I’ve always been a huge fan of horror. I was born in 1977, so I grew up during the 80s horror boom. I wrote my first short horror story in 6th grade. Fast forward to 2007 – that’s when I picked up by first book by Richard Laymon. I was hooked! That’s when I said to myself, “Hey, I can write some twisted stuff too!” In early 2008 I started writing my own material – three months later I had pounded out 100k words. It was subsequently published in late 2008. It wasn’t written very well, but that’s what began my journey in the horror genre. Through the years I was fortunate enough to have a bunch of short stories published, a novel, several novellas, editor in several anthologies, audio books, and even had two of my stories adapted into film (House Call & Cake Batter). I also ran two imprints over the years. I made a ton of contacts, and even more importantly, friends in the horror community. But then in late 2013 something happened. I had just spent nearly 12 months pitching an anthology to one of the Big 5 publishing houses. I obviously can’t tell you ‘who’ would have been part of it, but sometimes pitching a project to one of the ‘King’ publishers, can be the pits. After so much promise and work it was finally shot down by one of the publishers at the company. I was devastated to say the least. I thought to myself, if I can’t get ‘this’ project picked up by one of the Big 5, then what the hell am I wasting my time doing all this writing, marketing, etc, etc, etc for.
In 2014, SST Publications put out my homage to Richard Laymon’s A Writer’s Tale (I’m fortunate enough to own a copy. I’ve always called it ‘my writing Bible’.). I entitled my first non-fiction work, The Death of a Horror Writer. I even had Richard’s wife, Ann, write the Introduction. It just made sense. I wasn’t trying to copy Laymon’s book, but instead, told my account of what it was like coming up in the horror genre. I wasn’t being winey or a bitch by ‘retiring’ from writing because of this or that happening or not happening, but instead my psyche just couldn’t take it any longer. I was worn out and needed a break. On a single page at the end of that book I wrote, ‘The End is the New Beginning’. I didn’t know at the time what I meant by that, but knew it had to be in the finished book.
Fast forward to one month ago. After 6 years of not writing (or even reading!) I picked up a Laymon book. I read for about an hour or so that first night. The next morning when I awoke, I knew something had changed. I said to my wife, “I think I’m ready to get back into writing again.” I was jittery, full of nervous energy for the craft I had given up so many years before.
So, why do I want to get back into the fray now? Well, unfortunately, there’s no deep answer I can give you. Sometimes you just know when it’s time.
Time to get going again.
To get back out there and wreak some havoc.
Time for…
The New Beginning.
Ty Schwamberger 