The Schwartz & Gammell series “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” is perhaps one of the most beloved book franchises in horror history. Yes, “Goosebumps” is more popular and Stephen King’s “The Dark Tower” has sold more copies but there is something about the “Scary Stories” books that pulls at the hearts of horror fans like nothing else does.
While many of us are waiting on news regarding the film adaptation of the books, author Jake Tri and Andy Sciazko decided to create their own children’s horror book (that’s also aimed at adults) in the style of “Scary Stories”, complete with haunting imagery that truly evokes the works of Gammell!
The duo are raising funds via Kickstarter and as of this post they are almost 80% funded. Because I was so enamored by the art and the very concept of this project, I reached out to see if I could get a hold of either Tri or Sciazko to discuss the project.
Below is my interview with the pair, who tell us everything you could want to know about the book, their intentions and influences, and a whole lot more. Additionally, we’ve got some exclusive concept art (note: not final illustrations) that haven’t been seen by anyone yet. Lastly, just for fun, we were supplied with images that drew Pokemon in the style of “Scary Stories”. Get on down there and check everything out!
Let’s start at the beginning. What is it about horror and horror art that is so appealing and interesting to you?
Andy: Horror has always been a huge influence on my work. While I love the whole “trying-to-creep-you-out” aesthetic to it, I also enjoy the discussion about the inner fears people have which horror can bring to the table.
Jake: Whether it’s film, literature, or art, the ability of horror to “stick with you” long after you’ve been exposed to it is unmatched when compared to other genres. You may remember things you consider beautiful, or that make you laugh… but you never forget something that truly terrifies you.
There’s obviously a lot of inspiration, at least when it comes to the art, from Schwartz and Gammell’s “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark”. What is it about that style that drew you in?
Andy: Gammell’s artistic style and approach to storytelling so thoroughly freaked me out as a kid; I still remember wanting to skip certain pages because they seemed to be physically crawling out of the book. But, that dark style introduced me to the works of Ralph Steadman, Bill Sienkiewicz, and Dave McKean. Gammell literally jumpstarted my interest in illustration by scaring the hell out of me.
Jake: In elementary school there used to be fights on library day about who got to reserve those books. When you finally got your hands on them, it was almost like you possessed something a kid wasn’t supposed to have, and that was the exciting part. You would slowly turn the pages, and when you came across illustrations like “Sam’s New Pet” you were hit with a type of delightful disgust only Stephen Gammell could create. If Nightmare Soup can recapture even just a small bit of that nostalgic horror, then we’ve done our job.
Tell me about the book itself and what readers can expect?
Jake: Nightmare Soup is a collection of 30 short stories, each accompanied by some pretty ghastly illustrations from Andy. The book is for both kids AND adults, so you can expect some twisted, original, and entertaining stories that are also free of major adult themes, and that aren’t overly graphic or explicit in nature. The tone is very similar to that of the old “Scary Stories” books.
Where did the inspiration for the stories come from?
Jake: Inspiration for the stories came from all over the place. Many are directly from nightmares I’ve had, or stories my family members and friends would tell me. For instance, my aunt maintains til this very day that when she was a kid, a woman with stringy black hair, sunken in facial features, and long, jagged fingernails would just stand outside her window and scratch at the glass while she tried to sleep.
Your announcement hit the front page of Reddit’s r/creepy, which is a very popular subreddit. What do you make of that kind of positive response?
Andy: I am honored that people responded in such a positive (and insanely quick) manner! Definitely was not expecting to see a front page post! Thank you to you Redditors!
Jake: I was especially pumped about the Reddit response. Not only was it at the top of r/creepy but it also hit the front page, and since I’ve been a Redditor for quite some time, that really meant a lot to me. I have to give the Reddit community a HUGE thank you as they really got the ball rolling and put a big dent in the funding goal we’re looking to hit. Plus I’m pretty happy about all those sweet, sweet karma points I gained, ha!
What is going to make “Nightmare Soup” stand apart from other similar books?
Andy: I believe that readers will get a sense of campfire nostalgia, not just from the themes and storylines, but also the pacing of each tale. I went with a similar approach in my illustrations, keeping in the same realm as the classics while in my particular brand of chaotic looseness.
Jake: The fact that both kids and adults will be able to enjoy a horror book (both separately and together) is pretty unique in my opinion, as most things are pretty slanted one way or the other. It certainly makes for a challenge on our part, but hopefully adults will get that sense of creepy nostalgia and kids will get that feeling of excitement and delightful disgust I alluded to earlier. Plus we tried extremely hard to make sure the stories aren’t cliché and too predictable.
I know that the first book isn’t even out yet but are there any plans for a second book (or more) if this proves to be a successful venture?
Jake: Oh absolutely, I would love to work with Andy on some additional projects. Maybe next year you’ll see Nightmare Soup: The Second Helping, ha. I also thought it might be cool to adapt some old pieces of work like Alice in Wonderland, but with Andy’s nightmarish illustrations.
Horror for kids is a tricky territory for some because there’s the worry of making it “too scary”. How do you balance something that will give children nightmares but not scar them for life?
Andy: I feel that my method, while still horror, has more of a comic/cartoonish feel. And although there will be complete nightmarish imagery in the illustrations, kids will still catch a brush stroke, a paint spatter, or coffee drips that will remind them it’s only a drawing.
Jake: I think it’s all about using “suggestion” as effectively as possible. For example, implying something terrifying happened can often be just as effective as writing a gruesome, gory depiction of it. In fact, sometimes the implication is even creepier.
Additionally, how do make it exciting and fun for adults?
Andy: It is my hope that the adults that are reading will have that subtle hint of complete childhood terror creeping about them as they turn every page.
Jake: I think for adults the trick is to keep the stories as original as possible, and as I mentioned earlier, to stay away from your standard horror clichés. There are a lot of things that are universally scary at any age, and it’s been my job to identify what those “things” are. Plus, Andy’s illustrations are going to disturb you in the best way possible.
What are some of your own favorite children’s horror stories?
Andy: Growing up in Illinois, I had the story of Resurrection Mary, which is basically the vanishing hitchhiker ghost story for those who don’t know. Learned about it on an episode of Unsolved Mysteries, which was the scariest show on TV for me as a kid haha. Also, The Death Desk by S.S. Rafferty, a short story which my mother used to read to me forever creeped me out. Thanks mom.
Jake: I have many from the Scary Stories books, “Harold” in particular was one that I always go back to. “The Tale of the Ghastly Grinner” was definitely a classic from Are You Afraid of the Dark, and I remember being particularly disturbed when reading Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of The Red Death” in 6th grade. I also grew up on Tales from The Crypt, which I wasn’t supposed to watch but did anyway (definitely not for kids). The Crypt Keeper popping out of his coffin still gets me to this day.
