Three themes ran through the speech of Joe R. Lansdale, author and teacher. He spoke of his family, his craft and his art. They were the themes that gave structure to his life.
He spoke of an 11-year-old boy with a bully problem and a father who was willing to teach what he knew. He was uneducated, but he knew how to make a living “riding the rails” to fairs to wrestle in traveling shows. The father knew how to teach the skills of self-defense to his son.
He spoke of a mother who raised two sons, 17 years apart and had time to help a young man write “the first thing that I ever sold,” Lansdale said. “It was a letter entry in the ‘Farm Journal’, and it won a prize. I was 21 years old."
The lives of his children are important to him and he spoke with pride about their accomplishments. He said, “They both write.” His son is a reporter and his daughter writes songs. He was soft voiced when he talked about his wife who worked as a dispatcher for the Nacogdoches Fire Department. “She works for me, now,” Lansdale said with a grin. He talked about recent work with his older brother on a writing project.
His craft is the written word. His words appear in works with themes ranging from horror stories, westerns, and crime fighting good ole boys to the antics of “Batman and Robin”. His writing career spans over four decades.
His art is centered in the demanding world of Shen Chuan, a system of martial arts he created. As a youngster, he was able to take a class in self defense that was offered at the YMCA. Lansdale said, “I’m in the Martial Arts Hall of Fame for being a founder and a teacher and some other things.” He did not mention the seven Bram Stoker awards, the 2007 Grand Master Award for contributions to the field of Horror fiction, or the international honors he has received.
He does not speak of famous actors, but of directors and writers who have produced work he admires. Lansdale said, “I’ve been to Hollywood, I go out there get my business done and I come home.”
He spoke of works sold, “I got the check," but there was a wistful note in his voice when he said they haven’t made it onto film, “yet.” He said he hopes his optioned book, “A Fine Dark Line”, will be made.
He was dressed in black and he had not covered his bald spot with a Hollywood rug. He let his warts show and did not speak about the glamour of being a successful author.
Lansdale spoke of the early times “when I worked as a janitor here at SFA. I cleaned the gym and then I got a promotion. I was a supervisor over two buildings on campus.” He said he started making money writing “so I quit to write full time”. He said when he quit the custodial job, “things quit selling. I stayed home and raised my son. I wrote my first screen play with him sitting on my lap.”
Texas State University, in San Marcos, has Lansdale materials from the 1985-1992 years in their archives. Their biographical note is heavy on facts but contains very little of the rich flavor of his work. It said “Joe R. Lansdale was born October 28, 1951 in Gladewater, Texas. Lansdale has written horror, science fiction, westerns and mysteries. He has expressed a preference for short stories but has also written novels, comic scripts, screenplays and stage plays."
“He has edited several short story anthologies and has contributed to numerous genre magazines. All his works are informed by his life-long immersion in the atmosphere of deep East Texas. Lansdale was awarded the Bram Stoker award for "Night They Missed the Horror Show" in 1989 and for "On the Far Side of the Cadillac Desert With Dead People."
The years since 1992 have seen the creation of many works with colorful dustcovers and intriguing titles that provoke questions such as, what happened in “Mad Dog Summer” and who or what was in “High Cotton?”
Who wouldn’t like to get into the mind of a man who wrote the screen play for “Bubba Ho-Tep” which is, according to Wikipedia,com, “a movie with characters such as Elvis and JFK battling a soul sucking ancient Egyptian mummy in a nursing home”? Lansdale said the Wikipedia article is “mostly accurate” unlike some other internet sources about his work.
He teaches at SFASU and writes everyday. “If you wait for inspiration you won’t make it. I don’t know anybody who made a writer waiting for inspiration. You have to do it,” Lansdale said. “It is a discipline I learned from Martial Arts.” He said the title of “professor” comes from the world of the Martial Arts where he teaches, and not from the world of academia. “Writing is what I do,” he said.
He said he started out reading comic books and that led to illustrated books of great literature. “They did a good job of them and that got me reading other books,” he said.” He liked the comic books enough to write for them later. He wrote segments for “The Lone Ranger”, “Batman” and wrote episodes for “Batman: The Animated Series”
In an interview with Nick Gevers, a writer for Infinity Plus, Lansdale said, “Edgar Rice Burroughs made it imperative that I be a writer. He is my sentimental favorite to this day, and I even had the fortune to complete a novel he left uncompleted. It was titled ‘Tarzan's Last Adventure’. I loved that, working with my hero. What he did give me was a sense of pace and a love for pure storytelling.”
It seems like a lot of different things came down U.S. Highway 80 and influenced a little boy growing up in Gladewater, Texas.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
By Kara Killough
Joe Richard Harold Lansdale is possibly one of the greatest writers from Texas as he recently won the 2007 Grand Master Award at the World Horror Convention for his contributions to the field of horror fiction.
Lansdale, born October 28, 1951, was a Gladewater, Texas native, but now resides in Nacogdoches. He comes from a not-so-wealthy farm family. His mother received only an 11th grade education and his father never learned to read or write. He has only one brother, John, whom is 17 years his elder.
Lansdale showed up dressed casually in an un-tucked black button down shirt and jeans to discuss the exciting life of a mojo author and martial arts expert. His grey hair was tussled and he seemed to be a relaxed individual as he remained seated the entirety of his interview, with one leg hidden behind a desk, as if some sort of mystery injury ailed him. During the interview Lansdale frequently spoke out of the right side of his mouth.
“I wanted to start writing when I discovered a pencil,” Lansdale said. Heavily influenced by comic books, Lansdale said, “Writing began to boil around inside me” and he started writing at the age of nine.
Lansdale’s love for writing grew as he learned to type in high school. He also took a journalism class and adored English.
It was during this time that he met someone he would never forget. Lansdale had an English teacher who was nothing like the rest. While every other teacher wore long skirts and drab attire, “She’d prance into class in a mini skirt to teach.” Lansdale said that she taught him The Beatle’s poetry and took the class to see Romeo and Juliet. For this she was fired and Lansdale said it was a darn shame because “she was a real teacher, not just someone who sat in front of you and took up your time.”
Even though Lansdale’s family didn’t have a lot of money, he was determined to go to college. He attended both Tyler Junior College and the University of Texas for a year and moved on to attend Stephen F. Austin State University later in his life.
Lansdale was married at age 21 and wrote his first nonfiction article about gardening under his mother’s name. It won an award.
Lansdale started a truck plowing business with his wife. They sold organic food to local markets to survive. He thought this would be an ideal job so he would have time to write. Lansdale said he realized he wasn’t getting any writing done because he was getting up before the crack of dawn and going to bed well after dark.
From here he held many odd jobs such as a bouncer and a carpenter’s helper.
