Interview with Wayne Simmons, author of DROP DEAD GORGEOUS

For the second interview on The Black Quill, I had the pleasure to interview Wayne Simmons, the author of the living-dead(ish) novel Drop Dead Gorgeous. His website biography states…

Belfast born, Wayne Simmons, has been loitering with intent around the horror underground for some years. Having scribbled reviews and interviews for the likes of Pretty Scary, ZOMBIE-A-GOGO and REVENANT MAGAZINE , Wayne is now delighted to release his debut (zombie-ish) horror novel, DROP DEAD GORGEOUS, through PERMUTED PRESS…

In what little spare time Wayne has left, he enjoys walks by the shore, getting tattooed and listening to all manner of unseemly screeches on his BOOM-BOOM Box…

This should be an interesting interview…

You seem like an interesting person (considering you have used ’Drop Dead Hoo-Ha’ and titling your website ’DropDeadDolls.com.) Where’d the flavor come from?

Geez, I’m not actually sure… am I interesting?!

Your debut novel, Drop Dead Gorgeous, has been praised by some pretty big small press names, including Andre Duzza and David Moody. Did you expect this kind of feedback from the bigger small press names?

To have such praise and encouragement from the likes of Dave Moody and Andre Duza means a LOT to me. They’re the two horror writers, of the moment, that really stand out for me.
 
With Dave, I’ve been impressed with how he can make his characters seem so real – so everyday. For me, that adds to the horror of the stories he tells; as a reader you feel worringly close to the action – the characters remind you of your own friends, family, workmates etc.
 
With Andre, it’s his sheer audacity to unleash the imagination and cross every line that is drawn in front of him. I love his chaotic, sharp-witted style of storytelling; the socio-political commentaries, the grindhouse feel of his writing and artwork he soaks it all up with.
 
I guess, with DDG, I’ve been influenced by both these guys. I’ve tried to tell a very hardcore and outrageous tale, with a cast of characters that readers of every age and backgound should be able to relate to. If I’ve done half as good a job as those guys, I’ll be a happy dude…

What was it like, asking ’other’ places to read DDG. There’s been reviews coming in from tattoo artists, GLBT TV reviewers and even a group of artists called the Bloody Messy Girls. What made you want to pursue blurbs outside of notable authors?

DDG has a very punk/ alternative feel to it. I’ve tried to write in a non-pretentious, urban tongue. An unapologetially colloquial Belfast brogue that gives the story the gritty feel that its disenfranchised characters need. That’s why I’ve tried to pimp this bad girl to the alternative press because I think it’s something they will enjoy, even if horror isn’t their bag. At the end of the day, I’ve written a story – a story that I hope appeals across the genres, not just to die-hard horror fans. I want to get the word about DDG out to as many different people as possible.
 
As readers, we like to read about people who we can relate to – and even though the book’s got a quirky alternative feel to it, there’s someone for everyone in DDG. From emo kid, Tim and punk tattoo artist, Star, to affable DJ, Sean and the old doting professor, Herbert Matthews. From the quietly spoken counselor, Gibson, to the double-trouble pairing of RIR soldier, Roy and IRA operative, Mairead. Every box is ticked to create a ragtag cast of characters that, simply, can’t get along with each other. And that part of the apocalyptic story – the part where people implode and make things even worse for themselves – is the essence of every good apocalyptic tale. It’s also something pretty much everyone can relate to. Just look at any of the Romero flicks, for example.

What is Drop Dead Gorgeous about?

It’s an honest-to-hell tale of an apocalypse in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and how the few left behind cope.
 
It’s an outrageously bizarro creature feature that gives the living dead genre something of a kick in the balls.
 
It’s a story about people and how stupid and clever and loving and hateful they (we) can be.

Was the tattoo aspect of the novel something you had always planned on using, or did it just come to you?

I guess, as a writer, you’re going to write about things that interest you – and tattoos interest me. I’m covered in them, and I’ve plans to continue getting inked as long as I’ve got blank skin! I’ve had work done by Chris Jones, Jo Harrison, Chris Crooks, Snoopy and Eve. I want to add to that list. 
 
I’ve had a lot of help with the tattoo aspect of the novel from people like Chris Jones (Physical Graffitti), Dan Henk (Lone Wolf) and Jan Moat (Identity Tattoo). What I hope to have done is represent the tattoo industry in as realistic and accurate way as possible. It’s been great to get encoragement about the book from magazines like SKIN DEEP and TOTAL TATTOO.

Was Drop Dead Gorgeous your first attempt at a novel, or the first novel you’ve sold?

It’s the first novel I’ve actually finished! A couple of others were started but never really grabbed me. I guess, as a writer, I wanted to write a book that I would enjoy reading – and this one held my interest until the end (laughs)

Did you have any particular struggles with Drop Dead Gorgeous? Did anything annoying pop out at you during the proofreading stage, or was there something in the book that was hard to fix (inconsistensies, wrong place at the wrong time, etc.)?

I had a wonderful editor in Travis Adkins. We worked together in polishing this bitch until it really shone. I guess, with Trav being so damn good at his job (and such a GRADE-A writer himself) it was refreshingly easy to make DDG palatable for the masses. I have no complaints – I loved every minute of it.

What would you say is the hardest part of writing (in general)?

Finding the time for it!

You have some interesting promotion going on with Drop Dead Gorgeous. A shirt, hair candy and a necklace. How did you get involved with the websites that  put out these products?

I guess I just put myself out there!
 
I had interviewed Gracie from TORTURE COUTURE a couple of years back and we’ve kept in touch since then. Elaine (BITEMARK CLOTHING) was featured in REVENANT MAGAZINE and her horror-themed clothing impressed me.
 
The book features very strong female characters (not least the living dead) so I thought it might be a good idea to acknowledge that with the marketing.

What all have you done to promote the book (outside of the blurbs and connections)?
 
I’ve talked about it! Online, with people I meet, people I work with – everyone!
 
I’ve thrown a lot of fliers around and, basically, whored myself and my book in any and every way possible.
 
Loads of people have helped – not least the good Dr Pus from LIBRARY OF THE LIVING DEAD, whose wonderful DDG bumper has been played in podcasts horror and non-horror alike. And then there’s PERMUTED PRESS – a publisher who are on the rise. Jacob Kier (The Boss) has pulled out all the stops to make sure the horror world at large know about DDG. I’m very grateful to everyone who’s helped out – including you, Kody, for doing this interview.

You’re also a reviewer. What’s that like?

Wonderful! I’ve worked for PRETTY SCARY, REVENANT, ZOMBIE A-GOGO amongst others. I’ve interviewed a lot of the people whose work I love and been sent free copies of some wonderful books. What could be better?

Anything in particular you want to accomplish with your writing/reviewing?

I want to tell good stories and be loved for it! Don’t all writers? (laughs)

And last but not least, is there anything you’d like us to know about?
 
I wear pyjamas to bed.

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Thanks to Wayne for taking the time to do this. Visit him online at DropDeadDolls.com!

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