FIVE MINUTES WITH AUTHOR MICHAEL J MOORE

 Could you tell the readers a bit about yourself?

When I discovered I was a writer, I became instantly obsessed. I was twenty-nine. I didn't start submitting my work until three years later. That was the beginning of last year. I've since landed two book deals through different publishers, one of which will be released next week, the other sometime this year. One of my books was adapted into a play, and will be performed in Seattle this summer. Two plays I wrote were produced last year, and I've had multiple short stories published.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I grew up in a small town about an hour north of Seattle. Since I was young, I've always had a strange infatuation with big cities though. I really enjoy traveling and admiring the different architectural layouts of cities I haven't been to.

Other than the horror genre, what else has been a major influence on your writing?

Moods. Emotions. Reflections. It all pretty much stems from internal experiences that I've done my best to recreate through stories.

The term horror... What’s your feeling on.it and what can we do to break past these assumptions?

I've had people look at me funny when I tell them I write horror. Some have even laughed. I don't let it bother me when people refuse to take the genre seriously. If they miss out on a good story because of incorrect assumptions, it's their loss. The bottom line is good writing is good writing, regardless of genre or even topic. A well written story should provide emotional payoff, and not just fear. With horror, fear is merely the vehicle that gets us there. There's always going to be the stigma that scary stories are nothing more than excuses to glorify gratuitous violence and gore. I don't think we need to reprogram the way people think though. Just keep writing what we want to write, and let them read what they want to read. The pieces will fall into place on their own. There will always be an audience, just like there will always be critics.

A lot of good horror movements have arisen... Where do you see horror going in the next few years?

The social issues haven't changed. Throughout history, they've always been the same--racism, classism, poverty, corrupt politicians, etc.--they've only manifested in different ways at different times. There will always be stories that hinge on the gloomy potential consequences of these things. And a lot of it has, and will continue to be great fiction. A lot of recent horror, however, has been influenced more by style than social climate. Writers are trying to offer situations and monsters that haven't been used before. I think we can expect to continue to be surprised.

What are the books and films that have helped define you as an author?

From the time I was old enough to enjoy television, I was watching old scary movies with my Mom. I would save every penny I found until I had a dollar to rent a VHS from the horror section. I remember one time when I was ten or eleven, my mom pulled Sleep Away Camp off of the rack and said, "Michael, you have to watch this one. You'll love it." I fell in love with RL Stine as soon as I learned to read. One day I found a box of dusty Stephen King and VC Andrew books in the closet. I tore through “The Shining” in three days when I was eight. Regretfully, I didn't subject myself to the traumatization caused by Flowers in the Attic until twenty years later.

What new and upcoming authors do you think we should take notice of?

Tom Richey.

How would you describe your writing style?

I like to approach social issues without beating you over the head with them. My style is meant to take you for a fun ride, not tell you how or what to think.

Are there any reviews of your work, positive or negative, that have stayed with you?

Recently the guitar player for My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult wrote in a blurb that he was patiently strumming his guitar, waiting for one of my sequels to be released. I thought it was pretty awesome, since that band was not only on the soundtrack, but appeared on The Crow. That was my favorite movie as a Kid.

What aspects of writing do you find most difficult?

It's funny, because my favorite parts of the book, tend to be the most difficult to write. Dialogue has always come naturally to me. Description is simple enough. I never have to put much thought into pacing. It's the action scenes, particularly, the big climax, which I have to write very slowly and carefully. There's a certain degree of anxiety that comes with writing these scenes. I've put a lot of work into building the tension and the thought of disappointing anybody who's taken the time to make the journey with my characters and I, is terrifying.

Is there one subject you would never write about?

No.

How important are names? Do you choose names because...?

Good fiction paints a picture of a believable world that readers can relate to. In the real world, names are usually given before we know anything about a person and who they will grow up to be. It's a cheap gimmick to give forgettable names to disposable characters, or sinister sounding names to antagonists. Of course there are exceptions to everything, one being nicknames. You still have to be careful, though, because even the bad guy is the protagonist in his own story. I could never in good conscience give my characters names that reveal their personalities and attempt to pass it off as realism.