He laughed at the irony of holding the position as a carpenter’s helper. “I could kill you with a hammer just by accident,” Lansdale said.
Eventually he began to work for Stephen F. Austin State University as a janitor. He found plenty of time to write during this time and actually started selling his work. Then Lansdale laughingly said, “Once I started selling, I quit my job, and then the sales stopped.”
With nowhere else to turn, his wife encouraged him to start focusing on just his writing. Soon his son, Keith, was born and Lansdale wrote his first screenplay as his son sat on his lap beating him with a plastic hammer.
Most of Lansdale’s writing is deeply ironic, strange, and unconventional. He addresses issues that many authors do not dare write about. He writes about racism, ignorance, urban and rural deprivation, corruption, pedophilia, and gay violence.
Lansdale is well known and highly regarded for his speculative western fiction and rip-roaring horror adventures. His first publication was ‘Act of Love’ in 1980 and from there he continued writing short story collections, anthologies, articles, screenplays, and novels. Some of Lansdale’s famous works include ‘The Drive-In,’ ‘Cold in July,’ the Hap Collins and Leonard Pine series, ‘Tarzan: The Lost Adventure,’ ‘Bubba Ho-Tep,’ and work on the Batman animated series.
Many of his works have been published in various languages and been adapted to film.
The author of over 20 novels, in addition to short story collections, anthologies, and novellas, has received many awards. He has now won seven Bram Stoker Awards and the Grinzane Prize for Literature in Italy in 2006. Also Lansdale has won a British Fantasy Award, the American Mystery Award, the Horror Critics Award, the "Shot in the Dark" International Crime Writers award, the Booklist Editor's Award, the Critic's Choice Award and a New York Times Notable Book award. Additionally, he's just been voted a Grand Master Award by the members of the 2007 World Horror Convention.
Among his writing talents, Lansdale discovered a love for martial arts. At the tender age of 11, boys at school were picking on him. At the time Lansdale’s father was a carnival wrestler and taught him how to protect himself. Then Lansdale learned that the local YMCA offered a judo class. From there he continued studies in hapkido, tae kwon do, and later kenpo.
After studying many different types of martial arts and sciences, Lansdale said he wanted to find a connection between the systems. He said he felt like he just had a “fruit salad” of training.
He later established a martial art known as Shen Chuan and was inducted into the International Martial Arts Hall of Fame for a fourth time.
Now, after 45 years of martial art experience and a 10th degree black belt, Lansdale said, “It’s tough stuff, but anyone from age 10 to 70 can do it.” He claims these studies have offered him great discipline in his writing. When asked to demonstrate some of his moves, Lansdale said seriously, “We do not perform forms. Ours are done with people, not air.”
Lansdale still enjoys writing and martial arts in his Nacogdoches home with his wife Karen and two children, Keith and Kasey. He plans to continue writing and go on to win many more awards.
Lansdale, born October 28, 1951, was a Gladewater, Texas native, but now resides in Nacogdoches. He comes from a not-so-wealthy farm family. His mother received only an 11th grade education and his father never learned to read or write. He has only one brother, John, whom is 17 years his elder.
Lansdale showed up dressed casually in an un-tucked black button down shirt and jeans to discuss the exciting life of a mojo author and martial arts expert. His grey hair was tussled and he seemed to be a relaxed individual as he remained seated the entirety of his interview, with one leg hidden behind a desk, as if some sort of mystery injury ailed him. During the interview Lansdale frequently spoke out of the right side of his mouth.
“I wanted to start writing when I discovered a pencil,” Lansdale said. Heavily influenced by comic books, Lansdale said, “Writing began to boil around inside me” and he started writing at the age of nine.
Lansdale’s love for writing grew as he learned to type in high school. He also took a journalism class and adored English.
It was during this time that he met someone he would never forget. Lansdale had an English teacher who was nothing like the rest. While every other teacher wore long skirts and drab attire, “She’d prance into class in a mini skirt to teach.” Lansdale said that she taught him The Beatle’s poetry and took the class to see Romeo and Juliet. For this she was fired and Lansdale said it was a darn shame because “she was a real teacher, not just someone who sat in front of you and took up your time.”
Even though Lansdale’s family didn’t have a lot of money, he was determined to go to college. He attended both Tyler Junior College and the University of Texas for a year and moved on to attend Stephen F. Austin State University later in his life.
Lansdale was married at age 21 and wrote his first nonfiction article about gardening under his mother’s name. It won an award.
Lansdale started a truck plowing business with his wife. They sold organic food to local markets to survive. He thought this would be an ideal job so he would have time to write. Lansdale said he realized he wasn’t getting any writing done because he was getting up before the crack of dawn and going to bed well after dark.
From here he held many odd jobs such as a bouncer and a carpenter’s helper.
He laughed at the irony of holding the position as a carpenter’s helper. “I could kill you with a hammer just by accident,” Lansdale said.
Eventually he began to work for Stephen F. Austin State University as a janitor. He found plenty of time to write during this time and actually started selling his work. Then Lansdale laughingly said, “Once I started selling, I quit my job, and then the sales stopped.”
With nowhere else to turn, his wife encouraged him to start focusing on just his writing. Soon his son, Keith, was born and Lansdale wrote his first screenplay as his son sat on his lap beating him with a plastic hammer.
Most of Lansdale’s writing is deeply ironic, strange, and unconventional. He addresses issues that many authors do not dare write about. He writes about racism, ignorance, urban and rural deprivation, corruption, pedophilia, and gay violence.
Lansdale is well known and highly regarded for his speculative western fiction and rip-roaring horror adventures. His first publication was ‘Act of Love’ in 1980 and from there he continued writing short story collections, anthologies, articles, screenplays, and novels. Some of Lansdale’s famous works include ‘The Drive-In,’ ‘Cold in July,’ the Hap Collins and Leonard Pine series, ‘Tarzan: The Lost Adventure,’ ‘Bubba Ho-Tep,’ and work on the Batman animated series.
Many of his works have been published in various languages and been adapted to film.
The author of over 20 novels, in addition to short story collections, anthologies, and novellas, has received many awards. He has now won seven Bram Stoker Awards and the Grinzane Prize for Literature in Italy in 2006. Also Lansdale has won a British Fantasy Award, the American Mystery Award, the Horror Critics Award, the "Shot in the Dark" International Crime Writers award, the Booklist Editor's Award, the Critic's Choice Award and a New York Times Notable Book award. Additionally, he's just been voted a Grand Master Award by the members of the 2007 World Horror Convention.
Among his writing talents, Lansdale discovered a love for martial arts. At the tender age of 11, boys at school were picking on him. At the time Lansdale’s father was a carnival wrestler and taught him how to protect himself. Then Lansdale learned that the local YMCA offered a judo class. From there he continued studies in hapkido, tae kwon do, and later kenpo.
