Fictitious Musings

Today we are taking part in The Lurking man Blog Tour and I’m pleased to have author Keith Rommel by to answer a few questions about the his intriguing Thanatolgy series. Want to know what I thought of  Keith’s novels? You can check out my reviews of The Cursed Man and The Lurking Man by clicking on the titles.

The Thanatology series is a thrilling and creepy read. What inspired you to write the series?

I came across Thanatology while trying to come to terms with the passing of my father. I figured I could somehow dull the pain by gathering information on what we know about death and the dying process. Although time is what helped me to heal, what I came across while I was seeking answers is something that reignited my passion for story telling.

Thanatology is an interesting albeit apt choice in titles for the series. Can you tell us a little more about Thanatology in relation to The Cursed Man and The Lurking Man?

Thanatology is the scientific study of death and dying and the practices associated with it, including the study of the needs of the terminally ill and their families. In the Cursed Man (book 1) the lead protagonist believes the entity Death is in love with him and anyone that shows him favor dies within twenty-four hours.

In The Lurking Man (book 2) the protagonist wakes up in a circle of blinding light, surrounded by darkness. Within that darkness, she senses something there, watching her. She soon discovers that she has died and that Death has come for her. He comes to offer her twenty-four hours of life to right the wrongs of her life, but what she must do in exchange is unthinkable.

The Thanatology series shares a common theme of Death, but is not required to read in any order to understand each story, as they are self-contained. None of the characters or locales is the same; rather it is a further story exploring the meaning of death.

What can we expect in the third installment?

In the third installment of the Thanatology series we will see Death as two separate entities. There is a young boy who represents the beginning of life or youth, and there is an old woman that represents the end of life. Of course, readers can expect the usual twists and turns and a similar nonlinear format of interchanging from the past to the present day.

What’s the one question you wish someone would ask but hasn’t?

As The Lurking Man is based off of a true story, so is The Cursed Man (book 1). What part of the story is true.

How much research is involved in your novels?

There is minimal research that goes into my novels in the sense of the setting of scenes or even certain items being used because the character’s motives are the main drivers of the stories. Most of my research comes in when I interview people to understand who the character is that I am basing the book off of. The difficult part of that is how I have to be mindful of how I present the characters. These events I apply a fiction twist to is actually real pain in someone’s life. In The Lurking Man, the protagonist and antagonist is actually a combination of three people very close to me.

What are you working on now?

I am currently working on three projects. Book three in the Thanatology series is The Ensnared Man and my priority right now. I am also wrapping up Among the People (metaphysical), which will be offered as a novel and a graphic novel, coming early 2013. I’m also working on a story about tragedy and revenge called You Killed my Brother. This is a fast-paced thriller and I’m considering a December 2012 release, but will see how the next few month’s play out.

Graphic novels are a great starting point for reluctant readers. What made you decide to make Among the People in novel and graphic novel formats?

The idea came about five years ago when I completed the first novel draft of Among the People. I think I placed an ad or mentioned on a message board that I was interested in turning the story into a comic. Soon after, I received an email from Klaus and Wolfgang Schwandt from far away Germany. They are a brother artist and inker team and we clicked instantly. We began working together over email and pieced together the graphic novel and are now close to completing the project. The brothers have an amazing talent and have done a wonderful job bringing the characters to life through art. Considering every step of the process was done through email amazes me.

What can readers expect to take away from your novels?

Readers can expect to be pulled through an emotional wringer along with the protagonist in each book. They will feel anger and hope for the character. Twists and turns will challenge their imagination, and surprise endings that leave a long-lasting impression will have them thinking about the book long after it has been tucked away on their bookshelf.

About the Thanatology Series:

Rommel’s series is titled due to Thanatology being a study that explores death and dying. Rommel has taken this science to a fictionalized, gothic-style horror level that may leave you breathless and unable to stop your mind from contemplating how you live your own life.

The books are grouped in the series due to the nature of the theme, but each book may be read independently.  “Those who read in order will be able to catch glimpses from previous book(s), but it is not dependent upon each individual story,” Rommel said.

The Cursed Man and The Lurking Man are released by Sunbury Press. Book three in the Thanatology series is on schedule for a summer 2013 release.  The Cursed Man is currently being considered as a feature film.

For a complete list of tour stops go here. The next stop on the tour is…Ginger Nuts of Horror

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Website   Blog   Twitter   Goodreads   Facebook

 

Keith Rommel is a native of Long Island, New York and currently lives with his family in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. Rommel is a retail manager and has enjoyed collecting comic books since he was a child (a hobby inspired by a teacher in grade school to help overcome a reading comprehension disability).  He enjoys watching the New York Giants and writing how-to articles for other authors.

 

You can snag a copy of Keith’s novels at:

Amazon ~ Available as a Kindle e-book or paperback

Barnes & Noble ~ Available as a Nook e-book or paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags:Keith Rommel, Thanatology series, The Cursed Man, The Lurking Man, The Lurking Man Blog Tour