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Curious Imagination
by Alesha Brunell
We all remember being intrigued by bizarre horror shorts such as The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Tales From the Crypt, but who has picked up the reins since? No household name comes to mind? Meet P.S.
Gifford.
After reading the book The Curious Accounts of the Imaginary Friend (review), I realized how much I missed this style of horror and that it's influence is timeless. Not only is P.S. Gifford picking up where earlier television anthologies have let off, his apathetic characters bring a chill to the bone. Here is a glimpse into author P.S. Gifford's curious imagination.
My train of thought just pulled into the station.
And all my maddened inspirations scrambled out, one after another after another.
Oh such chaos and confusion.
It was a scene of Bedlam.
I quickly tried to congregate them into some orderly fashion, To contain their intrinsic wickedness.
Yet, my creations vastly outnumber me.
Even now as I attempt to write this.
My hackles are raised.
My senses are reeling.
I perceive them plotting.
Every iniquitous thought I ever created in my vivid imagination.
Each gruesome death scene I ever graphically penned:
The torture,
The fear,
The pain,
Corrupted innocence,
Are all here now…
And they have only one motivation;
They are united by a core powerful purpose…
Revenge on their maker.
-P.S. Gifford
GASP: What do you love about books?
PSG: That they are pure forms of escapism. They can transport you to anyplace, or any period of time- even the future- from the comfy of your favorite reading chair.
GASP: What were the first books that inspired you to be a writer?
PSG: The first books I actually recall reading were Enid Blyton ones. By the time I was seven I had read all of the Famous Five and Secret Seven series. Then I moved on to Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, Conan Doyle, Rudyard Kipling and developed a fondness for Victorian literature. When I was twelve I got my first real taste of the horror genre. I recall reading some early Stephen King books which I loved. However, one book, out of all the others, stuck out from the literary pack. I am not sure why…But something about it struck a nerve in a delicious manner. That was John Saul’s Suffer the Children. That was in early 1978 and I was just twelve years old at the time. I recently had the lovely opportunity of meeting John Saul. Now, often times when you meet your heroes you are left disappointed as they fail to meet your expectations of them. I am thrilled to say that he exceeded them and was genuine, warm and encouraging. The day I met him at Dark Delicacies, in Burbank, was the day my own signing there was confirmed. It was one of those perfect moments I shall always remember. A photograph of the two of us is now framed and placed prominently displayed on my fireplace.
GASP: What are your favorite books now?
PSG: Well, my favorite author presently is Bram Stoker winner John Everson, and I strongly suggest that anyone looking for a horror novel that they will not be able to put down to pick up Covenant. I enjoy all the major players in the genre- King, Koontz, Barker, and of course Saul. I try to keep my reading material as varied as possible- reading everything from Westerns to science fiction- and I am always on the look out for new and up-and-coming authors. I also would be amiss for not including Roald Dahl in this list- he truly was the master of tales of the unexpected.
GASP: Would you describe your writing style for our readers?
PSG: My writing style I proudly call pulp. It is not intended to change the world or make folks think to deeply. It is simply meant as entertainment and a way of escaping reality for a short while.
 GASP: I know of The Curious Accounts of the Imaginary Friend and Dr. Offig's Lessons from the Dark Side, what other of your works have been published?
PSG: Those are the only two currently- and sequels to both these titles are currently in the works for 2009.
GASP: Would you say your stories are geared more for young adults but also suitable for adults?
PSG: The Curious Accounts of the Imaginary Friend is primarily geared to adults- but I am comfortable with anyone older than fourteen reading it. However there is some adult language and macabre scenes in the book. As for Dr. Offig's Lessons from the Dark Side- this was primarily written for the young adult market but seems to be enjoyed by all age groups.
GASP: Have you considered writing novels? Or perhaps a series for your related short stories?
PSG: I have plotted out a novel I hope to complete in 2009. Whereas I love writing short stories I realize to make it to the next level I need to kick up my game to include novels. I actually plan to try an average one a year from next year onwards.
GASP: Have you any pen names?
PSG: Initially Dr. Offig was going to be my pen name for my young adult series. I thought it would differentiate the two styles of writing. Obviously I scrapped that notion. I also used the pen name Henrick Glutonlumps for several years- mainly for my more bizarre, sarcastic or extreme writing. It was a way of testing the waters without tarnishing my name.
GASP: What was the first recognition you received that made you realize your talent?
