Weston Ochse (born 1965 in

Gillette, Wyoming Gillette (, '' jih-LET'') is a city in and the county seat of Campbell County, Wyoming, United States. The town was founded in 1891 as a major railway town on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. The population was estimated at 32,030 a ...

) is an American author and educator. He has won the

Bram Stoker Award The Bram Stoker Award is a recognition presented annually by the Horror Writers Association (HWA) for "superior achievement" in dark fantasy and horror writing. History The Awards were established in 1987 and have been presented annually since ...

for Best First Novel and been nominated for the Pushcart Prize for his short fiction. His novel SEAL Team 666 is currently being shopped by

Seven Bucks Productions Seven Bucks Productions is a production company involved with various platforms and mediums, credited with creating original releases for television, film, emerging technologies, and digital networks. The studio was co-created and founded by Dwa ...

Dwayne Johnson Dwayne Douglas Johnson (born May 2, 1972), also known by his ring name The Rock, is an American actor and former professional wrestler. Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, he was integral to the develop ...

has attached himself to the film to executive produce as well as act in a leading role.

Biography

Early life

Weston Ochse was born in Gillette, Wyoming. By the time he was ten years old, he'd lived in ten states including South Dakota, Colorado, Nebraska, Ohio, New Jersey and Tennessee. He spent the greater part of his childhood in

Chattanooga, Tennessee Chattanooga ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. Located along the Tennessee River bordering Georgia, it also extends into Marion County on its western end. With a population of 181,099 in 2020 ...

where he graduated from Tyner High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army after high school and became an intelligence officer. He was stationed in the

Republic of Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its ea ...

, Fort Jackson, Fort Gordon, Fort Bragg,

Fort Carson Fort Carson is a United States Army post located directly south of Colorado Springs in El Paso, Pueblo, Fremont, and Huerfano counties, Colorado, United States. The developed portion of Fort Carson is located near the City of Colorado Springs ...

, Fort Huachuca, Presidio Monterey and Los Angeles Air Force Base. He retired from the U.S. Army in 2004 with an Honorable Discharge.

Career

Weston began writing professionally in 1997. He won the Bram Stoker Award for his first novel, ''Scarecrow Gods'', in 2005. Since then he has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, received five additional

nominations, won four New-Mexico Arizona Book Awards, with five total nominations. Weston's work has appeared i
comic books
( IDW Publishing and

DC Comics DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with thei ...

), professional writing guides, magazines, anthologies, as well as his own novels. He has been widely reviewed and has been hailed by his contemporaries as "one of the few new writers who will help redefine the field of dark literature for the future" (

Edward Lee (writer) Edward Lee (born May 25, 1957) is an American novelist specializing in the field of horror who has written 40 books, more than half of which have been published by mass-market New York City paperback companies such as Leisure/ Dorchester, Berk ...

). In 2002, an independent film company attempted to create a feature film based on his short story "Catfish Gods" (appeared in Scary Rednecks and Other Inbred Horrors).http://www.fearzone.com/blog/weston-ochse The film reached primary shooting before it folded. In 2013,

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...

optioned the film rights to ''SEAL Team 666'' from MacMillan Films Division.

has attached himself to the film to executive produce as well as act in a leading role. His company,

, which he owns alongside Dany Garcia, has the shopping agreement and is actively seeking interest. ''SEAL Team 666'' and the ensuing books was inspired by the U.S. Navy SEAL take down of Osama Bin Laden and the idea of "What if there's an even more special SEAL Team that protects America from supernatural attack". In 2017, he appeared in a DC Comics Special, ''DC House of Horror Vol 1'', where he wrote a story about a possessed Shazam. Weston holds a Bachelor of Arts in American Literature from

Excelsior University Excelsior University is a private online university in Albany, New York. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees and comprises three schools: the School of Undergraduate Studies, the School of Graduate Studies, and the School of Nursing. I ...

and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from National University (California). He travels extensively to book signings and conventions where he has been Gross Out Contest bouncer, toastmaster and guest of honor. He is a frequent speaker at libraries and schools. He has been an adjunct faculty member for Cochise Community College, and associate professor for

Southern New Hampshire University Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a private university between Manchester and Hooksett, New Hampshire. The university is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, along with national accreditation for some hospita ...

