The horror genre. I've been a fan of movies and books since I was a kid (under age 10). My latest novel contains horror elements, but I'd like to go much deeper into the realm of fear with my next book, which I've already started. Meanwhile I'm a DVD junkie. I love watching all sorts of genre pictures. I also enjoy horror film conventions, press kits, lobby cards, posters, etc.
Music
Hard rock (Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Jack Off Jill, etc.).
Soundtracks (Elliot Goldenthal's "Alien3," Goblin's
"Profondo Rosso," John Harrison's "Day of the Dead," John Carpenter's "Escape from New York" to name a few.)
Movies
Where to begin...Brian De Palma's "Phantom of the Paradise," John Carpenter's "The Thing," Ruggero Deodato's "Cannibal Holocaust," Tobe Hooper's "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," Ridley Scott's "Alien," Sean Cunningham's "Friday the 13th," Philip Kaufman's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," Lucio Fulci's "Lizard in a Woman's Skin," David Cronenberg's "Videodrome"...
Television
Hmmmm...Don't watch TV. But I was a fan of "Twin Peaks."
Books
Comic books: This is a mixed bag. I read "The Punisher" but I also read "Witchblade." I just read "Halloween: Nightdance," and was impressed. I'm also currently reading The Luna Brothers' sci-fi drama "Girls."
Books: Another mix. I love horror novels, and I'm slowly working my way through "Battle Royale" by Houshun Takami. Rough book. Scary. I also read books about movies. I recently read "Alien Woman: The Making of Lt. Ellen Ripley" by Ximena Gallardo C. and C. Jason Smith.
Heroes
Off the top of my head...
David Alexander Hess. He wrote songs for Elvis. He played "Krug" in Wes Craven's "Last House on the Left." He's a great writer and all-around performer. I've met him on the convention circut a few times. Really nice guy.
John Kenneth Muir, author of a number of books on horror including "Horror Films of the 1980s." He and I may disagree on a few films, but he wrote the best review of John Carpenter's "Halloween." I wish I could write a review like this guy.
About me: Stephen Pytak is author of a dark action fantasy novel called "The .40 Caliber Mouse." It's about suicidal mercenaries using a Web site to advertise their services. A death-wish story unlike any other, it launches readers into a world where vengeance is user-friendly. It's available on Amazon.com. Stephen is preparing to publish the second chapter in the series, "The .40 Caliber Mousehunt,"a savage tale in which our heroes face the consequences of their actions. It will feature art by Norm Breyfogle (known for his work on DC Comic's Batman series in the '80s and '90s.)
A life-long fan of horror films and comic books, Stephen is a seasoned newspaper reporter and a kidney disease survivor. He graduated from Shenandoah Valley Jr./Sr. High School in 1988. He attended Point Park College, Pittsburgh, and graduated in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in print journalism. He also took a few film classes at The Pittsburgh Filmmakers, including a course in screenwriting.
Comics, novels and films that blurred the line between horror and action-adventure have always intrigued him. These days, he reads a variety including Marvel Comics' "The Punisher" and Don Pendleton's Mack Bolan books.
For years, Stephen dreamed of making a contribution to the world of fiction. He wrote a number of screenplays which combined elements of horror and action. When all he received for his latest effort were rejection slips, his wife, Becki, encouraged him to try something new.
"If this was ever made into a movie," Stephen said, "I'd want to write the novel."
"Then why don't you?" she asked.
That screenplay was about mercenaries who were using the Internet to sell contracts. In 2003, he completed the novel based on it, "The .40 Caliber Mouse: A Modern Tale of Vengeance."
While Stephen was writing it, he and Becki decided to design and commission artwork and create two websites.
In September 2002, they uploaded "The Mercenary Journal: Reviewing The Darker Side of Entertainment." Here, Stephen writes reviews about movies, comics, music and more. It's at www.mercenaryjournal.com. To celebrate the launch, he sponsored a 20th Anniversary screening of "Friday the 13th Part 3 in 3-D" at The Pottsville Cinemas on October 25 and 26, 2002.
In June 2003, they created the novel's official site. It's at www.40calibermouse.com. Here, the two revealed all of the artwork they commissioned. This is also where the book's logo, the angry mouse in the circle nicknamed "Lucky," was first revealed. On the site, the two also detailed their adventures in marketing the book.
It was released by PublishAmerica, Frederick, Md., on Monday, Sept. 27, 2004. It's available through Waldenbooks, Borders, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com. The ISBN is 1-4137-2711-5.
His projects aren't Stephen's only concern. When his kidneys failed, he started peritoneal dialysis treatments in June 2003. He received a kidney transplant on Christmas 2007, is recovering slowly but surely and is looking forward to publishing "The .40 Caliber Mousehunt" and is writing his next novel, "The Wild Damned."
Who I'd like to meet: --Anyone who has a respect for the horror genre and would like to discuss news, trends, history, etc.
Hi! Just wanted to make sure all my friends know that my new erotic horror novel THE 13TH is now in stores everywhere! I hope you'll check out this debauched and demonic horror ride!
There's even a website devoted just to the book, with an interactive map of the places and characters at www.the13th-horror.com.
Edward Lee called THE 13TH "A double-barreled shotgun blast of macabre entertainment -- an expert amalgamation of grotesquerie, eroticism, mystery, and pitch-black occult horror that no fan of the genre can miss."
And Gary A. Braunbeck said, "John Everson's The 13th is the first out-and-out horror novel in a long while to actually scare the **** out of me while reading it. It's stylish, extremely well-written, filled with richly-drawn characterizations, and boasts a labyrinthine plot worthy of Umberto Eco. Trust me -- this one will fry your nerves and break your heart."
Hey, Steve! I hope all is well! I thought of you the other day because I read this Stephen King short story called "The Road Virus." It's in his collection of short stories... "Everything's Eventual." I don't know if you like King... I do! Anywho... thanks for the comment several weeks ago! Everything is good down here and I only have a couple short months left, so I'm looking forward to coming home but also looking for work!
Hi! Just wanted to make sure all my friends know that my 2nd horror novel SACRIFICE is now in stores everywhere, including Amazon.com! I hope you'll check out this debauched and demonic horror ride! Here are a couple reviews it's gotten so far:
“SACRIFICE is a full frontal assault on your senses. It is a dark, brutal, bloody and terribly frightening book. Everson went deep into some dark abyss to bring this book to the light of day.... I highly recommend SACRIFICE.” —Famous Monsters of Filmland
“John Everson manages in SACRIFICE to dispense buckets of blood, provide edgy perversity, and walk the tenuous tightrope of horror and sex without falling: It’s rather an amazing feat.” –Hell Notes
I hope you are enjoying your holiday weekend so far, I just wanted to come by and leave some luv on your page, Praying that everything is well and Life is treating you good. ~Kim
Oh, that sounds like fun! Haha, that's funny. On Saturday, I'll be at the Philadelphia Museum of Arts ... Hopefully I'll be able to make it to the show on Sunday. I'm pretty sure I'll be free, so I guess I'll see you there. :)
Oh, and btw, did you mean the band Cake or there's going to be cake there? :P
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