Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland: I've got 3 events coming up this month - Come say hi and get some books!
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 • 12-5pm
MARKET OF THE MACABRE
Laurel Hill East Cemetery
3822 Ridge Ave., Philadelphia, PA
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 • 3-7pm
BEERS & FEARS
13th Child Brewery
345 S. Main St., Williamstown, NJ
SAT & SUN, SEPTEMBER 28-29 • 12-6pm both days
FRIGHTREADS BOOK FESTIVAL
Benfield Sportscenter
1031 Benfield Blvd., Millersville, MD
20 Questions, 7 Answers is an interview series for writers of genre fiction. Each author receives the same batch of 20 questions, but they may only answer 7.
Our latest guest is Chris DiLeo.
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My latest book is What Ever Happened to Jo Rose? It's about a young woman who looks after an aging actress, who may be part of a cabal of women hunting male sexual predators. It's different from my other work in a very distinct way: it's the first full length piece I've written from a woman's first person point of view. I'm very pleased with the results and I hope readers will be too.
Who or what is your favorite movie monster, and why?
Hannibal Lecter. I saw The Silence of the Lambs when I was eleven or twelve and I've never been the same. Lecter is such a wonderful monster because he's completely ruthless, intellectually brilliant, and totally civilized. I love that he has no qualms eating human flesh (and tearing off people's faces) and also finds discourtesy "unspeakably ugly." Society needs a Lecter or two.
Are you most afraid of ghosts, aliens, or clowns, and why?
I'm tempted to say ghost aliens (or maybe ghost alien clowns!), but I'll go with ghosts. They're the most troubling. Can you imagine being a ghost? Don't you think it would drive you insane? And if you're the one encountering a ghost that's gone mad, how the hell are you supposed to deal with it?
Twilight Zone or Outer Limits?
Twilight Zone. When I was a kid, I frequently recited the opening monologue in my best Rod Serling voice.
What happens when you die?
I love this question. You can't get it wrong! I find great comfort believing that when we die there's nothing else. No afterlife. No ghosts (insane or otherwise). Certainly no Heaven or Hell. We cease to exist and that's it. On the other hand, my imagination is always speaking up, Sure, okay, but what if . . . ?
What's the most disgusting thing about the human body?
Well, if Jo Rose from my book is answering this question she might say, All the ways it can be debased and mutilated. She's got her reasons.
What's your secret?
Not sure I have a secret, but when it comes to writing my guiding principle is keep going. The only person who can make me stop is me. I go to the page to have fun and learn something about human nature. Simply, I do it because I love it. Go forth and do it for love.
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"DiLeo is a remarkable writer, with a clear ability to evoke character, conjure dread — and to do whatever it is that drives the reader to keep turning the pages, one by one, and faster and faster." —Michael Marshall
"[DiLeo's work] does what the best supernatural fiction must—ground the terror in the human heart. Chris DiLeo delivers . . . with a skilled, steady hand. Follow him into the dark!" —Michael Koryta
Born to highly educated parents, DiLeo grew up in a house filled with books. His father loved horror and Halloween so much he had a coffin bookcase built to house his horror collection and out of which he would emerge to frighten trick-or-treaters. When DiLeo's father died, eleven-year-old DiLeo dared to read the books in his father's collection. Stephen King. Richard Matheson. Ray Bradbury. Dennis Etchison. Shirley Jackson. DiLeo fell in love.
He wrote his first novel at 19 and never looked back. He loves stories that force characters into extreme situations, those scenarios where there's no choice but to confront the monster. Horror stories for DiLeo are about finding courage and hope in the throes of a nightmare. His novels have been published by Bloodshot Books, Bleeding Edge Press, Journal Stone, and Grindhouse Press. His work has also appeared in Pseudopod, The No Sleep Podcast, and Nightmare Magazine.
He is active on social media. Connect with him @authordileo.
My new book, Headless, is out now!
In the midst of a heat wave punctuated by frequent rainstorms, people are losing their heads. Literally. Not only that, but their bodies are still walking, and attacking others.
And to make matters worse, tiny, translucent, maggot-sized worms are falling from the skies like hail.
As uncanny violence threatens to take over the city, Linzy, Carter, and Joanna become fast friends and leave for points unknown, hoping to stay alive, hoping to outrun the Headless.
Since the book was first announced, I've gotten a handful of very nice blurbs from some incredible authors, as evidenced by the update to the cover above. Here's what people have been saying:
“Cole masterfully weaves gore, horror, and aliens, all while providing realistic characters. Absurd, bizarre, and oftentimes funny, Headless is a winner.”
— Daniel J. Volpe, author of Talia and Plastic Monsters
“In the glorious tradition of Night of the Creeps and James Gunn’s Slither, Headless is a midnight movie cult classic waiting to happen. With this bloody good time of a tome, Scott Cole shows he’s in the business of blowing minds.”
— Bryan Smith, author of Depraved and 68 Kill
“I’m split on when’s the best time to imbibe Headless. Whether it’s on an empty stomach, or a full one, your intestinal fortitude is so screwed. Scott Cole takes nausea and turns it into an art form.”
— Clay McLeod Chapman, author of What Kind of Mother and Ghost Eaters
“An insane premise firing on all cylinders—gory, nihilistic, and sometimes hilarious, Headless scratches the itch of those joyous late night scary movies watched with a disbelieving gasp.”
— Laurel Hightower, author of Below and Crossroads
If you're a fan of splatterpunk and cosmic horror, this may be just the thing for you. Headless is available now in paperback and ebook.
I was interviewed on the Cemetery Dance website recently, as part of Rick Hipson's regular series, What Screams May Come. It's probably the longest interview I've ever done. We discuss writing process, zombies, and horror-comedy, among other things. Check it out here.
I've got another interview coming up too. But there's a catch with that one: You have to sign up for author Chris DiLeo's newsletter. He'll be sending that out on Headless' release date, March 5.
Speaking of which, have you preordered the ebook yet?
Announcing Headless - my new novella - coming March 5, 2024!
In the midst of a heat wave punctuated by frequent rainstorms, people are losing their heads. Literally. Not only that, but their bodies are still walking, and attacking others.
And to make matters worse, tiny, translucent, maggot-sized worms are falling from the skies like hail.
As uncanny violence threatens to take over the city, Linzy, Carter, and Joanna become fast friends and leave for points unknown, hoping to stay alive, hoping to outrun the Headless.
Paperbacks will be available on the day of publication, but the ebook is available for preorder now.