Exclusive Interview with Jason McKinney Author of ‘Dog World’

If you’re sick and tired of werewolf books about the love-struck werewolves or the weak werewolves that constantly get their asses beat then I’ve got just the book for you – Dog World by Jason McKinney. I was lucky enough to chat with Jason about his kickass apocalyptic werewolf novel and much more. Check it out and let us know what you think.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m a father of three, a husband and general-purpose lunatic. I used to be an accountant for my state’s government but after ten years of working for them I was still making peanuts and it kind of got to me. I love writing and a bloody werewolf novel had been at the back of my mind for well over those ten years so I quit my job and here I am.

Can you tell us about your book Dog World?
Dog World is about one lycan’s hatred of the world and his centuries old grudge against mankind. Even though he’s amassed wealth and power he still wants more. Iraq is the beginning backdrop for his plans as it gives him the ultimate test to see if one of the world’s greatest militaries can stand against him and his forces. He’s been patient for over two hundred years, maneuvering werewolves such as himself into positions of power so he can enact his plan.

Of course, where there are evil men or creatures that force their will on others there will always be good men and women to stand against them, even if it’s reluctantly. That’s where Captain Paul Demarti, Major Omi Kunpai, Warrant Officer Brenda Walinski, and Sergeant Cameron Mitchell come in.

Paul Demarti and Omi Kunpai are human survivors of the initial onslaught that are forced into taking a stand. Cameron Mitchell is one of many werewolves that disagrees with the idea that humans are nothing but cattle and has chosen to fight for humanity’s survival.

Brenda Walinski is my favorite character though. She is an Apache helicopter pilot that was brought down in an attack on Demarti’s base.  She suffered some pretty shitty head trauma that gives her the ability to sniff out almost any werewolf.

The book revolves around Demarti and his fellow survivors dealing with a lycanthropic takeover of the world.

How does Dog World differ from other novels about werewolves?
Dog World’s werewolves retain everything about their human personalities after their transformation, which they have almost complete control of. They are not mindless killing machine wild animals, sulky underwear models or tools for vampires.  Nor is there any age-old feud between them and vampires. Vampires are featured in Dog World but they’ve been created from a mutated form of the virus that created werewolves and are more like Nosferatu looking cockroaches than brilliant seducers or emo teens. In Dog World, the werewolves answer to no one unless they want to and they are as smart and cunning as they are creative in their brutality.

Where did you get the idea for Dog World?
Fifteen years ago I had a dream where a group of soldiers and I were trapped in a desert fort, surrounded by werewolves and fighting for our lives.  It was one of those intense dreams that leave you sweating buckets and paranoid of the dark when you wake up. I fit the full dream into a portion of the book. One of the survivors has it but I’m not telling which one.

What is one thing you would like people to take away from their experience of reading Dog World?
That we all make the choice of how we act and what we do. That is the message of Dog World. In the book your personal moral compass determines what kind of a werewolf you will be, not the virus itself.

Ok, here’s a question I ask all folks I interview: I’ve noticed that most of the authors I follow on Twitter talk about the music they’re currently writing to. What kind of setting/atmosphere do you find most conducive to your writing?
I have three kids at home who are home-schooled by my wife and it’s usually pretty hectic there. So, I go to the local Books-A-Million to write. I sit in the bistro, pop in my earphones and get it all going with The Killers’ All These Things That I’ve Done. That is the song that opens Dog World.  It has been a great motivator and inspiration in helping me get the story out of my head. From start to finish, Dog World is totally end of the world stuff. Matchbox 20’s How Far We’ve Come helped get me in the mood, too.

Who is your favorite fictitious werewolf (other than your own)?
Were-Cap is my favorite werewolf character. Marvel Comics did a mini series within Captain America where Cap was turned into a werewolf for five issues. It’s enough that I’m a Captain America fan but I loved the concept, art and covers for that run even more so.

What is your favorite werewolf book, movie, and/or show?
Dog Soldiers is by far the most spectacular werewolf movie ever made in my opinion. It didn’t hurt that I’m a Sean Pertwee fan either. I think fans of Dog Soldiers will find Dog World is in the same vein.

Tell our readers why they should check out your book – in 3 words: (bwahaha)
Bloody werewolf apocalypse.

And finally, what other projects are you currently working on? Any goodies we should watch out for?
I’m halfway through the sequel to Dog World called Dog ‘Verse but right now I have focused my attention on a new book titled Werewolves of the Dead. My seven-year-old daughter, Sarah, came up with the title and concept and frankly I have to run with it. She’s a creative genius and I steal most of my ideas from her. J

Find Jason here:
Official website
Blog
Twitter
Facebook

– Moonlight

By moonlight

One of the writers for werewolves.com, as well as vampires.com.

12 comments

  1. Read the book and loved every page of it glad to know there is going to be a sequel after how Dog World itself ended. It worth getting guy I highly recommend it to you werewolf lovers like myself.

  2. Pingback: Jason McKinney
  3. Pingback: Jason McKinney
  4. Pingback: Jason McKinney
  5. Pingback: Jason McKinney
  6. Pingback: HorrO
  7. Pingback: Jason McKinney
  8. Pingback: Jason McKinney
  9. Pingback: Grumpy Old Guy

Leave a Reply to Jason McKinney Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.