A Chat with Hunter Shea

The prolific and extremely talented Hunter Shea has stopped by my blog to talk about his newest book and a number of other things, some of which may surprise you!

Can you talk a little about Island of the Forbidden? Is the island or house on the island based on a story or legend you've about?

The house, and the island, are completely fabricated. However, the idea to make a haunted house – on a haunted island – came from sitting on beaches in the Bronx, of all places, and seeing these little islands with dilapidated structures. These houses were once residential areas, some housed hospitals, asylums and even a potter’s field. Very intriguing and creepy stuff. If I ever decide to become an Urban Explorer, I’ve vowed to explore those islands. I named the island, and colonial mansion, Ormsby after Alan Ormsby, who was the main character in the early 70s zombie movie, Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things. In that movie, an acting troupe visits a fog shrouded island to raise the dead, with regrettable consequences. The concept of being stranded on an island, without communication, surrounded by something paranormal and potentially evil was what drove me to write Island of the Forbidden. It’s all about isolation in the face of your deepest fears.

A lot of your books deal with the paranormal—Forest of Shadows, Sinister Entity, The Waiting, Island of the Forbidden. When did the subject first interest you and when did you think “Hey, I’m going to write a novel dealing with it?

I have always been a fan of the strange and paranormal. As a kid, I was raised on scary movies, comic books and tales from my grandmother who was a local psychic who made tables rise from the floor and spoke with the dead. Thanks to In Search Of, I was hooked on true stories of ghosts and monsters at a very young age. When my wife and I were married in the early 90’s, we moved into our current house. It didn’t take long to realize we were not alone in the house. For twenty years, we’ve had an extra member of the family who comes and goes as he pleases. When I sat down to write my first full length horror novel, I knew I had to incorporate all of the things that had thrilled and frightened me, as well as the strange situation I was currently living in.

Some authors stick to writing the same kind of book, like gore-filled or action-packed or sci fi oriented horror or atmospheric, etc. It seems you like to write in different areas of horror—sci fi based horror, atmospheric, gory and action-packed. Is there one area you enjoy writing about the most or is tackling the gamut more to your liking?   

I haven’t even gotten started with all of the different story types I want to explore. One of the wonderful things about Samhain is that our editor, Don D’Auria, lets us explore and experiment – as long as the story is solid and the scares are real. Right now, I’m flexing my cryptid muscles. Those books (Swamp Monster Massacre, The Montauk Massacre and the upcoming Dover Demon) tend to mix monster horror with lots of action. I seem to be in my element when I combine the two. But after writing a book like that, I like to try my hand at something else, kind of like cleansing the palate. I’ve noticed that you’re writing style is very similar. I love the range of stories that your books uncover. It’s a blessing to have editors who are there to support your wild imagination.

Let’s change it up a little. What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

I read – a lot! I’ve always been a big reader, and even more so now. You’d think with having to find time to write, along with a crazy day job, there would be less time to read. But I realized long ago, if you just turn the TV off, you have plenty of time to do everything. I spend a lot of time with my family. My girls are teens now, so they dig a lot of the crazy stuff I dig. And there’s learning to drive, going to concerts, finding every hibachi joint in the state of New York. I’m never at a loss for things to do. I’ll rest plenty when I’m in a nursing home.

Okay, back to the craft. Do you have a writing routine and if so what’s it like?

When I’m working on a book, I try to write every day, even if it’s a stolen moment at lunch or in my car. As long as the words keep coming, I’m happy. On weekdays, I write at night, after work and dinner and shooting the breeze with my family. On weekends, I get up early and do a few hours. When I finish a book, I step away from it for a week, then dive into editing. The key is to keep moving, like a literary shark, and to always finish what you started. You have to learn to step away from a manuscript and declare it done, then send it off to your editor.

Besides writing horror, is there another genre you’d like to write about, or have you?  

The very first book I wrote was a romantic comedy, followed by a very dark comedy. So yes, I definitely have a tendency towards humor. I plan to try my hand at another comedy very soon. I’m also going to try my hand at literary fiction and see how that goes.

                                  

Will the New York Mets make the playoffs this year? (Be honest)

Oh man, you had to ask that. The Nationals just made themselves a monster with their winter acquisitions. I think if everything goes right, the Mets could make the wild card. But odds are, this will be a great year to watch with marked improvement but no October ball. If they get another big bat after the 2015 season, and all of those young arms stay healthy, they will win it all in 2016.

Until then, I’m a lifelong Seahawks fan, so I’m thoroughly enjoying their run to the Super Bowl. I hope they kick the Pats in their deflated balls.

Writing influences?

It goes without saying, Stephen King. He was the man who taught me to love grown up horror. Hemingway taught me to keep it short and tight. Elmore Leonard gave me dialogue without being surrounded by extraneous nonsense. Every book I’ve ever read has influenced me in some way – showing me what to do and what not to do.

Name your 3 favorite horror movies.

The Haunting

Alien

Dawn of the Dead

What’s the hardest part about writing?

