Words with E.M. MacCallum, author of "Zombie Killer Bill"

Can you tell us a little bit about "Zombie Killer Bill."

Zombie-Killer Bill is about a freelance gunslinger who's hired to kill the Illegal zombies of the wild west.

The Illegals - raging, flesh-eating creatures - spread the infection and it's up to Bill to stop it. This new job however, is bigger than just a routine zombie slaying. Dozens of Legal and Slave zombies have been brutally murdered on a Zombie Farm. To solve the murders Bill teams up with an unlikely partner and hits the dusty trail after a mad-scientist. Risking life, limb and sanity they have to catch the culprit before he finds a way to change the west as they know it.

What's your background with writing?

I'm sorry to admit that I've never attended college for writing fiction. My education isn't anything outside of a normal curriculum at your average public school. Most of my knowledge comes from online research, forums, fellow writers and networking.

I started writing when I was eight. It wasn't until 2009 that I saw an opportunity to write a short story for publication. I'm happy to say that it was accepted. I can't even describe the joy I felt when I received that letter. Since then I've made it into a few other anthologies and have a proud collection of rejection letters. I've kept every last one of them.

This would be my debut novella, though I doubt it will be my last.

Who are your inspirations/influences?

I was originally influenced by the talented and witty Ann Hodgman. Today I find authors like Robert McCammon, Richard Laymon, Richard Matheson, Terry Brooks, Dan Brown and Jim Butcher to be inspirations, though all for different reasons.

What was it like working with Sonar4 Publications?

Wonderful! This was my first time dealing with a publisher that wasn't an anthology. They were so patient with me and answered all of my questions right away. I consider myself lucky to have found them.

Who was responsible for the cover/book design?

Sonar4 Publications is responsible for all the outside work. An artist named Philip Rogers did that outstanding front cover for them.

What are you doing in terms of marketing/publicity?

Well, it'll all start with my family. There's quite a few relatives I know I can shamelessly self-promote to, haha. Afterward, I have plans with a few local bookstores, at least one convention (if there's more I'll find them!), newspapers and whatever networking I can do online.

Do you have any stories from book signings/radio interviews/etc.?

I've only done one book signing (that wasn't for a family member). I sat at a convention table for two days and chatted with all sorts of people from a variety of backgrounds though only signed one book. I 'm sure I creeped him out by smiling too much but he certainly made my day.

What is the name of your blog and what can readers expect to find there?


Readers can basically expect to see my process through this writing world, what I'm doing with it and how I'm trying to achieve the goals I set for myself. There are plenty of failures and triumphs to be had.

What projects do you have planned for the future?

A few novels are in the works. Everything from vampires, demons and more dead things are spilling out on those pages. I hope to put out many more short stories in 2011 and have fun with what I'm doing.

Is there anything else about you we should know?

If ever curious you can check out some of the anthologies I'm in. There's two through Sonar4 Publications, one being "Throw Down Your Dead" where Zombie-Killer Bill makes his first appearance in print or "For the Oceans" an charity anthology where proceeds are given to Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Then there's my first publication with Northern Frights Publishing in their "Shadows of the Emerald City" anthology.

"Zombie Killer Bill" is scheduled to be released in 2011.  Keep an eye on the publisher for updates!

No comments :

Post a Comment