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BIO
Zachary Finn is a lover of all things history and horror. He currently resides in central NY with his dog, Bruce, and his girlfriend, Natalie. You can usually find him reading, writing, getting lost in the woods, wandering old cemeteries, or trying to improve his jab.
Zachary Finn is a lover of all things history and horror. He currently resides in central NY with his dog, Bruce, and his girlfriend, Natalie. You can usually find him reading, writing, getting lost in the woods, wandering old cemeteries, or trying to improve his jab.
WEBSITE LINKS
https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B0917T6NV8
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21029629.Zachary_Finn
Zachary Finn (@finzach135) / Twitter
https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B0917T6NV8
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21029629.Zachary_Finn
Zachary Finn (@finzach135) / Twitter
THE HORROR OF MY LIFE BY ZACHARY FINN
THE FIRST HORROR BOOK I REMEMBER READING
Like most children who grew up in the 90s and were destined to find their way into this amazing genre in one form or another, my gateway was R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps. In particular, the Welcome to Camp Nightmare wrecked me for the better part of a week. I read it while it was still light out thinking that, surely, even though it might be scary, reading it during the day would nullify the effects. Besides, once I closed the book that would be the end of it, and I’d move onto the next thing no worse for wear.
That was not the end of it, however.
I probably got a total of three hours of sleep that week and I spent the better part of my restless nights formulating escape routes should some nefarious creature try to do me in. The twist ending was great too. Classic Stine.
Eventually I recovered and was able to sleep again, however, I was hooked. Horror had me.
THE FIRST HORROR FILM I REMEMBER WATCHING
Signs. The big reveal, that shaky scene at the birthday party was truly haunting. Plus the scene where the kid killed the dog when it attacked his sister…oof, that cut deep. I just realized that explains some things about my latest novel…
THE GREATEST HORROR BOOK OF ALL TIME
I’ll probably catch some flak for this, but damn do I love IT. I know, I know: King has sold more books than any other author in the world and here’s my chance to prove I know some horror by mentioning someone who isn’t a household name known by everybody and their grandparents, and The Fisherman and Grimscribe are so tempting too, but alas…
Here’s my take: what makes IT so outstanding is the story is, in a broader sense, a community history told through the lens of cosmic horror. I work at a museum in my 9-5 and regularly turn to a few county/city histories to develop research, narrative, etc. I quite enjoy them, as well. They’re often hodge podge collections of bibliographic information, personal stories, chronologic history, both local and national, and lore and incidents deemed important to the author, who tends to be writing about the community they spent their lives in. Oftentimes they’re winding narratives, but in the end, you get to feel like you have an understanding of a place stuck in the time that the account is written; or at least how they might want to be remembered, which in itself is rather telling.
In short: they’re IT minus Pennywise. From The Black Spot to the short, strange psychopathic life of little Patrick Hockstetter, each tangent weaves together a story with a Lovecraftian scope with real, personal horrors and tragedies throughout. IT is the cosmic horror of a deity turtle not all that invested in your existence, and the visceral horror of a clown munching on your friends while your weird town opts to ignore it. It’s those moments during childhood when you realize adults aren’t all that sorted out and there’s some really bad ones out there too. It’s the racist history and underbelly of the town that is skipped over by early historians and passed down by word of mouth that reveals the horrific nature of humans.
So much to unpack, but I’ll stop myself from waxing poetic.
IT fires on all cylinders for me. There is both history (some of it fictional, not that I mind) and horror - my favorite. All that being said, someone should have axed the closing sewer scene.
THE GREATEST HORROR FILM OF ALL TIME
I was torn between a few options, notably the Phantasm and Evil Dead series, but ultimately settled on a classic that will surprise no one.
Not going to ruffle any feathers here: The Thing. The film is atmospheric and chills you to the bone, all of which makes the harsh backdrop of Antarctica and top notch ending all the more powerful. What a film. Plus, the effects are outstanding, and Kurt Rusell kills it.
THE GREATEST WRITER OF ALL TIME
Ray Bradbury. He’s a writer’s writer. What can I say about him that hasn’t been said? October Country and Something Wicked this way Comes are great additions to any horror library, and his prose, work ethic, and writing advice influenced a generation of writers I admire dearly (see my previous answer to my favorite book for proof). I discovered The Illustrated Man in middle school and I never looked back.
THE BEST BOOK COVER OF ALL TIME
I can’t pick one, I apologize, but I’ve got three that come to mind right away, all for different reasons. Bear in mind I tried to keep these as more recent editions as opposed to the classic book designs we all know and love.
