But what the heck is it? Well, in the terms of founding authors and publishers, it’s the genre of the weird, the equivalent of the cult section at the video store. Okay. But what does that mean? It means you’re reading the literary equivalent of a trip. Think of your wildest dreams – your weirdest dreams – and put those onto paper. Got it? If your answer was yes then take it up a level. Imagine the minds producing this stuff.
A few months back I was sent a copy of Jason Wuchenich’s book “Dinner Bell for the Dream Worms”. What the hell is this, I thought. Still I sat back and read. If you remember my review, it was favorable. The book consisted of two novellas – “Stinky Incubus” and “Skank Clusters”. At the time, I love “Skank Clusters”. It was a satiristic look at where we may be headed. Well, maybe I’m digging too deep. But I found it entertaining as hell.
“Stinky Incubus”…not so much.
It wasn’t that I hated the piece, I just couldn’t get past the copious usage of fecal matter. Still, like Two Girls, One Cup, my morbid curiosity took over and I revisited it. I found the merit the second time around, but still couldn’t get past the stomach-churning. What remained, though, more prominently, was the need to talk to this subversive author.
Jason Wuchenich, known as Wookie, is, I gathered, a very disturbed individual. Or maybe it was all an act. I took some time to ask the hard questions, like: Poop versus Shit?
Eric Mays: Jason, thanks for answering a few questions for us. So, you're known as "Wookie"? Why not Han, Lando, or R2? I mean of all the characters in the Star Wars universe, Wookies are more likely to have fleas.
Jason Wuchenich: Well, I’m not as good looking as Han, I’m a white guy so unfortunately that rules out Lando, and R2 can dance better than me. “Wookie” stuck since high school. I’m tall, threw bad temper tantrums and my last name is ‘Wuchenich’ – ‘Wookie’ is easier on the tounge. It suits me. But yea, the fleas love me.
EM: Let's chat a little about "Dinner Bell for Dream Worms". You've got two distinct stories here: one that is, well, potty humor and one that is a little more high-brow. Such distinction. Is this how split your personality is?
JW: Sure! We all have a split to a certain extent. Maybe my split is wider than others. I’m an educated fellow with a ton of useless knowledge about things that no one else could give a damn about, but I also enjoy a good ol’ fashioned, ripe-nasty fart joke. Since this was my first book, I wanted to push the envelope a bit and see what I could get away with and still keep my friends! That’s what “Stinky” was about – it’s an endurance test, really. I wanted to make people’s stomach churn but also have such absurd humor in it, that they question why the hell their laughing so hard and enjoying something so foul. Nick Cato actually thinks it might win the next World Horror Convention "gross-out" contest.
With “Skank” I wanted it to act as a palate cleanser. More humor, more likeable characters. I think that’s a proper way to end proper mindfuck – on an upnote in D flat (the most depressing musical scale there is)
EM: And it's released through LegumeMan Press, right? How's that relationship been? Sounds like this is a solid up and coming press.
JW: LegumeMan Books are awesome! In fact Revert (Matthew, owner and author) owes me a snuggle. They’re Aussies with attitudes, man! They’re blowing up right now with a new book from Steven Rage coming out and one from Brett Mcbean following shortly if I’m not mistaken. Then you got Revert’s second book coming out, Robert’s (Hamilton) second is in the works also, as well as mine. Revert’s also doing a story for the new Bizarro Starter Kit via Eraserhead Press. I really think they’ll be a force to be reckoned with so I’m stoked I got involved with them early on. I’m kind of their U.S connection (smiles). I can’t say enough great things about them. The books they are putting out are all so solid.
EM: It's no surprise that I loved "Skank Clusters". Seems to me that you've stumbled on something. Couldn't actual skank clusters solve the economic crisis?
JW: Skank Clusters certainly couldn’t crud it up worse! I think a situation like that exactly what we need, to be honest with you. Chaos eventually leads to a new and better beginning – that’s just how the universe works.
EM: Seemed to me you may have been channeling a little when writing it. What Cluster of Skanks would you most like to see in your next book?
JW: No channeling – you have to be willing to channel. There was some automatic writing involved, however. GG Allin and de Sade were thumb wrestling to see who could get me to write the most on their behalf. But alas, no clusters of Skanks in the next book. You’ll get to know how the Horsemen of the Apocalypse take care of business, though.
EM: Cluster of Skanks sounds like a Sorority gone awry. What the hell were you thinking?
JW: You call that thinking?! (laughs) It came as a little dream snippet. I was eating these little pen cap sized bitches and they would squirm all over the place in my fingers and scamper away and I remember being so irritated they were getting away from me. That’s when I woke up pissed off. Anyhow, the seed was planted. Freud, have a field day with that one.
EM: Now the other story in the book - Stinky Incubus - is...special. You've established yourself as a bit of an expert of fecal matter. Answer the age old question: which is funnier? Shit or poop?JW: (loud laughter and clapping) I really had no immediate intention of taking it as far as I did, but when you can only materialize with the aid ingesting feces, you just can’t NOT overdo it! It’s like writing a story about someone in a wheelchair but omitting all the obstacles they would have to overcome by not being able to use their legs! It makes sense to me, anyhow. I’m not personally into coprophagia – I just think it’s hilarious!
JW: Poop is way funnier than shit. I think it’s because ‘poop’ is more innocent than ‘shit’ – and I think palindromes are rather funny in general.
JW: It’s poop again!
EM: I was thinking about it, Jason. Poo is kind of like the internal biological zombie. Bear with me. It's inevitable that we'll all die, and zombies came about out of a fear of death. Everybody poops (though people hate it...like death). Perhaps poop should have its own genre.
JW: Eric my man, I think you just might be onto something! Zombies shamble around in their various stages of decomposition. Think of how many poops you have taken that differ in size, shape and consistency. Now think of KILLER poops…I’m putting on the breaks now.
EM: Okie dokie, this interview has been about nothing more than poop and skanks. Let's switch gears. John Waters is an inspiration, huh? Never would have guessed. I understand he's got a copy of the book.
JW: I taste your sarcasm. And yes, he has it. I went to his spoken word and book signing and gave him a signed copy. We swapped. He’s a very busy guy but also very loyal and sincere to his fans. I have no doubt I’ll get a response in a few months. Oh, he also has another LegumeMan book – Matthew Revert’s “A Million Versions of Right.”
EM: In lieu of going off on another lewd tangent, I'll simply ask: What's next for you?
JW: More therapy (laughs). I’m working on my second book, a novel this time, tentatively called “From the Decay Fence” which will be released through LegumeMan Books as well. It should be ready for consumption by the year’s end or very early 2011. It’s a completely different Wookie. Wait, no it’s not. Yes it is. Damn it…see…it’s GG and de Sade again…listen you two, not now, okay…
That's it for this week, kids. If you're looking for an interesting read, sneak a peek at Jason's book. As mentioned, I'm a huge fan of "Skank Clusters" (and, yes, they sound like a snack you heat whil hungover).
Next week's pretty exciting, as well. We'll be joined by the "Master of the Meg", Steve Alten. I personally call him the Michael Bay of literature for his over the top "special effects", shattering action, and visceral gore. Steve's got the coup on the Megladon genre right now, and he's tackling the Mayan calendar, doomsday scenarios, and...the man makes me fearful to leave the friggin' house.
We'll also have your 'Must Pre-Order of the Week". It may be the best book I've read all year.
And coming soon, we'll chat with zombie-master David Wellington, Zombie Carol Master Michael Spradlin, Florida hijinks master Tim Dorsey, Bizarro Master Bradley Sands, and so many more.
Until then, keep reading.
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