SEAN M. THOMPSON IS A GOD DAMN ZOMBIE CHAINSAW MURDERER

1/8/2022

I wouldn’t erase any of them. People think clichés are the devil, but they became these trite things because people really like them. To erase them would be like getting rid of cliché phrases like “I love you,” or “I’m sorry.” It’s never what you do, but how it’s done.

Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?

Sure. I’m originally from Central Massachusetts, and in about 2019 I moved with my partner of about 15 years to Santa Fe, New Mexico. I love cats, horror, gallows humor, and general weirdness. I am also owner and editor of Nictitating Books, which I’ve been running since 2020.

Which one of your characters would you least like to meet in real life?

Oh, jeez, tough call. I got some real bastards. I think for now I’m going to say the zombie from my new novel God Damn Zombie Chainsaw Murderer. He (as is vaguely hinted at in the title) has a chainsaw he likes to murder people with, in very gruesome ways. He’s more or less a familiar for a witch who uses him, this undead ex-serial killer as a sort of rotting murder machine. I’d say The Man in the Suit from D3M0N, except he’s actually pretty sexy, so at least you could have some sexy stuff before he killed you in some creative way.

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

Not to be too heavy but trauma, social ostracization, growing up with a learning disability and depression, nearly choking on a fireball at 3, apparently long enough my face turned blue and I very easily could have died. A nearly two decade addiction to speed. Clean now, thank you.

So, generally, life experience, and philosophy gained from lots of difficult times. Also, oddly enough, comedy.

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?

We will never break past the assumptions by the general masses that horror is just brainless slashers (and I even love them). I think we fight so hard to try to get past the assumptions, we come up with clever new terms like “elevated,” or “weird,” or “thriller,” or whatever the hell to try to somehow avoid the connotations, but the simple fact is we will never get past them any more than a man who writes fantasy will get past people thinking he writes about dragons exclusively, or a writer of crime fiction only does police procedurals. There’s no way to really change what the non-genre fans think, so the best thing is to write for the fans, and just accept there will be absolute morons out there, and it is their loss.

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?

The same place it has always gone. Horror has always been political. But like, what subgenres, or themes? Likely more body horror, and themes of loss of freedom, or control. Doesn’t take a genius to figure that one out, we did go back in time in the United States.

Given the dark, violent and at times grotesque nature of the horror genre why do you think so many people enjoy reading it?

The same reason people like to whistle through the graveyard. We are currently alive, one day we will be stone dead. It’s coming to grips with death, and the fear of disease, sorrow, pain, the end of the world.

Dress rehearsal for the void.

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

Most of them. I’m a big fan of Paula D. Ashe, Tiffany Morris, BR Yeager. I mean, ideally me also, l-o-l.

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

Yeah, some guy did a 5 minute video take down of my first chapbook and I will not elaborate on what I’d enjoy doing.

What aspects of writing to do you find the most difficult?

This will sound obvious, but the actual butt in the seat, typing the words part. I have, like, a good 8 novels plotted out in my head, it just takes the drive and the energy, pushing past the fact I don’t have an enormous amount of readers yet. Pushing through apathy, basically.

Is there one subject you would never write about as an author?

Probably not child molestation, at length. Or bestiality, at length.

Writing is not a static process, how have you developed as a writer over the years?

I am so much better. I don’t even know what else to say. I’m actually readable, now. My early stuff was, wooo doggy, bad, bad, bad.

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

Take all pieces of advice with a grain of salt. Go with your gut.

Which of your characters is your favourite?

Probably Detective Lucky Bryne. She’s getting her own book: book 2 of my series (whenever I actually write it, maybe late 2023?).

Which of your books best represents you?

Good lord I hope none of them represent me. But if you’re asking which ones are the ones that show my writing and the diversity of it, likely Screaming Creatures, my full length collection.

Do you have a favorite line or passage from your work, and would you like to share it with us?

This is from the last story in Screaming Creatures. The title story.

“We knew the cost of what we had done. We tried to pretend like we didn't... but we all knew. In an effort to make our lives easier, more comfortable, we destroyed entire ecosystems. We deforested, and dumped chemicals onto our plants and into the air. We drove cars that not only fucked up the atmosphere, but murdered countless animals.

What was it all for, really? We didn't just kill our world slowly, we killed ourselves. All to have things quicker, more efficient. Why? It was never fast enough. We always needed it to be better. We were never satisfied.