First: Things We Lost in the Fire: Stories, by Mariana Enriquez. The collection of short stories is outstanding and I recommend reading it to anyone and everyone. The writing is intense and uses horror as a gateway and jumping off point to explore human tragedy, suffering and experiences in a way that’s bone chilling and unsettling. I was so excited to see she has another collection set to be translated to English soon.
But back to the cover: it immediately draws your attention. Winding and interweaving flowers, thorns and snakes that take the viewer a moment to untangle and in doing so present the initial impression that the book itself is about to burst into flames. The color scheme of greys, oranges and reds adds to this impression. Absolutely marvelous.
Second: I already mentioned this one, but John Langan’s The Fisherman. The artwork used is titled, Puget Sound on the Pacific Coast, completed in 1870 by Albert Bierstadt using the Hudson River School style made famous by Thomas Cole, and it captures the essence of this outstanding book so well. The cover is dark and foreboding, and well, so is the book. It’s one of those covers that’s easy to get lost in as you stare at it, trying to unpack a scene of both surreal beauty and chaos.
Third: North American Lake Monsters by Nathan Ballingrud. The cover image, Persian Manuscript Illumination of Leviathan or Cetus, from Corbis, first caught my eye. Then I did my research and kicked myself for not reading this outstanding collection earlier. This cover takes me back to a few medieval history courses I took in college, and the fact the pictured leviathan (or cetus) used on the cover is hairy always stuck with me for some reason. Outstanding collection, and great cover art as well!
THE BEST FILM POSTER OFF ALL TIME
The whole gambit of the Phantasm series. I dig them something fierce.
THE BEST BOOK / FILM I HAVE WRITTEN
My debut novel The Ancient Evil Versus the Good Boy, which is scheduled for release with Vulpine Press in June 2021. This book means the world to me and I hope that comes across to readers. I was writing it at a time in my life where I was deeply unsatisfied with myself, and where I was in my life, and it was one of those writing projects that just flowed once I started it. I really felt, and still feel, it was a story I was meant to write, which feels arrogant as I type it, but it just was near and dear to my heart. Plus, it’s a way of giving a great shelter dog— one who really didn’t get a fair shake at things— a chance to go on an adventure he deserved.
Just as important as my personal investment to the book (as well as the therapeutic nature of writing it), however, is the fact there was a fantastic team at Vulpine Press to polish it and help fix my many blunders. Jess Jordan and the editing team there really helped turn the book into something I’m proud of. I hope readers enjoy it!
THE WORST BOOK / FILM I HAVE WRITTEN
How much time you got? I’m still, and will forever be, a student of writing. As such I’ve written my fair share of trash. My first attempt at a book (which will remain unnamed as I still plan on recycling the one decent thing from it: the title) was not good. It was me taking an urban legend I grew up with and trying to give it the IT treatment: local history, adventure, mayhem and an otherworldly antagonist. Not only was it not my voice I was writing with, but it very quickly became pretentious as I fell into using words and a writing style that was, frankly, ridiculous.
I stopped some 60,000 words in because I saw the writing on the wall, chalked it up as a learning experience, and spent some time focusing on short stories to hone the craft. I wrote another novel during that time too. Though it has not seen the light of day since a misguided attempt to land a publisher years back, I can say it was an important step in the right direction that stemmed from that rough first go at a novel.
THE MOST UNDERRATED FILM OF ALL TIME
Satan’s Little Helper and Tales of Halloween. Both are absolute gems. Check them out if you haven’t yet.
THE MOST UNDERRATED BOOK OF ALL TIME
This is a tough one, but I always wished From the Dust Returned by Bradbury got a little more love. It’s classic Bradbury meaning it’s a whole bunch of genres smashed together in a way he does so well, and what’s left behind is horror/fantasy with some heart.
Not everyone’s cup of tea, but I always enjoyed it.
THE MOST UNDERRATED AUTHOR OF ALL TIME
I mentioned him earlier, but I’ll go with Thomas Ligotti here. Though he’s revered by critics and those in the horror field and he has accomplished so much, he should be a household name too in my humble opinion.
THE BOOK / FILM THAT SCARED ME THE MOST
Insidious in the theatre. That was one of those films that just played so nicely on the big screen.
THE BOOK / FILM I AM WORKING ON NEXT
I'm trying to merge my two loves, history and horror, into a novel set in 19th century DC with elements of folk and gothic horror. I’m only about halfway done with the first draft so there’s some ways to go!
Like most children who grew up in the 90s and were destined to find their way into this amazing genre in one form or another, my gateway was R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps. In particular, the Welcome to Camp Nightmare wrecked me for the better part of a week. I read it while it was still light out thinking that, surely, even though it might be scary, reading it during the day would nullify the effects. Besides, once I closed the book that would be the end of it, and I’d move onto the next thing no worse for wear.
