Stephen Wayne

U.S. HORROR FICTION BEST SELLER
AND MULTI-AWARD WINNING AUTHOR

Horror and Non-Fiction.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The mind where future and fear collide.

BIOGRAPHY

Stephen Wayne, a pseudonym for István Szabó, a Hungarian-based U.S. Horror Fiction bestseller and multi-award-winning author, is an internationally recognized literary professional with clients from over 80 countries. His diverse background includes collaboration with law enforcement and governmental agencies, contributing to national security efforts.

In his downtime, Stephen is an avid adventurer, with interests ranging from martial arts, including kickboxing and Muay Thai training, to fencing and scuba diving, for which he is officially licensed. He also enjoys delving into history and exploring his passion for cinema and visual arts.

Drawing inspiration from a world as diverse as his interests, Stephen incorporates his experiences into his writing, with a particular fondness for exploring the darker facets of human nature against a backdrop of suspense and mystery. His favorite authors include H.P. Lovecraft and Philip K. Dick, and their influence can often be felt in his work. As a fan of science fiction and horror, these genres have significantly shaped his literary perspective.

Above all, he is a proud father to Christopher and a loving husband to Barbara.

To check his professional literary services, please visit the website of Sapphire Guardian International.

MY BOOK AWARDS

Steve the Zombie

Readers' Favorite Gold Award 2024 (YA Horror Category)
Literary Titan Gold Award 2023
3x Firebird Awards 2023 (1st Place Horror Category, 1st Place Dystopian Category, 2nd Place Book Cover Design)


TRIVIA

▪ Stephen’s short film, 15 Minutes of Fame, in which he was both the writer and director, achieved 3rd place at the UPC-AXN Film Festival in 2008. The film was also a personal favorite of the renowned producer Andy Vajna.

▪ DNA tests reveal Stephen's descent from Hungarian Scythians, Pannonian Ostrogoths and Kievan Rus, with ancestors who also lived in the Roman city of Viminacium and served aboard the ill-fated flagship Stora Kronan in the Battle of Öland. His lineage includes Kings Ladislaus I and Béla III of Hungary from the House of Árpád, as well as the Houses of Aba and Báthory, demon hunter Gleb Svyatoslavich, Prince Izjaslav Ingaevych of the Rurik Dynasty, and he is a direct descendant of the Fejérpataki-Belopotoczky-Békési noble lineage.

▪ Stephen regularly participates in the US Air Force Marathon and History & Heritage series, specializing in 10k races. His best finish was 9th place in the 2024 Black Widow Run and 14th place in the 28th Air Force Marathon. Beyond these competitions, he has also completed the half-marathon twice, once while pushing a baby stroller with his infant son in it.

▪ Stephen has been training regularly in kickboxing and Muay Thai since 2016, primarily under the guidance of Instructor Ádám Kálmánchey. However, his journey in martial arts began much earlier, with Ju Jitsu training at the renowned Kelemen Dojo in Madách Square when he was ten years old, where he trained under the guidance of Shihan Attila Kovács.

▪ Stephen was trained in fencing by his father, who was the coach of the Hungarian National Cadet Team for several years, and by his half-sister, who has been a national champion.

▪ In elementary school, Stephen was part of the school basketball team and once won a silver medal in the district tournament shortly before a serious finger injury put an end to his time in the sport.

▪ Stephen has completed several prestigious courses, including David Freeman's Premiere Screenwriting and Script Development Master Class in London and Lt. Colonel (Ret) Peter Doszpot's Homicide Detective Master Class. During the COVID lockdowns, he further honed his craft with Master Classes from renowned experts like David Baldacci, James Patterson, David Lynch, Neil Gaiman, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Joyce Carol Oates, and FBI negotiator Chris Voss. Additionally, he sharpened his horror writing skills through a Master Class by María Fernanda Ampuero.

MY BOOKS

Latest Releases

Discover the latest gateways to suspense where every page turns deeper into the unknown.

MULTI-AWARD WINNING ZOMBIE HORROR NOVEL

Steve the Zombie

Book 1 of the Detective Steve Series
Release Date: July 13, 2023

In a city consumed by an undead plague, Detective Steve, infected but still conscious, must piece together the mystery of the apocalypse from within the horde. As his memories slowly return, he races against time and relentless survivors to uncover the truth before his humanity fades entirely.

U.S. Horror Fiction Best Seller 2024
Readers' Favorite Gold Award Winner 2024 (YA Horror Category)
Literary Titan Gold Award Winner 2023
3x Firebird Award Winner 2023 (1st Place - Horror Category, 1st Place Dystopian Category, 2nd Place Book Cover Design)

NON-FICTION

From Pen to Publish

An Insider's Guide to Flawless Publication
Release Date: July 12, 2024

'From PEN to PUBLISH’ is a groundbreaking guide that reveals insider secrets and crucial elements often overlooked in the writing process. This book takes you from the inception of your idea to post-publication, offering strategies to transform your work into a successful publication.

Your adventure into the unknown awaits.

Step into a realm where each journey unveils a new dimension of fear.

Coming Soon

STEVE THE MONSTER - TBA

Book 2 of the Detective Steve Series
A Direct Sequel to the Bestselling and Multi-Award-Winning Horror Novel, Steve the Zombie

MY POEMS

Written as István Szabó

The Flower of Freedom / A Szabadság Virága (October 23, 2024)

A poem written for the fallen heroes of 1956.

Echoes from Other Worlds

Dive into the voices of those who've journeyed through my tales of future and fear, and emerged to tell the tale.

READER REACTIONS

What they say about my books?

"Author Stephen Wayne puts a unique twist on the post-apocalyptic horror genre by telling a gripping tale through the perspective of one of the infected. The plot is evenly paced, with a few well-placed curveballs that take you by surprise."

Pikasho Deka
Readers' Favorite

"Steve the Zombie broke the mold of the zombie horror genre by creating a unique spin on the traditional character perspective focusing on the zombie as a narrator."

Leigh Kimberly Zoby
Reader Views

"Steve the Zombie offers a rewarding deviation from the norm, even for those who do not typically venture into dystopian literature. Wayne's literary prowess is genuinely impressive, bringing a fresh twist to the familiar zombie narrative by using a zombie's perspective."

Literary Titans
Literary Titans

"Steve The Zombie is more than just a run-of-the-mill zombie apocalypse story; it's a refreshingly unique take on a genre that, honestly, has started to feel a bit too predictable."

RF
Amazon Vine Voice

"Stephen Wayne’s From Pen to Publish: An Insider's Guide to Flawless Publication is a must-read for both aspiring and seasoned authors. Wayne lays out an A to Z approach to writing a book, sharing his experiences and covering crucial elements that many writers might overlook."

Analee Allport
Amazon Verified Purchase
PUBLISHING STATS

My publishing journey by the numbers

2023

Published Since

2

Published Books

5

Literary Awards

1

Best Seller

1

Poems