LEGLESS CORPSE: At what age did you start writing, and when did you know you wanted to be a writer?

SAURAV DUTT: I’ve been writing as far as I can remember in some shape or form-whether poetry, short prose, short stories or longer pieces. Coming from a legal and journalism background I’ve had to write professionally most of my life; in terms of being a novelist it’s something I’ve been doing in earnest only within the last five years. I knew I wanted to write longer pieces to express stories inspired by two major influences on my life-music and cinema. The emotions experienced as being familiar with both inspired me to write and I realised quickly it was the most expedient way to express my creativity.

LC: You could write in any genre but you mostly stick close to the horror genre. What influenced you to write and love writing within the genre?

SD: I’m a fan of the William Peter Blatty (and to some extent Stephen King) conception of what horror is-that it is essentially psychological; that the most disturbing and terrifying things don’t need dismembered heads, pointy horns and buckets of gore to portray the creeping sense of alienation and terror prevalent in the best horror stories. What influenced me were the very best horror stories that didn’t rely so much on atmosphere but the intrinsic horror of the characters. Horror pervades all trenchant layers of society and exploring that has been a source of curiosity for me for a long time. Understand what terrifies the mind, why good people turn to evil and what the conception of ‘evil’ is…these are all fascinating tenets of human nature and that is why I enjoy writing in the horror genre.

LC: What can readers expect after picking up a copy of Cannibal Metropolis and jumping in for the ride?

SD: Unlike ‘The Exorcist: Pazuzu Unbound’, the book ‘Cannibal Metropolis’ presents a more explicit and visceral ride. This story is not the calm before the storm, it is the storm. The last thing you can say about this book is that it is boring, it certainly is not. I enjoy the fact that fans of the book have commented on its breakneck speed and clear inspiration taken from the films of Lucio Fulci, for example. Fans can expect plenty of cannibals, action, gory, gut munching adventure and relentless brutality-that is what the subject matter demands. I took to writing the book much like a film-a book (or a film) with a title like this one won’t delve deep into the human psyche or explain why you used to squeeze blackheads as a nine year old. This is visceral, in your face, unashamed, balls to the wall horror action and if you’re a fan of Romero movies, The Walking Dead, Ruggero Deodato and Lenzi films-then you’re in for a hrilling, bloody ride.

LC: The cover is really cool who is the artist and how did you go about choosing this particular image?

SD: I’m a graphic artist myself and am currently working on my own action graphic novel called ‘Sword’. However I’ve never really drawn, inked or coloured horror art and for that I went to Anchor Bay Studios and was referred to one of their most talented horror poster artists on their roster and who loved my story. Nate Hill put his considerable talents to work and as a fan of the genre and my story, we both came up with a cover that represented the no holds barred nature of the script. I wanted to show a creature that was remorseless, devoid of any sympathy or care for its enemies and which knew only one means of existence-destroying others in some of the vilest ways possible. At the same time this creature was set against a backdrop of pure anarchy and urban apocalypse, both of which I feel are represented well with the cover we came up with.

LC: What other books do you have for our genre readers and where can they pick up some copies?

SD: I’m very pleased ‘Cannibal Metropolis’ found its way into the hands of Eli Roth and similarly I was overjoyed that my last horror novel ‘The Exorcist: Pazuzu Unbound’ has made it across the desks of both William Friedkin and William Peter Blatty. ‘Pazuzu Unbound’ is more than just a homage or rip off of the untouchable Exorcist novel and Legion (and the films both are based on) instead it is a parable of urban decadence and societal disassociation. I feel these are two things ‘evil’ and the ‘devil’ feeds on more than anything else in this day and age. This book has received a lot of praise from fans of the genre and the series. It is available on Amazon, iTunes, Kobo formats, Waterstones and Barnes & Noble and will be making the rounds at the LA Times Festival of Books, BookExpo America (BEA) and Paris Book Fair.

LC: It’s said that a writer never stops writing. Do you have any other works in progress? What can we expect next from you?

SD: Truer words have not been said! I enjoy writing in different genres and the next few projects return me to the dramatic fiction genre. I’m in the post-production stage of a serious novel which deals with domestic and sexual violence as well as LGBT discrimination entitled ‘The Butterfly Room’ which just received some excellent pre-release publicity at the International Kolkata Book Fair this month. I’m also writing a story called ‘Wild Horses’ a story about two brothers, one builds motorcycles, another a racer, he becomes a celebrity, leaves for California for a race and leaves behind his brother, failing to return for fifteen years. The other brother becomes seriously ill, marking the return of the older brother for one to take part in one final race.

Interview With Horror Author SAURAV DUTT