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."