Meet Neil Cohen

Day 6: Author 6. Still going strong! This might become some new kind of habit... writing stuff... on this bloggity-blog... regularly. Nah! I'll leave the writing to the writers.

Speaking of writers, today is the day we introduce you to someone brave enough to tackle a problem plaguing much of the country: New Jersey. Boils and Ghouls meet Neil Cohen!

*Cheers! Applause! Explosions!* Wow, the excitement has really escalated. Mr. Cohen's debut novel of zombie goodness is EXIT ZERO, and he has two more stories in the works. Since it's a well known fact* that the people of Richmond believe the zombie apocalypse has already started in New Jersey, we are delighted that Neil is bringing his story of "fiction" to our Books, Brews & Boos event! So, lets see what other goodies he has brought us via his questionnaire:

Tell us about your book, EXIT ZERO.

 Exit Zero is on its surface a zombie novel, but it is also an allegory reflecting on today’s political and societal environment.  Exit Zero follows a group of characters as they make their way down the NJ Garden State Parkway during the first 48 hours of the zombie apocalypse.  But it also is a political conspiracy story, pulling in some major news events of the past couple years and creating scenario that would lead to a complete restructuring of the United States.

Who has most influenced or inspired your writing?

Max Brooks of WWZ, but I am also a fan of John Joseph Adams short story anthologies. I really liked Less than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis. I do not have the attention span to read most books. I write like I think.  Fast paced and slightly disjointed.  Short chapters, some with story lines that begin and end on one page.  Get to the point and move on.

R.L. Stine or Christopher Pike?

Who?

I can't.. I can not even... Jackie Chan, who would you choose? You look like a Goosebumps guy. 

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?! Ok, ok... What is your apocalyptic anthem?

Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah 

What is your favorite book right now?

Just finished Swan Song.  Was ok, but I would have lopped about 300 pages out of it.

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

The Warden.

What was the first horror movie you really loved? That really scared you?

The one I can watch over and over again is Shawn of the Dead, but the first one that really scared the piss out of me was Carrie, but I was about 7 years old when I accidentally saw it.

Choose your apocalypse: Zombie, alien, or human?

Zombie of course, but true apocalypse will be human caused. I just want to be around to see the final finale.

Mr. Cohen, is there anything additional you would like to mention?

I am really so appreciative of anyone who reads the book. I never set out to be an author, to write a book or to even read a book. This just happened as I had this storyline in my head and went into a 2 year manic period where all I could do was think about it, talk about it and write about it.  Now that the book is out, and people actually are responding positively to it, it is an absolute amazing feeling.

Awww.... I kind of have the feels! More reason to check out EXIT ZERO before August 14th. I think these answers reinforce how much of a good time will be had by all that attend. Thanks again to Neil Cohen and we look forward to seeing him at Strangeways Brewery for Books, Brews & Boos! If you want to keep up with Neil before you meet him in person, follow him on the book of faces here or visit his website... http://www.exitzerozombie.com/.

We are coming to an end. Only one more author left. Lucky number seven. Tomorrow you meet Nick DeWolf!