Luke Walker's Blog: https://lukewalkerwriter.wordpress.com, page 38
June 6, 2012
An interview with Jennifer Hillier
Today, I'm delighted to interview Jennifer Hillier, author of the thriller Creep and its upcoming sequel Freak. Enjoy her thoughts on writing, thrillers, Stephen King and tipples.
LW: Your debut novel Creep was published last year. Did you write with an eye on publication from the start or was it more a case of write the book first and then see about aiming for publication/finding an agent?
JH: When I started writing Creep, I didn't know whether I was even capable of writing anything publishable. I had written one other novel (which was terrible, and we shall not discuss it), and I hadn't written a short story in years. Pursuing publication was always in the back of my mind, but my focus as I wrote Creep was primarily on not sucking. It wasn't until I had finished the book, workshopped it, and was well into my third draft that I even started researching agents. But I didn't start actually querying until I had finished polishing my sixth draft.
LW: Your upcoming novel Freak is a sequel to Creep. Did you always plan on two books or was it a happy accident?
JH: Definitely a happy accident. I didn't know how Creep was going to end until I actually wrote the ending, and even then I wasn't sure if there was any story left for the characters I didn't kill off. My agent and editor were the ones who were asking for a sequel, so that was the spark.
LW: Without wanting to spoil anything in Creep, your lead character Sheila has a strong sexual side. Do you think there’s a subtle (or not so subtle) way of thinking which suggests it’s more acceptable for a male character rather than a female character to have that aspect to their personality?
JH: When I workshopped Creep early on, I got nailed so bad (no pun intended) for having a character like Sheila, who's a sex addict struggling with her recovery. One fellow male participant even labeled her as "gross" and said the story was "unappealing" and "I can't imagine anyone wanting to read this." (Yeah? LOOK AT ME NOW, JOHN!)
But I weighed his feedback carefully. It forced me to think long and hard about Sheila's sex addiction, and I eventually decided it didn't feel right to change her. She was initially created as a minor character, and obviously her role in the story grew, but from the beginning, I had always seen her as a sex addict. And the terrible choices she makes directly lead to the challenges she faces in the novel.
LW: Have you always written in the crime/thriller genre?
JH: I've always loved reading thrillers, but when I was a teenager, most of what I wrote was young adult romance. And then later, and for a long time, I wrote horror (my first novel, the one that's now trunked, is horror). It took me a while to realize that I'm not actually very good at writing horror, and I've long been fascinated by serial killers, so writing thrillers turned out to be a good fit.
LW: Who’s influenced you?
JH: For sure, Stephen King. I pretty much jumped right from Sweet Valley High books when I was ten to Stephen King books when I was eleven (so why I was writing angsty teen romance back then, I do not know). But in the last ten years or so, I've been paying attention to how thriller writers like Jeffery Deaver and Chelsea Cain write. I'm also a huge fan of Jeff Lindsay and Chuck Palahniuk, because they have it down when it comes to voice.
LW: Stephen King’s It is your favourite book (it’s mine as well for that matter). What makes it so special to you?
JH: I do love It. There's magic in that book, and every time I read it (over a dozen times now), I find something different and unexpected. Overall, I think the story is really beautiful, despite the terror and gore. The book has seven child protagonists (Bill, Ben, Beverly, Richie, Eddie, Stan, and Mike), and King writes each of them so well. They all have distinct personalities and voices. As a reader, I am so invested in what happens to these kids that I will willingly follow them to hell and back. I read It for the first time when I was eleven – the same age the kids are in the book – and the story has always stayed with me.
LW: What advice that you’ve either been given or come up with yourself would you like to pass on to new writers?
JH: In my last writing workshop (back in 2009) the last thing the instructor said to us was, "If you want this, don't ever give up. The last one standing gets published."
So, okay, she was oversimplifying, but she's not totally wrong. Too often I see writers with real talent query a handful of times, get rejected, become discouraged, and stop writing. PLEASE DON'T STOP! If you love to write, then write. Write as often as you can, read as much you can, ask for feedback, and learn from it. That's my best advice.
LW: What’s next in your writing world? A second sequel to Creep or other plans?
