Interview with A.M. Esmonde

A.M. Esmonde is the author of many short stories. The Breathing Dead, Blood Hunger, Darkest Moons to name a few. Not only is he a zombie author but his writing also include vampires and werewolves. On top of all of his achievements he is a real nice guy. Enjoy the interview.

Lyle
How long have you been writing?

A.M.
Um, nearly 15 years, but I started script writing first, a failed script writer. I've written loads of short stories over the years but the novel/novelettes only three years.

Lyle
What was your first published story?

A.M.
The Breathing Dead a pulpy young adult zombie tale bite.

Lyle
You write about vampires, zombies, werewolves and other mythical creatures. Which do you enjoy writing about?

A.M.
I really liked zombies, always have, I love the emptiness and the feeling of an apocalypse, however, recently there seemed to be a zombie boom and I feels to me in any case that the flooded market has taken the 'exclusiveness' out of my favorite sub-genre.

Lyle
Do you read zombie novels? Which one is your favorite?

A.M.
I try not to read too much about something I'm writing about, I read Monster Island by David Wellington, it had a strong start and liked the mummy idea of coming back with all the other dead. While I'm not a fan of first person pov books I did enjoy Joe McKinney’s Dead City he's a good guy too. Which reminds me I corresponded with Z.A. Retch bless his soul but never read his books, I will get around it though.

Lyle
Have you had any input on Terminus, the movie adaptation from one of your books?

A.M.
Yes, I was lucky to have a good collaboration experience, it was a good contract. I produced Terminus with a great Director/writer Sean Parsons; Blood Hunger is difficult to film without a large budget if you're going to stick to the book. So we took a character that is mentioned in the book but does not appear and based it on them. It's a sort of spin off continuation.

Lyle
Is there a release date in mind?

A.M.
For Terminus? It's been entered into festivals in the US, Canada and the UK. So it depends if it get screenings or not. As for Blood Hunger, I was told as soon as this year but I always take film projects with a pinch of salt, unless I'm producing. I had an offer for The Breathing Dead rights after few weeks of it being out and I'm still waiting, lucky I didn't hold my breath. I was hardened after my script days, so I just suck it up.

Lyle
How long did it take you to write the short story, The Breathing Dead?

A.M.
It was a short draft called A Cold November Night that I wrote many years ago and shelved. Then I picked it back up and after several drafts it became, A November Night which become The Breathing Dead. So there was no sort of start time, but to put it together about 3 months.

Lyle
When will the revised version of The Breathing Dead titled Deathwatch be released?

A.M.
That is a good question and one I'm in talks about now. It's less of a revision as such I have changed much of the content, even the body, but what remains are the essence, spirit and tale of survival. In a book about the dead, some characters remain, but are given more life.
As I mentioned because of the saturated market it may we'll be delayed. Do we need another zombie book, Romero's rules? Too right! But I just feel now isn't the right time.

Lyle
Well I, on the other hand, am waiting for Deathwatch. To me, there can never been to many zombie books out there.

A.M.
That what I like to hear!, More of that and who knows. It's great just talking zombie, I wish there was more of a passion for Zombies in the UK. There's a following but nowhere near the scale of the US/Canada.

Lyle
Any plans on making an audiobook available for Deathwatch?

A.M.
Yes, 100%! Blood Hunger is being recorded right now. I've got a great actress Sarah Leigh doing it. Although I'm looking for a male voice to do Deathwatch if I can't find the right voice, I may use Sarah again.

Lyle
What else can we be expecting from you in the near future? More zombies I hope.

A.M.
I'd love to do a Deathwatch film but to be frank no one will touch it at the moment. Poor zombies have had a long overdue cash in which is great for fans and for me but not from a business pov.
Darkest Moons, the werewolf novel. More horror films, I'm working on a pulpy horror short from the company that made cult b-movie Bear Scary. A substantial budgeted Blood Hunger is in development.

Lyle
When did you first beginning getting into the zombie genre?

A.M.
Wow, now that's tough. If you class Carnival of Souls zombie it was that and tales from the crypt comics.
The definitive moment may have been when I was young and I shouldn't have been watching, but I was over a friends house and we watched Day of the Dead and Return of the Living Dead back to back. I shied away from the comedy, but the hands bursting through the walls then the empty streets that soon fills with dead drew me in. I then caught Dawn on late night TV and I was hooked.

Lyle
Which Romero film did you enjoy the most?

A.M.
That's tough I like bits from all including Land. I'll probably loose any zombie cred' I may have had but I like Savini's remake that George Produced. Directed by Romero - If I were on a Island, and I had to have one, probably Dawn for repeat viewing value.

Lyle
What characteristics need to be present in order to be considered a zombie?

A.M.
Am I getting drawn into the 28 Days Later debate? If were not talking about the definition of zombie, I'll go with Romero. In my books you have to have died, you gotta be dead, that's about it, you must lumber (although I did like the Dawn remake) and have a yearning desire for flesh.

Lyle
If you were forced to fight one mythical creature from your books, what would it be?

A.M.
None, your dead, game over man, all mine are bad asses but its got to be the zombies, more head splitting.

Lyle
Have you prepared yourself for the inevitable zombie apocalypse?

A.M.
Yes, concrete walls with a partly grated roof. I've got a cow, sheep, chicken and a sealed copy WWZ ready to go at the drop of a hat.

Lyle
It was a pleasurable experience chatting with you A.M. Thanks for taking the time to talk to me. I look forward to more of your work.

A.M.
No, thank you Lyle, it's been terrific. Cheers.