Did you aspire to be a writer before you began ‘The Vampire of Siam’?

As you are probably aware, I’ve had a long career as a production designer in movies and television. (I just finished designing “Bangkok Dangerous,” a remake directed by the Pang Brothers and starring Nicolas Cage.) In film, the script is your ‘bible’ and I know whether a script is good or crap.  So I started writing screenplays about 15 years ago. I wrote a story for “China Beach” and “Under Cover” – two TV shows that I designed. I also had a couple “spec” scripts optioned, but never filmed. In 1997 I completed my first novel – “Yankee Dragon,” set in Japan. This was shown to Asia Books and an editor there encouraged me to write something set in Thailand. I had also been told numerous times in Hollywood to write a horror film. So a Vampire in Thailand seemed a natural.

Ramonne seems to become a lot more likeable in the second and third book. Did you soften him intentionally to make him a suitable protagonist for a franchise?

No. He just evolved. He spent over 140 years as a solitary hunter. Alone. His friendship with Martin enlightened him. In the second book his quest for knowledge makes him more complex. In the third book he attempts to redeem himself.

Your knowledge of Bangkok and Thai society / culture is obvious throughout the books. Where does your interest for Thailand come from?

Twenty years ago I came here for the first time. I fell in love with a lady (we married three years later – since divorced) and she taught me to love the country, its culture and its people.

Could these stories, especially the first two books, be told anyplace else?

I suppose so. Every country has its own version of the vampire legend. But I think that what makes my tales unique is the sense of place – Bangkok in particular – that is imparted to the reader.

The second and third novel touch on a lot of political and social issues that seem very important to you. Do you think horror fiction is a fitting medium for that? Could you imagine writing a socially conscious novel without supernatural elements?

A horror novel is the perfect medium to express your political views. You get to entertain and preach without being boring. The first draft of the first book had some ‘disturbing’ political comments that the editors at Asia Books asked me to change. I did. But I’ve had more control with the last 2 books and I got my bite back. As far as writing something socially conscious outside the horror milieu, I’ve just finished a black comedy set in Hollywood in the seventies. It is a tale of the dangers of crossing over to the dark side of drugs and sex.  

What do you make of last year’s coup d’état in Thailand?

It’s a shame. They should have waited and voted Thaksin out. It makes Thailand look foolish – and dangerous. Funny. When we were making the movie, we didn’t want to go to the airport to pick up cast and crew with a placard reading “Bangkok Dangerous” – fearing we would freak people out, so we shot under an assumed title.

Is Martin Larue based on somebody you know? Or are any of the other characters?

Martin Larue is based on a very dear friend of mine in Bangkok. The whole expat community is in on the joke, and he actually quite enjoys it. Other characters have surnames from dear old friends. That’s about it.

Do you get any feedback from native Thais on your books? Who mostly reads your novels?

My books are published in English only so the Thais who do read it are few and far between. But they compliment me and tell me that it should be translated into Thai as the Thais would like it. I’d also like to see them translated into German, by the way. My books are read by tourists mainly. I refer to them as good beach reads and I’m very happy when I find sunburnt copies in the lending libraries of beach resorts.

Do you follow native Thai literature? If so, any thoughts, recommendations etc.?

Not native Thai literature per say. I’m aware of Somtow and I’ve read and enjoyed one of his books. I attended the Sea Write awards this year and he was the keynote speaker and he was excellent. I am greatly influenced by Christopher Moore. His books were the first ones I read fifteen years ago when I was getting serious about Thailand. I also enjoy fiction by my other expat friends Jerry Hopkins and John Hoskin.

Are you aware that vampire novels these days are mostly romance novels aimed at female readers? What are your thoughts on that?

No. I’m not. When I was starting the first vampire book, I read everything I could. I watched every vampire film. I made my list of my vampire’s rules – don’t go in the sun, sleep in a coffin, but forget about garlic and crosses. Etc. Since then I haven’t seen a vampire film or read a vampire book, for fear of being influenced.

Just curious: ‘Ramonne’ starts with a quote from Warren Zevon. I’m a huge Zevon fan, yet I never knew what Trader Vic's was before I’ve been to one in Bangkok recently. Is that a household name in Thailand?

Trader Vic’s that Warren refers to is in Beverly Hills. Jack Nicholson was known to hang out there. I always think of Ramonne as being Jack. When I do my readings, I channel up Jack and use his voice for Ramonne. It works perfectly. 

There are pages from a Ramonne graphic novel on your website. Will there be more?

I hope so. I did that as a sample. The website, by the way, is undergoing a new design and will soon be brought up to date. Sorry for the delay.

How is the film version progressing?

Frustrating. The rights are owned by Nu Image/Millenium Pictures. They have had them for over a year. They are fully funded. All they need is a director and a star. But I keep telling my manager that until someone at that company goes to work every day and sits in an office determined to get the film made – it won’t happen.

The books seem to be only available in Thailand. Have you approached international publishers?

Not individual publishers. Book agents. It has recently been packaged as a 700 plus page historical novel : ”Sympathy For The Devil” (the name of the screenplay.) This may be the way to go with an international audience.

On your website you mention an ‘Elephant Painting Calendar’. Can you tell us something about that?

My friend Richard Lair runs the Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang – northern Thailand. He invited me to be an artist in residence one day and work with his elephant painters. It was a brilliant experience. You get to choose the color paint the elephant uses, but he/she makes whatever strokes they want . And they each have their own unique style. I told Richard that we needed to do a calendar of the ‘best of the best.’ We did. Pomegranate Press published it, and we raised money for the Elephant Center. This year we are staging a huge travelling museum show in the U.S.  

Do you intend to write more fiction? If so, what can we expect?