If you’re anything like me, you’re simultaneously addicted to and repulsed by fast food. Every time I drive by the golden arches, the smiling redhead, the crowned burger, the friendly colonel, the big bell, the...what was I talking about? And why is there drool on my lower lip? Oh, yes, as I was saying, every time I drive by a fast food joint my stomach tries to get me to pull in. But every time I give in and wolf down a burger and fries, I instantly regret it. It’s nasty stuff, fast food, and that’s why the idea of a book of fast food horror stories seemed so...delicious.

A few years back a new small press announced itself to the world by opening a call for submissions for six horror anthologies. Only one book saw the light of day before the press collapsed and released all of the accepted stories. One of the doomed projects was to be called Fast Food Frenzies. Once they closed their doors I saw some of the contributors on message boards and blogs wondering if they could produce and release the book themselves. I hated seeing all of these talented artists get burned, so my wife, Colleen Morris, and I decided to take up the reins and salvage what we could of some of the previously accepted stories while opening up a call for submissions for new material.

2. In addition to being an editor, you're also a writer. Does being a writer have any impact on the way you view and respond to submissions?

Absolutely. I’ll admit that before I co-edited the book I had occasionally felt that editors were out to get writers, they secretly took great pleasure in rejecting stories, and there was a weekly meeting where editors would gather to drink goblets of blood and ridicule submissions. This is completely untrue. The goblets are filled with tomato juice, so we can all just pretend it’s blood.

Seriously though, having been on the receiving end of rejections many, many times, I made it a goal to treat each and every writer with the utmost respect. I know all too well the pain of reading that “although well written, your story isn’t what we’re looking for right now.” I struck up a conversation with some of the writers who had stories rejected for Fried!, and am happy to have made some new friends with similar interests from the process.

3. Your website lists several publication credits that show your versatility as a writer. It seems you've written horror, science fiction, and what looks to be a children's story. Do you think fans of your work in one genre will enjoy your work in other genres? Besides horror, what other types of books do you read that might surprise your horror audience?

I think for many readers the most important element is not whether or not a book has monsters or spaceships or wizards or shirtless Fabio look-alikes, but whether or not it’s a good story well told. Great writing will shine through any genre. I hope that my stories and novels will appeal to readers with a variety of literary tastes.

I just finished Schulz and Peanuts, a biography about the creator of Charlie Brown and Snoopy. I’m tempted to call it a horror, because sometimes it’s better to not know too much about the artists behind the art. I also read just about every new picture book that comes into the library I work in, and my wife once forced me into reading Confessions of a Shopaholic. The real horror was that it wasn’t all that bad.

4. You've got a novel out from Lachesis Publishing called Frozen Blood. What can you tell us about it?

I’m currently in the process of final edits for it with Louise Bohmer, the Editor-in-Chief of Lachesis. It’s due to be published in summer 2008, which is the perfect time of year to read a book (perhaps on a sunny beach) about an ice age causing the end of the world, if you ask me. Here’s a summary:

As Tara Stewart drives through the pitch-black night from Charlotte to Ottawa, she’s haunted by the ghosts of her past. Summoned to her abusive father’s funeral, she hasn’t been home or spoken to her family in years. The last place she wants to be is in the company of her vindictive twin sister, Evelyn, and her dubious brother-in-law, Peter. But that’s exactly where she’s heading.

And then the hail begins to fall.

Barely making it home alive, Tara falls on the icy driveway and is pulled inside by Evelyn as she loses consciousness. She awakes the next morning with a pounding headache and a swollen knee.

Outside, the hailstorm is still raging. Reports on the news suggest that it is a worldwide catastrophe.

Now prisoners in their own home, the three estranged family members must try to survive the worst storm in modern history. But as Tara soon discovers, her family—and the house itself—seem hell-bent on her destruction.

And the hailstorm shows no signs of dying anytime soon.

5. Do you have any plans to continue editing? If so, what's your next project?

Editing Fried! Fast Food, Slow Deaths was a hair loss-inducing event, so yes, I absolutely can’t wait to do it again! Colleen and I have been bouncing ideas back and forth and have just begun approaching publishers. It might be a while yet before guidelines are posted, but as long as I have hair to lose I’ll definitely edit another collection.

6. According to your website you are a librarian. As someone who encounters a wide variety of books, are you ever surprised by the quality of fiction that actually sees print? What is the most overrated book you've come across?

Whereas I do feel that not every book is created equal, it goes against my profession to disparage any particular book or author. One of the golden rules of librarianship is to encourage reading, no matter what the patron wants to read. Having said that, I’d recommend that everyone avoid Eragon like the plague. Great story behind the book, dreadful book.

7. What is your favorite short story and why?

There are so many, but “Grimble,” by Clement Freud springs to mind. It was published in—are you ready for this title?—Noisy Outlaws, Unfriendly Blobs, and Some Other Things That Aren't as Scary, Maybe, Depending on How You Feel About Lost Lands, Stray Cellphones, Creatures from the Sky, Parents Who Disappear in Peru, a Man Named Lars Farf, and One Other Story We Couldn't Quite Finish, So Maybe You Could Help Us Out, published by McSweeney’s. Did I just waste all my allotted space writing that title? Dang. I guess you’ll have to go get a copy of the book to see why I liked “Grimble” so much. That’s more fun, anyway.

8. Any parting thoughts?

We have an expression in Canada that goes “Remember, always keep your stick on the ice, and don’t pull your goalie.” I’m not really sure what that means, but I’m Canadian, and it sounds like a closing sentiment, so that’s what I’m going with.

Oh, and thanks for having me, Jason. It’s been fun! I can be reached at my website, www.joelasutherland.com, or my blog, http://joelasutherland.livejournal.com/