Check out my interview with Dane Hatchell, the author of Resurrection X. (TDWS is short for The Dead War Series)
DANE HATCHELL: Conventional thinking eludes me at times, not always to my benefit I might add. I’ve been drawn into worlds created by other writers, where imagination is the only limit. Over the years I’ve had various plots for stories appear in my mind, but I never had the ability to flesh out a full story. One day I came across a ‘For the love’ anthology, and decided to sit down and give it a shot. That was over five years ago, and I’m approaching the one million word mark in my fiction writing.
TDWS: Why write in the zombie genre?DANE HATCHELL: Zombies are an unconventional enemy. A creature who is already dead is a most formidable foe. What better way to explore the human condition than pushing it to limit with flesh eaters with unquenchable appetites who require no sleep?
TDWS: Let's get to your book. What's it about?DANE HATCHELL: Resurrection X is a post-apocalyptic novel set five years after the defeat of the undead by recombinant DNA warfare. The zombies are turned into obedient slaves and help rebuild the world they nearly destroyed. A lab experiment gone awry turns Lisa Goudard into a zombie-human hybrid with the key to immortality flowing in her blood. Because of the affliction, she losses her status as a citizen and now has to fight for equality. During her downward spiral, forces are at work to enslave her in hopes of perfecting the immortality drug, Resurrection X. But while all of this is going on, though programmed to serve mankind, the zombies harbor the will to survive. The taste of flesh and blood is still a recent memory, and a slow burning hunger intensifies. Let’s just say all events lead toward a day of zombie insurrection.
TDWS: Is it a series?DANE HATCHELL: Resurrection X is a standalone novel. However, it is the second book in a shared world series. The Dark Times begins the apocalypse, and occurs seven years before Resurrection X.
TDWS: As I'm sure you know there are thousands of zombie books out there right now. What makes yours stand out?DANE HATCHELL: Resurrection X brings zombies into modern society as True Blood did with vampires. Zombies are integrated into the workforce and are treated as a slave caste. The zombies are used as pawns as different forces in power manipulate their future. Without giving too much away, the zombies are evolving on their own. And whereas this is not a survival novel, there is some old fashion undead crunch and munch to be enjoyed. So Res X puts zombies right into the world of today and there are some twisted individuals that gives the story a real roller coaster ride.
TDWS: What's the cause of the zombie apocalypse in your book/books?DANE HATCHELL: The Earth wanders into a cloud of space dust and an embedded alien virus rains down. The virus is at first benign, but as time passes it mutates and raises the dead.
TDWS: Are your zombies the fast or slow moving type?DANE HATCHELL: The zombies are your clasic slow moving type.
TDWS: Are you trying to make any greater point with your books or just write a good zombie story?DANE HATCHELL: There is a greater point than just a good zombie story. Without being preachy, it does put the ‘shoe on the other foot,’ so to say. Lisa, who harbors no love for the zombie slave caste, essentially joins the ranks when she becomes the human-zombie hybrid. Her physical appearance and physiology changes somewhat, but she retains her sound mind. Lisa is forced to live the life and for once can empathize what it’s like to be treated like a slave. But, this is not some ‘oh woe is me story.’ Lisa may become compassionate for the other side, but she still maintains her character. She always believed in working for what she earned, and her new predicament doesn’t change that. Far left and far right politics both have their weaknesses. Lisa shows real strength comes from seeing both sides of the issues and working for the common good of all.
TDWS: Do you have an online presence? If so where? Blogs, web sites, Twitter, Facebook, etc.DANE HATCHELL: You can find me on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/dane.hatchell
My Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Dane-Hatchell/e/B003KAR05K/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
And even Twitter: @DaneHatchell
