A quick conversation with Steve Niles

Steve Niles and I have had an interesting number of conversations. Some last long enough to call an interview, others, well others can be like the conversation here, fun and interesting. I love Steve’s work .

Alex Ness: What aspects about writing frustrate you?

Steve Niles: Not many things about writing frustrate me. It does bother me when I have a deadline for
one thing but I can’t stop thinking about something new. That’s about it.

AN: Do you wish to be a mass market paperback writer, do you want to be on Oprah?
SN: No. I would never stand in the way of your dream.

AN: Are comics a limited medium?
SN: Every medium has its limitations. It has its advantages too.

AN: Where do you want to go with your writing career?
SN: I know this sounds really lame, but as long as I can write and have readers who like it, I’m happy. I’d like to write lots of different stuff, but besides that my expectations are simple.

AN: Did you learn your present writing style from reading other writers?
SN: I have no idea. Do I have a style?

AN: You don’t think that you have a particular writing style?!!
SN: I suppose I do, but I can’t see it. That’s something somebody else could answer better.

AN: I find it funny, clever but overall, gifted in the manner of bringing the human face to horrific struggle.
SN: So, I write Human Style. There we go.

AN: I have been asked by numerous people why your words are often matched artwork from illustrators who do not seem to match your talents. I do not altogether agree, I mean, I LOVE Ben, I love Ashley... but Chee and Milx, however nice of people do not seem a good match. How might you comment about this?

SN: I think it’s a matter of taste. I’ve heard from a lot of readers who think Ben’s stuff doesn’t serve the stories at all. Personally I think all of the artists I’ve been lucky to work with work of different levels. Chee is open of my favorite guys to work with. His style reminds me of the old EC guys.

AN: Ever had a life experience that you would consider horrific? Why do you think that you recreate by reading or watching horror?

SN: Definitely, but I never write my real life horror into the stories. If anything I pull the more mundane details from my life experience and use those to build characters worth killing.

AN: Last great video game you completed?
SN: Last one I finished was Halo. I’ve been playing Halo 2 and Mech Warrior 2, and the Punisher game is really fun.

AN: Pull my finger?
SN: That’s not your finger! POLICE!!!

AN: By what process would you say that you found your writer voice?
SN: By writing. I swear I’m not being a smart ass!

AN: Is there any pattern about being creative that you follow?
SN: I’m very obsessive about stories. I think and talk about them a lot before I write.

AN: What writers would be the more direct sources of inspiration to you, not just comics or horror?
SN: Harboiled writers like Chandler and Goodis and Thompson. Richard Matheson for sure. Stephen King to some extent. Ian McKewen, Doris Lessing, Poe. Clive Barker, James Ellroy.