If the world of horror had a mayor, it would likely be Del Howison. His Burbank book store, Dark Delicacies, hosts signings of horror books and DVD throughout the year with appearances by both A list and amateur authors and directors. As a writer and editor, Del has published three volumes of horror anthologiessharing the Dark Delicacies name. As an actor, his IMDB profile boasts no less than 17 credits, all horror, most independent.
And on Sunday at the West Hollywood Book Fair, Del will moderate the panel, “Zombies and Other Creatures of the Night” with panelists Amber Benson, Francesca Lia Block, S. G. Browne, Seth Grahame-Smith and E. Van Lowe, starting at 1:45pm in the Good Reads booth.
If the following exchange is all too brief, be sure to check out this interview by Dark Scribes Magazine.
Describe your perfect Halloween…
Since it is my wedding anniversary it would be a quiet night extremely naked and alone with my wife.
What were some of your favorite Halloween costumes growing up (and where did you grow up)?
I grew up in Detroit. One of my favorite costumes was cutting a couple of holes in a sheet and wearing it. Everybody kept saying I was a ghost. I really thought they were stupid. I felt it was pretty evident I was a bed.
Can you pinpoint the moment you became a horror fan, or possibly explain your interest in the genre?
I was raised in the Free Methodist Church and my father was a Detroit cop. Hellfire and brimstone was in my blood. I even attended John Brown University in Arkansas for a year and a half. The God stuff is really scary.
If someone really wants to get in the mood for Halloween, any time of year, can you recommend: a book or short story to read or music to listen to?
Read “Ghost Story” by Peter Straub. Listen to any CD by Midnight Syndicate
Know of any good local ghost stories, and/or have you ever seen or experienced a ghost yourself?
Reality check here. They aren’t real.
What should be the epitaph on your tombstone?
“You’ve got to be fuckin’ kidding me.”