TDWZS (The Dead War Zombie Series) What inspired you to become an author?
PM Barnes: I have been writing for as long as I can remember. I actually have some books that my mother preserved from my childhood. A few of them are actually bound and date back almost 30 years.
I feel that my love of books and of writing came from my parents. I often hear tale of my father taking my mother to the park when she was pregnant with me and sitting her under a tree so he could read to her belly.
It’s also possible, that my father is to blame for my dark literary leanings. Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner and Poe were pretty frequent guests at these “readings”, so it’s not too hard to see why much of my work leans into the macabre.
TDWZS: Why write in the zombie genre?
PM Barnes: For one, I am a huge z poc and post apoc fan. I feel like as a writer, the love of a genre generally means that you are always thinking about ways to improve it or bring in some new elements. It’s part of not being able to turn it off.
I would often be reading these really great books and thinking about twists I wished they would take. When I set out to start my own series, Zombie Seed, I actually made a list of all the things I really wanted to read about in the genre and also, all the clichés and things I felt were really played out.
In addition to that, I am a student of human psychology and I feel that we see a more clearly represented human experience in times of adversity.
What drives people to still find z poc and post apoc stories interesting, is because they maintain their relevancy and may have even increased over the last few decades.
As we consistently are reminded of how tenuous our hold is on the current arrangement of society, our fear of what will happen when it all falls down grows.
The end of the world is our favorite concept to play with. We recognize the inevitability and our powerlessness against it.
TDWZS: Lets's get to your book. What's it about? Is it a series?
PM Barnes: Zombie Seed is a culmination of all the elements I just discussed. I’m trying to view the apocalypse from the psychological side of things and focus on the carnage that humans can exact in times of uncertainty. It was really important for me to blur the lines of good and evil. While reading the series, you will at times find yourself as frightened by some of my “living” characters, as you will of the undead ones.
As of right now, the series is set to have five books in it. The book that is currently out, is actually book three. There will be two before and two after.
TDWZS: As I'm sure you know there are thousands of zombie books out there right now. What makes yours stand out?
PM Barnes: Great question and I agree. There are some really good z poc books out there and I have had a pleasure to read quite a few and get to know the authors.
I feel like what sets mine apart, is my main focus. Again, I have chosen to zero in on more of the living monsters, than the undead ones. I also bring in some turns that are not usually associated with the z poc (which I would love to list, but finding out about them is part of the suspense in the book). It’s pretty much a guarantee that while reading my books, you’ll have an “I did not expect that”, moment.
TDWZS: What's the cause of the zombie apocalypse in your books?
PM Barnes: The cause of the z poc in my series, is discussed in the next installment, ZS II: CONCEPTION. I don’t want to give too much away and blow the feel of the book, but I can say that it is not an accident. My z poc is actually a synthesized event, in response to another event.
TDWZS: Are your zombies the fast or slow moving type?
PM Barnes: Another great question. I actually have both in my book. You have once again stumbled upon one of the elements that adds to the suspense and also sets Zombie Seed apart.
TDWZS: Are you trying to make any greater point with your books or just write a good zombie story?
PM Barnes: My main focus is to entertain. There are some laugh out loud moments and ones that will have you cringing on the edge. That being said, I did want to bring a mirror up to ourselves, by showing that the depths of human depravity are something that we all are subject to.
If I had to sum my book up into one quote, it would be one of many great ones by Golda Meir, “…nothing human is alien to me.”
TDWZS: Do you have an online presence? If so where? Blogs, web sites, Twitter, Facebook, etc.
PM Barnes: You can pick up Zombie Seed in e-copy at Amazon:
Or you can pick up the paperback copy at: https://www.createspace.com/4823824
I have Youtube channel that I will be using to post weekly video blogs: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK8to-LH0k7SJmTsERk3mRw
You can find my author page on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/PMBarnesAuthor
There is also a Facebook Page for the ZOMBIE SEED series: https://www.facebook.com/zombieseedseries
