LGBTQ+ HORROR MONTH: FIVE MINUTES WITH WAYNE MANSFIELD

Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?

I am a Western Australian writer. I am an English language teacher – grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary – the whole shebang! My passion is writing and creating characters, stories and worlds. I began, years ago, by writing horror stories and having them published in small journals and e-zines.  Most of them have folded now.  I guess I have had my biggest successes writing MM erotic romances. Within this field, I also like to write with either horror, paranormal or fantasy themes.  

Why horror?  What is appeal of the genre to you as both a fan and as a writer?

For someone who was extremely frightened of the dark as a young boy (think turning the light off and leaping onto the bed), I have grown to actually prefer the night. I love being alone in the dark, walking the street at night, or being alone in my home or in the back yard at night. I always, without fail, watch horror films in the dark. And I have watched almost every horror film there is. These days I am more discerning. For example, there is nothing scary about slasher films. A girl with big tits gets cut up. Sorry, not scary. I love psychological horror. Horror that creeps you out hours after you’ve finished watching / reading it. Stuff that makes you, as a grown man, check under the bed.

How did you discover authors that wrote about characters that you could relate to?

I read Steven King when I was a teenager because that was the thing to do, and thought he was the bees knees, but as an adult, I find his horror kind of family friendly. I love Anne Rice and Neil Gaiman, and above all, Clive Barker.  Clive truly writes the stuff of nightmares. Really hardcore horror. I worship him. And I was introduced to all of them, except Neil Gainman, by the films of their books. Hellraiser, by Clive Barker, is still an all-time favourite, and a classic amongst horror buffs. Plus, Clive is gay. And hot.
 
Other than the horror genre, what else has been a major influence on your writing?
 
Music. I can listen to a song and it inspires ideas.  Kate Bush and Marilyn Manson are two prime examples. I have written more than one story that their music has inspired. Also, dreams. Unlike most people, I love nightmares. Naturally, I am frightened when I am experiencing them, but when I wake up, I have to get every detail down in my notebook.
 
The term horror, especially when applied to fiction always carries such heavy connotations.  What’s your feeling on the term “horror” and what do you think we can do to break past these assumptions?
 
I think horror is a pretty broad term. I hear stories about what scares other people and it doesn’t scare me. For example, the slasher films I was talking about. They do absolutely nothing for me. I have never read a book that has frightened me. And the only two films to frighten me were “The Exorcist” (my favourite film of all-time) and the first “Nightmare on Elm Street”. Probably because of the age I was when I watched them. The original “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” was pretty disturbing, too. The remake – crap. Horror, true horror, features the scary things that could possibly happen. Like in-breds in the Appalachians, featured in “Wrong Turn”, capturing you and not knowing that the torture they are putting you through is wrong. That’s scary. You won’t ever find me in the Appalachians because of that film. Well, that and the fact I live in Australia.  “Jaws” put the fear of Great Whites into me for life. And where I live it is just as well. We get people attacked and killed by them every now and again. Thanks to Steven Spielberg, they won’t get me!!! And I guess you break the assumptions by creating good product that changes people’s minds. Steven King’s son is doing that. I prefer his horror to his father’s.
 
A lot of good horror movements have arisen as a direct result of the socio/political climate, considering the current state of the world where do you see horror going in the next few years?
 
Horror, as already shown, is probably going to be more political, or have more to do with current concerns, such as global warming and, my personal favourite, the illuminati.  

What are the books and films that helped to define you as an author?
 
Easy. CLIVE BARKER. He is such a hero of mine. Gay and so creative and successful with it. I have read ALL his books and seen all the films he has either made or that were based on his work. Anne Rice has influenced me a lot. I love her descriptive prose, although it gets on my nerves a bit now. Neil Gaiman is a huge influence. Also, Michael Crichton. His stories fire my imagination.  Those 4 are by far the best writers around in my opinion. With Stephen King’s son, Joe Hill, as runner up.
 
