Mini Q&A with David Lubar
Q: So. Why “weenies?” Why not . . . burgers, or jelly beans, or bunny rabbits?
A: Because they wouldn't let me write a sequel to Silence of the Lambs.
Q: Do you like camping?
A: I like the woods, but we’re just friends, so while I might stay late and cuddle, I don’t sleep over.
Q: Did you ever think you would write a book where your publicist(s) would dress up as a gigantic inflatable hot dog to promote your book? Have all your dreams come true yet?
A: I was touched by the dedication and enthusiasm of the publicists, and glad, for their sake, I hadn’t written Invasion of the Blue Whales or How to Make a Dress out of Hornets. All my dreams haven’t come true, yet, but I’m making really good progress on my list of nightmares. With luck, I'll be able to complete the entire airport subsection during my upcoming book tour!
Q: What is the funniest thing a kid or teacher ever told you about the “Weenie” books?
A: A teacher told me that her mention of Lawn Weenies drew a great deal more laughter from her class than she’d expected. She eventually discovered that they’d misheard “lawn” as “long.” Since then, I’ve always been very careful to enunciate.
Q: Which one of the Curse of the Campfire Weenies stories is inspired by a Stephen King story?
A: “The Chipper” was inspired by “The Mangler,” from Nightshift. I liked the idea of taking something that really creeped me out in my youth and bringing it to life.
Q: Do you like to scare kids?
A: I like to entertain kids. I always alert parents that some of my stories are pretty scary, but I hope the balance of horror and humor helps prevent the sort of trauma that might eventually require counseling. Besides, I can’t possibly scare them anywhere near as much as the nightly news.
Q: Is Halloween one of your favorite holidays?
A: Candy and monsters? You bet.
Q: What was your favorite Halloween costume?
A: I had a monster makeup book when I was a kid, and managed to do a fairly decent skull head. I attempted a werewolf one year, with fake hair and spirit gum, but gluing stuff to your face is trickier than it sounds and I didn't do the greatest job. I suspect everyone who saw me thought I was masquerading as a dollar-store dust mop.
Contributor: Tor/Forge
Reviews
The Curse of the Campfire Weenies, and Other Warped and Creepy Tales
David Lubar
A boy finds out that there is a very good reason why so many children are afraid of clowns. Another eats baby food and finds out that you are, indeed, what you eat. A child warned by his mother about online predators confirms that there are, indeed, predators and you never know who is one. These are just a few of the wonderful tales David Lubar has created in this short story collection. In the grand tradition of stories such as those published in Weird Tales or by Stephen King, Lubar proves that he has a gift for the strange, weird, bizarre, and just plain odd. All of these creepy tales are laced with a sarcastic, understated humor that tempers the frightening elements beautifully. My personal favorite is “Head of the Class,” where a student finds out that whenever his teacher grades his work, whatever he has written, right or wrong, becomes true. A great book to read aloud by candlelight. 2007, Starscape, $19.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Amie Rose Rotruck (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7653-1807-7
ISBN: 0-7653-1807-5
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Added 02/27/2008
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