Chuck Tingle did a “reading” at the Internet Archive this week, and I had to write about it.
Chuck writes erotica, horror, and comedy books with titles like Space Raptor Butt Invasion and Pounded in the Butt by My Handsome Sentient Library Card Who Seems Otherworldly but in Reality Is Just a Natural Part of the Priceless Resources Our Library System Provides. I haven’t read any of his books yet, but I can’t help loving Tingle’s online personality.
The event was high-energy and packed with hilarious videos and images Chuck had produced. It felt more like a one-person comedy show than a traditional book reading. In fact, I don’t think he read a single page. Instead, he kept the audience laughing all night with interactive bits like “Monster Dating Game” and a contest to invent a new nickname for San Francisco. The winning entry, by the way, was “San Francisco: The City Of Discreet Hot Dog Dentists.”
He also shared his thoughts on generative AI.
When asked if the art on his covers was AI-generated, Chuck Tingle replies “If I want my bisexual Mothman erotica, by darn, it's going to be made by human hands.”
The biggest theme of the night was self-affirmation. Be yourself and embrace your inner weirdness.
If you ever get the chance to see Chuck Tingle, I highly recommend it. It was hilarious, surprisingly uplifting, and Tingle came across as an incredibly charming person.