, and has run the online Guerrilla Fiction Writing Workshop. He currently lives in Sierra Vista, Arizona with his wife, and fellow author,

Yvonne Navarro Yvonne Navarro (born 1957 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American author who has published over twenty novels. Of those twenty, the titles ''AfterAge'', ''deadrush'', ''Final Impact'', ''Red Shadows'', ''DeadTimes'', ''That's Not My Name'' and ''M ...

Awards

*2002 ''Appalachian Galapagos Short Story Collection'' (Nominated for the Pushcart Prize) *2005 ''Scarecrow Gods'' (Won

for Best First Novel) *2008 ''Redemption Roadshow'' (Finalist for the

for Long Fiction) *2009 ''The Crossing of Aldo Ray'' (Finalist for the

for Short Fiction) *2011 ''Multiplex Fandango'' (Finalist for the

for Collection) *2012 ''Righteous'' (Finalist for the

for Short Fiction) *2013 ''SEAL Team 666'' (Won New Mexico-Arizona Book Award for Adventure/Drama Novel) *2014 ''Age of Blood'' (Won New Mexico-Arizona Book Award for SF/Fantasy Novel) *2015 ''Reign of Evil'' (Won New Mexico-Arizona Book Award for Adventure/Drama Novel) *2019 ''Burning Sky'' (Won New Mexico-Arizona Book Award for Adventure/Drama Novel) *2020 ''Dead Sky'' (Finalist for the New Mexico-Arizona Book Award for Adventure/Drama Novel)

Comics

*2005 ''The Keep #2'' (IDW) (short story Blue Heeler appeared in the back) *2005 ''Shadowplay #2'' (IDW) (short story Blue Heeler appeared in the back) *2005 ''Shaun of the Dead #5'' (IDW) (short story Blue Heeler appeared in the back) *2005 ''Angel: The Curse #5'' (IDW) (short story Blue Heeler appeared in the back) *2005 ''CSI: New York - Bloody Murder #4'' (IDW) (short story Blue Heeler appeared in the back) *2017 ''Hellboy: An Assortment of Horrors'' (IDW) (short story The Other Government Guys) *2017 ''DC House of Horror Vol 1'' (DC) (Shazam Origin Story)

Bibliography

Novels *2005 ''Scarecrow Gods''

Delirium Books Delirium Books, launched in the summer of 1999 by Shane Ryan Staley, is a horror publisher in the collector's market, producing low print-run limited editions intended for both collectors and readers alike. Delirium Books first published The Ri ...

300 Limited Edition HB *2005 ''Scarecrow Gods''

26 Deluxe Edition HB *2007 ''Scarecrow Gods''

, Trade-paperback *2007 ''Recalled to Life''

300 Limited Edition HB *2007 ''Recalled to Life''

26 Deluxe Edition HB *2008 ''The Golden Thread''

300 Limited Edition HB *2008 ''The Golden Thread''

26 Deluxe Edition HB *2009 ''Blaze of Glory''

Bloodletting Press Bloodletting Press was launched in 2002 by Larry Roberts to publish works in the horror genre specifically for the collector's market, producing low print run limited editions intended for collectors and unique heirloom Lettered Editions for the h ...

300 Limited Edition HB *2010 ''Empire of Salt''

Abaddon Books Abaddon Books is a British publishing imprint, founded in 2006. It is part of the Rebellion group of companies, along with publishing companies Solaris Books, ''2000 AD'', 2000 AD Graphic Novels, and Cubicle 7. Abaddon publishes " shared wor ...

Trade-paperback>br /> *2011 ''Blood Ocean''

Trade-paperback *2011 ''Velvet Dogma'' Crossroads Press, eBook Only *2011 ''Blaze of Glory'' Crossroads Press, eBook *2012 ''Babylon Smiles'' Crossroads Press, eBook Only *2012 ''SEAL Team 666''

Thomas Dunne Books Thomas Dunne Books was an imprint of St. Martin's Press, which is a division of Macmillan Publishers. From 1986 until April 2020, it published popular trade fiction and nonfiction. History The imprint signed David Irving, a scholar, for a Joseph ...

