Can you tell readers a little bit about
yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?
I was born and
raised in New Orleans, LA and moved to Monterey, CA about twelve years ago. I
always wanted to be a writer, but spent the last thirty years avoiding that by
developing computer games.
When I am writing
this genre, I am obviously trying to convey the horrible reality of an actual
post-apocalyptic world in the story; the fear, the challenges, the loneliness,
and all that negative jazz. But honestly, especially as a reader, the
post-apocalyptic genre appeals to my desire to be alone. I have a desire to wander
free in a simple world where there are no politics, no wars, no rat race; just
empty houses and large stores stuffed with everything I need to survive. And it
also leaves me feeling grateful for the life I have, the family, the friends,
and the small creature comforts.
What is it about the paranormal, in
particular vampires, that fascinates you so much?
Imagination. All of
these creatures allow my imagination to go wild. It’s like reliving a little
bit of that magical time as a child when you could get scared.
What inspired you to write this
book?
I’ve wanted to
write a post-apocalyptic novel for a while, but this book was started when my
son went off to college. It was a way to be with him (yes, in a kind of weird
and imaginary way) because I knew I would miss him. It has helped me
personally.
Please tell us about your latest
release.
Euphoria-Z is a traditional zombie apocalypse
novel with plot twists, well-developed characters, and a totally unique
beginning.
Do you have a special formula for
creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning
to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain
time periods or regions?
No. I use a common
name for whatever period or region I am writing in. I spend very little time
choosing a name. I usually go to Google and type in something like “most common
boy names 1955” or whatever year the character was born, and then choose from
the list. The reason I choose quickly is because I like to let the character
own the name. Think of the common first name Michael. Now add the common
surnames Myers, Corleone, or Scott. These three names evoke three very
different images of a man created by the characters themselves.
In Euphoria-Z, Tug is the nickname that
Abel Tugerson goes by. The nickname really says the most about him, evoking the
image of a tugboat or a chronic masturbator who tugs a lot. I named him Abel
Tugerson without thought and as his character evolved, the nickname emerged. I
then rewrote the introduction of his character, introducing him as Tug from the
beginning.
“Abel Tugerson, Tug to everyone and
anyone since he could remember, stood in the bed of a beat-to-shit pickup truck
as it rolled slowly down the 101. It was covered in rotten flesh and putrid
streaks of gore.”
Of course, there
are stories where name research and thought is required such as a sci-fi novel
with an alien race or where the character’s name might be part of the fiction,
but so far, I’ve just named my characters and moved on quickly.
Was one of your characters more
challenging to write than another?
The main character,
because I made the mistake of basing him on my son. I was subconsciously
protecting him and was blind to it until the first beta reader sent her
feedback. The initial chapters of the first draft were very boring and I completely
deleted them. I reframed the character in my head and started from the
beginning. The writing was much easier and went quickly once it was dealing
with a fictional character and I was not putting my son in danger.
Is there a character that you
enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
Probably Banjo. He
was such an a-hole that there was never a dilemma of right or wrong, good or bad,
he just did what he wanted with no remorse, no regrets, and no thought for
anyone but himself. So, he was easy to write. He’s also many of the readers’
favorite character. He evoked a lot of reaction from them.
Do
you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character
sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the
character develop as you write?
I let them develop. It sounds crazy,
but the characters kind of live in my head and I just follow them around and
take notes. I may know I want a bad guy and have a vague idea of what I want,
but who shows up and what I learn about them as they proceed through the story
is totally unknown to me at first. Banjo started as a label in my head; a
racist/biker. As I wrote him, he took on thought and speech patterns, likes and
dislikes, and I quickly developed a strong feeling of how he would handle any
given situation. Would he let people live, kill them quickly, torture them, or
maybe do something worse?
What is your favorite scene from the
book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
The very first
scene. The lead character, Cooper, is being hunted in a primordial forest
setting. The odds are eight to one, and he decides to take a stand against his
pursuers. This scene sets the tone of the book – things aren’t always as they
appear; sometimes they are worse even when things seemed bad to begin with.
I am worried that people
will read the first few pages and assume the book will be like every other
zombie novel, but it quickly and dramatically departs from the ex-military,
armed-to-the-teeth, ass-kicker scenario. The first scene is also important
because it helps the reader gauge the severity of change in the world and the
characters and it also gives us an understanding of the lead characters’
weaknesses and strengths.
Did you find anything really
interesting while researching this or another book?
