Ro Van Saint: Horror Author Interview

October 11, 2011 in Interviews

Ro Van Saint - Horror Author

Welcome my Twitter Bud and Writing Friend, Ro Van Saint, to the blog today for another Writer Tuesday.

About Ro Van Saint:

This is me: I write strange little stories & work on too many projects. I dig comic books, cooking, hanging out with my family and pets, travel, technology, Crystal Skull Vodka, old books, vinyl records, dark humor, and Dr. Who for starters. Can’t tell you all my secrets, we’ve just met.

Connect with Ro Van Saint:

Website & Blog: http://www.zerotorockstar.com

Twitter: @zerotorockstar

Check out my review of Ro’s latest horror collection – Bad Juju, Volume 2.

The Writer Interview

Do you judge a book by its cover? Why or why not?

Most of the time. Unless it’s by an author I already follow, this is how I usually go about choosing a random book by a writer I’m unfamiliar with.

I have a background in visual arts so it’s just something I’ve always been into. I wouldn’t completely discount a book that has an unappealing cover but one that has a superb one definitely gets brownie points. It’s like being at a grocery store, there’s just a lot of other products competing for your attention and the packaging just has a few seconds to make an impression. The cover design is what grabs you by your shirt collar and tells you “Hey, this is worth looking into.” To be fair, I’ve never purchased a book just because it had a mind-blowing cover.

What is your prime motivation for reading a novel? Non-fiction?

It needs to be a genre I’m into, a story that sounds different from anything else I’ve ever read. For non-fiction books, it’s just whatever I’m into at the moment. Right now I have about a dozen self-sufficiency / survival type books I just picked up, a lot of psychology, some marketing, and entrepreneurial material.

If you could only choose one book on a deserted island, which would it be?

Ha! You see those survival guides I have will definitely come in handy. For practical reasons, maybe the SAS army survival guide. For sentimental reasons, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, because it was my first ever favorite book in grade school.

Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?

You know, it used to be just fiction. But these days, I’m embracing more of the latter.

Which fiction genre is your favorite?

I dig speculative fiction in general. Specifically horror, dark fantasy, and a bit of scifi.

What book(s) is/are lying on your bedside table right now?

My anatomy textbook, and my tablet – I just downloaded The World Without Us, Wastelands, The Fall, and Never Let Me Go…for starters. I have this habit of downloading new books to read when I can’t sleep so, yeah, there’s a growing collection.

Name one book that gave you happy dreams…or nightmares.

That’s easy. IT by Stephen King. I’ve had this irrational fear of clowns since I was 8 or 9. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not severe, just enough to make me feel great discomfort when I see an image. Anyway, I was trying to be brave when I first read the book, it kinda just backfired actually.

If you could morph into one author for a day, who would it be?

Neil Gaiman, of course, the day after, he’d be wondering why he has a tattoo on his arm that says “Ro was here.”

Are you a fan of short stories? Why or why not?

Yes! I fell in love with this format when I was in grade school and we read “The Lottery” in class. That just blew my mind. After that, everytime I went to bookstores I’d always search the anthologies. I love reading them because it’s an instant gratification of sorts. In comparison to novels, it basically feels like a snapshot. It’s perfect for a train commute; I’m able to consume it in a shorter period of time or to give my brain a break from whatever work I’m doing at the moment. As a writer, it allows me for a great deal of experimentation.

Read the Book or Watch the Movie? Which do you prefer, if given the choice?

Read the book first, then watch the movie.

Amazon.com or Barnes & Nobles or Indie Bookstore?

Amazon for ease of use and convenience. For an actual bookshop I like Half-price Books (when I lived in Texas), and here in NY that would have to be Strands in Union Square

E-book or Print?

Both. Each one has pros and cons which I really don’t dwell much on. As long as it gets people to read something, that’s all that matters.

Do you write in the margins of your books? Why or why not?

No. Not even if I had multiple copies of it. It feels too much like graffiti, like I’m tagging my own home.

Public Library Junkie or Book Collector?

I’ve gone through each one as a phase. I’m now on my eBook collector stage. I purged about half my collection, what’s left of it is currently in temp-controlled storage. I brought just a few of my favorites as well as my antiquarian collection for our move back to NYC.

Are you a fan of audio books?

Not really. I usually end up dozing off when I listen to them for some reason. Audio drama (as in the old-time radio stuff) are cool though.

What was your favorite bedtime story as a child?

My parents were not big bedtime storytellers. I got my story fix from my aunt, mostly of myths, legends, and folk tales.

If you could become one book character, who would it be?

The type of books I read, I really don’t think I’d want to be any of the main or secondary characters.

Which non-fiction most impacted your life? How did it change you?

I wouldn’t say it changed my life but Voluntary Simplicity was really inspiring. It coincided with me going through a minimalism stage. You can also add The Art of War on that list.

Happily-Ever-After or Unexpected-Turn-of-Events Endings?

A Happily-ever-after moment right before an unexpected turn of events ending. I want to make you feel safe then yank that safety net from underneath. That’s when human psychology gets really interesting, the true nature comes out.

Who most instilled in you a love for reading?

Who most instilled in you a love for reading? A couple of teachers come to mind, I can’t remember their names but I see their faces. One I wasn’t fond of but he introduced us all to more interesting works. The other one encouraged critical thinking and writing essays about what we’ve just read as a class. He was passionate about books, and it was infectious.

Any other comments you would like to share?

“I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together.” And thanks so much for having me over.

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Thanks for joining us on the blog, Ro. I have yet to read IT by Stephen King, though the movie is still sitting unwatched on my shelf. I’m a bit of a chicken when it comes to horror. As for HEA endings, your stories tended to throw me for a loop when you added one last twist. Loved it!

We will enjoy following your updates on your blog about upcoming projects. Cannot wait for more dark horror stories from you.