Edward Lee is a legend in horror, and if you’ve read his stuff lately, you’ll know he’s only getting better. I had the amazing opportunity to meet and talk to Mr. Lee at Scares That Care 2 in Williamsburg this summer, and it was absolutely thrilling to realize that he and I have similar taste in fiction. We’re both influenced by Lovecraft, and we’re both (especially) huge fans of M.R. James.

I’m also, of course, a huge fan of Edward Lee’s work too.

Then he bought one of my books.

I haven’t talked about HOUSE OF SKIN on the blog for a while, mainly because I’ve been too busy blazing new trails. It was, after all, the first book I ever wrote (though the second to be published), so when Mr. Lee chose to purchase it, I was awfully nervous. I love the book, but despite the fact that The Library Journal called it “reminiscent of Peter Straub’s GHOST STORY and Shirley Jackson’s THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE,” I’m always a little overprotective of the tale. You know, first-time parent and all…

So when Mr. Lee emailed me and had this to say, I was beyond floored. I was basemented. Or catacombed. Or subterraneaned to the cosmic depths of Yog-Sothoth’s tenebrous lair.

“It’s the best of its kind I’ve read in years, such that I’d call it “The Quintessential Haunted House Novel.” You’ve taken the old school traditions of the form which readers want and then have injected modern style, characters, and macabre, hardedged mayhem into the guts of the story. THAT’S the way to do it, my friend!”

And yes, Mr. Lee gave me permission to share this.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go cartwheel around my writing room. And plan the M.R. James-inspired novel I’m soon going to write.