After studying many different types of martial arts and sciences, Lansdale said he wanted to find a connection between the systems. He said he felt like he just had a “fruit salad” of training.
He later established a martial art known as Shen Chuan and was inducted into the International Martial Arts Hall of Fame for a fourth time.
Now, after 45 years of martial art experience and a 10th degree black belt, Lansdale said, “It’s tough stuff, but anyone from age 10 to 70 can do it.” He claims these studies have offered him great discipline in his writing. When asked to demonstrate some of his moves, Lansdale said seriously, “We do not perform forms. Ours are done with people, not air.”
Lansdale still enjoys writing and martial arts in his Nacogdoches home with his wife Karen and two children, Keith and Kasey. He plans to continue writing and go on to win many more awards.
By Stacy Glover
Joe R. Lansdale, Nacogdoches resident, has talents that have won him many awards.
Lansdale has created his own system of martial arts called Shen Chuan Martial Science. He created this system of martial arts from learning many different forms of martial arts.
Lansdale studied Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu, Aikido, Combat Hapkido, Anerican Combat Kempo, and Tae Kwon Doe; he found the roots of these forms and searched for the point where they all fit together. The point of their connection is what became Lansdale's form of Shen Chuan.
Lansdale said, "When I was about 11 I started to get picked on at school. My dad was a circus wrestler so he trained me. At the Tyler YMCA I started taking Judo and then became interested in learning other forms."
Lansdale teaches for three hours a day at the Lansdale's Self Defense Systems. He said, "I don't teach the combat fighting that is in movies. I teach self-defense. Don't get me wrong; it's not for sissies."
Lansdale has been inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame four times. He started out his form as a way to teach people how to defend themselves, but was then honored as being the creator of a new martial arts system.
His martial arts honors aren't the only ones he is being recognized for. Lansdale has also received many awards for his writing. "The first time I discovered pencils is when I knew I wanted to be a writer," said Lansdale.
He decided to become a truck farmer so he would have time to write. It didn't take him very long to realize that farming wasn't exactly as easy as he thought it would be. He was waking up at early hours of the morning and going to bed late at night. He hardly ever had time to write.
Lansdale went from career to career. He was a bouncer and even was head janitor at SFA. During his time as a janitor he was able to publish his first book. He said, "I still didn't have time to write. My wife convinced me to quit my job and to just become a full time writer since my books were starting to sell."
The Farm Journal is credited for being the first to discover his writings. Lansdale said, "When I was 21, I sold my first article that I had written in my mother's name with my mother."
Lansdale now has written 30 novels, 16 short story collections, comic books, and several other works that he can be proud of. Lansdale has written westerns, horror, science fiction, mystery, and suspense. Lansdale wrote a novel about JFK and zombies, which was later turned into a movie called Bubba Ho-Tep.
According to www.wikipedia.com, he is the winner of the British Fantasy Award, the American Horror Award, the Edgar Award, and six Bram Stoker Awards. The World Horror Convention recently made him the recipient of the 2007 Grand Master Award for contributions to the field of Horror fiction.
Lansdale said, "I've written less horror than anything else, but once you get the horror title everyone forgets everything else you've written."
Www.wikipedia.com states, it has also been announced that Lansdale's 2002 novel A Fine Dark Line will be made into a movie, which will be directed by Adam Friedman, with a screenplay written by Lansdale himself.
Lansdale's novels being chosen to be produced as a movie gives him a chance to be on the set and see how the actors are going to act out his very own novel. He said, "I know stuff about actors that you don't want to know because you couldn't enjoy them anymore."
Although Lansdale's dad couldn't read or write he would still encourage him because he knew how hard it was for himself. Lansdale said, "The first screen play I wrote with my son sitting in my lap beating me in the testicles with a plastic hammer the entire time."
He said, "If you looked me up on wikipedia it would tell you that one of the genres I write about is pedophilia. I'm part of Protect, which is a group to protect children's rights. We are the only lobbyists for the children."
Lansdale was chosen to have the honor of completing an unfinished manuscript of Edger Rice Burroughs.Www.alibris.com states, "For nearly fifty years, Edgar Rice Burroughs' last Tarzan manuscript lay untouched and unfinished, locked away in a vault. It was the stuff of legend until, finally, the magnificent tale was completed with the help of award-winning author Joe R. Lansdale."
Lansdale is staying true to his love of writing and is now currently employed as a professor at SFA. He is currently teaching screen writing and creative writing. This upcoming summer he will be teaching comic book writing. Lansdale has the opportunity to share with his students the work that he loves and hopes to inspire his students to follow in his path.
Lansdale has created his own system of martial arts called Shen Chuan Martial Science. He created this system of martial arts from learning many different forms of martial arts.
Lansdale studied Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu, Aikido, Combat Hapkido, Anerican Combat Kempo, and Tae Kwon Doe; he found the roots of these forms and searched for the point where they all fit together. The point of their connection is what became Lansdale's form of Shen Chuan.
Lansdale said, "When I was about 11 I started to get picked on at school. My dad was a circus wrestler so he trained me. At the Tyler YMCA I started taking Judo and then became interested in learning other forms."
Lansdale teaches for three hours a day at the Lansdale's Self Defense Systems. He said, "I don't teach the combat fighting that is in movies. I teach self-defense. Don't get me wrong; it's not for sissies."
Lansdale has been inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame four times. He started out his form as a way to teach people how to defend themselves, but was then honored as being the creator of a new martial arts system.
His martial arts honors aren't the only ones he is being recognized for. Lansdale has also received many awards for his writing. "The first time I discovered pencils is when I knew I wanted to be a writer," said Lansdale.
He decided to become a truck farmer so he would have time to write. It didn't take him very long to realize that farming wasn't exactly as easy as he thought it would be. He was waking up at early hours of the morning and going to bed late at night. He hardly ever had time to write.
Lansdale went from career to career. He was a bouncer and even was head janitor at SFA. During his time as a janitor he was able to publish his first book. He said, "I still didn't have time to write. My wife convinced me to quit my job and to just become a full time writer since my books were starting to sell."
The Farm Journal is credited for being the first to discover his writings. Lansdale said, "When I was 21, I sold my first article that I had written in my mother's name with my mother."
Lansdale now has written 30 novels, 16 short story collections, comic books, and several other works that he can be proud of. Lansdale has written westerns, horror, science fiction, mystery, and suspense. Lansdale wrote a novel about JFK and zombies, which was later turned into a movie called Bubba Ho-Tep.
According to www.wikipedia.com, he is the winner of the British Fantasy Award, the American Horror Award, the Edgar Award, and six Bram Stoker Awards. The World Horror Convention recently made him the recipient of the 2007 Grand Master Award for contributions to the field of Horror fiction.
