Author Interview: T.H. Rahman

Hello, Readers!

This week T.H. Rahman, author of Dead Rich has stopped by to tell us about himself and his new book! 

What inspired you to write your first book? 

In 2009, an upper body disability caused me to leave my job, which I loved. I came to the realization that I needed to find something to do in life to support my son and myself. I sat down one day and began to write. I had dabbled with writing in the past, but nothing to serious. After I completed my first book, I concluded that writing is something I love to do. Soon I found myself writing day and night. I now have two books available, Dead Rich and Malice.

Do you have a writing routine?

When I come up with an idea for a book, I try to form the storyline, something original, and then I add the characters. I like to think of thirty to thirty-five thoughts to help the flow of my writing and potentially create thirty to thirty-five chapters. Once that is accomplished, I begin to increase the thoughts and add ideas as I go. I proofread and edit each book at least three times.

What authors do you find inspiring?

I find several authors inspiring. Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Jerry Ahern, George G. Gilman, Travis Luedke, Craig McGray, Elizabeth Marx, and Regina Puckett just to name a few. Authors that put time and effort into their writing inspire me. In my eyes, there are no good or bad authors out there.

 Can you give a brief overview of what Dead Rich is about for my readers?

The horror of fighting zombies becomes a reality in Albany, New York where an arrogant, selfish Bo Reynolds finds himself thrown into a perilous situation. He seeks to endeavor in the face of long odds and nearly overwhelming obstacles, which take the form of flesh-eating zombies.

The attack on the United States of America begins, and Bo must save himself from the approaching enemy bombers decimating the city.

Five years later, during the time of a war-torn America, Bo finds himself on the outskirts of the city, trying to survive within post-apocalyptic surroundings and its population of zombies.

A beautiful young woman named Lynn frees Bo from danger, and together the two set out to find safety inside Tate Estate, but soon find themselves fighting alongside Cassius and Tony whom are already prisoners within the boundaries of the mansion. The unfortunate four must play a deadly reality game of survival against hordes of hungry zombies in an attempt to win their freedom or face a brutal death.

With evil intent, Mr. Tate, a cruel individual and proud owner of Tate Estate manipulates his servants to do his bidding by ordering them to release wave after wave of zombies into the mansion with the intent to kill the four contestants. As the game progresses, something far worse is unleashed, something so vicious that not even the strong know if they can survive.

While the contestants are struggling for their survival in the lower rooms of the mansion, Mr. Tate’s wealthy guests are on the floor above indulging in food and drink, watching the greatest reality show ever entertained on a television screen.

The fondest Rufus is Mr. Tate’s most obedient servant and fulfills his master’s wishes, but soon a feeling he has never felt before infiltrates his heart, and he will do whatever he can to keep it there.

 What motivates the cruelty perpetrated by the main character, Bo Reynolds’?

I wouldn’t say Bo Reynolds is a cruel person, at least not as cruel as Mr. Tate is. At first, Bo is selfish, but once the apocalypse takes place, he becomes a person whom finds selflessness. He knows that not only is his life on the life, but the lives of three others that are forced to play Mr. Tate’s deadly game of survival. He does whatever he can to stay alive and keep those with him alive.

Tell us more about the role the undead play in Dead Rich.

The evil Mr. Tate controls the undead in Dead Rich and he uses them to entertain the wealthy. The undead in Dead Rich somewhat evolve. In the beginning of the book, they are slow, hungry for flesh. As the story progresses, they become more aggressive, faster, with a want to infect the living. In the end of the book, the zombies do what they do best. They kill the living.

 Which character was the most fun to write?

Rufus was the most fun to write. I placed a lot of emotion in my writing when I wrote about him. Personally, I do not like bullying or to see people mistreated, I expressed this through Rufus. The feeling of people living with constant ridicule and abuse is something that no one should have to endure. Rufus does, but he deals with it in his own way.

Is Dead Rich an allegory or just a fantastic post apocalypse story?

I tend to think that Dead Rich was a fantastic post apocalypse story. It has a lot of originality. I didn’t want to follow the basic storyline of most zombie stories where an apocalypse takes place and the next thing you know zombies are chasing after you. Mr. Tate has learned a way to control the undead and use them to his advantage.

 What are your upcoming projects?

I just completed my second project, Malice by T. H. Rahman. It is available at – Amazon.com. I am working diligently on my third book titled, Americanism, which I hope to release early 2013. I also have several other books that are near 50% complete. When I acquire writers block on one book, I will stop and start working on another book. As I work on the second book, the solution to my writers block usually comes forward and I am able to return to the first book and continue. In simpler terms, I work on more than one book at a time.

Where can my readers buy Dead Rich?

Dead Rich is available worldwide. You can find it on Createspace.com, Amazon.com, and Barnes & Noble. There are links to both Dead Rich and Malice on my website and amazon author page, as well as my blog.

Learn more about T.H. Rahman and Dead Rich here:

Website: http://timothyprive.wix.com/tprive

Blog: http://thrahman.blogspot.com

Twitter: @TimPrive

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Timothy-Prive/384238428317982

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/TimothyPrive