Every Dead Person was a Person: An Interview with Post-Apocalyptic Author Nick Cole

1) Please tell us about The Savage Boy. 

The Savage Boy is the second book in the Wasteland Saga, but it stands alone as an independent story about a Boy who must complete the mission of the last American soldier. Civilization disappeared almost forty years before the book begins amid a global nuclear bloodletting and we meet the Boy as he buries his mentor and continues his journey into the savage West amidst the New American Dark Ages. He will cross deserted cities and places haunted by madmen and survive in a wilderness where animals are the predators and humans the prey. But his journey is about much more the tomahawk he carries and the radiation poisoned lands he must cross. It’s a story about identity and the decisions we make to become what we will become. It’s a very dark story but I think the ending will be very surprising for those who enjoyed The Old Man and the Wasteland.

2) In what ways is this book different than The Old Man and the Wasteland? In what ways is it similar?

In many ways it is similar. There is an internal dialog that resonates throughout the book as the Boy hears the constant remonstrations and encouragements of his dead mentor. At the same time it is different. I would say it’s more action packed and definitely darker as I said, but it is about love and memory and one’s place within the world regardless whether that world is what it is today or sunk into a mire of savagery and chaos.

3) The balancing of brutality and humanity is often difficult in these types of stories depending on what sort of feeling and message one is trying to get across. How did you approach this balance?

Someone once said, “everyone dies.” There is so much in that. Every dead person was a person. History and modern media sometimes distance us from the fact that each casualty was once a life. They were loved. They had hopes and dreams for a better tomorrow. And yet, the world is cruel. In Shakespeare’s King Lear, after Lear’s beautiful daughter has been murdered, he cries out, “You are men of stone.” There is so much in that, and with those as compass points I kept a weather eye and steered on till morning as I wrote this book. 

4) What is the greatest thing you feel that modern "soft" civilized people take for granted?

The consciousness of God. Whether you believe in God or not, I think one of the greatest failures of our lives is for people not to embark on an honest journey into the heart of the matter of God. The answer is the most stunning revelation of one’s life. The answer brings focus and an understanding of the order of the universe. Sadly many, on both sides of this debate, are content with the talking points of others, rather than their own personal journey of exploration.

5) The complete and utter destruction of human civilization seems a bit "popular" these days and many people are seeking out books like yours. Arguably, we're farther away from the complete collapse of civilization than when we and the Soviets were ready to turn our respective countries into glass with nukes. What do you think is behind this interest in post-apocalyptic fiction?

Are we? Rod Serling showed us that by just by turning out the lights we devolve faster than we might expect. I think we are, and always have been, closer to the brink that anyone might care to lie awake in bed late at night and contemplate. But, to that end, I do not think Post-Apocalyptic fiction is really all that concerned with the end. No, the fascination I suspect lies in the new beginning. Generally people are not satisfied with modern life. It’s too easy. So easy in fact, it’s become a locomotive. There’s a beginning and an end once a lot of choices are made and some might say made for us, it’s merely a matter of progressing down the tracks. That is not in the nature of man a comfortable thing. I think many of us are looking for a new start. We’re not happy with the way things are and we want a chance to start over. Post-Apocalyptic fiction gives us that Lost, Survivor chance to play the game. I think that’s at the core of the appeal as opposed to a promised doomsday or final judgment.

6) Does the interest in the latter have any real intersection with things like the mainstreaming of the "prepper" culture?

Yes, most definitely. I think there is a zeitgeist permeating our culture that suggests we might not want to hold on too tightly to what we think we need. 9/11, Katrina and a growing global crisis both financial and philosophical are beginning to show that people lack confidence in their government to provide for and protect them. So you’d better learn how to field dress a deer and carry your stuff on your back. I think it’s more likely than not that these survival skills will be employed within America at some point in our lifetime.

7) Please tell us about your future projects.

I’m in the middle of a Zombocalypse Triptych that will set the stage for a series character. I’ve got a Wind in the Willows-esque fantasy cozy and a military SF novel, and I’ve sent a total of 11 project proposals off to my publisher for their consideration. I also have some non-SF novels that I wrote previously that are just patiently waiting to get out there, but for now it seems we’ll stick with the end of the world. 

