This week on the show, we have post-apocalyptic/dystopian author Zach Bohannon! I’ve been watching Zach’s EMPTY BODIES climb charts and gather quick, excellent reviews, something we’d all like to do well.
We will no doubt cover his amazing cover artist during the hour, and I want to talk to him about how he’s doing so well right out of the gate. But for now, a few words from our guest 🙂
–Michelle
*****
Something about the dark side of life has always appealed to me. Whether I experience it through reading and watching horror, or listening to my favorite heavy metal bands, I have been forever fascinated with the shadow of human emotion.
While in my 20’s, I discovered my passion to create through playing drums in two heavy metal bands: Kerygma and Twelve Winters. While playing in Twelve Winters (a power metal band with a thrash edge fronted by my now wife Kathryn), I was able to indulge myself in my love of writing by penning the lyrics for all our music. My love of telling a story started here as many of the songs became connected to the same concept and characters in one way or another.
Now in my 30’s, my creative passion is being passed to willing readers through the art of stories. While I have a particular fascination for real life scenarios, I also love dark fantasy. So, you’ll find a little bit of everything in my stories from zombies to serial killers, angels and demons to mindless psychopaths, and even ghosts and parallel dimensions.
My influence as a writer come primarily from the works of Clive Barker, Stephen King, Jack Ketchum, and Blake Crouch in the written form, the beautifully dark, rich lyrics of Mikael Akerfeldt from the band Opeth, and an array of movies, going back to the root of my fascination at a young age with 70’s and 80’s slasher films such as Halloween, Friday the 13th, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
I live in Nashville, Tennessee with my wife Kathryn, daughter Haley, and our German Shepherd Guinness. When I’m not writing, I enjoy playing hockey, watching hockey and football, cycling, watching some of my favorite television shows and movies, and of course, reading.
If you’d like to be the first to know when my books are coming out, as well as be apart of exclusive giveaways and receive some free books and stories, please visit me here.
Horror. Metal. Drummer. Yes. Yes. Yes.
JJ OZZY (AKA JAY) METAL!
It’s usually a minor miracle when I make it to a live viewing. Today, we win. 🙂
Silliness.
xgranville JJ OZZY (AKA JAY) THEEEEE… Metal.
JJ OZZY (AKA JAY) xgranville Listening to Opeth to get myself primed. BAYING OF THE HOUNDS!
CateMorgan Hugs Cate. Where’s my wine.
xgranville JJ OZZY (AKA JAY) One of my favorite albums! Ghost Reveries is brilliant stuff
Emailed back and forth with Zach a couple of weeks ago. Nice guy. Looking forward to this.
michelleread CateMorgan Sickies don’t get alcohol.
RobertChazzChute I emailed back and forth with a guy named Robert. He’s a jerk.
matmorrisauthor michelleread CateMorgan They are the ones who DO get it
JJ OZZY (AKA JAY) xgranville Still my favorite album by them by far.
matmorrisauthor michelleread The Irish are excluded from such a silly rule. Cuz it’s silly, and we have all the whiskey anyway.
CateMorgan matmorrisauthor michelleread I have whiskeys.
michelleread CateMorgan Fine… I amend the rule… Michelle doesn’t get the alcohol….
Roll Call!!! “Renee.” Present.
michelleread RobertChazzChute Sniff. And to think I sang to you.
reneenbjames Professor X! Present!
xgranville reneenbjames What you gonna be teaching us today?
matmorrisauthor michelleread MORE FOR ME. *runs off to get crazy straw*
RobertChazzChute michelleread I can’t be held to anything I say tonight, just ignore me.
reneenbjames Unlike last week, I’m watching from home! This means I’ll actually be able to talk in the after party. Unfortunately, this also means that I’m not sitting with two hot foreign girls while watching the show… Womp Womp.
matmorrisauthor michelleread CateMorgan ?????????? Meow listen here. I was gonna send you dreaming tree for Christmas this year, but NOW!
matmorrisauthor xgranville reneenbjames I have all the teachings for Mat.
We’re going to let X teach the class.
reneenbjames Do I get to heckle… I mean, ask questions… ?
I’m watching Lip Sync Battle and the Rock was awesome against Jimmy Fallon.
matmorrisauthor reneenbjames If you’re prepared for the repercussions haha
michelleread matmorrisauthor CateMorgan You’re going to send it NOW?? <3 <3 <3
Jay, I want questions from you tonight. Serious.