How have you developed as a writer over the years?

Somehow, I've gotten much faster. It took me three months to write the first draft of my first novel, which came out to be roughly 225 pages. These days, I write about 300 plus pages a month, and as it should with everybody, the quality of writing continues to grow.

What tools are must-haves for writers?

A sense of style. A clearly recognizable voice. Something that readers can connect with and become attached to. Good dialogue breathes life into characters. It makes them real. Too often, especially in literary fiction, we read long conversations that consist of short, one-to-two sentence exchanges between characters who all sound the same. This isn't how people talk. Listen to the people around you. Learn speaking patterns and use them.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received with regards to your writing?

Revise, edit, proofread, and revise again.

Getting your work noticed... how have you tried to approach this subject?

Publishing anywhere I can, whether it pays or not. Building a resume is the most important thing a writer can do in the beginning.

To many writers your characters are like children. Who is your favorite and least favorite and why?

Jazmin Gutierrez, from my forthcoming Ninja Girl series, is my favorite. If I told you too much about her, it would ruin the story. Book One is set to be released this year. Jazmin doesn't show up until Book Two. I really enjoyed getting to know her through the writing process though. I think my least favorite was Carol Estes, the psychotic ex-preacher/cannibal in After the Change. She was a horrible character who I tried hard to like. She just wouldn't give me a reason to.

What piece of your own work are you most proud of?

After the Change.

Are there any you would like to forget?

I have a binding agreement with my trash, not to discuss the many stories I've fed it.

For those who haven't read...which book best represents your work and why?

After the Change. I write young adult fiction and I write horror. This book is a mixture of both.

Do you have a favorite line from one of your books?

"The hanged man in the gallows keeps the entire world at balance."

Can you tell us about your last book and what you're working on now?

After the Change, is my debut novel about a group of three teenagers surviving the Zombie Apocalypse together. They eventually decide to come out of hiding and search for survivors in order to colonize a local prison. It's written from the perspective of fifteen year old Diego Conner, an intelligent boy who often has to be the voice of reason to his two best friends, Sheena and Wes. On the way to Snohomish Correctional Complex, they find what they're looking for, along with more trouble than they're prepared to deal with. I'm working on this series side by side with my Ninja Girl series.

If you could erase one horror cliche...?

"The stuff nightmares are made of." It's backwards. Nightmares are the stuff horror stories are made of.

Last great book, last disappointing book.

Joyland, By Stephen King is an amazingly smooth read. I recently re-read it, and it was just as good as the first time around. As for disappointing, The Road, by Cormack McCarthy. It was highly recommended, but I just couldn't get into it.

What's the one question you wish you would get asked, but never do?

Can I buy you a drink?

MICHAEL J MOORE

Michael has worked as a personal trainer in Seattle, Washington.  His spare time is spent searching the darkest corners of his mind for whatever horrors, oddities or fascinations have found their way in, begging expression in his unique literary voice.ave worked as a personal trainer in the Seat

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For more info and to follow Michael on social media please follow the links below 
https://michaeljmoorewriti.wixsite.com/website
https://www.facebook.com/michaeljmoorewriting

AFTER THE CHANGE 

Diego Conner was at school when his world changed. As soon as his classmates started killing each other, he ran. Then, when he got home, his parents tried to eat him. They weren’t zombies though. They were alive and could be killed like any other living thing. He chose to simply call them “the changed”.The only people he knew who didn’t turn were his friends, Sheena and Wes. With their families gone, the fifteen year olds are forced to look out for each another, constantly moving and hiding in the shadows. Eventually, though, they decided to search for survivors and colonize a local prison. Along the way, they quickly learn that the brainless, flesh-eating monsters that roam the streets are the least of their worries after the change.

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