Interview & Review Chimera by David Wellington

Please welcome author David Wellington.  He joins us today with an interview as he promotes his latest book, Chimera.  

Publisher: William Morrow
Date of publication: July 2013

7 fugitives escape from a secret military facility in upstate New York, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake.

7 super-soldiers gone rogue.

7 innocent citizens targeted for death.

Disabled Army Vet James Chase is drafted for a desperate mission to stop this lethal force. Aided by a mysterious woman named Angel and a courageous, beautiful veterinarian, Chase sets off on a hair-raising cross-country hunt.

But are the killers really rogue soldiers, or are they only the tip of a sinister conspiracy . . . the first piece of a shocking nightmarish plan that will lead to ultimate destruction?

I have to say that Chimera is one of the better books that I have read this year.  I devoured this book! When I was done, I felt like I had run a marathon.  It's non-stop adventure with a touch of romance added into the mix. What could be more exciting than escaped genetic mutants who seem to be following a kill list?  

The main character, Jim Chapel, is a war veteran who is missing an arm.  Don't worry, he has a very cool prosthetic arm.  He's tough and flawed and that made me like him so much more.  The best thing about Chapel is that a lot of people underestimate him because of his missing limb.  He is the guy I want on my side in a fight!  He is aided by the mysterious Angel who is a constant presence in his ear. Think Garcia from Criminal Minds.

This is a hard book to describe because there are so many surprises and twists in the story that I would hate to ruin it.  But, with a story that involves the FBI, CIA and other government agencies, you can never be sure who to trust.  The scientist in me loved the genetic aspect of the book.  The chimera idea was fascinating.  

There is a novella featuring Jim Chapel coming out in October called Myrmidon.  I can't wait to spend some more time with Chapel!

Kari& Autumn: What inspired you to become a writer?

Dave: It was pretty much my only thought from the second I learned how to read.  I remember being disappointed by some bad book or other and deciding that if I wanted something better, I would have to make it up myself.  I always say I’ve been writing since I was six years old, so I’ve had thirty-five years of practice.

Kari& Autumn: Where do you come up with the ideas for your books?

Dave: They just come to me, usually when I’m lying in bed and I can’t sleep and I’m staring at the ceiling—an image, often, just a still picture of something cool, or a character, or sometimes more, and I know I have to write the story behind the thought.  Beyond that I don’t want to know where the ideas come from, because that might jinx it and stop them from coming, and that would be awful!

Kari& Autumn: What exciting projects are waiting in the wings?

Dave: My newest book, Chimera, just went on sale—as in, a couple of hours before I typed this sentence.  It’s a great thriller with everything you could want in it, from mystery to action to science fiction and even some horror.  There will be two sequels, called Hydra and Cyclops.  I also have a big zombie epic called Positive that will come out next year.

Kari& Autumn: Who is your favorite literary character and why?

Dave: The Artful Dodger from Oliver Twist.  I always like a good rogue character, one who can be unpredictable and surprising while maintaining sympathy.  People who only know the Dodger from the movies or from Terry Pratchett’s excellent re-imagining will be in for a real surprise when they read the original book!

Kari& Autumn: Just for fun, if you could be any animal, what would it be and why?

Dave: Oh, some kind of bird.  Maybe a crow, or a raven?  They’ve got incredible problem-solving skills, they can work out puzzles and figure out new solutions to things, and still they get to fly.  The best of both worlds!

About the author:

David Wellington is the author of Chimera, a thriller released July 23^rd.  He has written more than a dozen novels, which have been reprinted in more than seven languages.  His horror series include Monster Island, 13 Bullets, and Frostbite.  He lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

http://www.davidwellington.net/