Book One: Wild In The Streets
A transgressive new book series that blurs the lines between crime, horror, dark fantasy, and suspense
Date Published: 05-01-2022
Publisher: No Sell Out Productions
Lawlessness. Rampant crime. Ruthless gangs running wild in the streets. Welcome to Punk City... city under a perpetual moonless and starless night. The city of the Hell Bound Kids: one of the many gangs warring for control of Punk City’s hellish streets. A transgressive new book series that blurs the lines between crime, horror, dark fantasy, and suspense.
Interview with Anthony Perconti
How did you become involved with the subject or theme of your book?
I was given an advance reading copy of The Hell Bound Kids and editor Jason Duke invited me to contribute a story set in Manson’s world. From that point, it was a matter of coming up with the type of story I wanted to tell, given the parameters of this shared world project.
What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?
My goal was to write an entertaining story, first and foremost. But that is up to the readers to decide if I have been successful in that regard. My story, “La Madre De Los Dolores,” chapter fifteen, is my homage to street level and pulp fiction heroes. Think The Shadow, Elektra, White Tiger, Daredevil, Moon Knight and The Question. I certainly hope that readers will find a certain affinity with La Madre, to those above-mentioned characters.
What was the hardest part of writing this book?
This was my first attempt at writing fiction. I would have to say the process of writing the entire short story was daunting at first. Could I actually pull this off? I usually write various types on non-fiction and am quite comfortable in that modality. But once I got into the groove and in that particular mindset, things moved apace. Jason Duke’s feedback and his editorial nip/ tucks certainly gave the piece a better flow.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
Once I came up with a plan, I enjoyed creating the character and her interactions with the overseers of Punk City. Manson’s city is a ruthless and brutal place. Let’s just say that the persons that La Madre engages with are certainly not exemplars of humanity (and that’s putting it mildly). I had a great time in channeling such creators as Andrew Vachss, Denny O’Neil (and penciler Denys Cowan), Brian Michael Bendis, Greg Rucka and various others.
Where there alternate endings you considered?
Not really, no. I wanted to convey a sense of hope with my tale. And I think that the ending reflects this point. At least, I hope it does.
Can you share some stories about people you met while researching this book?
There wasn’t much research involved in writing my story, to be perfectly honest. However, I am thankful in being part of this project, with such a talented group of people. Manson has created a dark and compelling world that to my mind, recalls the works of John Carpenter and Walter Hill from back in the day. And the contributions from Sebastian Vice and Joe Haward have that take no prisoners, old school punk aesthetic from that time period as well.
What genre of books do you enjoy reading?
As far as genres go, I tend to jump around quite a bit. It’s one big buffet as far as I’m concerned. I love fantasy, sci-fi, horror fiction and comic books, but I do have a soft spot for various types of crime fiction, westerns and literary fiction as well. I just wrapped up the popular history, Blood & Treasure: Daniel Boone and the Fight for America’s First Frontier by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin. I am about to dive into the new Gary Phillips crime novel, One-Shot Harry and I just ordered the updated edition of Criminal Macabre: The Complete Cal McDonald Stories by Steve Niles. Good stuff!
Interview with Sebastian Vice (The Huckle Bearer Chapter)
How did you become involved with the subject or theme of your book?
My memory is quite bad sometimes, but I think I sent No Sellout Productions a short story, or asked if they were still looking for short stories, and Jason invited me to be part of the project. Jason sent me what Manson had, and I was blown away by the word she constructed. I knew immediately I wanted in on this project.
What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?
I just wanted to contribute a storyline to Manson’s already outstanding book. Thankfully the world she constructed was dark, violent, and gritty, so I was like a kid in a candy store unleashing The Huckle Bearer.
What was the hardest part of writing this book?
Working in someone else’s world. I take seriously what Manson built, and I did my best to construct a character and narrative consistent with her world. Readers will have to be the judge how well I did on this front.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
That I didn’t have to do world building, but was invited into someone else’s world. Manson and Jason did the heavy lifting. Beyond that, Manson and Jason let me take a character I was working on for something else, and put him in The Hell Bound Kids series. I won’t lie, I enjoyed every moment of writing a truly despicable and ultraviolent character. The challenge, going forward, is pitting him against and even more sinister foe.
Where there alternate endings you considered?
No. I have the ending in my head for when I wrap up my character arc. How I get there is the interesting and challenging part.
