Fear Anthology Blog Tour: An Interview with Anthony Price

As part of the FEAR anthology blog tour that's going on right now, here is an interview with one of the contributing authors, Anthony Price. Enjoy--and be sure to check out the giveaway at the end of the post!

 

Q: Without going all spoilery on us, can you tell us a little about your short story, Hunger?

Anthony: Well, basically, it’s about a guy named Wade who’s become a bit of a drifter after losing his wife to something ‘unnatural’. On his travels searching for the thing that killed her, he stumbles across a town, which isn’t as nice as it seems on the outside. Let’s just say, things go terribly wrong.

Q: What was the inspiration behind this story?

Anthony: To be honest, I’m not really sure where the inspiration for this particular story came from. I read a lot of horror and watch a lot of horror films and TV. I guess I was inspired by my love for the genre.

Q: How did you become involved in the FEAR anthology?

Anthony: I was trawling through the hundreds of writers websites on the internet, like you do on a Saturday morning, and I stumbled across a forum post about the anthology. I thought it was a good idea, so being a horror writer, I gave it a shot. And here I am.

Q: Describe your protagonist in three words.

Anthony: Strong, compassionate, unprepared.

Q: What is your favourite part of the writing process?

Anthony: I think my favourite part of the process is the beginning. Getting that first germ of an idea and then creating a whole world of characters to play out a story is something special. It all begins with a blank sheet of paper.

Q: Who is your favourite author? And why?

Anthony: I read quite widely in different genres, so to pick one author as my favourite would be quite hard. As this is horror, I’d have to say Stephen King. He single-handedly revamped the genre and saved it from obscurity. I love the way he creates huge casts of characters and his attention to detail is unprecedented. He’s not afraid to dispatch characters that the reader has become attached to. He’s just awesome.

Q: Did anyone ever tell you not to quit your day job? If so, is there a special message you'd like to send them now that you're a published author?

Anthony: Being disabled, writing has been my only day job and I feel lucky in the sense that, for the most part, everyone around me has been very supportive. But I have had my doubters. To them I would say, I’ll see you when I’m at the top…Waiting to drop something on your head!

Q: If you could have dinner with any one of your characters who would it be? And what on earth would you say?

Anthony: I’m not sure I’d want to have dinner with any of my characters. They’re all a little creepy! But if I had to pick one, it would be Dan Halliday from my unpublished young adult novel. He’s always good for a laugh.

Q: If you could choose just one book to leave for future generations, what would it be?

Anthony: That’s a hard one, as there are so many influential and important books out there. If I could only pick one, it would have to be 1984. I think in today’s world it still resonates with a lot of people. It’s one of the best commentaries we have on society and the whole Big Brother is watching is even more relevant today with social networking and the Internet.

Q: Is FEAR your writing debut? If not, can you tell us a little about your previous work? What can we expect from you in the future?

Anthony: Actually, FEAR is my fourth publication in something that hasn’t been self-published. I’ve previously been published in House of Horror E-zine (now sadly defunct), Static Movement E-zine and as part of the Bad Dollar project. I’ve also published my own horror anthology titled, Tales of Merryville, which is available in e-book format on Amazon. Short stories aside, I’ve just finished writing two young adult novels, one of which I’m currently sending to publishers as we speak. I’m also in talks with a London based production company to have my first feature length horror screenplay turned into a film. I like to keep myself busy.

Q: And finally, the Apocalypse is here. The world has been overrun with Zombies or Vampires or some other freakish thing that wants to chow down on humanity. Before the human race is completely eradicated you get to save two literary legends (don't ask me why you can only save bookish people, I don't make the rules) who do you save?

Anthony: Well, it would have to be Stephen King, as his horror knowledge might come in handy. This one is a little left-field, but I’d have to save Bernard Cornwell. I’m a bit of a history buff and I think he would be interesting to talk to on those long, post-apocalyptic nights. Plus, I’m a big fan of his work.


Anthony Price Author Spotlight

Anthony Price is a twenty-eight year old male residing in the UK, in Canterbury. An avid reader and film fanatic, he was first published at age fifteen and since achieving his MA in Creative Writing, he’s had several short stories published in e-zines. He’s also the author of his own horror anthology titled, Tales of Merryville, which is available to buy in e-book format on Amazon. He’s currently working on several creative projects to look out for in the future, including a series of young adult novels and a feature film.
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway