First Comics News: Could you tell us a bit about yourself?
Keith Gooderson: I’ve been a comic book fan since I was 8, but as far back as I can remember, I’ve always loved adventure serials, horror, and sci-fi. I first tried my hand at writing when I was 13 and, much to my surprise, found I had a hitherto undiscovered ability. It’s been my ambition to write professionally for a very long time, but life keeps getting in the way. So, for now, I’m a boring public servant in an office job. I’m happily married. I have 1 daughter and a cat. There is a degree of confusion between me and the cat as to who is actually in charge of the household. To be honest, the cat’s pretty good about it. He lets me pretend it’s me.
1st: What was your first published prose work, and where was it published?
Keith: My first prose work to be published was a short story titled The Dogman, which appeared in a pulp magazine called Bronze Knuckles.
1st: Could you tell us about The Dogman?
Keith: I have an interest in the Unexplained, so I wanted to do something of that flavor. The Dogman phenomenon seems pretty de rigueur at the moment, so I thought it would be fun to write a tale around it. I ended up creating a character called Damion Knight, who’s a seriously damaged individual hunting down cryptids.
1st: I tried to take some of the supposed real-life sightings of the Dogman and started from that basis.
Keith: I wanted the hero to be a very flawed and driven individual. He’s a man fighting his demons as well as the ones he hunts.
1st: Was the Dogman story a one-shot, or will we see more of him?
Keith: There are two more Damion Knight tales in Bronze Knuckles. I’ve written a fourth chapter, which hasn’t been submitted yet. I’ve developed the character somewhat, as I don’t want the stories to become formulaic.
He’s a man very much outside the law. He hates authority and doesn’t play well with others. He is obsessed with his mission as he sees it. He’s become a shell of a man who lives for vengeance.
1st: Bronze Knuckles is a pulp magazine. Do you write in other genres as well?
Keith: Well, it’s all pretty much short stories centred around horror, action,n and adventure- so I guess it all falls under the banner of pulp. But I’m currently working on a novel and also have an idea for a separate novel loosely based on my own experiences in life. I guess that would fit into the ‘Slice of Life’ genre.
1st: Have you submitted work elsewhere other than to Bronze Knuckles Magazine?
Keith: Submitted, yes. Published yet -no.
1st: Who do you list as your writing influences?
Keith: So many influences, to be honest. Edgar Rice Burroughs and Robert E. Howard are two of my favorite writers, but l love some of the old English writers like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sax Rohmer. Ambrose Bierce is a big favourite too. Most of what I read is old school. For modern authors, I like Thomas Ligotti and Adam Christopher.
1st: Thanks for doing the interview, Keith.
Keith: You’re welcome, Mark.
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