Friday, March 25, 2016

GROUND ZERO

The Murder & Obsession Tour Continues
Today you'll find me at:
But before that there was

Here TODAY!


Author of Ground Zero



1. As a writer of fantasy the IWSG anthology was a perfect fit, did you find the challenge easy?

I’ve got to admit, I had experienced what you could call a light-bulb moment, when I heard about the IWSG anthology. And as fate would have it, I was already working on a story that fitted its alternative history theme at the time. So it was a no-brainer really, adapting that story to the short story format and submitting it as my entry. That said, I’ve spent many hours trying to perfect that story ever since, so I wouldn’t exactly call the challenge “easy.”

 2. Where did the idea for Ground Zero come from?

Several places, but I guess the genesis of the whole thing started after I read Man in the High Castle by Philips K. Dick. This was the first time I was captivated by an alternative version of reality where a key moment in history had played out quite differently from the version we are presently stuck in. My other sources of inspiration include the graphic-novel, Watchmen, as well as two of my favorite video game series, Fallout and Half-Life.

 3. What is it about an altered universe that you appreciate?

Just the possibility. Traditional science fiction has us looking forward, at a future that is more often than not different from our present society. Alternative history on the other hand has us looking backwards. It explores the possibility of how changes in the past would have affected society today. And therein lies its appeal, its attempt at answering the question, “What if…?”

 4. Please tell us about your epic fantasy series, Guardians & The Lost Paradise.


Guardians & The Lost Paradise is a 6-part series that was published over the course of 6 months in 2012. The books themselves took the better part of 6 years to write. The project was inspired by my love for fantasy, even though it also explores some real-life themes, like the loss of a loved one and how that can affect ones outlook on the world. The first book in the series is available for free on Amazon USAmazon UKBarnes & NobleKobo, and WattPad.





Tagline:


     The ruins of New York City might not be as deserted as they seem.

Blurb:

 Thirty years after a nuclear bomb devastates much of the Eastern United States, the survivors are still struggling to deal with the aftermath. Elijah is one of them, a man simply doing his part in the effort to rebuild from what's left. He is also a man on a mission, one that has been fueling what others might see as a morbid obsession with corpses. But he is secretly on a search for answers, a search that has taken him to Ground Zero, the very heart of the irradiated wasteland known as the Red Zone


Michael Abayomi was born in Lagos, Nigeria. He fell in love with the art of storytelling after reading J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. His books include Neuro, The Morning Star, and the epic fantasy series, Guardians & The Lost Paradise.






Thank you, Michael!
Ground Zero is very though provoking especially since I live in Ground Zero.



15 comments:

Unknown said...

How cool that something he was already working on fit the anthology! Many congrats to him for that and for his 6 part post-apocalyptic series! :)

Shadow said...

Hallo, and Happy Easter!

Pat Hatt said...

The possibility of it is always fun indeed

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

This sounds like yet another terrific story in the anthology, and it's verrrrry smart of you to stimulate interest in the book by highlighting individual stories and authors prior to release. I hope you guys sell a bazillion copies. (And a bunch before it's even published!)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I could definitely see the Fallout and Half-Life influences!

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi Lexa, Michael's a busy man, and a talented man. His story is thrilling!

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi Shadow, thanks for stopping by!
Happy Easter!

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Pat!
Happy belated Birthday! Love the 24 posts on the 24th as a birthday celebration!

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Susan, especially for ordering early. Plus we're doing the A to Z - no one will be able to resist! :)

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Alex, he definitely drew the picture!

Chrys Fey said...

I wish I had a light bulb moment and had been working on something for this genre at the time. I hope Alex decides to do another anthology in other genres: suspense, mystery, thriller. ;)

Congrats to Michael!

Yolanda Renée said...

I think the IWSG is looking for suggestions, or doing a survey regarding genres this go around. At least, I thought I read something along those lines. :)
Hi, Chrys!

Michael Abayomi said...

Thanks for hosting me, Yolanda. So sorry for turning the post in at the very last minute. Finally got a break from work this Easter, so I am trying to play catch-up as usual. :)

Yolanda Renée said...

No problem, Michael. Enjoy your Easter Weekend and use it to your advantage!

Sandra Cox said...

Congrats to Michael and Yolanda for a great interview.
Happy Easter, Antho Buddies.