T.J. Vargo Interview

I recently had the opportunity to interview author T.J. Vargo about his new horror novel "Low Man" which is slated to be published by Leucrota Press in October. The novel focuses on how far one man would go for love with the eventual answer being into the very depths of Hell.

For those readers who aren't familiar with your latest novel "Low Man" could you give a synopsis of what the book is about? What aspect of the book do you think will most appeal to a mainstream reader?

T.J. Vargo: "Low Man" is the story of one night in the life of Benny, a family man struggling to make ends meet. Robbed at gunpoint while working the nightshift at a convenience store, Benny takes stock of his life; his factory job has been outsourced overseas, and his wife sits in an emergency room with his dying son. It’s at this low moment in his life that he discovers a gun under the store counter. Frustrated and wanting to somehow gain some control over his life, he grabs the gun and runs after the robber. One bullet later he sets off a chain of events that tests just how far he’s willing to go for the family he loves—even if it means walking straight through Hell to save them.

What appeals to me most about the book is the same thing I hope will catch a mainstream reader’s interest—the minute-by-minute urgency and emotion of the small family unit at the center of the story. Benny, his wife Lisa, and their baby son Michael, are average people. They’re almost invisible in their commonness—the kind of people I imagine you walk past everyday without giving a second glance. They’re not famous, or rich, or talented in any particular way, but they’re heroic in ways that are within our grasp. And when they’re put to the test, it’s interesting to see how they fight back, even though they don’t have the money or connections people might believe are necessary to win life’s battles. Love and sacrifice and redemption are powerful elements in "Low Man". I think they’re elements all readers can enjoy.

Where did the original idea for the novel come from? Did the story vary much from your original conception of it?

T.J. Vargo: I started this story knowing two things—the main protagonist, Benny, was going to start the story in the midst of fighting a seemingly insurmountable battle with life, and he was going to end the story fighting a terrifying battle with death. Because it was so loosely conceived, I concentrated on the development of the characters in the hope they could create and carry the story. So, although I can’t say the story varies much from the original concept, it’s certainly not what I envisioned when I began writing. The characters and situations evolved and directed the story to what seemed to me to be a foregone conclusion. As far as where the original idea came from, I think it came from a desire to explore how a person’s capacity for greatness can be revealed under the worst of circumstances.

There is some interesting social commentary in the novel, particularly about society's treatment and exploitation of the poor. I think the bureaucratic problems that Lisa encounters in the hospital are issues that just about every reader who has had to deal with doctors and medical insurance can relate to. What did you want the reader to come away with about the experience of being poor? Was part of your purpose in writing these scenes to enlighten readers to these issues?

T.J. Vargo: My goal with "Low Man" was to lay it out there as I see it in regards to the obstacles encountered by a family that is in the process of being devastated by job loss and health issues. Although the story is fictional, I presented the family’s problems as honestly as I could to convey the weight that’s hanging on these people. If a reader is impacted by the story enough to see it in the context of having social commentary, I think that’s a great thing, but I also believe it’s a very personal thing that is a product of that reader’s beliefs and world view. Now with all that said, I’ll go off the reservation for a moment to say I believe there are people rich in mind and spirit—people that could find a measure of financial security if the playing field was level—that are overwhelmed by systems put in place by people who are more interested in maintaining their money and position than they are in the common good. This is really what Benny is up against during the first half of the novel. But, as the story shows, there are good and bad people in all stations of life. In the end, I hope the reader understands that it doesn’t matter who has more money. What matters is who has more heart.

The last half of the novel has some interesting parallels to the Greek myth of Orpheus descending into the Underworld to bring back Eurydice. Were you inspired by this myth, or one of the many others that focus on a person traveling into the afterlife to rescue a loved one?

T.J. Vargo: Unless it was subconscious, which I’m sure is possible, I really didn’t look for inspiration from any of the fantastic examples of fiction that have gone down this road before. My original thought was to ratchet up the stakes throughout the course of the story until it reached the crescendo of Benny facing the ultimate challenge, death. The problem was I didn’t want to go over the top when it came to Benny having to enter the afterlife, or whatever you want to call it. In my mind, the novel’s strength is its emotion and grittiness, so I went to great pains to maintain a common feel throughout my writing—whether Benny was dealing with an environment in life or death. Concentrating on the horrifying or shocking aspects of the afterlife was something I tried my best to guard against. It would have, in my mind, lessened the emotional impact of the story and, ultimately, the reader’s experience. My hope is that I managed to place Benny and the reader into an afterlife that heightens the impact of the overall story without drawing too much attention to itself.

