Armand Rosamilia discusses his genre-spanning writing process, the importance of strong characters, his love for zombie fiction, and how engaging with readers on Patreon and Twitch influences his work.
Armand Rosamilia is a prolific author whose work spans multiple genres, including crime thrillers, horror, supernatural fiction, and zombies. Hailing from New Jersey and now residing in sunny Florida, Rosamilia has written over 200 stories, captivating readers with his character-driven narratives. His unique ability to navigate between genres while maintaining compelling storytelling has earned him a dedicated following.
In this exclusive interview, Rosamilia shares insights into his creative process, the importance of strong character development, and how his real-world settings enhance his stories. He also discusses his love for the zombie genre, the influence of geographical locations on his work, and his engagement with readers on platforms like Patreon and Twitch.
Join us as we delve into the mind of Armand Rosamilia, exploring what drives him to create such diverse and gripping tales, and how his commitment to his craft and his fans continues to inspire his writing journey.
You’ve written across a wide range of genres from crime thrillers to horror and supernatural fiction. How do you navigate between these different genres, and what attracts you to each one?
At the base of all of these various genres are characters. I focus on the characters and let the tropes fill it out around them. I’m more interested in having solid characters the reader can love or dislike. If you have a great plot but average characters, the story will be average. If you have great characters and an average plot you can still have a great story. In my opinion, anyway!
Your series like Dirty Deeds and First Coast Thriller are set in specific geographical locations. How does setting influence your storytelling, and why do you choose to anchor your narratives in real-world places like Jacksonville Beach?
I believe a location can sometimes be another character in the story, and if nothing else it gives the story a real-world setting that readers can feel comfortable either knowing or wanting to know. I write about places I do know, either having lived there or travelled there at some point. Mostly. A lot of location research goes into writing in other countries and other parts of the United States.
In your zombie-themed works like Dying Days, you blend horror with survival themes in a sunny Florida setting. What draws you to the zombie genre, and how do you keep the concept fresh amid its popularity in popular culture?
I’ve always been a fan of zombie movies and fiction. When I read The Rising by Brian Keene I knew I had to write my own take on the zombie genre, but wanted to do something different. Too often the setting is a dark crumbling city. What could be scarier than zombies coming out of the surf on a beautiful beach day, right? I thought the way I wrote that series was fresh and the readers responded.
You’re active on platforms like Patreon and Twitch. How has engaging with these platforms impacted your writing process and your interaction with readers?
It keeps me writing. Even on days when I’d rather lie on the couch and binge-watch Netflix or read, I know I have to post another chapter on Patreon or go live on Twitch and write. It also lets me engage with readers in real time, especially Twitch, where the chatroom on my page is always filled with people as I am writing live right in front of them. It is exciting and lets me get creative and have actual people keeping me going.