Ladies and gentlemen, today we have Stuart Conover joining us! He is best known for his work as the editor of BuyZombie.com but he has his hands in all kinds of things. He has been working at producing films and writing as well. We’ll get to all of that in a moment. First, what can you tell me about BuyZombie.com?
I’ve been running BuyZombie for quite some time now. It has gotten me in touch with producers, directors, writers, and actors. Many of these interactions are actually what has helped push me into going this route as well. I love working with creative types and have
Speaking of websites, you’ve also started a speculative fiction website called Horror Tree in the last year?
Yes, I can’t say much about it quite yet. We’re trying to find ways to help authors out. The main thing we’re doing so far is listing paying markets but I’ve got a lot of plans in the works!
You’ve been starting to get into producing lately having worked on They Made Me Do It, Zombie Babies, and Paper Seeds last year. What can you tell me about them?
Well, anyone who knows me knows that I’m a huge fan of zombies (see above!) so ‘Zombie Babies’ is going to be great as far as I’m concerned! Eamon Hardiman has written and directed this one and is throwing zombies headfirst into what is just a horrifying thought process.
Do you have anything else in the works that you’d like to share details about?
I’m currently involved in a few projects this year, though the main one I am excited to see come to life is a short film titled ‘Mute.’
Can you tell me a little about ‘Mute’ and what makes it so interesting to you?
It isn’t every day you can be attached to a project based on a Stephen King short story. Directed by Jacqueline Wright, the adaptation was penned by Gemma Rigg. This one stars Patrick Ryecart, Michael Legge, and Hugh Ross. This was done through King’s Dollar Baby program. The short story was included in the 2008 anthology ‘Just After Sunset’ and was originally published in Playboy. The story follows a man picking up a hitchhiker who is apparently mute. He vents to tell the man about how his wife is cheating on him and we learn later that things aren’t quite what they seem.
Sounds fun! You’ve also started writing lately. Your first short story, “The Full Moon” was published in ’31 Nights of Halloween’ and it looks like you recently mentioned you had another coming up in the follow-up, ’31 More Nights of Halloween’?
Yes! I’m excited about that one. I’ve got a werewolf story out and now a ghostly canine making an appearance in a story tentatively titled ‘A Dog’s Tail.’ I’ve been writing my entire life and only recently felt like I was making enough progress to actually see something in print with my fiction and am thrilled to see that it is happening!
You’ve been all over Illinois. You were born in LaGrange, grew up in Woodridge, went to school in DeKalb and Romeoville, and moved to Chicago. How has that played into your writing?
I often find myself writing about the midwest. I’ve lived in almost every type of area in the state from urban to suburb to rural and feel that there is plenty of stories that can crossover between these sections or focus on one to really elicit terror from readers. Both of my stories above take place in Illinois and the other few that I have in the works do as well!
Where can we follow your work?
Mostly you can currently find me on Twitter at @StuartConover!
