Chewing Braaiiinns with… Matthew S. Williams

Today I welcome author Matthew S. Williams to Chewing Braaiiinns with… Let’s take a moment to introduce Matt to everyone.

Matt Williams lives on Vancouver Island with his wife and family and dedicates himself to teaching, Taekwon-Do and writing. He has authored eight novels and short stories and over one hundred articles. In addition to classic sci-fi, his interests include history, literature, politics, science and technology, and social studies. He is a member of several online writing communities, including the Herscher Project and Writer’s Worth, and is a contributing author to websites such as Universe Today and Were You Wondering?

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

I think it has to do with the idea of an apocalyptic scenario, where the world is falling to pieces and people are scrambling to get what they can and find the high ground. There’s excitement in that, and plenty of opportunities for adventure and crisis, the stuff good literature is made of! What’s more, there’s the deeper level that it works on. In all good zombie fiction, you have the constant conflict between chaos and order, how characters will always try to cling to civilization even as they embrace the law of the wild, where anything goes and you have to be ruthless to stay alive.

Tell us about your latest project.

My latest project is Whiskey Delta, a tale of the zombie apocalypse told from the point of view of the 200^th Rattlesnake Brigade – a group of soldiers who are dedicated to fighting back the hordes from within their enclave in New Mexico. They are led by “The Mage”, a General who has some experience fighting the undead and who is determined to win the war at any cost. But when information comes to them that might lead to a cure, they quickly realize they aren’t the only fighting force left in the nation, or the only ones willing to kill for fight for a cure…

What makes your Zombies different, if anything?

Well, I decided that for the sake of my own work, I wanted to vary things up a bit. In general, zombies tend to be the vapid, instinct-driven creatures that skulk around looking for flesh to feed on. I wanted to present a form of zombie that was capable of changing over time, capable of fear and anger in addition to base instinct and even capable of learning from its mistakes. After all, there’s no telling how a virus will impact a host over time, especially the kind that kills and resurrects!

What are your 5 favourite Zombie books that you didn’t write?

World War Z, The Walking Dead, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Patient Zero, and Zone One. All of these dealt with the zombie apocalypse in an intelligent, creative and very human way, the way I wanted to when I started writing. But as always, a new writer always feels like they are eating the crumbs off others’ tables.

What are your top 3 favourite Zombie films?

28 Days Later, Zombieland, and Shaun of the Dead.

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?

I would say it has, but it was in good company thanks to a general resurgence in recent years in occult-type movies. In fact, I’d say zombies is the latest craze, behind witches and vampires, and represents the most mature aspect of this resurgent interest in paranormal and horror-related genres.

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?

My imitation katana sword, my diver’s knife, my ceramic Oktoberfest mug, my iPad, and the lamp stand.

Imitation Katana?? It’s all over you for you Matt… Sorry! Now let’s take a quick peek into Whiskey Delta…

A tale of the zombie apocalypse, of the men and women who fight the undead hordes, and the struggle to maintain hope and humanity in a world devoid of both.