Lansdale said, "I've written less horror than anything else, but once you get the horror title everyone forgets everything else you've written."
Www.wikipedia.com states, it has also been announced that Lansdale's 2002 novel A Fine Dark Line will be made into a movie, which will be directed by Adam Friedman, with a screenplay written by Lansdale himself.
Lansdale's novels being chosen to be produced as a movie gives him a chance to be on the set and see how the actors are going to act out his very own novel. He said, "I know stuff about actors that you don't want to know because you couldn't enjoy them anymore."
Although Lansdale's dad couldn't read or write he would still encourage him because he knew how hard it was for himself. Lansdale said, "The first screen play I wrote with my son sitting in my lap beating me in the testicles with a plastic hammer the entire time."
He said, "If you looked me up on wikipedia it would tell you that one of the genres I write about is pedophilia. I'm part of Protect, which is a group to protect children's rights. We are the only lobbyists for the children."
Lansdale was chosen to have the honor of completing an unfinished manuscript of Edger Rice Burroughs.Www.alibris.com states, "For nearly fifty years, Edgar Rice Burroughs' last Tarzan manuscript lay untouched and unfinished, locked away in a vault. It was the stuff of legend until, finally, the magnificent tale was completed with the help of award-winning author Joe R. Lansdale."
Lansdale is staying true to his love of writing and is now currently employed as a professor at SFA. He is currently teaching screen writing and creative writing. This upcoming summer he will be teaching comic book writing. Lansdale has the opportunity to share with his students the work that he loves and hopes to inspire his students to follow in his path.
By Lindsey Colley
Joe Lansdale, 56, has been writing for most of his life. Growing up as child in East Texas, he fell in love with writing at age nine, and has been writing ever since.
"He is probably the most famous person in Nacogdoches," Linda Bond said. His ritings have made him famous, and his story has impressed our classroom.
His father could not read or write, but encouraged Lansdale to do so. His mother had an 11th grade education but could read very well, and also encourage Lansdale in reading and writing.
At age 11, Lansdale began following another passion of his, martial arts. This hobby at the time stemmed from his father. Lansdale's father was a carnival wrestler in the 1930s. He jumped from train car to train car stopping at various cities to challenge people in wrestling for entertainment. Lansdale took a liking to this activity and later became an expert in many fields of martial arts.
When television programs began appearing more, Lansdale's creativity began taking off. He could watch films and other programs that would inspire his writing. Then, the introduction of comic books took place. This is something that also caught Lansdale's eye, and he would be involved with these books for years to come.
In high school, Lansdale appreciated three particular classes the most. English, typing, and journalism class were the most important to him, the rest "You could have flushed away," Lansdale said.
He credits one particular teacher to showing him how writing and learning should be.
"You just have fun, and this is where you learn the most," Lansdale said when describing his young, mini-skirt wearing journalism teacher. His teacher would bring in Beatle records and show them how this too was writing. He had fun, and learned more here than any other class. She was later fired for doing these activities in the classroom.
Lansdale attended three universities, but did not stay long enough to earn a degree. He loved to write, and that was truly what he wanted to do.
As a young adult, Lansdale and his mother wrote a fictional story. It was later published in Farm Journal under his mother's name when he was only 21 years old. He also won his first prize for this particular piece.
When working as a crop-truck runner with his mother, Lansdale thought this would be a way he could have extra time to focus on writing. He later found out this was not correct, it took up more of his day then he had hoped. But, Lansdale still found time to write.
Lansdale later began working as a custodian in Nacogdoches. He started at the high school, then the hospital, and then at Stephen F. Austin State University. As he started being promoted at the university, his writing took a turn for the best. He sold a novel, then another, and another, and things began looking great for him.
"Then I quit, and they stopped selling," Lansdale said. He was now unemployed, and book sales had stopped.
Just as Lansdale figured it was time to go back to the university and get his job back, the book sales began again. This time, it was not just a few books. These sales would continue, and be Lansdale's way of living and his only job. Although, Lansdale said, "Writing is not a profession, it's a lifestyle."
As this was not enough, Lansdale became more involved with martial arts. According to Wikipedia, he studied many different types and holds belts in Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu, Combat Hapkido, American Combat Kempo, and Aikido, and others. He also owns and teaches at his martial arts studio. Here he teaches many different types of martial arts, including Shen Chuan, and Martial Science, which he founded.
He has been inducted into the International Martial Arts Hall of Fame four times. At least three hours of Lansdale's day is focus on martial arts and his studio, Lansdale's Self Defense Systems.
"It's not for sissies," Lansdale said when commenting on martial arts.
Lansdale writes novels and stories of all genres. Although he has been pegged with being a horror writing, he has written anywhere from Western, mystery, horror, suspense, and science fiction.
"Once you get that label, people forget everything else," Lansdale said.
Lansdale novels have caught interest in many people, including movie directors. Don Coscarelli turned one of Lansdale's writings, "Bubba Ho-Tep," which was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award, into a movie.
Lansdale's writings have brought him many awards, including the American Horror Award, the British Fantasy Award, the Edgar Award, and six Bram Stoker Awards. In 2007, he became the recipient of the 2007 Grand Mater Award for contributed to the field of horror fiction.
Lansdale's writing come from many areas of imagination, and memories from his past. Stories told by his parents, stories of his parents, and the influences he had growing up in the 1960s. Of course his outrageous plots are not stories of his parents, but little things may have been influences on this.
One of his most famous stories, according to Wikipedia, "Hap and Leonard" is that of two men solving unusual crimes in Texas. One man is white working class man and the other is a gay black man. When have been criticized for using things like racism is
his stories, Lansdale said, "this is what I grew up around." He can remember segregation in school and other areas of life, "I have been impacted by that," Lansdale said.
Lansdale has also written several comic books, including Batman: The Animated Series. Lansdale was also chosen to finish a Tarzan book that had been in its creator's vault for over 50 years since his death. This was a huge honor to Lansdale.
At 56 years old, Lansdale is still writing, and still perfecting martial arts. He is a laid back guy, who likes to make things fun and interesting. When speaking, Lansdale wore a black button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up and untucked from his jeans.
He now teaches three different writing classes here at SFA, including comic book writing.
His daughter, Kasey, who writes songs, and son, Keith, who writes for the local newspaper, are following in his footsteps. He lives in Nacogdoches with his wife, and plans to remain here in East Texas.
"He is probably the most famous person in Nacogdoches," Linda Bond said. His ritings have made him famous, and his story has impressed our classroom.
His father could not read or write, but encouraged Lansdale to do so. His mother had an 11th grade education but could read very well, and also encourage Lansdale in reading and writing.