As for films, there are basically two – “The Exorcist” and “Hellraiser”. Both were ahead of their time and both were absolutely brilliant. Still are.  I watch them regularly. I could act them out. “We have such sights to show you!”


In recent years there has been a slow but gradual diversification within the genre, which new LBGTQ+ writers do you think we should be paying attention to? 
 
I actually haven’t read any LBGTQ horror, I’m ashamed to say. I have a full-time job and any spare time I get is spent writing. When I do read, it is more mainstream stuff which I have seen advertised and has niggled at me until I’ve read it – like M. R. Carey books. I do read gay books by Rob Rosen, Rick Reed, R.W. Clinger.  I can recommend those writers.  

How would you describe your writing style?

Not sure. Grammatically correct, for one thing. British English, as we use in Australia. Very descriptive. Quite graphic. Well-written is a comment I often get.
 
Are there any reviews of your work, positive or negative that have stayed with you?

I am a pretty good barometer of my own work.  I know when something is brilliant and when something is not so good. I try to fix things in the final edits, but sometimes I am still not happy. I only promote the work I am pleased with. So, I would have to say, negative reviews can really get me down. Especially when it is something that I consider some of my best work. What really burns me up is people who say “It should have finished this way.” Or, “He should have written it like this”. Well then, go and write your own book. But don’t judge the things that could have / should have / would have been. My stories are my stories. I don’t care if you don’t like the plot or the writing or the characters – those are technical things. But don’t tell me what should have happened. Everything that I think should have happened, did happen.  

What aspects of writing to do you find the most difficult?

The editing. Absolutely. If editing was a person, I would hit it with my car, reverse back over it, and hit it again.  I abhor it. But, unfortunately, I am a perfectionist and I make myself do it. I edit about three times, at least. I absolutely hate it, though I do it. Ideally, once I have written it and done the first edit, that is the last time I want to see the thing. But of course, you have your editor’s edits to go through and then the final edit. I often do the final proofread myself, as well. If I have time. And patience.

Are there any subjects that you would never write about?

I am not a Politically Correct type of person. I think political correctness has gone too far. Yes, we should respect everyone and value everyone, but with things in the correct context, I wish there were no taboos. So, while there is nothing that I wouldn’t write about, why waste my time writing something that won’t get published??  I mean, I don’t want to deliberately go out of my way to write something inflammatory, but if I want to include it in a story, why not. I wrote a sorry about a sexually active school boy – which I was – but my editor said the character had to be 18. I asked her what high school student is 18 (at least, in Australia)? She said she understood and that the readers would to, but the character had to be 18. That annoyed me a lot, because as we all know, teens are having sex at younger and younger ages. I didn’t want to write anything illegal, I just wanted my 16 year old school boy character to be able to be able to have sex.   
  
Writing, is not a static process, how have you developed as a writer over the years?

Although I hate negative reviews, if it is constructive, I will listen to what they have to say -after I have simmered down. I am one of those sensitive writers, but I do listen to helpful critiques. I think listening to readers, as well, improves your writing. After all, they are the ones that consume your work. I am always trying to improve. I don’t really read reviews anymore, not even the good ones, but in the past, the constructive comments have helped honed my skills.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received with regards to your writing?

I remember someone commenting on how my characters didn’t speak naturally. It was all very proper. Too scripted. That REALLY helped me. Ever since then I try to write direct speech that is as natural as possible. And have actually been complimented on it. So thank you to whoever brought that to my attention.  

Getting your worked noticed is one of the hardest things for a writer to achieve, how have you attempted to break through the barriers that are so often in place against LBGTQ+ writers?

Facebook groups have helped a lot with this. And there are more and more of them. Not so sure how effective they are…yet.

Many CIS white male authors use LGBTQ+ characters in their works, what’s the mistake that they make when trying to portray these characters?

Writing stereotypes. Or writing them with straight-man characteristics. Women writers of gay characters often imbue them with more female feelings and emotions. The truth is somewhere in between.   

Moving on to getting your work read by unwashed masses, what do you think is the biggest misconception about LGBTQ+ fiction?
 