Can you share some stories about people you met while researching this book?
Thankfully I’ve never met someone, in person, as despicable as The Huckle Bearer. If I did, I probably wouldn’t be alive to answer these questions. However, I did take inspiration from both Blood Meridian and No Country For Old Men.
What genre of books do you enjoy reading?
I try, with degrees of success, to read widely. I reach equal amounts fiction and non-fiction. I usually have three books going: a short story collection or anthology, a novel, and a non-fiction title. That doesn’t really answer your question. When it comes to fiction, I mostly read literary, transgressive fiction, noir, and horror (with a special place in my heart for cosmic/existential/weird). I sometimes dabble in westerns too—as you might have assumed from my character’s names, and from the two sources I drew from.
Interview with Joe Haward
How did you become involved with the subject or theme of your book?
I had been working with the Indie publisher, No Sell Out Productions, for a while, when they asked if I’d like to get involved with a new book series called The Hell Bound Kids, created by the author, Manson. After reading a draft copy, alongside an amazing amount of background detail behind the world Manson has created, I knew it was a project I wanted to get involved with.
What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?
My involvement was to write a chapter that could fit easily into the story arc of The Hell Bound Kids, whilst introducing new characters and story potential. The goal is that this chapter, whilst part of The Hell Bound Kids universe, can be developed into its own story arc. Seeing it integrated into the book, I’m delighted with how it has turned out, whilst remaining faithful to the world Manson has created.
What was the hardest part of writing this book?
For me it was feeling as though I was doing justice to Manson’s vision. The Hell Bound Kids is an exciting and vast project, and I wanted to make sure that my involvement didn’t in any way detract from what has been created. Certainly my chapter carries my style of writing, yet fits easily into the book as a whole.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
I loved the opportunity to immerse myself in a new, literary world, and create new characters that had a lot of scope and potential. It is not often you encounter a vision as broad and exciting as what Manson has written into existence, so it was a real joy to be involved.
Were there alternate endings you considered?
It was a challenge to work out how my characters could be integrated into the story arc of The Hell Bound Kids, whilst retaining their own path and potential. As such I played around with a variety of ideas as to how the reader could meet them, be satisfied with the encounter, and be eager to find out what happens next. I hope I have managed to strike the balance well.
Can you share some stories about people you met while researching this book?
Meeting everyone involved with The Hell Bound Kids has been the highlight. Finding out each person’s ideas and drawing inspiration from each of them has been fantastic. It feels as though this group of people have gelled together with ease, and I’m excited to see where The Hell Bound Kids series grows and develops from here.
What genre of books do you enjoy reading?
I read a diverse mix of genres, from philosophy and theology, anthropology, history, to crime fiction and transgressive work. But my ‘go to’ genre is horror. I love books that aim to frighten and disturb the reader. One of my own books is an exploration of the horror genre, and the ways it is able to tell us about the world around us. I think horror is a remarkable genre.
About the Authors
Manson
Manson loves and hates everyone equitably. Though she'll read just about anything, she enjoys weird shit like Hunter S. Thompson. She also likes crime fiction, the occult, horror, transgressive, science fiction, and dark fantasy.
Anthony Perconti
Anthony Perconti lives and works in the hinterlands of New Jersey with his wife and kids. He enjoys well-crafted and engaging stories from across a variety of genres and mediums. His articles have appeared in several online venues as well as some indie press magazines such as Three Crows Magazine, Grimdark Magazine, Dark Matter Magazine & Pulp Modern. He can be found on Twitter @AnthonyPerconti
Sebastian Vice
Sebastian Vice is the founder of Outcast Press devoted to transgressive fiction and dirty realism. He writes a regular column for A Thin Slice of Anxiety called “Notes Of A Degenerate Dreamer,” and has poetry and short fiction published in Punk Noir Magazine, A Thin Slice Of Anxiety, Outcast Press, Terror House Magazine, and Bristol Noir. His flash piece “One Last Good Day” was nominated for Best Of The Net 2021.
Joe Haward
Joe Haward is an author, poet, and heretic. As a freelance journalist his work challenges religious and political corruption. Writing horror, noir, and transgressive fiction and poetry, his work can be found in various places. His debut poetry collection, Heresy (Uncle B. Publications) drops in 2022. Find him on Twitter @RevJoeHaward or at www.joehaward.co.uk.
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1 comments:
The book sounds very interesting. Great cover!
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