By L.S. Johnson (https://traversingz.com/)

John Claude Smith has published two collections (The Dark Is Light Enough for Me and Autumn in the Abyss), four chapbooks (Dandelions, Vox Terrae, The Anti-Everything, and The Wrath of Concrete and Steel), and two novels (the Bram Stoker Awards finalist Riding the Centipede and The Wilderness Within). Occasional Beasts: Tales, his third collection, has just been published and includes fourteen tales of weird horror.

Tell us a little about your story, “My True Name.” 

Two key elements helped in the creation of this story. The first was I had a passing thought about Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, wanting to write something that relates—two drifters roaming the countryside—though I kind of twisted that idea into this horrific vision. The second element deals with names, so I’ll touch on it in the second question. The tale was originally published in an anthology put out by an online writer’s group I was in around twelve years ago … and which I was informed months later that perhaps four people had bought the anthology. I expect more will get to read it in this anthology. 

As the title suggests, names play an important role in the world of your story. Was there a specific inspiration for this concept of a “true name”?

The names idea came to me in an email with an artist/musician friend. I had brought up Alex Lifeson from the band Rush, and he sent back a quirky response referencing, you guessed it, Bill DeathDaughter. I took that and ran with it. The names in the tale, as the reader will find out, deal in grim truths. They are statements dipped in blood and pain and, with the final revelation, well, something much bleaker than imagined …

What is your relationship to California, and does California influence your work? 

From the dark alleys and avenues of Oakland and San Francisco, to the vast forests filled with mystery in northern California, inspiration abounds. My novel, The Wilderness Within, even takes place up north in a fictional town based on Old Station, California, where my best friend used to live. These elements could be anywhere in the world … or could they? I know California better than any other place, so I am sure the darkness in many of my tales has roots here.

As writers, we constantly use our imaginations, sometimes in terrifying ways. But can you imagine a hopeful future for California?

Without hope, what do we have? These are harrowing times, but I’ve got to believe something better is on the horizon. I only hope we don’t have to go through too much more of the overt negativity, fear mongering and such, before we get there.

Where can readers find more of your work? 

Here’s my Amazon author’s page, so you can see my books and other anthologies I’ve had stories in … and pick up a few to investigate further.

 https://www.amazon.com/John-Claude-Smith/e/B0065PB94K/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1 

For those inclined to avoid the Big A, here’s links for Omnium Gatherum and Journalstone/Trepidatio.

OG: http://www.omniumgatherumedia.com/john-claude-smith

J/T: http://journalstone.com/bookstore/the-wilderness-within/

 NEXT POST ON MONDAY 10/21/19, SCARY STORIES FOR A GOOD CAUSE: Crystal M. Romero ON “The Relic”

10/16 - Publisher’s note: Apologies for the post delay!!

10/21 - Publisher’s note: Updated “Next post on … ” from Jean Claude Smith to Crystal M. Romero.