At age 11, Lansdale began following another passion of his, martial arts. This hobby at the time stemmed from his father. Lansdale's father was a carnival wrestler in the 1930s. He jumped from train car to train car stopping at various cities to challenge people in wrestling for entertainment. Lansdale took a liking to this activity and later became an expert in many fields of martial arts.
When television programs began appearing more, Lansdale's creativity began taking off. He could watch films and other programs that would inspire his writing. Then, the introduction of comic books took place. This is something that also caught Lansdale's eye, and he would be involved with these books for years to come.
In high school, Lansdale appreciated three particular classes the most. English, typing, and journalism class were the most important to him, the rest "You could have flushed away," Lansdale said.
He credits one particular teacher to showing him how writing and learning should be.
"You just have fun, and this is where you learn the most," Lansdale said when describing his young, mini-skirt wearing journalism teacher. His teacher would bring in Beatle records and show them how this too was writing. He had fun, and learned more here than any other class. She was later fired for doing these activities in the classroom.
Lansdale attended three universities, but did not stay long enough to earn a degree. He loved to write, and that was truly what he wanted to do.
As a young adult, Lansdale and his mother wrote a fictional story. It was later published in Farm Journal under his mother's name when he was only 21 years old. He also won his first prize for this particular piece.
When working as a crop-truck runner with his mother, Lansdale thought this would be a way he could have extra time to focus on writing. He later found out this was not correct, it took up more of his day then he had hoped. But, Lansdale still found time to write.
Lansdale later began working as a custodian in Nacogdoches. He started at the high school, then the hospital, and then at Stephen F. Austin State University. As he started being promoted at the university, his writing took a turn for the best. He sold a novel, then another, and another, and things began looking great for him.
"Then I quit, and they stopped selling," Lansdale said. He was now unemployed, and book sales had stopped.
Just as Lansdale figured it was time to go back to the university and get his job back, the book sales began again. This time, it was not just a few books. These sales would continue, and be Lansdale's way of living and his only job. Although, Lansdale said, "Writing is not a profession, it's a lifestyle."
As this was not enough, Lansdale became more involved with martial arts. According to Wikipedia, he studied many different types and holds belts in Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu, Combat Hapkido, American Combat Kempo, and Aikido, and others. He also owns and teaches at his martial arts studio. Here he teaches many different types of martial arts, including Shen Chuan, and Martial Science, which he founded.
He has been inducted into the International Martial Arts Hall of Fame four times. At least three hours of Lansdale's day is focus on martial arts and his studio, Lansdale's Self Defense Systems.
"It's not for sissies," Lansdale said when commenting on martial arts.
Lansdale writes novels and stories of all genres. Although he has been pegged with being a horror writing, he has written anywhere from Western, mystery, horror, suspense, and science fiction.
"Once you get that label, people forget everything else," Lansdale said.
Lansdale novels have caught interest in many people, including movie directors. Don Coscarelli turned one of Lansdale's writings, "Bubba Ho-Tep," which was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award, into a movie.
Lansdale's writings have brought him many awards, including the American Horror Award, the British Fantasy Award, the Edgar Award, and six Bram Stoker Awards. In 2007, he became the recipient of the 2007 Grand Mater Award for contributed to the field of horror fiction.
Lansdale's writing come from many areas of imagination, and memories from his past. Stories told by his parents, stories of his parents, and the influences he had growing up in the 1960s. Of course his outrageous plots are not stories of his parents, but little things may have been influences on this.
One of his most famous stories, according to Wikipedia, "Hap and Leonard" is that of two men solving unusual crimes in Texas. One man is white working class man and the other is a gay black man. When have been criticized for using things like racism is
his stories, Lansdale said, "this is what I grew up around." He can remember segregation in school and other areas of life, "I have been impacted by that," Lansdale said.
Lansdale has also written several comic books, including Batman: The Animated Series. Lansdale was also chosen to finish a Tarzan book that had been in its creator's vault for over 50 years since his death. This was a huge honor to Lansdale.
At 56 years old, Lansdale is still writing, and still perfecting martial arts. He is a laid back guy, who likes to make things fun and interesting. When speaking, Lansdale wore a black button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up and untucked from his jeans.
He now teaches three different writing classes here at SFA, including comic book writing.
His daughter, Kasey, who writes songs, and son, Keith, who writes for the local newspaper, are following in his footsteps. He lives in Nacogdoches with his wife, and plans to remain here in East Texas.
By Judith Barroeta
East Texas is known for its never-ending plains, tradition and history, but it can sometimes be filled with horror, mystery and timeless stories.
Joe R. Lansdale, a creative writer from Gladewater, Texas, has been named as one of the leading horror writers to this day.
According to Lansdale's personal website, "Texas is so wrapped up in myth and legend, it's hard to know what know what the state and its people are really about," says Lansdale. "Real Texans, raised on these myths and legends, sometimes become legends themselves."
Lansdale started writing when he learned how to pick up a pencil. It was in his blood to write. Although his father could not read or write, he and his mother still encouraged Lansdale to write.
"I can't remember not ever wanting to be a writer," said Lansdale.
Lansdale truly began to write at the age of nine. At the age of 21, he sold his first work that he wrote with his mother, where it was published in the Farm Journal. It was a non-fiction piece about planting shrubs as a way of therapy. He said together, the article made them $15.
He kept writing and went on to sell several articles and novels. He then got a job as Stephen F. Austin State University as the head custodian. His work had begun to flourish and sell. He then quit his job and dropped out of school. It was then that his book selling started to dicline. In the late 80's his wife helped him with his
screenwriting and his business started to boom. Lansdale went from using small name publishing companies to big name companies.
According to an interview at infinityplus.co, when asked about what influences his writing Lansdale said, "Hearing the stories my parents and relatives told, and of course, my own experiences. Reading. Comics: I love comics. Films. Just about anything that crossed my path. I'm sure the odd jobs I've had, struggling to make a living, martial arts, all these things have influenced my work."
His environment and time period heavily influences his writing style and subject. During the sixties, Lansdale said there was a "sense of consciousness" that really got him started. Lansdale paints a picture of East Texas, which is essentially proud and reasonable, but also regarded with times of racism, the Civil Rights Movement, violence and the British music invasion.
Lansdale wrote a novel entitled Fine Dark Line that depicts the time of his parents' generation and the time of the Great Depression. Much of his work has parallels to his past and family.
"Writers have a selective memory," said Lansdale. "More so than others, writers have a great memory. We have a better long term memory, as opposed to remembering what happened five minutes ago."
Martial arts has also been one of Lansdale's passions. He began at the age of eleven when his father began training him and he took some classes at the local YMCA. Because he learned so many different styles of martial arts, he said it became a fruit salad of styles and techniques that helped him become a four-time inductee of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
Martial arts has also influenced his writing. It gave him different styles of focus and motion. Lansdale borrowed these techniques from martial arts and used it to gear his writing.
