Chuck Buda

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am full-fledged horror and heavy metal junkie. Growing up in the 80’s exposed me to lots of great horror movies and hair metal bands. As I have approached middle-age, my tastes have become darker. Norwegian Black Metal and extreme horror novels are what I spend my waking hours with. Oh, and I love eating pizza!

I have written twelve books across several different series. Too many interests pull at my attention, so I have a supernatural series (Son of Earp), an occult series (Gushers), a psychological series (Debt Collector) and of course, a zombie series (Zombie Lockup).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent book is Caged 3 of the Zombie Lockup series.

The only reason I began this series was so I could be included in Jay Wilburn’s Summer of Zombie Blog Tour. I had so much fun following prior tours and I wanted to be part of the energy.

The story came to me as I thought about the worst places to encounter zombies. I dread tight spaces and the idea of being trapped inside a prison with zombies on the loose made me wish I had never thought of the idea. But I did. And so I had to explore the horrific possibilities through my story. Luckily, Jay Wilburn liked the books and allowed me to join the Summer of Zombie Blog Tour.

Bucket list checked!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t consider my writing habits to be unusual. But I do have specific requirements. I have to wear one of my favorite black tee shirts (pick a metal band) and drink coffee. I also have to listen to Black Metal for mood. If these requirements are not met then I usually throw a fit like Van Halen did about brown M&Ms. My wife gets mad though because I trash our dining room. She can be difficult that way.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Like many horror authors, I grew up on a steady diet of Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe. Then I discovered Brian Keene and Edward Lee. I don’t think I have found a book by any of these authors that I didn’t enjoy. Favorites include IT (Stephen King), Girl on a Glider (Brian Keene) and Header (Edward Lee).

These days, I really enjoy the work of Tim Meyer, Hunter Shea, J. Thorn and Dan Padavona. They are all wonderful wordsmiths and I pretty much buy anything they put out. Yup. That good.

I absolutely worship Armand Rosamilia’s work because of his distinct voice. ALL OF HIS BOOKS! And Jay Wilburn is a master storyteller. He knows how to suck you into a tale using off-beat characters and interesting settings.

Frank Elder is another author I enjoy. His bizarre twist on comedic horror is fun and light. He is a very funny guy.

What are you working on now?
I am currently inundated with projects. I am working on the final act of my Gushers trilogy, writing Caged 4 and 5, outlining the fourth book in my Son of Earp series and I have a few short stories in the works for several anthologies I was invited to join.

There is another super-secret collaboration in the works with a bunch of terrific authors. I want to share the news because I am so excited about it. But the other authors threatened to hunt me down and kill me if I revealed it. So…we all have to wait for the book to hit the shelves.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
You know, I haven’t spent much time digging into the data on questions like this. I probably should.

I like to offer autographed paperbacks on Goodreads Giveaways. Sometimes, I run freebies on Facebook or Twitter.

The best way to promote my work is to attend live events. I do really well at conventions and book signings. I connect with readers in person. On the internet, I get lost among all the other authors. Oddly enough, I sell the most books at micro-breweries when I can hang out and drink beer with the readers and talk about metal. Something magical happens when you get drunk with folks and then share pictures of your mullet from high school. WHAM! Instant sales.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep going. Don’t stop. Each day brings new challenges. Every sentence inspires more words and ideas. The worst thing a writer can do is wait for inspiration. A continuous habit of writing is needed to sharpen your art and build muscle. And expect bad days. There are days when the words are choppy, like swallowing broken glass. Push through it and the flow will return.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I have ever gotten came from my mentor, Armand Rosamilia. He didn’t know he was my mentor until recently. For years, I just stalked him and asked lots of questions. But he told me…don’t try to be someone else. Keep writing and putting your words in front of people. I spent years worried about how my work would be received. I tried too hard to be Stephen King or Edward Lee. Being yourself, writing in your own voice and being honest with your craft are the most powerful lessons he taught me. There was lots of yelling (on his part) and crying (on my part). But I am a better writer now.

What are you reading now?
I am reading The Beast of Boggy Creek by Lyle Blackburn. I became obsessed with Bigfoot as a child with the television show In Search of… Lyle’s work is extensive in the realm of cryptids. He really knows his topic and has spent a lifetime researching it.

On the fiction front, I am reading Bone Chimes by Kristopher Rufty. I find his books to be the closest thing to an 80’s horror flick to me. Somewhat nostalgic, I know. Extremely enjoyable, nonetheless!

What’s next for you as a writer?
The next thing for me as a writer is getting into Oprah’s Book Club. She would love my stories, I know it. If only she would respond to my letters. And texts. And phone calls. And the singing messenger I sent to Chicago.

Seriously, I just want to continue to hone my craft and reach more readers. It has been a thrilling ride thus far. I have met so many great people and made new friendships. I love, love, love when readers tell me how much they enjoyed my story. That is priceless. I’m living the dream!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Wow! This is a difficult question because there are so many awesome choices. My selections would probably throw people for a loop. Here goes.

On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Shogun by James Clavell
The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell
IT by Stephen King

Author Websites and Profiles
Chuck Buda Website
Chuck Buda Amazon Profile

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