Alan Orloff has published fourteen novels and more than sixty short stories. His work has won an Anthony, an Agatha, two Derringers, and two Thriller Awards. He’s also been a finalist for the Shamus Award and has had a story selected for The Best American Mystery Stories. Alan lives and writes in South Florida, where many scary creatures live.
Read on to discover what other scary creatures keep him up at night…
What is your greatest fear?
Not sure these are my greatest fears, but they do get my heart pumping. First, ever since I was in a deadly train crash, I’m a little apprehensive when driving over train tracks. In a battle between pick-up truck and locomotive, truck always loses. Second, ever since a harrowing incident on a golf course in a freak thunderstorm, I’m, uh, respectful of lightning. A guy was pinned under an overturned tractor which was leaking gas as lightning struck all around us. Fortunately, he was rescued unharmed—but definitely not unshaken.
Is there any fear you’ve overcome in your life? How has that changed you?
As a kid, I was afraid of the water. My mother would take me to different pools—one each summer, for maybe five years—for lessons, but I never conquered my fear of drowning. Finally, four decades later, I decided I was being ridiculous. I took some lessons and learned how to swim. Now, I swim for exercise a few times a week. (Of course, I don’t swim in water over my head. Baby strokes, er baby steps!)
What person living today terrifies you the most and why?
Is this a trick question?
What are your phobias?
I have a (well-publicized) cheese phobia. Any dairy, or anything that looks like dairy, grosses me out. Not a fan of white, squishy, oozy, gelatinous food (except, weirdly, mayo and ice cream. Go figure, ice cream doesn’t gross me out!).
What’s the scariest experience you ever lived through?
I’ve made three emergency plane landings (as a passenger, not a pilot), complete with fire engines racing down the runway next to the aircraft. Zero stars, DO NOT RECOMMEND. You might want to think twice before flying or traveling on a train with me. On the other hand, I live to tell the tales, so maybe you DO want to travel with me—I’m good luck!
What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever written?
I have two horror novels coming out next year, DARK SPRINGS and THE TASTE (re-issue). Both are very disturbing. (After reading THE TASTE, my wife wondered how she could sleep in the same bed as me.) Of course, I’m not counting the very first manuscript I wrote, which is encased in an asbestos-lined container and buried six feet deep in the woods. Now, that was TERRIFYING, but not in a good way. In a bad way. A very bad way.
What’s your favorite horror movie or television series?
The scariest movie I ever saw was The Night of the Living Dead. I was about thirteen, it was late at night, and I was alone. I’m surprised the neighbors didn’t hear me screaming. Or maybe they did and just ignored me—suburbia was a cold place growing up. I was also a big fan of Kolchak: The Night Stalker. A little campy, a little creepy. That’s a nice sweet spot.
What’s the scariest book you’ve ever read? Is there a particular scene that really haunts you still?
Pet Sematary. If you’ve read the book, you know the scene that haunts me (because I bet it haunts you, too). Salem’s Lot was also pretty scary, as I remember. That King guy writes some pretty frightening stuff, doesn’t he?
What is your favorite monster/villain?
A shout out to Sasquatch/Yeti/Abominable snowman. Cute, cuddly, furry. They seem pretty chill, but I sure wouldn’t want to run into one in the wilderness. I like Nessie, too. I guess it’s the purported photographic “evidence” that appeals to me—I mean, their images are captured in pictures, so they have to be real, right?
“The idea of plunging through the air from great heights does not sound fun to me.”
What’s something you’ll never do because you’re too scared?
Jump out of a plane, with or without a parachute. I won’t bungee jump, either. The idea of plunging through the air from great heights does not sound fun to me.