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interviews of the Dead - David Moody

During the interviews of the Dead series, I dedicate myself today the author David Moody , of \u200b\u200bme with his Autumn - has novels impressed firstly, and secondly, inspired in no small - and Hater . Hater in the novels I have my example, the two characters borrowed with different perspectives. The idea to publish a book for free as an eBook, David has preceded me.

Ursprünglich wollte ich die Bücher hier noch besprechen, habe aber festgestellt, dass gerade die Autumn - Bücher schon zu weit zurückliegen, um ihnen halbwegs gerecht zu werden. So bleibt mir nur die Empfehlung, die Bücher auf jeden Fall zu lesen, falls noch nicht geschehen und übergebe an David (Wie immer bei englischen Interviews findet sich die englische Originalversion am Ende des Artikels).

Hallo David, erstmal vielen Dank, dass du dich meinen Fragen stellst. Könntest du dich und deine Werke kurz meinen Lesern vorstellen?

Kein Problem. Ich schreibe schon eine lange Zeit, habe dabei aber einen eher ungewöhnlichen Weg genommen. Meine erste Geschichte „Straight to You“ wurde bereits 1996 veröffentlicht, hat sich aber nicht überragend verkauft.

Als ich mein zweites Buch Autumn fertig hatte, habe ich beschlossen, es kostenlos online zu verteilen, um so die Leute für meine Geschichte zu interessieren. Das hat funktioniert.

In den sieben Jahren, in denen es online erhältlich war, wurde es mehr als eine halbe Million Mal heruntergeladen. Ich habe dann noch einige Fortsetzungen geschrieben und das erste Buch wurde dann als Low Budget-Film mit Dexter Fletcher und David Carradine verfilmt. 2005 habe ich einen Kleinstverlag – Infected Books – gegründet, um meine Bücher als Paperback-Editionen selbst zu veröffentlichen, was sich als recht erfolgreicher Schachzug herausgestellt hat.  

Das erste Hater-Buch habe ich 2006 veröffentlicht. Die Filmrechte dazu wurden von Guillermo del Toro aufgekauft. Daraufhin wurden meine Bücher von Thomas Dunne Books in den USA, Gollancz in Großbritannien und Otherworldverlag und Goldmann in Deutschland veröffentlicht.

Wie schreibst du denn deine Geschichten? Hast du einen rough deck, which you slowly fill with life, or created the story with you while writing?

Before I start writing, I do a lot of preparatory work. My books are usually with an idea (often the end) or a few ideas which connect with each other slowly. After I have sketched the outlines, I write a detailed overview, then a breakdown by chapter. Only then do I start with the correct letter. The characters and the story often change during the writing, but I am of the opinion that it is important to plan thoroughly in advance. I want to be able to close the eyes and let the book like a movie pass to me, even before I ever wrote a word.

It seems that you fascinated by the Apocalypse. In the Autumn books die 99% (or more) of the human race, and in the Hater-books that people are going directly at each other. Where does this fascination?

You're right, the apocalypse really fascinates me. More specifically, I am interested in the reactions of people to each other and in situations where they are located. I love to write about ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary situations and if the world, as in my Directories, in the end, is the relatively simple. When people are facing the end, the whole layers of shit with which we surround ourselves, stripped, and left it, how people would react, of course.

My fascination for it began even when I was much younger. I remember that I have read The Triffids '(orig. ' The Day of the Triffids' ) and it was totally shocked. I also grew up during the Cold War was at the peak, as the definitive end just minutes schien.

Deine Zombies unterscheiden sich etwas vom Mainstream-Zombie. Durch Bisse werden keine Infektionen übertragen, es gibt kein Militär, von den paar Soldaten im Bunker mal abgesehen, und die gesamte Menschheit ist gleichzeitig betroffen. Hat dir die Idee gefallen, deine Charaktere in eine Welt zu pflanzen, die sich von einer Minute auf die andere komplett ändert, oder war es nur das Vorhaben, deine eigenen Regeln aufzustellen?

