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bookstore, Bryce Beattie, dunwoody, horror, j dane tyler, moody, movies, Writing
or at least my history. A lot of people have been asking me lately how I became a writer and published poet or why I got into zombies in the first place. Well, here is my story.
It began many many years ago right after we had moved to Pittsburgh, PA. My parents had bought a 150 year old home in a small town name Sewickley that needed a lot of landscaping and work. On the weekends my father and I were inseparable working outside or in from dawn till dusk.
One weekend we had torrential downpours and for some reason Dad didn’t want to work inside the house that day (I think his back was acting up) so he and I sat on the couch watching reruns of the ‘Rat Patrol’ followed by Superhost on WUAB out of Cleveland. That morning would change my life forever.
Superhost showed a lot of B-grade horror movies and that weekend that had on what I now consider a classic, ‘The Omega Man’ starring Charlton Heston. While the bad guys in the move were NOT zombies (that’s a post for another day), it was the first apocalyptic film with a villain of that type in it I had ever been exposed to. I can remember being scared at age 6 or 7 and burying my face in my father’s shirt out of fear.
As I grew up my fascination with other types of horror grew to include ‘The Exorcist’, ‘Children of the Corn’, and sorted others. My first official book that was apocalyptic was the series ‘The Ashes’ by William Johnstone. I discovered that series in my early teens and at multiple times have owned the entire series, finally selling it off just earlier this year. If you have never read them I recommend them for adults that enjoy politics, horror, and post apocalyptic themes.
Movie wise the eighties were wonderful. I found the movies ‘Mad Max’, ‘The Road Warrior’, and ‘Metal Storm’. For me these were incredible films dealing with the apocalypse and how to survive.
As for my later years I finally read ‘The Stand’ and watched the movie. I loved it. My eyes were open to all different types of possibilities of the apocalypse.
Now you are probably wondering if I grew up in Pittsburgh didn’t I forget to mention something. I’m getting to that point now. The Dead movies. ‘Night of the Living Dead’, ‘Dawn of the Dead’ (not the crappy remake), ‘Day of the Dead’ and ‘Land of the Dead’. Classics each and every one. I have been fortunate in my life to meet George Romero (During the filming of ‘Monkeyshines’) and this past weekend I met Ken Foree, Tom Savini, Helicopter Zombie, Machete Zombie, and Grey Suit Zombie. It was absolutely wonderful to talk to these men about the movies they were in. A chance of a lifetime. These movies are truly the impetus behind much of my work anymore.
As a man in his mid-thirties I discovered the wonderful world of online novels. Works like ‘Autumn’ by David Moody and ‘Empire’ by David Dunwoody (aka The Dunwoody). I made dear friends in J. Dane Tyler and Bryce Beattie (authors of ‘Ghost Hunters’ and ‘Oasis’ respectively). Then I joined the Library. Not my local one but the Library of the Living Dead (see link to them on side panel). That is when I found out about Horror Realm and got to meet so many of my favorite authors seen in the photos HERE.
So you wonder why I write what I do and enjoy what I do? There is your answer. I grew up with it and it is now engrained into my blood. I am a horror author and poet. You know what?
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Me either!
And you forgot to reference Dunwoody as *the* Dunwoody. Just in case he comes back and kicks your ass later…
Thanks Babe! I took care of it
The first question that pops into my head is…
Just how much of a zombie geek are you?
Can you sit through Mutant, 48 Days Later or Trailer Park Of Terror without a little bit of your soul dying? Or the one one with the little children zombies who died in a mining accident – Nasty Little Zombies or something equally ridiculous – or even Zombie Chronicles?
There are enough lame zombie flicks out there to keep even the most braindead individual entertained for months, but I like my viewing entertainment aiming a little higher. It’s great that you got to meet Romero and Savini, two men who I have the utmost respect for.
All hail George A. Romero. Father of the modern zombie flick.
I have to say bigwords that I am a shambler/shuffler. The 28 sagas blew. Those were NOT and I repeat NOT zombies. Zombies MUST die or be dead and then reanimate!
It’s not so much that I’m a snob about it but definitely have my beliefs in what a zombie is. Most of the stuff now a days is truly crap however I am a sucker for a B-grade zombie flick. One that sticks out in my mind is ‘Shockwaves’ I friggin love that movie but as you said earlier, ALL HAIL GEORGE C. ROMERO!
Interesting bit of history, Ben. Thanks for sharing it with us!
The 28 Days Later revamp of the zombie mythos were not as awful as I thought they would be, but there’s a straight-to-DVD film called 48 Days Later as well. Hobos are struck by a meteor and… I really can’t bring myself to say any more. It blows chunks, but somehow – a mild aneurism p’rhaps – I couldn’t drag myself away from it.
Not seen Shockwaves yet, or the mid-nineties flick that was hyped endlessly in Samhain magazine. The Dead Next Door? Something like that… I’m adding so many films to my “must watch” list that my credit card is beginning to weep gently.