I’m Glyn Gardner. I’m
an Emergency Room nurse, former US Army medic, husband, and father of two
boys. I grew up in Grand Prairie Texas,
a suburb of Dallas. I grew up playing
basketball and football in the front yard, running through the neighborhood and
getting into trouble like any other boy in America.
After I graduated from high school, I left home for
Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos Texas. I graduated with a BA in Criminal
Justice. Unfortunately, I have pretty
bad eyes, and I couldn’t find work as a police officer.
Eventually I ended up in the office of my local Army
recruiter. I spent seven years in the
Army, mostly in Germany, but deployed to the former Yugoslavia three
times. While in Germany, I met my wife
Erin. She was in the Air Force, and I
decided it was time to get out of the Army and become an Air Force spouse. I’ve been following around the world ever
since.
I went to nursing school when we got back to the
states. I graduated with a BS in Nursing
in 2008 from South Dakota State University.
During nursing school, Erin got orders for Alaska, and I spent 18 months
away from my family while I finished. We
currently live in Northwest Louisiana.
How long have you been publishing?
How long have you been publishing?
About 41 days now (It’s August 6th) I tried to do the traditional publishing
thing, but it’s a tuff business to break into if you don’t have an established
name.
Tell us about your latest book.
Tell us about your latest book.
APEX is a zombie-thriller set right here in Northwest
Louisiana. The main characters are a
couple who witness one of the first zombie attacks. Soon their neighborhood is overrun by the
walking dead. They watch as neighbor
after neighbor succumb to the ever-growing hoard of undead. Some neighbors band together, some try to
flee.
In the mean time the Louisiana National Guard Cavalry is
sent in to quell the violence that has spread throughout the area. SSgt Brown and a pair of his troopers manage
to survive the slaughter that ensues, and escape the hoard.
Soon the two groups find each
other and attempt to flee. Survivors are
rescued, some are devoured by the mass of walking dead. Join
them as they struggle to survive in this new environment, an environment where
Man has been replaced by a new APEX predator.
This predator never sleeps, doesn’t feel pain, hunts in packs, and
doesn’t ever quit.
Who are your major influences?
Just about anyone who grew up in the 80’s or 90’s and is
writing anything with zombies has to pay
homage to George Romero. Some of my
favorite movies are the Living Dead movies.
But, there are others: Max Brooks for one. The Zombie Survival Guide laid out the rules for zombies. He expanded on the Romero zombies and gave them a back story. As a nurse, I have some troubles with a few of the explanations he gives, but let’s face it; we’re talking about a fictional creature. The back story has to be believable, not scientifically accurate.
Mike Scott and W E B Griffith are also influences in my
writing. I grew up reading their war
stories. How they made you feel the
terror of bullets zipping by a character’s head, or the horror and helplessness
their characters felt when one of their buddies was injured, killed, or
separated from the rest of the unit.
Their books really illustrated how people under stress come to not only
rely on each other, but love each other.
What drew you to the horror genre?
APEX was born over a year ago with just a kernel of an
idea. I’ve always been a fan of Zombie
and Apocalypse books and movies. It took
me about 5,000 words to get my original idea on paper. I realized that the story was pretty good,
and nowhere near finished. The
characters literally had a story to finish, and I needed to let them finish.
One year later, I realized that the characters weren’t
finished, but they had given me a place to stop. The second book is currently in the
works. I have no idea how long it will
be, or how long it will be before it’s released. The characters are still making up their
minds.
I hope you enjoy APEX, the first of (hopefully) several more
books.
Do you invent your own types of characters, or rework the
standard vampires, ghosts, etc?
Na, I didn’t invent anything. I took zombies; worked out in my head how the
zombie plague would begin in my world, and how it’s spread, all those little
details in my own mind. Then I just
started telling a story. That’s what I’m
good at. I’m an old soldier. It’s what we do is tell a good war story.
Are you a fan of horror movies, as well?
Yes. I just watched
the Conjuring at the movies a few weeks ago.