That was not the end of it, however.
I probably got a total of three hours of sleep that week and I spent the better part of my restless nights formulating escape routes should some nefarious creature try to do me in. The twist ending was great too. Classic Stine.
Eventually I recovered and was able to sleep again, however, I was hooked. Horror had me.
THE FIRST HORROR FILM I REMEMBER WATCHING
Signs. The big reveal, that shaky scene at the birthday party was truly haunting. Plus the scene where the kid killed the dog when it attacked his sister…oof, that cut deep. I just realized that explains some things about my latest novel…
THE GREATEST HORROR BOOK OF ALL TIME
I’ll probably catch some flak for this, but damn do I love IT. I know, I know: King has sold more books than any other author in the world and here’s my chance to prove I know some horror by mentioning someone who isn’t a household name known by everybody and their grandparents, and The Fisherman and Grimscribe are so tempting too, but alas…
Here’s my take: what makes IT so outstanding is the story is, in a broader sense, a community history told through the lens of cosmic horror. I work at a museum in my 9-5 and regularly turn to a few county/city histories to develop research, narrative, etc. I quite enjoy them, as well. They’re often hodge podge collections of bibliographic information, personal stories, chronologic history, both local and national, and lore and incidents deemed important to the author, who tends to be writing about the community they spent their lives in. Oftentimes they’re winding narratives, but in the end, you get to feel like you have an understanding of a place stuck in the time that the account is written; or at least how they might want to be remembered, which in itself is rather telling.
In short: they’re IT minus Pennywise. From The Black Spot to the short, strange psychopathic life of little Patrick Hockstetter, each tangent weaves together a story with a Lovecraftian scope with real, personal horrors and tragedies throughout. IT is the cosmic horror of a deity turtle not all that invested in your existence, and the visceral horror of a clown munching on your friends while your weird town opts to ignore it. It’s those moments during childhood when you realize adults aren’t all that sorted out and there’s some really bad ones out there too. It’s the racist history and underbelly of the town that is skipped over by early historians and passed down by word of mouth that reveals the horrific nature of humans.
So much to unpack, but I’ll stop myself from waxing poetic.
IT fires on all cylinders for me. There is both history (some of it fictional, not that I mind) and horror - my favorite. All that being said, someone should have axed the closing sewer scene.
THE GREATEST HORROR FILM OF ALL TIME
I was torn between a few options, notably the Phantasm and Evil Dead series, but ultimately settled on a classic that will surprise no one.
Not going to ruffle any feathers here: The Thing. The film is atmospheric and chills you to the bone, all of which makes the harsh backdrop of Antarctica and top notch ending all the more powerful. What a film. Plus, the effects are outstanding, and Kurt Rusell kills it.
THE GREATEST WRITER OF ALL TIME
Ray Bradbury. He’s a writer’s writer. What can I say about him that hasn’t been said? October Country and Something Wicked this way Comes are great additions to any horror library, and his prose, work ethic, and writing advice influenced a generation of writers I admire dearly (see my previous answer to my favorite book for proof). I discovered The Illustrated Man in middle school and I never looked back.
THE BEST BOOK COVER OF ALL TIME
I can’t pick one, I apologize, but I’ve got three that come to mind right away, all for different reasons. Bear in mind I tried to keep these as more recent editions as opposed to the classic book designs we all know and love.
First: Things We Lost in the Fire: Stories, by Mariana Enriquez. The collection of short stories is outstanding and I recommend reading it to anyone and everyone. The writing is intense and uses horror as a gateway and jumping off point to explore human tragedy, suffering and experiences in a way that’s bone chilling and unsettling. I was so excited to see she has another collection set to be translated to English soon.
But back to the cover: it immediately draws your attention. Winding and interweaving flowers, thorns and snakes that take the viewer a moment to untangle and in doing so present the initial impression that the book itself is about to burst into flames. The color scheme of greys, oranges and reds adds to this impression. Absolutely marvelous.
Second: I already mentioned this one, but John Langan’s The Fisherman. The artwork used is titled, Puget Sound on the Pacific Coast, completed in 1870 by Albert Bierstadt using the Hudson River School style made famous by Thomas Cole, and it captures the essence of this outstanding book so well. The cover is dark and foreboding, and well, so is the book. It’s one of those covers that’s easy to get lost in as you stare at it, trying to unpack a scene of both surreal beauty and chaos.
