Today we’d like to bring to your attention another great horror writer who is currently in the middle of a blog tour. We interviewed Armand Rosamilia to get the low down on him and his Dying Days series. And guess what? There’s also a giveaway at the end as well! (That’s not an excuse for you to jump to the bottom of the page either. This is a great interview you won’t want to miss)
Here we go!
Of all the genres, what made you choose Horror?
Horror chose me at an early age. Dean Koontz and a hundred other horror authors turned me on to the genre. I’d sit in my parent’s room and read my mother’s dog-eared paperbacks and couldn’t get enough of them.
What made you decide you wanted to be a writer?
I wanted to do what Koontz and King were doing. I thought (at eleven or twelve) I could do that. Of course, I was horrible, but kept at it on and off and finally got serious in my thirties about pursuing it. Right now I do this full-time and love it.
You’re a published author now. How hard was it to get where you are?
Even though I’d been writing for 20+ years, I got my first actual sale in January 2009 (my Death Metal horror/thriller novella). I’d sold stories to anthologies and published my own work as well as others through Carnifex Press and then later Rymfire Books, but that was the first time another publisher took a chance on a longer piece of my work. I’d say I’ve written my million words at this point, like King tells a new writer.
Tell us about your Dying Days series.
To go back to the beginning, Dying Days started because Comet Press was looking for an extreme zombie novella. So I wrote Highway To Hell, but it missed the cut. I reworked it and published it myself. People responded to it, especially to the female lead in the bonus short story, so I started writing stories with Darlene Bobich in them. Darlene Bobich: Zombie Killer, Dying Days and Dying Days 2 are the three novellas out so far, but many more are coming, as long as people keep asking for them.
Are there any other projects you are/have been working on?
I’m constantly writing, and set a 2,000 word goal each day. It doesn’t matter what I’m working on as long as I’m writing. Right now I have four anthology stories I’m finishing, Still Dying: Select Scenes From Dying Days, two horror novels, and ideas for two stand-alone Dying Days novellas. And whatever else gets in my way…
When you’re not writing, what are you generally doing?
Wishing I were writing. I have a very addictive personality (especially when I’m off my meds), and writing is everything to me. Sometimes my friends and family hate me, because my world revolves around writing and publishing. If I’m not actually writing I’m reading a print book or on my Kindle.
What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far?
Being able to do this for a living right now (not a great living, but it’s slowly paying the bills) is great, but I get the biggest thrill out of strangers e-mailing me and talking about my books or asking questions about Dying Days. Meeting people that like your work enough to write you is pretty humbling and awesome.
Will there be any additions to the Dying Days series, or will you be starting something new?
Still Dying: Select Scenes From Dying Days will be next, a collection of 13 short stories featuring old and new characters from the series. After that there will definitely be a novella-length release starring another female lead, Tosha Shorb. In between the Dying Days books I intend to finish up a short story collection, the aforementioned novels and other things, and keep adding. I have 40+ releases and I write constantly. I also have a great support system of beta readers that rip my prose apart and make it better.
If you were to set a goal for the future, what would it be?
To get my books into as many hands as possible, and to work with some of the great small presses out there. I’m not looking for a big traditional publisher contract, I’m looking to work with some of the presses that will put me before new fans. My goal is simple: 2,000 words per day and see what happens.
Any finally, who is your favourite horror icon?
Michael Myers from Halloween scared the crap out of me as a kid, and I’ve never gotten that buzz that strongly since. I’ve never used drugs but its like addicts who talk about chasing that first high. To me, I’m chasing the feeling of nearly pissing my pants at twelve every time I watch another horror movie or read another horror book.
Great interview right? Well here’s the bit you’ve all been waiting for… Scroll down further and Armand will tell you about his big giveaway!
Want to know more about the Dying Days series? Want to win free eBooks and maybe print books of them? My contest is simple: e-mail me at armandrosamilia (at) gmail (dot) com with DYING DAYS in the subject line and I’ll enter you into the daily giveaway… also, post a comment here and you get another chance… follow my blog at http://armandrosamilia.com for yet another chance, and friend me on Twitter (@ArmandAuthor) and simply post DYING DAYS to me, and you’ll get another shot… nice and easy, right? If I get enough people joining in the giveaway there will be a print book given away that day!
Dying Days series information can be found here: http://armandrosamilia.com/dying-days-series/
