DANIEL J. VOLPE - The New Prince of Splatterpunk

Daniel J. Volpe is an author of extreme horror and splatterpunk, and a very private man, hence this amazing picture of his dog. His love for horror started at a young age when his grandfather unwittingly rented him A Nightmare on Elm Street. Daniel has published some of his stories with Raven’s Inn Press, Sirens Call publications, Twisted Tales, Exiles Literary magazine, Literati Publications and self publishing. His novella, Billy Silver has received praise from many readers and authors alike, including Edward Lee and Dustin LaValley.

We asked him some questions, Something Wicked This Way Comes - When did you know you wanted to be an author?

Daniel J. Volpe -I’ve always loved to tell stories ever since I was little. I loved to scare people and to be scared, so I was drawn to horror. I would write stories on loose-leaf, some of which I still have. When I was in high school, I had to write a poem as a punishment assignment. It was surprisingly good and was published in the local newspaper. My mother, at the recommendation of my teacher, entered it into a young poet competition. I placed and my poem was published in an anthology. Seeing my name and my work was one of the best feelings ever, so from then on, I knew what my dream job would be.

SW - Where are you from and where are you now?

DJV- I grew up in suburban NY and haven’t gone far, only moving about 40 miles from my original home. New York is the only state I’ve ever lived in.

SW - What has your life been like so far?

DJV- Life, without sounding cliche, is good. I have a great family, steady job, health and friends. I can’t complain.

SW - What other jobs have you had?

DJV- I’ve done a couple of jobs. Food service, waiting/bussing tables, dishwasher, Loss Prevention and finally sanitation.

SW - Tell us about your personal favourite novel of yours. Brag a little

DJV- Well, this is an easy one because I only have one novella out. My debut novella, “Billy Silver” is a splatterpunk story with some serious social undertones. Billy is a dead-beat addict, who takes advantage of people, beats his girlfriend and is an all-around piece of shit, human being. He volunteers his skin to a tattoo artist, who’s a little out of touch. Billy gets an odd-looking tattoo from the sexy artist, Talia. Soon, Billy’s addiction to substances is replaced with an even sinister one; self-mutilation. Billy realizes abuse against others feels even better. This novella has generated some buzz and was well received by other authors, notably acclaimed horror authors Edward Lee (yes, THE Edward Lee) and Dustin LaValley. Both authors blurbed the novella:

‘This story offers the best use of the "tattoo" device I've ever encountered. The book starts out like a Burroughs-esque, scum-of-the-earth character drama, then guillotines into a splatterfest of bat-shit-crazy gross-out that threatens to empty your breadbasket in your lap, all told in a tight Palahniukish prose that eerily forces the reader's perspectives point-blank on the id-giggling mayhem. This is a unique story that should ruffle the corridors of the New Extremism in American fiction. --Edward Lee, author of White Trash Gothic, Haunter of the Threshold, and The Bighead

"In Billy Silver, author Daniel J. Volpe proves to be a promising newcomer with the spunk of Edward Lee and minimalism of Bentley Little." --Dustin LaValley, author of Songs from a Street Sweeper

SW - Does writing energize or exhaust you?

DJV- I love to write, so I do get a euphoric feeling from it. There’s nothing better than typing the last word in a book or story. It’s a bitter/sweet feeling when it ends, but great knowing you’ve put down a quality (hopefully) piece of art.

SW - What are common traps for aspiring writers?

DJV- Worrying about what other people think. With Billy Silver, I cut loose. I didn’t worry about who was going to read it or what they’d think, I just wrote. Also, you’re probably not going to write great stories off the bat. Writing takes time and practice. One of the biggest hurdles for most writers, especially new writers, is rejection. You’re going to get rejection letters...a lot of them. Don’t sweat them, keep a file and put them in there to look back on. Don’t let anyone’s opinion keep you from writing.

SW - What is your writing Kryptonite?

DJV- Myself. I go through phases when I won’t write anything. I’ll have notes of stories and books, but never put them on paper. I also find myself crapping on my work. When I read my stuff, I feel like it’s terrible and childish at best. It almost feels like an uphill battle, but for the last year I’ve been on a great path.