JH: There's definitely another book in the works. I'm not sure where it's going yet, as it's too early to say, but I wouldn't be surprised if a character or two from Creep and Freak end up making an appearance. Though I don't necessarily think this book will qualify as a sequel.
LW: Do you have an average day of writing – butt in chair at a certain time?
JH: I'm pretty methodical when I'm writing, especially if I'm writing a first draft (like now). I have a quota of 1,400 words a day, and I write Monday through Friday, starting from about noon till about six p.m.
LW: And finally, what’s your favourite tipple?
JH: I had to Google this! I got two definitions: a tipple is either an alcoholic beverage or a device that receives cargo freight. (I do have to admit I'm slightly disappointed that a tipple wasn't something dirty.)
Assuming you meant the first one, I'm only ever a social drinker, so it depends on the occasion. If I'm out with the girls, I'll usually have a mixed drink, something sweet, like a Cosmopolitan or an amaretto sour. If I'm trying to appear sophisticated and mature (both of which I'm not really), I'll drink white wine, usually Pinot Grigio. If I'm on vacation, I love blended drinks, like pina coladas and strawberry daiquiris.
Thanks for the interview, Luke! One of these days we need to read It at the same time, and dissect the book thoroughly as we go. Nerd fun!
Jennifer's blog can be found here and Freak is published in the UK by Little Brown/Sphere and can be purchased here.
LW: Your debut novel Creep was published last year. Did you write with an eye on publication from the start or was it more a case of write the book first and then see about aiming for publication/finding an agent?
JH: When I started writing Creep, I didn't know whether I was even capable of writing anything publishable. I had written one other novel (which was terrible, and we shall not discuss it), and I hadn't written a short story in years. Pursuing publication was always in the back of my mind, but my focus as I wrote Creep was primarily on not sucking. It wasn't until I had finished the book, workshopped it, and was well into my third draft that I even started researching agents. But I didn't start actually querying until I had finished polishing my sixth draft.
LW: Your upcoming novel Freak is a sequel to Creep. Did you always plan on two books or was it a happy accident?
JH: Definitely a happy accident. I didn't know how Creep was going to end until I actually wrote the ending, and even then I wasn't sure if there was any story left for the characters I didn't kill off. My agent and editor were the ones who were asking for a sequel, so that was the spark.
LW: Without wanting to spoil anything in Creep, your lead character Sheila has a strong sexual side. Do you think there’s a subtle (or not so subtle) way of thinking which suggests it’s more acceptable for a male character rather than a female character to have that aspect to their personality?
JH: When I workshopped Creep early on, I got nailed so bad (no pun intended) for having a character like Sheila, who's a sex addict struggling with her recovery. One fellow male participant even labeled her as "gross" and said the story was "unappealing" and "I can't imagine anyone wanting to read this." (Yeah? LOOK AT ME NOW, JOHN!)
But I weighed his feedback carefully. It forced me to think long and hard about Sheila's sex addiction, and I eventually decided it didn't feel right to change her. She was initially created as a minor character, and obviously her role in the story grew, but from the beginning, I had always seen her as a sex addict. And the terrible choices she makes directly lead to the challenges she faces in the novel.
LW: Have you always written in the crime/thriller genre?
JH: I've always loved reading thrillers, but when I was a teenager, most of what I wrote was young adult romance. And then later, and for a long time, I wrote horror (my first novel, the one that's now trunked, is horror). It took me a while to realize that I'm not actually very good at writing horror, and I've long been fascinated by serial killers, so writing thrillers turned out to be a good fit.
LW: Who’s influenced you?
JH: For sure, Stephen King. I pretty much jumped right from Sweet Valley High books when I was ten to Stephen King books when I was eleven (so why I was writing angsty teen romance back then, I do not know). But in the last ten years or so, I've been paying attention to how thriller writers like Jeffery Deaver and Chelsea Cain write. I'm also a huge fan of Jeff Lindsay and Chuck Palahniuk, because they have it down when it comes to voice.
LW: Stephen King’s It is your favourite book (it’s mine as well for that matter). What makes it so special to you?
JH: I do love It. There's magic in that book, and every time I read it (over a dozen times now), I find something different and unexpected. Overall, I think the story is really beautiful, despite the terror and gore. The book has seven child protagonists (Bill, Ben, Beverly, Richie, Eddie, Stan, and Mike), and King writes each of them so well. They all have distinct personalities and voices. As a reader, I am so invested in what happens to these kids that I will willingly follow them to hell and back. I read It for the first time when I was eleven – the same age the kids are in the book – and the story has always stayed with me.
