{"id":26053,"date":"2019-06-07T09:30:28","date_gmt":"2019-06-07T13:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/?p=26053"},"modified":"2019-06-07T09:30:28","modified_gmt":"2019-06-07T13:30:28","slug":"bite-into-what-usa-today-dubbed-the-best-burger-in-michigan-with-award-winning-horror-writer-john-r-little","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/2019\/06\/07\/bite-into-what-usa-today-dubbed-the-best-burger-in-michigan-with-award-winning-horror-writer-john-r-little\/","title":{"rendered":"Bite into what <em>USA Today<\/em> dubbed the best burger in Michigan with award-winning horror writer John R. Little"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The first episode of Eating the Fantastic to be recorded during this year&#8217;s StokerCon &#8212; but not the first to be shared with you, as I uploaded Saturday&#8217;s late-night <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/2019\/05\/14\/dare-to-eat-donuts-with-a-dozen-horrific-creators-during-the-stokercon-donut-spooktacular\/\">StokerCon Donut Spooktacular<\/a> immediately upon returning home &#8212; was lunch with<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.johnrlittle.com\">John R. Little<\/a>  at <a href=\"https:\/\/cottagebar.biz\">The Cottage Bar &#038; Restaurant<\/a>, a local institution  which has been around since 1927.<\/p>\n<p><em>USA Today<\/em> says they serve the best burger in Michigan. But what did John and I think of it? Well, for that, you&#8217;ll have to give this episode a listen.<\/p>\n<p>John&#8217;s a four-time finalist for the Bram Stoker Award, starting back with his first novel, <em>The Memory Tree<\/em>, in 2008. He won the following year in the category of Long Fiction for &#8220;Miranda,&#8221; for which he also won a Black Quill Award. His short fiction has been published in <em>Cavalier<\/em> (his first, in 1983), <em>Twilight Zone<\/em>, <em>Weird Tales<\/em>, <em>Dark Discoveries<\/em>, and other magazines, plus anthologies such as <em>You, Human<\/em> and<em> Haunted Nights<\/em>. His most recent novel is <em>The Murder of Jesus Christ<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/JohnRLittleEatingtheFantastic.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/JohnRLittleEatingtheFantastic-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-26054\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/JohnRLittleEatingtheFantastic-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/JohnRLittleEatingtheFantastic-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/JohnRLittleEatingtheFantastic-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/JohnRLittleEatingtheFantastic-1024x1024.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We discussed how seeing his sister&#8217;s portable typewriter for the first time changed his life forever, the way he launched his career by following in Stephen King&#8217;s men&#8217;s magazine footsteps, why he&#8217;s so fascinated by time and how he manages to come up with new ways of writing about that concept, which writer&#8217;s career he wanted when he grew up and how buying a copy of <em>Carrie<\/em> changed that, the reason a science major has ended up mostly writing horror, the most important thing he learned from a night school&#8217;s creative writing course, which of his new novel&#8217;s controversial aspects concerned him the most during creation, and much more.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/eatingthefantastic\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/PatreonWidget2-300x59.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"59\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-23795\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/PatreonWidget2-300x59.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/PatreonWidget2.jpg 522w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s how you can eavesdrop on our conversation at The Cottage Bar &#038; Restaurant  &#8212;<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>1) Subscribe at  <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/eating-the-fantastic\/id1083737796\">the iTunes store<\/a> &#8212;  where I hope you&#8217;ll be tempted to download some  of the 96 previous episodes.<\/p>\n<p>2) Listen using the RSS feed of <a href=\"http:\/\/eatingthefantastic.libsyn.com\/rss\">http:\/\/eatingthefantastic.libsyn.com\/rss<\/a> on the device of your choice.<\/p>\n<p>3) Or check it out via the embed below.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/10086470\/height\/240\/theme\/legacy\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/backward\/\" height=\"240\" width=\"100%\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s what we shared as we spoke  &#8212;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Fried Pickles<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/FriedPicklesCottageBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/FriedPicklesCottageBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-26055\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/FriedPicklesCottageBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/FriedPicklesCottageBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/FriedPicklesCottageBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/FriedPicklesCottageBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic-1024x1024.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Cottage Burger<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>dark rye bun, green olives, lettuce, tomato, bacon,<br \/>\nswiss and american cheeses, hickory mayonnaise<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CottageBurgerEatingtheFantastic.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CottageBurgerEatingtheFantastic-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-26056\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CottageBurgerEatingtheFantastic-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CottageBurgerEatingtheFantastic-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CottageBurgerEatingtheFantastic-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CottageBurgerEatingtheFantastic-1024x1024.