Variations on this question are asked of me regularly. Why do you write about zombies? What about zombies fascinates you? Zombies—what are you thinking?
There was a point in time early in my writing that I was asked this so much, that I was almost gun-shy at the mere mention of the topic. But it didn’t take me long to get over it, because like it or not—I love me some zombies.
I am more of a dark reader, and by that I mean that I generally read more on the strange side. Don’t get me wrong, I read all sorts of books – but I generally gravitate toward the dark side. And zombies usually have their far share of dark.
Zombies are our fellow citizens transformed into ravenous cannibals, wearing the bodies of the living and stopping at nothing to get what they desire, flesh. Dark enough for me, how ‘bout you?
I think what I like most about this genre, is the risk. The risk factor for the characters is elevated. Not only do they have to face real world problems and ruthless enemies, but zombies as well. When writing about the undead, I sometimes feel like I’m running from mobsters—trying to take me out of commission at any moment—during a hurricane. It’s a roller coaster track, that grows legs and walks around the park, while the ride is in motion.
Even if you’re not an avid horror reader, most of us are at least a little intrigued by the things that go bump in the night. Zombies are awesome in the monster world. But if there were to be a monster apocalypse, wouldn’t you rather it be zombies? I mean, traditional vampires, werewolves, and demons—spell game over humans. At least we could have a chance with the walking dead. Customarily, the others are far stronger and faster than us, and far surpass reanimated corpses when it comes to intelligence. We would have little to no chance in defending ourselves. And where’s the fun in that?
I’m on team zombie, which makes them fun for me to write about. Plus, I am scared of zombies, so having a stellar cast of characters overcome the odds, helps to put my mind at ease.
There was a point in time early in my writing that I was asked this so much, that I was almost gun-shy at the mere mention of the topic. But it didn’t take me long to get over it, because like it or not—I love me some zombies.
I am more of a dark reader, and by that I mean that I generally read more on the strange side. Don’t get me wrong, I read all sorts of books – but I generally gravitate toward the dark side. And zombies usually have their far share of dark.
Zombies are our fellow citizens transformed into ravenous cannibals, wearing the bodies of the living and stopping at nothing to get what they desire, flesh. Dark enough for me, how ‘bout you?
I think what I like most about this genre, is the risk. The risk factor for the characters is elevated. Not only do they have to face real world problems and ruthless enemies, but zombies as well. When writing about the undead, I sometimes feel like I’m running from mobsters—trying to take me out of commission at any moment—during a hurricane. It’s a roller coaster track, that grows legs and walks around the park, while the ride is in motion.
Even if you’re not an avid horror reader, most of us are at least a little intrigued by the things that go bump in the night. Zombies are awesome in the monster world. But if there were to be a monster apocalypse, wouldn’t you rather it be zombies? I mean, traditional vampires, werewolves, and demons—spell game over humans. At least we could have a chance with the walking dead. Customarily, the others are far stronger and faster than us, and far surpass reanimated corpses when it comes to intelligence. We would have little to no chance in defending ourselves. And where’s the fun in that?
I’m on team zombie, which makes them fun for me to write about. Plus, I am scared of zombies, so having a stellar cast of characters overcome the odds, helps to put my mind at ease.
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