Name: Robert Tozer
Book: The Dead (Colonies #1)
Where to Find His Book: http://www.thedead.us
Where to Find the Author: http://www.thedead.us
Book: The Dead (Colonies #1)
Where to Find His Book: http://www.thedead.us
Where to Find the Author: http://www.thedead.us
Quick Bio:
Robert Tozer has written one novel so far, The Dead. He has graduated from the school of hard knocks, written award winning fiction in his mind, and was not responsible for the viral outbreak which has decimated the planet. He lives in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Along with other survivors, he soon plans on acquiring a caravan of RVs and relocating to a different clime in order to escape the bloodthirsty zombie hordes.
Interview:
Q: You obviously like zombies since you wrote a book about them, what is your favorite zombie themed book, TV show, or movie? Why?
A: My favorite zombie novel would have to be the original “Night of the Living Dead”. It wasn’t the movie that drew me in because I read the book long before I saw the movie. I liked the desperation of the characters. Even though the zombies are slow, there was enough danger with their numbers to keep the suspense right up there. My favorite zombie TV show would have to go to “The Walking Dead”. Again, it’s the characters that keep the show interesting for so many seasons. As for favorite zombie movie, I’d have to say either “Shawn of the Dead” or “28 Days Later”. I loved the comedy aspect of Simon Pegg’s film, and the first appearance of fast moving zombies took the genre to a whole other level in “28 Days”.
Q: The Dead is not yet available for purchase, when and where will it be made available?
A: Starting mid to late January, 2015, “The Dead” will be made available through my website: www.thedead.us and in select Chapters stores in Canada. After a time, I’ll be making it available as an eBook and it’ll be available through Amazon and other fine eBook retailers. I’m currently in talks to sell the rights for the UK and the US.
Q: Who would you cast to play your characters in a movie? Why?
A: This is a great question and one that I’ve actually thought about often. I’ve chosen these actors based from what I see in my head as the best representatives of both the physical and character type of the cast in “The Dead”.
In the role of Tom I'd cast "Jericho" star Gerald McRaney or my number one choice the great Bill Murray.
In the role of Heather I'd cast Michelle Rodriguez "Resident Evil".
In the role of Alexis (Lexi) is a toughie. Today at least, I'd cast Amber Heard. But it could also be Scarlett Johansson, or Mila Kunis.
In the role of Spencer I'd cast...Spencer is a tough one to cast. I waver between many but I think I'd like to see Kiefer Sutherland "24”, but maybe a better candidate would be Josh Holloway “Lost”.
In the role of Brigitte I'd cast Kate Beckinsale. Hands down!
In the role of Rachel I'd cast Christina Hendricks but she would have to be about a decade or so younger, like when she was in “Firefly”.
In the role of Evelyn I'd cast Jessica Alba (again, she would have to be over a decade younger though) from "Sin City" or even Katherine Mcphee "American Idol" Can she act though?
In the role of Dobson I'd cast Owen Wilson from "Wedding Crashers".
In the role of Angie I'd cast Kate Hudson.
In the role of Booth I'd cast, possibly, Ben Affleck. I'd have to hear him read though.
In the role of David I'd cast Bruce Mcgill or Bruce Willis "Die Hard".
I’ve left out a few characters because I really can’t figure out someone that resembles them as far as stars go.
Q: What is your all time favorite song? Why?
That’s a good question. There are so many songs I hold up as favorites. But if I was hard pressed I would have to say “Riders on the Storm” by The Doors. Why you ask . . . well, duh, it’s The Doors! But, especially in “Riders”, I love the fusion of Morrison’s poetry and good old rock and roll—there’s something eerie in that song that speaks to me on some level, whispering nightmarish thoughts that fuel my creative juices.
I think I was born a couple of decades too late. It would have been a blast to live through the 60’s; to go and see such legends as The Doors, Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Hendrix.
Q: Besides being a writer, what other occupations have you had?
I’ve worn many different hats in my life, including but not limited to: delivery driver, data entry person, check-in agent for cruise lines, father, and, according to my ex-wife, asshole.