LW: What advice that you’ve either been given or come up with yourself would you like to pass on to new writers?
JH: In my last writing workshop (back in 2009) the last thing the instructor said to us was, "If you want this, don't ever give up. The last one standing gets published."
So, okay, she was oversimplifying, but she's not totally wrong. Too often I see writers with real talent query a handful of times, get rejected, become discouraged, and stop writing. PLEASE DON'T STOP! If you love to write, then write. Write as often as you can, read as much you can, ask for feedback, and learn from it. That's my best advice.
LW: What’s next in your writing world? A second sequel to Creep or other plans?
JH: There's definitely another book in the works. I'm not sure where it's going yet, as it's too early to say, but I wouldn't be surprised if a character or two from Creep and Freak end up making an appearance. Though I don't necessarily think this book will qualify as a sequel.
LW: Do you have an average day of writing – butt in chair at a certain time?
JH: I'm pretty methodical when I'm writing, especially if I'm writing a first draft (like now). I have a quota of 1,400 words a day, and I write Monday through Friday, starting from about noon till about six p.m.
LW: And finally, what’s your favourite tipple?
JH: I had to Google this! I got two definitions: a tipple is either an alcoholic beverage or a device that receives cargo freight. (I do have to admit I'm slightly disappointed that a tipple wasn't something dirty.)
Assuming you meant the first one, I'm only ever a social drinker, so it depends on the occasion. If I'm out with the girls, I'll usually have a mixed drink, something sweet, like a Cosmopolitan or an amaretto sour. If I'm trying to appear sophisticated and mature (both of which I'm not really), I'll drink white wine, usually Pinot Grigio. If I'm on vacation, I love blended drinks, like pina coladas and strawberry daiquiris.
Thanks for the interview, Luke! One of these days we need to read It at the same time, and dissect the book thoroughly as we go. Nerd fun!
Jennifer's blog can be found here and Freak is published in the UK by Little Brown/Sphere and can be purchased here.
June 4, 2012
Taboos in horror
I've done another guest post, people. This one is on the taboos in horror. Come and read about dead children. I promise none were harmed in the writing of this post.
Horror taboos
Horror taboos
June 2, 2012
May 28, 2012
A new interview
I've done a new interview. Head over here for a read and let me or Sara know what you think.
Interview with Sara
Interview with Sara
May 24, 2012
Belham read through
I've just finished the read through for Belham. And while I still need to do the blurb and (joy of joys) the synopsis, it's now that much closer to being ready for submission. To celebrate, here's a very brief sneak peep at the opening scene.
Belham -
He was bleeding.
Had to move. Had to get up.
That was impossible. He was a chunk of solid wood stuck deep into the grass and earth and he would lie in the cooling sun until the pain ran out of his ears. Pain, hot and wet and blood.
Colin let out a weak breath and tried to lift a hand, desperate to investigate the warmth running out of his ear. Nothing moved. Nothing worked. And it wouldn’t. Not when he was just a piece of dead wood in the twilight, light pressing against his eyelids, and pain living inside his skull.
Help me.
The thought brought panic, then fear. Nobody around him. Nobody anywhere near him while he was bleeding in the long grass.
Keith.
Keith was gone. Probably long gone. Colin tried to think through the agony bolting around his head. His car. His car was close. He’d been driving. So had Keith. Chased him out of town, on to Dalry Road and out here to the middle of nowhere.
Then.
Then their fight. An actual fight. Colin tried to smile, but his mouth wouldn’t obey him. His mouth now made of jagged pieces of hard things and blood.
Teeth. Broken teeth.
Belham -
He was bleeding.
Had to move. Had to get up.
That was impossible. He was a chunk of solid wood stuck deep into the grass and earth and he would lie in the cooling sun until the pain ran out of his ears. Pain, hot and wet and blood.
Colin let out a weak breath and tried to lift a hand, desperate to investigate the warmth running out of his ear. Nothing moved. Nothing worked. And it wouldn’t. Not when he was just a piece of dead wood in the twilight, light pressing against his eyelids, and pain living inside his skull.
