This week, I was lucky enough to sit down with Horror Expert and Poet Eric Myford. Eric has released two Encyclopedias of Horror and Suspense Films and five poetry collections. He’s a super impressive do-it-yourself dude.
Willy of E-Junkie: Eric, since you encyclopedia is for the horror/suspense film genre, what was your first horror/suspense film and what is your favorite?
Eric Myford: First horror movie I remember seeing was when I was about 3 and it was Q - The Winged Serpent. As for my favorite, always a tough call, but I would have to say "A Serbian Film". It is an amazing movie but it stands out because it's really the only movie out of 3000+ that actually had an effect on me. I thought about it for days afterward and some images are permanently burned into my mind.
This movie was fearless and went to places no one ever dared to. But it wasn't just a graphic movie, it had a lot to say. Now, all this said, I don't recommend people watch the movie because it's the kind of movie you just can't unsee. Not for the sensitive or squeamish.
Willy: You have self-published all of your books, is there anything you would suggest to our readers about self-publication?
Eric: I love CreateSpace, not only for its direct ties to Amazon, but its ease of use. So as for suggestions, I suggest CreateSpace. But if you want to go elsewhere, the only reputable companies offer publishing at no cost to you. If you are required to pay anything up front, it's a scam. CreateSpace offers services such as e-book conversion and editing but to actually publish the book and get it up for sale on Amazon, no cost. They print, package and ship every order for you and you get a very nice percentage. Then you get your royalties direct deposited into your checking account every month. Can't beat that.
Willy: Do you see an advantage for self-publishing over publishing houses?
Eric: First and foremost, control. No one is trying to make you take anything out of your book, it is sold exactly how you want it. To me, that's a plus because as my filters have dropped off over the years, I have written some rather disturbing stuff that would likely be heavily edited at a publishing house if they even would have taken a risk on it at all. The downside is having to do your own marketing or pay the self-publishing house to do it for you. I've found that I'm not good on the business end and work almost strictly on the artistic end, which I feel is true for a lot of authors.
Willy: What is your creative process? Do you set time aside just to write, or do you work on it when you have the free time?
Eric: It usually just hits me, like, wow, I have to write, right now. When my process actually starts, it requires isolation and music more than anything. Music plays a big part, I've always found it more inspiring than anything and can picture stories inside the music. Particularly, right now, I find a lot of inspiration in bands such as Jesu, Emilie Autumn, Depeche Mode, Dismantled, B! Machine, and so on and so forth.
Willy: Do you have any project you are working on that you are willing to let us know about?
Eric: I have a multitude of projects in the works. Closest to completion right now is my third horror movie encyclopedia, another dark poetry collection and my first short story collection. In addition to that, I am always working on multiple books. I even have a couple of novels in the works, even though novels never really seem to happen for me and they just turn into short stories. One novel that I've put the most work into is done in a rather unique way and appeals to my kind of ADD writing style.
Willy: Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about you?
Eric: Me? Not really. I'm a fairly enigmatic individual and I don't really like to talk about myself, instead I like to focus on my work because it is in fact, my life. I just want to impart a couple words of wisdom. If you have a dream, especially one of a creative nature, just do it. Start anywhere. I never imagined I would feel accomplished just watching horror movies, but now I'm 3000 movies into my project, and I'm literally an expert on the subject. I could give an impassioned and informative lecture on horror off the top of my head. Is that a worthwhile skill to have? In some people's minds, no. In mine, yes. Because, how many people can do that? So go become an expert on something you love, it may seem silly, but to me, it feels great.
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