Hardback *2012 ''SEAL Team 666''

Titan Books Titan Publishing Group is the publishing division of Titan Entertainment Group, which was established in 1981. The books division has two main areas of publishing: film and television tie-ins and cinema reference books; and graphic novels and c ...

Trade-paperback *2013 ''Ghost Heart'' with

Dark Regions Press ''Dark Regions Press'' is an independent specialty publisher of horror, dark fiction, fantasy and science fiction, specializing in horror and dark fiction in business since 1985 founded by Joe Morey. They have gained recognition around the world fo ...

Trade-paperback *2013 ''Age of Blood''

Hardback *2013 ''Age of Blood''

Trade-paperback *2014 ''Reign of Evil''

Hardback *2014 ''Reign of Evil''

Trade-paperback *2014 ''Halfway House'' Journalstone Books Hardback *2014 ''Halfway House'' Journalstone Books Trade-paperback *2014 ''Grunt Life''

Solaris Books Solaris Books is an imprint which focuses on publishing science fiction, fantasy and dark fantasy novels and anthologies. The range includes titles by both established and new authors. The range is owned by Rebellion Developments and distrib ...

Mass Market Paperback *2015 ''Grunt Traitor''

Mass Market Paperback *2017 ''Grunt Hero''

, Mass Market Paperback *2018 ''Burning Sky''

, Mass Market Paperback *2019 ''Dead Sky''

, Mass Market Paperback *2020 ''Bone Chase''

Simon & Schuster Simon & Schuster () is an American publishing company and a subsidiary of Paramount Global. It was founded in New York City on January 2, 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. As of 2016, Simon & Schuster was the third largest pu ...

, Trade Hardback *2021 ''Aliens-Infiltrator''

, Mass Market Paperback *2021 ''Bone Chase''

, Trade Paperback *2022 ''Red Unicorn''Aethon Books, Hardback *2022 ''Red Unicorn''Aethon Books, Trade Paperback Collections *2000 ''Scary Rednecks and Other Inbred Horrors'' Darktales Publications Trade-paperback *2002 ''Appalachian Galapagos'' Medium Rare Books Hardcover *2004 ''Scary Rednecks Omnibus,

'' 26 Deluxe Edition HB *2011 ''Multiplex Fandango''

26 Deluxe Edition HB *2011 ''Multiplex Fandango''

Trade Edition HB Single Book Novellas *2001 ''Natural Selection'' Darktales Publications Chapbook *2007 ''Vampire Outlaw of the Milky Way''

Bad Moon Books {{Infobox company , name = Bad Moon Books, foundation = 1992, founder = Roy K. Robbins , logo = , type = Publishing, location = Garden Grove, California, USA, key_people = , num_employees = ...

Chapbook *2007 ''Vampire Outlaw of the Milky Way''

Hardback *2008 ''Redemption Roadshow'' Burning Effigy Press *2009 ''Lord of the Lash and Our Lady of the Boogaloo''

Chapbook *2009 ''Lord of the Lash and Our Lady of the Boogaloo''

Hardback *2010 ''The Loup Garou Kid''

Chapbook *2010 ''The Loup Garou Kid''

Hardback *2010 ''The Last Kobiashi Maru'' Crossroads Press e-Book Only *2011 ''Nancy Goats'' Dark Fuse Hardback *2020 ''Pets During Wartime'' Thunderstorm Books Hardback Commercial Properties Worked On ''V-Wars''
''Midian''
''X-Files''
''Predator''
''Hellboy''
''Joe Ledger''
''Aliens'' Short Fiction and Essays Weston has more than a hundred and fifty professionally published short stories and essays in various anthologies and magazines such as Cemetery Dance,

Weird Tales ''Weird Tales'' is an American fantasy and horror fiction pulp magazine founded by J. C. Henneberger and J. M. Lansinger in late 1922. The first issue, dated March 1923, appeared on newsstands February 18. The first editor, Edwin Baird, pri ...

, Nightmare, and '' Soldier of Fortune''.