Ich war immer schon ein riesiger Zombiefan, aber ich bin auch frustriert, weil so viele Zombiegeschichten den selben Grundzügen folgen. Die Autumn-Bücher gaben mir die Möglichkeit, etwas anderes auszuprobieren. I also wanted to feel the satisfaction of the stories (where stories can be believed about the living dead!).

In my books, eat the dead meat (why would want to eat something dead?) And people from the beginning either zombies or survivors. I hate that people act in zombie movies always the same. Someone wanted to be bitten, hidden it, turns and kills the rest I also want my zombies are different. They change throughout history. First they are just useless lumps reanimated flesh that gradually recover some brain functions, but can not control, just because they rot. The main difference is, in my opinion, but that I concentrate on the survivors and non-living to the dead.

What your zombies with the classic zombie film have in common is the hatred of the living. Where does this hatred?

I do not know if the zombies in Autumn hate the living, '. It would be fascinating to imagine what goes on in the decaying brain of a zombie himself. As I just mentioned, the zombies get in Autumn back after some time, some brain functions and can express thoughts, but at the same time rotting their bodies.

Aus dem Grund ist die einzige Möglichkeit, wie sie gegenüber den Lebenden reagieren können Aggression und Gewalt. Der andere erwähnenswerte Aspekt des Buchs ist, dass da Zehntausende von Zombies auf einen Überlebenden kommen. Die Welt wurde zu einem stillen, verlassenen Ort, weshalb jedes Geräusch, das einer der Überlebenden von sich gibt, unweigerlich dazu führt, dass sie von Abertausenden Zombies umzingelt werden.

Das erste Autumn-Buch war ja eine eher ruhige Geschichte von Überlebenden, die versuchen am Leben zu bleiben und halt tun, was sie tun müssen. Die Charaktere sind detailliert und haben Wiedererkennungswert. That changes over time and from book to book something, and last Autumn Book decay at its height. Many characters seem only props and the zombie-splatter-action takes over. It's still great to read and still a great zombie book, but far from the debut. Where does the change? Feedback from readers?

I would like to disagree that the characters are just props in decay - which are much more than that I only write a book if I am of the opinion that the story is good enough to tell it. The basis of decay was not a reader feedback, but in some Weise schon eine Reaktion auf Kritiken, die den Autumn-Bücher anhafteten.

Es wurde kritisiert, dass es in den Büchern zu wenig Gewalt und Gore gäbe, und ich wollte zeigen, warum das so ist. Ich glaube, dass die Leute der Meinung sind beim Ausbruch einer Zombieapokalypse sofort zur Waffe greifen und kämpfen zu müssen. Meiner Meinung nach ist das falsch.

Ich glaube vielmehr, dass viele Menschen einfach zusammenbrechen würden. Zerfall war ein Versuch, zwei grundverschiedene Überlebenstechniken, von zwei unterschiedlichen Gruppen, zu betrachten, mit dem Ziel herauszufinden, ob es einen besseren Weg gibt. Ich wollte einige von diesen Charakteren nehmen und sie außerhalb expose their comfort zone, to make them do things that do not meet the who and what they are.

Hater In the second book "hunger death" you have two main characters. The perspective also changes the atmosphere. Danny is a hater and his world of colors, seem fascinating and varied. Mark, however, is normal, his life seems black and white, boring and abwechslungsarm. Is it for you also a reference to our world, a reproach to all those who in their nine to five jobs are caught?

Yes. I think the 'real' world is all too often oppressive and claustrophobic. Wir sind zu sehr in unserer täglichen Routine, unseren Jobs, unserem Status gefangen, dass wir manchmal vergessen, wie man richtig lebt. Wobei ich damit natürlich nicht sagen will, dass wir alle zu Hassern werden sollten, um uns gegenseitig umzubringen.

Ich glaube, dass es in ihren Leben aber Facetten gibt, die überraschend positiv sind. Nachdem die Hasser ihre Hemmungen verlieren, werden sie mehr und mehr zu Tieren. Sie leben für den Moment, sie verlassen ihre festgefahrenen Meinungen darüber, wer oder was sie sind, sie existieren einfach. Ich dachte mir, dass das ein interessanter Kontrast wäre. Ich will damit nicht sagen, dass ich wie ein Hund leben will, ich will nur sagen, that we give up many personal freedoms in our daily life, and that is shameful.

