http://www.cattd.com now contains hints about upcoming horror novels. catt dahman continues to make the ordinary quite horrifying as she takes on time travel, Spartan history, the countryside, and family secrets in the next few months. Long awaited novel Smooth is in final editing steps and will be released soon and will chill readers as it pokes at so many phobias we all share: fear of drowning, fear of the dark, and much more. About choices, the novel strips them away and leaves the reader with a frightening emptiness that will thrill S. King fans.
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My books are now going to paperback. I am a little over-whelmed by the reception that I have gotten for my work. My son is homeschooled and I balance that time (teaching) with other things and writing and I am lucky he works around my schedule. I am also fortunate to have a loyal, dedicated husband who is supportive and helpful always. He lies here snoring in his sleep beside me and I feel blessed that he loves me and gives me the opportunity to write full time. I forgive the snoring. (lol)His honesty and sweetness really help and I am so glad I have him! 14 years and he is still n love with me...go figure.
Anyway. Time of Grace and Alice getting finished for paperback and kindle will match covers. Then Z is for Zombie series will go up on paperback. I am looking at either the 8th zombie book or a new horror book. I have been compared to Stephen King and Robert McCammon, been told I am vulgar and verbose,,,I have heard I am fantastic and that I rush at time...but yanno what? When hubby and son say they love me...that is the best of all. I saw that I had a very nice review for my favorite book (of mine). When people give detailed comments, I get to see the book as others see it and trust me, that helps a lot. The reviewer mentioned this is a coming of age book which eluded me. It really is one and I may have missed that because it is told in first person MALE point of view, was very difficult to write, but is my all time favorite because of the fun I had with some real history. To be compared along side of Stephen King and Robert McCammon on this one was a delight. It's not always easy to be noticed in the horror-writer market and I have used the zombie series to get my brand noticed and to pay me to do this full time, but this is who I am...mainstream horror....a little supernatural, a lot psychological...and strong characters, I like to immerse myself in whole other worlds when I write true horror fiction and for someone known for gore and violence, I feel that most readers are surprised at how subtle my writing is. despite my writing, I am most influenced by the horror writers of the 50s-70s when dread and unease was more fearful than blood and gore (Think Psycho movie) and my favorite writers are Thomas Tyron and Ira Levin. I will read anything frightening and nothing scares me like those two because of the subtle styles they used. Richard Laymon is my other big influence and is very differrent than the other two, but isn't that what horror should be? Scary, unpredictable, and stylized for whatever theme is being written about? George Romero probably got it most correct when he did NOTLD because so much of the movie was subtle and suggested and other parts were pretty grahpic for that time period. It was balanced. Absolute discomfort and changing tempos are what seem to work best. (IT by Stephen King) This is just my late night rambling as I think about the reviews and letters people send me...what people say about my writing. It isn't easy to be a writer. Yes, E-books have done a big business based on people who someone said could write but who really need to stop pumping out very bad prose. But it is hard to be a good writer over the course of many books. I know I don't always get a hit out of the park or even score with a few books, but I am trying to entertain people. That's all. I want to amuse people or scare them, make them think, or make someone uneasy...that's my job. Getting a great review that tells me I am hitting the points I want to hit...that makes the job enjoyable, Cheers and when you love a book, let the author know; it does make a difference! I am not, normally a "zombie writer" as I am more about characters and crazed humans. Little did I know that these elements are what work best for a zombie thriller. There are so many zombies books out there and I see the same mistakes over and over where a young man gets a hot girlfriend and hides in Wally World and gets to run things and go around shooting and screaming bad words. It's like the writer is trying to write his dream fiction every time. BORING. The other thing I see is "everyday Joe" doing all these great things. I don't see any of the above surviving and they are so bland. I know I use zombies as a vehicle that is carrying politics, human ethics, morality, and glances into insanity. And why not? Do we think the usual would just vanish and we'd all go hide in Wal-Mart and have cute partners and never think again about what matters? I don't know. I do know I have developed some interesting characters who can be weak, strong, funny, cruel and good all in a day's time...like most people. Those following can see a character, Hannah, as she develops and she is probably the most like my usual interests. She is an odd one, but there are no excuses for who she is. Hannah is modern culture at it's most honest, like it or hate it. Take Hannah as you wish but be aware it is all about those who interact with her....that's the fun part. Number six of the series is out and yes, there is a number 7 for sure. Bet on a number 8 as well...and a 9, because there is more to the story and I have still only scratched a few surfaces. Why read my writing? Yes, the story is there and it is strong. The descriptions are there. But read my writing for the characters who will make the reader think and rethink a few things. I seldom pull a punch. For fans, my one pull was that issue of Kimball and Juan. Sadly, one had to be let go and it was a tough choice. We know that no one is safe...ever....and at anytime, someone may die. Such is my world. http://zisforzombie.wikia.com/wiki/Z_is_for_Zombie_Wiki is the super Wiki out for fans...yes, there are spoilers so be careful! There is also trivia and a time line of who has done what. I know some writers write for fans, some write for themselves; I write for the story that wants to be told. It isn't always easy as I have a full, regular life with a husband, child, and pets, home, and family....they keep me going and encourage me to tell my stories. In the next year, the series will be done and I will writing the stories that have waited impatiently to be told...about some wicked people, some strange events...all horror, all the time. Why? Because that chill of dread, the shiver when we see a clown (Pennywise), the unknown is just fun! So the second book of the series is almost done....had a sudden scene suggested by my hubby that he wanted to see added....he's cute..he watches me type and suggests scenes...how lucky am I? I have to admit, if I pull it off, it will rock the zombies in more way than one. Have to admit, it's been a fun time writing this genre lately and I am getting spoiled with letting the gore and violence stack up! I am so much more character/plot based and this action/character based writing has been a hoot...so many fun ways to kill a zombie....I really have to admire Uncle Stevie (Stephen King as writers affectionately refer to him) for CELL which was sort of a zombie tome...I mean he had a major idea (Cell phones are evil) and the story nailed as well as the action and characters. He wasn't gory...or AS gory as I am...he doesn't write splatter punk....but I digress...he nailed that book. I think when you can read a book and forget it is about zombies and say..."Oh it's about the evils of technology and love of children"....then the author nailed it. "Zombies" become simply the vehicle...and isn't that what Romero did with NOTLD? Okay, so this series may not be a nailed piece of literature, but it is a blast of a journey and some fun entertainment that won't make a reader think so hard 'cause sometimes we can skip the nutritional dinner and just chomp right in to that banana split and ....eat it all up!
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AuthorCatt Dahman lives in Texas with her Husband, son, 4 cats (Ollie, T.S. Eliot, and Procol, and a dog named Levi. Catt writes horror, thrillers, spooky stories, and westerns. Archives
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