Interesting to read Zach’s history. I got the pacing for my first crime novel out of reading Blake Crouch’s Run. Got a lot out of that book.
Oh I haven’t seen that one!
Oh sorry….. That was michelle
MrJohnRead If I weren’t Jamaican…then why would I wear this hat?
I don’t believe that’s really Michelle…
Its a stunt double.
Please, for the love of all that’s holy, no hockey talk!
matmorrisauthor I never have
Everywhere in Florida is Redacted. True story.
CateMorgan I wouldn’t want to admit I lived anywhere in Florida.
She ruined my surprise…
RobertChazzChute I hope not too…
MrJohnRead RIGHT by the beach…
MrJohnRead haha!
xgranville I crossed the Redacted barrier from Up North. Now I’m stuck.
xgranville RobertChazzChute ditto
xgranville MrJohnRead boyEEEEE
JJ OZZY (AKA JAY) matmorrisauthor It’s me I swear!
CateMorgan xgranville If I were in Florida again, I’d pray for a TARDIS.
xgranville I TOTALLY DO. Only the Timey-Wimey Wibbly Wobbly can possibly save me!
CateMorgan xgranville Never once has there been a Doctor Who story set in Florida. Does even the TARDIS avoid that state?
RobertChazzChute Robert, you’re fired!
xgranville The TARDIS is very bright.
On the up side, however, Martha Jones WILL be making an appearance at my local Comic Con this summer, so there’s that.
matmorrisauthor michelleread CateMorgan No, I was preparing my “People I like list.” You live right on the line.
CateMorgan xgranville Cool!
michelleread CateMorgan xgranville Martha Jones….my Martha Jones…
xgranville michelleread It has been much too long since I’ve seen her.
writerwade RobertChazzChute I wish I could say this was the first time I’ve been fired…or the second.
reneenbjames Just saw this – HERE!
QUESTIONS?
michelleread Why can’t we see you?
matmorrisauthor michelleread Keeping her for myself
Did Zach try any other genres before his success with horror?
Zach, if you move away from apocalyptic stuff in the future, would you break out a pen name so brands don’t get confused? Or something else?
michelleread MrJohnRead FUCK YOU, FUCK YOU, FUCK YOU….YOU COOL! FUCK YOU, I’M OUT!
writerwade matmorrisauthor michelleread I need a better reason.
xgranville michelleread MrJohnRead I almost snorted into the mic
He’s a skin beater, not a string whacker
matmorrisauthor writerwade michelleread Oh, because I’m sick. BUT AN EVEN BETTER REASON: I was SO fancy today (we did a bridal shoot for my sister and was the assistant photographer for my mom). I wore a fancy dress, heels…..oh the heels…..make up, the whole bit. No mas.
Key questions: Slow or fast zombies? Classic Romero or 28 Days Later?
I want to see iCarly versus Jason. Don’t worry. It always works out for the best in the end.
RobertChazzChute Fast zombies who spend their time pontificating their own existence and can’t be bothered to give chase.
RobertChazzChute Hahaha! She’ll just start talking, then text Spencer…..and he’ll say RAMPU! And it’ll all be over. Jason will just leave.
Sherlock versus a colonoscopy applied by Dr. Gregory House.
I’m with you, xgranville–YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
matmorrisauthor RobertChazzChute Doesn’t sound like that would sell.
RobertChazzChute DID YOU HEAR that when I read this, I nearly snorted. That would not have been pleasant.
CateMorgan xgranville Google Plus makes me hate Whovians because of it.
xgranville CateMorgan Don’t follow ANYthing Whovian on the googs. It’s SO BAD! SOOOOOOOOOO BAD. And they post all the time.
xgranville Don’t you mean Google Minus?
When it comes to Whovians, yes.
CateMorgan xgranville *Badum-pshhhhh*
michelleread CateMorgan xgranville Those Who fans tend also to be obsessed with Tennant and Smith having some sort of frolicking time together.
@xgranville @michelleread No. Just…just no. No way. Uh-uh. Nope. ALL THE NOPES.
Hahaha. Michelle your crazy, girl.
reneenbjames Why now!
CateMorgan When people say Matt Smith is their favorite Doctor I doubt they’ve seen much Doctor Who. Though, Smith is awesome in his own right.
You know.
xgranville …….it’s my face, isn’t it.
We aren’t trying to ignore your questions tonight, I promise!
xgranville Agreed. (Also all that Who-lockian WTF nonsense makes me very glad I spend all my time writing and playing the violin. I am apparently well shot of that particular vortex.)
michelleread xgranville What face? You mean your avatar?
xgranville michelleread Oh that’s not my real face. That’s been photoshopped.
