Interview with Chris Dunker
Author of Blood
Hello all. I'm a thirty-six year old veteran with bipolar disorder who works as a grocery clerk and writes the rest of the time.
My main area of interest is fantasy and amateur psychology in short stories.
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How would you describe Blood to a new reader?
- Not for the feint of heart, or easily scared, nor those who don't like long strands of dialogue. But if you can get past all that, you're likely to find a story full of deep questions about existence, the roles of individuals and the consequences thereof.
To what extent is Blood based on your own experiences?
- Honestly, I'm not sure where this story came from, all I can say is that it's the brain child of a facet of myself that has since gone silent.
Blood is a good example of this genre. Who has inspired you?
- I've rarely read any horror books, Dean Koontz is the only writer who comes to mind. But the spark that ignited this particular bonfire was an anime, "Fullmetal Alchemist" by name.
You make good use of locations in the book – there’s a real sense of place. Are these locations significant for you?
- The locations in the book are left vague for the sake of the experience. To make you feel out of place and lost. But the second book explores these locales more in depth and lays down a map you can follow.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors? How would you advise a new author about traditional publishing versus self publishing?
- Write what you want to read, which you should take with a grain of salt since I've had no success in gaining a dedicated readership. And I have not had a good experience with a publishing firm, but to be fair, I've only tried once.
Which authors do you most admire? Which qualities, in particular, have influenced your writing?
- I most admire Mark Twain for his short stories. Especially "The Mysterious Stranger" which I feel is a blueprint for humanity. And no one quality has stood out from the rest.
Blood is a thrilling read, a real page turner. How important was it to you to write with pace and energy?
- Writing Blood was a rollercoaster ride. I was never more than five steps ahead at any given point. I was just as much the reader as writer.
If Blood were to be adapted for TV or film, who would you see in the lead role? Who did you have in your mind’s eye when you wrote him/her?
- Since it was inspired by Anime, I've never given a live action version much thought. And I have no idea who I would cast.
How have readers responded to Blood?
- Few have offered any meaningful insight.
Where next? What are you working on now?
- I have several books of varying length but mostly short stories which I've been compiling in compilations. All of which can be read for free on Facebook and Wattpad.
