An Interview with David T. Wilbanks

I’m proud to have author David T. Wilbanks as guest here at Bookhound’s Den. David is a published genre author who lives in the currently-frozen state of Minnesota. He is the co-author of the Dead Earth series with Mark Justice and is co-editor with Craig Clarke of the recently released e-book Living After Midnight. David also runs a book review blog, Page Horrific, and publishes other people’s work with Acid Grave Press.

I’ve read the first book in the Dead Earth series (my review of The Green Dawn) and I can’t recommend it highly enough. I enjoyed it so much that I’m going to give away an e-copy to one lucky person who leaves a comment below by noon on Sunday, January 30th.

Here’s my interview with David…

BH: So who exactly is David T. Wilbanks?

DTW: I’m a dude from Minnesota who makes up stories and sends them out into the world, hoping they’ll find a home—in your brain!

BH: What does the T stand for? Triumphant? Tex?

DTW: I’m named after a city in ancient Turkey apparently. Something to do with a wooden horse.

BH: Who are some of the influences on your writing?

DTW: In some way, all these authors influenced me, for better or worse: Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E. Howard, H.P. Lovecraft, Michael Moorcock, Gene Wolfe, Stephen King and Thomas Ligotti. And hell, let’s throw in Kurt Vonnegut and Philip K. Dick while we’re at it.

BH: It seems like music is a big part of your life. You’re about to be exiled to Siberia; what five albums are you taking with you?

DTW:   Devo: Q: Are We Not Men?
            Beatles: Rubber Soul
            Judas Priest: Screaming for Vengeance
            Claudio Arrau: Chopin Nocturnes
            Gunter Wand/NDR-Sinfonieorchester: Beethoven’s 9th Symphony

BH: What’s it like living in Minnesota? How the hell do you deal with the cold? Do you hibernate?

DTW: Yeah, it gets cold here in the winter but I’ve gotten to where I don’t notice weather much. Dressing for it is half the battle.

BH: How did the Dead Earth series come into existence? Why more zombies?

DTW: I say, why not more zombies? Lots of people who don’t know better like to draw a line in time and say this zombie thing is over as of now, but I don’t see it happening yet. Besides, Dead Earth is so much more than zombies and will be expanding into new territory as the series grows.

BH: Seems like you’re a pretty busy guy. What projects do you have going on now?

DTW: Folks can head on over to their favorite online book store and pick up the first two Dead Earth books: The Green Dawn and The Vengeance Road. There’s also an e-book anthology called Living After Midnight which I co-edited and snuck a story into; I’m a bad boy. Mark Justice and I are working on the third Dead Earth book and I always have new ideas popping into my skull. I’m going to turn those ideas into books.

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Many thanks again to David for taking the time to do this interview! Now, go buy his books and make him a happy guy…

DEAD EARTH: THE GREEN DAWN by Mark Justice and David T. Wilbanks

Zombies. I’m not going to lie; I have a soft spot in my heart for these munchers of the flesh. Ever since I read Joe McKinney’s Dead City a year and a half ago, I’ve had an ongoing love affair with the walking dead. However, in recent months, I haven’t read any books about zombies. In reality, recently I’ve read very little that is pure horror, which is my first love. So when I picked up Dead Earth: The Green Dawn by Mark Justice and David T. Wilbanks, I was a little bit excited because it sounded like something that would be right up my alley. And boy, I was not disappointed in the least.

When I started reading The Green Dawn, it felt like I was slipping into familiar surroundings where I knew I’d be at home. The story focuses on one individual, Deputy Jubal Slate. He’s responsible, alone, for the safety of the small town of Serenity, New Mexico, after many folks have taken ill with a strange virus. Those affected include his mother, the sheriff, and his fellow deputies. But Jubal is not overly concerned, as Serenity is normally a quiet little town that can pretty much take care of itself. However, as the day moves along, Jubal becomes more and more concerned because rumors of tragedy in Nevada begin to spread.

When a mysterious car blazes into town and drops off an extremely ill stranger, things move from the realm of uncertainty to the realm of dire circumstances. To put it kindly, all hell breaks loose in the town of Serenity. And Jubal Slate, the lone remaining vestige of law and order, has to fight for the survival of the town and those he loves.

Normally, I’m a little hesitant when it comes to collaborations. I worry that styles will clash or the story will be disjointed. But there was no such thing in The Green Dawn. The writing flows wonderfully and the story moves at breakneck speed. There is a nice little twist as to the cause of the chaos, and the book leaves you wanting more.

I honestly haven't had this much fun reading a book in a good while. If you want a fast, exciting read then The Green Dawn is for you. This book is the first in a larger series, so don’t expect to get all the answers at the end of it. And beware if you’re squeamish; there is violence, blood, and guts in this book.

5 out of 5 stars.