Ross Payton is the author of Zombies in Afghanistan (which we recently reviewed here) as well as Zombies of the World (which we had previously reviewed here.)
1) Can you provide a brief summary of your novel, Zombies in Afghanistan?
The outbreak of the undead in Afghanistan in 2007 shortly after a skirmish between the U.S. Army and the Taliban caused an international outcry. A village with a secret became the latest battlefield in the War on Terror. No one could predict how that battle would transform the world.
Some charged that the military deliberately weaponized zombies, a war crime. Others thought the Army didn’t do enough to stop the outbreak. Rumors abound of the Taliban trying to make the undead into a new terrorist weapon. Today, hordes of the undead roam the region, threatening to destabilize every government in the region. You be the judge. Find out what really happened in this leaked interview with a eyewitness to the outbreak.
2) Is this your first venture into the zombie/apocalyptic genre?
This is my first published zombie horror story, unless you count Zombies of the World.
3) Considering the overall plot, there had to be a reason to include a zombie outbreak in SWA (South West Asia) as a setting? Was this based on a personal preference or because so few authors in this genre have used that area?
Mostly because it was seldom used by other zombie stories.
4) Would you consider your book, Zombies in Afghanistan, to be a project that you created for yourself to enjoy as so few books in the genre place this kind of fictional event in that region of the world?
I always try to write things I would find interesting if I was a readers, so yes. I find places like Afghanistan fascinating because of its history and because of how it affects us. Everyone knows about the Taliban, but few people realize that strategies and technologies that are tested over there are later used here. For example, drones were heavily used in Afghanistan and since then they’ve been used by law enforcement agencies here.
5) When you sit down and write, what is your perfect writing environment, Quiet, Music, a specific room in the house?
I have an office and I always listen to music when I write, typically instrumental and dark music like The Silent Hill 2 Soundtrack, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, DJ Shadow, Clint Mansell,and the Lone Survivor Soundtrack (a video game).
6) What helps get you in the mood? Watching classic horror films or…?
I think a lot about what I’m going to write a lot before I actually sit down so really I just need time to mentally prepare myself. I think it’s more that I pre-write in my head and I try to get it all typed out before I forget.
7) What kind of research did you do to get the ambience of the story setting, the environment, incorporating that region of the world into the plot, attitudes of the characters, developing the characters, etc?
It depends on the story. For Zombies in Afghanistan, I spent a lot of time reading interviews from investigations and court reports so I could match the style. I also try to keep with developments in areas like Afghanistan. I follow blogs like Global Guerrillas that write on insurgencies and terrorism.
I try not to do too much research because then I get bogged down trying to perfectly capture everything accurately. I think it’s possible to get obsessed with research and accuracy, at which point you lose track of the story.
8) Once you were finished or even before you set out to do this project, were there publishers already in mind or did one seek you out?
No, I always wanted to self-publish it like I did with Zombies of the World. Traditional publishing is very slow and chancy.
9) What advice can you impart to other authors who want to create a zombie/horror/apocalyptic genre novella/novel?
Zombies are really an environmental hazard most of the time. It’s a way to do a man vs. nature story – they’re like hurricanes, earthquakes and other disasters. Don’t think you can just focus on the gore and get away with it. Readers want a real story.
10) Do you feel there is anyone in particular that influenced your entry into the horror genre and specifically the inclusion of zombies into your work?
George Romero of course. I saw Night of the Living Dead as a kid and the ending devastated me. I was in shock. It didn’t occur to me that movies could have unhappy endings and that such an injustice could be done to the main character.
11) Do you have any particular favorites when it comes to other books or films that depict an apocalyptic event not one the necessarily contains zombies?
Charles Stross’ novella A Colder War impressed me with how he turned the Cthulhu Mythos into weapons of mass destruction with somewhat predictable results. Cabin in the Woods was amazing for so many reasons but I can’t really say anymore without spoiling it. Needless to say, everyone should watch it.
12) If you had to do it all over again, the writing, the publishing, the advertising, is there anything different you would do?
I would write more and try to figure out how to better market it. Being self-published is tough because there’s no one to help market and distribute your work.
13) What are your future plans for this book? Any sequels already planned and outlined or waiting in the wings?
I plan to write a story for each of the 20 species of zombie described in Zombies of the World and write a novel. It’s called Dead Run and it will feature Jacob Collins, the protagonist from Zombies in Afghanistan. The plot revolves around him working with some zombies to save the day.
14) Where can fans find more of your work?
I host two podcasts called Role Playing Public Radio and RPPR Actual Play. They’re about RPGs and other geeky topics but we talk about zombies quite a lot. I’m also preparing to launch a Kickstarter for a RPG soon – check out http://www.baseraiders.com/ to learn about the project. Finally, I have a portfolio listing all of my published works http://www.slangdesign.com/portfolio/.