A few things. In
the book, the main character decides to go on foot across the Monterey Peninsula,
avoiding streets and highways so he won’t run into the dead and the fleeing
humans that attract them. I learned a lot I didn’t know about the geography and
layout of the city. I needed to find out how high the hills are, how the sewers
and storm drains are laid out, and how long it might take to make your way on
foot from various points in town. But really what I learned was just how
absolutely challenging and treacherous the terrain is around here. There are a
lot of wooded areas and they are creepy if you are alone and thinking about
zombies. I am afraid I didn’t convey that in the book. I had a bunch of stuff
written that described it, but it made for boring reading, so I cut it.
What is the most interesting thing
you have physically done for book related research purposes?
I’ve been to a lot
of weird and interesting places. I seek out places and experiences that aren’t
common for me. These can be things as simple as a bar room in the middle of the
day or walking around a city at 3 AM or so. There is a huge difference between
New Orleans, LA at 3 AM and Monterey, CA at 3 AM! I’ve stood around a trashcan
fire listening to homeless people on many occasions, and walked through
numerous abandoned places and through a few storm drains. Just this weekend, I
went into several of the abandoned barracks on a closed military base in the
area.
You may not think
it, but walking into a dark storm sewer, even during the day, is scary. The
most recent time I’ve done it, I used the light on my key fob to go in about
thirty feet, then shut it off. It was very dark and eerie. I let my eyes adjust,
though, and could see the faint glow of the next storm drain farther down. This
may not be a big deal to many people, but the point is that for me it induced a
strong sense of apprehension and discomfort. I also got to experience
firsthand, even just a little taste, of being in a storm drain. It adds to you
as a writer when you do this. I didn’t leave immediately, but remained and
soaked in the nervous feeling, experienced it, and tried to put it into words.
I noticed how I became comfortable after a while, my eyes adjusted, I noticed
the smell more, I could see the odd mixture of the always-wet floor and the
bone-dry upper half of the concrete pipe with dead dried vines coming in
through the seams where the pipe sections fit together. You have to walk
stooped, and that gets old quickly. You also have to walk on the edge of the
water in the pipe or straddle it if you don’t want to get your feet wet. If you
straighten up, you hit your head on the top of the pipe. Not only does that
hurt, but there’s all kinds of crap in the dark that clings to the concrete and
will get in your hair. I’m talking snails, spiders, roaches, and the like.
Can you tell readers a little bit
about the world building in the book/series? How does this world differ from
our normal world?
I decided to base
the fictional world on my hometown. That allowed me access to all the locations
in the book. It’s fun to drive to a location and just take in the atmosphere
and details. The difference from our normal world would be hordes of zombies.
With the book being part of a
series, are there any character or story arcs, that readers jumping in somewhere
other than the first book, need to be aware of? Can these books be read as
stand alones?
Euphoria-Z is the first of a planned series of
at least three books. I recommend that they all be read and in order.
Do any of your characters have
similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?
All of them. In order
to write a wide range of characters from good to evil, it is necessary to make
decisions in the fiction as the character would. Characters are going to do and
say things the author would never dream of. But, even the vilest act has a
basis in common emotions we can all understand, the roots of which are love and
fear. A racist who expresses intense hate is actually intensely afraid of the
race they profess to hate. Their fear is great enough that they want to
terrorize and scare those who scare them. It’s the fight-or-flight mechanism at
work. They are no more than a scared, cornered animal that only has three
choices: submit, run away, or attack. I can understand that level of fear and
apply it to the mind of a character. The trick is to write the character acting
on their fear in a way true to the character and not how you might act on that
same fear. I try to stay true to my characters. If they are a racist, they are not
going to change or soften that belief without good reason. I’ve read a few too
many books where a character “didn’t know why he did it, but he let him go.” I
call BS on that! If a writer wrote himself into a corner then he should change
the world, change the events, but don’t make a character do something out of
character.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s
block? How do you deal with it?
No, and I wrote a
posting on my Goodreads blog on how I don’t buy into writer’s block. I really
take issue with a lot of what is being taught about writing. Commonly accepted
opinions about submitting, competition, rejection (so-called), and writer’s
block, among many others are a horrible disservice to aspiring writers.
Do you have any weird writing quirks
or rituals?
No, not really.
Do you write in different genres?
Yes.
Do you find it difficult to write in
multiple genres?
