Dark fiction author August Hill joins me today to chat about his new horror adventure, Division X.
Bio:
August Hill is an adult fiction writer. Born in Connecticut, August now lives in Massachusetts with his family. His novel appeals to young adult readers and people of any age who are looking for a good horror thriller. When not in front of his computer writing, August can be found playing Xbox with friends, watching movies (He’s a huge movie buff), or working out at the gym.
August’s knack for writing fiction emerged at an early age, when he wrote stories for his own enjoyment. He decided to put his hand to writing a book at 17, when he came up with the concept for the dark, witty, and suspenseful psychological-thriller, Barking Madness. He enjoyed creating the different layers of characters and relationships in his story, and like any debut author, found it difficult to stop. Science fiction and horror are his favorite genres
Welcome, August. Please tell us about your current release.
Twenty-four years old, no job, and kicked out by her parents, Randi Matheson is living at her aunt and uncle’s trying her hardest to complete a novel she can’t seem to start when a carnivorous monster interrupts her middling life on a full moon night. Attacked during an ordinary family dinner, Randi’s relatives are murdered, and she is bitten by the beast. Surviving the slaughter, Randi returns home to her distressed family only to become a monster herself under the next full moon. Nearly devouring her younger brother, she is stopped by the intervention of Division X, a company devoted to the killing and capture of paranormal threats. She awakens in a containment cell the next morning to be given an ultimatum… work for them as a new weapon in the fight against evil or be dissected. A cure to her lycanthropy is promised along the way, and with real motivation to stay alive, Randi pushes herself to the brink to return to her normal life. Small town horrors lie in wait with even smaller heroes to stand against them. Can Randi save them and herself, or will everything crumble to the wills of evil?
What inspired you to write this book?
I love the horror genre, and werewolves are my favorite movie monsters. They’re so hard to get right, and I wanted to get one right. After watching the show She-Wolf of London, I wanted to expand on some of the themes I saw there. The show is a ‘so bad it’s good’ kind of show, but some of its core concepts were genuinely great and inspired me to start brainstorming Division X.
Excerpt from Division X:
“I’m not me when I kill people. At least, that’s what I tell myself. I wake up, and I know I’ve done something horrible. My hands are covered in blood, my clothes are gone, and my stomach feels full. I don’t remember what I did. All I remember is the pain. It’s impossible to forget.
It starts with the fur. It spreads like fire, melting me. My bones go next, shifting, changing, breaking. I always cry, always scream, but I can live with the pain. I can’t live with what comes next. Something takes control and pushes me into the dark. I sleep a dreamless sleep, and when I wake up, the nightmare begins.
I don’t know them, the people I’ve killed, the ones I’ve eaten. But I do know they weren’t all bad. I live with the pain because I deserve it.”
What exciting story are you working on next?
The third in the series. I’ve already written the sequel. So, fingers crossed Division X is reviewed well and sells copies.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When I was 17. I started writing a full-length novel in my spare time. It was during my senior year, and most nights I wrote I was up until 1 a.m. but it was worth it. The book bombed, but the whole thing was a great learning experience. I’ve considered myself a writer ever since.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I write full-time and most days I’m behind my computer screen immediately after breakfast. I write until 4 at the latest. After that, I try to complete promotional work. For years it was sending queries out. Now, it’s answering interview requests and asking reviewers for their time. It’s pretty cool how things are coming along and changing.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I basically always write while blasting music. I don’t know if that’s interesting, but it helps drown out the world around me. Certain songs can also help me write the pacing and intensity of certain scenes.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A writer. I knew in sixth grade for certain, but before that my mother always told me one of her kids was destined to be a writer because some fortune teller somewhere told her so. I think she was just willing it to happen, but I love it, so I can’t blame her.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
To whichever brave souls among you decided to peak into my book, I hope you like what you see.
Links:
Website | Twitter | Instagram
Thanks for being here today, August.
Thank you so much for featuring me!