Ramsey Campbell is one of the masters of British horror fiction. Inspired by the works of     H. P. Lovecraft he began writing horror as a teenager and even at that early age was talented enough to get the attention of Lovecraft’s own publishers, Arkham House.

Born in Liverpool, Ramsey has taken the mundane and the urban and invoked a world in which dark things happen to ordinary people. Many of these tales of ‘lingering disquiet’ as he calls them, take place in the fictional town of Brichester where the macabre hangs in the air like an invisible shroud enveloping everything within it. I would love to see these stories gathered together and turned into a television series.

He has won many Bram Stoker and World Fantasy Awards for his work. Some of his best known novels include: The Doll Who Ate His Mother, The Parasite, Ancient Images and The Influence. Ramsey has edited a number of notable anthologies such as Demons by Daylight, Dark Feasts and Scared Stiff.

I met Ramsey Campbell this year at the World Horror Con in New Orleans and was lucky enough to get a video interview with him. He is an absolutely delightful man, generous with his time and knowledgeable and passionate about the fictional worlds of horror that hold us all enthralled. Our conversation covered many aspects of Ramsey’s life and work and I’ve divided the interview into two parts. In part one he talks about his early inspirations, Rupert the Bear, Weird Tales magazine, H. P. Lovecraft and M. R. James. You’ll also find some wonderful book recommendations and learn about a story that was too horrific to be included in a UK anthology he edited.  Thank you Ramsey.

You can also find out more about Ramsey Campbell and his writing at his website:

http://www.ramseycampbell.com/

Music: Dragon and Toast By Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)