A Halloween Interview with….Sarah Langan, Horrorista Supreme!

31 Oct 2010 No Comments

by sheepishfashionistain Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Well, it’s finally here–the best holiday of the year in my book. Well, not technically in my book, since that is set in Japan and they don’t celebrate Halloween there. But here in Brooklyn it wins the title, hands-down. I mean, what’s not to love? Joyful, dressed-up kids demanding, getting and squabbling over enough candy to pay off their dentist’s mortgages. Foolishly dressed-up parents demanding their disproportionate cut of the kids’ candy (I always call dibs on anything Reeses).  And of course, that faintly-remembered chill of true horror from childhood, the time when we really did think that ghosts, ghouls and witches (and maybe even the Great Pumpkin) floated amongst us in the crisp Autumn air. Most likely laughing at how ridiculous we all looked.

With all that in mind, there couldn’t be a better day to host today’s Sheepish interviewee, a three-time Bram Stoker Award winner who is also one of the classiest and most successful horror writers out there. Sarah Langan (as her Amazonian author page helpfully points out) grew up on Long Island and went to college in Maine. She studied both fiction writing and environmental toxicology (cool double-major, no?) and now lives in Brooklyn, yo, with her husband, daughter, and floppy eared rabbit. It is, she reports, “a busy household and sadly, the plants are often fatally thirsty.”

Here she is, presumably post-plantacide (mwah-ha-ha-ha!):

And here is her latest novel, which I read with breathless horror, and which has changed the way I think of ants forever. Audrey’s door is an architecturally-charged story of haunted buildings, demonic possession and some of NYC’s truly creepiest residents (seriously; this will make you want to avoid the Upper East Side forever–if you don’t already). It’s a bit like The Shining meeting The Fountainhead meeting Ghost Busters, but without Bill Murray.

So here she is–your horrific Halloween treat (and so much better for your teeth than Laffy Taffy!):

(SF): How would you describe your personal style?  How about your writing style? Is there any connection between the two in your mind?

(SL): My personal style is sloppy, with moments of excellence. I like to think my writing is the exact reverse. I once got nominated for an award, and wore a fancy, ridiculous dress to the banquet, paired with Pedro Garcia four-inch heels. I lost the award, and also had to wear a stupid uncomfortable dress all night, and shoes that felt like a thousand cheese graters.

[Sheepish Aside: I've been oggling these Pedros ($398) at Diane T--a terrific boutique that is, unfortunately, right around my corner. 4.5" heel--but look! Cork soles. That should make them as comfortable as Birkenstocks, right?]

After that night, I decided that my job isn’t to look pretty [Sheepish aside: though she always does] or ask for anybody’s approval. The next year, I wore a suit and flats, and won the award. I like suits. They draw zero attention to the wearer, which is exactly what I’m looking for.

[Sheepish Aside: As you can see, this model gets absolutely zero attention in this Kay Ungar number ($570). Zip. Zilch. Bubkes.]

I was at a conference with Tess Gerritsen years ago, and she wore jeans, a cashmere blazer, and a button-down shirt. It was relaxed, professional, and perfect.

She’s my idol in a lot of ways—it’s not easy to be a successful woman with a real personal life. I try to dress like that when I’ve got conventions and signings. It’s not pretty, and nobody’s going to tell me I’m wearing a nice outfit. But maybe I don’t want them to.

(SF): Who is your favorite author? Designer?

(SL): Favorite all time authors? Somerset Maugham, Eudora Welty, E.M. Forster, Edith Wharton, Doris Lessing, Walter Tevis, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Carson McCullers.

[Sheepish Aside: This is one of my absolute favorite books ever. ]

Favorite modern writers? Tom Wolfe, Stephen King, Peter Straub, Patrick McGrath, Joyce Carole Oates, Lorrie Moore, Suzanne Collins, Kevin Brockmeier, Liz Hand.

The old guys were pretty dapper, the modern ones, I’ll bet, show up to work in their pajamas [Sheepish Aside: actually, I bet Tom Wolfe--shown above--doesn't. Or else his pajamas all actually look like white suits....]. This means we should all be paid a lot more, so we can show up to work in hand-sewn cashmere suit-pajamas. I like the way Carson McCullers dressed. Probably, my style is most similar to hers:

My favorite designers? Diane Von Furstenberg, Nanette Lapore, L.A.M.B., Alice and Olivia, Theory, Bloomingdales’ private label, and BCBG. I don’t follow high fashion, though I love Project Runway. For me, it’s what looks good on my frame, and I can buy for cheap at Loehmann’s.

(SF): What books are on your nightstand?

(SL): Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, The Annotated Brothers Grim, The Essential Ironman by Stan Lee, Handling the Undead by John Ajvide Lindqvist, Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro [Sheepish Aside: I LOVE this book. Talk about haunting....], Boneshaker by Cherie Priest, Wake by Lisa McMann, and two textbooks: Introduction to Statistics, and Introduction to Biostatistics .

[Sheepish Aside: Now THAT looks scary, doesn't it?]

