Hello Boils and Ghouls,
Welcome to our now functional website! My hope is to make blogposts more frequent and make sure all things horror are explored here, preferably through a feminist queer friendly lens.
On that note, I have saved this interview with the great Chuck Tingle to be my inaugural post for a few reasons. (1) Straight was one of the best horror novellas of 2021, hands down. The post-apocalyptic zombie outbreak story is a thrill ride and clever commentary on allyship to the queer community. (2) Chuck Tingle himself as become a household name in queer satire, erotica, and to the neurodivergent community, all things that make my heart go pitter patter, (3) and finally, I was eager to dig deeper into his new horror project.
Without further ado, let’s dig deeper into Straight, Tingle’s new horror project, and how we can all prove that love is real.
What can you tell us about your upcoming horror project? When can we expect the title?
when workin on tinglers about a pound title usually comes to me quick HECK sometimes title comes first. horror novels of ol chuck are different story because they are set in slightly different layer of the tingleverse so there is a little more mystery involved and that means gotta pick a title that sums things up but not too dang much. but finally i can say novel is name of ‘camp damascus’ and it is queer take on demonic possession story.
Will this take place in a similar or the same universe as that of Straight? To follow that, does these works take place in the Tingleverse?
i would say it takes place on similar timeline that is close to ours. there are no dinosaurs or unicorns or living objects but there are things that connect it to the rest of the tingleverse. THE VOID is always presence in the tingleverse and it is important part of straight. in that way there are parts of camp damascus that. are related to greater tingleverse so it all exists in different layers of the same place. i will say as worlds greatest author chuck main thread connecting this trot into genre of horror is that i am talkin on queer issues and addressing things that are not often addressed in this way with queer characters i think that proves love even in a genre that is frightening.
In Straight, you set the story as several years after a major incident, why is that?
two reasons one is that when telling this story i did not want it to be meditation on queer suffering wanted it to be meditation on queer triumph and that is difficult to navagate with concept of STRAIGHT. LGBTQ buckaroos are already targets of violence and as escapist art i do not think buds need more of that at least not in this story. so way to navagate this was to have looming greif of the first year hanging over everything but not graphically show it and instead focus on what happens to rise out of that on the third year. and then reason two is that i think idea that zombies in straight bo back to normal after that day is interesting and unique in own way and if you set story a few years after this event started trottin along you can explore that more.
Speaking of Straight, I thought it was incredible by the way, what inspired you to turn to horror?
thank you this means very much to chuck and proves love is real i am touched in this way. anwser is simple really i have always like things that go bump in the night just as much as things that go pound in the night. it is genre i enjoy just never thought much about telling these stories myself, but when i realized there are so many layers of the tingleverse and i could talk on queer issues in this way as well i wanted to try it out. everyone liked straight a lot so i will continue to write more longer horror tales as novella or novels to prove love.
Have you considered experimenting in other genres?
some ideas of ol chuck start more SCIENCE FICTION instead of HORROR including straight actually but once i start planning it out they always becomre more spooky. and i will always have erotica and romance. so i will say probably not im dabblin in enough dang genres already.
You do describe yourself as an erotica writer- and your usual projects contain a number of erotic scenes- so why are there no erotic scenes in Straight?
well probably best way to look at this trot as artist is to say WHAT IS INTENT? in tinglers intent is an erotic chill down the spine, and in straight intent is frightening chill down the spine. these both operate in VISCERAL WAYS that have to do with your body reacting instinctually so this is connections between the two but when writing i am mostly focusing on one or the other. with horror novels in tingleverse i am just focusing on frightening trot but who the heck knows there are plenty of erotic horror stories out there to be told so maybe in figure line will be blurred who the heck knows.
Will the next novella also have queer themes?
well camp damascus is next it is more than novella it is FULL-LENGTH NOVEL very long. and yes very much has queer themes but way they are revealed is different
Your social media presence addresses neuro divergence and representation- can we assume that this project will feature neurodivergent, as well as queer, characters?
yes there are many queer characters although dont really want to say WHO or HOW exactly this could be spoiler. but as far as neurodivergent characters i have always thought as a buckaroo on autism spectrum that most of my characters have autistic way that is just how i think so it translates over even if not said directly. in camp damascus i thought ‘well this character is autistic like pretty much all my characters maybe i will say that directly’ and in current draft it is mentioned directly which i think is nice. in final version i am not sure but cant really explain why without giving too much away. i will say whether it is directly said in text or not the character is still autistic in this story yes.
Your next project has been hinted at as a story of possession- will there be religious aspects, considering the history of possession, and is that at odds with your audience of LGBTQ buckaroos?
oh yes this is VERY good question i would say new novel is just as much about religion as it is queer issues, and how these trots intersect. so i do not think it is at odds actually i think whole point is about ADDRESSING this (which is not usually something worlds greatest author chuck writes about and that makes it very exciting). but also i think as far as morals and themes it is very similar to straight as far as ‘WHATS THE HECKIN POINT?’ so if you enjoyed straight for its message i think you will also enjoy camp damascus. i think some very religious buds might get riled up over themes of book but definitely not queer buds, and i also think there is a lot of balance in points it is making even if they are carried out in sometimes extreme or brutal ways
If you had to describe this horror story in three words, which would they be?
LOVE IS REAL
What kind of ice cream flavour would you compare it to?
have you seen when buckaroos put charcoal in ice cream to make it spooky jet black? it would be like that and then when you go into shop to order it there is music genre name of GRINDCORE playing sounds like a dang pig in a trap and you say ‘what the heck is this artist singin devil songs?’ and bud behind the counter hands you a delicious ice cream cone and says ‘no this is a christian band’ and you say ‘oh. dang’
What do you most want readers to take away from your writing?
if horror writing: sense of joy and pride and mostly catharsis. if erotic writing: gettin hard as rocks
When can we expect to read this project?
well unlike most books of ol chuck i am considering using traditional publisher. so book is done in form that i would self publish release but there might be a bunch of dang business to take care of if i want to experiment with publishing in this way. could be very exciting though
What’s next?
writin more tinglers and proving love is real. i am so thankful i have been blessed with this trot really dosnt get any better than that
Do you see yourself as a human proving love is real via books? Or an author who happens to be proving love?
human proving love is real via books for worlds greatest author chuck love is the seed of all this not just a biproduct but i will say it is okay to art in your own way and if there is buckaroo out there who would choose other selection that is ok too
Once you’ve proven that love is, in fact, real- what then?
this is good question because it has already been prove LOVE IS REAL this is just statement of fact it is real whether or not you prove it. point of proving love is not to push toward goal of a finish line where this has been solved, it is just about the action of putting in WORK and being active in your timeline trying to make it a better place for all
What would you like to say to all those buckaroos out there following and enjoying your work?
thank you so much means the dang world to chuck worlds greatest author. i am very blessed to make this my trot and i appreciate every moment on this timeline i am honored to be here with you
There you have it folx! Keep an eye out for Camp Damascus, coming in hot in 2022!
As for Straight, I’m pleased to let y’all know, if you haven’t heard, that it has officially made the Bram Stoker preliminary ballot!! I cannot think of a 2021 novella more deserving of the honour. If you haven’t treated yourself yet, Straight is available as an ebook or paperback from Amazon.
Sweet screams!!
Margin of Terror