| SUSPENSE MAGAZINE'S 2007 AUTHOR OF THE YEAR:: Douglas Clegg |
I first noticed Douglas Clegg about 9 years ago after reading "The
Halloween Man." From the beginning to end, "The Halloween Man" keeps
a steady pace that makes it impossible to put down. Now that I had
discovered Douglas Clegg I was thirsty for more, and more I got. I had to
know more about this man. I then picked up "The Children's Hour." This
book was released two years after his first novel. After reading "The
Children's Hour" I could already see that Douglas was going to be
something special, because of how diverse his writing style is. Since
1989, when is first novel "Goat Dance" was published, he has published
more than 20 novels and won the Bram Stoker Award for his "Nightmare
Chronicles." His most current series are "The Vampyricon", which includes
three books so far: "The Priest of Blood", "The Lady of Serpents" and
"The Queen of Wolves" (to be released July 2008). To know more about
this series visit the official website: www.vampyricon.com
Douglas mentions on his website that if you want to know him, read his
books. There is not one book that you can read and say, Oh I know what
he is all about. Douglas's entire collection gives you a great insight into
his mind.
Douglas is very interactive with his readers. In 1999, he knew the internet
was the wave of future for authors, and launched the worlds first
published-sponsored eserial novel, called "Naomi." He created a free
newsletter that he sends out at least twice a month. I ordered four books
from his website and he autographed all four. This is another personal
touch he adds to stay close to his readers.
We were very delighted that Douglas agreed to be interviewed by us, so
without further ado, I present you Mr. Douglas Clegg.
Halloween Man." From the beginning to end, "The Halloween Man" keeps
a steady pace that makes it impossible to put down. Now that I had
discovered Douglas Clegg I was thirsty for more, and more I got. I had to
know more about this man. I then picked up "The Children's Hour." This
book was released two years after his first novel. After reading "The
Children's Hour" I could already see that Douglas was going to be
something special, because of how diverse his writing style is. Since
1989, when is first novel "Goat Dance" was published, he has published
more than 20 novels and won the Bram Stoker Award for his "Nightmare
Chronicles." His most current series are "The Vampyricon", which includes
three books so far: "The Priest of Blood", "The Lady of Serpents" and
"The Queen of Wolves" (to be released July 2008). To know more about
this series visit the official website: www.vampyricon.com
Douglas mentions on his website that if you want to know him, read his
books. There is not one book that you can read and say, Oh I know what
he is all about. Douglas's entire collection gives you a great insight into
his mind.
Douglas is very interactive with his readers. In 1999, he knew the internet
was the wave of future for authors, and launched the worlds first
published-sponsored eserial novel, called "Naomi." He created a free
newsletter that he sends out at least twice a month. I ordered four books
from his website and he autographed all four. This is another personal
touch he adds to stay close to his readers.
We were very delighted that Douglas agreed to be interviewed by us, so
without further ado, I present you Mr. Douglas Clegg.
1. Let's get the tough question out of the way. Who do you think will win the Super Bowl this
year, or better yet will the Patriots lose?
A. Boy, are you barking up the wrong tree with this one.
2. What is your favorite book of all time (not yours)? and why?
A. The Iliad, followed by The Odyssey. They’re still my favorites because they capture a
world and a viewpoint of life like no other tales I know.
3. What was your "worst" job ever?
A. On some level, I’ve loved all my jobs. I’ve been fortunate. My favorite was as a kid,
working in the Insect Zoo at the Smithsonian – while I began taking college courses at
Georgetown in the evening. I was about sixteen at the time. A wonderful time for me – hopping
all over Washington, D.C., and feeling as if I had finally grown up.
Plus, we got to help uncrate mummies and things in the basement of the museum now and
then.
4. What historical person would you like to talk to for one hour? and why?
A. I’d probably enjoy just listening to Homer tell his stories. I’d love to hear him speak the
story of The Iliad, even if only for an hour.
5. What board game did you play as a kid, that you can't find anymore and wish you could?
and why?
A. I was never a lover of board games. I used to play Risk and Monopoly as a little kid, but I
never really enjoyed all that conquering and money-making. My idea of a good game was
playing Cowboys with friends, with cap-guns – which I hear leads people to pick up guns as
adults, but that never happened with me. I used to have candy cigarettes, too, but they never
got me to smoke, either.
