One of the things I always enjoy with the current werewolf renaissance in writing is when people come up with explanations for how and why the change occurs, or what’s really behind it. With the Johnny Lycan stories, it’s mostly a genetic defect (although as Nik Koslov can tell you, it can be transmitted by bite so don’t get cocky.) Horror writer Blackie Williamson has a different theory in his book, Evil Eye in the Sky.
Alright, Blackie. Who are you and what’s up?
Unlike many horror authors, I’m not trying to be original, but trendy, to sell books, because I’ve had bedbugs more than once and want out of this ghetto. I do write brutally, and with plenty of gore and series’ of shocks, to satisfy the true horror fans out there. I also write fantasy and science fiction.
Okay, we’re going the brutally honest route. I like it. What’s Evil Eye in the Sky about?
A balance between beast and lover. Cormac, infected by another werewolf, has to fight with every fiber of his being to not rend asunder and eat blond Aubrey, his high-school love interest. To make matters worse, Cormac’s father, Goddard–who demands to be called God–is after Cormac and Aubrey to join his wolf pack and worship him, to devour innocents. The conflict is that they must find a way to defeat him.
You’ve made some interesting choices about what lycanism is and how it manifests. What is the thinking here?
: It was important to me to have the werewolf virus be a Legion, Cormac possessed by 2,000 demons. In cryptid research, I found that the Beast of Bray Road in Wisconsin became possessed after devil worship, as I am a Christian. I had fun with Cormac by making him a tough guy, but also a sweetie. Roots? I dunno. I was influenced by the werewolf-movie greats: An American Werewolf in London, The Howling, and the Ginger Snaps trilogy, as well as great werewolf novels like Cycle of the Werewolf by Stephen King.
You’ve certainly done your werewolf homework. Who are your favorites?
Adam Nevill (werewolf novel The Reddening), Glen Duncan (The Last Werewolf), John Skipp and Craig Spector (Animals), Ray Garton (Ravenous and Bestial), and Graeme Reynolds (High Moor), the greats as far as werewolf novels, before they were overdone, plus Johnny Lycan: Werewolf PI Series by Wayne Turmel.
That’s a hell of a list, and I’m ashamed at how pleased I am to be on it. Not resistant to flattery. Where can people learn more about you?
@BlackieWFangs on X, and blackienosferatu on Instagram, plus blackynosferatu.livejournal.com.
If you hate starting series that aren’t complete, consider starting the Johnny Lycan: Werewolf PI series. The grand finale, Johnny Lycan & the Last Witchfinder is available now on Amazon and from Black Rose Writing. And it’s available in Kindle, Paperback and Audible.
“I’ve been a fan of this series since the beginning, and while I’m slightly devastated that this is the end of it, I LOVED The Last Witchfinder.” S G Tasz
This final installment in Johnny’s saga is perhaps the weirdest, most baffling of all… Author Jill Hand