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Cottage Fries<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CottageFriesCottageBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CottageFriesCottageBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-26057\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CottageFriesCottageBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CottageFriesCottageBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CottageFriesCottageBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CottageFriesCottageBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic-1024x1024.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Carrot Cake<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CarrotCakeCottageBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CarrotCakeCottageBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-26058\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CarrotCakeCottageBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CarrotCakeCottageBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CarrotCakeCottageBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CarrotCakeCottageBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic-1024x1024.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Caramel Apple Pie<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CaramelApplePieCottgeBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CaramelApplePieCottgeBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-26059\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CaramelApplePieCottgeBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CaramelApplePieCottgeBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CaramelApplePieCottgeBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/CaramelApplePieCottgeBarandRestaurantEatingtheFantastic-1024x1024.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>If you enjoyed this episode and want to support my mission of breaking bread with creators of the fantastic while letting you listen in, there are several ways you can help bring this podcast to the attention of potential new listeners looking for science fiction, fantasy, horror, and comics ear candy &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>One is to <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/eating-the-fantastic\/id1083737796\">rate Eating the Fantastic on iTunes<\/a>  and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/eatingthefantastic\/?fref=ts\">like it on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Also &#8212; you could tell your friends about the show  by sending them a link to your favorite episode and letting them know what I\u2019m doing here.<\/p>\n<p>Finally  &#8212; because of Eating the Fantastic\u2019s unique niche &#8212; that is, on-the-road restaurant interviews \u2014 there are expenses beyond the usual ones for  studio-based podcasts.  I sometimes use ride-sharing services to carry me and my guests from convention centers to restaurants and back, or I gas up to drive them myself \u2014 and then there\u2019s that food I used to entice those guests to wander off and share of themselves with you, food which loosens their tongues, relaxes them, and  &#8212; counterintuitively, because we are after all out in public surrounded by other diners  &#8212; results a much more intimate environment than if we were alone together in a sterile studio.<\/p>\n<p>So I hope you\u2019ll consider becoming a supporter of the show, and help fund this mission of mine.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\nYou could make a small recurring monthly donation over at  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/eatingthefantastic\">Patreon<\/a>, where there are various perks involved depending on your level of support, such as access to a patrons-only blog, getting a shout-out on the show, stickers, postcards, and more.<\/p>\n<p>Or if an ongoing level of commitment\u2019s not for you, or if Patreon\u2019s just not your thing, then consider tossing a couple of bucks in the tip jar instead and making a one-time donation of any size via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.me\/eatingthefantastic\">Paypal.me<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Or you could head on over to <a href=\"https:\/\/ko-fi.com\/eatingthefantastic\">https:\/\/ko-fi.com\/eatingthefantastic<\/a> and send me the funds to cover the cost of a cup of coffee.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>I hope you&#8217;ll come back in two weeks when my guest will  be Kathe Koja, whose mind-bending 1991 debut novel <em>The Cipher<\/em>, for which she won a Bram Stoker Award, had as much of an impact on horror as William Gibson&#8217;s first novel <em>Neuromancer<\/em> did on science fiction.   I hope you join us!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The first episode of Eating the Fantastic to be recorded during this year&#8217;s StokerCon &#8212; but not the first to be shared with you, as I uploaded Saturday&#8217;s late-night StokerCon Donut Spooktacular immediately upon returning home &#8212; was lunch with John R. Little at The Cottage Bar &#038; Restaurant, a local institution which has been [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[732,49,880,744],"class_list":["post-26053","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-eating-the-fantastic","tag-food","tag-john-r-little","tag-stokercon"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26053","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26053"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26053\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26112,"href":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26053\/revisions\/26112"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26053"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26053"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26053"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}