PSG: I would say that honor goes to Mr. Goddard- my English teacher back in England when I was fourteen years old. He actually thought somebody else was doing my home work assignments- until I wrote something in class that caught his attention. My first sale was to an on-line magazine –Unbelievable Stories- I never cashed the check.
GASP: Why didn't you cash it?
PSG: I never cashed the cheque as I wanted to keep it for sentimental reasons. Selling a story is a tough thing to do in this day and age!
GASP: What were you before you became an author? And are you a full-time writer now?
PSG: I used to be an author who worked as a restaurant manager- a career I had for seventeen years. Five years ago, with my wife’s full support, I quit to focus on my dream. It was scary and we took a gamble. Fortunately that gamble paid off. I have been a full time writer ever since.
GASP: When did you first realize you had an affinity for horror?
PSG: Back when I was a youngster in the early seventies back in England BBC 2 would have a double header of classic horror movies. At this time it was just my father and I and as he played in a band on Fridays I was left alone to watch them. I found the thrill of being scared was an addicting one. When I was ten I told a horror story to some of my class mates one Friday after school. This tale involved the wood next to the school and a hospital for the mentally instable. The next school day I got in trouble- as several of the children refused point blank to walk to school alone.
GASP: What are some of the things that first attracted you to the macabre and the bizarre?
PSG: I think most of us, whether we admit it or not, are attracted to the macabre. It is the same impulse that makes us slow down when we see a car accident on the other side of the highway. We are both repulsed- and attracted- to carnage. I accepted this trait within me early on.
GASP: What are your top 5 most influential movies?
PSG: The original Psycho - Hitchcock has had a major influence on me.
 The Shining - Kubrick was a bloody genius. Perhaps Jack Nicholson’s finest hour.
Misery - Some might mock this choice but to me it is one of the most entertaining movies ever made. Kathy Bates performance was absolutely phenomenal and it is a movie I have seen fifty times or more.
Shaun of the Dead - Perhaps the funniest movie I have ever seen. I think horror often needs to be tempered with a dash of comedy to make it more palatable.
Halloween - Again the original. It simply does so much with so little. It is a classic of the genre.
GASP: Do you write screenplays?
PSG: I have adapted several of my stories to audio plays- Broken Sea has several of them in their Halloween series. I see screenplays as the next logical step forward.
GASP: Is the Imaginary Friend a sinister character himself or just someone forced to hang around with evil people?
PSG: The imaginary friend is someone we all have the ability to summon- good or bad. He goes by many names...What is collected is his most curious accounts- mostly with a dark twist.
GASP: Does Dr. Offig have an Imaginary Friend?
PSG: Of course!
GASP: I remember wanting to know more about some of the characters in Curious Accounts and what happened to them. Is there any reason why your stories are so short and sometimes leave you hanging? Do the sequels satisfy some of my curiosity?
PSG: I am a fan of short stories. My next book will have longer ones though- and a novel is on the way. I will answer any questions that you have as regards to characters- a couple do re-emerge in the follow up. As for open endings I think that is often a more satisfying ending- the reader reaches their own conclusions. King has been doing this for years so I am in good company!
GASP: In "A Grim Affair", you wrote that "Some of the greatest discoveries were often hidden discretely on the unfortunate person." What kinds of discoveries had Archibald found on the bodies?
PSG: Everything from gold teeth, to diamond rings to pocket watches. It is amazing what some people are buried with.
GASP: In "A Charming Bedtime Story", what was the thing still in the woman's house when she woke up?
PSG: The beauty of the story it is left to the reader's imagination to know what/who it is. Perhaps an escaped mad man or maybe even the boogey man himself. We all have our own unique fears now don't we? Even you...
GASP: In "The Housecall", what was Mr. Carrington?
PSG: Again he was whatever you imagined him to be. Perhaps a demon, perhaps even a crazed human like beast- only I know for sure, and I will never tell!
GASP: And lastly, I must ask, what are your three favorite beers?
PSG: As far as sheer consumption is concerned Guinness would top that list. I like cask conditioned ales best- but they are hard to come by in the States. Morlands Hen’s Tooth, a bottled condition beer, is what I consume on special occasions. When I am back in England I tend to stick to Yorkshire bitter- with Black Sheep being my favorite.
Check out P.S. Gifford's website, or his myspace page.
P.S. Gifford meeting one of his heroes, John Saul
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