Help me.
The thought brought panic, then fear. Nobody around him. Nobody anywhere near him while he was bleeding in the long grass.
Keith.
Keith was gone. Probably long gone. Colin tried to think through the agony bolting around his head. His car. His car was close. He’d been driving. So had Keith. Chased him out of town, on to Dalry Road and out here to the middle of nowhere.
Then.
Then their fight. An actual fight. Colin tried to smile, but his mouth wouldn’t obey him. His mouth now made of jagged pieces of hard things and blood.
Teeth. Broken teeth.
May 22, 2012
Ethan Jones - interview
Today, I'm happy to be interviewing Ethan Jones, author of Arctic Wargame.
LW. Let's start with intros. Tell us a bit about yourself.
EJ. I’m a lawyer by trade, working on international trade and investments. I live in Canada, with my wife and my son.
LW. Your books Arctic Wargame and Tripoli ’s Target are released this year. What’s the story with these two?
EJ. Arctic Wargame is the first book in Justin Hall series. Justin has been demoted because of a botched rescue operation in Libya, which was not his fault. Now, he’s a desk jockey. Eager to return to field work, he volunteers for a reconnaissance mission, when two foreign icebreakers appear in Canadian Arctic waters. His team discovers a weapons stash, along with a plan that threatens Canada’s security. At the same time, the team falls under attack by one of their own and is stranded helpless in the Arctic. It is now a race against time for Justin and his team to save themselves and their country.
Tripoli’s Target is the second book in Justin Hall series. Justin and his partner, Carrie O’Connor, are sent to meet with the Sheikh of the largest terrorist network in Northern Africa, to receive some high-value intelligence. They learn about an assassination plot against the US president, which is to happen during a G-20 summit in Tripoli, Libya. Justin and Carrie inform the US Secret Service about this plot. Then, new intelligence comes in, and they realize something is very, very wrong in their plan. Against all odds, they must stop the assassination before the summit forty-eight hours away.
LW. Is there a background to how you came to write them?
EJ. I wrote Arctic Wargame in 2008-2009. When I started, it was just before the global crisis, when the oil prices were skyrocketing. There was a lot of talk about discovering new resources, mainly in the Arctic, since that’s the last unexplored frontier. Newspapers were buzzing with plans of the Arctic powers to militarize the region and to claim these riches for themselves. I set up my story against this background, imagining a scenario when one of these Arctic powers would go beyond tough rhetoric and actually begin armed actions on the ground.
I wrote Tripoli’s Target in 2009-2011. The Arab Spring had not started yet, and this area of the world had received little attention in numerous spy thrillers, which focused mostly on Afghanistan, Iraq or Iran. The “mad dog of the Middle East,” Qaddafi, was still alive and in very good terms with the Americans. The US Secretary of State Rice visited Tripoli and met with Qaddafi in 2008. I imagined someone in the terrorist networks may not like this coziness and may try to derail their improved relations. I had to change my storyline a lot as a result of the events taking place in 2011, with Qaddafi dethroned and then killed.
LW. How did you get into writing? Is it something you’ve always done or a more recent interest?
EJ. I have always liked to read and I tried my hand at writing when I was 13-14. I would read a story or watch a movie and then go to write how I wanted the story or the movie to continue. Then life happened. After finishing law school, I also continued my graduate studies and got a Master of Laws degree. As a part of my degree, I had to write a 150-page thesis. The process of research, writing, rewriting and editing inspired me to return to my childhood passion. I was blessed with time and I learned things as I wrote.
LW. What are your plans for the future when it comes to writing? Are you working on anything at the moment you can tell us about?
EJ. I’ve finished two short stories, Carved in Memory––which is a prequel to Arctic Wargame and explains an important aspect of Justin’s background–– and The Last Confession––about a dying NY mobster confession to his priest. They are released along with Arctic Wargame.
I’m working on Fog of War, which is the third book in Justin Hall series. This time, Justin infiltrates some of the most dangerous spots in the planet. Iran, Somalia and Yemen, the hotbeds of terrorism in the making. Fog of War will come out in spring of 2013.