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Thanks, Nick.

Nick books can be purchased at the following links: The Savage Boy | The Oldman And The Wasteland.

More from Nick can be found at the following links Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Amazon.

Nick Cole is a working actor living in Southern California. When he is not auditioning for commercials, going out for sitcoms or being shot, kicked, stabbed or beaten by the students of various film schools for their projects, he can often be found as a guard for King Phillip the Second of Spain in the Opera Don Carlo at Los Angeles Opera or some similar role. Nick Cole has been writing for most of his life and acting in Hollywood after serving in the U.S. Army.

Vampires vs. Zombies, When One Monster Protects You From Another: An Interview With Jean Marie Bauhaus

1) Please tell us about your book.

Dominion of the Damned is about a young woman, Hannah Jordan, who rides out a zombie apocalypse in a bomb shelter, and emerges several months later to find that a race of vampires has subdued the zombies, herded what's left of humanity into internment camps, and generally taken over the world.

2) Which are more frightening: zombies or vampires?

Definitely zombies. Pop culture has pretty much de-fanged vampires and turned them into cuddly superheroes. I'm not sure it's possible at this point to really make them scary again, although I do give it a shot. At the very least, the vampires in my book don't sparkle.

3) Stories of the hungry dead have always been around in many forms in many cultures, but in recent years their popularity seems to have exploded: movies, television shows, and novels. Even government organizations like the Center for Disease Control and FEMA have attempted to take advantage of the popularity of all things zombie by encouraging disaster preparedness and infection control protocols with tongue-in-cheek zombie warnings. What do you think is behind the popularity of all these stories?

I think it's a sign of the times we're in. There's a real sense of foreboding in our culture, and a sense that the First World is just one major disaster away from collapsing into chaos and ruin. It's the same phenomenon behind the recent spate of survivalist reality shows. I think apocalyptic stories in general, and zombie stories in particular, are popular because they provide us with a safe way to play out our worst-case scenarios. People joke about having a "zombie plan," but I think deep down, people find reassurance in thinking about how they could survive such a scenario. If they could survive a zombie outbreak, then there's a good chance they could survive something like a major earthquake or a post-nuclear wasteland.

4) You've done something a bit unusual in that you have a book that features both vampires and a zombie apocalypse. Please tell us a bit about your thought process in combining those elements?

I used to sort of joke to my husband about how I couldn't believe nobody's written a "zombies vs. vampires" story, and how I ought to write one. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense to me that if vampires existed, they would have a major stake in preventing a zombie outbreak from wiping out their food supply. I thought about what a race of vampires' "protection" of humanity would look like, and the story just took off from there.

5) If a zombie outbreak occurred, where would be the best place to ride it out?

Are you asking me about my zombie plan? ;) In my book, the vampires have rounded up humans into "safe" camps located in fortified places such as prisons and military bases. Underground shelters also seem like a good bet. Barring that, I think if something like that happened, my family and I would head for the country and try to lie low in an unpopulated area.

6) Please share with about your other projects.

I'm also working on a short story, tentatively titled "Blackwood Park" (although that will probably change), about the apparently haunted remains of an old amusement park. It's sort of a mash-up of various Internet legends referred to as "creepy pasta" with a little dash of the Slenderman mythos. I'll be releasing it for free once it's done, hopefully in the next month or so. I'm also the author of Restless Spirits, a novel about a paranormal investigator who becomes the subject of her own investigation after she gets caught in the cross hairs of a malevolent spirit. It's currently available as an e-book and a trade paperback.

7) Do you have any links to any excerpts you'd like to share?

You can read the first two chapters of Dominion of the Damned and stay up to date on its upcoming release at http://dominionofthedamned.jeanmariebauhaus.com/.

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Thanks, Jean Marie.

