An Interview with Zachariah Chamberlin

Zachariah was raised on horror. From Friday Fright Night movies, his love of the scary and macabre was born.

Today, he lives in the Kansas City area, a twelve-year veteran of firefighting and EMS. He has seen the best and some of the worst human beings are capable of. Zachariah uses his own personal trauma experiences and recovery to enrich his characters and scenes.

Zachariah is a proud husband and father to two beautiful girls. He loves animals and is a proud advocate for improving mental health and well-being.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

I grew up on horror. The moment I saw my first monster movie, I was hooked! My mom would let me stay up late for Friday Fright Nights and we would watch the classics together. Those nights spent with my mom watching Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, and Peter Cushing were some of the few fond memories I have growing up.

Today, I would say that Clive Barker and Stephen King have been the greatest literary influences. Many have compared my writing to Barker’s, which is far too kind. Other influences have been movies like The Thing, In the Mouth of Madness, and Event Horizon.

What inspired you to start writing this book?

Halloween. I started writing this story as a dare and my need to understand what I consider a fear so great, it drives a person insane. I was complaining that films haven’t been able to achieve this for me. A friend asked me, “What do you think a 10/10 horror looks like?”

Instantly, I remembered a reoccurring night terror I had as a child. It was the same dream over and over for nearly a decade.I ran through the house screaming dreaming a vision of the end of the world. This was my 10/10 terror.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

We Come Bearing Curses comes from a line in the book. I wasn’t looking for it at the time. Once I wrote that line, I decided that I would sneak in the title of my future novels this way.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

Everything from Bad Omens, Sleep Token, Lord Huron, Johnny Cash.

I also enjoy songs that have a cinematic feel to it, as if it belonged in a movie scene.

Describe your dream book cover.

They say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

Nope! I want my book covers to be as much of a hook as the first paragraph or elevator pitch. I have had readers tell me they had bought my book based solely on the cover. I’ve also had customers look at my cover and immediately cross the street. I think this is perfect.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I have worked in sales when I was young and trying to become an actor. I even moved to California to “make it big.” My nose was longer before I fell flat on my face.

My biggest, life-changing occupation was my work as a firefighter and paramedic. I would say that those years gave me the words to describe smells, sounds, and visceral reactions to the things I saw. I can describe what certain cancers smell like, or how people with renal failure smell different.

What books did you read (for research or comfort) throughout your writing process?

The Indian Lake Trilogy – Stephen Graham Jones

The Ninth House and Hellbent – Leigh Bardugo

Between Two Fires – Christopher Buehlman

Every article and essay I could find on the Lovecraft Mythos, Irish Folklore, and herbalism to protect against evil.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

I want people to realize that this story is, at its core, a tale of trauma recovery. I am a trauma survivor and I poured some of my experiences as I stumbled through the recovery process. I want these characters to be both strong and vulnerable. I also want readers to feel dread on a visceral level, that the scenes play like a movie, and entice them to come back for more.

My ideal reader would be someone new to horror, who then becomes as much a fan of horror as me!

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.