Guillermo del Toro Hater liked your story and you have sold the film rights in the meantime also. Can you announce something and there are / will you be involved in the project?

Yes, the film rights to Hater were sold to a group of film makers, including Mark Johnson (produced the Narnia films) and Guillermo del Toro belong. The project has already been postponed several times, but it always goes forward still. I was told that it would soon be clear progress, and it is probably so that already by Ende 2011 die Dreharbeiten beginnen könnten.

Ich glaube nicht, dass ich in das Projekt involviert sein werde und das ist einerseits gut, andererseits aber auch nicht. Selbstverständlich würde ich es lieben eingebunden zu werden, aber genauso sehr bin ich ein riesiger Fan von del Toro und es wird für mich unglaublich zu sehen, wie er das Buch interpretiert.

Dein erstes Autumn-Buch wurde ja verfilmt und auf DVD als „Autumn of the Living Dead“ veröffentlicht. Die Handlung wurde in die USA verlegt, der Titel referenziert andere Zombiefilme und die Erzählstruktur ist etwas konfus. Warst du selbst mit der filmischen Umsetzung zufrieden und warst you involved in the project?

Yes and no. It is a huge compliment that the book was filmed and I am proud that the project was completed, but as you have already written, the movie was not really successful. I think they did a good job, but they were technically limited and it has worked well with very little budget.

many years ago I wrote a script that was used as the basis for the film. Unfortunately, it was rewritten and I have nothing to do with the title change, which I was not impressed. But as I said before: it was a great experience and I was able to visit the set and even constitute a zombie.

Are there plans for more Autumn films?

moment nothing definite, but right now I lead discussions, Autumn back on the canvas. More I can not say right now.

What are your future plans? On your homepage Autumn a new book and the completion of the Hater trilogy to be announced. Is there already scheduled for the German translation?

The last few years I have concentrated on, finish the Hater and Autumn series. I'm in the process, the final Autumn Book complete and the last book Hater - Them or Us - that is now in my editor. German publication dates I still do not have, I fear. But there is another book Autumn - The Human Condition - which will be released in Germany yet 2011th After I finished the book last Autumn, I will tackle some new projects for 2012.

Will you continue to settle your stories end in scenarios?

Not always, but I do not think I've written my last story about the end of the world already.

What are your main influences and if you were on a desert island, what three books / CDs / DVDs would you take with you?

As for books, take John Wyndham is my main influence and I would, The Triffids' on my desert island. Instead of other books I'd rather take paper and pencils, because I probably read no, but could not get by without writing. When I write, I have a playlist that would take me too. This is for over five hours, mostly instrumental music from Unkle, Brian Eno, Nine Inch Nails and many other artists.

As far as movies are my influences in George Romero (but only his early films), David Cronenberg and John Carpenter early. I think I want to take all three directors of movies.

The last words are yours. Is there anything that you want to say?

only thank you for the invitation, which I was really a lot of fun and I hope it will make some people become aware of my books and so have a lot of fun. I also have a new website www.lastoftheliving.net on it by the end of the year more than 100,000 words kostenlose Zombiefiction zu lesen geben wird. Das ist eine großartige Anlaufstelle für Leute, die noch nichts von mir gelesen haben.

Vielen Dank für das Interview.

Wer mehr von/über David wissen will, kann das hier tun:

www.djmoody.co.uk
www.lastoftheliving.net
www.twitter.com/davidjmoody
www.facebook.com/pages/David-Moody/36732715171

English version:

Would you like to briefly introduce yourself and your books to my readers?

No problem. I've been writing for a long time now, but I took an unusual route to publication. My first novel - Straight to You - was published in 1996 but it didn't sell well. When I'd finished my second book - Autumn - I decided to give it away free online to try and get more people interested in my writing. It worked! In the seven years it was available online, it was downloaded more than half a million times. I wrote a number of sequels and the first book was made into a low budget movie starring Dexter Fletcher and David Carradine. In 2005 I started a small press - Infected Books - to distribute my books which proved to be a pretty successful move. I released a novel called Hater in 2006, the film rights to which were picked up by Guillermo del Toro. Following that, my books were acquired by Thomas Dunne Books in the US, Gollancz in the UK, and Otherworldverlag and Goldmann in Germany.

