Be forewarned, this interview contains some crude language
and a brief discussion of acts in a porn film.
But when you talk about Bizarro literature, nothing is taboo.
TSOP: I’m talking with Jeff Burk of
Eraserhead Press, publisher of Bizarro novels.
JB: Correct. We are the literary equivalent of the
cult section of Netflix. We are
the weird shit.
TSOP: And what do
you mean by weird shit?
JB: Well, we
specialize in the weird. We have
weird romance, we have weird horror, we have weird science fiction, weird
fantasy, weird children’s books.
Anything, you name it.
While horror focuses on the emotion of fright, and romance
focuses on the tingly butterflies you get in your stomach, we focus on the
stuff that makes you go, “Huh,” and just the weird.
TSOP: So, these are not typical romances or horror tales?
JB: No, not at all.
For example, one of our best selling books is quite a romantic book, The Haunted Vagina, about a man who
discovers his girlfriend’s vagina is a gateway to another literal world and
there is another woman in there who he falls in love with, creating quite a
complicated love triangle.
TSOP: I’m sorry, I had to laugh. That just sounds weird!
JB: It is, it is.
Or House of Houses is another
great example, about a man who falls in love with his house to such a degree
that he drills a hole in the wall to consummate the relationship. But, then the house apocalypse happens
and all the houses die, crumble to the ground, and he must travel to house
heaven to be reunited with his lost love.
TSOP: It sounds like there is no subject too taboo for
Bizarro novels.
JB: Oh no, none at all. We will tackle any topic, no matter how controversial. One of our more risqué books is Super Fetus, about a crack addicted
pregnant woman trying to have her baby aborted and the fetus fighting back
against the various abortion doctors.
We don’t take sides on the issue, but we have no problem
talking about any issue.
TSOP: So, it’s not about making a political statement, but
taking a topic and running with it as far as you can?
JB: Exactly.
And we like to tackle the topics no one else wants to touch.
TSOP: Do you write for Eraserhead Press?
JB: Yes, I am.
I am the author of Shatnerquake,
Super Giant Monster Time, Cripple Wolf and the recently released Shatnerquest.
TSOP: I noticed you’re selling a Choice Your Own Adventure
book. That’s yours?
JB: Super Giant
Monster Time, yes, that is my book.
It’s my tribute to Godzilla movies and I also grew up reading a lot of
Chose Your Own Adventure books.
So, the world is being invaded by aliens, who have rays that turn people
into murderous punk rockers, and giant monsters are leveling all of Earth’s
cities at once. And it’s general
chaos, with over 50 endings.
TSOP: Any of
the endings good ones? (Jeff laughs)
Okay, don’t ruin the surprise!
JB: You know, I’ve been asked that a lot, but it never
occurred to me, when I was writing the book, to write good endings. You just get to die in a bunch of
creative ways.
TSOP: Well,
that’s a good ending.
JB: That’s what I thought. When I was reading the book, I thought about what I would
want, so I guess I’m twisted like that.
TSOP: Where can people go to see publications from
Eraserhead Press?
JB: Yes. bizarrocentral.com
is the main website. The Bizarro
scene encompasses about 150 writers, artists, musicians and several
presses. And we are getting
filmmakers involved. All the
music, all the books, all the films, everyone’s promoted on there.
TSOP: Can we talk a bit about the music?
JB: Oh yeah.
Several of the authors that work with us also play in bands. Our most noticeable is Dave Brockie,
AKA Odorus Urungus of GWAR, who has put out a book, War Ghoul (Please note,
this interview was conducted almost a year before Brockie’s death). Also Andrew Goldfarb, who does novels
and comic books we publish, he also has a voodoo-themed, one man rock and roll
band called The Slow Poisoner. And
those are just two examples.
TSOP: You publish comic books?
JB: So far, we’ve only done one comic release, and that was
for Andrew Goldfarb. He’s a very
close friend to everyone at the press and we believe a lot in his work. So we put out a collection of the first
hundred strips of his reoccurring characters.
TSOP: Let’s talk about the movies. What’s out there?
JB: We are currently in the beginning stages. I can’t say too much about it, working
with film studios and television studios to get some stuff developed in a
higher profile. In terms of what’s
been made, there have been several short films of different Bizarro author’s
works, but what I think is most interesting is the porn adaptation of one of
the short stories we published.
Edward Lee’s The Grub Girl
was made into a full-length porn film.
TSOP: What’s that story about?
JB: It’s a short story in the collection Brain Cheese Buffet. It’s about when the zombie apocalypse
happens, but it doesn’t mean anything.
The dead come back to life and just keep on going. But, a weird side effect is, when
you’re dead, you no longer feel pain.
So, there is a market for zombie prostitutes, for the really rough
stuff, because they can’t feel pain from the johns.
TSOP: So, this is probably NSFW stuff.
JB: Well, in the porn adaptation, a cock gets beaten off…. No, well, that happens. No, a cock gets BITTEN off. So no, not safe for work at all.
(Both interviewer and interviewee are laughing)
That was a great misspeak there. Holy shit
TSOP: Yes, and you know that’s going into the article.
JB: I don’t blame you.
TSOP: I think Powell’s Bookstore here in Portland has a
section for your press.
JB: No, but Powell’s is very supportive of us. You can find all of our books
throughout the store. Be it in the
horror, science fiction, fantasy, small press, and there is a Star Trek section,
and they keep Shatnerquest and Shatnerquake there. Just to plug my own books.
TSOP: Once again, where on the web can people go to find out
more about Eraserhead Press?
TSOP: Thank you for taking the time to talk with me.
JB: Thank you.
If you attend this year’s H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival at
The Hollywood Theatre in Portland, OR, (April 11 to 13), stop by the Eraserhead
Press table. The press has had a
booth for at the festival for as long as I can remember, and offers some great
deals for those brave enough to step into the world of Bizarro fiction.
And be sure to let the table attendants know you read about
them at The Shadow Over Portland!
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