I recently had the idea of interviewing each of the writers you will find within the pages of the upcoming horror anthology, PURGATORIUM. The first thing that came to mind was the PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE and how much fun it always was to read the way people would respond to some of the questions on it. So, I cribbed from the list of questions on the questionnaire, keeping some of them intact, removing some and adding some of my own that would relate to the experiences the respondents would have had in writing in general and in writing for the anthology in particular. (I’m so good at writing run-on sentences, aren’t I!?)
There are ten of us in the anthology. I will eventually share all the Proustian Questionnaires here. I thought I would begin with the principles of the newly formed ID PRESS, which is the press bringing PURGATORIUM to the marketplace. Today, I thought I would share the responses I received from Connie Di Pietro and Dale Long. Without further ado, I bring you the slightly altered Proust Questionnaires of Connie & Dale…but we’ll just go ahead and call them the PURGATORIO DIALOGUES. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did! For me, reading their responses made me realize just why I chose these lovely people as friends.
Purgatorio Dialogues – I – Connie Di Pietro
1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
My idea of perfect happiness is the comfort from the warm sun on my back, toes in the sand, rolling waves and my children’s laughter. My music, mornings spent writing, evenings spent reading, and a table surrounded by friends and family enjoying a wonderful meal together.
2. What is your most preferred genre as a writer?
Not sure I have any one preferred genre. I do have those which I’d find difficult to attempt to write in, because I don’t read them. I do love the dark and twisted.
3. What is your greatest fear?
Waking up and finding that all my fingers had been lopped off and my tongue pulled from my mouth.
4. What is your most preferred genre as a reader?
This, like the above, is difficult…as my reading is varied. But dark and twisted always does win out.
5. Which horror writer do you most admire and why?
Stephen King, because he isn’t afraid to bend his genre and go beyond the traditional horror of blood and gore. Andrew Pyper is also a very generous man with his time and talent in helping those of us who are just learning how to climb the ladder.
6. What was your idea of horror prior to setting off on this adventure into Purgatorium?
I had a fairly good grasp of the genre. I have been given the title Queen of the Macabre.
7. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
hmmmm….virginity.
8. What is your idea of horror now that you’ve been to Purgatorium?
Same as it’s always been, there are so many varying degrees of horror. And sometimes the most horrific are the most realistic.
9. What else have you written?
Besides my cupboard filled with shelved stories, I’m currently working on the 2nd book of a trilogy about witches who travel through time trying to find their way back home in a time when witches were persecuted. I have another novel that is currently being shopped by my agent at The Right’s Factory. I have a short story in another anthology
10. When and where were you most afraid?
I was born in 1971. In 1973 my parents brought us to the drive-in theater, second billing was The Exorcist. That’s right…I stayed up in the back watching it. Still have quite a vivid memory of that. It took me deep into adulthood to watch it again without an afghan over my head as I peered through the knitting. And yes, you did the math right. I was 2 and a half, to be exact.
11. Which talent would you most like to have?
Pole-dancing. Imagine the shape I’d be in!!
12. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
I’d like to come back rich and beautiful, because this whole nice thing doesn’t pay the bills so well.
13. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Seriously, the lowest depth of misery is treating others unfairly, unjustly and with inequality. It must be a very sad existence to think that you are better than everyone else around you.
14. What are your three deserted island books?
The Red Tent, The Secret (because I need the universe to get me off of the island), and Little Women.
15. Who are your favorite writers?
Anita Diamont, author of The Red Tent and Day after Night, Stephen King, and the Brontes….I know they are 2.
16. Who is your hero of fiction?
(Not answered)
17. What sound grates on you more than any other?
Whining and fighting….I do have 4 kids.
18. How would you like to die?
Never thought of dying much and my preference in the matter of which I would die, but I’d have to say in my old age while I slept after a wonderful meal surrounded by all my friends and family. I’d also like to know I would/could be in control of my own mortality.
19. What sound brings you deep joy?
laughter
20. What is your motto?
Teach Peace
On the Web, CONNIE can be found:
Purgatorio Dialogues – II – Dale Long
1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
The waves at my feet, Wings on the BBQ, margarita in hand, surrounded by friends and family.
2. What is your most preferred genre as a writer?
Genre? GENRE?? We don’t need no stinking genre!
3. What is your greatest fear?
Death.
4. What is your most preferred genre as a reader?
Anything that is exceptionally written.
5. Which horror writer do you most admire and why?
Mary Shelley. For starting it all off, for writing horror in a time when women weren’t seen as credible writers, for living through what she did.
6. What was your idea of horror prior to setting off on this adventure into Purgatorium?
Running out of charcoal.
7. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Success/fame. Are those virtues? In today’s age they seem to be.
8. What is your idea of horror now that you’ve been to Purgatorium?
Running out of charcoal and margarita.
9. What else have you written?
Middle grade ghost stories, old fashioned Christmas “scary ghost stories and tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago”, Humour short stories, life stories (eulogies), post apocalyptic science fiction and some fantasy.
10. When and where were you most afraid?
The day my wife got diagnosed with cancer. Sitting in the doctor’s office. It felt like the world cracked open and threatened to swallow us.
11. Which talent would you most like to have?
To cure stupidity and ignorance.
12. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
*censored*
13. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Misery always has a lower depth.
14. What are your three deserted island books?
How To Build A Boat Out Of Sand by Neil Degrasse Tyson, Cooking with Coconuts by Deb Rankin, How To Make a Radio from Palm Trees by MacGuyver.
15. Who are your favorite writers?
All the writers in and around Purgatorium. I admire the ones that didn’t make it into the anthology for their grace and for putting themselves out there.
16. Who is your hero of fiction?
Each time I open a well written book, that character becomes my hero of fiction.
17. What sound grates on you more than any other?
The noise made when a Know-it-all opens their head hole.
18. How would you like to die?
I don’t like to die. Ever.
19. What sound brings you deep joy?
Hearing my daughters sing when they don’t know I am listening.
20. What is your motto?
“To infinity and beyond!” No, that’s not it. “Live long and prosper!” Nope, that’s not it either. “I’m Batman!” Close, but not it. “You say that can’t be done, do you?” Yep. That’ll do.
On the Web, DALE can be found:
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More Purgatorio Dialogues to come! Stay tuned!
KEVIN CRAIG 
Congratulations!