6. What is on your Ipod right now?
A. My iPod is mainly for workouts at the gym, so it tends to be full of pop music and dance
music to keep my heart pumping. Too many songs to mention. But I just listened a second ago
to Kylie Minogue’s Can’t Get You Out of My Head, the Numa Numa song by the Romanian
group O-Zone, and a fun duet between Etienne Daho and Charlotte Gainsbourg called “If.” All
very light, fun stuff, but the beat’s needed if I’m going to stay on that elliptical trainer for an hour.
7. I loved watching saturday morning cartoons and I miss them. What do you miss that was
on TV?
A. I don’t miss anything on TV because apparently – on cable – everything is still on that
was on when I was four years old.
8. You are an avid pet and animal lover. You have many pets and do great work for the
humane society. What can people do in their hometowns to get more involved?
A. If they’re interested, they can go to their local pound or shelter and just ask what they
need. Sometimes, they just need old blankets or dry food for the animals. Often, that’s better
than a check. If somebody wants to volunteer or adopt a pet, I’m sure they can be
accommodated, too. Ultimately one of the best things people can do is just neuter or spay their
own pets – and not abandon them when they move.
9. If you could go back in time and solve a mystery that is still unsolved today, what would that
be? for example: stonehenge, jack the ripper, jimmy hoffa.
A. I like my mysteries as they are – speculation makes for a more interesting world. And
wouldn’t it be boring if all the solutions to these mysteries were just ordinary? What if Amelia
Earhart just moved to Akron and stopped being interested in flying?
10. Ok, last question. What is something that you keep saying you are going to do, but haven't
done it yet?
A. I’ve been fortunate to do mostly whatever I have set out to do. I can’t really think of
anything along these lines.
year, or better yet will the Patriots lose?
A. Boy, are you barking up the wrong tree with this one.
2. What is your favorite book of all time (not yours)? and why?
A. The Iliad, followed by The Odyssey. They’re still my favorites because they capture a
world and a viewpoint of life like no other tales I know.
3. What was your "worst" job ever?
A. On some level, I’ve loved all my jobs. I’ve been fortunate. My favorite was as a kid,
working in the Insect Zoo at the Smithsonian – while I began taking college courses at
Georgetown in the evening. I was about sixteen at the time. A wonderful time for me – hopping
all over Washington, D.C., and feeling as if I had finally grown up.
Plus, we got to help uncrate mummies and things in the basement of the museum now and
then.
4. What historical person would you like to talk to for one hour? and why?
A. I’d probably enjoy just listening to Homer tell his stories. I’d love to hear him speak the
story of The Iliad, even if only for an hour.
5. What board game did you play as a kid, that you can't find anymore and wish you could?
and why?
A. I was never a lover of board games. I used to play Risk and Monopoly as a little kid, but I
never really enjoyed all that conquering and money-making. My idea of a good game was
playing Cowboys with friends, with cap-guns – which I hear leads people to pick up guns as
adults, but that never happened with me. I used to have candy cigarettes, too, but they never
got me to smoke, either.
6. What is on your Ipod right now?
A. My iPod is mainly for workouts at the gym, so it tends to be full of pop music and dance
music to keep my heart pumping. Too many songs to mention. But I just listened a second ago
to Kylie Minogue’s Can’t Get You Out of My Head, the Numa Numa song by the Romanian
group O-Zone, and a fun duet between Etienne Daho and Charlotte Gainsbourg called “If.” All
very light, fun stuff, but the beat’s needed if I’m going to stay on that elliptical trainer for an hour.
7. I loved watching saturday morning cartoons and I miss them. What do you miss that was
on TV?
A. I don’t miss anything on TV because apparently – on cable – everything is still on that
was on when I was four years old.
8. You are an avid pet and animal lover. You have many pets and do great work for the
humane society. What can people do in their hometowns to get more involved?
A. If they’re interested, they can go to their local pound or shelter and just ask what they
need. Sometimes, they just need old blankets or dry food for the animals. Often, that’s better
than a check. If somebody wants to volunteer or adopt a pet, I’m sure they can be
accommodated, too. Ultimately one of the best things people can do is just neuter or spay their
own pets – and not abandon them when they move.
9. If you could go back in time and solve a mystery that is still unsolved today, what would that
be? for example: stonehenge, jack the ripper, jimmy hoffa.
A. I like my mysteries as they are – speculation makes for a more interesting world. And
wouldn’t it be boring if all the solutions to these mysteries were just ordinary? What if Amelia
Earhart just moved to Akron and stopped being interested in flying?
10. Ok, last question. What is something that you keep saying you are going to do, but haven't
done it yet?
A. I’ve been fortunate to do mostly whatever I have set out to do. I can’t really think of
anything along these lines.