We recently had a chance to review ‘Coldbrook’ and now have had the opportunity to sit down with its author, Tim Lebbon, and chat about zombies, writing, some great picks of who he’d want with him to survive a zombie apocalypse, and more!
In your words can you let us know what ‘Coldbrook’ is about for readers who haven’t had a chance to read it?
A group of scientists succeed in forming a doorway between this Earth and another. They celebrate. It’s the scientific discovery of the century. Then something steps through, and things get interesting.
It’s a very large scale story told from several viewpoints, and I loved jumping between different versions of our world at differing stages of the zombie contagion. A real challenge, but great fun.
What was your motivation(s) to write this particular story?
I hadn’t destroyed the world for a while. I love apocalyptic fiction and I’ve written a few stories in the past, but I wanted to write a big-scale zombie novel. Usually my novels are from the everyman perspective, but with Coldbrook I wanted to tell the story from the points of view of those right at the heart of the catastrophe.
What inspired you to bring your science fiction themed introduction to the undead in ‘Coldbrook’?
Without giving too much away, I had an ending in mind and I worked back from there. I also wanted to make the novel a bit different, both for me as a writer and for the readers. So the idea of destroying countless Earths was quiet appealing! It did mean doing a lot more research than I’m used to, but I really enjoyed that aspect of it, and I learnt a lot of fascinating facts. Multiverse theory … it’s not all fiction!
Who are 5 people, besides immediate family and nearby friends that you would want to be stuck with or in a group with during an apocalyptic event not exactly a zombie outbreak but something that would affect life as you know it on a global scale?
Brian Cox, the science writer and presenter, because he’s all sciency.
Danny Trejo, because no one would mess with him.
Gordon Ramsey because a) he can cook, and b) he’d swear the bad guys into submission.
Charlize Theron because … she’s Charlize Theron.
Bear Grylls because he can make a shelter out of a dead badger and a three course meal out of an old tyre and some ocelot dung.
Who do you feel is directly responsible for your entry into the field of writing and specifically the inclusion of zombies into your work?
I’ve been writing stories ever since I could pick up a pen, and that’s because I love books. And it was my mother who introduced me to books. She’s been gone for a while now, but every time I have something new published I think of her, and know she’d be proud.
As for zombies … I can remember the actual conversation. I was at a writer’s retreat with a few friends, and Adam Nevill (an amazing writer and friend) and I were chatting. I was musing upon which idea to work on next, and he said to me, “You know, you could write an amazing zombie trilogy.” In concept, Coldbrook started life as a trilogy, but I’m glad I condensed the story into one big book. And that’s why the book is dedicated to Adam.
What and who are your favorite authors and books both in and not in the zombie/horror genre? Tell us a little bit about them and how they may have affected your work.
In the Zombie field, I’d have to mention World War Z by Max Brooks (one of my favourite horror novels, I actually found its scope and impact truly frightening) and The Rising by Brian Keene (he’s a good friend of mine, this book did so well for him and helped kick-start the interest in zombies, and I also love the ending!).
Authors and books otherwise … I could write pages. Iain Banks, Stephen King, Arthur Machen, Clive Barker, Joe Lansdale, Shirley Jackson, Dan Simmons, all these writers and more have been big influences on me at various stages of my career, and still are now. I like reading books that make me think, Why do I bother, I’ll never be that good, because they make me work hard to be better. If a writer isn’t always trying to be better, I think their work will stagnate. All these writers make me think that.
And a few favourite books without thinking too hard about it… The Stand (King), The Terror (Dan Simmons), The Road (Cormac McCarthy), We Have Always Lived in the Castle (Shirley Jackson), The Sparrow (Mary Doria Russell), The Ritual (Adam Nevill), The Bottoms (Joe Lansdale), Stonemouth (Iain Banks). And a million more. I like to think that a lot of my favourite books have yet to be read, and lot of my own best books have yet to be written.
Do you currently have any upcoming zombie themed books in the works? If so could you share any details with us?
Not at present, although I do have ideas for a sequel or two to Coldbrook. We’ll see.
What kind of research did you do to get ready to write the novel?
I read a lot about multiverse theory. I read about Appalachia and watched lots of film and viewed photos of the area. As I said above, I really enjoyed the research aspect. Research used to frighten me, but right now I’m knocking around ideas for an historical fantasy trilogy and enjoying every moment.
Over the years how do you feel that you have grown as an author?
Difficult for me to say. I think I can tackle a wider range of subjects and themes. That comes with age. I used to write a lot about loss and grief without knowing much about it, but losing my mother made me understand what it’s really all about.
We have a few new authors who frequent the site. Do you have any advice for them?
Read a lot, write a lot, read some more, write some more. Take the positives out of rejection. Work hard to find your own voice. And read some more.
What is your favorite topic that you haven’t had a chance to write about yet?
I’m very interested in WW2, having had several relatives involved. I’d love to one day write a war novel.
The age old question, do you prefer fast or slow zombies and why?
I’ve no real preference. The zombies in Coldbrook are fast, simply because to me they’re more scary. More human, and yet very much not.
Where can readers and fans alike find out more information about your books and upcoming projects that you’re involved in?
My website is www.timlebbon.net, and I’m also on Facebook and twitter.
