Ruthenbeck, Steve (Dogs of War)
Dread Central Staff
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Walking down the horror aisle at the local book store, there seems to be a glut of vampire stories, mummies, demons and ghosts. And while such sub-genres are valid and have enormous fan-bases, the question remains: Where’s the love for the werewolves? As if in answer comes Steve Ruthenbeck with his first novel, Dogs of War, a World War II story in which the Nazi’s secret weapon isn’t a Panzer. With a debut like this one, Ruthenbeck’s next novel is highly anticipated.
Scott Johnson : As Dogs of War is your first novel published, how does it feel to be the “new kid” in the horror genre?
Steve Ruthenbeck: I have no delusions of grandeur. I’m just grateful. It’s a relief to have that Get-A-Novel-Published monkey off my back. Getting a novel published was one of my main must-do dreams. Oddly enough, getting the acceptance letter wasn’t the eureka moment I expected. I got the letter via e-mail, left work fifteen minutes early, went for a bike ride and proceeded to tell pretty much nobody about it for around seven months. I think my nonchalance was because I had been working so hard toward the goal of getting a novel published that getting the acceptance letter just seemed like a natural progression of things…either that or I got so used to having no life while I was working that I forgot how to celebrate. As for how it feels to be the “new kid” in the horror genre, “kid” is pretty much the right word. The field is packed full of such brilliant writers that I feel like a boy among men. I’m just glad to even get on the playing field.
SJ: Give us a brief break-down of the story. No spoilers, just your best blurb to give readers a taste of what they’re in for.
SN: I describe the story like this, “an allegorical/metaphorical journey into the base realities of human nature. Plus, it has Nazi werewolves driving a Panzer tank.” My goal was to combine a simple pulp story with something that was perhaps a bit more literary in the final analysis. Is it a slam, bam, thank you ma’am action/horror story or is it something more?
SJ: You’re tackling a difficult genre, werewolves. What attracts you to them over other beasts of classic horror?
SN: Werewolves were a natural fit for my story. Their traits illustrate the theme of the book. That being said, “werewolf” is too noble a term for my characters. I used the term, “dogman,” instead. Another reason for that word is thus: take off the “n” and what is left?
SJ: What writers influenced your writing style? Whom do you consider the masters of the craft?
SN: I think it is hard for anyone to operate outside the shadow of Stephen King these days. Beyond him, Richard Matheson, Robert R. McCammon, Ray Bradbury, Robert E. Howard, H.P. Lovecraft, Raymond Chandler, Charles Beaumont, Rod Sterling and Henry Kuttner. I also really enjoy John Steakley. Reading his stuff taught me technique is subserviant to story.
SJ: Why, of all genres out there, did you choose horror? Did you choose it, or did it choose you?
SN: It chose me is probably a good way to put it. I just naturally tend toward the macabre in my writing. Why this is, I don’t know. Generally people who know me say I should write humor, but I can’t seem to transfer that part of me into writing…now that I think about it, however, I suppose humor and horror aren’t that far apart. Heck, they even sound alike. Both provoke a reaction, and a scream and a laugh often shift from one to the other in horror writing.
SJ: You set the action of Dogs of War against the backdrop of World War II, not something seen too often with werewolf books. Why did you pick that backdrop?
SN: My dad is a World War II buff, so I had a lot of exposure to World War II history as a kid. In some ways, that made it the path of least resistance. Plus, World War II is fairly romantic in terms of good verses bad; the people, places and things of that time period are also very iconic. All in all, the era offers a very rich canvass for a writer to use.
SJ: What sort of research did you do in writing this novel?
SN: I read a lot of World War II non-fiction. I thought I could bluff my way through the subject, but a third of the way through Dogs of War I realized that I’d have to hit the books. Ironically, I then cut most of the researched information. It just slowed things down too much. Nevertheless, I think it helped me create atmosphere and tone even if it is no longer present in the manuscript.
SJ: How long have you been writing? Was Dogs of War your first attempt at a novel?
SN: I’ve always dabbled in writing, but I started getting serious about it in 1999. Dogs of War was my sixth novel. The first five had their moments, but they weren’t publish-worthy. Nevertheless, they taught me a lot. One has to write to learn how to write. No magic tricks exist.
SJ: What attracts you to being a writer?
