Why are zombies such an enduring part of fiction?
Feral Creatures author Kira Jane Buxton discusses the role zombies play in storytelling—and why writers continue to use the undead to explore ideas and anxieties that extend far beyond the monsters themselves.
Part of Author Inquiry, a recurring video series I created for Hachette’s Novel Suspects brand, the episode uses a single question to open a larger conversation about horror, storytelling and what zombies can represent.
I created Author Inquiry for Novel Suspects around a deliberately simple editorial format: pose one compelling question tailored to mystery, thriller and horror readers, then build a concise video around the author’s answer.
For Kira Jane Buxton, whose fiction takes place within a zombie apocalypse, our conversation focused on how zombies have been used in fiction and why they remain such an effective storytelling device.
The episode was produced during COVID, so the interview itself had to be conducted remotely. I didn't want that limitation to result in a visually static piece, particularly with a subject that offered so many possibilities. I created an original 3D animated opening sequence using zombie imagery, giving the video a cinematic visual hook before transitioning into Buxton’s response.
The combination reflects the broader approach I brought to the series: keep the editorial premise simple and repeatable, but allow the subject of each episode to inspire its own creative treatment.