Meet Nathan Barnes

Author number FOUR!!! Todays author is a little difficult for me to showcase for a couple of reasons. First, because it's International Cat Day and the only thing I like more than horror writers are cats. I honestly would prefer to write a piece on the influence of cats on horror but you know... responsibilities. The other is because reasons. I've already featured this author... here. We've also done a little sumtin', sumtin' on our sister site... here. But this is business! He will be at Books, Brews & Boos on August 14th with six other authors and deserves the same attention... mostly.

So, now I introduce to you... Nathan Barnes!

*cheers! Applause! Cats in heat!* Things have just gotten crazy! Mr. Barnes is the author of THE REAPER VIRUS and its sequel WHAT REMAINS, both out on Permuted Press as well as two novellas, SARCOHAGUS and MY FRIEND ASMODEUS. When not writing, Nathan spends a lot of time thinking about cats.* Thankfully, he took some time away from his feline fancy to answer our questions. Here's what he said:

 

Can you tell us a little bit about your most recent novel?

THE REAPER VIRUS and its recent sequel, WHAT REMAINS, centers around a character/setting originally modeled from my own life. The characters must escape their city while it crumbles around them due to a viral zombie pandemic. Zombies are merely the setting for these apocalyptic thrillers – the core of the story is what a man would do for his family and what the family will do for each other against insurmountable odds.

Who has influenced or inspired your writing the most?

Writing a book became a lifelong goal at an early age. I’ve been a fan of horror/Sci-Fi as long as I can remember, but it wasn’t until I read Max Brooks’ WORLD WAR Z that I thought zombies would be the best avenue to start working on that goal. Then J.L. Bourne’s DAY BY DAY ARMAGEDDON showed me the perfect format to begin.

R.L. Stine or Christopher Pike?

R.L. Stine…… duh.

What is your apocalyptic anthem? (top3 is ok too!)

1)     Passenger by Deftones featuring Maynard James Keenan

2)     The Package by A Perfect Circle

3)     “Raindrop” - The Prelude Op. 28, No. 15 by Chopin

What is your favorite book... of the moment?

It’s a tie between Warren Ellis’ THE PLANETARY and Scott Snyder’s BATMAN: THE BLACK MIRROR.

 If you were on Death Row, what would you choose as your last meal?

Double-decker grilled cheese sandwich made with sourdough bread, provolone, swiss, havarti, asiago, thick cut peppercorn bacon and a side of garlic parmesan french fries. Along with it I’ll take a big cold glass of 1% milk. Dessert is a chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich filled with cookies and cream ice cream. Now I’m hungry.

What was the first horror movie that you really loved? And that scared you?

John Carpenter’s THE THING made me fall head over heels for horror. The first that scared me was THEM! or the Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet".  

Choose your apocalypse: Zombie, alien or human?

Zombie! Unless they are fast zombies… then I’ll go in the first wave.

Even though I have speckled his interview with sexy cats, we are very pleased to have him representing Richmond, VA on our Books, Brews & Boos panel! If you would like to follow Nathan Barnes you can check out his Facebook page... here.  You can also check out his brand spanking new website, http://thenathanverse.com

Tomorrow we return with our FIFTH featured writer, T.C. Armstrong!!

*Author does not actually like cats. He never thinks of them. He also does not like to run.