Interview of author Glynn James

Today I have an interview with Glynn James. He is the author of Diary Of The Displaced, Chasing Spirits, The Last To Fall, and The Broken Lands (being published in episodes and not fully available). His books can be found at Smashwords and on Amazon.  [image error] [image error] [image error] [image error]
[image error] Tellus about yourself.
I live out town inEngland called Wellingborough, but originate a massive three miles from there,across the mists and into another dimension called Finedon. I've written inalmost every genre that there is, most of it absolute rubbish. Some wouldsuggest it still is. I'm glad that others disagree.

Howlong have you been writing?
I started writingwhen I was eight years old, straight after I read "I Am Legend" byRichard Matheson. I loved the book and it's remained one of my favourites eversince it introduced me to horror. At the time I thought I could write adifferent ending, so I did. It had Darth Vader, Aliens & Cowboys in it andwas terrible. At the time, I thought it was the best thing ever.
Doyou have any rituals when you write; is there any one thing that inspires you?
I always stopwriting in the middle of a sentence, so that next time I go back I can justjump straight into the scene again. Blank pages are hardest thing to overcomewith writing, bar nothing. I day dream a lot, and that's where my ideas comefrom. The things that inspire me and cause those ideas are usually very smalldetails, things that usually go unnoticed, like a number or a name carved intoa tree, or a broken window in a building that I've never been in.
Whatare your future plans for writing, do you have any works in progress?
I have over fiftyunfinished works. Some that may never get finished, but many will. Two of themare the continuation of the Displaced series, but many are novellas or shortstories, some related to the Displaced books and in the same "world",others completely unrelated, even in genre. The Joe Dean book "The Last toFall" is the first in a novella series, and I have outlines for at leastfour others in that series.
I also have plansto do a drama series of fiction books. Kind of like TV dramas, in that they areabout "normal" people's lives, except this will be in a quiteabnormal setting. I haven't decided the setting yet, maybe a classic fantasyworld or maybe post apocalyptic.
At the start of2012 I'm collaborating with Michael Stephen Fuchs (http://michaelfuchs.org/razorsedge/),who is a terrific writer of high octane modern techno thrillers, (Delta Forceand hackers and all that awesome stuff) whose last few novels were published byPan Macmillan. We're going to write an action combat thriller with zombies vsspecial ops. I think he will write the special ops and I'll write the zombies,or something like that. My zombies are so gonna eat all his best characters.
NowI'm going to ask you some horror related questions, just so the reader can getto dig into your brain a little.
Whoor what was your boogey man when you were growing up?
Worzel Gummidge. Everything about that program was terrifying.Later on, the Nazi Mutants from "American Werewolf in London".They were nasty.
Whodo you think is scarier; a fictitious monster, such as a werewolf, or one thatcould be real, like a psychopath?
What do you mean?You don't believe in werewolves?You've nevervisited Finedon.For me, fictionalcharacters are more scary. The mind and the imagination is unlimited in itsability to frighten itself. Though, I've never met a psychopath. I wouldimagine they are pretty damn scary too.
Ifyou're being chased by a monster, would you look over your shoulder behind youto see how close it was?
I've got DogThing.What makes you think the monster would be the one doing the chasing?               If I absolutelyhad to be the one running, I'd look back.               After I had just run past someone else.               (Preferably someone I don't like.)

Inthe way of tradition monsters, do you prefer the old tradition? Example:Vampires and sunlight, werewolves and the cycles of the moon, and stumblingzombies. Or you do you like the break out of new and improved monsters?Example: Indestructible vampires, werewolves shifting at will, and runnerzombies?
I definitely havea fence pole sticking into me on this one.
In a lot of ways Iprefer the old monsters, but mainly because they were monsters. I think more recently too many books make them toocuddly. I can't deny that it doesn't have its place though.
On the other hand, runner zombies and hybridsof various monsters are a huge part of a lot of my creations. I like to mixthings up. Like in "The Last to Fall" and "Diary of theDisplaced". There are various types of what I call zombies. There are thetraditional slow, virus-spreading ones, but also there are ones that are reallymonstrous creations by some madman. Creating new ways to make something scaryis what I love most about monster creation. And it's about time we had some newbad guys.
The maw areanother example. Many people have said that they are waiting for DogThing toturn into a human and I've been asked why my werewolves stay in wolf form somuch. They don't. They aren't traditional werewolves. They are sentient hellhounds. I've nearly finished a short story that i'll release at some pointsoon. That short story clears up exactly what the maw are.
Hereis the mother loaded question. The zombie apocalypse has fallen upon us.Society and government has collapsed. All of technology and conveniences ofmodern day have crumbled. Groups of survivors are gathering the remnants ofwhat is left and trying to rebuild a new world. You have to start over fromscratch. You have nothing. You have to build your own house, grow your ownfood, and make your own fuel, medicine, and clothing. The question is this:What is the one thing (thing, not person) you would miss the most in the worldthat you live now?
Electricity.
Isthere anything you would like to tell the readers?
To everyone whohas read one of my books, thank you for giving an unknown writer of weird stuffa chance to entertain you for a few hours.
Tellus something that most people don't know about you.
            My religion is TheChurch of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (No really, look it up).            Join us. Pirates are cool and can save us from global warming.

Chocolate:milk, white, or dark?
            Can we add mintchocolate to that?            Mint Aero is heaven in a packet.

Areyou a night or day person?
Night
Favoritesong?
"Name"by The Goo Goo Dolls.
Favoritebook?
            "I am Legend"by Richard Matheson.            "The graveyard book" by Neil Gaiman is a close second.

Favoritemovie?
            "The GreenMile" starring Tom Hanks.            "Castaway" also starring Tom Hanks in close second.
Thanks for letting me pick your brain. I look forward to reading more from you and wish you the best of luck in your writing.