How do you create your stories? Do you have a rough story arc that you fill with life, or do you get the ideas while writing – like on the fly?

I do a lot of planning before I start to write. My books usually start with an idea (often an ending) or a few ideas which gradually start to link up. Once I have a broad outline, I write a more detailed synopsis, then a chapter-by-chapter breakdown. It's only then that I start writing properly. The characters and stories often change as the book is being written, but I think it's important to plan thoroughly. I like to be able to close my eyes and imagine the whole movie before I write even a single word!

It seems, you are fascinated from the apocalypse. In the Autumn-books 99 % (or more) of the human race dies and in the Hater-books, the human race begins to kill each other. Where does this fascination come from?

You are right, I am fascinated by the apocalypse. More accurately, I'm interested in people's reactions to each other and the situations they find themselves in. I like to write about ordinary people trapped in extraordinary situations, and basing my stories at the end of the world makes that very easy to do. When people are facing the end, many of the layers of bullshit we surround ourselves with are stripped away and you're left with the reality of what people might actually do. I think my fascination started when I was much younger. I remember reading 'The Day of the Triffids' and being absolutely terrified. And I grew up at the height of the Cold War, when the end of everything felt like it was just a few minutes away...

Your zombies differ from the main zombie-myth. There is no infection through bites, no military action (apart from the soldiers in the bunker) and entire mankind is affected simultaneously. Did you like the idea, to put the main characters in a world, that changes from one minute to the another, or was it an attempt, to create your own rules?

I've always been a huge zombie fan, but I also get frustrated because so many zombie stories follow the same basic outline. The Autumn books gave me an opportunity to try and do something different. I also wanted to try and make the books feel believable (as far as any stories about the walking dead can be believable!). There's no flesh eating in my books (why would anything that's dead need to eat?) and people are either zombies or survivors from the very beginning. I hate the way people always act the same in zombie movies - someone gets bitten and they hide it from everyone else, then they eventually turn and kill the rest of them! I also wanted my zombies to be different. They change throughout the series - starting as useless lumps of reanimated flesh, and eventually regaining some brain functions but being unable to control themselves because they're rotting. But the key difference between Autumn and most other zombie stories I think, is that my books focus on the survivors, not the living dead.

What your zombies have in common with the classic movie-zombie is the hatred of the living. Where does this hate come from?

I don't actually know if the zombies in Autumn 'hate' the living. It would be fascinating to try and imagine what's going on in a zombie's decaying brain. As I just mentioned, as the books progress they start to regain a little control and are able to think, but at the same time their bodies are rotting away to nothing so the only way they can react to the living is with aggression and violence. The other aspect of the books to mention is that there are tens of thousands of zombies for every single survivor. The world has become a silent, desolate place, so every noise that any of the survivors makes will inevitably result in them quickly being surrounded by thousands upon thousands of corpses.

The first Autumn-book is a quiet story about survivors, trying to stay alive and doing, what they have to do. The characters are well worked out and have recognition factor. This changes from book to book and culminates in Autumn: Disintegration, where most of the characters are just scenery and zombie-splatter-action takes over. This is fine to read and still a great zombie-book, but far away from the first book. Where does this change come from? Reader-Feedback?

I'd disagree that the characters in Disintegration are just scenery - there's much more to them than that. I only ever write a book if I feel there's a good enough story to tell. The basis of Disintegration wasn't reader feedback, but in some ways it was a reaction to some of the criticism that's been levelled towards the Autumn books. People have been critical of the fact there's little violence and gore, and I wanted to show why that was done. I think people assume that if the zombie apocalypse happened, they'd immediately grab weapons and start fighting. I don't think that's the case. I think lots of people would implode and fall apart. Disintegration was an attempt to look at two very different survival techniques - two very different groups of people - and to try and see if there was a better way. I wanted to take some of these characters and put them right outside their comfort zone - to make them have to do things which were completely at odds with who and what they were.

