Can you start off by telling our readers about both yourself and your work?
I've always been drawn to the horror genre, and have been writing spooky stories since I was a kid. I've published four horror novels and numerous short stories.
How about explaining the premise of Supernatural: Fresh Meat?
Sam, Dean, and Bobby venture into the wilds of the Tahoe National Forest to hunt down a creature that has been devouring its victims. But as a blizzard descends on the mountainous region, they find they must battle the elements to survive, as well.
How and where does the novel fit in to season 7 of the show?
Fresh Meat takes place earlier in Season 7, and I was delighted to be able to use Bobby.
Are you a fan of the series? How much research was required to write the book?
I do indeed love Supernatural. When I got the green light to write Fresh Meat, I'd been watching it for years. For show research, I watched a lot of past episodes on DVD in order to keep the characters' voices and attitudes fresh in my head. In choosing my monsters for the book, I undertook folkloric research, poring over mythologies from different cultures. I also read many first hand accounts of survival, such as memoirs of the Donner Party, and of people who have survived blizzards and avalanches.
What about the characters of Sam and Dean Winchester appealed to you as a writer?
I love the combination of Dean's toughness and his playful side, like when he is tempted by LARPing in LARP and the Real Girl and when he dresses for the Old West inFrontierland. Sam has a lot of honor and a strong sense of right and wrong. I enjoy writing action scenes, and both are such strong fighters that it was a pleasure to create dire situations for them to fight through.
How did you go about choosing a supernatural villain for Fresh Meat?
I have a master's degree in folklore and mythology, and my graduate research focused on monsters like Bigfoot, El Chupacabra, and lake serpents. I knew that a rich treasure trove of monsters awaited. I wanted to use a creature that the brothers had never encountered, so I did a lot of reading about monsters from a variety of different cultures. I looked for creatures that had certain abilities and went from there.
What do you think were the main advantages to telling this story through a novel rather than an actual episode?
One great advantage of the novel is that there is no budget for effects. I was able to write some high stakes scenes that would be very expensive to film on location, and likewise use a gruesome creature that would be expensive to portray on the screen.
Is the world of Supernatural one that you would like to revisit in the future?
I'd very much like to write another Supernatural novel. The entire process was an absolute joy.
Are superhero comics something which would interest you?
I love superhero comics! My favorite superhero is Martian Manhunter. He's got such a fascinating back story and a plethora of amazing abilities like phasing through objects, being able to appear as someone else, to fly, to read minds. I recently read the first Martian Manhunter stories, and enjoyed them immensely. I also love Nightcrawler. Chris Claremont wrote some truly amazing X-Men story cycles like the Asgardian Wars and the Dark Phoenix Saga.
What other projects do you have on the horizon?
I'm working on a few projects right now. I recently wrote a story for Dark Horse's comic Creepy, and would love to do more comics work. So right now I'm writing some horror comic book scripts, and I'm also plotting out the sequel to my horror novel Voracious. Thanks for the interview!
A rash of strange deaths in the Tahoe National Forest bring Sam, Dean and Bobby to the Sierra Nevada mountains to hunt a monster with a taste for human flesh. Soon walking corpses, bodies with missing organs, and attacks by a mysterious flying creature lead the trio to a cunning and deadly foe which can assume a human form and will do anything to survive. When a blizzard strikes the area, and not knowing who they can trust, they must battle not only the monster, but also the elements to survive. A brand-new Supernatural novel, set during Season 7, that reveals a previously unseen adventure for the Winchester brothers, from the hit TV series!