What one would do for love is an important theme in the novel, much like the Greek myth of Orpheus. What I find interesting is how this works so well in the horror genre. It's easy to go out to the grocery store and pick up something for your family, but that doesn't say a whole lot about the depth of one's love for them. On the other hand, what Benny goes through speaks volumes about his love. In the end, "Low Man" transforms from a horror novel into a poignant love letter. Why do you think "Low Man" is so effective in showing the depth of Benny's love for his family? Do you believe that readers will still be able to relate to Benny considering the supernatural aspects involved in the narrative?

T.J. Vargo: Love is at the core of Low Man, and I’m glad you want to talk about it in the context of this being a horror story. Everyone knows that on a basic level, horror heightens unpleasant feelings physically and emotionally. But on a higher emotional level, I thought horror could be very effective in heightening good feelings, such as love. In my mind, "Low Man" does this in ways that would have been impossible without the horror element. The reason it’s effective is that when Benny is faced with something that could bring a strong person to his or her knees, his love gives him the power to stay on his feet and act in ways that can only be called heroic. Even at the cost of what appears to be the loss of his soul, his love is a lifeline, showing itself as he pushes himself beyond his physical and emotional limits. I think readers will find that Benny’s love is fully realized because of "Low Man’s" supernatural element, not in spite of it. Any reader who’s watched over a sick child through the night, faced down hard times with a partner at their side, or hugged a loved one goodbye temporarily or forever, will recognize and understand the power of Benny’s love.

Who are some of the writers that inspire you? Are there any lessons you've learned from them that you were able to use in "Low Man"?

T.J. Vargo: I’m all over the place when it comes to writers I’m inspired by. As a kid I read everything I could get my hands on by Robert E. Howard. I wouldn’t say his writing style is anything I’m influenced by in a visible way, but there are certain stories by him I’ll never be able to shake, like “Pigeons From Hell.” Early Stephen King novels definitely had an impact on my writing, and his novel, “On Writing” is the best thing I’ve ever read when it comes to the nuts and bolts of writing fiction. A few crime writers have definitely made an impact on my style. Lee Child, Charlie Huston, Barry Eisler, and Marcus Sakey are in that group. Scott Smith, who wrote “A Simple Plan” and “The Ruins,” is fantastic. Cormac McCarthy is out of reach for me as far as style, but I can always dream. And the list goes on and on, but the lessons I’ve learned are to be blunt, honest, simple, straight-forward and to never, ever, let the reader take a breath. I took it a little too far with my first drafts of "Low Man". More than a few first readers told me they felt as if they were physically exhausted by the time they finished those first drafts, but I’d always rather slow a story down than try to figure out how to speed it up.

Are there any future projects we can anticipate that you can talk about now?

T.J. Vargo: One completed manuscript that needs a boatload of editing and revising and one idea that I know will be fantastic when I figure out the end are all I have right now. I wish I had one ready to go, but time is something I never seem to have enough of.

Any final comments you would like to leave with your readers?

T.J. Vargo: When I first began writing—and I’m embarrassed to say this—I wrote for myself, hoping for fame and fortune. That was an awful thing to do and I regret the time I wasted chasing that ghost. But, when I finally woke up and began to write for the readers out there, that’s when magic happened. All at once the characters and story seemed to fill with life. This novel, "Low Man", only exists because of the readers that have gone out of their way to take me by the hand and show me which way to go. "Low Man" is my payback to every reader out there. With this book I think I can finally say, “Here, now it’s time for you to take my hand. I have something to show you. Something I think you’ll really like.” I just hope I’m giving back to them as much as they’ve given to me.

Paul, thank you for the opportunity to discuss "Low Man" and my creative process. It’s been a real pleasure.

Thank you, T.J. for your insightful and candid answers.

I would like to thank T.J. Vargo for not only giving up his time, but also for the awesome interview, and I would also like to thank Leucrota Press for helping put the interview together.