Russell James is a natural born storyteller who hits the sweet spot for discerning horror fiction fans. His ideas are original, his stories have nuance and depth, he creates believable characters that you care about. He’s written some thrilling books, but Q Island may just be his biggest blockbuster to date. Check out some of the praise his latest novel has received so far.
“James creates powerful intimacy and terror….This is a seriously creepy page-turner that will keep readers up all night.” (Starred review from Publisher’s Weekly)
“This could very well be the best horror novel of the year. 5 Stars!” (The Examiner)
“I loved the story so much that I’m eagerly waiting to read more from him. I now have a new favorite book I’ll read over and over again.” (Five Stars, A Night Owl Top Pick)
I’m honored to have Russell post a guest article on my site, sharing the keen insight of a sharp observer. Enjoy.
America’s Post-Apocalyptic Preview
It takes a lot to scare a horror writer. I mean, I dissect fear for a living. The most violent horror movies don’t elicit a flinch. Demons? Bring ‘em on. I can face down a clown without wetting myself. But one thing really scared the hell out of me. New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
The Category 4 storm blew ashore, flooded swaths of the city, cut off power, cut off help. Those who hadn’t evacuated were isolated from the world. In the face of this ultimate stress test of society, how did it do?
It collapsed within hours. Looting was almost instantaneous. There were widespread reports of people just abandoning critical jobs as they prioritized saving themselves or their families. 23,000 people turned the Superdome into something out of Dante’s rings of Hell. I’ve read people criticizing the realism of some post-apocalyptic fiction, saying that society wouldn’t breakdown so quickly or so completely. Were they living under a rock in 2005?
Those events got me thinking about what would happen if the Katrina event were scaled up. What if it were millions of people? I grew up on Long Island, NY, where a few bridges, a tunnel, and a couple of ferries are all that keep the place from being sealed off from the world. It seemed like the perfect location to let my imagination create disaster. And so the idea for the novel Q Island was conceived.
This July, I get to share the story. A 30,000 year old virus is unearthed in the Siberian tundra. In a human, it 
brings on a psychopathic rage, accompanied by flaming red eyes and prominent blackened veins. The infections runs rampant on Long Island, and a quarantine is imposed. The novel follows Melanie Bailey and her autistic son, Aiden. He becomes infected, but survives, and is even improved. If she can get him out of the zone, he might be the key to a cure.
But another has been infected and survived. Jimmy Wade was a small time crook before the Paleovirus enhanced him with telepathic powers. Now he runs a gang of outlaws living off the scattered and terrorized population. He’s also developed a taste for human flesh. Once he senses this boy who shares his immunity, he knows that devouring Aiden will allow him to evolve to something beyond all mankind.
Melanie and Aiden have to fight their way through the infected, stay ahead of Wade, and somehow break through the cordon of government forces who believe it is death for all if anyone ever escapes from Q Island. Pick up a copy and see if Long Island does any better than New Orleans when the worst comes to pass.
This is an epic survival story for readers who appreciate strong characters with heart in their horror. I urge you to pick up a copy today.
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For more info on Russell James and his work, please visit his website or follow him on Twitter.
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