I live in the Philippines in Southeast Asia. So, for anyone in the United States and abroad who wish to get to know me or have questions, we’ve created these virtual panel posts on my weblog to compensate for the fact I can’t travel much. Without further ado, here we go…
1. Virtual Panel
Question: Why did you choose a character living in the slums of Tondo? What is the best part of using Luzvimindo as a lead character and narrator?
Answer: Using a character living in the slums of Tondo was one of the imperatives identified before the story was written. I wanted to set the novel in Tondo, Manila, Philippines because of the congestion and poverty, not simply because plenty of people would suffer in the wake of a zombie apocalypse, but because I felt the slums of a third-world country like the Philippines was something alien to developed countries. Therefore, if I wanted to bring readers from the United States, Europe, Canada, and Australia to a new place, Tondo seemed like the best setting since it’s one of the largest slums in the world.
Luzvimindo is a very dignified character, one who isn’t desperate to commit crimes despite his extreme poverty. He has dreams like everyone, and his prioritization of education to accomplish his goals and reach for a better life make him invaluable—a good example for others. Plus, he loves reading, which is something I wanted to promote by means of my writing—literacy advocacy.
Question: Some people may not like the heavy-handed criticism of the drug trade and drug addiction epidemic in the United States. Why did you feel this was necessary?
Answer: Social commentary is a big facet of Below. I decided that it was not enough to write about zombies and gore, it had to be socially relevant. Therefore, the drugs angle was explored deeply, from the failed drug war in the United States to the bogus mental health system that didn’t actually help addicts recover. After all, drug addiction is treated like a money-making venture like most things in America, so I felt this needed an exposé. It was also explored in great detail how drug users first encounter illegal substances, and what motivates them to continue to take drugs. Overall, while the analysis and historical elaboration may tire readers who only want gore and violence, I didn’t write this for people who didn’t care for a rewarding, fulfilling read. People who crave themes and critical thinking and not just a description of zombies sinking their teeth in will like Below.
Question: There is a poetic element to the story that may surprise some readers. What are your favorite parts of the story and why?
Answer: True, the ending, especially, has a section that attempts to win over poetry lovers. In a way, this element is explored in less obviously poetic ways throughout the story, particularly whenever it is most violent. While they may strike some people as poetic, they are mostly what I would call literary and effusive—language replete with aesthetics. This means that the mentioned bloodier narrations consist of some of the strongest examples of my writing. Perhaps, the social commentary and its relatively difficult elaboration also mean as much to me, but rest assured, when the story needs emphasis or intricate description, the writing tends to shine the brightest. I suppose some people may overlook some of these details, even speed-reading to get things over with, but a careful analysis of the novel unearths many of these artifacts of brilliance. I’d hate to use the word, “brilliance,” to describe my own book, but I truly feel like Below incorporates some of my best approaches to writing that are unique to other authors’ work. These techniques also consistently appear in my other manuscripts, which should, hopefully, start coming out soon too.
For more Q&As or Virtual Panels featuring Alaric Cabiling, subscribe or stay tuned for more posts.
2. Here is a brief video announcing the upcoming release of Alaric’s debut novel and reprint, Below, through Baynam Books Press:
ALARIC CABILING's OFFICIAL SITE 