"I think martial arts and my writing overlap, and I couldn't do one without the other, at least not comfortably. Martial arts taught me discipline, concentration and a work ethic," said Lansdale when asked about his two passions in an interview on infinityplus.co.
He became so involved and dedicated with the art, that he founded the Shen Chuan, Martial Science program. According to his personal website, Lansdale stated that his average day is six hours at the typewriter, three hours at the Lansdale's Self Defense System, the martial-arts studio which he owns and at which he teaches.
Lansdale said writing is a lifestyle. It is so important to him that it comes second after his family.
Lansdale has contributed so much since day one of his writing career. He has written for the Batman and Superman animated series, comic books, screenplays, and many novels. His recently published a book called Lost Echoes.
One of Lansdale's most famous stories, Bubba Ho-Tep, was moved to the big screen in 2002 and directed by Don Coscarelli. The film featured Elvis Presley and John F. Kennedy.
Lansdale is the winner of the six Bram Stocker awards, British Fantasy Award, the MWA Edgar Award, the American Mystery Award, the Horror Critics Award, the "Shot in the Dark" International Crime Writer's award, the Booklist Editor's Award and the Critic's Choice Award. He has now been voted World Horror Convention 2007 Grand Master Award winner with the highest number of votes ever cast by members of the
convention in the history of the seventeen-year-old award. He's got the most decorated mantle in all of Nacogdoches, according to www.whc2007.org.
Lansdale said he would like to think that his writing is enjoyable. He continued to say that he doesn't have a method of writing.
"I just have a story I want to tell, and I do my best to tell it," said Lansdale. "One thing is I don't consider if others will like it. If they do, great. If they don't, that's the way the cookie crumbles. I'm trying to write a story that entertains me. That's about all the method there is," according to an interview on infinityplus.co.
Lansdale sat leaning over a desk, resting his arm and holding his glasses in his hand. He sat relaxed telling his story of how he began writing his own stories.
He still resides in Nacogdoches, where he continues to write and teach. He teaches screenwriting, comic writing and creative writing at Stephen F. Austin State University for those who wish to learn that a little bit of practice and history can make a good story.
Joe R. Lansdale, a creative writer from Gladewater, Texas, has been named as one of the leading horror writers to this day.
According to Lansdale's personal website, "Texas is so wrapped up in myth and legend, it's hard to know what know what the state and its people are really about," says Lansdale. "Real Texans, raised on these myths and legends, sometimes become legends themselves."
Lansdale started writing when he learned how to pick up a pencil. It was in his blood to write. Although his father could not read or write, he and his mother still encouraged Lansdale to write.
"I can't remember not ever wanting to be a writer," said Lansdale.
Lansdale truly began to write at the age of nine. At the age of 21, he sold his first work that he wrote with his mother, where it was published in the Farm Journal. It was a non-fiction piece about planting shrubs as a way of therapy. He said together, the article made them $15.
He kept writing and went on to sell several articles and novels. He then got a job as Stephen F. Austin State University as the head custodian. His work had begun to flourish and sell. He then quit his job and dropped out of school. It was then that his book selling started to dicline. In the late 80's his wife helped him with his
screenwriting and his business started to boom. Lansdale went from using small name publishing companies to big name companies.
According to an interview at infinityplus.co, when asked about what influences his writing Lansdale said, "Hearing the stories my parents and relatives told, and of course, my own experiences. Reading. Comics: I love comics. Films. Just about anything that crossed my path. I'm sure the odd jobs I've had, struggling to make a living, martial arts, all these things have influenced my work."
His environment and time period heavily influences his writing style and subject. During the sixties, Lansdale said there was a "sense of consciousness" that really got him started. Lansdale paints a picture of East Texas, which is essentially proud and reasonable, but also regarded with times of racism, the Civil Rights Movement, violence and the British music invasion.
Lansdale wrote a novel entitled Fine Dark Line that depicts the time of his parents' generation and the time of the Great Depression. Much of his work has parallels to his past and family.
"Writers have a selective memory," said Lansdale. "More so than others, writers have a great memory. We have a better long term memory, as opposed to remembering what happened five minutes ago."
Martial arts has also been one of Lansdale's passions. He began at the age of eleven when his father began training him and he took some classes at the local YMCA. Because he learned so many different styles of martial arts, he said it became a fruit salad of styles and techniques that helped him become a four-time inductee of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
Martial arts has also influenced his writing. It gave him different styles of focus and motion. Lansdale borrowed these techniques from martial arts and used it to gear his writing.
"I think martial arts and my writing overlap, and I couldn't do one without the other, at least not comfortably. Martial arts taught me discipline, concentration and a work ethic," said Lansdale when asked about his two passions in an interview on infinityplus.co.
He became so involved and dedicated with the art, that he founded the Shen Chuan, Martial Science program. According to his personal website, Lansdale stated that his average day is six hours at the typewriter, three hours at the Lansdale's Self Defense System, the martial-arts studio which he owns and at which he teaches.
Lansdale said writing is a lifestyle. It is so important to him that it comes second after his family.
Lansdale has contributed so much since day one of his writing career. He has written for the Batman and Superman animated series, comic books, screenplays, and many novels. His recently published a book called Lost Echoes.
One of Lansdale's most famous stories, Bubba Ho-Tep, was moved to the big screen in 2002 and directed by Don Coscarelli. The film featured Elvis Presley and John F. Kennedy.
Lansdale is the winner of the six Bram Stocker awards, British Fantasy Award, the MWA Edgar Award, the American Mystery Award, the Horror Critics Award, the "Shot in the Dark" International Crime Writer's award, the Booklist Editor's Award and the Critic's Choice Award. He has now been voted World Horror Convention 2007 Grand Master Award winner with the highest number of votes ever cast by members of the
convention in the history of the seventeen-year-old award. He's got the most decorated mantle in all of Nacogdoches, according to www.whc2007.org.
Lansdale said he would like to think that his writing is enjoyable. He continued to say that he doesn't have a method of writing.
"I just have a story I want to tell, and I do my best to tell it," said Lansdale. "One thing is I don't consider if others will like it. If they do, great. If they don't, that's the way the cookie crumbles. I'm trying to write a story that entertains me. That's about all the method there is," according to an interview on infinityplus.co.
Lansdale sat leaning over a desk, resting his arm and holding his glasses in his hand. He sat relaxed telling his story of how he began writing his own stories.
He still resides in Nacogdoches, where he continues to write and teach. He teaches screenwriting, comic writing and creative writing at Stephen F. Austin State University for those who wish to learn that a little bit of practice and history can make a good story.
