AUTHOR INTERVIEW : KEVIN RODGERS
29/4/2014
 THE MASK OF BEELZEBUB Kevin Rodgers was born in Huntsville, Alabama on January 17, 1972. At the age of six, he wrote a series of short stories after his mother allowed him to use her typewriter. His family relocated to Greensboro, North Carolina in 1984, where he penned longer stories. In 1986, he moved to Orlando, Florida with his family, which is where he resides today. He enjoys reading fiction in the fantasy, horror, and science-fiction genres. Over the last three years, several of his short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies. Stories such as Stargazers, Claustrophobia, Hellhound, and Citadel of the New Moon appeared in magazines from Pro Se Press. Stories such as The Scent of Jasmine and Evicted Tenants appeared in anthologies from James Ward Kirk Publishing. Pro Se Press published his first novel, CADAVER ISLAND, in March 2013. Pro Se Press recently published CADAVER ISLAND’s sequel, THE MASK OF BEELZEBUB. He is currently working on several projects. His first short story collection, CHAOS AND DOOM, will be published in August 2014 by Pro Se Press. He is writing a novel based on his previously published story, Citadel of the New Moon, which will be called THE EMPEROR OF NIBIRU. He is also writing the final book of the CADAVER ISLAND trilogy, which will be called THE PLAGUE OF CORRUPTION. Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself? I was born in Huntsville, Alabama on January 17, 1972. My family lived in Greensboro North Carolina from 1984 to 1986. We relocated to Orlando, Florida, which is where I live today. Eleven of my short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies since October 2010. My first novel, CADAVER ISLAND, was published in March 2013. The sequel of CADAVER ISLAND, which is called THE MASK OF BEELZEBUB, was released in March 2014. My first short story collection, CHAOS AND DOOM, will be published by Pro Se Press in August 2014. Do you prefer the term Horror, Weird Fiction or Dark Fiction? Honestly, I like the term dark fiction. It encompasses the entire spectrum of the genre: psychological fear, dark fantasy, and nail-biting suspense. Who are some of your favourite authors? I enjoy reading novels by Joe Hill (Heart-Shaped Box), Justin Cronin (The Passage), and Stephen King. What is your all-time favourite horror novel, and film? Desperation by Stephen King comes to mind when I think of my favorite horror novel. I was truly frightened by the overwhelming violence and eerie atmosphere of the book. I’ve read it six times and always want to go back for more. My favorite horror movie is Steven Spielberg’s Poltergeist. I still have nightmares about skeletons floating in the swimming pool and coffins emerging from the front yard. If you could erase one horror cliché what would be your choice? I find it very annoying when a character asks “Is anyone here?” and explores a building alone after horrible events have occurred and there is still an overwhelming sense of danger. Which fictional character would be you perfect neighbour, and who would be your nightmare neighbour? It would be cool to have FBI Agent Mulder (from The X-Files) as a neighbor. It would be interesting to talk to him about why he believes aliens have infiltrated our society and why he is so fascinated with paranormal activity. My nightmare neighbor would have to be Annie Wilkes, the insane nurse, who appeared in Stephen King’s Misery. What do you think of the current state of the genre? I think the horror genre is strong right now. I’ve noticed a trend with post-apocalyptic settings and end-of-the-world themes. What was the last great book you read, and what was the last book that disappointed you? The Passage by Justin Cronin is an amazing novel. It has everything that I enjoy in a novel: a government experiment that causes the end of the world, blood-thirsty vampires, and a post-apocalyptic world full of mystery and danger. Its sequel, The Twelve, was equally satisfying and I’m looking forward to the final book of Mr. Cronin’s trilogy. I haven’t read any books lately that have disappointed me. All of them have been great. How would you describe your writing style? I write fast-paced stories and novels, which combine elements of horror and dark fantasy. Are there any reviews of your work, positive or negative that have stayed with you? Aaron Smith (author of Chicago Fell First and Nobody Dies for Free) penned a review about CADAVER ISLAND on Amazon. He described my debut novel as a mix of L. Frank Baum (The Wizard of Oz) and H.R. Geiger. He said the style reminded him of Stephen King with a Lovecraftian influence. I was honored by his review and grateful for his kind words. What’s your favourite food? I love Thai food and sushi. Who would be on the soundtrack to your life story? “Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode. What’s the most important lesson you have learned about writing? I’ve learned that a writer must persevere and overcome writer’s block. It helps to read a book, listen to music, and spent time outdoors. Writer’s block is an obstacle that can be overcome by determination and relaxation. What aspects of writing to do you find the most difficult? I am easily distracted while I am writing. It’s a challenge to find a quiet place where I can focus on my work. How