Today my guest is a relative newcomer to the field of Zombie fiction, but don’t let that fool you; Dale Eldon is an author you’ll most certainly want to pay attention to. For those of you who haven’t run across his name yet, here’s a little information…

When Dale is at his overnight job at a local fast food joint, or even at home, he is plotting stories in which people fall in love, fight for their lives, and die. POTATO MAN, from the anthology, Grindhouse, was born while Dale rolled burritos on his overnight shift when the thought of dozens of severed, possessed hands chasing a woman down a dark street fluttered to mind.

Apart from his “day job”, Dale is currently published in two anthologies, and continues to write for several anthology calls, and has a zombie novella almost ready for consideration by Crowded Quarantine Publications.

His creepy short story, DARK DWELLINGS is on Smashwords and Amazon.

And coming in June, his zombie novella, SMELL OF THE DEAD.

Welcome Dale. So, why Zombies? Is there anything specific that draws you to the genre?

There’s something so profoundly creepy about dead people not only rising, but dead people who continue to rot with an insatiable appetite for human flash. And there’s just no stopping them. The idea of death is something that people have dealt with in many ways over the ages and in varying cultures. The very fact that death itself, not in the Grim Reaper sense, but something that is very natural has been perverted into a huge army that destroys everything in its path to tear apart those who still live is so captivating. Not to mention I love how the living react to this, and the survival aspect.

I have to agree with you Dale. And I love profoundly creepy stories! Tell us about your latest project; published or otherwise.

SMELL OF THE DEAD coming in June:

DNA expert Terry Marshall leads his fellow scientists up the biggest mountain in the world… Everest!

In order to escape a hit made on Terry and his friends, he sets up a trip that they wanted to take for a long time in order to disappear for good.

But, things quickly change when one of the scientists becomes deathly ill.

As if the mountain itself was deadly enough, now the group must face a strange breed of zombies, and get down before the mountain, and the undead finish them off for good.

By the end a new threat will emerge…

That sounds amazing! I cannot wait to read it. What is your favourite Zombie archetype; fast or slow?

I like both, but it depends on the story. Though I prefer them to be in the middle. Too fast, and they shouldn’t be zombies (like 28 Days). But if it is believable then I’ll enjoy the story.

Good point. If I’m reading something or watching something, there at least needs to be the potential for escape. Anything less and the premise becomes defeatist to the core. What makes your Zombies different, if anything?

Each time there is a new victim for the undead, the change is a bit different. From bio chemistry, to the psychical appearance. Though the most common trait is a strange green and black fibers the protrude from the skin, and act like cactus spines, which can infect any host they come into contact with.

There is also another secret, but one that won’t be reviled until the end. ;^)

Ohhh a secret twist! How exciting! Tell us about your 5 favourite Zombie books that you didn’t write?

David Moody’s AUTUMN series.

Max Brooks’ WORLD WAR Z.

Todd Card’s HELL COMETH.

Joe McKinney’s DEADCITY series.

Jonathan Maberry’s ROT AND RUIN series.

Great choices! What are your top 3 favourite Zombie films?

Both DAWN OF THE DEAD movies.

DAIRY OF THE DEAD

Both NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD movies.

Also great choices! Do you think the popularity of The Walking Dead and its appearance in mainstream media has helped to increase the popularity of the genre, or has there always been such an interest?

Yes, and no. When I was in first grade, I would walk around the playground walking shabbily moaning, and murmuring, “BRAIIIINNNNSSS”. The other kids looked at me like I was on crack. Their parents either didn’t know of, or didn’t let them watch RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD. Often over the years I’d make a zombie reference, and people usually wouldn’t get it. I do believe the video game series of RESIDENT EVIL helped to get people interested. And in the book world, Max Brooks’ WORLD WAR Z really started to ramp up the sub-genre. Then Robert Kirkman came out with his THE WALKING DEAD comics, which I didn’t hear of before the show (even though I’ve heard of him), and that fed into the rising interest. But when Frank Darabont read one of the comics, he knew TWD would be a huge hit. And once it aired, people who didn’t care before now saw zombies in a new light.

So I’d say if it wasn’t for the video game industry, and Max Brooks, TWD might not have had as much success. Not to mention David Moody’s take on the genre. I feel he has made a great addition to the genre’s success.

Pop Quiz: If the Zombie Apocalypse were to occur right now, 5 things found in the room you are currently sitting will be your weapons – what are they?

Well I have two survival knives, one of which is almost the size of a machete. And it can chop through tree branches like a hatchet. I also have a hatchet in reach, but it’s not quite as sharp. And then there’s the single shot, shotgun on the gun rack.

You may survive Mr. Eldon. Maybe…

Since you can’t currently purchase Dale’s novella Smell of the Dead, let’s take a sneak peek into his short Dark Dwellings…

A new freak-show is in town, set up in an old abandoned factory, House of the Macabre which is all fun and games until one of the freaks begins to kill off the others. 

His name is Gummy. He was born with a freakish face and pale skin. Mocked all of his life for looking like a clown, he got a job as one. But this clown isn’t your garden variety, he has a taste for human organs. Aaron Stanson, a newbie to the House of the Macabre gets his first dash with the evil clown when his girlfriend, and fellow freak comes up missing. Aaron who is probably the most normal of the bunch will face off against the worse the world has to offer.

If you’re interested in purchasing Dale’s short for $0.99 USD, simply click on the cover and be whisked away to Amazon. It’s also available on Smashwords here.

Thank you Dale for taking the time to answer my questions. If you would like to connect with Dale, you can find him on Facebook, his blog, his Amazon Author Page, Twitter, or Google+.

Join me next week when I talk shop with Jeanette Sirois, the creator of The Living Challenged!