She listens to classical music, sleeps with a gun beneath her bed and clearly has a crush on Paul Bettany; ladies and gentleman please come and meet Eloise J Knapp . . .
Nathan Robinson - So Miss Knapp, welcome to Snakebite, first question. Favourite Film, Favourite Book, Favourite Band? Just so we can to get to know you a little better.
Eloise J Knapp -“I'm one of those people who never has a firm favorite anything, but off the top of my head... Pandorum for film, Plaguesville, USA for book, and I'm not huge into music (crazy, I know!) but I do listen to musicians like Patrick Watson and Philip Glass.”
NR- Are there any writers in particular that you’d name who first left an impression on you as a reader? Not just as an author.
EJK-“Definitely Bentley Little. His anthology "The Collection" really stuck with me. I remember his works more than any others. Not because it is stunning prose, but because the stuff he comes up with is so disturbing.”
NR-Describe the first time you came across horror as a genre, be it book/film etc. And what sort of effect did it have on you?
EJK-“I watched House on the Haunted Hill when I was 8. It traumatized me. Even if I watch it now, though it isn't that scary of a movie, I get freaked out and end up turning it off. It scared me but it made me like the feeling of being scared, which is why I like horror movies so much.”
NR- If you could have written any novel, what would it be and why?
EJK-“I wouldn't want to have written any novel, actually. If I wrote it, I wouldn't enjoy it...if that makes any sense. I don't reread my own novels for entertainment (I might look over them to see how I wrote something, or to learn from) but I can read other books repeatedly.”
NR- Your debut novel ‘The Undead Situation’ was released to great acclaim, gathering a growing army of followers as word of mouth spread. If it does reach cult status, how far are you planning to take the story of Cyrus V. Sinclair? Do you have a long term plan for him in the apocalypse?
EJK-“I have an army of followers?! YES! That is awesome. Honestly, Cyrus won't be around for more than 3 books. I'm not saying he will or will not die, but I've always had 3 books planned and I'm sticking with it.”
NR- Where did the inspiration for a character such as Cyrus come about? Is he based on anybody in real-life?
EJK-“Not based on anyone in real life, though he is my alter-apocalypse-ego. When I started reading zombie books I never liked how characters couldn't be tough or have the upper hand (never truly) and thought about what I would do. Or what I'd like to do. I started writing short clips with Cyrus in them and my inspiration took off from there.”
NR-If (and when) they make The Undead Situation into a movie, living or dead which actor would you like to see play Cyrus?
EJK-“Ooooh, I love this question! Mostly because I have thought about it extensively. The answer is Paul Bettany. He has the right complexion and also red hair sometimes. He also plays a mean post-apocalyptic character. I hope TUS gets made into a movie quick so he can be in it…”
NR-The zombie genre has had a resurgence of late, what are your thoughts on the market becoming saturated with 28 Days Later clones and eventually eating itself? Or do think that zombies are now mainstream Hollywood monster and here to stay?
EJK-“Zombies are here to stay. People keep writing books, people keep reading them. People make movies, people watch them. I don't see any decrease in that. Originality is running out, but that doesn't mean product won't be produced.”
NR- It’s the end of the world; RoboVamps/ Giant Zombie Chickens/ Carnivorous Oil Spillages are outside your front door so you need to leave in a hurry. You only have time to take one thing with you; what is it?
EJK-“Chapstick. Ha! That's the first thing I thought. Really though, I would take the .22 pistol under my bed and as much ammo as I could comfortably carry.”
NR-Do you really sleep with a gun under your pillow?
EJK-“Not under my pillow, but right under the bed actually! I have melee weapons hidden throughout the house. For real. Baseball bat, knives, and a machete. No matter what room I’m in I can defend myself!”
NR-Any advice for any would-be-writers getting ready to tout their first novel? What problems did you come across?
EJK-“My biggest problem was not being able to handle criticism. Writing the novel? No problem. Figuring out how to get it on Kindle? Easy. But reading reviews and email, or listening to friends and family, make suggestions or tell me something was wrong with the book... I'd be enraged. So here is my best advice: if someone doesn't like your book and has something negative to say, don't write it off as "Not everyone will like my book." Sometimes that is true, but other times they might have a legitimate point you need to address in your writing.
Go over your book at least twice yourself and have a third party read it before putting it up. This won't make it perfect but it is a start. Be willing to revise. Be willing to admit when you're wrong.
As for getting published...well, I got lucky. My plan was to self-publish on Kindle, build a fan base, and send the manuscript to Permuted Press. Sort of a, "Hey, I'm already popular, so publish me, k?" Three months later they sent me an offer. My plan worked, only they got to me first.”
NR- If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing for a living?
EJK-“I could never be a writer full time. Writer's block and I are best friends. In the real world I'm a graphic design student just finishing my junior year. I'm also getting a minor in creative writing. Makes sense, right? “
NR-Cheers for taking the time to talk to us and good luck in the future.
