Today on MASTERS OF HORROR I got the chance to interview an amazingly talented writer who has not only become wildly successful in a crowded horror market, but a prolific author who has become a great friend and mentor to me in the short time we’ve known each other. He’s smart, savvy and his novels start fast and keep picking up speed like a runaway train screaming downhill.
Nick has zeroed in on his niche and that niche is everything to do with post-apocalyptic settings and the ravenous undead. Or both! His three major series collections include DEAD MEAT, CADAVER, which may have the best cover I’ve seen in a while, and UNDER THE BREAKING SKY. All of which include multiple books, which have garnered thousands of four star reviews and are perennial bestsellers on Amazon.
I first came into contact with Nick through the first book in the CADAVER series. I was totally blown away by the cover, obviously, but then it was his writing that sealed the deal. His easy-going, positive personality really comes alive on the page. The dialogue is genuine, his characters are real and the haunting dread of the ravenous undead are lurking on every page.
If you love post-apocalyptic fiction, zombie fiction, or stories that meld the two together in a beautifully, terrifying marriage of horror, suspense and action - look no further!
Simply put, if you haven’t heard of Nick Clausen you are missing out on a legendary talent. Now let’s get to know this MASTER OF HORROR a little bit more!
Tell me a little about yourself.
Born and raised in Denmark, still living here, trying to make it as a writer in English, since my Danish authorship of ten years never really got going. Luckily, my stories are a lot more popular with Americans, so things are finally taking off!
Why write horror? What is it about writing terrifying scenes that excites you?
I love everything scary, thrilling and suspenseful. I'm not locked on horror, but will write anything that'll make my pulse go faster. I do enjoy the thrill of writing scary scenes, mostly when something monstrous is involved ...
What’s the scariest book you’ve read? And why?
Probably something by Stephen King. Maybe IT, or THE SHINING. I also found DRACULA very scary, and THE EXORCIST.
What are you working on now? Is it a standalone? Part of a series?
I only write in series nowadays, because they're vastly more profitable on Amazon. I have two open series, on is called CADAVER and is kind of a classic zombie apocalypse thriller, but with a very different origin to the zombies. No spoilers. The other series I'm currently writing is called UNDER THE BREAKING SKY. I consider it my flag pole series. It's about a mysterious crack in the sky which turns anyone who looks at it blind and insane. It's very big and epic, and has some sci-fi elements to it. I guess I'd call it Bird Box meets Cell.
Describe the first or most significant personal success you’ve had so far in your writing career.
That's a though one. I've been doing this since 2006, so I've seen a lot of ups and downs. Obviously, getting my first manuscript accepted by a publisher was a big deal. But I still think the shift I made in 2019 might be the biggest achievement so far. That's when I took the leap and began writing in English, rather than my native language. It was nerve-racking at first, but I quickly felt I found my footing, and nowadays, I write just as fast and fluently as I write in Danish. That enabled me to reach a much, much bigger audience, and what's more, my stories seem to resonate a lot better with English-speaking readers. I'm not sure why, but I'm very thankful for it. I finally feel like I've found my audience, people who love my stories and crave more. That's extremely motivating and completely re-ignited my love of the craft. It also made me much more productive than I ever was in Danish. So, that's probably my biggest personal success in relations to my career.
Where can we find you?
Big thanks to Nick Clausen for stopping by and sharing with us today on MASTERS OF HORROR. He truly is a force to be reckoned with and if you think I’m bias, I am, but don’t just take my word for it...here’s just a quick selection of some of the amazing 5 star reviews he’s garnered on Amazon.
"Holy God! I fell in love with Nick with his Dead Meat series, and now this one ... Absolutely edge of your seat fantastic!"
-H. Smith, Goodreads Reviewer ★★★★★
"Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously"
-Billie, Goodreads Reviewer ★★★★★
"The action is immediate and I was hooked instantly!! I am excited to see where this goes in book two and was shocked at the ending in this book"
-A. Wellington, Goodreads Reviewer ★★★★★
"Loved it! I got so caught up in the story that all of a sudden I am at the end"
-A. Reed, Goodreads Reviewer ★★★★★
These interviews have been a labour of love. I love learning about the lives of fellow horror writers. Where did they grow up? What jobs have they done? Or still do while they create these amazing stories? What scares them? What they’re reading? What drives them to create the stories we all love to devour? So thanks again to Nick for letting us peek behind the curtain on the life of an amazing talent!
If you are a horror writer who would like to be featured on MASTERS OF HORROR for some free publicity just click the link below, answer the 5 Questions as fully and completely as possible and soon, you too, will be a MASTER OF HORROR!