No, a genre switch
is fun and makes writing fresh. If I wrote the same genre all the time, I would
get bored. Switching genres allows me to explore totally different characters,
dialogue, settings, etc.
When did you consider yourself a
writer?
Not until
recently. I’d been published for well over ten years, but for some reason, never
considered myself a writer. I started to question this and realized my definition
of a writer was wrong. I read somewhere a long time ago that if you are writing,
you are a writer; when you stop writing, you are not. I just accepted that I am
writer because I decided to consider myself one. Being a writer is a call no
one can make but the individual.
What are your guilty pleasures in
life?
I record several
shows and binge watch them. I love skipping commercials and not having to wait
a week or more for the next installment. I feel guilty spending the better part
of a day watching TV once in a while, but I also feel that I am taking less
time out of my life to watch this way. I feel guilty because TV is mostly a
distraction. It is hardly an inspiration but I think I need the time to kind of
shut off my brain and watch the screen.
Other than writing, what are some of
your interests, hobbies or passions in life?
I love physical
art. I am an accomplished computer artist, but find the creation of life-sized
props much more fulfilling. I’ve built several life-sized pirate skeletons that
are very detailed with hats, clothes, jewelry, weapons, etc. I’ve also done a
few zombies and other assorted objects for plays and retail locations. You can
see examples on my website.
What was the last amazing book you
read?
Amazing? Probably
a Jeffrey Deaver novel, and I haven’t read one in years. He’s the only author I
can remember in the last twenty years to have spun my head around with the
twists in his book. His plot twists are never outlandish or forced, but they
are unforeseen (at least by me) and kind of blow me away. He’s also really good
at introducing a ton of information on a specific topic to the reader without
leaving them confused or feeling like he took an info-dump on their heads.
Where is your favorite place to
read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?
My bed at night or
on a rainy day.
What can readers expect next from
you?
I have the next book in the Euphoria-Z series roughed out, and a sword and sorcery novel, the first
of a series entitled Dark Deeds and Black Magics. The Prequel entitled Origins is already available. I am
working on a thriller I hope to have done by October 2014.
Where can readers find you on the
web?
Would you like to leave readers with
a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
The present, Monterey, California
“Fuck!” The wiry,
gray-haired old man felt his eyes go wide with surprise, but he quickly got his
shit together. Jasper scowled; now he was very pissed off. He might stoop and
shuffle when he walked, but he didn’t take any shit.
Some big fat bastard was
bear-hugging him from behind. He could see white mountains of wet flab before
his eyes, and he smelled vomit. He felt a massive wet belly and man tits
pressing against his back. Large folds of cold wet flesh engulfed him, and he
shuddered at the sensation.
He hated hugs, especially
from men, and hugs from big fat sweaty bastards were absolutely unacceptable.
He carried his best spiked hammer, an old-school Craftsman from back in the
day, before the gooks were making them. He was just itching to use it. The fat
bastard was yelling something in his ear.
“I love you! I love you,
man!”
“Ahhh, geez!” Jasper
twisted out of the flabby cocoon and took a few steps back. What he saw
disgusted him. It was a giant fat kid, a head taller than himself, who looked
like a giant baby, all hairless and soft. The kid was smiling like an idiot,
and that made Jasper even more pissed off. Food smeared the kid’s face and ran
down his chins in greasy streams between his man tits and over his belly. All
Jasper could think was that all that shit was all over his back. Now he would
have to burn his shirt and take a long, hot shower.
The kid wore nothing but
baggy white underwear soaked in sweat. Jasper shuddered at the clammy coldness
on his back. His flannel shirt clung to him and felt like a cold, wet bathing suit.
“I love you, man!” The
big fat kid smiled as he came at him for another hug.
“Ahhhh! Fuck you!”
Despite his advanced age, Jasper moved with an efficiency and force that spoke
of his many years as a carpenter. He brought the spiked hammer down on the kid’s
skull, and it collapsed inward with little resistance. He liked the sensation
of cracking a head but hated wasting the time to do it.
The kid dropped to the
concrete like a wet sack. He was still smiling, which made cracking his skull
less enjoyable. Jasper wished he could bash every asshole around with his
trusty hammer. He looked around to make sure another shithead wasn’t looking
for a hug.
A woman came at him,
hooting so loud he could hear it over the crowd, waving her tits at him. He
took her out too, with an easy smack between the eyes. He had enough of this
shit. He cracked a few more skulls for fun, but he got bored. It was always the
same: an easy tap to the skull and the moron dropped, still smiling.
