Horror/Thriller
Date Published: 10-23-2021
Publisher: Didactic Cafe Press
Can you survive the night when a murderous competition arrives in a small East Texas town with one road in and no way out?
Interview with Chad Lehrmann
How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
I just published my 15th novel October 1st, and I am working on 16 actively now. Asking for a favorite is really tough- I love them all. Except my first non-fiction book. It was bad because it was bland. But if I had to say a favorite, I think Killtown and KillU are the most fun to write, but In The Fields of The Eagle is probably my best book.
If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?
The sequel to Killtown is KillU- it just came out October 1st. It initially starts right where Killtown left off before a three year jump. The survivors of Killtown are trying to move on with their lives, but a popular podcast is bringing up old memories. And perhaps even bringing back an old killer. It’s the second book in the Killogy- the final book, KillState will be out in the next couple years.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
I have some book series, namely the Killogy and my young adult series Sawyer Shepherd Chronicles that connect. I have toyed with the idea of thematic series with some of my non-fiction work, and also with creating subtle connections between my standalone books- Easter Eggs, as it were. In the Fields of the Eagle is a standalone, but if I come up with another historical fiction idea, I might make it my “AP World History Series,” since I wrote it for my students, being an AP History teacher in my day job.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
Killtown just fit. The Host wants to kill the town. The town was named Kingston, and the image of the blood smeared road sign really just popped into my head. It was a striking visual, and the rest is history.
How long did it take you to write this book?
About three months. I’m what I call “an efficient writer.” I think a lot, and do quite a bit of my plotting and planning and pre-writing in my head, so by the time the fingers hit the keys, the story is usually pretty well formed.
What does the title mean?
It references the contest at the center of the book, but on a deeper level, it references how secrets destroy small towns. I grew up in a small town, and the idyllic life people think exists in the little cities is often just a mask from dark and embarrassing secrets. This book’s title is also about killing that myth. Side note- the Host (Main villain) is himself a message. ‘Host’ can mean a lot of different things, and each book delves into that.
What did you learn when writing the book?
I learned that writing a horror themed thriller is a lot of fun. It’s a great release, and trying to drop in odes to my favorite horror films was a thrill in itself.
What surprised you the most?
How quickly the story flowed. It just seemed to be a natural structure and easy path to trod.
Have you ever killed off a character your readers loved?
Often. I had one reader who came to me early in Killtown and said that a certain character was their favorite. Then when they read their death they were actually upset with me. Which was great, because it had been the plan all along to do that with the character.
What do you do to get inside your character’s heads?
I take my own experiences and blow them way out of proportion. Then I try to think how they’d respond. Writing the killers was tricky, because I wanted to help the reader identify, but never sympathize. I drew greatly on my years of teaching Psychology to understand their motivations and quirks, and then take it up a notch.
About the Author
Chad Lehrmann is the author of numerous novels and also finds time to teach AP History to high school students. The product of a small town in Texas, he knows all too well the secrets that live in those supposedly idyllic villages.
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