You can find more from her at:

http://blog.jeanmariebauhaus.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JeanMarieBauhaus
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jmbauhaus
http://amazon.com/author/jeanmariebauhaus

The end of civilization and a far-away family: An interview with author Ray Gorham

What happens when civilization collapses around you, but you're far from your family? Ray Gorham explores that question in the post-apocalyptic novel 77 DAYS IN SEPTEMBER.


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1) Please tell us about your book. 

My book, 77 DAYS IN SEPTEMBER, is a story about a man separated from his family by a terrorist attack. He's been away working for a couple of weeks when an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) detonation shuts down the country and makes it next to impossible for him to return home. The story then follows both his and his family's struggles to survive and re-unite.

2) What inspired this book? 

I wanted to write a story that would present a husband/father/man in a positive light. Too many stories have guys that kill without remorse, sleep around, forget their families, or act without considering the consequences. I wanted to have a character that would overcome amazing obstacles in order to do the right thing. That was the "inspiration" for the book. From there it was finding a device that would put the character in such a situation, and that is where the EMP came into play.

Once I started writing, though, I found the EMP aspect, and the threat it presents, became just as important as the other part of the story.

3) Your book posits an EMP that knocks out the bulk of advanced technology in the US and thrusts the country into chaos. There's a lot that can be done with that scenario, but what themes did you choose to focus on? 

I wanted to present normal people who suddenly have life and death decisions to make, and their struggle to maintain their decency in a radically altered reality. I've had some criticism in reviews that my characters are too nice, but I think most people will find it very, very difficult to shoot their neighbors if such an event were to occur. Most Americans are good, decent people, and the live and let live mentality will be the outlook that will guide them. That is not to say that there won't be the shoot first people around, I just chose not to have them as my protagonists.

4) Any post-apocalyptic book, by necessity, explores the limits of civilization and the nature of man. Do you see yourself as more a pessimist or optimist about human nature? 

I think as you read my answers and my book, you'll see that I am more of an optimist than a pessimist. I do expect that terrible, ugly things will happen if such an event were to occur, so tried to portray a variety of things--the good, the evil, and the in between.

5) Why do you think people are so drawn to the stories about the collapse of civilization? 

I think much of it has to do with the fact that every great empire that has existed has to come to an end, with the exception of ours. And the only reason we are still around is that we are young, and likely just haven't met our end, yet. The Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, British, Syrians, Ottomans, Mayans, and so forth, have all failed, most in violent, terrifying ways. Maybe sub-consciously we understand that there is a finite time we have to be in the position we are in, and the expectation of our eventual doom motivates us to read/view those types of works.

6) Okay, scenario time. The EMP goes off tomorrow. Would you rather be near a city or a remote rural area and why? 

While there would be advantages to both locations, I'd much rather be in a rural environment, provided it was someplace I was established in with a home or "getaway." If the EMP does go off tomorrow, I think things in the big cities are going to go south pretty quick as people begin to starve. I live in a rural setting, close to a city (15 miles), on 50 acres. It provides us a good buffer, with the city conveniences, so kind of the best of both worlds.

7) Can you give us any insight into any future works? 

I have a few things in the works, but nothing imminent. I don't view myself as a post-apocalyptic or dystopian author, so my closest to being done novel concerns a guy who can really see the future, and how his ability affects the people of his community. I also have a sequel to 77 DAYS planned, as well as a few other stories. At some point I hope to be able to write full time, but that time is not yet. Hopefully I can get a book out before the end of the year.

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Thanks, Ray.


If you'd like to read more from Ray, he'll be stopping over at Apocalyptic Fiction on May 7th.


77 DAYS IN SEPTEMBER can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords.

Guest Post by Angela White: When is a female too manly?

Greetings, all.


Today, we have a guest post from dark fantasy writer Angela White discussing female heroes and manliness.


Take it away, Angela.


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When is a Female Hero too Manly?

This can be a tough line to walk. We like’em hard and mean and able to throw a great punch, but not digging at their crotch or cursing like a Bronx fishwife. They have to be able to wrestle wild animals and shoot a round through a flea’s ass at five hundred meters (Nod to Clint there), but if they have to take a leak, we’re pulled from the story with a roll of the eyes. 

