1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
I’m just a regular guy with anxieties and a serious sweet tooth who loves writing horror and science fiction stories about teens with trauma who gain extraordinary abilities—and how they navigate their lives.
I’ve always been a storyteller. Some careers choose you rather than the other way around. When I paired my love of comic books and novels with my habit of entertaining friends and family with stories, everything just clicked. The rest is history.
2) What inspired you to write your book?
Honestly? Playing Resident Evil probably influenced me the most. That—and a desire to explore what happens when flawed, still-maturing people are forced to handle real power while facing their fears.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
I’m not focused on delivering a specific message. I just want to tell great stories—stories that leave readers wanting more when they turn the last page.
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
Maybe it was The Twilight Zone. Maybe it was the early Godzilla films. Maybe it was my fascination with vampires and zombies. Honestly, it was probably all of the above.
5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
I’d ask: Do you feel like I’ve helped you heal from your trauma?
And then: What can I do to make things better?
Because at the end of the day, even in horror, it’s about the human experience.
6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
I keep it simple—Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Each platform reaches a different audience, but overall my core readership tends to fall in the 24–36 range.
7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
Read—constantly—in your genre. Write a million words. Take classes and workshops. Volunteer with writing organizations. Go to conferences and panels. Put yourself in the ecosystem and learn from it.
8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
I recently turned in an updated pitch deck to an executive producer who’s been developing my Bram Stoker Award–winning novel into a TV series. After four years of work, we’re hoping it’s ready to take out to networks and streamers.
I’m also working on a new novel that connects all my previous books into a shared universe—the DeathCon Universe.
On the publishing side, I’ve been enjoying the early success of DeathCon. It was the #1 selling book on Draft2Digital during its release month, and it debuted at #7 for new hardcover releases and #16 for new paperback releases on Amazon.
And this October, I have a short story and poetry collection coming out through Crystal Lake Publishing, co-written with fellow Bram Stoker Award winner Cindy O’Quinn.
About the Author
Nzondi is a Bram Stoker Award–winning author whose work blends psychological horror with emotionally driven science fiction. His YA novel Oware Mosaic earned the Bram Stoker Award® for Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel, making him the first African American author to win the award in a novel category. He writes stories that explore trauma, identity, and survival at the end of the world.
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