1.  What made you decide to feature Empire as a free serial novel?

At the time that I had the idea for Empire, I had only just begun to be published in anthologies. I really had no idea how to approach a publisher, small-press or otherwise, with a proposal for my novel (also lazy/impatient/insecure/hungry) so I decided to self-publish it online as a way to get my name out there. I was very lucky in that Permuted Press, who'd published my first story ("Grinning Samuel" in Permuted's The Undead), offered to buy me a domain name and sponsor Empire. Jacob Kier took a risk - even if it didn't seem a sizable one - by attaching the Permuted name to Empire when only a few chapters had been posted. I'll always be grateful for that.

Another reason I was attracted to the idea of an online serial was that I could get immediate feedback from readers. That feedback helped me a great deal during the process, as I was still writing Empire while posting chapters online. It also directly affected the plot (in October '06 I held an online poll for readers to decide which character would die next).

Of course, the feedback also stroked my ego to obscene heights.
 
2.  What made you want to write a zombie novel in the first place?

I've always liked zombies, but I wouldn't have called myself a fanboy - that is, until I wrote "Grinning Samuel". Prior to that, I had a very narrow view of zombies. They were all permutations of the Romero archetype, whether shambling or running, and served largely as a catalyst for human drama (unless Lucio Fulci was involved). The undead in modern storytelling are a simple yet brilliant concept, and in the right hands a powerful metaphor; but I didn't think I could do much with 'em because I like to spend a lot of time on a monster and its mythic backstory.

When I started "Grinning Samuel", I recalled a lingering childhood nightmare about a desiccated man with mechanical hands. I plugged zombies into that nightmare and asked, what if a zombie was intelligent enough to repair its body using scrap metal and gears? Then that got me thinking, how could this rotting sack of tissue retain its brainpower when its hands have fallen apart? So I came up with a supernatural, non-viral explanation for the living dead, and that's when things really took off.

Empire takes place in the same universe as "Grinning Samuel", though more than a century later. The energy that re-animates has bonded with a blood-borne virus, but its supernatural roots are still very much present. It's that angle which helped me develop an entire bestiary of zombies - all the while keeping the classic Romero shambler in the picture - so that there's a ton of undead action going on, even if there is still that pesky element of human drama.

I also wanted to write a monster mash-up with zombies versus some other creature. Ultimately I decided that the undead's natural (or is it unnatural?) enemy would be the Grim Reaper himself. I was then able to tie the Angel of Death's presence into the zombies' supernatural origins.

Nowadays, the zombie is far and away my favorite monster.

3.  For fans of the original version of Empire, what can readers expect to find in the extra 20% that will be featured in the print version issued by Permuted Press?  

There are five new chapters called "Seeds of the Empire" (one of which is posted at the site) which offer additional backstory. Since Empire takes place 105 years after a zombie outbreak has ravaged the earth, I wanted to offer some more insight into that chaotic century, as well as present-day life outside of Jefferson Harbor, LA, where the novel takes place. Readers will find out what it was like in the first years following the outbreak, and what happened to America's last president. They'll find out more about Addison and his preoccupation with the "Old Ones" he believes are behind the plague.

And there's a lot more about the military effort against the undead. Because most of the characters in Empire vilify the Army for pulling out and deserting Jefferson Harbor, I wanted to show the point of view of young soldiers following orders and trying to make the best of a nightmare. Five new chapters entitled "Hand of God" get into that.

Despite the setting and circumstances, I've tried to avoid drawing any Iraq/Katrina parallels, but they've probably crept in nonetheless. Hard for them not to in a story about huge fucking disasters.

4.  Why do you think zombie novels are all the rage these days?

I personally believe that a big part of it is the apocalyptic factor. Even if religion's not your thing, it's hard to look at the world today without thinking that humanity's swan song might be drawing near (relatively near, anyway). The other thing is the aforementioned use of zombies as metaphors – as Romero famously wrote, "They're us," and that fact should never escape the reader.

5.  You've got a story coming out in the upcoming Headshot Quartet anthology.  What can you tell us about that?

"Lost Souls" is a novella set in the present-day Empire universe. I should mention that, while most of my published zombie stories are Empire-related, they read as stand-alone tales. "Lost Souls" deals with three art students who rent an isolated cottage during winter break. Their fixation on the bleak and macabre comes around to bite them in the ass. In some cases, literally.

It's a tribute to zombie cinema's other father - godfather, more appropriately – Fulci. The atmosphere and violence are strongly inspired by The House by the Cemetery.

It's also an update of the first story I ever wrote, at the age of 10. The more I think about it, the more I think that maybe I have always been a zombie fanboy – just didn't know it. Anyway, this version of "Lost Souls" doesn't feature T-Rexes or vampire bat snipers but it's an update nonetheless.

6.  You've also written a prequel to Empire called AfterDead that can be read on your website.  Are there any plans for a print version?

"AfterDead" is a novella-length story, first published as a serial in The Hacker's Source magazine (eveblaackpub.com). I'd like to include it in a collection someday, maybe with my other Empire-related stories – guess it all depends on whether or not Empire itself hits it big!

7.  It seems like the zombie subgenre could become stagnant without authors willing to try new things.  What hasn't been done with zombies?  Is there a particular type of zombie story that you're just dying to write (i.e. western, mystery, sci-fi)? 

As I mentioned, I was once turned off to zombies because I couldn't think of anything new to do with them. But I know now that there is always, always always something new waiting to be dreamed up. Permuted Press, as indicated by the name, has been at the forefront of a movement to keep zombie fiction afloat by introducing new twists on the mythology.

A zombie story I'd love to write, and probably will? Political thriller. (See "AfterDead" for hints as to what I mean!)

8.  What is your proudest moment as a writer?   
The look on my wife's face when she held The Undead in her hands and saw my name on the back cover.

9.  What's your favorite post-apocalyptic novel and why?

Kim Paffenroth's Dying to Live. I know I'm starting to sound like a shill for Permuted Press, but Kim's novel is really amazing and oughta nab him another Stoker this year. His vision of a zombie apocalypse benefits both from practical considerations and a wonderful imagination. It's a believable end-of-the-world scenario with believable characters that still manages to have strange supernatural undertones; and a story that asks a lot of thoughtful questions without detracting from the balls-out horror.

10.  What are you working on now?    

"Al Hallows: The Devil's Due" (devils-due.blogspot.com) is a serial novella that will begin later this spring. It's about a private investigator in Purgatory and my attempt to blend Christian mythology and Lovecraft without going the misinformed good-vs-evil route espoused by Derleth. Besides that, I'm mostly subbing to anthologies, and trying to branch out from zombie fiction in the process.

11.  Any parting thoughts?

Thanks for the opportunity to discuss my writing, Jason! Doing imaginary NPR interviews in my head was getting old (and really, why would Terry Gross interview a zombie author? Also I don't even like Terry Gross). The online version of Empire is still available at EmpireNovel.com, and updates about other stuff appear on my MySpace: myspace.com/thac