Writer Steve Niles is a titan of tales to tantalize and fill with terror. From 30 Days of Night to Criminal Macabre: A Cal McDonald Mystery, Niles has shown time and again his love of and adeptness at spinning a great horror yarn. And now he’s revisiting his character Cal McDonald in Cal McDonald: Plague of Evil and Other Stories, now funding on Kickstarter through Clover Press. A compilation of brand-new short stories from Niles set in the paranormal detective’s blood-curdling world, each tale will feature art from a different fabulous comic book artist.
I spoke with Steve Niles recently about Cal McDonald: Plague of Evil and Other Stories, writing for the character Cal McDonald over the years, the compilation itself, and how writing new Cal McDonald tales is like visiting an old friend. Steve Niles is in the upper echelon of horror writers and it’s so gratifying to see him reuniting with his long-running character just in time for spooky season.
FreakSugar: For folks who might be unfamiliar with the character, what can you tell us about Cal McDonald?
Steve Niles: Cal is a hard drinking, pill-popping, hardboiled detective who deals exclusively with monsters. He has a ghoul sidekick named Mo’Lock. Together they deal with LA’s monster problems.
FS: What can you tell us about the compilation Cal McDonald: Plague of Evil and Other Stories?
SN: There are ten stories. Each one deals with a new creature. Some are traditional like vampires and werewolves, but many are new original monsters.
FS: You have a stacked team of artists working on the project. What can you tell us about your collaboration with them?
SN: I am lucky to have so many talented friends. I gave everybody a story I thought fit them and their style and then let them go nuts. They all came through. I’m especially in love with the cover that Joe Jusko did. It’s perfect.
FS: The stories in this compilation are the first new Cal McDonald stories in years. Was it like reuniting with an old friend?
SN: That’s exactly what it’s like, reuniting with an old friend. I did Cal comics for years but the prose has always been my favorite. Over the last few years I’ve been writing new Cal stories in between projects and I slowly grew a collection. Somewhere along the line I fell right back into it and I already have enough for another collection.
FS: Following up on that, in the press release, you note that you have been writing about Cal McDonald for nearly 40 years. Has the character evolved over the years? Has how you approach the character changed?
SN: Hopefully he’s mellowed as I have over the years. He’s much more experienced and doesn’t make the same mistakes as he used to. He knows what he’s doing.
FS: Looking back, what has been your favorite part of working on Cal’s tales? What are you most proud of?
SN: I just love writing Cal. I love his world view and how he expresses himself. I suppose, after all these years, I’m proud that he’s still going.
FS: What are you reading right now?
SN: I’m reading the Dexter books, new James Ellroy and the Frank Miller bio.
FS: Cal is in the tradition of Mickey Spillane and Raymond Chandler. Are there any other hard-boiled noir from modern-day writers or filmmakers that you’re enjoying?
SN: I really love James Ellroy, especially his LA Quartet. Those are about as hardboiled as it gets.
FS: If you had a final pitch for the Kickstarter, what would it be?
SN: I hope anyone who is a fan of horror, hardboiled noir stories and humor will check it out!
The Kickstarter for Steve Niles’ Kickstarter for Cal McDonald: Plague of Evil and Other Stories through Clover Press is fully funded! Make sure to check out this phenomenal compilation and preorder at this link–but make sure you do it by THIS THURSDAY when the campaign ends!
From the official press release about the Kickstarter:
Legendary horror writer and 30 Days of Night co-creator Steve Niles’s iconic paranormal detective Cal McDonald’s hard boiled adventures have captivated fans since his first appearance in the 1990 story “Big Head.” Cal McDonald has seen it all. Vampires, werewolves, ghouls, demons, mutants, maniacs, and every other thing that crawls out of the dark. Throughout his celebrated career, Niles has returned to McDonald in novels, short fiction, and the acclaimed comic series Criminal Macabre. Now, he is revisiting his gruesome gumshoe in CAL McDONALD: PLAGUE OF EVIL AND OTHER STORIES, a collection of short stories featuring a foreword by acclaimed actor and horror creator David Dastmalchian (Count Crowley), and a stunning painted cover by master illustrator Joe Jusko. Published by Clover Press’s The Fourth Leaf, a new imprint for creator-owned comics, books and graphic novels, this 216-page hardcover will collect ten brand-new Cal McDonald stories, each with an illustration by a different beloved comic artist. Fans can support the project on Kickstarter now.
In the tradition of Mickey Spillane and Rymond Chandler, Niles sends Cal and his undead sidekick on a strange journey through a Los Angeles populated by monsters, freaks, ghouls, and all kinds of new creatures hell-bent on causing chaos.
“It’s hard to believe but I’ve been writing Cal McDonald in one form or another for almost forty years now.” Said Steve Niles. “The last short story collection came out almost 20 years ago, so I am excited to have PLAGUE OF EVIL coming out through Clover Press. Cal has always been my favorite character to write and it feels good to be back in the saddle again. I am especially thrilled with this volume because I have so many friends along for the ride; some of my favorite artists in the industry have added their talents. I hope readers enjoy this collection because I’m aching to do more.”
CAL McDONALD: PLAGUE OF EVIL AND OTHER STORIES will feature gorgeous chapter illustrations by an incredible lineup of artists, including Cat Staggs (John Carpenter’s Tales of Halloween Night), Liam Sharp (Star Henge), Scott Morse (Soulwind), Christopher Mitten (Hellboy and the BPRD), Gyula Nemeth (Criminal Macabre), Steven Russell Black (Magic The Gathering), Francesco Francavilla (The Black Beetle), Alison Sampson (Werewolf By Night), and Damien Worm (October Faction), each adding their own signature style to Cal McDonald’s world of hard-boiled horror.
“In this collection, Cal McDonald returns to prose for ten new hard-boiled tales filled with occult threats, vicious creatures, and the kind of trouble he and Mo’Lock are reckless enough to confront.” said Clover Press publisher Hank Kanalz. “It’s supernatural crime horror in the classic Cal McDonald tradition, full of blood, grit, dark humor, and noir only Steve Niles can deliver.”
In addition to the illustrated hardcover book, the Kickstarter campaign for CAL McDONALD: PLAGUE OF EVIL AND OTHER STORIES will also include prints, lithographs, stickers, t-shirts, and a slipcase upgrade. Fans can support CAL McDONALD: PLAGUE OF EVIL AND OTHER STORIES on Kickstarter now.
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