Friday 5 November 2010

An Interview with Steve Feasey... creator of much evil and darkness...

I, like the rest of society, have grown weary of teen horror which is, in essence, lots and lots and lots and lots of snogging. I prefer my stories to have bite. You can imagine my joy, then, to present to you now, an author who's stories have enough of it take your head off...

Behold Steve Feasey, evil creator of the quite wondrously ferocious Changeling series!


As a member of the notorious Chainsaw Gang, he has willingly given his answers to some questions below. Enjoy...

What’s your favourite book?
SUCH a difficult question to answer! It’s like trying to decide what’s your favourite food. But as I have to pick one, I’d say Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I’m a great Dickens fan and the characters in this book are so beautifully imagined that it’s one of a handful of books that I’ve read more than twice.
If I had to pick a scary book, I’d go for Salem’s Lot by Stephen King. I think every copy of this book should be sold with a free nightlight because there’s NO WAY you’re sleeping in a dark room after reading it.


What’s your favourite monster?
Alien. Simply THE best monster of all time. Ever. End of. I love the film (I rank it as my all time favourite horror flick), and the monster is simply terrifying – hey, you get THREE monsters for the price of one – face-hugger, stomach-burster, and finally, The Alien – and each one becomes more shocking and horrifying than the last. The film is perfect because Ridley Scott, the film’s director, only allows you glimpses of the monster, showing glimpses of various parts and keeping the rest in shadow or out of shot. Anything with more teeth than you can shake a stick at and acid for blood had got to be good. And all this before CGI! If you haven’t seen the film, go grab a copy and give yourself a treat.


Who’s your favourite bad-ass monster slayer?
I loved reading Greek mythology as a kid, and if you love bad-ass monsters you can’t go wrong with those sick and twisted Greek tales. Of all the guys and gals that faced off against a plethora of monsters and scary creatures, Heracles (or Hercules if you like your heroes a bit more Roman) was, for me at least, ‘the daddy’. Yes, I know that he was only set his twelve labours as punishment for infanticide – sick and twisted, remember? – but boy, does he go at them with relish. Striding around in a lion-skin, wielding a huge club and laughing in the face of the Gods. He makes Buffy look like a rank amateur.



If you could make a pact with the Devil, what would you want in exchange for your immortal soul?

I’d want x-ray vision, superhuman strength and the ability to fly. Yeah, I could do without a soul if I was Superman!


The Chainsaw Gang are all trapped on a desert island with no food. Who would you eat first and why?
Hmmm, well pound for pound I think Alexander Gordon Smith might be the best meal. I can see a couple of really good steaks coming out of him. Sarwat looks a bit stringy, Sam a bit gamey, and I doubt I could catch Alex Bell. No, I think AGS would be first on the menu.

Cheers Steve! Good answers!

So there you go, people - Steve Feasey: creator of monsters, lover of Alien and eater of AGS. What's not to like? So get out and get his books in to your life right now!