I like anything horror. As a kid
I was really into the slasher movies; Friday the 13th, Nightmare on
Elm Street, and Halloween. But as I’ve
grown older I like the horror movies that are more thrilling. You know; the ones that make you think, the
unexpected plot twists, the characters who look sake and then BAM, not
safe.
If so, which ones are your favorites?
I really did like the Conjuring. I didn’t find it as scary as my wife did, but
it was a VERY good ghost story. I also
like the Crazies. I love the zombie
that’s not really a zombie, just a sickness that drives people to murder. I’m an avid fan of the Walking Dead on
AMC. I can’t wait until it starts back
in October.
What’s the difference between horror books and horror films?
The writer has to be so much more vivid in his writing,
especially in horror. It’s one thing to
say “Patty walked around a corner and is eaten by a zombie.” That’s boring. There’s nothing there to make your heart
race. No emotion.
Patty rounded the corner, looking back over her shoulder at
Bob as she did. Bob’s eyes went wide. What, she thought to herself? As she turned her head, she bumped into
something. It was cold, and solid. It grabbed her shirt, pulling her
closer. Her brain finally realized what
was happening; what her eyes were seeing.
ZOMBIE! Her mind screamed.
Her hands shot up in an attempt to push the monster
away. It was strong, very strong. The creature’s mouth closed in on the young
girl. It’s breath smelled horrid of
death and rot. She let out a scream in
terror. Her muscles continued to
struggle against the deadly embrace.
She felt a shock of pain as the monster’s teeth bit into her
neck. She tried to scream as her flesh
was being ripped from her throat. All
she managed was a week blood splattered gurgle.
Her vision began to go dark. Her
strength faltered and her arms fell to her side. She went limp as the life drained out of her.
See the difference?
Why has the genre enjoyed resurgence in popularity over the
past few years?
Everything comes in waves.
I’m not sure why horror has had resurgence. I’m not one of those who analyze things too
deeply. I know many folks talked about
Night of the Living Dead was a protest to the government conspiracies and
military-industrial complex.
I think people always like to be thrilled. That’s why people ride roller coasters and
bungee jump. I think the right stories
have come out, and people like them.
But, hey I’m just an ER nurse. I
love the thrill.
What’s the best part about being a horror writer?
It is such a thrill writing horror. There are several parts of APEX that my heart
rate climbed as I wrote it, and I knew how it was going to end. Plus, my ten year old is a big zombie
fan. He hasn’t read APEX yet. I’m going
to wait a few years I think. But, he is
so excited about the book.
What’s the worst?
Editing. I’m the
world’s worse speller/ typist. I swear I
had to read APEX six times to edit out all the mistakes I was able to
find. (I’m sure there are some I still
missed). I wish I could just talk into a
microphone and the story would just come out the way I want it.
Do you think fans of horror are more devoted to genre?
You know, as a horror writer I hope so. But, I think fans are fans. By that I mean I think people find what
speaks to them, and they tend to stick with that. Try to talk poorly about Janet Evonovich to
one of her fans. They can get kind of
rabid about her.
Is there a difference in the type of stories you are
telling, or the way you are telling them, than traditionally published horror
writers?
APEX is told with the eye of a soldier. One of my friends read the book, and called
it a cross between Walking Dead and Blackhawk Down. I try to convey not only the horror of
getting eaten by a zombie, but also the terror of watching it happen, as well
as the hopelessness and despair of seeing it happen to someone you love. I also really like to build a character up
and then squash them when you least expect it.
One of my author friends sent me an e-mail half way through the book
saying “I can’t believe you killed…”
I love that kind of response.
What does your family think of your writing career?
Well, right now it isn’t a career, but more like a
hobby. As I’ve said, I’m an ER nurse by
day, and a writer by day off. My oldest
son is stoked about APEX. My youngest is
only 4 and he just knows that the “monkey book” is scary. (The cover has a picture of his sock monkey
lying next to my oldest son’s pale “dead” arm)
My wife, she’s another story. She doesn’t have a problem with my
writing. She doesn’t like the fact that
I don’t help out around the house much on days I’m at home writing. She also really didn’t like the fact that I
self published, and had to put money out up front. To me it’s an investment to her it may be
money thrown away. Hopefully book sales
will bring her around.
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