I stalked Nick on social media. Since we live on opposite ends of the continent we had to do this interview via email. Wait... I do all of these interviews via email. Let's see what Nick had to say about reading, writing and zombies!
1. It’s the zombie apocalypse and writers have got to stick together to survive. Pick 3 authors to be on your zombie apocalypse killing team and tell us why you’d choose them.
Nick says: “I think I’d pick Michael Bunker author of
Brother Frankenstein because he’s the off-grid Maestro and so his common sense, survival skills and integrity commend him well. Next I’d pick John L. Monk, author of
Kick, because he’s got some guns, survival interests and I’ve played Left 4 Dead with him. He’s a team player and a shooter which makes a good wingman for the run and gun world of the Zombocalypse. Next I’d pick Christopher Boore, author of the novella
Next Up. He’s the awesome DM for our podcast
SciFi Writers Playing Old School D&D and we’d probably start playing first edition Dungeons and Dragons since there’s no TV or interwebz now that the zekes ruined everything.”
Meredith says: I've been waiting for someone to pick Bunker!
2. If Stephen King and J. K. Rowling were drowning in a river, who would you save first? And now you have to tell us why.
Nick says: “I’d save Miss Rowling because she’s a lady and I’m sure Mr. King would want it that way because he’s a standup dude. But, I’d go back for Stephen King because he’s one of my literary heroes. Even if he’d gone under for the third time. Plus, how bad would zombie Stephen King be? It’d make a great memoir once publishing got started again
. Me and Zombie Stephen King: A Friendship... sort of.”
Meredith says: Sweet Jesus... a zombie Stephen King. I may not be sleeping tonight. Also, I can't wait to read that memoir, you know, if I survive the zombie apocalypse.
3. We authors are voracious readers. My TBR list is approximately 8 miles long. What are you currently reading?
Nick says: “Currently I’m reading Arturo Perez-Reverte’s
The Siege. It’s bang-up historical fiction set during the siege of Cadiz during the Napoleonic era. I pretty much read anything Perez-Reverte writes. He tweeted me once.”
Meredith says: Awesome!
4. What is the one book that you could read a million times and never get bored with?
Nick says: “For fiction I bet it would be
The Lord of the Rings. Including
The Hobbit. But, I annually read
The Old Man and the Sea in one day. Sometimes sitting in the pool, or the bathtub.”
5. Last year my favorite read was The Martian by Andy Weir. What was your best read of 2014?
Nick says: “I would agree with you on
The Martin. A fantastic read that’s both witty and gripping. I did a panel with Mr. Weir at ComicCon and he’s one of the nicest writers I’ve ever met. Really super guy. I also really enjoyed Jonathan Maberry’s
Patient Zero.”
6. This year my favorite read has been The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. What’s the best book you’ve read so far in 2015?
Nick says: “I finally got around to reading
A Prayer for Owen Meany. It’s a heartbreakingly excellent book. The prose and pacing and pathos hurricane’d into a touching snapshot of a giant. Bold Statement: I sincerely doubt that even the author knew what he was creating in the character of Owen Meany. It’s one of those books that sticks with you as you walk away. Or are driven down the road, taking the bus, waving at it one last time through the back window. It’s probably influenced a fantasy memoir SciFi thing I’m futzing with.”
7. You’re a writer by day and a superhero by night. (Take off those geeky glasses Superman) What’s your superpower?
Nick says: “Ninja Skills. Because Ninjas are awesome and it’s probably a pretty healthy way to live. The training, I mean. Not the poisons, combat to the death octagon style and criminal underworld assassinations. Other than those things... ninja-ing seems great. Batman’s basically a ninja.”
8. I have writing spots all over my house: my desk, my couch, the patio, and my bed. Where’s your favorite spot to write?
Nick says: “Backyard on the patio. I live in a very balmy Southern California out near the edge of civilization. So, as a Wastelander I enjoy the melancholy loneliness of breezy afternoons.”
Meredith says: Since I live in the frozen north east, that actually sounds kind of nice.
9. We’re supposed to love all of our children equally, but there are some scenes I’ve written that really stick out in my mind. Tell us your favorite scene from one of your books.
Nick says: “The End of
The Wasteland Saga. It gets me every time.”
10. Sometimes a little too much of myself slips into my characters. Which one of your characters most resembles you?
Nick says: “I’m probably a cross between the Old Man from
The Old Man and the Wasteland, PerfectQuestion from
Soda Pop Soldier and Holiday from
Apocalypse Weird: The Red King.
11. I’ve always got tunes rocking while I’m writing. Tell us five songs that are on your playlist.
Nick says: “Right now...
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - Elton John Version
Rocket Man - Elton John
Nobody Told Me – John Lennon
Rock you Like a Hurricane – Scorpions
You’re So Vain – Carly Simon”
Meredith says: I love this playlist!
12. If you could tell an aspiring author one tiny tidbit of information, what would you say?
Nick says: “Perform your book. Read it, out loud, over and over again until it sounds as good as any audio-book performed by any of Stephen King’s celebrity narrators. As many times as it takes. I probably read
The Old Man and the Wasteland upwards of twenty times, out loud, in my backyard, one spring.
("I drink your Milkshake. I drink it down!")
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Nick Cole is a former soldier and working actor living in Southern California. When he is not auditioning for commercials, going out for sitcoms or being shot, kicked, stabbed or beaten by the students of various film schools for their projects, he can be found writing books for Harper Collins.
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