do you think you’ve evolved creatively? I’ve improved my ability to handle multiple story arcs and subplots. In the beginning, I struggled with story flow and switching scenes. I believe those problems were solved while I was writing CADAVER ISLAND and THE MASK OF BEELZEBUB. What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers? I would recommend a couple of books: On Writing by Stephen King; The Art of Fiction by John Gardner; and Writing the Novel by Lawrence Block. All three of those books have helped me. What is the best piece of advice you ever received from another author? One of my friends, Nancy Hansen, edited my short story, Stargazers, for a Pro Se Press magazine a couple of years ago. Nancy noticed a scene in the story that broke up the momentum and flow of the overall action. I took her advice and introduced new elements to the scene, which made it scarier and more interesting. It’s always a positive thing to have a good editor on your side! Who is your favourite character from your book and why? My favorite character from CADAVER ISLAND would have to be Reverend Stark. He is an unstoppable wraith who roams the countryside on a Roman-style chariot. He spreads the plague to villagers by unleashing a horde of rodents. I explain his background and motivations in more detail in the final book of the CADAVER ISLAND trilogy, which will be called THE PLAGUE OF CORRUPTION. How about your least favourite character? What makes them less appealing to you? I like all of my characters! However, if I was forced to select one that I dislike, it would have to be CADAVER ISLAND’s antagonist, Sir Xavier Thames. He is consumed with hatred and corruption. He is very easy to hate. Fame, fortune, or respect? Respect is the most important thing for me. I want my peers and my readers to enjoy my work. Hopefully people will read my novels and short stories after I am gone. What piece of your own work are you most proud of? I’m very proud of my short story, Hellhound, which was published in a collection called “Fantasy and Fear 2” by Pro Se Press in October 2010. I believe it’s still available on LuLu.com. Hellhound will be included in my upcoming short story collection, CHAOS AND DOOM, which will be released in August 2014. And are there any that you would like to forget about? One of my short stories, Energy Siphon, was published in a magazine by Pro Se Press in 2013. I should’ve spent more time on it. I rushed through it and submitted it too soon. For those who haven’t read any of you books, what book of yours do you think best represents your work and why? My debut novel, CADAVER ISLAND, is the book that best represents my work. It combines my admiration for dark fantasy, horror, and science-fiction. I enjoy writing fast-paced tales, and I believe CADAVER ISLAND maintains a quick pace from beginning to end. Can you tell us about your last book, and can you tell us about what you are working on next? THE MASK OF BEELZEBUB, which is the second book of the CADAVER ISLAND trilogy, was published in March 2014. I’ve completed my first short story collection, CHAOS AND DOOM, which is scheduled to be published by Pro Se Press in August 2014. I’m working on the final book of the CADAVER ISLAND trilogy, THE PLAGUE OF CORRUPTION, which should be finished and ready to submit in July 2014. What's the one question you wish you would get asked but never do? I wish another writer would ask me to collaborate with him/her on a project. I’ve always wanted to share pages with another author. Follow the links below for more information on Kevin and his booksCADAVER ISLAND  CADAVER ISLAND Pro Se Productions Proudly Presents CADAVER ISLAND, the debut novel from Author Kevin Rodgers! In the year 2212, long after the world has been reshaped by seismic cataclysms and polar shifts, Princess Angelique Bosc recovers from a terrible Hovercraft accident, which left her injured and near death. Her friend and physician, Dr. Laurent Stine, used his skills as a robotics engineer to replace her damaged organs with android components. Angelique realizes that her mechanical heart will require a fresh battery pack within 48 hours. However, a loathed and exiled warlock, Xavier Thames, steals all of the battery packs and transports them to his castle, Thames Keep, in order to build a time machine. Angelique, Dr. Stine, and their allies are forced to embark on a long, perilous journey to Thames Keep located on Cadaver Island. Can they reach Thames Keep and replace Angelique's battery pack before she goes into cardiac arrest? Cadaver Island is the first installment of a trilogy by Author Kevin Rodgers, who introduces readers to a fractured, ruined world where forgotten, legendary creatures live and thrive in towering mountains, magical forests, and barren deserts. Angelique Bosc and her allies will traverse harsh, nightmarish landscapes to discover the secrets of the past, stabilize events in the present day, and unlock the mysteries of the future. Featuring stunning artwork by Adrianne Soares of Fitztown and mindblowing design and format by Sean Ali, Cadaver Island is a mind blowing futuristic horror thriller guaranteed to chill and amaze! From Pro Se Productions, a leader in Genre and New Pulp Fiction! PURCHASE CADAVER ISLAND HERE THE HORROR WEBSITEComments are closed.
|
Archives
May 2023
|
RSS Feed
|
|