By Regina Durley
Stephen F. Austin State University Honors Joe R.
Lansdale, Nacogdoches Texas, today for his many
accomplishment and awards won over the years.
Born October 28, 1951 in Gladewater Texas Lansdale has not
only been a full time parent but he also has a writing
career and teaches Shen Chuan, a martial arts school.
“I will visit Los Angeles for business then I will
return to Texas.” Lansdale said. He is really true to
his home state and also stated that he would “NEVER!”
move to Los Angeles. “That is a place only for
business, too much goes on there, Texas will always be
my home,” he said.
Lansdale, a Caucasian in his late 30’s wearing his
hair to the side with a black button up shirt on with
jeans and shoes, sat and spoke passionately about his
writings, teachings and children as the class closely
listened to his every word.
“Lansdale’s writings are usually deeply ironic,
strange or absurd situations or characters,” Wikipedia
said. He started published his first book Act of Love
in 1980. He then went on to publish The Nightrunners
in 1983. Dead in the West and Magic Wagon was his
next publications in 1986.
In 1989 he published six novels, The Best of the
West, By Bizarre Hands, Cold in July, The Drive-In 2,
New Frontier and Razored Saddles. The following year
he Wrote Savage Seasons.
His magazine career didn’t start until 1991 when he
wrote Batman: Captured by Engines. “I am a big batman
fan.” Lansdale said. “It was an honor doing these
episodes.” He also wrote Magic Wagon and Stories by
Mama Lansdale’s Youngest Boy.
The following year he wrote two more Batman episodes
and in 1993 he wrote Bestsellers Guaranteed, Jonah
Hex: Two Gun Mojo, Long Ranger and Tonto.
He went on to write many other novels and started to
receive awards for his works. In 1988, he won the
“Short Fiction” award and the following year he won
the “Long Fiction” award.
In 1997 he win “The Big Blow,” and in 1999 he won
”Mad Dog Summer.” He has won seven Bram Stoker
Awards, and many more. His latest book is Lost Echos
that was just published this year.
Even though he is a well-known writer that is not all
that he has a great talent for, he is also very
proficient in karate. With a smile on his face he
told how he first started his karate skills.
“I was about 11 and used to get picked on at school and my
dad traveled from town to town wrestling with the
circus,” Lansdale said. When asked to show some of
his moves he calmly stated that Shen Chuan does not
have specific “moves,” they have actual physical
contact with the demonstrators.
Through the teachings, writings and being a good
example for his children Lansdale is remembered today
at Stephen F. Austin State University as “the man who
could never leave home.”
Lansdale, Nacogdoches Texas, today for his many
accomplishment and awards won over the years.
Born October 28, 1951 in Gladewater Texas Lansdale has not
only been a full time parent but he also has a writing
career and teaches Shen Chuan, a martial arts school.
“I will visit Los Angeles for business then I will
return to Texas.” Lansdale said. He is really true to
his home state and also stated that he would “NEVER!”
move to Los Angeles. “That is a place only for
business, too much goes on there, Texas will always be
my home,” he said.
Lansdale, a Caucasian in his late 30’s wearing his
hair to the side with a black button up shirt on with
jeans and shoes, sat and spoke passionately about his
writings, teachings and children as the class closely
listened to his every word.
“Lansdale’s writings are usually deeply ironic,
strange or absurd situations or characters,” Wikipedia
said. He started published his first book Act of Love
in 1980. He then went on to publish The Nightrunners
in 1983. Dead in the West and Magic Wagon was his
next publications in 1986.
In 1989 he published six novels, The Best of the
West, By Bizarre Hands, Cold in July, The Drive-In 2,
New Frontier and Razored Saddles. The following year
he Wrote Savage Seasons.
His magazine career didn’t start until 1991 when he
wrote Batman: Captured by Engines. “I am a big batman
fan.” Lansdale said. “It was an honor doing these
episodes.” He also wrote Magic Wagon and Stories by
Mama Lansdale’s Youngest Boy.
The following year he wrote two more Batman episodes
and in 1993 he wrote Bestsellers Guaranteed, Jonah
Hex: Two Gun Mojo, Long Ranger and Tonto.
He went on to write many other novels and started to
receive awards for his works. In 1988, he won the
“Short Fiction” award and the following year he won
the “Long Fiction” award.
In 1997 he win “The Big Blow,” and in 1999 he won
”Mad Dog Summer.” He has won seven Bram Stoker
Awards, and many more. His latest book is Lost Echos
that was just published this year.
Even though he is a well-known writer that is not all
that he has a great talent for, he is also very
proficient in karate. With a smile on his face he
told how he first started his karate skills.
“I was about 11 and used to get picked on at school and my
dad traveled from town to town wrestling with the
circus,” Lansdale said. When asked to show some of
his moves he calmly stated that Shen Chuan does not
have specific “moves,” they have actual physical
contact with the demonstrators.
Through the teachings, writings and being a good
example for his children Lansdale is remembered today
at Stephen F. Austin State University as “the man who
could never leave home.”
By Antonia Steinmiller
Joe Lansdale, 56, is famous for writing shocking and weirdly ironic novels, short stories, and comics. Lansdale could possibly be the most famous person living in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Lansdale said he always wanted to be a writer. And now, most of Lansdale's time is spent thinking up his next out-in-left-field novel.
"I always knew I wanted to write, ever since I discovered pencils," said Lansdale.
Growing up in the early '60s, Lansdale watched movies on television for inspiration.
"Watching those movies on TV spiked up my imagination and really got me thinking," said Lansdale.
Lansdale also said that he enjoyed reading comic books to give him some crazy and wild ideas about his writing. Lansdale began writing at age nine. Growing up Lansdale was close to his family. His parents survived The Great Depression, and his brother was 17 years older then he. His father was a circus fighter. He would jump trains that would bring him to the next town to box and fight at the town's fair to make a living. His father could not read nor write. Lansdale said that his father encouraged him to read and write because he knew how hard it was for him growing up.
When Lansdale was 21, he married Karen and sold his first piece. He didn't make a ton of money off of it, but it was enough to influence his career down the road. In the meantime he made his money by farming. He would farm with mules and grow all different kinds of vegetables and fruits. Karen and he would sell the fruits and vegetables, and also eat what they produced. Lansdale said that he thought by having this job he would have enough time to write as well.
"I thought by doing this job, I could write but I was surely mistaken. I would be up all day long, then when I went to sleep, I slept!" said Lansdale.
Lansdale said he didn't sell another book for a couple more years. He went back to school at Tyler Junior College for one year. He transferred to the University of Texas for one year. Then finally decided he was going to attend Stephen F. Austin. At SFA, Lansdale was a custodian for two buildings on campus as well as the local hospital. He later sold three more books and then didn't sell any for some period of time.