EJK-“Thanks so much for the interview.”
Nathan Robinson - So Miss Knapp, welcome to Snakebite, first question. Favourite Film, Favourite Book, Favourite Band? Just so we can to get to know you a little better.
Eloise J Knapp -“I'm one of those people who never has a firm favorite anything, but off the top of my head... Pandorum for film, Plaguesville, USA for book, and I'm not huge into music (crazy, I know!) but I do listen to musicians like Patrick Watson and Philip Glass.”
NR- Are there any writers in particular that you’d name who first left an impression on you as a reader? Not just as an author.
EJK-“Definitely Bentley Little. His anthology "The Collection" really stuck with me. I remember his works more than any others. Not because it is stunning prose, but because the stuff he comes up with is so disturbing.”
NR-Describe the first time you came across horror as a genre, be it book/film etc. And what sort of effect did it have on you?
EJK-“I watched House on the Haunted Hill when I was 8. It traumatized me. Even if I watch it now, though it isn't that scary of a movie, I get freaked out and end up turning it off. It scared me but it made me like the feeling of being scared, which is why I like horror movies so much.”
NR- If you could have written any novel, what would it be and why?
EJK-“I wouldn't want to have written any novel, actually. If I wrote it, I wouldn't enjoy it...if that makes any sense. I don't reread my own novels for entertainment (I might look over them to see how I wrote something, or to learn from) but I can read other books repeatedly.”
NR- Your debut novel ‘The Undead Situation’ was released to great acclaim, gathering a growing army of followers as word of mouth spread. If it does reach cult status, how far are you planning to take the story of Cyrus V. Sinclair? Do you have a long term plan for him in the apocalypse?
EJK-“I have an army of followers?! YES! That is awesome. Honestly, Cyrus won't be around for more than 3 books. I'm not saying he will or will not die, but I've always had 3 books planned and I'm sticking with it.”
NR- Where did the inspiration for a character such as Cyrus come about? Is he based on anybody in real-life?
EJK-“Not based on anyone in real life, though he is my alter-apocalypse-ego. When I started reading zombie books I never liked how characters couldn't be tough or have the upper hand (never truly) and thought about what I would do. Or what I'd like to do. I started writing short clips with Cyrus in them and my inspiration took off from there.”
NR-If (and when) they make The Undead Situation into a movie, living or dead which actor would you like to see play Cyrus?
EJK-“Ooooh, I love this question! Mostly because I have thought about it extensively. The answer is Paul Bettany. He has the right complexion and also red hair sometimes. He also plays a mean post-apocalyptic character. I hope TUS gets made into a movie quick so he can be in it…”
NR-The zombie genre has had a resurgence of late, what are your thoughts on the market becoming saturated with 28 Days Later clones and eventually eating itself? Or do think that zombies are now mainstream Hollywood monster and here to stay?
EJK-“Zombies are here to stay. People keep writing books, people keep reading them. People make movies, people watch them. I don't see any decrease in that. Originality is running out, but that doesn't mean product won't be produced.”
NR- It’s the end of the world; RoboVamps/ Giant Zombie Chickens/ Carnivorous Oil Spillages are outside your front door so you need to leave in a hurry. You only have time to take one thing with you; what is it?
EJK-“Chapstick. Ha! That's the first thing I thought. Really though, I would take the .22 pistol under my bed and as much ammo as I could comfortably carry.”
NR-Do you really sleep with a gun under your pillow?
EJK-“Not under my pillow, but right under the bed actually! I have melee weapons hidden throughout the house. For real. Baseball bat, knives, and a machete. No matter what room I’m in I can defend myself!”
NR-Any advice for any would-be-writers getting ready to tout their first novel? What problems did you come across?
EJK-“My biggest problem was not being able to handle criticism. Writing the novel? No problem. Figuring out how to get it on Kindle? Easy. But reading reviews and email, or listening to friends and family, make suggestions or tell me something was wrong with the book... I'd be enraged. So here is my best advice: if someone doesn't like your book and has something negative to say, don't write it off as "Not everyone will like my book." Sometimes that is true, but other times they might have a legitimate point you need to address in your writing.
Go over your book at least twice yourself and have a third party read it before putting it up. This won't make it perfect but it is a start. Be willing to revise. Be willing to admit when you're wrong.
As for getting published...well, I got lucky. My plan was to self-publish on Kindle, build a fan base, and send the manuscript to Permuted Press. Sort of a, "Hey, I'm already popular, so publish me, k?" Three months later they sent me an offer. My plan worked, only they got to me first.”
NR- If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing for a living?
EJK-“I could never be a writer full time. Writer's block and I are best friends. In the real world I'm a graphic design student just finishing my junior year. I'm also getting a minor in creative writing. Makes sense, right? “
NR-Cheers for taking the time to talk to us and good luck in the future.
EJK-“Thanks so much for the interview.”
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