Interview with Tyler Jones | Author of Midas

Get to know upcoming horror author Tyler Jones, author of Midas. Photo credit: Tyler Jones.

Have you heard about author Tyler Jones yet? You may want to get in the know, because the Portland-based author is quickly making a name for himself in the world of literary horror. Since his first short story publication, “F for Fake” in the Burnt Tongues anthology (edited by Chuck Palahniuk and Richard Thomas), he’s released five novels and over fourteen short stories. Eric LaRocca, author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke, has this to say about Jones’ work:  "Tyler Jones writes with the lyrical complexity and haunting tenderness of masters like Matheson and Straub while remaining entirely new and inventive. A true visionary of contemporary horror fiction." Jones’ stories are rich with in troubled characters stories who reveal tons of emotional complexity in dealing with creepy, macabre encounters. His latest novel, Midas, is now available from Earthling Press. Hot on its heels is Heavy Oceans, which hits shelves by the end of the year.  

Interview

What can a reader expect from a Tyler Jones story?
I’m drawn to writing about characters who are broken, people fighting against things that are out of out of their control. It's what I like to read and it's what I like to write. I do like a redemptive arc for my characters, instead of just having people who wallow in their brokenness. In a lot of what I write, the characters are a victim of their circumstances, but they’re trying to crawl out of whatever hole they find themselves in, whether it’s overcoming a difficult childhood or addiction or whatever.

Have you ever had a paranormal experience?
No, but I’ve wanted to really bad. I've seen three UFOs in my life. But never felt a ghostly presence or heard a disembodied voice. I hope to get to someday.

What’s your favorite work of horror fiction?
NOS4A2 by Joe Hill. Such a good book.

When it comes to writing, are you a plotter or pantser?
Pantser. Although I wish I was a plotter. I do plot somewhat mentally so I'm constantly thinking about the story as a whole as I go along. There are certain beats I know that will occur and sometimes I don't the ending before I get there. So, I'm working my way towards certain points I know exist in the story. I make notes to myself along the way, lot of notes. But it's not a diagram or a plot or an outline.

Check out Midas from author Tyler Jones, now available from Earthling Press.

What story are you most proud of?
In my collection Burn the Plans there's a short story called “Full Fathom Five” that’s my absolute favorite thing I’ve written. With several of my novels, including Midas, Almost Ruth and an unpublished novel called Night of the Long Knives, it felt like I was working through something that was dealing with personally. In all of those, it felt like I was working through to some kind of personal resolution that didn't happen. But it occurred in “Full Fathom Five” at the very end. When the final words came, I felt a sort of release, like I could breathe again.

It’s cool you’ve found a way to use your art to work through personal matters.
Yeah, it seems I have. Better than burning something down probably.

What’s your advice to newer writers?
Get critical eyes on your work. Not just people who tell you your stories are great. Get the ones who tell you how and why they suck. Because if you’re just beginning, you’re going to suck. If everyone’s telling you its’s good, that doesn’t help you grow at all. So get criticism as quickly as possible and get used to it. Kill the ego. Do you want to write good stories, or do you want to feel good about yourself? A writer’s workshop can be helpful in that regard.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned as a writer?
To dig further. Whenever you're writing about a character and their emotional landscape, take it a little bit deeper. Don't just paint in broad strokes. Get specific. Get to the places where it starts to hurt a little. Did your character go through a rough divorce? Well, what does that look like? How does he live now without the wife? What's going through his mind, what’s in his heart?  Does he feel like a failure as a person?  Think about these things and then decide what you want to put on the page so you create a realistic sympathetic person that people can relate to.

You’re trapped in a horror movie. How do you die?
I would get abducted by aliens. But at least I would be be able to see the inside of this huge interstellar spacecraft. And right before I get ripped to shreds or probed to death or whatever I would get that one glimpse and know that I’m in a vehicle that had crossed  through space and time to get here. And then boom, I’m dead.

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