They can give birth with no pain medicine or stitch up a gaping wound with a safety pin while fighting off a herd of rabid kangaroo, but if she hacks up a loogie, we feel ill with disappointment and revulsion.

And then there are they ways she responds to people, especially a lover. It’s a delicate blend of never loosing control and still surrendering in the name of bonding. She can flirt, roughly, but never may a giggle pass her lips. She can moan and grunt but never scream,”Yeah Daddy! Who’s my da…”

…You get the picture. The manly female hero is a union of sacred sexuality and time honored roughness, one that nature (and writers), often bring together under the ugliest of circumstances. Like the Apocalypse. So…
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this burning question to your answer. What we the people have joined together… let no spammers tear asunder. Please tell your views on this union or forever hold your 

peace:

When is a Female Hero too Manly?

For me, the top three no-no’s are spitting, excessive snotting, and not appearing to feel any pain. Two of them I don’t care to know about and the third is just too far beyond the boundaries to keep me reading. Everyone feels pain.  Join the Discussion.

Do you like strong female heroes? How about stories where they’re in charge? Then you might like Alexa’s Travels.  It’s a dark fantasy quest into the nuclear wilderness.

They came from the West

Seven fighters to the end

One stunning blonde warrior

Leading six hard-ass men

Alexa's Travels

Apocalyptic fiction

An impossible quest

& A Haunting new vision

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Thanks for stopping by Angela.

Author Interview: Katherine Hanna

Every author brings their own style to the act of creation. In an effort to explore those differences, I intend to interview different willing authors, both traditional and self-published.

I'm starting the series off with an interview with a friend, Katherine Hanna, author of the self-published post-apocalyptic drama, Breakdown. 

Me: Tell us a little bit about your novel.

KH: Six years after a pandemic devastates the human population and unstoppable computer viruses have destroyed much of the world's technology, Chris Price finally makes it from New York to Britain to reunite with his brother. But the horrors he's witnessed and unresolved grief over his dead wife and baby have changed him. Can he let go of his past, unlock his heart, and learn to find love again?

Me: What inspired your current novel?

KH: Many years ago I had a vivid dream. A man and his son were walking through Bath, England (I recognized it, having visited four times). I could tell that the world had changed: many buildings were boarded up, and cars sat rusting in the streets. The people were ragged, and trading in an open marketplace. The dream stuck with me, and I elaborated from that, and it eventually turned into the opening of Breakdown.

Me:  Love and a post-apocalyptic world aren't things that immediately go together in many people's minds. What made you set this kind of story in such a setting?

KH: Good question. The story didn't actually start out as a love story. It started out as Chris's quest to mend a broken friendship. Too easy in a modern world, so I eliminated conveniences like telephones and email. And to get rid of those I had to drastically change the world. The plot kept evolving. I realized that Chris had to have experiences before he gets home to Bath, and these would shape him. Experiences involve new characters. And when characters interact for awhile, things change again. Characters fall in love. What can you do?

Me: Tell us a little bit about your writing process.

KH: I write in fits and starts. I'll have a few weeks of fabulous productivity. Then I hit the doldrums, and produce nothing. I turn to sewing, and try to percolate ideas and plot lines while I sew. Sometimes I'll have a dream that will kick me in the butt and I'll write for a few weeks again. But I'm really bad at keeping a regular writing schedule. Just too much going on in my life. But I'd like to try to do that now, so I can get the next book ready.

Me: What made you decide to self-publish?

KH: I'd actually stopped writing in despair because I knew the process of getting an agent or publisher would take months to years with little chance of success. And if I got lucky and got the manuscript accepted somewhere, it could still be years before the book came out. I'm not a gal with a lot of patience. When I saw what people were doing on Kindle, I made my New Year's resolution to finish the book and have it out by my birthday of April 30. (I actually beat that by a couple of weeks.) So far, I'm pleased with how it's going.

Me: If you had one piece of advice for an aspiring author, what would it be?

KH: Don't try to find the magic formula, because it doesn't exist, and ignore any advice that includes the word "never." 

Breakdown is available for purchase at Amazon.com.