The writing itself, even the editing, is wonderful. I love the process of spinning a big old yarn and working on it until it’s fit for human consumption. It’s all the other stuff around it that can get a little nutty. Authors have to handle the majority of marketing their work. If you’re not careful, you can get sucked into the big black hole of marketing, chomping away at time better spent writing. If you want your books to be front and center, you have a hell of a lot of work to do. I thank God every day for my publicist Erin at Hook of a Book Media. Her incredible efforts allow me the time to work on that next book.

The easiest part?

The first draft. Sure, there are moments where you stop and say, “This is crap. What the heck have I done???” The working writer knows how to push through that. There are so many endorphin rushes when you work on the first draft. I love it.

Can you talk a little about your upcoming release Tortures of the Damned?  (It looks awesome!)

Tortures is a post apocalyptic novel set in Yonkers, NY. I take a nice, innocent family, and drag them into the end of the world, exploring how normal people evolve in an abnormal world. The theme of that book is knowledge. When the bombs hit, all communication is lost. No one knows what happened, who did it, why, or how encompassing the devastation is. In a world where we’re all plugged in and connected 24/7, what do we do when that plug is pulled?

And of course, I add some of my signature mayhem to the mix. If the world goes to hell the way I wrote it, please let me be at ground zero.

Any advice for aspiring or new writers? 

Three simple things : read until your eyes are sore, write until your fingers are cramped, and type The End.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?


Thank you so much for letting me hijack your blog. I’m a huge fan of your work and lucky to call you Samhain brother. If anyone wants to learn more about my work, watch my video podcast Monster Men or just kill time reading all of my Bigfoot articles, swing on by my blog and chain at www.huntershea.com.

Island of the Forbidden by Hunter Shea continues the story of Jessica Bockman, the ghost-hunting heroine who has appeared in Forest of Shadows, The Graveyard Speaks and Sinister Entity, all published by Samhain Horror. 

To read more about the series and Jessica Bockman, read Hunter’s recent article.

Island of the Forbidden Synopsis

Sometimes, the dead are best left in peace.

Jessica Backman has been called to help a strange family living on a haunted island in Charleston Harbor. Ormsby Island was the site of a brutal massacre two decades ago, and now the mysterious Harper family needs someone to exorcise the ghosts that still call it home. The phantoms of over one hundred children cannot rest.

But something far more insidious is living on the island. When the living and the dead guard their true intentions, how can Jessica discover just what sort of evil lurks on Ormsby Island? And why is Jessica the only one who can plumb its dark depths?

Giveaway

Enter to win one of five Hunter Shea books being given away! Two signed copies of Montauk Monster, one signed copy of Sinister Entity, and two e-books of choice of his titles are up for grabs! One book to each winner, given in order of random drawing. Enter to win at the Rafflecopter link. Must use valid email that winners can be contacted by. Print books are U.S. residents only. Contest ends Feb. 28, 2015. Any questions, contact Erin Al-Mehairi, Publicist, at hookofabook@hotmail.com.

Direct Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/231aa30b17/?

Code:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Purchase Links

GoodReads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23622071-island-of-the-forbidden

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Island-Forbidden-Hunter-Shea-ebook/dp/B00PDJV156/

Samhain Horror:

https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5298/island-of-the-forbidden

Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/island-of-the-forbidden-hunter-shea/1120724210?ean=9781619226906

Raves for Hunter Shea

Forest of Shadows

"A frightening, gripping story that left me too frightened to sleep with the lights off. This novel scared the hell out of me and it is definitely a creepy ghost story I won't soon forget." --Night Owl Reviews

Sinister Entity

"This is the real deal. The fear is palpable. Horror novels don't get much better than this." --Literal Remains

". . .Culminates in a climactic showdown between human and spirit that keeps you glued to the pages!" --Horror Novel Reviews

Evil Eternal

"Hunter Shea has crafted another knockout. At turns epic and intimate, both savage and elegant. . .a harrowing, blood-soaked nightmare." --Jonathan Janz, author of The Sorrows

Swamp Monster Massacre

"If you're craving an old-school creature-feature that has excessive gore. . .B-horror movie fans rejoice, Hunter Shea is here to bring you the ultimate tale of terror!" --Horror Novel Reviews

Hunter Shea, Biography

Hunter Shea is the author of paranormal and horror novels Forest of Shadows, Swamp Monster Massacre, Evil Eternal, Sinister Entity,  HellHole and Island of the Forbidden, which are all published by Samhain Horror. 

The June 3, 2014 release of his horrifying thriller Montauk Monster was published by Kensington/Pinnacle. His second Kensington novel, Tortures of the Damned, will be published later this year.

He has also written a short story to be read prior to Sinister Entity, called The Graveyard Speaks (it’s free, go download!), and a book of stories called Asylum Scrawls.

His work has appeared in numerous magazines, including Dark Moon Digest, Morpheus Tales, and the upcoming anthology, Shocklines : Fresh Voices in Terror. His obsession with all things horrific has led him to real life exploration of the paranormal, interviews with exorcists, and other things that would keep most people awake with the lights on.

He is also half of the two men show, Monster Men, which is a video podcast that takes a fun look at the world of horror. You can read about his latest travails and communicate with him at www.huntershea.com, on Twitter @HunterShea1, Facebook fan page at Hunter Shea or the Monster Men 13 channel on YouTube.