Daniel Cotton is the author of the ‘Life Among the Dead’ series available through Permuted Press. We caught up with him in between rounds of him taking out a horde of the undead and were able to coax some details about his love of the undead to share with you today!
Buy Zombie (BZ): Can you share with our readers a bit about the world that you’ve created in ‘Life Among the Dead’?
Daniel Cotton (DC): It could be Anywhere, USA. Just an ordinary day, except that the recently deceased are rising to their feet to feed on humans. Anyone bitten by the dead has but hours to live, they will die and become one as well. This world knew about zombies before but only as fiction, now they are dealing with the real thing.
BZ: Of course without spoiling the first novel, what can we expect in your recently released ‘Life Among the Dead 2: A Castle Made of Sand’?
DC: Each book in the series jumps back in time to the beginning of the plague and follows a new group of stories. A reader gets to see different perspectives and situations that run alongside and intertwine with the first book until finally catching up with the apocalypse already in progress. My favorite part about doing this has been being able to bring back characters that didn’t make it. The main that story kicks off book 2 involves an anti-hero bound to make the reader nervous.
BZ: What inspired you to create the world of ‘Life Among the Dead’?
DC: Being a father and husband. Most of my hero characters are driven to provide and protect those they love the most. A lot of the scenarios started with me asking myself ‘What if?’
BZ: How did you feel about hearing the Audible version of your first novel released?
DC: It was so weird to hear the words I had written so long ago being read aloud, but I think it sounds great.
BZ: Permuted Press is known for their work with the post-apocalyptic genre, how has working with them been for you?
DC: It’s been great! They have offered me opportunities I wouldn’t have going it alone; editing, professional covers, marketing. My current marketing strategy boils down to karma and superstition. I do miss being able to obsess over my sales and having complete control over things.
BZ: The age old question which always must be asked, slow or fast zombies and why?
DC: I prefer slow zombies, they’re just classic. I like that they offer the survivors hope that you can slip past them only to get outnumbered. In my books their speed is variable depending on different factors.
BZ: Do you have any plans for future zombie novels lined up? Either a continuation of the world you created in ‘Life Among the Dead’ or an entirely new setting?
DC: There is a third installment out there, and I am currently planning a fourth/final Life Among the Dead. After that I have other book ideas, no zombies just yet. Expect ghosts and vampires.
BZ: What is your zombie survival plan or what would be the start of how you winged it in case of a zombie outbreak?
DC: No concrete plan. My primary goal would be keeping my wife and kids safe.
BZ: 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? Why?
DC: I hate to admit but after my wife and kids I don’t put much thought in others. This is shown in the first Life Among the Dead, the main character is based on me and how I might act in his situation. He is a reluctant hero, just trying to get to his pregnant wife. He’s willing to help others but is afraid that being burdened by them may jeopardize his mission.
BZ: Who do you feel is directly responsible for your entry into the field of writing and specifically the inclusion of zombies into your work?
DC: As far as writers and creators of worlds I am influenced by Joss Whedon and his way of making you love his characters. I can’t really cite any one person that encouraged me to write, I have to credit it to my wife, Heather, and son, Vincent. Most of my books were hand written while working in a factory. I had these day dreams I’d slip into to stave off the mind numbing repetition of my job, one day I just started writing what I saw. I worked second shift at the time, during the day I took care of my oldest son while my wife was at work. When he napped, I typed. I must commend my wife for never telling me that I was wasting my time, though I often felt I was.
BZ: Do you have any suggestions, aside from your own work that is, on novels you recommend zombie fanatics pick up?
DC: Regrettably, I don’t have a lot of time to read, I’ve been squeezing in Permuted Press books whenever possible. Other than Permuted books all I can suggest is Cell by Stephen King. They aren’t your typical zombies but an interesting take.
BZ: Where can readers and fans alike find out more information about your books and upcoming projects that you’re involved in?
DC:Â Readers can head to my site http://danielcotton.weebly.com/ I post all my books here and I even offer my best attempt at a blog. Folks can follow me on Twitter and Facebook for updates as well. I promise to respond to every e-mail I get.
