[Feature] - Meet The Dead Heads: Jason

Our next Dead Head for this feature is Jason, our resident splatterpunk/extreme horror expert. Checking out any of his reviews, it's clear Jason knows what he's talking about. So enjoy this peek behind the curtain.

• How did you come to join Dead Head Reviews?

Patrick asked me.  Because he’s way too nice.

• What’s your role at Dead Head Reviews? Can you tell us a bit about it?

I mainly review splatterpunk/extreme horror ARCs. 

• What do you look for in a book? What bumps a book from ‘good’ to ‘great’ for you?

Good question.  A “good” book is generally fun to read, and has no major perceived flaws, BUT if I’m hungry, I will put it down for a few minutes to fix something to eat.  If I’m reading a “great” book, I will try to convince myself that I'm not hungry. 

• What’s your favourite horror sub-genre?

This is probably a cliché' answer, but I’m definitely a sucker for coming-of-age stories.

• Outside of reading/reviewing, what are your passions?

It would be easy for me to just say “music,” but from around 14 – 22 yrs old, drumming consumed me.  I practiced relentlessly.  I didn’t just want to be in a good band.  I wanted to be a great drummer that could be in ANY band.  I’ve probably fallen short of that, but I still think it was a noble cause. 

• What about hobbies?

I’m glad that this is a separate question.  I certainly believe that “passions and “hobbies” are completely separate entities.  To me, a hobby is something that I do for fun.  (Drumming isn’t always fun.  Sometimes it hurts, and it’s often frustrating).  For fun, I play sports.  Baseball was definitely my sport growing up, so now I play men’s softball.  I also play basketball and occasionally flag football.

• Favourite horror film?

Either Jaws or Peter Jackson’s Dead Alive, aka BrainDead.

• Favourite recent read?

Define recent.  This month?  Blood Sugar by Daniel Kraus.  This year?  The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix.

• Favourite non-horror book/movie/show/podcast etc.?

Book:  The Secret Life of Souls by Jack Ketchum/Lucky McKee.  If that doesn’t count (because it’s Ketchum), then I elect The Memory Tree by John R Little, if that doesn’t count (because it was nominated for a Stoker, ergo...horror) then I elect Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah (definitely NOT horror)

Movie:  either Dumb and Dumber or Idiocracy.

• What are you currently reading?

The Terrible Thing That Happens by Carlton Mellick.  Mellick is “the godfather of bizarro fiction” for a reason!

• Anything spooky/paranormal that’s happened to you that you’d like to share?

No, but I really wish something WOULD happen.  I’m tired of not believing in ghosts.

•  Is there anywhere else people can find out more about you?

I do a monthly column at www.horrordrive-in.com.  I’m also in these bands:  www.devouredbyplagues.com and www.facebook.com/hexcampaign