The streets were crammed
with people, and they were all acting crazy. Jasper just wanted to get home. It
seemed everyone was congregating downtown, streaming in from the surrounding
neighborhoods. People were walking in large groups, arm in arm, naked and
clothed, dancing, running, and hugging. It all made Jasper sick, just god-awful
sick.
He tried to go all the
way downtown and almost got caught up in the crowd. People were pushing and
jamming each other into doors until they cracked open. He heard the crash of
large plate-glass windows, but no one reacted. In fact, he saw people just
getting pushed through the windows in a wave. He could tell that people were
getting seriously injured and killed, and he just wanted to get the hell out of
there.
He left at the right
time. The press of the massive crowd smashed and suffocated, ground and
trampled, and killed many—and the party continued to grow. No one screamed in
panic or pain. No one yelled for help or dialed 911. And no one stopped to
offer assistance, an apology, or true human interaction of any kind. Everyone
was bent on doing exactly what they wanted to do, and what anyone else wanted
didn’t matter to them in the slightest.
In any place where people
gathered for a good time, the crowds were thick. The mall was packed, but the
hospital was empty. The wharf was so full that hundreds fell into the icy
waters of the bay. The office parks and businesses were dark and silent. Some
groups formed parties on random streets for one reason or another.
A large majority of the
city was empty, devoid of people. Most left their homes and walked away,
leaving doors unlocked and often wide open. They would join a group and wander
away.
There were still a few
souls hiding indoors who were anything but euphoric. They watched with fear and
horror the goings-on outside their windows. Jasper had been one of these, but
he needed his goddamned pills and had to drive through all this crazy shit to
get them. Of course, when he got to the damn pharmacy it was closed. He had
tried to call ahead, but no one answered the phone. He was pissed. He wanted
nothing to do with this crazy shit. He didn’t want to see any of it and
certainly didn’t want to walk through it. He saw quite a few people doing
things he had only seen in his buddies’ dirty magazines. But there was one thing
every single person was doing: smiling like a retard with a lollipop—every
single one.
At first, he thought all
the outlandish behavior was confined to idiots, kids, and queers. It had to be
some new drug to get them this nuts, he thought. But too many people were
acting bonkers, too many people who just didn’t fit the behavior.
He walked as quickly as
he was able away from the crowd and back to his car. He’d seen some shit in his
day, but in the last few the world had descended into pandemonium. There were
reports that almost everyone around the world was walking away from their jobs,
no matter how critical. Everything was grinding to a halt. Transportation,
communication—private or military, trivial or critical—everything was just
going belly up. Jasper had known this day was coming ever since the blacks were
allowed to vote.
And the crooks in
Washington didn’t know anything. They said it was an unknown virus and
creatively named it Euphoria-Z. Z because they didn’t know what it was, only
what it did. And their advice? Stay indoors and away from crowds, bunch of
geniuses.
Jasper had never expected
he would need to kill people, not since the war, but in the last few days he
had been forced to. The streets were crazy, and he wouldn’t even be outside if he
hadn’t needed his pills. He felt as if he were the only sane person for miles.
He looked at his feet and wondered, only briefly, if something were wrong with
him? No, couldn’t be, he thought. None of this was right. The world had gone
crazy.
Euphoria-Z
Book 1
Luke Ahearn
Genre: Thriller/Zombie Apocalypse
Publisher: Luke Ahearn
Date of Publication: May 19, 2014
ISBN-13: 978-1497497382
ISBN-10: 1497497388
Number of pages: 409
Word Count: 118,099
Cover Artist: Steven J Catizone
Book Description:
Civilization shuts down as throngs of speechless hedonists fill the streets in deadly revelry. They feel only pleasure and never pain, even as they are injured, maimed, and mutilated. Few people remain in the world unaffected, left to witness the madness unaware that things are about to get unbelievably worse.
Cooper is among the few survivors of a conspiracy to depopulate the world. One week ago, college was his biggest concern. Now he is on a dangerous journey to find his sister as an ever-present threat of nightmarish proportions engulfs the world, throwing him in the path of some of the most malicious people that ever walked the earth.
About the Author:
Luke Ahearn has over 20 years of professional game development experience and has authored numerous nonfiction books on the topic. He ran his own computer game company for ten years and currently owns MasterWerxStudios, an animatronic prop shop in Monterey, CA.
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3 comments:
I have no idea what I would do with a zombie head, but I want it!
Nice interview
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