Greg F. Gifune is a best-selling, internationally-published author of several acclaimed novels, novellas and two short story collections. Working predominantly in the horror and crime genres, Greg has been called, “The best writer of horror and thrillers at work today” by New York Times best-selling author Christopher Rice, “One of the best writers of his generation” by both The Roswell Literary Review and horror grand master Brian Keene, and “Among the finest dark suspense writers of our time” by legendary best-selling author Ed Gorman.
Greg’s work has been published all over the world, translated into several languages, received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus and others, is consistently praised by readers and critics alike, and has garnered attention from Hollywood. Two of his short stories, HOAX and FIRST IMPRESSIONS have been adapted to film. His novel CHILDREN OF CHAOS is currently under a development deal to be made into a television series, and his novel THE BLEEDING SEASON, originally published in 2003, has been hailed as a classic in the horror genre and is considered to be one of the best horror/thriller novels of the decade. Greg resides in Massachusetts with his wife Carol, a few cats and two dogs, Dozer and Bella.
The Interview with Greg F. Gifune
Lou Pendergrast
Welcome and great to chat with you today. You have a new novel out in 2019, God Machine published by Cemetery Dance Publications. Tell something about this what is it about and the story behind it?
Greg F. Gifune
Thanks, nice to be here. Yes, my latest novel GOD MACHINE is coming soon from the fine folks at Cemetery Dance. I’ve known Rich Chizmar for a long time and he’s always been very supportive of my work. I’ve had the opportunity to work with him and CD in the past, my novella CATCHING HELL is published through them and I’ve also had short fiction appear in their SHIVERS anthology. I asked Rich about CD possibly picking up a reprint of one of my novels that was coming back into print, and instead he said he’d be interested in my next original novel. We talked some quick business, and GOD MACHINE, which I was in the process of writing at the time, sold to CD. It’s a wild, fever dream kind of novel about love, loss, good and evil. Here’s the actual back cover copy:
In a hotel room on Cape Cod, a troubled young prostitute brutally takes her own life, leaving cryptic clues as to why written in blood on the walls. When head of hotel security and former cop Chris Tallo finds her savaged body, he sets out to discover why the woman committed suicide in such a vicious manner. Saddled with a drinking problem, and already emotionally destroyed and grieving the loss of his daughter, killed in Iraq five years earlier, his search lures him into a disturbing underworld populated by those who trade in black magic, pain and death. The closer Chris gets to the truth, and its ties to a secret occult ritual that took place more than 100 years ago that ended in madness and rumors of demonic possession, the more he struggles with his own history and sanity. And as the forces haunting and manipulating not only him, but reality as he knows it, rise in a tempest of blood and fire, a horrific evil awakens…
The Machine lives, 2019.
Lou Pendergrast
You novel The Bleeding Season it had a 15th Anniversary Edition release with improvedcover art, I loved it, what’s the story behind this one?
Greg F. Gifune
THE BLEEDING SEASON was first published by Delirium Books back in 2003, then later by DarkFuse. It was a success at the time, got strong reviews from both fans and critics alike, made many Best Of lists, obtained a strong following and really put me on the map as a novelist. After DarkFuse closed THE BLEEDING SEASON sold to the great people at Journalstone (along with several of my novels), and they reissued it as a 15th Anniversary Edition, with a new introduction from Ron Malfi and a new Afterword from Eric Shapiro. Over the years it has (and continues to) stay in print, sell well and has a very strong and enthusiastic following and has become a cult classic. I love the fact that people are still discovering it and coming to it all these years later and there seems to be no end in sight, thankfully. The story behind the novel itself is it was my first horror novel (I had written a crime novel prior to that, NIGHT WORK, which is also still in print from Down & Out Books), and it followed my first short story collection/novella HERETICS, which is what first brought me to the attention of many. THE BLEEDING SEASON was a novel that had been in my head for years, and one I wanted and needed to write. The crux of it is based on a real incident that happened when I was in high school, and that I was very close to, and the rest evolved from there. Although it’s the first horror novel I wrote, I’m very proud of it and thrilled it’s still reaching and affecting people all these years later. The paperback and eBook editions are available everywhere.