CateMorgan xgranville The fact you play the violin makes me want to steal a TARDIS.
xgranville It is my favorite thing ever. *hearts*
CateMorgan xgranville It’s the one instrument that makes me cry most haha. Therefore, deserves most respect.
Just got a nasty email from Amazon about my pre-order, warning me I hadn’t uploaded my final version yet. Veiled threats and passive aggressive BS. It’s not due for another 11 days! Other than that…peachy. Sigh.
RobertChazzChute You’d better get to it!
michelleread RobertChazzChute Amazon means business…
xgranville Verily, it is magical and perfect. It makes my heart happy like almost nothing else. I’m weird in that if something is too easy I lose interest. Violin is challenging and beautiful, so I’m thoroughly infatuated.
michelleread RobertChazzChute I think they’d all be slaughtered and the final one standing would be Sam versus Jason. Him with a big knife. Her with a sock full of butter and night visions glasses.
Boston university is winning
We are not doing a whole goddamn show on hockey, Wade.
RobertChazzChute matmorrisauthor Challenge accepted.
RobertChazzChute shaking fist
michelleread you want to collaborate and you didn’t ask me? Jesus. We have to talk about our relationship.
RobertChazzChute michelleread I have a collab/anthology project in the words I can shoot you guys a line about.
xgranville Zombies + Violin = Awesome
https://youtu.be/0dfZ9BXaNyE
michelleread RobertChazzChute No. I’ll wait to the last second. I hate it when people tell me what to do. Or want to talk hockey.
RobertChazzChute michelleread I feel the same way Robert, I even bought her book.
RobertChazzChute michelleread I don’t want to ruin things between us! And honestly – I ONLY told Zach that. So…….it’s new news. Plus?! You are so much ahead of me I didn’t want to drag you down, dummy!
She’s good at polishing ; )
We’re teasing you Michelle.
michelleread RobertChazzChute I’m conflicted about your apology. And my cheek stings.
RobertChazzChute michelleread Heh…..I’ll sing to you about it tomorrow. A FIRST
RobertChazzChute michelleread Robert DOES actually have a problem with authority. Watch this…..hey Robert – co author something fun with me! (Now he’ll stomp his foot and shake his head.)
reneenbjames *cries and runs away*
michelleread RobertChazzChute Stomps foot. Shakes head. Shoots bird.
North Dakota SCORES!!!
I’m not that crazy talented!!! Good luck X!
Youre not wrong writerwade
xgranville RobertChazzChute michelleread Fe, fi, fo, fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman! From the future! And Judgment Day is inevitable.
AFTERPARTY?
Someone needs to lead michelleread to the old episodes of Emma Thompson and Kenneth Brannagh’s skit show from back in the day. Their Robin Hood sketch was hilarious.
MrJohnRead should be there
CateMorgan michelleread *searching…..
DO EEEET
MrJohnRead Ahh! *SWOONS*
A pox on that phoney King of England!
WooHoo! Made it. Just… before… it’s… over? Damn!
MrJohnRead Oodelalee oodelalee
xgranville <3!
David Anson Haha you’re lucky we went over the hour. Good to see ya David!
MrJohnRead I still love watching this version. YAY, Netflix!
David Anson Afterparty David!
xgranville David Anson Hi Xavier. Good to have a couple of minutes to view
Thanks, Zach.
michelleread David Anson Can’t. I have a web server down. Customers are screaming
After party so Wade and I can talk hockey.
michelleread David Anson But thank you for the invite
I want one this time!!!
David Anson michelleread Booooooo
David Anson michelleread Fair
Throw up that join link.
matmorrisauthor *makes barfing noise*
reneenbjames https://plus.google.com/hangouts/_/hoaevent/AP36tYeVElnVCkWjeh934AEI6uFQM55fxzzQCCidh1ejPvEg9Viv-w
Thank you, Xavier! and I’d happily live next door to Dave Wright in Redacted. So sorry I couldn’t watch live.
xgranville JJ OZZY (AKA JAY) My favorite track on that record
xgranville JJ OZZY (AKA JAY) My fav. is My Arms, Your Hearse
reneenbjames I wrote a health/fitness book that has since been unpublished because I am focusing on fiction and stopped personal training. That book did decent, but nothing crazy. I got it up to #6 in weight loss diets at one point, but it didn’t sustain. Horror is my first love 🙂