SW - Have you ever gotten reader’s block?

DJV- I’ve had some instances where the ideas are stuck, but usually I’ll just work on something else. I’ve had ideas sitting in my notes for years and one day, the story will just write itself. The idea will just click and I’ll have to write it.

SW - Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

DJV- I have, but only for other genres. I’m a big fan of fantasy, sci-fi and steampunk. I actually have 2, unpublished steampunk novels, which will probably never see the light of day. I’ve played with the idea of genre jumping and using a pen name, but I love horror too much to switch right now.

SW - What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?

DJV - Oh boy, this is a tough one. The world of indie horror is like a giant family. I know people say that about everything, but in my life, I can say this is true for indie horror. I’ve made some great friends, ones I’ve never met or even spoke with. I’ll give a couple of shoutouts, but there are so many more. Dustin LaValley has to be the top one and for good reasons. He’s a talented author, screenwriter and actor. I won a couple of his books in a giveaway and just took a shot and messaged him, telling him how much I enjoyed his work. Since then, he’s really helped with advice on writing, publishing and getting my name out there. He’s the reason the master of extreme horror, Edward Lee, even knows my name. Nick Gray is another author I chat with on a daily basis. Nick is a talented author in his own right, and is the owner of Splatter Ink Publishing and runs the YouTube channel, Spooky Noodles. Nick has helped with editing, cover art and publishing advice. There are dozens more, but I don’t want to leave any out, so I’ll stick with those two.

SW - What authors did you dislike at first but grew into?

DJV- Honestly, none. First impressions are important and if I don’t like you, I won’t read you. I’m not opposed, especially if it’s a later work, but usually I don’t bother.

SW - What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?

DJV- Probably telling ghost stories. When I knew I could make people

uncomfortable and scared, I knew I had a gift. Even now, people call and say how Billy Silver bothered them. I smile with each one.

SW - What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?

DJV- I’m not sure if it’s under-appreciated, but it’s the scariest novel I’ve ever read. That’s The Deep by Nick Cutter. The sense of dread, terror and claustrophobia in that book was amazing. If you haven’t read it, please do ASAP.

SW - As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?

DJV- Well, I think by my author picture, you can tell. I love dogs, especially my Shepherds. They are kind, loyal, loving and smart, but don’t cross them. My boys can go from a big mush, to fierce protector in seconds.

SW - How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

DJV- Well, 2020 was a productive year. I wrote 4 novels/novellas and about a dozen short stories, for about 200k words. The only novella published is Billy Silver. I have plans to release 2 more in 2021, the first titled, Awakened in Blood. Besides that, I have about 8 other finished or half-finished books that were great practice, but will never see the light of day.

SW - What does literary success look like to you?

DJV- To put out quality, well written books. I’d love to make it big and write full time, but that’s such a rarity. Many of your favorite authors have day jobs and write when they can. I also think peer acceptance is a big plus. Having friends and peers enjoy your work is a huge success. If I can make some money, great, but if not, I won’t stop writing.

SW - What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

DJV- It depends on what I’m writing. I have a 70k novel that has a portion set in Auschwitz. This part, which is about a third of the book, was hard to write. Not only for the content, but to keep all the facts in order. I did extensive research for that novel, but others not as much. Sure, there’s some stuff here and there, but I take a lot of liberties when I can.

SW - What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?

DJV- The hardest part about writing women is the inner monologue. I think the exterior actions are researchable, but you never know what a person is thinking. I know what women do (sometimes) but don’t know why.

SW - How do you select the names of your characters?

DJV- It all depends on the story. For my novel coming out at the end of 2021, A Gift of Death, my characters are named after poisons. This was fun, but was not something I usually do. If I’m hard up for names, I’ll watch the credits after a movie or show. Of course, I won’t use the star’s name, but the extras, and crew provide an excellent list of names.