Lansdale decided to quit his custodian job and focus on his writing. He wasn't all familiar with becoming an author. All he knew was that he loved writing.
"When I first started writing I had no idea what to do," said Lansdale.
Lansdale focused on his writing and later cranked out 30 novels, 16 short stories, and a multitude of comic books. According to Wikipedia.com, Lansdale is best known for his "Hap and Leonard" series of novels, which feature two friends solving ironic and disoriented crimes. Lansdale said that there was going to be a movie about this series of books, but the deal fell through. Lansdale has also written comics for the well-known DC Comics including Batman: The Animated Series.
Screenplay is also included in Lansdale's long list of accomplishments. "Bubba Ho-Tep," a movie created from one of his novella's, is about Elvis and John F. Kennedy battling it out with a soul-sucking Ancient Egyptian mummy in a nursing home.
Joe Lansdale has received numerous awards for his innovative writing style. According to Wikipedia.com, he has been the recipient of the British Fantasy Award. Also included in his montage of recognition are the American Horror Award, the Edgar Award, and six Bram Stoker Awards. Not only that, but the World Horror Convention recently named him the recipient of the 2007 Grand Master Award for contributions to the field Horror fiction.
Lansdale not only loves writing novels, short stories, and comics but has a passion for martial arts as well. Since the age of 11, Lansdale has grown very fond to the art and sport of martial arts. When asked how he got involved with martial arts, his answer was simple.
"When I was younger, I was picked on a lot. My father knew how to fight and he taught me the basics of self defense," said Lansdale.
He started out learning martial arts over thirty years ago. He was inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame not once, but twice! Not only was he a student of martial arts, but now a professor. He has founded a new section of marital arts called Shen Chuan Martial Science. Lansdale explained the important difference between his styles of fighting. His fighting is very hands on. It isn't about technique or arm placement. It is about knowing the opponent and every move he/she makes. Pressure points are involved in his style of martial arts.
Lansdale has acquired many belts including ones in Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu, Combat Hapkido, American Combat Kempo, and Aikido. But, he also stores away time for his second love and passion martial arts. Lansdale owns and operates his own martial arts facility. He teaches classes and gives private lessons to those wishing to learn from him.
Lansdale was asked who his writing is written after. He quickly answered more of his writing is based off of his parents rather than his wife and two children.
Lansdale is a bubbly man. He is outgoing and eager to jump up with the story of his life. His gray hair just tops off his brilliant mind of wonder and fantasy. Before leaving his interview Joe Lansdale left behind his words of wisdom saying, "Writing isn't just a job, it's a lifestyle."
Lansdale said he always wanted to be a writer. And now, most of Lansdale's time is spent thinking up his next out-in-left-field novel.
"I always knew I wanted to write, ever since I discovered pencils," said Lansdale.
Growing up in the early '60s, Lansdale watched movies on television for inspiration.
"Watching those movies on TV spiked up my imagination and really got me thinking," said Lansdale.
Lansdale also said that he enjoyed reading comic books to give him some crazy and wild ideas about his writing. Lansdale began writing at age nine. Growing up Lansdale was close to his family. His parents survived The Great Depression, and his brother was 17 years older then he. His father was a circus fighter. He would jump trains that would bring him to the next town to box and fight at the town's fair to make a living. His father could not read nor write. Lansdale said that his father encouraged him to read and write because he knew how hard it was for him growing up.
When Lansdale was 21, he married Karen and sold his first piece. He didn't make a ton of money off of it, but it was enough to influence his career down the road. In the meantime he made his money by farming. He would farm with mules and grow all different kinds of vegetables and fruits. Karen and he would sell the fruits and vegetables, and also eat what they produced. Lansdale said that he thought by having this job he would have enough time to write as well.
"I thought by doing this job, I could write but I was surely mistaken. I would be up all day long, then when I went to sleep, I slept!" said Lansdale.
Lansdale said he didn't sell another book for a couple more years. He went back to school at Tyler Junior College for one year. He transferred to the University of Texas for one year. Then finally decided he was going to attend Stephen F. Austin. At SFA, Lansdale was a custodian for two buildings on campus as well as the local hospital. He later sold three more books and then didn't sell any for some period of time.
Lansdale decided to quit his custodian job and focus on his writing. He wasn't all familiar with becoming an author. All he knew was that he loved writing.
"When I first started writing I had no idea what to do," said Lansdale.
Lansdale focused on his writing and later cranked out 30 novels, 16 short stories, and a multitude of comic books. According to Wikipedia.com, Lansdale is best known for his "Hap and Leonard" series of novels, which feature two friends solving ironic and disoriented crimes. Lansdale said that there was going to be a movie about this series of books, but the deal fell through. Lansdale has also written comics for the well-known DC Comics including Batman: The Animated Series.
Screenplay is also included in Lansdale's long list of accomplishments. "Bubba Ho-Tep," a movie created from one of his novella's, is about Elvis and John F. Kennedy battling it out with a soul-sucking Ancient Egyptian mummy in a nursing home.
Joe Lansdale has received numerous awards for his innovative writing style. According to Wikipedia.com, he has been the recipient of the British Fantasy Award. Also included in his montage of recognition are the American Horror Award, the Edgar Award, and six Bram Stoker Awards. Not only that, but the World Horror Convention recently named him the recipient of the 2007 Grand Master Award for contributions to the field Horror fiction.
Lansdale not only loves writing novels, short stories, and comics but has a passion for martial arts as well. Since the age of 11, Lansdale has grown very fond to the art and sport of martial arts. When asked how he got involved with martial arts, his answer was simple.
"When I was younger, I was picked on a lot. My father knew how to fight and he taught me the basics of self defense," said Lansdale.
He started out learning martial arts over thirty years ago. He was inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame not once, but twice! Not only was he a student of martial arts, but now a professor. He has founded a new section of marital arts called Shen Chuan Martial Science. Lansdale explained the important difference between his styles of fighting. His fighting is very hands on. It isn't about technique or arm placement. It is about knowing the opponent and every move he/she makes. Pressure points are involved in his style of martial arts.
Lansdale has acquired many belts including ones in Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu, Combat Hapkido, American Combat Kempo, and Aikido. But, he also stores away time for his second love and passion martial arts. Lansdale owns and operates his own martial arts facility. He teaches classes and gives private lessons to those wishing to learn from him.
Lansdale was asked who his writing is written after. He quickly answered more of his writing is based off of his parents rather than his wife and two children.
Lansdale is a bubbly man. He is outgoing and eager to jump up with the story of his life. His gray hair just tops off his brilliant mind of wonder and fantasy. Before leaving his interview Joe Lansdale left behind his words of wisdom saying, "Writing isn't just a job, it's a lifestyle."
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