I’m studying YA because I’m writing it as a secret side project. Statistics is for the eventual possibility that I might finally finish my toxicology thesis. The rest are for fun.

(SF): What beauty/cosmetic products are on your bureau or in your medicine cabinet?

(SL): Shea Butter on my nightstand, and Oil of Olay day and night creams in the bathroom. Also, Trish McEvoy mascara, because I tend to look like a raccoon with any other brand.

(SF): Who is the best-dressed character you’ve created? How did you come up with and dress them? What does the way you dress them say about them to you?

(SL): Jill Sidenschwandt, my senior architect from AUDREY’S DOOR wore prissy pre-power woman suits—like from the 1970s. The kind Jane Fonda wore in 9-5.They’re soft, wool, fitted, and have occasional ruffles. The blouses in them tend to also have ruffles and ties.

I like that look. It’s pretty. At night, Jill wore vintage concert t-shirts, blazers, and jeans.  She saw her work clothes as a costume, for a role she was playing. The real Jill was a little more punk rock.

[Sheepish aside: this is also Jane Fonda. Really.]

I came up with her as a foil for my main character, Audrey Lucas. I wanted to create someone smart and talented, who had to fight a lot harder against the men’s club in order to get where she’s at in her firm. She’s harder on Audrey because she resents her, but she comes around and eventually takes her under her wing. It’s weird to think that I grew up watching television shows like “Who’s the Boss?” I mean, who did they think was the boss? The housecleaner?

(SF): If you could take just one book, one pair of shoes/boots and one clothing  item to a desert island, what would they each be?

(SL): Running shoes and overalls. It’s a desert island; who’s gonna care? The book? A survival guide for desert islands complete with how to entertain myself on said island, or the bible.

(SF): What do you wear when you’re writing?

(SL): I usually wear jeans and a t-shirt, or if it’s off-hours, my pajamas. Something comfy that I can wear for hours, and that’s loose enough that I can get a few jumping jacks in, to get the blood flowing. In other words, I’m intense and creepy.

(SF): What’s your next big fashion purchase? Next literary purchase?

(SL): I just got a really pretty L.A.M.B. winter coat at Two Lovers in Brooklyn. It’s used and cheap. I like going there, because they’ve got a lot a nice things and my taste is similar to the owner’s, so it’s like she’s done the sorting work for me. Also, unless I’m writing, I’m usually with my daughter. It’s pretty much impossible to try on clothes with a toddler, but at this store, the owner and assistant love kids, and watch her, or have her play with the owner’s daughter, so I’m free to shop. I don’t worry about whether she screams—they think it’s cute. It’s more about the experience and convenience for me, at this point in my life.  I don’t like lines, crowds, or people who don’t want to deal with my kid. Why give them the money?

Literary purchases: After reading a review in the Atlantic Monthly, I preordered Spellbound: Inside West Africa’s Witch Camps by Karen Palmer, from Bookcourt in Brooklyn, even though they don’t carry my books, even when I read there, which they should rectify immediately. [Sheepish aside: Shame on you, Book Court! Buy Sarah's nice books RIGHT NOW!]

I’m writing a screenplay about witches. It’s ridiculously fun. The book is for research.

(SF): What’s your go-to distraction (online or off) when you have writer’s block or are just feeling lazy?

(SL): I search every possible Mad Men blog. The best to date: Heather Havrilesky at Salon. She’s worthy of Laura Miller’s crown, which is saying something. Laura Miller is the best in the field. Also good is the Wall Street Journal, and occasionally, Slate.

(SF): What are you working on now?

(SL): I’ve got a radio play called “Is This Seat Taken?” coming out November 2, at Glass Eye Pix. You can buy it for $2, or buy the whole season for $20. I wrote the episode, and my husband directed and edited. It stars Joe Swanberg, of Mumblecore fame, and Vonia Arslanian.  Other episodes will include famous actors, directors, and writers both inside and out of the genre. Link: http://www.talesfrombeyondthepale.com/

Also out is my first hard science fiction story, “Hindsight” at Lightspeed Magazine. It’s free online, or $3 for the entire, downloadable Halloween issue, which includes stories by Stephen King and Joe Lansdale.

I’m also working on my fourth novel, Empty Houses. Every other book for me is introspective and dark.  I’m figuring things out, and these tend to be the ones that upset people, and give them nightmares, but also give them something to think about. Empty Houses is more like The Missing, in that it’s fast paced and joyful. It’s about a struggling family on Long Island, and what happens when a meteor of mysterious origin crashes in their front yard. The final thing I’m working on right now is a screenplay, also set on Long Island. With witches!

(SF): Halloween bonus question! What are you guys going as for Halloween?

(SL): Bill Murray from Caddyshack. Jt was Rodney. Clem was the gopher!

[FIN]


So there you have it–scary good stuff from one of the best scary writers out there. Don’t forget to pick up one of Sarah’s books, check out her story, and check back with her website to read more fun facts about crazed plant-killers, and for the long-anticipated release of Empty Houses. Also don’t forget to check back on Tuesday, for another Sheepish interview–this one with scary-brilliant jewelry genius (and wig-wearer unparallelled) Tina Tang!

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