Joe McKinney

Joe McKinney is a seasoned author who has written novels from various genres such as horror, ghost story, virus thriller, science fiction, and crime. He has a diverse professional background, having worked in different roles within the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD). McKinney's experience with SAPD includes working as a sergeant, patrol supervisor, detective in homicide, a specialist in disaster mitigation, and assisting with the running of the 911 Dispatch Center. His work in law enforcement has given him a wealth of knowledge and experience that he draws upon in his writing.

McKinney is a prolific writer, having published numerous books, including the four-part Dead World series, Quarantined, and Dodging Bullets. His short fiction has been collected in The Red Empire and Other Stories and Dating in Dead World and Other Stories. McKinney's work has been recognized in the literary world, earning him two Bram Stoker Awards. His writing covers a wide range of topics, from true crime and police procedure to science fiction, Texas history, and cooking.

In addition to his work as an author, McKinney has a varied work history in both the public and private sectors. He has worked as a patrol officer for SAPD, a DWI Enforcement officer, the director of the City of San Antonio’s 911 Call Center, and a manager of a Barnes & Noble. McKinney is a well-educated individual, holding a Bachelor’s Degree in American History from Trinity University and a Master’s Degree in English Literature from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is a frequent guest at horror and mystery conventions and maintains an active social media presence, where fans can keep up with his latest releases. McKinney is a family man, residing outside of San Antonio with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys cooking in his free time and is known for making some of the finest chili in Texas.
Dead World Books
# Title Year
1 Dead City 2006
2 Apocalypse of the Dead 2010
3 Flesh Eaters 2011
4 Mutated 2012
Dead Lands Books
# Title Year
1 The Plague of the Undead 2014
2 The Dead Won't Die 2015
Standalone Novels
# Title Year
1 Quarantined 2009
2 Dodging Bullets 2010
3 The Red Empire 2011
4 Inheritance 2012
5 Crooked House 2013
6 The Savage Dead 2013
7 Lost Girl of the Lake 2013
8 Lost Girl of the Lake (With: Michael McCarty) 2013
9 Dog Days 2014
Short Stories/Novellas
# Title Year
1 The Crossing 2011
2 Bury My Heart at Marvin Gardens 2012
3 Lost and Found 2014
Short Story Collections
# Title Year
1 Dead World Resurrection 2014
Non-Fiction Books
# Title Year
1 Zombie Writing! 2012
2 Zombie Writing! (With: Armand Rosamilia, David Moody, Eric S. Brown) 2012
Best New Zombie Tales Books
# Title Year
1 Best New Zombie Tales Vol. 1 (By: James Roy Daley, Jessica Brown) 2010
2 Best New Zombie Tales Vol. 2 (By: David Niall Wilson, Tim Waggoner, Steven A. Roman, Mort Castle, John Everson, Cody Goodfellow, James Newman, Nate Kenyon, James Roy Daley, Derek Gunn) 2010
3 Best New Zombie Tales Vol. 3 (With: Nancy Kilpatrick, Nate Southard, Paul Kane, Jeremy C. Shipp) 2011
Best New Zombie Tales Books (with Jonathan Maberry, with Bev Vincent, with David Niall Wilson, with Ray Garton, with Tim Lebbon, with Tim Waggoner, with Steven A. Roman, with Mort Castle, with Harry Shannon, with John Everson, with Nancy Kilpatrick, with Simon Wood, with Kealan Patrick Burke, with Gary McMahon, with Nate Southard, with Jeff Strand, with Cody Goodfellow, with Rio Youers, with James Newman, with Paul Kane, with Nate Kenyon, with Jeremy C. Shipp, with Robert Swartwood, with Kim Paffenroth, with James Roy Daley, with Jessica Brown, with Derek Gunn, with Narrell M. Harris)
# Title Year
1 Best New Zombie Tales Vol. 1 2010
2 Best New Zombie Tales Vol. 2 2010
3 Best New Zombie Tales Vol.3 2011
4 Best New Zombie Tales Trilogy 2012
Demonic Visions: 50 Horror Tales Books
# Title Year
1 Demonic Visions: 50 Horror Tales 2013
2 Demonic Visions: 50 Horror Tales # 2 2013
3 Demonic Visions: 50 Horror Tales #3 2014
4 Demonic Visions 50 Horror Tales #4 2014
5 Demonic Visions 50 Horror Tales #5 2014
6 Demonic Visions 50 Horror Tales #6 2016
Journalstone's DoubleDown Books
# Title Year
1 Only the Thunder Knows – East End Girls (By: Gord Rollo) 2013
2 Smog - Baggage of Eternal Night (By: Eric J. Guignard, Lisa Morton) 2013
3 Dog Days - Deadly Passage (With: Sanford Allen) 2013
4 Biters / The Reborn ( By: Harry Shannon) 2014
5 Secrets / Outcast (By: John R. Little, Mark Allan Gunnells) 2014
6 Paleo - The Doomsday Prepper (By: David Liss, Eileen Curtright) 2015
7 Frozen Shadows/WildWoman (By: Gene O'Neill, Chris Marrs) 2015
The Retreat Books (with Craig DiLouie, with Stephen Knight)
# Title Year
1 Pandemic 2013
2 Slaughterhouse 2014
3 Die Laughing 2015
4 Alamo 2016
5 Crucible 2018
6 Forlorn Hope 2022
7 The Retreat #6: Forlorn Hope 2022
Joe McKinney Anthologies
# Title Year
1 History is Dead 2007
2 Best New Zombie Tales Vol. 1 2010
3 Best New Zombie Tales Vol. 2 2010
4 Best New Zombie Tales Vol.3 2011
5 Best New Zombie Tales Vol. 3 2011
6 Undead Tales 2011
7 Help! Wanted: Tales of On-the-Job Terror 2011
8 Before Plan 9: Plans 1-8 From Outer Space 2012
9 Attic Toys 2012
10 Best New Zombie Tales Trilogy 2012
11 Slices of Flesh 2012
12 Horror for Good 2012
13 Read the End First 2012
14 A Feast of Frights from The Horror Zine 2012
15 Welcome To Hell: An Anthology Of Western Weirdness 2012
16 Dark Light 2012
17 Alt-Zombie 2012
18 Blood Rites 2013
19 High Stakes: A Vampire Anthology 2013
20 Blood Rites: An Invitation to Horror 2013
21 Zombies: Shambling Through the Ages 2013
22 Bleed 2013
23 Demonic Visions: 50 Horror Tales 2013
24 Fear the Reaper 2013
25 Best Tales of the Apocalypse 2013
26 The Best of the Horror Society 2013 2013
27 Demonic Visions: 50 Horror Tales # 2 2013
28 Demonic Visions: 50 Horror Tales #3 2014
29 Dark Discoveries - Issue #28 2014
30 Zombies: More Recent Dead 2014
31 Limbus, Inc. - Book II 2014
32 Middletown Apocalypse 2015
33 Seize the Night 2015
34 V-Wars: Night Terrors 2015
35 The Forsaken 2017
36 Joe Ledger: Unstoppable 2017