Third: North American Lake Monsters by Nathan Ballingrud. The cover image, Persian Manuscript Illumination of Leviathan or Cetus, from Corbis, first caught my eye. Then I did my research and kicked myself for not reading this outstanding collection earlier. This cover takes me back to a few medieval history courses I took in college, and the fact the pictured leviathan (or cetus) used on the cover is hairy always stuck with me for some reason. Outstanding collection, and great cover art as well!
THE BEST FILM POSTER OFF ALL TIME
The whole gambit of the Phantasm series. I dig them something fierce.
THE BEST BOOK / FILM I HAVE WRITTEN
My debut novel The Ancient Evil Versus the Good Boy, which is scheduled for release with Vulpine Press in June 2021. This book means the world to me and I hope that comes across to readers. I was writing it at a time in my life where I was deeply unsatisfied with myself, and where I was in my life, and it was one of those writing projects that just flowed once I started it. I really felt, and still feel, it was a story I was meant to write, which feels arrogant as I type it, but it just was near and dear to my heart. Plus, it’s a way of giving a great shelter dog— one who really didn’t get a fair shake at things— a chance to go on an adventure he deserved.
Just as important as my personal investment to the book (as well as the therapeutic nature of writing it), however, is the fact there was a fantastic team at Vulpine Press to polish it and help fix my many blunders. Jess Jordan and the editing team there really helped turn the book into something I’m proud of. I hope readers enjoy it!
THE WORST BOOK / FILM I HAVE WRITTEN
How much time you got? I’m still, and will forever be, a student of writing. As such I’ve written my fair share of trash. My first attempt at a book (which will remain unnamed as I still plan on recycling the one decent thing from it: the title) was not good. It was me taking an urban legend I grew up with and trying to give it the IT treatment: local history, adventure, mayhem and an otherworldly antagonist. Not only was it not my voice I was writing with, but it very quickly became pretentious as I fell into using words and a writing style that was, frankly, ridiculous.
I stopped some 60,000 words in because I saw the writing on the wall, chalked it up as a learning experience, and spent some time focusing on short stories to hone the craft. I wrote another novel during that time too. Though it has not seen the light of day since a misguided attempt to land a publisher years back, I can say it was an important step in the right direction that stemmed from that rough first go at a novel.
THE MOST UNDERRATED FILM OF ALL TIME
Satan’s Little Helper and Tales of Halloween. Both are absolute gems. Check them out if you haven’t yet.
THE MOST UNDERRATED BOOK OF ALL TIME
This is a tough one, but I always wished From the Dust Returned by Bradbury got a little more love. It’s classic Bradbury meaning it’s a whole bunch of genres smashed together in a way he does so well, and what’s left behind is horror/fantasy with some heart.
Not everyone’s cup of tea, but I always enjoyed it.
THE MOST UNDERRATED AUTHOR OF ALL TIME
I mentioned him earlier, but I’ll go with Thomas Ligotti here. Though he’s revered by critics and those in the horror field and he has accomplished so much, he should be a household name too in my humble opinion.
THE BOOK / FILM THAT SCARED ME THE MOST
Insidious in the theatre. That was one of those films that just played so nicely on the big screen.
THE BOOK / FILM I AM WORKING ON NEXT
I'm trying to merge my two loves, history and horror, into a novel set in 19th century DC with elements of folk and gothic horror. I’m only about halfway done with the first draft so there’s some ways to go!
When Jon Riley begins volunteering at the Richter Street Animal Shelter, he hopes it will help bring some purpose to his life. After all, who doesn't like hanging out with a few dogs after a tough day at work?
Jon quickly finds himself befriending, and eventually adopting, a mysterious dog named Desmond. But that's when the problems start, and soon Jon and Desmond find themselves fighting for their lives against The Ancient Evil and its Shadow People.
Filled with possessions, flour-drenched battles, ancient cliff tombs, and a shadowy underworld, The Ancient Evil Versus the Good Boy follows Jon and Desmond through a gripping adventure and proves the lengths people will go to for their beloved pets. Especially when they're under attack from something sinister...
Jon quickly finds himself befriending, and eventually adopting, a mysterious dog named Desmond. But that's when the problems start, and soon Jon and Desmond find themselves fighting for their lives against The Ancient Evil and its Shadow People.
Filled with possessions, flour-drenched battles, ancient cliff tombs, and a shadowy underworld, The Ancient Evil Versus the Good Boy follows Jon and Desmond through a gripping adventure and proves the lengths people will go to for their beloved pets. Especially when they're under attack from something sinister...
TODAY ON THE GINGER NUTS OF HORROR WEBSITE
RICHARD MARTIN REVISITS THE ‘MASTERS OF HORROR’: PICK ME UP (DIRECTED BY LARRY COHEN)
