Steve the Zombie follows a seasoned detective infected with the undead plague who is trying to find a cure before he loses what is left of his humanity. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

Whenever I’ve read or watched a horror movie, I have always seen one perspective: the survivor’s perspective, their struggle, their will to survive. Then, once I watched a zombie horror movie where the unfortunate person who turned into a zombie had a past, a life, and a family, and was killed just because they turned into something they never wanted to be. This got me thinking: What happens if these people inside still retain some of their humanity? What if they can’t communicate it? In my opinion, good horror is when the main character is helpless, seemingly with no way out, so you have to root for the hero. And what could be more frightening than being surrounded by monsters, bound by something you can’t control, essentially helpless, and then the hero realizes they’ve become the monster too. This is how Steve the Zombie was developed – exploring what happens when someone realizes they’re no longer in control of their body, but still conscious, surrounded by monsters. As they roam with them, they become one of them. Deep within, while everyone wants to hunt them down, the hero tries to resist and survive. Getting into his perspective invokes the greatest fear, where horror isn’t just around the hero, but within the hero – the battlefield isn’t just the streets or the surroundings, but his own body as well.

Steve is not your typical zombie; rather, he holds on to his humanity and determination to save others. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?

To draw the line between good and bad, between human and monster, I needed to keep Steve’s core ideals from his former detective self, to set him apart from the monster he ultimately becomes. While he is aware he is a zombie, he must hold strong to his humanity, to not become the true monster everyone fears and that he also despises and fears. One of the core ideals was to present that even if someone appears monstrous on the outside, they can still be a hero, a good person on the inside. In the book, as seen in a few scenes, those who appear human are often more monstrous and cruel than the hero zombie himself.

What intrigues you about the horror and paranormal genres that led you to write this book?

I have always been drawn to the paranormal, the unexplainable. I’m only afraid of a handful of things, but I love to experience fear, like many others. I strive to find ways to scare even myself, which is likely why I write horror – to create scenarios that would frighten me too. Interestingly, my love for horror might have been influenced by my mother watching Alien in a theater while pregnant with me. Needless to say, the Alien franchise is a favorite of mine, with the second installment, Aliens, being my favorite movie. The blend of horror and action in that film resonates deeply with me. One of my other favorite scary movies is Screamers, notable for its isolation, where the heroes also have to confront the unsettling realization that anyone can turn into a terrifying evil monster.

Regarding the paranormal, as a child, I received a book filled with unexplainable mysteries, and I’ve always been captivated by the idea that there are things no one can rationalize, like the Bermuda Triangle or UFOs. Then came The X-Files, which brought visuals to many similar stories I had read and imagined. Horror and the paranormal are two intertwined genres for me, both dealing with the unattainable and often unexplainable. I have a passion for mysteries and constantly seek ways to uncover the enigmatic.

What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?

My next book will be another monster story, but this time set in the Roman Empire. It follows a brave Praetorian Centurion tasked with discovering the true reason behind a madness that has befallen many emperors. The project’s working title is I, Praetorian, and I hope to have it completed this year.

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