The following is an interview with New York Times bestselling author Daniel Kraus (The Shape of Water, Trollhunters) on the upcoming release of George A. Romero’s (Night of the Living Dead, Martin, Creepshow) previously unfinished supernatural horror novel, Pay the Piper. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Kraus about bringing new life to Romero’s story, the creative process involved with adapting a prior creator’s work, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of Pay the Piper! What can you share with us about your experience in bringing George A. Romero’s unfinished manuscript to life on the page?
Daniel Kraus: Maybe the biggest frustration in Romero’s career was the unwillingness of the world to accept anything from him but zombie stories. He loved zombies but felt boxed in by them, too. So, after completing the writing of his zombie epic, The Living Dead, I was thrilled to find a second unfinished novel that had nothing to do with undead shamblers. I felt like this is a gift I can give Romero fans, a chance to show them that he was so much more than zombies. The hardcore fans who love movies he directed like Creepshow, Martin, and The Amusement Park already know that, but it bears repeating, especially now.
BD: The creative process of approaching a prior work – especially one from such an acclaimed artist like Romero – can be a daunting experience. How would you describe your approach to breathing new life into the story, and what did you find to be most rewarding/challenging about the process?
DK: Romero didn’t leave any known notes for this project, so it was really up to me to study the manuscript for clues on where he was headed. And, boy, did I find them. It required me doing deep dives into a dozen different things he mentioned offhandedly, which resulted in some real eureka moments. Some of them, I’ve very confident that I know what Romero was up to. Other times, I’m entirely going off on my own. But that’s why it’s a Romero-Kraus book and not just a Romero book — ultimately it’s a collaboration.
BD: Likewise, what has been your experience in collaborating with the estate of George A. Romero for this endeavor?
DK: I’m not trying to speak for them, but I believe the Romero estate had a good experience with The Living Dead and came to trust me as both an artist and as someone who deeply cares about George Romero’s legacy and will work hard to to mesh our approaches into a single vision he would have appreciated. The estate grants me a lot of freedom to just do the work, and for that I’m eternally grateful.
BD: Are there any other upcoming projects that you would like to share with our readers?
DK: There’s a lot. I’m working on the Whalefall screenplay with Brian Duffield for 20th Century Fox, and working with Lisi Harrison on the final two books in the Graveyard Girls series. I’m also deep into a supernatural WWI novel called Angel Down that comes out next year. Beyond that, I have another horror novel, two sci-fi novels, and a graphic novel all coming, but none are announced yet.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Pay the Piper and your other work?
DK: You can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and danielkraus.com.