The biggest misconception is that it’s all about pale, limp wristed characters that sit around talking about Kylie or Madonna or Lady Gaga. There are some gay people like that, of course, but how about some diversity. Some gay men you would never know were gay.   
 
In other words, I think some people have a stereotypical view of what being gay is. Or a narrow view of what being gay is. Whereas in actual fact, gays are as many and varied as heterosexuals.   

There are as number of presses dedicated to LGBTQ+ fiction, do you view these as a good thing, or do you think they help to perpetuate the ongoing exclusion from mainstream presses?
 
I think they actually help LGBTQ people. Mainstream presses are not going to give equal opportunities to gay people, and the ones that say they will, it seems to me like a token effort. Although, every chance presented, is, after-all, a chance.

And here is the million dollar question do you agree with movements like this and things such as Women in Horror Month?  If so how would you like to see sites such as Ginger Nuts of Horror tackle diversity? 
 
I think just by accepting a proportional amount of work from all minority groups. Every single person has at least one or two stories to tell. Accept them all and let your readers read the spectrum.

The most common phrase you hear when people object to active movements to encourage all forms of diversity is “I don’t care about the sexuality, gender, color etc etc of the writer I only care about good stories” what would you like to say to these people?

I’d say, I agree. You shouldn’t just publish something because a gay guy or a lesbian or a black person wrote it. You should publish it because it is something well-written, something different to the rest, or something wonderful.

To many writers, the characters they write become like children, who is your favorite child, and who is your least favorite to write for and why?

 My favourite children are the ones that the vast majority of my readers like. If I have written something, or someone, that people like, then that is my favourite child. As for least favourite, most of the children I wrote when I was starting out. There are some shockers. I have tried to remove as many of them from publication as possible.  

What piece of your own work are you most proud of?

I am most proud of two pieces – “The Hiding Place”, which is semi-autobiographical. It deals with bullying and the effects it can have long after you leave school.  There is a strong sexual thread throughout it, quite graphic, but it doesn’t seem to have detracted from the overall story. It got Honorable Mention in the 2013 Rainbow Awards

Secondly, my novel “Across the Sea” about two convicts sent to colonial Australia 170 years ago. I put a lot of blood and sweat into that, as well as a lot of research. 

I wanted to enter it in the Rainbow Awards, but forgot. Yes, I forgot. All right? :D

For those who haven’t read any of your books, which of your books do you think best represents your work and why?

I would definitely say the two above represent my work, but in the horror mode, I would suggest “The Stroke of Midnight” and “Brothers of the Moon”, which I consider my most imaginative works of horror. They are both collections of stories and novellas.

Do you have a favorite line or passage from your work, and would you like to share it with us?
 
Too many to list. I always try to put something clever in each book or story.
 
Can you tell us about your last book, and can you tell us about what you are working on next?

My last book was a paranormal story for Halloween, called “Why Ghosts Haunt”. It is more romantic than erotic. It’s also quite short, but I think it is a very good story. Short and sweet.  I am not currently working on anything, but my next book to be released is a novella about gay spouse abuse. It is quite confronting at the beginning, then turns into something positive, which I know doesn’t always happen, but there is enough misery in the world without writing about it. Having said that, I don’t think a lot of people know about gay spouse abuse. It’s always the battered women we hear about, but there are plenty of battered men, too.    

What was the last great book you read, and what was the last book that disappointed you?

The last great book I read was “Fellside” by M.R. Carey. That man has imagination to burn. If you haven’t read him, do it. Now!! LOL. The last book I read that didn’t really impress me was, unfortunately, Neil Gaiman’s “Norse Mythology”. It reminded me of the re-telling of medieval adventures that Enid Blyton used to write for children. There was nothing new or interesting in his re-telling. I was disappointed because he is a brilliant writer – usually.   
 
What's the one question you wish you would get asked but never do?  And what would be the answer?
 
I’ve never really thought about. How about: “Want a cuddle?” Answer: “Yes”.