I’m also working on a murder mystery set in the US, called A Complicated Justice. A Court of Appeals judge goes missing and the detectives are trying to find out him, the reasons why he has disappeared and the whole truth. I have no date in mind for the release of this novel.
LW. How do you write – plan it or just go with an idea and see where you end up?
EJ. I wrote Arctic Wargame and Tripoli’s Target without an outline. I just planned the main storyline in my mind and went on writing. There were a couple of places where I really stumbled and had to think hard to come out with ideas and solutions. I have a somewhat flexible outline for Fog of War.
LW. What sort of things do you do in your spare time?
EJ. I work out and go for walks with my dogs in the forest. I read and blog.
LW. Any author or book recommendations you’d like to mention?
EJ. I’ve read a few good books recently. The Deep Zone by James M. Tabor was a good one, along with Act of Terror by Marc Cameron and Fallen Angels by Connie Dial.
LW. What advice would you give to new writers?
EJ. I learned as I wrote, so my advice is to begin writing and learn as you go.
Read a lot of books, so you can see what works and what doesn’t. Learn from other authors, how they create their storylines, their plots, their chapters.
Be patient and keep writing. Eventually, you’ll have something good.
LW.What’s the best advice you’ve heard or been given when it comes to writing?
EJ. The one I just mentioned. Keep writing, rewriting, editing and writing some more.
Thanks for this opportunity, Luke. I truly appreciate it.
Ethan Jones is a lawyer by trade and the author of Arctic Wargame, a spy thriller available on Amazon as an e-book and paperback. He has also published two short stories: Carved in Memory, a prequel to Arctic Wargame, and The Last Confession, both available on Amazon as e-books. His second spy thriller, Tripoli’s Target, will be released in fall 2012. Ethan lives in Canada with his wife and his son.
Arctic Wargame: Canadian Intelligence Service Agent Justin Hall—combat-hardened in operations throughout Northern Africa—has been demoted after a botched mission in Libya.
When two foreign icebreakers appear in Canadian Arctic waters, Justin volunteers for the reconnaissance mission, eager to return to the field. His team discovers a foreign weapons cache deep in the Arctic, but they are not aware that a spy has infiltrated the Department of National Defence.
The team begins to unravel a treasonous plan against Canada, but they fall under attack from one of their own. Disarmed and stripped of their survival gear, they are stranded in a remote location. Now the team must survive the deadly Arctic not only to save themselves, but their country.
Ethan is giving away ten copies of his book so head over to his blog and you could be in with a chance. Ethan Jones
LW. Let's start with intros. Tell us a bit about yourself.
EJ. I’m a lawyer by trade, working on international trade and investments. I live in Canada, with my wife and my son.
LW. Your books Arctic Wargame and Tripoli ’s Target are released this year. What’s the story with these two?
EJ. Arctic Wargame is the first book in Justin Hall series. Justin has been demoted because of a botched rescue operation in Libya, which was not his fault. Now, he’s a desk jockey. Eager to return to field work, he volunteers for a reconnaissance mission, when two foreign icebreakers appear in Canadian Arctic waters. His team discovers a weapons stash, along with a plan that threatens Canada’s security. At the same time, the team falls under attack by one of their own and is stranded helpless in the Arctic. It is now a race against time for Justin and his team to save themselves and their country.
Tripoli’s Target is the second book in Justin Hall series. Justin and his partner, Carrie O’Connor, are sent to meet with the Sheikh of the largest terrorist network in Northern Africa, to receive some high-value intelligence. They learn about an assassination plot against the US president, which is to happen during a G-20 summit in Tripoli, Libya. Justin and Carrie inform the US Secret Service about this plot. Then, new intelligence comes in, and they realize something is very, very wrong in their plan. Against all odds, they must stop the assassination before the summit forty-eight hours away.
LW. Is there a background to how you came to write them?
EJ. I wrote Arctic Wargame in 2008-2009. When I started, it was just before the global crisis, when the oil prices were skyrocketing. There was a lot of talk about discovering new resources, mainly in the Arctic, since that’s the last unexplored frontier. Newspapers were buzzing with plans of the Arctic powers to militarize the region and to claim these riches for themselves. I set up my story against this background, imagining a scenario when one of these Arctic powers would go beyond tough rhetoric and actually begin armed actions on the ground.
