Interview with author Brandon Hale

Whether you call it humorous adventure or quirky horror one thing is for sure, “Day Soldiers” by Brandon Hale, is a one of a kind thriller. Taking place in a world where vampires -- the old school, scary kind – and other monsters rule the night, humans are terrified of venturing out after dark. It’s up to a group of brave individuals to battle the monsters of the night.

Let’s hear what the very imaginative Brandon Hale has to say about “Day Soldiers”.


Q: The plot of “Day Soldiers” is very unique. How did you get the idea?


A: Being honest, I don't remember. Day Soldiers didn't really hit me in a moment of inspiration. It's a story that has been evolving in my head for at least a decade. Last year, I realized that pretty much the entire story was completed in my mind, so I decided it was time to make it real.


Q: Was it your intention to tap into the instinctive fear of the dark, left over from childhood; that never seems to completely go away?


A: Absolutely. I love the idea of a modern world that - in many ways - is thrown back to the dark ages. During the day, people live their lives normally... but they make sure they're in their homes by nightfall because the night no longer belongs to humanity. I find that concept intriguing (a war where the advantage is completely dependent upon the time of day or night).


Q: One of the trickiest things about suspenseful books, like this, is effectively playing on the readers’ vulnerabilities. Was this difficult for you, or did the psychological aspects of the writing come naturally to you?


A: I think good suspense comes naturally after you've established two things: The reader has to care about the characters and the reader has to believe the danger to those characters is real.

Once I've established those two things, the suspense usually just... shows up.


Q: “Day Soldiers” is described as part horror, part comedy and part adventure. Do you prefer writing books that are a blend of different genres?


A: Definitely! I like to refer to my books as "quirky horror." I love classic horror movies like "An American Werewolf in London" and "Fright Night." What do these movies have in common? They don't treat a genre as a hard set of rules. One minute, you're laughing... the next, you're screaming. I love that.

Above all else, good horror must be fun. If it's not fun, it doesn't work. That's my most important rule when writing. I love genre-hopping, but above all, the book must be a fun ride.


Q: One of the themes of “Day Soldiers” is the importance of facing your fears. Did you set out to write a book that would inspire bravery?


A: I'm not sure if it was a conscious goal when writing Day Soldiers, but it happened anyway. I set out to create characters that are real, but just a little larger than life. They feel fear, but they aren't controlled by it.

In many ways, the main characters in Day Soldiers are the people I hope I would be in that situation. In that way, I find them inspiring. I hope others do, too.


Q: Generally speaking, to what extent do you relate to your central characters?


A: All of my books are character driven. Whether it's a hero or a villain, every character has to feel real to me. Because of this, I find myself extremely connected to those characters by the end of a book.

The central characters in Day Soldiers love to laugh. Even in the face of unimaginable horrors, they try to find something to laugh at. It's a survival technique for them. I can relate to that.

By the time I finish a book, the characters often feel more like friends than creations. I know that sounds moderately insane, but it's true. I hope other authors can back me up on that. I'm not crazy.

Really.


Q: Readers seem to be very enthusiastic about this book. Why do you think that is?


A: The enthusiasm about this book really blew me away. It was honestly very humbling. I've received fan art, fan letters, and even some fan fiction from the Day Soldiers reality. It's quite overwhelming.

When writing Day Soldiers, I really wanted it to feel like a ride. I didn't want there to be any moments where the reader felt like he or she was waiting to get to the "fun part." My goal was to write an entire book that was all "the fun part."

I hope the reader response to this book suggests I've met that goal. That also means the pressure's on for capturing that again in the second book.


Q: Do you think readers find it refreshing that you are not romanticizing vampires the way the “Twilight” series and others have?


A: I hope so.

When I was a kid, seeing a vampire outside your window would have been terrifying. Today, it's often seen as an opportunity for romance. I think some readers are ready to move on from that.

Our monsters have become anti-heroes. Modern vampires aren't scary. They're romantic... even pitied. They're often portrayed as noble victims of a terrible curse.

Unlike many readers, I have nothing against the Twilight books. I applaud Meyer for her success and I'm happy to see any book that gets young people reading.

However, I think many readers are ready for monsters to be monsters again. I wrote Day Soldiers for them.


Q: How many books are you planning for this series?


A: Day Soldiers is a trilogy. The second book should be available by late June/Early July. The third will come shortly after that.


Q: Can you give us an idea of what to expect in the second book?


A: The second book picks up six months after the end of the first book.

I don't want to give anything away to folks that haven't read the first book yet, so I'll just say this... in the second book, the stakes are raised in pretty much every way.