r/books • u/joelansdale724 AMA Author • May 25 '20
ama 4pm JOE R. LANSDALE HISOWNSELF DISCUSSES WRITING AND STUFF. AMA
Freelance writer for 47 years, full time most of that. Martial artist for 57 years. 68 year old husband with a wonderful wife and kids, and a pit bull. Novelist, short story writer, screenplay writer, teleplays, animation scripts, comic scripts, essays, plays and poetry--kind of. Won some awards. Edgar, Spur, ten Bram Stokers, Grandmaster of Horror, Lifetime Achievement Award in Horror. Numerous works have been adapted for film and TV most notably Hap ＆ Leonard (three acclaimed seasons for Sundance), Cold in July (starring Michael C. Hall and directed by James Mickle) and the cult favorite Bubba Ho-tep(starring Bruce Campbell and directed by Don Coscarelli). My most recent book is Of Mice and Minestrone: Hap and Leonard the Early Years. Can be found on my fan page--Joe R. Lansdale, twitter account, @joelansdale, and website, www.joerlansdale.com.
Proof: /img/4yh0tgli0e051.jpg
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u/klutzrick May 25 '20
Hi Joe. Thanks for doing this.
How much of your Hap and Leonard stories are based on your own experiences?
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u/Ivys_jacket May 25 '20
You've written stories or scripts for several comic book characters, including Batman and Jonah Hex. Is there an established comic character you'd like to write a story for?
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u/joelansdale724 May 25 '20
You know, I'm open, but I think I've mostly done the ones I wanted. I always loved THE FLASH. Justice League would have been fun, and I had a chance to submit ideas to JL UNLIMITED and BATMAN BEYOND, but didn't. Had too much on my plate. I have done other characters that are from other people's sandboxes, like HELLBOY for an anthology of stories, and they were fun, but I mostly prefer my own stuff. My son and I just wrote a comic-book style hero novel titled BIG LIZARD, available soon from SST PUBLICATIONS, and though it's original, and humorous, it hits a lot of the bells and blows a lot of the whistles of comic book heroes.
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u/paulmcyr19 May 25 '20
The Thicket was supposed to begin filming this spring but the world was disrupted by the Corona virus. What does this do to the plans for the movie?
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u/sixpanels May 25 '20
Hello again! I'm a former student of yours - I took your comic book writing course over a decade ago up in Nacogdoches. So much has changed for comics since that time, in both the industry and the public's perception of the medium. If you were to teach that course again this summer, what would be the single biggest difference in the course's message, compared to the message of ten years ago?
Without giving away the farm, of course.
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u/brianharrisonmack May 25 '20
Hello Joe! Great to see you on here. Thank you for coming on to provide valuable insight into your writing process and in general interacting with your audience.
I know that you've collaborated with other writers on several occasions (namely your daughter Kasey) but I was also surprised to learn that you collaborated with fellow author Andrew Vachss on a short story entitled: "Veil's Visit" (which also appeared in the story collection of the same name).
How did your process differ writing with Andrew Vachss (on that project) versus writing with Kasey (on the Dana Roberts collection) and on the same note–how was it similar?
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u/brent_1138 May 25 '20
You give a lot of writing advice on Facebook and Twitter. Any chance of you collecting the best of that and publishing a non-fiction book someday?
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u/ConroeSA May 25 '20
Some writers jump right into the plot or story, but you seem to introduce your character and his (or their) situation a bit first, then you get to whatever sets the plot in motion. Is this something you learned on your own, as your way to tell a story?
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u/squeeaf May 25 '20
Seems like you're doing a lot more film and tv producing. We'd love to see more adaptations of your work especially if you're involved. How do you feel about moving into other mediums?
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u/bezuehlke May 25 '20
Hi, Joe! I recently read your short story "The Folding Man" and I need to know what on earth inspired this? I'm a big fan of your short fiction but that particular story stuck out for me.
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u/paulmcyr19 May 25 '20
After Of Mice and Minestrone, what plans do you have for the future with Hap and Leonard?
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u/brent_1138 May 25 '20
Ok, I'm just going to keep asking. What was it like seeing the Terracotta Warriors in Xian? I was supposed to go to China this Fall, but that got blown up for obvious reasons. What surprised you the most about your visit there?
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u/SleepwalkingPierrot May 25 '20
Hey, Mr. Lansdale. On the Far Side of the Cadillac Desert with Dead Folks was my first experience with your writing. From the jump I was blown away by what I was reading. For a high school boy in a lonely far flung holler it was like receiving radio waves from the mother ship. As life took hold I found myself in other corners of the world but always checking whatever bookstore was around the corner for your work. Over the years I amassed a dog-eared collection of popular and harder to find pieces and I always comeback. You're like a big ol' plate of baked mac n cheese. I don't have any questions, well I have a million, but I wanted to tell you how big an influence you've been and how much we all appreciate your voice. I wish you and yours the best.
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u/SnazzyMcGee01 May 25 '20
Which was your favorite Hap & Leonard story to write? My grandfather and I bond a lot over that series. Love your work, and hope to read so much more.
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u/paulmcyr19 May 25 '20
Other than Hap and Leonard, what are some of the favorite characters you have written?
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u/deadletterandy May 25 '20
Hey Joe, thanks for doing this.
You've done a broad spectrum of genre, but is there one you haven't tackled yet and want to give a try? Though, to be fair I can't think of one you haven't yet- you even did romance comics kind of.
And if I can ask another: Since Bill Paxton sadly isn't around anymore, who do you think would adapt *The Nightrunners* the best these days?
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u/joelansdale724 May 25 '20
I also wrote a kind of short Romance story for FERRARI MAGAZINE, and a failed romance story for an Italian publication. But, I don't really think of it that way. It has to do with interest.
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u/brent_1138 May 25 '20
Hi Joe. I know you love westerns and the Old West. Do you have any interest or hopes in coming up to Fort Smith to visit the US Marshals Museum?
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u/burke_no_sleeps May 25 '20
Mr Lansdale, any suggestions on balancing freelance writing and creative writing?
Do you have any thoughts or advice about publishing online or the self-publishing market?
Are there key facets of characters or situations you try to develop before you start writing?
Thank you for your time and your work!
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u/RandomRavenclaw87 May 25 '20
What makes a plot compelling and compulsively readable?