SW - Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

DJV- Yup, I read them all. I don’t mind a bad review, as long as it’s a review and not just a 1 or 2 star rating. My work isn’t for everyone and that’s fine, but please tell me what you don’t like. Maybe it was something I overlooked or was confusing. If I don’t know, I can’t improve. I have thick skin and don’t get offended. The good ones are the same. I enjoy the 5 and 4 star ratings, but I love to know where my story worked. What part stuck with you and why?

SW - Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

DJV- Yes, I’ll throw some easter eggs in my work, but they’re few and far between. As I build up a bibliography, I’m sure I’ll add more.

SW - What was your hardest scene to write?

DJV- Probably the opening of my novella, Scared of the Dark. I don’t want to ruin it, but this one stuck with me.

SW - Do you Google yourself?

DJV- I have, but I’m not that interesting, so I haven’t in a while.

SW - What is your favorite childhood book?

DJV- I’ll throw out two, because both were very influential in my writing life. The first is the classic, Scary Stories to tell in the dark. The stories were frightening, but the pictures were even worse. I’m actually teaming up with a talented artist to do our own, adult version in this style. The second is, The Relic. This isn’t one of my favorites and I’ve never finished the series, but this sticks with me because it was the first ‘adult’ book I read. While kids my age were still reading Goosebumps (which I also loved) I was reading this. I believe I was around 10 years old and from there I discovered Stephen King’s Night Shift.

SW - What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?

DJV- Getting going. Once I get a somewhat fleshed out idea, I have to find the time and motivation to get going. When I start, I usually don’t stop until I’m done.

SW - Does your family support your career as a writer?

DJV- Yes, big time. My parents supported me when I was a kid, reading my stories on loose-leaf and still do. They supported my love of horror, even though I would be scared shit-less some nights, and without them I wouldn’t be where I am. My wife and kids are also big supporters. They know when I need some time in my office and give it to me. My wife is great with it too. I will spend days at the computer or glued to my phone and she knows it’s important. I’m sure it can get annoying, but so far, so good.

SW - How long on average does it take you to write a book?

DJV- I’m actually a very fast writer, in my opinion. Normally, I get the idea, will flesh out a basic outline and write. A Gift of Death was my fastest one, written in less than 3 weeks. My 70k novel took me a little longer, almost 3 months. When the story is there, I have to write it and will often write 8k words in a day.

SW - Do you believe in writer’s block?

DJV- Yes, but to an extent. Writing isn’t something that can be forced. Sure, you can put words on paper, but it might be trash and you’ll start over. If I hit a snag in a story or book, I’ll jump on something else, until my muse returns. Using an outline helps keep me from getting writer’s block. If I have an idea where the story is going, it helps everything flow. If I absolutely can’t write, I read. I love to read and interact with other writers. Podcasts are another great mind cleanser. My new guilty pleasure in podcasts is ‘Evil Examined’ a podcast hosted by fellow horror author, Aron Beauregard.

SW - What are you planning next?

DJV- 2021 is going to be big for me...I hope. My new novel, Awakened in Blood, is set to be released in March through Splatter Ink Publishing. This is my take on 1980s horror, being heavy on graphic sex and violence. Later in the year I’ll be releasing, A Gift of Death, which is a vampire novel. Right now, I’m focused on promoting Billy Silver and maybe writing a few more books. I have 2 books to write this year, one is going to be a prequel to Billy Silver and the other will be a pure, gore-fest slasher. I’m planning on starting them after Awakened in Blood comes out. I’ve also been helping Nick over at Splatter Ink Publishing with reading for their first anthology, No Anesthetic, which will be an extreme horror anthology. In the beginning of the year I, along with 5 other authors, were invited to participate in an anthology, which is scheduled to be released in the summer. I can’t give too much away, but it’s going to be brutal.

Thank you again for the opportunity to do this interview

You can find Daniel online here;

Facebook - @ Daniel J. Volpe,

Instagram - @dj_volpe_author

Online at https://danielvolpe909.wixsite.com/danieljvolpehorror and Shitfist.com

US paperback https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08NS9HZVC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

US E-book https://www.amazon.com/Billy-Silver-Daniel-Volpe-ebook/dp/B08NTJJN43/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=