Cold Flesh: Ask Dan Brodribb, Dec. 19-24

[hugonian]

Session: Dan Brodribb, Dec. 19-24

Instructions: Post a question for the author and wait for a reply. From Monday to Saturday, the author will peek in periodically to answer questions. If the author cannot answer your question before time expires, feel free to PM the author with your question.

This week’s author: Dan Brodribb “Glass Houses” is a Canadian writer and stand-up comedian. In addition to his short stories, he writes regular humor columns and features. A number of his works have been adapted for the stage, and both the screen- and stage-play versions of his story The Stud Club have been recognized by the Alberta Playwright’s Network and the Television and Film Institute. He is currently working on a script for a zombie movie due to be produced by 990 Films.

Recently Dan has branched into film acting with appearances in a number of local independent films including Reroute, and Kill N’ Kleen.

Q&A Schedule: See when other authors will be available--schedule of authors

Cold Flesh info: For more info regarding Cold Flesh, such as reviews and updates, please visit the official thread or the official website.

[HOO-HAA]

Hey Dan!

What would you define as *true* horror? What do you think is needed in writing to make it horror writing, as such?

Have you any taboos? Where would you draw the line in terms of trying to unnerve your readers?

[shamblingstepzombie]

Hey Dan;



I think Glass Houses is one of the more interesting takes on a zombie story that I've read. Did anyone else pick up on the lightning bolt trio? First on Christa's face. Than the lightning bolt crack in the mirror and finally the lightning at the end.


Shamby

Holy Brain-Eaters,

I logged on to introduce myself, and I've got two questions all ready. Fingers don't fail me now.

My name is Dan Brodribb, and I wrote the short story "Glass Houses." I'm a Canadian writer, stand-up comic, and (occasionally) actor. Like most of the other authors who have stories in "Cold Flesh," I'm thrilled to be a part of this Q & A and welcome any questions you have about...well, anything, I guess.

Now onto the questions...(see next post)

Hi Spiral,

Horror is a tricky thing to define, as I'm sure you've found out from the diversity of responses you've gotten so far. From my perspective, you won't find a lot of 'true' horror in horror fiction. Real horrors are the things that terrify us in real life, whether they're large scale terrors like disease or natural disasters, or those small, personal horrors like losing someone close to you, personal insecurities or the fear of just plain being alone.

For me personally, horror fiction is a way of taking those fears and turning them into a real thing that--scary as it may be--can be defeated. To use "Glass Houses" as an example, while Iteenagers' self-consciousness and body image issues are real and here , zombies are not (at least to my knowledge). It's a way to confront a real fear in an unreal way, if that makes any sense at all.

As far as taboos go, while I'm not out to offend or shock, ultimately 'the story is the boss.' I'm not going to stick in gore or sex or anything controversial for its own sake, but if that's what needs to be there to tell my story, I'm not going to shy away from it either.

Take care,

Dan B

[shamblingstepzombie]

*Ummm* smell author been here recently. Writers are crunchy... *slobber*, *slobber*.



Shamby

Actually, Shamby, this author is bony and stringy. Nothing to slobber over here.

As far as your comment about the lightning bolt trifecta, you are the first to have mentioned it. In fact, even I forgot about it until you brought it up. I often like to use motifs in my writing (there's some repeated glass and house imagery in 'Glass Houses'--such is sledgehammer symbolic subtlety), partially because I think adds resonance to a story, and partly because it makes me feel clever.

Weirdly enough, I have a mummy story coming out next year in Black Gate called "The Girl Who Feared Lightning" (details on that and other shameless self-promotion can be found at www.danbrodribb.ca)--and I don't think I used any lightning symbolism in that one at all.

*Whew* I think that brings me up to date. It's Tequila time.

Take care,

Dan B

[hugonian]

Why do zombies scare you?

I don't know if I find the traditional zombies scary so much as I find them frustrating. You can outrun them, out-think them, and to an extent out-fight them. The problem is, there's so bloody many of them, and they never get tired, so even if you leave them behind, you can bet they'll keep coming after you (although you have to admire that blue-collar work ethic).

Still, there's something humiliating about being cannibalized by the shambling hordes. Werewolves are quick and vicious and impervious to anything but silver. Vampires have super-powers. There's no shame in being victimized by them. But zombies? they're slow, stupid, and have the physical co-ordination of furniture. It's an undiginified death.

Dan B

[HOO-HAA]

What are you doing for the holidays?

Ahh...holidays.

This is actually a busy time of year for both my crisis centre day job and stand-up comedy, so I won't actually get any time off until January. Even then I plan to use that time to catch up on a few writing projects I've been neglecting, including the zombie script. Hopefully I'll be able to squeeze some family time in there somewhere.


Keep the questions coming. I'll be checking back until midnight Edmonton time.

Dan