The Art Of Open-Ended Horror: An Interview With Indie Author James D. Lopez

LA-based indie author James D. Lopez is a creator of bite-sized horror fiction and picture books for adults. His debut anthology Unspeakable is a collection of short stories that are in length and tone similar to the micro-prose of H.P. Lovecraft. With the material for a second book in progress, he talks about his inspirations; which includes everything from Tolkien, Ambrose Bierce to Dr. Seuss.

NADIA CARMON: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

LOPEZ: I was born and raised in Los Angeles, and I have lived here my whole life. My family and I struggled to make ends meet, but we did manage, and somehow I ended up with a degree in English. Since I always enjoyed reading (and eventually, writing, although that would come later), pursuing a degree in English seemed like a natural choice. I’ve been an avid reader since I was a kid, and I read everything from the works of Tolkien to EC Comics (Tales From the Crypt, etc.). I’m sure that my writing was most likely influenced by all of these things to some degree. Upon graduating, I made a decision to get involved in education, and I became a teacher in the broader South L.A. region where I was raised (I’ve taught at different schools in South Los Angeles, including Watts and Compton). It has been a rewarding experience, but I also continued to write on my own. Obviously, I haven’t stopped.

NC: “Unspeakable” is your first book; an anthology of stories. Can you give us a synopsis?