I wrote Tripoli’s Target in 2009-2011. The Arab Spring had not started yet, and this area of the world had received little attention in numerous spy thrillers, which focused mostly on Afghanistan, Iraq or Iran. The “mad dog of the Middle East,” Qaddafi, was still alive and in very good terms with the Americans. The US Secretary of State Rice visited Tripoli and met with Qaddafi in 2008. I imagined someone in the terrorist networks may not like this coziness and may try to derail their improved relations. I had to change my storyline a lot as a result of the events taking place in 2011, with Qaddafi dethroned and then killed.
LW. How did you get into writing? Is it something you’ve always done or a more recent interest?
EJ. I have always liked to read and I tried my hand at writing when I was 13-14. I would read a story or watch a movie and then go to write how I wanted the story or the movie to continue. Then life happened. After finishing law school, I also continued my graduate studies and got a Master of Laws degree. As a part of my degree, I had to write a 150-page thesis. The process of research, writing, rewriting and editing inspired me to return to my childhood passion. I was blessed with time and I learned things as I wrote.
LW. What are your plans for the future when it comes to writing? Are you working on anything at the moment you can tell us about?
EJ. I’ve finished two short stories, Carved in Memory––which is a prequel to Arctic Wargame and explains an important aspect of Justin’s background–– and The Last Confession––about a dying NY mobster confession to his priest. They are released along with Arctic Wargame.
I’m working on Fog of War, which is the third book in Justin Hall series. This time, Justin infiltrates some of the most dangerous spots in the planet. Iran, Somalia and Yemen, the hotbeds of terrorism in the making. Fog of War will come out in spring of 2013.
I’m also working on a murder mystery set in the US, called A Complicated Justice. A Court of Appeals judge goes missing and the detectives are trying to find out him, the reasons why he has disappeared and the whole truth. I have no date in mind for the release of this novel.
LW. How do you write – plan it or just go with an idea and see where you end up?
EJ. I wrote Arctic Wargame and Tripoli’s Target without an outline. I just planned the main storyline in my mind and went on writing. There were a couple of places where I really stumbled and had to think hard to come out with ideas and solutions. I have a somewhat flexible outline for Fog of War.
LW. What sort of things do you do in your spare time?
EJ. I work out and go for walks with my dogs in the forest. I read and blog.
LW. Any author or book recommendations you’d like to mention?
EJ. I’ve read a few good books recently. The Deep Zone by James M. Tabor was a good one, along with Act of Terror by Marc Cameron and Fallen Angels by Connie Dial.
LW. What advice would you give to new writers?
EJ. I learned as I wrote, so my advice is to begin writing and learn as you go.
Read a lot of books, so you can see what works and what doesn’t. Learn from other authors, how they create their storylines, their plots, their chapters.
Be patient and keep writing. Eventually, you’ll have something good.
LW.What’s the best advice you’ve heard or been given when it comes to writing?
EJ. The one I just mentioned. Keep writing, rewriting, editing and writing some more.
Thanks for this opportunity, Luke. I truly appreciate it.
Ethan Jones is a lawyer by trade and the author of Arctic Wargame, a spy thriller available on Amazon as an e-book and paperback. He has also published two short stories: Carved in Memory, a prequel to Arctic Wargame, and The Last Confession, both available on Amazon as e-books. His second spy thriller, Tripoli’s Target, will be released in fall 2012. Ethan lives in Canada with his wife and his son.
Arctic Wargame: Canadian Intelligence Service Agent Justin Hall—combat-hardened in operations throughout Northern Africa—has been demoted after a botched mission in Libya.
When two foreign icebreakers appear in Canadian Arctic waters, Justin volunteers for the reconnaissance mission, eager to return to the field. His team discovers a foreign weapons cache deep in the Arctic, but they are not aware that a spy has infiltrated the Department of National Defence.
The team begins to unravel a treasonous plan against Canada, but they fall under attack from one of their own. Disarmed and stripped of their survival gear, they are stranded in a remote location. Now the team must survive the deadly Arctic not only to save themselves, but their country.