The crux of the problem was we would never change. Not really. All the famous actors having fundraisers in the world wouldn't get rid of our baser natures. Because we liked to be lazy, and we liked to be greedy, and we liked to be violent. Words would never stop these desires.

We didn’t give a shit. We went ahead and did it all anyway. All for us. Me, me, me. Narcissism was our undoing.

We all knew one day we would die. Just, out, a blink, a breath, and then darkness. Forever.

At the back of our minds, we knew future generations would be left with the husk of a planet we discarded, the world that we used up and spit out.

Our planet wouldn’t let us go out peacefully. It would not let us leave the party without a fight.

There is a trauma that never ends. The pain becomes a feedback loop, and the illusion that the terror stops along with the event itself is a fallacy. No matter where you go, or what you do, the trauma follows, and replays. You never really leave that bedroom, you never really leave that car crash. You never really leave that assault, and you never really leave that hospital room as you watch your loved ones die. Part of you stays there, in that place, stuck, unable to leave. Haunting the scene.

The idea we get over trauma, that we are able to simply move past it, this isn’t true.

What happens then? Are we finally okay with what occurred? Do the moments singed into our soul, that left behind the burn scars, do they simply heal? No. The burnt skin dies and falls away, taking a piece of us with it.

Such is the nature of madness. And when you understand that this trauma that does not end is life itself, is the moment of birth as we become the screaming creatures thrust into this place without any say, then you understand the one unquestionable truth about us. About all of us.

We are born insane, and we die insane.

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

Last was a 90s slasher, with some surprises. Current is a sea monster novel. Won’t say much more than that.

If you could erase one horror cliché what would be your choice?

I wouldn’t erase any of them. People think clichés are the devil, but they became these trite things because people really like them. To erase them would be like getting rid of cliché phrases like “I love you,” or “I’m sorry.” It’s never what you do, but how it’s done.

What was the last great book you read, and what was the last book that disappointed you?

No comment, no comment. You are trying to get people in trouble, tricky, tricky.

What's the one question you wish you would get asked but never do? And what would be the answer?

That’s a hard one. I could give you some sarcastic answer, but that seems fairly needless.

But I’m going to do it anyway. The question would be why are you so amazing, and the answer would be jeez, I guess it’s just in my DNA, and because everything I do owns.

God Damn Zombie Chainsaw Murderer
by Sean M. Thompson

In 1996, four friends discovered the terrible secret hiding on a quiet island on Lake George, in Upstate New York. They went for a vacation from which they never returned. Read the harrowing account of how they partied, had sex, and ultimately fell prey to the… God Damn Zombie Chainsaw Murderer.

“Goddamn Zombie Chainsaw Murderer is a twisted, balls-out romp filled with sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll—and a heaping helping of gore. With enough twists and turns to keep readers on their toes, this story isn’t your typical slasher. Readers who like their horror bloody, batshit, and tongue-in-cheek will have a blast with this one.”
—Jo Kaplan, author of It Will Just Be Us, and When the Night Bells Ring

“Surreal, funny, scary and strange, God Damn Zombie Chainsaw Murderer is a fast-paced slasher with heart. Thompson’s cinematic prose makes this a perfect novel for anyone looking for that feeling of a dark night in front of the TV/VCR—or anyone who likes their horror clever, blood-soaked, and self-aware.”
—Tiffany Morris, author of Elegies of Rotting Stars

“Sean M. Thompson’s God Damn Zombie Chainsaw Murderer offers outrageous action, copious bloodshed, and real heart. An ode to slashers past with an eye to the future, this book is one hell of a genre-bending good time.”
—Paula D. Ashe, author of We Are Here to Hurt Each Other

"Thompson channels the late 90s-early 2000s horror era to deliver a surreal, madcap slasher-zombie-supernatural-meta mashup."
—Jonathan Raab, author of The Haunting of Camp Winter Falcon and Camp Ghoul Mountain Part VI: The Official Novelization

Sean M. Thompson

Sean M. Thompson grew up in New England, and currently lives in the high desert of New Mexico with his long-time partner. He is the author of the collection Screaming Creatures, the novels God Damn Zombie Chainsaw Murderer, and TH3 D3M0N, and the novella Astrum. He is also the owner and operator of Nictitating Books. You can find him on Twitter @SpookySeanT.

WEBSITE LINKS

linktr.ee/SeanMThompson