Interviews
by Steve Wedel

A Few Words With Kealan Patrick Burke

At first glance one might think Kealan Patrick Burke is just your average Joe. Maybe a computer programmer, maybe a banker. Then he speaks and captures your attention, and you see the passion of an author burning in his eyes. Then it's too late. He's got you.

And he can be harsh. Reading one of Kealan's stories is like discovering a new friend, learning all about him in a short time, his love, his sorrow and his suffering. Kealan's writing is soft, quiet and deadly.

For that reason, he's becoming one of the better known names in the horror genre, already amassing an impressive collection of awards at the tender age of 29. He's recently expanded his repertoire to include novels and screenplays, so it appears there'll be no slowing him down.

The native of Dungarvan, on the south coast of Ireland, came to the United States in 2001. Like many Irishmen before him, he came seeking opportunity. He was "…responding to my wife's ad for Irish stalkers."

He began writing when he was all of eight years old, he said, and now writes full time. He's always been fascinated by the dark side of life.

"As depressing as it may sound, life experience left me better suited to explorations of that nature," he said. "The good things that happen to us only set the stage for background when it comes to writing horror. It's the tragedy, and the unhappiness, and all those bad things that are never too far away, that we study either as catharsis, or as an attempt to understand them. I, like so many other people, have a lot I'd like to understand."

Many authors would have to do extensive research and travel to set a story in a locale readers might consider exotic. In that regard, Kealan has a bit of an advantage, having grown up on the Emerald Isle.

"Because I've lived for years in both places, I have the option of using either one as a setting, and have it be authentic," he said.

And, while many modern horror authors cut their teeth on Stephen King novels, Kealan was exposed to maybe a broader range of influences. "Though I grew up reading King, I was far more likely to find a book by Nicholas Royle, Christopher Fowler, Stephen Laws, or James Herbert in the stores than work by some of the great American writers, though I did eventually track them down.

"I think writing in America with a European influence on my work helps make it that little bit different," he said. "The challenges, however, are the same as they are for any writer, no matter what their heritage."

He faced one challenge early on in his career. His first short story collection, Ravenous Ghosts, was released by a publisher with more enthusiasm than know-how. Kealan said he learned a hard lesson from that experience.

"It's taught me to be a lot more cautious about working with brand new publishers who spew enthusiasm at every turn and have more money than sense. It's a shame really, because for every flash in the pan that runs off with a writer's (and often the customer's) money, there are class outfits like Necessary Evil Press and others who go into the business knowing full well what they're doing," Kealan said.

"But if I want to pay the bills, I can't say 'yes' to just anyone anymore," he added. "Too much time and work goes into every project for it to be left dangling in the wind by upstart publishers who are better at cutting-and-running than they are at accepting their mistakes."

Kealan's wife, Jennifer Burke, understands what it means to be married to an author.

"Being the wife of an author is a full-time funhouse ride," she said. "I get to see the ideas come and take over, the highs of a story that's burning to get out, at all hours of the day and night, the constant distraction because the characters are living out their story and their conversations in his head.

"The lows of writers block and words that don't work and the frustration that comes with that. The elation of finishing something that he knows and hopes and believes is the best thing he's ever written; followed closely by intense anxiety that it won't be liked, or understood, or good enough at all."

Jennifer is the first to read her husband's work. While that likely wasn't in her wedding vows, it's a duty she takes seriously.

"When he hands me that story, so new that the pages are still warm from the printer, I know that I very often hold his heart and soul in my hands," Jennifer said. "When I edit and critique the words he's written it's like criticizing someone's beloved child, incredibly hard to take.

"That is an immense privilege and responsibility for me," she added. "I would like to say that I enjoy every minute but I'd be lying. What I will say is I wouldn't give it up for anything."

Kealan credits Jennifer for much of his success. "Whether or not she understands my compulsion, she supports it 100 percent. Without her backing, you'd never have heard of me," he said. "The subject matter doesn't bother her in the least, though she'd rather I wrote romance."

Until recently, Kealan was known mostly for his short stories and novellas. With The Hides, released in 2005 by Cemetery Dance, he produced his first novel. The book currently is on the preliminary ballot for the Horror Writers Association Bram Stoker Award in the First Novel category. He said he was working up to the longer form.

