media insight and personal updates my blog has become somewhat silent of late. And what better way to ressurect this place than a chucklesome entry on depression? You see, the reason I've not been blogging is because not only have I been massively busy at work but I've also been through the worst bought of depression I've had in 15 years. Don't worry, I'm coming out of the black cloud a bit now and I've decided to take a course of therapy. But, I thought I'd blog about what depression does to me and what I find helpful in learning to cope with anxiety and the arrival of the black dog. Lots of people suffer from depression and sharing experiences and stories from within can be helpful.

The first time I was hit hard with depression I was 16, almost 17, facing A-levels and living in Kent with my family. That time it was anxiety that was at the forefront, manifesting itself in panic attacks and moments where I was fairly convinced I was going mad. My parents were massively supportive and understanding and I was soon sourced a very good therapist who helped me to put my fears into perspective. I managed to thus start universety in a much better place than I had been before my A-levels. Since then I've suffered from the odd bout of depression but nothing so bad that it's made me seek out help.

Towards the end of last year I wasn't in a brilliant place. The black dog was back, and with a vengeance. This time depression manifested itself as a crushing sense of self-doubt. I'd turn up for work convinced I was utterly useless. In meetings I'd be constantly worrying that I was coming across as a moron and I had the fear that I didn't really know what I was doing after all, and that people would realise I was usesless. Of course, this was the depression speaking. What depression was like for me this time round was having the demon of doubt sitting on my shoulder without the angel on the other side to balance things out. I got increasingly agitated. In the moments when I wasn't morosely silent, I was snappy and unpleasent to be around. Around Christmas time I realised (and prompted by my ever patient and wonderful wife) that I really needed to seek help. So, I went to GP, who told me that there's a six month waiting list for therapy on the NHS but in the meantime I could try out this online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy course called Beating the Blues.

Beating the Blues is actually pretty good and what it's brilliant at is outlining the common symptoms of depression and anxiety and making you realise that they are just that, common, and there are ways of coping with them. Where Beating the Blues doesn't quite work for me is that it sets you homework, like two or three hours homework a week, which I really can't fit in. So I've not yet completed the course, though I really should do and I do intend to get back to it in time. In the meantime I've booked some proper face-to-face therapy.

All through this Alison and Maia (my wife and daughter respectively) have been bastions of patience, compassion and joy. They make me realise how blessed I am and they really do help put perspective on things. Living with someone who occasionally suffers from accute depression must be exhausting and utterly maddening at times. When you suffer from depression you do become something of an irrational person and trying to cope with someone whose mindset can be so contradictory must be very trying. But my family has been incredible and I really couldn't be more lucky than I am to be part of these people's lives.

And working in the creative industries means I have a lot of friends and colleagues who understand depression and who have been there themeselves. To everybody who has offered help and advice and support, I can't thank you enough.

So, that's where I've been and the thing with depression is you just can't predict when it will strike. Oh sometimes I'll have a fairly good idea. Sometimes I'll hear the door go behind me and hear the pad of paws that means the black dog is in the room. Sometimes, though, it's like a tidal wave and it just thunders over you covering everything in, well, black. Each time the dog buggers off or the tide retreats though, I'm learning to cope a little more.

At the risk of this getting all melodramtic, I'm off to bed now. But, I just thought I'd let you know what all the radio silence has partly been about. Soon I shall be off and blogging again, bringing you more exciting Jon news (All Jon. All the time). The oft promised and never delivered  Ramsey Campbell blog post will materialise and I may even blog about gay rights and the Church. Just for fun.

Anyhew, until next time.

Two new things - one with tentacles, one without

Hello. Yes, okay okay, I promised you a post on Ramsey Campbell and then failed to deliver it. So, while you wait for wisdom to drip slowly from my brain into this blog like a leak from a dodgy tap, here's two anthologies what I'm editing this year.

First up is World War Cthulhu, which I will be editing with Sarah Newton. We will confirm the full line-up and date soon, but for now here is the cover:

Next up, over at Solaris, and due for release this winter, is Magic (full line-up and release dates to be announced soon):

So there's your eye candy. More comprehensive blogging when my brain works again.

Dragons and Orcs and Elves and Dwarves and Magic!

Yes, it is finally here!

My second novel and the follow up to Twilight of Kerberos: The Wrath of Kerberos is now available to buy as an e-book. Head over the Rebellion Store to get your copy. And if you want to know something about the process of writing the book check out my blog at the Abaddon site.

In other writing news, work is almost complete on my new on-spec story, Baby #17, which is a near future tale about religion and redemption. So once that baby is done, I shall be seeking a home for it. The River, my weird fantasy, is going to be doing the rounds soon too. So hope to have more news for you soon.

All aboard the Hell Train!

Okay, okay so I was supposed to blog about Ramsey Campbell a few weeks ago, and then I went all silent for a period. Not only has work been very very busy, but our daughter has now started crawling, so we're in a new and terrifying phase of parenthood. Anyway, while you bide your time between my gems of wisdom and wit (no laughing at the back!) here's something you may well be interested in.

This Thursday (Jan 19th) sees the brilliant Christopher Fowler in conversation with my good self at Foyles Bookshop on Charring Cross Road from around 6.30pm. We shall be discussing his horror novel Hell Train and the ins and outs of supernatural fiction and film. It is a ticketed event, but tickets are free and can be obtained from the Foyles website. So join us for an evening of witty banter and insight.

In other news, I'm delighted to announce that Solaris/Abaddon (the two imprints what I'm Editor in Chief of) has won the This is Horror Award for best publisher 2011. Many thanks to Michael and the team and all who voted. Congratulations are also due to Gary McMahon, for winning for Best Novel with the brilliant Concrete Grove.

Right, away with you. Later this week I will definitely say something wise about the work of Ramsey Campbell. So check back soon.