Ethan is giving away ten copies of his book so head over to his blog and you could be in with a chance. Ethan Jones
May 17, 2012
28 Days Later - dvd review
Here's how you know a film is going to be good: you're at the cinema, watching the hours of trailers they show before the film you paid to see. And one trailer sticks in your head during the rest of the ads and through the next two hours. That's what happened to me a few months before 28 Days Later was released. The image of a man hiding somewhere (which turned out to be a shop in a tube station) while Brian Eno plays over the scene and a line comes up on the screen...The Days Are Numbered...well, that stayed with me for months and I still love it now.
Owing a fair debt to Romero's first few films as well as works such as The Day of the Triffids, 28 Days Later is a British apocalypse that's far removed from the cozy catastrophes of earlier films and books. Bike courier Jim wakes up in an abandoned hospital and discovers London is just as abandoned. Something is very wrong here: the overturned bus, the piles of money, the utter lack of people, the newspaper stall covered in notes and photos, the snarling priest coming after him. Soon after Jim learns a virus destroyed society during the month he's been in a coma after an accident. This virus fills whoever it affects with Rage, the all consuming need to kill. As Selena, a fellow survivor, tells him - when someone's infected, you've got between ten and twenty seconds to kill them or they'll kill you. Hooking up with cabbie Frank and his teenage daughter Megan, the survivors discover what may be their only chance at safety is...
I'm not telling you. If you haven't seen probably the best British horror of the last ten years, then do yourself a favour and get this in your collection. This isn't just a simple gorefest; it asks us some uncomfortable questions: how different are we to the infected, how close are we, in this world of Me, Me, Me, to tearing each other apart to get what we want, and if we can't (and don't) rely on each other when we're up against it, then do we deserve to survive?
The dvd has a load of bonus features but it's the film itself which is a true classic of horror.
May 11, 2012
The joke's on me
A few weeks ago, I read Zombie Apocalypse – a collection of linked pieces edited by Stephen Jones and written by a variety of authors. It came up on my zombie radar at some point last year and I’d passed on reading it for one reason. It’s written in the form of everything from Tweets to emails to diary entries to police reports and then some. I’ve always written with the idea that the story is what counts, not how that story is delivered. I suspected the format would come across as a gimmick and that the story would be lost in a confusing mishmash of ideas.
Within a day or so of starting the book, I realised I’d made a mistake with that way of thinking. As well as being a great read, it taught me a lesson: just because a story is presented in a different way does not automatically make it a bad idea. It simply makes it different. OK, the book could have been a disaster; it could have been a big clash of styles, but thanks to the editing and the talent of the writers, it works extremely well. Outside of enjoying the book as a horror story, it’s got me wondering about one day seeing if I can come up with a book written in an unusual way. Not sure if I have what it takes to do so without driving myself mad, but it’s worth thinking about.
Anyway, writing aside, Zombie Apocalypse is definitely worth checking out if you fancy a different take on horror.
Zombie Apocalypse
Within a day or so of starting the book, I realised I’d made a mistake with that way of thinking. As well as being a great read, it taught me a lesson: just because a story is presented in a different way does not automatically make it a bad idea. It simply makes it different. OK, the book could have been a disaster; it could have been a big clash of styles, but thanks to the editing and the talent of the writers, it works extremely well. Outside of enjoying the book as a horror story, it’s got me wondering about one day seeing if I can come up with a book written in an unusual way. Not sure if I have what it takes to do so without driving myself mad, but it’s worth thinking about.
Anyway, writing aside, Zombie Apocalypse is definitely worth checking out if you fancy a different take on horror.
Zombie Apocalypse
May 6, 2012
Hospital Road - first draft done
Phew. The first draft of Hospital Road is done. It's come in at just under 65,000 words which is short of where I know the final draft will end up. This has been a difficult one to write in terms of plot, pacing and character (from about 20,000 words to 45,000, it's basically me making it up as I go along which doesn't work for this one) so it's definitely best I leave it alone for my customary few weeks. I'm going to take a couple of days off, then plan a few short stories and get stuck into what will hopefully be the final edits on Belham. I think at one point, I said it should be done by the end of January which obviously hasn't happened. Not to worry. I've got some excellent feedback off a writer friend so I can put her comments to good use and have an improved book at the end of it. Then in about a month, I'll come back to Hospital Road and blitz it. As I've said, there's a great story in there somewhere. I just need to dig it out and give it a polish.