"The Hides was the first time I'd been able to complete a project of that length. Everything else fizzled out at about the 20,000 word mark," Kealan said. "Looking back on it, I think knowing Richard Chizmar was interested in it was enough for me to push myself over my own personal wall.

"After that, I went on to write Master of the Moors, with the help of knowing there were 400+ people waiting to read it, chapter by chapter, each and every week. At some point, I think I figured out that the only way I was going to be able to write longer projects was if there were too many people watching for me to give up. I learned a lot that way, and nowadays the pressure I put on myself is enough to get the novels written."

Novels, novellas or short stories, he said he doesn't have a preference. "Each comes with its own reward," Kealan said. "The celebration is equal if I finish something and feel confident it's good, no matter what length it is. That being said, if I could only pick one form in which to write, I'd choose novels for the larger canvas they offer the writer."

Kealan's bibliography includes more than just his own fiction. He's also the author of reviews, essays, introductions to the books of others, a screenwriter and a very well respected editor.

"Nonfiction, for me, is a whole different ballgame," he said. "I find it less taxing by far to write essays about facets of the business, or an introduction to a good book, than I do creating worlds of my own. But of course I much prefer the latter, considering I don't find my opinion all that interesting."

He said he never really set out to become an editor. "Somewhere along the line I decided there were books I wanted to see that weren't out there, most of them anthologies (which I've always adored), so I took it upon myself to do them. And I love reading short stories, so editing an anthology became editing a webzine, and back again. It's just something I really like doing," he said.

What's the hardest part of being an editor? "Rejecting stories. Hands down," he said.

Asked which is more satisfying, seeing his own book published or the publication of his latest anthology as editor, he said, "The thrill is different for both, but I would say seeing my own novels published leads by a nose."

Kealan's popularity and strong storytelling was bound to get the interest of somebody with a camera. That happened about a year ago, he said, when Paul Frieling of Artificial Films contacted him.

"He'd read my short story 'The Quiet' on the fiction section of The Horror Author's Network, and inquired if movie rights were available," Kealan said. "They were, and we discussed the possibility of turning the story into a short movie (around 50 minutes). Since then, the movie has been shot, extra scenes added, parts of the script rewritten, and all that good stuff. I've seen a rough cut and it's amazing."

Kealan said he did not enjoy writing the screenplay. "Not even a little bit. Take everything that's enjoyable about writing fiction and remove it. There's your screenplay," he said.

A typical writing day for Kealan begins with his Jennifer, he said. "The morning is usually reserved for spending time with my wife, then dealing with the other side of writing: phone calls, emails, message boards, etc. I get most of my writing done in the afternoon, though it used to be the morning--I work around my wife's shift. Then my son gets home and I fuss around him for a while, then get a few more hours of work done before my wife gets home. I'll usually call it quits at about 9 or 10 p.m."

Fans hungry for more of Kealan's work will find a big helping coming up over the next several months. He said he'll have a couple of short stories coming out in the anthologies: Masques V, Evermore, Shivers IV and Eulogies: A Horror World Yearbook, and in the latest issues of Cemetery Dance and Grave Tales.

"A nonfiction essay I did on John Carpenter's The Fog will appear shortly in PS Publishing's Cinema Macabre. Then I have a new anthology called Brimstone Turnpike coming from Cemetery Dance, and Night Visions 12, due from Subterranean Press."

Subterranean Press also is doing Kealan's chapbook The Quiet. In about two months, Bloodletting Press will be releasing Vessels (a sequel to The Turtle Boy and The Hides).

"In the meantime, I'll be starting the fourth and final Timmy Quinn book, entitled Nemesis: The Death of Timmy Quinn. Other than, there are some things I would love to tell you about, but can't just yet. Suffice it to say, it's going to be a busy year," he said.

You don't work with that many publishers without earning respect in the field. Donald Koish of Necessary Evil Press was quick to praise Kealan.

"Not only is Kealan a wonderful guy and great friend, he's a damn fine Writer," Don said. "You can always compare writers and say so and so reminds you of this guy or that guy. With Kealan, he reminds me of Kealan. His voice is distinct and we're all lucky to know him now because the sky is the limit with him. He's going to be one of those big guys someday.

"He's a fine editor, too," Don added. "I consider myself richer for knowing the man."

Kealan has recently had his Web site overhauled. He said it's being updated regularly with news, free fiction and other good stuff. Visit him at www.kealanpatrickburke.com, and be sure to leave a comment on his Horror World message board.