 Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself? I’ve been a horror fan since a small boy watching late-night Saturday horror movies on television with my Dad. Teen years spent on Hammer Films. I’ve written a lot of horror-themed theater and poetry. Which one of your characters would you least like to meet in real life? All of my vampires, actually. They’ll drink you in a heartbeat! Other than the horror genre, what else has been a major influence on your writing? The Lost Generation of writers: Fitzgerald, Hemmingway, Stein, etc. The term horror, especially when applied to fiction always carries such heavy connotations. What’s your feeling on the term “horror” and what do you think we can do to break past these assumptions? That’s a tough one. I think because of the proliferation of bad horror movies, and torture porn disguised as horror, a lot of people shy away from anything labelled “horror.” Yet when I bring up 1930-1940 Universal Horror, and Hammer Horror those same people tell me how much they loved them. So when I say I’m a horror writer I mention those (which to me, is horror). A lot of good horror movements have arisen as a direct result of the socio/political climate, considering the current state of the world where do you see horror going in the next few years? Honestly? I have no idea! Given the dark, violent and at times grotesque nature of the horror genre why do you think so many people enjoy reading it? It’s a kind of catharsis, I think. It’s also fun! What, if anything, is currently missing from the horror genre? There’s a lot of good things going on in horror, both film and literature. You just have to dig for it. What new and upcoming authors do you think we should take notice off? Besides me? Seriously, I’ve not read any Grady Hendrix yet, but I hear he’s great. I read a novel by TJ Payne Intercepts and I really liked that. Are there any reviews of your work, positive or negative that have stayed with you? At the risk of sounding cocky, so far all of the revues I’ve been getting have been terrific. I’m still new enough at this game for all of them to still be with me. What aspects of writing to do you find the most difficult? Getting started. I write all my first drafts (plays, or novels) in long-hand, and I’ll stare at the blank page forever! Is there one subject you would never write about as an author? Politics. Writing, is not a static process, how have you developed as a writer over the years? Maturity brings a lot of lessons. Also, trial and error shapes one. I’ve learned to be very close-cropped with words (I’m also learning not to use words like “very” the way I just did!) What is the best piece of advice you ever received with regards to your writing? As cliché as it sounds: Keep writing. Which of your characters is your favourite? In Blood Ending one of the main characters is an alchemist, Praetorious Biederbeck. He is a haunted man who, despite his powers, is very much human and flawed in many unfortunate ways. There are two tragic characters in the novel, he is one of them. He discovers far too late what he has brought on himself and attempts, at the end of his life, to make the best of his terrible situation. Which of your books best represents you? Blood Ending is my first published novel, so I will have to go with that. Do you have a favorite line or passage from your work, and would you like to share it with us? The very first line from Blood Ending: People made way for the crawling filthy thing. The line pretty much pulls every reader into the story. Can you tell us about your last book, and can you tell us about what you are working on next? I’m working on a ghost story titled Within These Tainted Walls. Abagail Cross put a curse on the Weatherly Family, and, well, it’s not going as planned. If you could erase one horror cliché what would be your choice? Either the black cat that appears from out of nowhere, or the aunt/uncle/old person used as comedy relief. What was the last great book you read, and what was the last book that disappointed you? Sorry, I can’t give a definitive answer to that one. My brain isn’t currently working on that level! What's the one question you wish you would get asked but never do? And what would be the answer? I’ve not done enough interviews to be that savvy. Blood Ending: A Vampire Novel |
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