Show case question:
Q: You are going to be stranded in the wilderness with a friend for twenty-one days. You can each bring one item, what happens to you two while you’re out there?
A: Stranded in the wilderness with a friend for twenty-one days? Come on, I’d bring Kayden Kross or Kate Upton, of course.
But the debauchery that would take place for the next twenty-one days with either of those choices would probably constitute a book in itself, not to mention, would probably be heavily censored, I’ll choose to bring my friend, Dean.
For my one item, I’m going to bring a .45 ACP Sig Sauer P220 Elite (‘cause we all know there’re going to be zombies on this forgotten, forested island that the Nazi’s had once controlled—where they savagely experimented on captive soldiers before finally being overrun by their most sinister creation ever: zombie soldiers; only for those zombies to be left abandoned for the last 70 odd years until we show up).
I’m going to force Dean to bring beer (‘cause who likes to go shootin’ zombies sober?)
Reckless Dean gets so drunk, he becomes sloppy and gets himself eaten (Hey, it’s a zombie story and that means there has to be someone who has a gruesome death scene, and it sure as hell is not going to be me—sorry Dean). I shout to the heavens, “Nooooooo!” and then vow to avenge him, after aiming my handgun and spraying the contents inside his head all over the rocks behind him.
While cleansing the island I run across a few chests of Nazi gold that was hidden in a secret bunker.
I return to civilization, sell the gold, and become rich beyond measure. And then during one of those swanky Hollywood parties I’d frequent, I happen to run across Kayden Kross and Kate Upton who, after hearing of my misadventures, agree to return to the island with me where we spend the next twenty-one days doing what was my first choice answer to this question.
Aww, a happy ending. I love those.
Q: lastly, can you share a teaser from either one of your current works or the next book in the series?
A: Zombies not your cup of tea? Faint of heart? Try my short stories in these anthologies: “Lava Storm”-where two children must brave a volcanic apocalypse alone . . . or are they? “Final Ships”-where a couple of friends gain access to an alien vehicle that is bent on human destruction. “Beast” and “Monster”-two anthologies that are being released in the UK this month, each with a story and one with two by yours truly. No zombies in these ones but they’re filled with other worldly creepy-crawlies and monsters of the human variety. All available on Amazon.com or my website: www.thedead.us
Thanks again Rob for sending me a copy of your book and allowing me to interview you!
No problem. It was a blast!
A: My favorite zombie novel would have to be the original “Night of the Living Dead”. It wasn’t the movie that drew me in because I read the book long before I saw the movie. I liked the desperation of the characters. Even though the zombies are slow, there was enough danger with their numbers to keep the suspense right up there. My favorite zombie TV show would have to go to “The Walking Dead”. Again, it’s the characters that keep the show interesting for so many seasons. As for favorite zombie movie, I’d have to say either “Shawn of the Dead” or “28 Days Later”. I loved the comedy aspect of Simon Pegg’s film, and the first appearance of fast moving zombies took the genre to a whole other level in “28 Days”.
Q: The Dead is not yet available for purchase, when and where will it be made available?
A: Starting mid to late January, 2015, “The Dead” will be made available through my website: www.thedead.us and in select Chapters stores in Canada. After a time, I’ll be making it available as an eBook and it’ll be available through Amazon and other fine eBook retailers. I’m currently in talks to sell the rights for the UK and the US.
Q: Who would you cast to play your characters in a movie? Why?
A: This is a great question and one that I’ve actually thought about often. I’ve chosen these actors based from what I see in my head as the best representatives of both the physical and character type of the cast in “The Dead”.
In the role of Tom I'd cast "Jericho" star Gerald McRaney or my number one choice the great Bill Murray.
In the role of Heather I'd cast Michelle Rodriguez "Resident Evil".
In the role of Alexis (Lexi) is a toughie. Today at least, I'd cast Amber Heard. But it could also be Scarlett Johansson, or Mila Kunis.
