Horror Interview : 5 Minutes With J.C. Michael

Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?

I'm in my late 30's, live in North Yorkshire, work full time in the Tourism industry, and have a very active two year old to contend with at home. The job and family leaving me with only a limited time in which I can settle down to my writing.

As for my novel, Discoredia, this is due to be released in late August through the Books of the Dead Press. It was actually written a few years ago, when I seemed to have a lot more spare time! Initially I wrote it as a challenge set by my girlfriend, to whom I'm now happily married, as she was tired of me complaining about books, and movies, and how, if it had been me, I'd have done things differently. Essentially the challenge was that if I thought I was so damn clever I should prove it. The response was a 90 odd thousand word horror novel.

Do you prefer the term Horror, Weird Fiction or Dark Fiction?

Out of those three I'd probably go for Horror, but I've also had a tendency to use the term "Chiller". 

Who are some of your favourite authors?

Stephen King has to come out top, with Clive Barker and James Herbert making up my top 3 authors. Not only have I enjoyed their works over a considerable number of years, but their writing has also inspired me in my own. Alongside those three I've also enjoyed novels by Dan Simmons, particularly Carrion Comfort, Dean Koontz, Richard Laymon, and Justin Cronin.

What are you reading now?

For the past few weeks I've been ploughing my way through the other books recently released by Books of the Dead Press, as we are all looking to support each other over the coming months. Other than that I've got Joyland (Stephen King) and Cabal (Clive Barker) sitting there on my bedside table waiting to be read. 

Which book do you wish you had written?

That's a tough one, as I like to see parts of myself in what I write, and that wouldn't be the case with any book other than one that I have personally written. If I had to chose a book that I'd like to have written, but with my own slant on things, then it would be a close call between The Stand, and IT. 

If you could use any other author’s creation in your own work, who or what would you use?

I've read some great characters, plus seen a number of great characters in the movies and on T.V, but, having said that, I'd always rather be original than use someone else's creations. Then again, it would be cool to give some cameos to characters like Pennywise. I think I'd rather do that, a little nod to someone else's creations, than use them too much, or as if they were my own. I'd also be pretty possessive over my own characters, and wouldn't really want anyone else telling their stories which may go in a different direction to that which I'd prefer.

Describe typical day spent writing. Do you have any unusual writing habits?

There's no such thing as a typical day's writing for me as I just have to fit it in when and where I can. The most typical element would be when my wife's out and my son's asleep!

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

It would have to be Discoredia as it proved that I could not only write a novel, but also write a novel that people could stand to read cover to cover. In which case it couldn't be that terrible.

What is the hardest lesson you have learned with regards to your writing?

Patience. As soon as Discoredia was written I went down the self publishing route even though the product wasn't as polished as it should have been. I shouldn't have done that but I seem to have got away with it, largely because I didn't make a lot of sales.

What do you like to do to relax?

The fairly standard stuff - T.V, a nice walk, and sleep. I also love spending time with my son, but that isn't exactly relaxing.

Can you tell us about your last book, and can you tell us about what you are working on next?

The two are actually one and the same, the sequel to Discoredia. The novel is complete, but it needs not just polishing, but also revising in parts as I'm not 100% happy with it, particularly the ending. I'm also working on a number of short stories as writing novels is a very intense experience for me, and one I think I'd struggle to accomplish at the moment. As things stand I need to focus on the release of Discoredia, and having the sequel ready to roll if it's a success, as well as all the other things life throws at me outside of my writing.

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As the year draws to a close a mysterious stranger makes a proposition to club owner, Warren Charlton. It's a deal involving a brand new drug called Pandemonium. The good news: the drug is free. The bad news: it comes at a heavy price, promising much but delivering far more. Euphoria and ecstasy. Death and depravity. All come together, at Discoredia.

Here's what people are saying:

“In “Discoredia,” J C Michael unleashes upon ordinary, unsuspecting characters a fiendish plot that only maestros such as Bentley Little and Michael Slade could rival.”
~ Dean Lombardo, author of Space Games

“J.C. Michael’s brilliant novel, Discoredia, is a literal trip into the abyss echoing with the screams of those classic movies from the 80s where the big bad was bigger than life, unrepentantly evil, and no one was safe. By the time Michael’s 200 beat-per-minute pandemonium kicks in it’s too late to do anything but keep rolling and pray you make it to the last track.”
~ Bracken MacLeod, author of Mountain Home

“J. C. Michael’s Discoredia is the ballroom blitz from Hell. Michael’s novel of sex, drugs, music and evil pulls you in seductively, then turns the amp up to 11. With a silky, snaky style reminiscent of Clive Barker, Michael weaves a tale that takes recreational drug use to a whole new, terrifying level. The book moves at a terrific pace, to the THUMP THUMP THUMP of dance music. And all the time, in the background, there is an elegant, sophisticated evil DJing the entire rave.”
~ John F.D. Taff, author of Little Deaths

“Fantastic. Epic. I’ve done a lot of drugs, and wrote my share of stories, but never have they both danced together in the darkness such as in Discoredia.”
~Mark Matthews, author of On the Lips of Children

“Discoredia will take you on a crazy ride to hell and back, if you’re ballsy enough to take on this awesome book.”
~ Claire Riley, author of Limerence

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