LP
Tell me about one of your favourite works and the inspiration behind it please?
Greg F. Gifune
I don’t usually single out my works, but everything I write has a personal connection on some level. It’s just a matter of degrees, depending on the work. Generally I write to purge, as a catharsis. So in terms of inspiration, that would be it.
LP
Have you used same protagonist more than once?
Greg F. Gifune
I have not, but I do have a recurring supporting character, a trans character, Wilma Malloy, who appeared in my novels BLOOD IN ELECTRIC BLUE and GARDENS OF NIGHT, which are two parts to an as yet unfinished trilogy of novels. The third, SMOKE IN CRIMSON, has not been completed yet but it will complete the trilogy and Wilma Malloy will appear in it as well.
LP
Short stories do they appeal to you or is a novella the shortest you go?
Greg F. Gifune
I’ve written and had over 100 short stories published all over the world. I’ve also had two short story collections published. Early in my career short stories were my focus, but when I moved into novellas and novels I wrote less and less of them. These days I write very few, mostly invites to high-paying anthologies, or otherwise the time it takes doesn’t warrant it. As a full-time writer, I have to use my time wisely. I miss writing short fiction now and then but I felt like I did (more or less) what I set out to do with short fiction, and am now primarily a novelist.
LP
Writing what do you hope to achieve with your works?
Greg F. Gifune
To entertain, and hopefully to also move people and maybe make them think about something in a way they hadn’t previously. If my work can inspire someone in a positive light, that’s also a plus. But I don’t set out specifically to do those things. I just do the work and hope it speaks to people.
LP
Writing, when, where, and with what do you do it?
Greg F. Gifune
I have an office in my house where I do most of my writing. I tend to write a lot in the mornings and afternoons, now and then at night but not nearly as often. I approach my writing with a kind of workman’s schedule, seven or so in the morning usually until around five or six in the evening. If I’m on a deadline it’s not unusual to put in 12-14 hour days. As for with what, I write on a couple laptops. I take and keep notes in various notebooks and write those freehand, otherwise I work at a computer.
LP
What key advice would you give the aspiring author?
Greg F. Gifune
Do something else. If you absolutely can’t, then focus on craft. Study it and learn it and hone it as best you can and understand this is an ongoing process with no end. Seek out and listen to people in the business who actually know what the hell they’re talking about (they do exist) who will help you with your craft and development as a writer. One never masters the craft of writing, and anyone who tells you they have is lying. The most brilliant writers among us continue to learn and hone their craft until the very end. That’s the key.
LP
What is your other things you pursuit with a passion, and keeps you busy when not writing?
Greg F. Gifune
My wife and the dogs and cats we share our lives with. I love to read. I love to cook. Love film. I’m a big hockey and Boston Bruins nut, I like football and combat sports as well. I’m also a very spiritual person (take that to mean whatever you’d like). Vodka’s also a favorite. ;)
LP
Books to film and TV, which story of yours would do well and you would have adapted to screen?
Greg F. Gifune
Well two of my short stories, HOAX and FIRST IMPRESSIONS have already been adapted to film (directed by Eric Shapiro) and are available on Amazon. I also have several development deals going with a few of my novels and another short story. More to come on that soon, but I think most of my work would translate well to film if done correctly.
LP
What literary influences and their particular books had you in their grip and inspired you to become a writer and author?
Greg F. Gifune
While I have many literary influences (too many to list here, actually) none inspired me to become a writer but rather inspired me on my way to becoming one, and/or once I had. I always wanted to be a writer and was writing even before I could write. As a small child I would dictate stories to my older sister and she would write them down for me. It’s always been a part of who I am. So much so that I don’t ever remember not wanting to be a writer, so in that sense, no books or writers inspired me to become a writer, but their works certainly inspired me to strive to be a real one, and a good one.
LP
Thanks for taking this time out of your busy life
Greg F. Gifune
My pleasure, thanks for having me.
- https://gregfgifune.wordpress.com
- Greg F. Gifune author page @ Amazon
- Greg @ Goodreads
- Book Review: The Bleeding Season by Greg F. Gifune | More2Read
Forthcoming in 2019 from Cemetery Dance Publications