SN: That’s a good question. I certainly didn’t jump for joy about sitting down at the word processor night after night after night. I guess it’s just something hardwired into my brain. I think most people think about writing a book at some point in their life. I think a lot of people actually start writing said book, too. Few finish. What’s the difference between the ones who keep going and the ones who quit? I don’t know. Maybe the ones who keep going just have something to say, that they must say, and writing is the only way to say it. I suppose that is what attracted me to writing then. It offered a way for me to say something that I had to say…maybe.
SJ: This being your first novel, how’s the experience been for you?
SN: It’s been pretty low key. I still am who I am. The only difference is now I have a novel available.
SJ: Do you watch many horror movies? Name some of your favorites.
SN: I just realized that I like horror movies, but I don’t really watch a lot of them. It seems that many of them are just so cookie-cutter that I skip them. I’ll go stream-of-consciousness and mention some of my favorites in no particular order, though. I like the old black and white films, Bride of Frankenstein, Creature From the Black Lagoon, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, etc. Fright Night is cool. I liked the “Tales From The Crypt “episodes. The Howling, The Ring, The Shining, Alien, Jaws, King Kong, The Thing, Rosemary’s Baby, The Birds, Dawn of the Dead, The Sixth Sense (luckily, I saw it on opening day before the hype and backlash), The Fly, Angel Heart, The Wicker Man, Dracula, Aliens, Village of the Damned, Misery, Vampire’s Kiss, From Dusk ’til Dawn, Creepshow, Predator…yada yada yada. Unfortunately, since I live in a small-town I don’t have a lot of access to the more obscure horror flicks, nor a lot of Italian and Asian horror.
SJ: How does your family take to your writing? Do they like the whole “horror guy” persona?
SN: They don’t say much about it. I don’t think they are against it, though. For example, mom isn’t ashamed to tell people about my book and I’m still invited to Thanksgiving dinner.
SJ: What advice would you give to any aspiring young writer?
SN: Most likely, getting a novel published is going to take a lot of work and a lot of years; accept that. And if one expects a J.K. Rowling type payday, they probably have a better chance of winning the lottery, being attacked by a shark and struck by lightning in the same hour.
SJ: What projects are you working on now?
SN: I’m messing around with a novel…or it’s messing around with me, not sure which. I’m not one of those get-loss-in-the-bliss-of-writing writers. I think of writing as mental ditch digging.
SJ: It’s been said that horror fans are the most passionate out there. Do you agree or disagree? What’s your experience been with fans?
SN: Judging from some of the message boards I’ve hung out on, I’d have to agree. Horror fans know their stuff, and have strong opinions about it, which is cool. The opposite of love isn’t hate; it’s indifference and all that. In the end, art is subjective. Some people will like my book. Other people won’t like my book. Them’s the breaks.
SJ: What’s your own personal cure for the dreaded “writer’s block?”
SN: That’s easy. I don’t believe in writer’s block. Sometimes writing moves along. Sometimes it doesn’t move along, but if one keeps plugging away, eventually a solution will present itself. Writers block only happens when one quits.
SJ: You are published through Harbor House, a small press. Does that get you more personalized attention than one of the larger houses?
SN: I can’t say. I only know one half of the equation.
SJ: Let’s assume Dogs of War sells a billion copies, and so do your next two. What then? What would you be doing if you never had to worry about money?
SN: I’d be cutting bigger checks to charities. Bottomline: everything I have is on loan from God anyway. The only thing I can take to the grave is faith in Christ, so I might as well help the less fortunate as I’m passing through. Which brings up a pet peeve of mine: so many people say, “If I got rich, I’d do charity work.” Screw that. Do charity work now. Lots of people need help, and they don’t even need a fortune. They just need assistance, any assistance.
SJ: Have you had your first “surreal fan-moment” yet? What was that like?
SN: I had to give an author talk to some kids, and they looked at me like I actually had something important to say. That was weird.
SJ: What one thing would you like fans to know about Steve Ruthenbeck, the person?
SN: Yes, I play basketball…for fun (I’m 6’7, so people always ask, “Do you play basketball?).
Thanks to Steve for taking the time to chat with us. To find out more about Steve Ruthenbeck and his novel, Dogs of War, as well as upcoming projects, visit his official site right here!
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