Continuing with the Fall Dark Dozen interviews, this week we have Sylvester Barzey, best known for his Planet Dead series. Sylvester will be joining this years' Full Throttle anthology.
Read on to learn more about this incredible author and his latest release.
Enjoy!
*As a reminder, the Dark Dozen will be posted throughout the fall and winter this year as we had to push the release date out to accommodate schedules. All twelve authors will be showcased here prior to the release of Full Throttle. We can't wait to share their stories with you in March!
If you had three sentences to pitch your most recent book to a new reader, what is your pitch?
Camp Lanier is about Taylor Johnson, stuck in a summer job where kids vanish and eerie whispers echo through the night. Haunted by rumors of a cursed Black town beneath Lake Lanier and a lurking serial killer, she’s drawn to the nightly cries only she can hear. Now, Taylor needs to uncover the truth before she becomes the next one to disappear.
Do you have a favorite book or story of your own that you talk about more than others? What makes it your favorite?
I’ve got a novella set in my Planet Dead zombie apocalypse series called Love Bites and it’s one of those hidden gems most people don’t talk about because it’s free when you sign up for my newsletter. But honestly, I love it. It gave me the chance to dig into the twisted kinds of evil that could fester during the apocalypse, and I got to follow someone slowly turning into a zombie, which was a blast to write. Anyone familiar with my work knows I love mixing in humor, and Love Bites has some great laughs, right before it gets really dark. It’s definitely a story close to my heart, even if it flies under the radar.
Have you ever experienced a natural disaster? If so, what was the scariest moment for you?
I honestly don’t think I have…wait! Okay, picture this, a snowstorm’s coming, but your chain of command still wants to go on a three-day field training exercise. I was a cook in the military, so we had our portable kitchen set up to feed about 200 soldiers. Everything’s on the fire, and just as we’re cooking, the LT comes in and says, ‘The storm’s getting closer, we’re pulling out.’ My sergeant wasn’t having it. He goes, ‘The food’s almost done, we can’t pack up with everything still hot.’ So, the LT has everyone quickly eat, then they all start heading back.
But here’s the kicker, we needed a truck to haul the kitchen, and they promised to send one for us. So, we pack up and wait… and then the call comes in. The roads are closed, and no one’s coming. We were stranded for three days.
The scary part was a group of soldiers had died a few weeks before, sleeping in their portable kitchen during a cold snap. They’d left the burners on to stay warm, and the closed space filled with carbon monoxide. They never woke up. That was in the back of all our minds. So, we cracked a window and would take turns staying up to turn the burners off after a few hours to make sure nothing happened. It was a miserable experience... but yeah, that’s probably the closest I’ve been to mother nature trying to take me out.
Has there been a disaster-based movie or book that has stuck with you since you first watched/read it? What was it and why did it stick?
I don’t usually read or watch a lot of disaster fiction. I’m more into slashers and zombie apocalypses. But there’s one that really got me: The Impossible from 2012, with a young Tom Holland (yep, he’s Spider-Man, but shhh, it’s a secret). That movie was terrifying, heartbreaking, and just an all-around nightmare. What makes it even scarier is that it’s based on a true story. What stuck with me was how hard this family fought to find each other, not even knowing if the people they were looking for were still alive, and the weight that fell on the son’s shoulders. It really shows the strength of the human spirit.
What’s the one thing that scares you the most in this world and have you ever written about it?
Pretty much anything happening to my kids scares the hell out of me. I don’t always trust people, especially with my son, who has autism and is nonverbal. I’m really careful about where he goes and who’s around him. One time we were at the supermarket, and this guy comes up, says he’s a scout leader, and that his troop is looking for kids my son’s age. I thanked him and mentioned Ayden is nonverbal, and he just goes, ‘That’s fine.’ Call me crazy, but that’s a red flag in my book.
I explore kids being in danger in my stories, but usually from the kid’s point of view, not the parent’s. Maybe one day I’ll dive into that side of things.
Is there an author that you would like to work with that would be a dream partnership for you?
Umm, like co-write with? Co-writing kinda freaks me out, honestly. Haha, I tend to overthink it. I worry my process is too slow, or they’ll hate what I’ve written and bring someone else in halfway through. But if I could get out of my own head, I’d love to work with Tiffany D. Jackson. I’m a huge fan of the YA horror she’s putting out, and it’d be amazing to learn from her and create some creepy stories together. Oh, and Jonathan Maberry, that would be a zombie dream come true.
If you had one hour to speak to any living author, who would it be and why?
I think I would pick Viola Davis. Her memoir really changed my life, and I took so much from it that I applied to my own experiences. The section where she talks about being specific about what you pray for really resonated with me. In July, during a tough year, I got on my knees and laid out step by step what I wanted to happen, and everything unfolded just like that. So mostly, I’d say thank you and pick her brain about how she navigates creative spaces and whether she still wants to make a zombie movie.
What has been one of the proudest moments of your writing journey?
That’s a tough one. I’ve had a lot of great moments. But recently, I’d say the excitement around Camp Lanier really stands out. It started off as just a creepy idea, evolved into a short, and then grew into a full book. I’m really proud of how it turned out. If you’re into horror movies, this is definitely going to be one of your favorite reads. Hitting number one for three weeks during the pre-order period was incredible. It’s always surreal to see that kind of love for something you’ve poured so much into.
Who are you outside of being an author, meaning do you have other hobbies or interests that are your methods of relaxing or for refreshing creative inspiration?
I’ve got hobbies, but at the end of the day, I’m a dad and a husband first. I work a lot, so if my free time isn’t spent with my family or pushing them forward, it’s a no-go. Thankfully, we’re all into the same stuff like wrestling, horror movies, and even trash TV (guilty pleasure, right?). TV’s a big deal for us, but we’re also working on getting our horror podcast off the ground. Outside of that, I’m into comic books and painting, especially transforming things like Nerf guns and skulls into something more... sinister.
Do you think the horror industry is having a surge of new authors and new readers and if so, do you see this as a good thing?
It feels like more readers are diving into horror these days, and some of them are turning into authors. I’m all for it—the bigger the community, the better it is for both storytelling and sales, as far as I’m concerned.
Where do you see the industry in ten years with regards to the evolution of tropes, diversity and inclusion, and readers, flourishing or floundering? Explain why.
Horror as a genre will always thrive—there’s a constant hunger for it, and that’s never going away. The indie publishing scene, though, is a whole different beast. Lately, all the chatter about AI-generated writing and covers is ripping through the industry. Honestly, how someone gets their book made doesn’t impact my writing process, but I see how it’s hitting nerves. Readers are boycotting AI-covered books, and there's this push to out authors suspected of using AI. It’s become a witch hunt, mainly because there’s no solid way to prove anything. If anything's going to derail the industry, it's that chaos.
What is a piece of advice that you WISH someone had given you early in your career?
Don’t worry about what anyone else is doing. Just keep your eyes on your own career and keep pushing out books. Your readers will find you eventually.
Want more? Use his links below to get to his website, books, and bio!
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