Eric Woods, Author

Josh Hanson (He/Him) is the author of the novels, King’s Hill, The Woodcutters, the forthcoming Fortress and Caliope Street, as well as the novelettes, Cymbals Eat Guitars and Marshbank. He lives in northern Wyoming where he teaches, writes, and makes up little songs. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in various anthologies as well as The Deeps, Ghostlight, The HorrorZine, The Chamber, and others.  

Follow Josh Hanson!

QUESTIONS:

1. Tell our readers a little about yourself and your writing (including publications).
   I’m a high school English teacher, who did his MFA back at the turn of the century. I published some poems back in the day, and talked a lot about writing, but I didn’t really accomplish much. So, three or four years ago, I decided it was time, and I dedicated myself to writing every day, seven days a week. And what came out of that was King’s Hill, my debut novel from Wicked House, a cosmic horror story about a disabled woman who takes a very part time job teaching at a prison. There she meets a serial killer who uses her class as his chance to finally tell his story. That story is a wild one, complete with witchcraft, ritual murders, and portals to other dimensions. Soon, our protagonist is
   deep in this other world, searching for the truth and maybe a little bit of justice. I’ve since released a novella, The Woodcutters, and a couple of novelettes, Cymbals Eat Guitars and Marshbank. I would say that these books are all about as different as possible from each other.
   I have two other novels awaiting publication: Fortress, a creature feature set in a remote alternative school in the Wyoming mountains, and Caliope Street, a weird take on the haunted house story.

2. What writing projects are you currently working on?
   I’m currently working on a novel that’s much more in the vein of King’s Hill, entitled Tower of Song, about a musician who is called back to her hometown by her parents who are lifelong members of a California hippy cult, and even though she’s cut ties decades ago, she gets embroiled in cult’s machinations and maybe learns that it’s not all goofiness.

3. Are you a daytime writer, a mid-day writer, a nighttime writer, or just someone who
   writes when the mood hits you?
   I’m a morning writer 100%. I get up early, write, and go about my day. Sometimes I’m disappointed by my morning’s output, so I’ll open up that document later in the day, and it just never works. A true creature of habit.
   
4. Do you have a writing “Bucket List” (goals you want to accomplish as a writer)?
   Not really. I just want to keep writing books and, hopefully, keep growing as a writer. I was almost fifty when my debut came out, and I feel very much like a young writer, still feeling his way forward. I just hope readers find the books and find something in them to connect to.
   
5. Who is your favorite author and why?
   I don’t do favorites, but my favorite is Ursula K. LeGuin. She’s just masterful, and she infuses every story with such effortless humanity, as well as such a quiet subversiveness. I wish I had half her imagination.
   
6. How many books do you read in a month? What are your favorite genres?
   I read a LOT. I’m always reading three books at once, and I finish anywhere from ten to fifteen books a month. Horror is certainly my preferred genre, but I read pretty widely.
   
7. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
   I was always a reader, and in the same way that music lovers want to be able to do that thing, I always wanted to create stories. In college, that idea stuck, and I applied for an MFA program with no real idea what I was doing.
   
8. HORROR FANS (pick 1-3): What was the first horror movie you ever saw? What is
   your favorite horror movie? What is the worst horror movie you have ever seen?
   I’m a huge horror movie fan, and Poltergeist was definitely my introduction to the genre. Soon after I was cutting my teeth on Elm Street and Re-Animator. Again, I don’t really do favorites, but those first movies are still my comfort views, along with things like Demons and Inferno (love those Italian wild men).
   Horror is one of those genres where there are SO MANY bad movies. Like, there are a thousand bad movies for every great one, so I don’t pay much attention to the one’s I don’t like. Except for the Conjuring movies. I keep a black little part of my heart reserved for hating on those films.
   
9. Do you have any “rules” when you write? (EX for me: the dog never dies!)
   No rules. Whatever serves the story.
   
10. Speaking of animals, do you have any pets?
    We are outnumbered by cats in my house. They run this thing.
    
11. What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a writer?
    Write. It doesn’t have to be every day, but a schedule really helps. There are literally millions of reasons NOT to sit down and put words on a page. You have to want it. Write the thing, and then write the next thing. Read everything you can get your hands on.