In the role of Spencer I'd cast...Spencer is a tough one to cast. I waver between many but I think I'd like to see Kiefer Sutherland "24”, but maybe a better candidate would be Josh Holloway “Lost”.
In the role of Brigitte I'd cast Kate Beckinsale. Hands down!
In the role of Rachel I'd cast Christina Hendricks but she would have to be about a decade or so younger, like when she was in “Firefly”.
In the role of Evelyn I'd cast Jessica Alba (again, she would have to be over a decade younger though) from "Sin City" or even Katherine Mcphee "American Idol" Can she act though?
In the role of Dobson I'd cast Owen Wilson from "Wedding Crashers".
In the role of Angie I'd cast Kate Hudson.
In the role of Booth I'd cast, possibly, Ben Affleck. I'd have to hear him read though.
In the role of David I'd cast Bruce Mcgill or Bruce Willis "Die Hard".
I’ve left out a few characters because I really can’t figure out someone that resembles them as far as stars go.
Q: What is your all time favorite song? Why?
That’s a good question. There are so many songs I hold up as favorites. But if I was hard pressed I would have to say “Riders on the Storm” by The Doors. Why you ask . . . well, duh, it’s The Doors! But, especially in “Riders”, I love the fusion of Morrison’s poetry and good old rock and roll—there’s something eerie in that song that speaks to me on some level, whispering nightmarish thoughts that fuel my creative juices.
I think I was born a couple of decades too late. It would have been a blast to live through the 60’s; to go and see such legends as The Doors, Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Hendrix.
Q: Besides being a writer, what other occupations have you had?
I’ve worn many different hats in my life, including but not limited to: delivery driver, data entry person, check-in agent for cruise lines, father, and, according to my ex-wife, asshole.
Show case question:
Q: You are going to be stranded in the wilderness with a friend for twenty-one days. You can each bring one item, what happens to you two while you’re out there?
A: Stranded in the wilderness with a friend for twenty-one days? Come on, I’d bring Kayden Kross or Kate Upton, of course.
But the debauchery that would take place for the next twenty-one days with either of those choices would probably constitute a book in itself, not to mention, would probably be heavily censored, I’ll choose to bring my friend, Dean.
For my one item, I’m going to bring a .45 ACP Sig Sauer P220 Elite (‘cause we all know there’re going to be zombies on this forgotten, forested island that the Nazi’s had once controlled—where they savagely experimented on captive soldiers before finally being overrun by their most sinister creation ever: zombie soldiers; only for those zombies to be left abandoned for the last 70 odd years until we show up).
I’m going to force Dean to bring beer (‘cause who likes to go shootin’ zombies sober?)
Reckless Dean gets so drunk, he becomes sloppy and gets himself eaten (Hey, it’s a zombie story and that means there has to be someone who has a gruesome death scene, and it sure as hell is not going to be me—sorry Dean). I shout to the heavens, “Nooooooo!” and then vow to avenge him, after aiming my handgun and spraying the contents inside his head all over the rocks behind him.
While cleansing the island I run across a few chests of Nazi gold that was hidden in a secret bunker.
I return to civilization, sell the gold, and become rich beyond measure. And then during one of those swanky Hollywood parties I’d frequent, I happen to run across Kayden Kross and Kate Upton who, after hearing of my misadventures, agree to return to the island with me where we spend the next twenty-one days doing what was my first choice answer to this question.
Aww, a happy ending. I love those.
Q: lastly, can you share a teaser from either one of your current works or the next book in the series?
A: Zombies not your cup of tea? Faint of heart? Try my short stories in these anthologies: “Lava Storm”-where two children must brave a volcanic apocalypse alone . . . or are they? “Final Ships”-where a couple of friends gain access to an alien vehicle that is bent on human destruction. “Beast” and “Monster”-two anthologies that are being released in the UK this month, each with a story and one with two by yours truly. No zombies in these ones but they’re filled with other worldly creepy-crawlies and monsters of the human variety. All available on Amazon.com or my website: www.thedead.us
Thanks again Rob for sending me a copy of your book and allowing me to interview you!
No problem. It was a blast!