Catch Josh Viola & Hex Publishers at Colorado Horror Con!
Hello, Josh, and thanks so much for sitting down with us! Can you give us a little background on your art and writing?
Thanks for having me! I’ve been writing professionally since 2012. My debut novel, The Bane of Yoto (a dark science-fantasy story), was published by FiXT and won more than a dozen literary awards. The book was accompanied by a 3D comic book app (Leviathan Games). Since then, I’ve written Blackstar for Celldweller, a novel bundled with an original score by Klayton. Most recently I edited Nightmares Unhinged—the Denver Post number one bestselling horror anthology featuring Bram Stoker, Hugo, and Nebula Award winners.
[embedplusvideo height=”558″ width=”940″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/1LmIXgD” standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/I744rclQLfQ?fs=1″ vars=”ytid=I744rclQLfQ&width=940&height=558&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=¬es=” id=”ep8538″ /]
I’ve been creating art since I was a kid. I’ve done a lot in the video game industry (Pirates of the Caribbean, Smurfs) and music (Celldweller, Linkin Park). My horror art was featured by FEARnet. And I directed the animated music video, “Unshakeable” (see above) and the Nightmares Unhinged animated trailer (below). I’m currently working with two incredible artists (Mike McKibben and Aaron Lovett) on an animated cyberpunk short.
[embedplusvideo height=”558″ width=”940″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/1LmJ37X” standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/550nasl1aQo?fs=1″ vars=”ytid=550nasl1aQo&width=940&height=558&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=¬es=” id=”ep6848″ /]
A lot of your work definitely leans deeply into the macabre, how did that interest come about? What was your earliest memory of being a horror fan? What movies still impact you to this day?
I grew up in a very conservative family, so I was closed off from a lot of the things I enjoy today. As a child, I’d stay the night at friends’ houses and we’d watch R-rated films, something I wasn’t allowed to do at home. Alien and Aliens were really interesting to me. They scared the hell out of me, but I kept coming back. I think we’re all attracted to fear to some extent. How we get our fill varies from person to person.
I’m a huge movie buff. I have thousands and thousands of DVDs and Blurays. There are so many films that impact me today. It’s tough to pick just one. As for horror, I’m very fond of the original Pumpkinhead. Stan Winston’s passion literally jumps from the screen. Lance Henriksen is at his best. And something about the low budget campiness just feels right to me.
Who would you consider your biggest influence as a writer? As an artist?
I hate to sound cliché, but Stephen King really is, well, King. He’s a major influence on so many levels. I actually read a lot of YA horror, so I’m a huge fan of Joseph Delaney’s work. But I look up to numerous other writers I know personally. Keith Ferrell (NY Times bestseller, OMNI Magazine editor), Stephen Graham Jones, Edward Bryant, Jeanne Stein, Steve Rasnic Tem, Hugo Award winner Jason Heller (Goosebumps), Steve Alten (MEG), and many, many others.
I’m not as familiar with what’s happening in the art world today (I know I should be), but I’m very picky. I really like Ben Templesmith, Dave Rapoza, and Dan Luvisi’s stuff. Aaron Lovett is incredible, and I’m lucky to know him.
What goes into the process of creating and fleshing out a story for you?
Everything starts as high concept for me. I think about major plot elements and work backwards from there, focusing on who the characters are and how they’d deal with the situation they’ve been placed inside. I’m hyperaware of what’s going on around me at all times and constantly rethink those situations, putting some interesting (or what I hope is interesting) spin on them.
What can you tell us about Hex Publishers? How did you come to launch your own boutique publishing house, and what went into that?
Hex Publishers is focused on high quality literature with an independent flare. I’m not a big fan of commercial content. Obviously there’s great stuff out there, but I’m more fascinated by commercial polish and presentation and less with their cookie-cutter substance. Most of what’s out there feels processed and done-to-death. I seek independent entertainment (from film to literature to music and games) because I like the creative risks you find there. Yes, there’s a lot of crap because anyone can be indie, but when you find those rare gems, they blow your socks off. That’s what I’m trying to do with Hex. Take risks and offer original content, but with the flourish and presentation of a big publisher. So far, I think we’re doing okay.
How did you come to be involved with Colorado Horror Con & Halloween Film Festival?
I know John Wilkins and Gerard Schott from the art circuit. We’ve all participated in most of the art cons and have come to know each other. When they started putting all of this together, Gerard reached out to me and asked if I’d like to be involved. Of course I said yes. Who could pass up a horror con?
The Most recent Hex Publishers’ release, NIGHTMARES UNHINGED is scheduled for a reading at the convention, will you doing the reading, and what can attendees expect to hear?
We’ll be reading from various short stories in the book (there are a total of twenty). I plan to read a portion of my short story, 
“The Librarian,” which was recently optioned by Paul Campion, director of The Devil’s Rock and former Weta Digital artist (The Lord of the Rings, Constantine, 30 Days of Night). Nightmares Unhinged is currently on the regional best seller’s list, so we hope to share stories for those who may not be familiar. Some of the authors will be in attendance.
Will you be manning a table at the conference, and can attendees look 
forward to snagging some art?
Yes, we’ll have a table and will be selling books, prints and all sorts of goodies!
You also have done most of your published work in Sci Fi, what influences led to your interest in the genre? Can readers look forward to any new books on the subject?
The Bane of Yoto, Blackstar, and Luna One lend themselves to science fiction, but they all have elements of fantasy. I’m not smart enough to write hard science fiction.
I’m definitely influenced by greats like Isaac Asimov and Philip K. Dick, and newer writers like Andy Weir and Hugh Howey.
I will be co-editing a cyberpunk anthology with Hugo Award winner Jason Heller next year, titled Cyber World. The book will feature an impressive roster and launch November 2016.
Finally, what can fans expect from Hex Publishers, and Josh Viola, down the road?
Our current schedule of projects are as follows:
Alpha Cat (Cat Zingano, Aaron Lovett) | Spring 2016 | A Comic Book
Cyber World (Jason Heller) | November 2016 | A Cypberpunk Anthology
Blood Business (Mario Acevedo) | Spring 2017 | A Paranormal Crime Anthology
Catch the Hex Publishers reading of Nightmares Unhinged and grab some of Josh’s excellent prints at the Colorado Horror Con 10/30/2015!
