Page Created: 09/25/10. Last Update: 10/25/10. Last Google Group Page Update: 01/08/08.
JACK KETCHUM
Jack Ketchum writes tough, graphic horror. Most of his work is suspense horror of the Silence of the Lambs variety. She Wakes is supernatural fantasy horror.
The author's official website is: http://www.jackketchum.net/.
Books:
Closing Time and other Stories
The Girl Next Door
Joyride
The Lost
Off Season
Offspring
Peaceable Kingdom
Red
Right To Life
She Wakes
Stranglehold
MEETING SUMMARY:
Meeting Date: October 14, 2000.
Meeting Site: Saddle River Valley Cultural Center, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
Official Attendance: 22.
Meeting Program: Talk by Horror Writer.
Notes:
Meeting Memories:
Newsletter Account:
The following account is reprinted with permission from THE STARSHIP EXPRESS Copyright 2000 Philip J De Parto:
The October meeting of the Science Fiction Association of Bergen County was held at the Saddle River Valley Cultural Center on Saturday, October 14, 2000. Horror writer Jack Ketchum was the featured speaker.
Jack Ketchum began telling stories to himself when he was six. The stories always had a beginning, middle and end to them and always had a battle, because he was a little boy. He stated he had a troubled family life, but that they were supportive in encouraging him to read anything. He credits rock and roll as saving his life.
He was interested in a number of different creative arenas. A friend got him an in to one of the men's magazines, and he spent several years writing fiction and reviewing music for publications in the field. He believed that writing would pay for his singing and acting careers, an employment path about as likely as deciding to have chess pay for your pool career.
Desperate for a regular paycheck, he answered an ad for position as a Reader at the Scott Meredith Literary Agency. When he was hired, he discovered that an agent had just quit and was able to move into the vacated slot. His first project was RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA by Arthur C Clarke. Although he hated his time with the agency, there were compensations, like working with Henry Miller.
His first novel was OFF SEASON, a gritty, no holds barred suspense horror novel. His editors were convinced that the book would launch his career as a best selling author and ordered a huge print run. But the sales and marketing departments felt that the writing was too edgy and refused to push it. With no promotional support, the book died, although word of mouth sold several thousand copies. His career as a best seller was kaput.
Ketchum was now damaged goods, a genre writer in a dying genre. His advances and print runs were small Most of his books were suspense horror (think SILENCE OF THE LAMBS), although there was an occasional supernatural horror title like SHE WAKES.
But he had built up a following who supported him through the small press. Among his fans was Stephen King, who wrote a glowing introduction to ROAD KILL (aka JOYRIDE). The kind words resulted in a ten-fold advance of sales of that volume and has translated into increased sales for his entire backlist.
Mr Ketchum was an amiable guest, answering questions about everything from his writing process to sex, drugs, and rock and roll. He accompanied the gang to Matthew's Diner after the meeting and repeated his enjoyment of the evening at the Chiller Theatre Convention the following weekend.