In the second Hater book “Todeshunger” (Dog Blood), you have two main actors. With the perspective, you although change the atmosphere. Danny is a Hater and his world seems to be full of colours, fascinating and diversified. Mark is normal; his life seems black and white, boring and poor of diversification. Is this a reference to the real world, an accusation to all the people, working in nine to five-jobs?

Yes! The 'real' world, I think, is all too often depressing and claustrophobic. We're too consumed with our daily routines, our jobs, our status etc. that we sometimes forget how to live. Whilst I'm definitely not saying we should all become Haters and start killing each other, I think there are some facets of the way they live which are surprisingly positive. As the Haters lose their inhibitions, they become more animal-like: living for the moment, not getting hung up on who or what they are, just existing... I thought it was an interesting contrast to make. I'm not saying I want to start living like a dog, I'm just making the point that we give up a lot of personal freedoms in our daily lives, and it's a shame.

Guillermo del Toro liked your Hater-Story and you already sold the film rights (to Guillermo?). Is there already an appointment you can make and will you be involved in the project?

Yes, the film rights to Hater were sold to a group of film-makers which includes Mark Johnson (who produced the Chronicles of Narnia films) and Guillermo del Toro. The project has experienced a few delays but it's still moving forward. I'm told we should see some progress soon and there was a suggestion that filming might commence before the end of 2011. I doubt I'll be involved in the project, and that's both a good and a bad thing. Obviously I'd love to have some involvement, but equally I'm a huge fan of del Toro and it will be incredible to see how he interprets the book.

Your first Autumn-book was brought to DVD as “Autumn of the Living Dead”. The story takes place in the USA, the title was changed to reference to other zombie-movies and it’s told a little bit confusing. Were you satisfied with the cinematic conversion and were you involved in the development of the movie?

Yes and no. It's a huge compliment that the book was filmed, and I'm proud that the project was completed, but as you say, it's not a wholly successful movie. I think the cast did a good job, but they were limited technically and it was also made on an extremely low budget. I wrote a screenplay many years earlier which formed the basis of the film, but it was rewritten. I had nothing at all to do with the change of title (which I wasn't impressed by!). Still, as I said, it was good experience and I got to visit the set and play a zombie too!

Are there plans for further Autumn-movies?

Nothing definite right now, but I have had some discussions about bringing Autumn to the screen again. I can't say anything more just yet.

What are your future plans? On your homepage, a new Autumn-book and the final part of the Hater-Trilogy are announced. Is there already a date for the German releases?

The focus of my work for the last few years has been the completion of the Hater and Autumn series. I'm about to start work on the final Autumn novel, and the last Hater book - Them or Us - is currently with my editor. I don't have any German release dates as yet, I'm afraid. There is another Autumn book - The Human Condition - which will be released in Germany later in 2011. Once the final Autumn book is finished I'll be moving on to one of several new projects I'm working on for 2012.

Will you continue to settle your stories in an end-time scenario?

Not always, but I don't think I've written my last story about the end of the world either!

What are your main influences and if you were on a lonely island, which three books/CDs/DVDs would you take with you? (you chose the media)

In terms of books, my main influence is John Wyndham, and I would take 'Day of the Triffids' to my desert island. I'd rather take paper and pens than any other books, because although I think I could last without reading, I couldn't not write. I have a playlist which I use when writing, and I'd like to take that with me too - it's about 5 hours long, mostly instrumental music from Unkle, Brian Eno, Nine Inch Nails, and many more artists. Film-wise, my influences are George Romero (just his early movies though), David Cronenberg and early John Carpenter. I think I'd like to take films by any of those directors with me!

The final words belong to you. Is there anything left you want to say?

Just thank you for the invitation which I've enjoyed, and that I hope people check out and enjoy the Hater and Autumn books. I have a new website - www.lastoftheliving.net - which, by the end of the year, will have more than 100,000 words of free zombie fiction. That's a great place for people to start if they have not read any of my work.

David Moody For more check:

www.djmoody.co.uk
www.lastoftheliving.net
www.twitter.com / davidjmoody
www.facebook.com/pages/David-Moody/36732715171

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