The inaugural interview on Chewing Braaiiinns is with Caterina Torres!

Caterina is in her mid-twenties and graduated with a BA in Anthropology and a minor in Humanities. She goes by Cat for the most part and loves to write about the apocalypse, but not in the biblical sense of the word. Any sort of dystopian, end of the world stories seriously interest her as they have a lot to do with being part of the rat race of life, trying to climb the great ladder of success.

Now it’s time for us to chew some braaiiinns!

So Caterina, why Zombies? Is there anything specific that draws you to the genre?

I picked zombies because they are humanity’s greatest threat. It’s more of a possibility for a virus or pathogen to infect the nation and turn our neighbors into the walking dead, than for some monster to spring up and kill people. Plus, zombies could be our loved ones. What’s scarier than seeing a beloved try to eat us?

I completely agree with you – zombies are a huge threat to humanity. Let’s hope it never comes to that! Plug your latest project; published or otherwise.

My most recently published book is Zombie Whisperer, a tale about a woman who can mentally control hoards of zombies. It’s a psychic thriller that deals with terrorism and balancing the morality of our current economic turmoil.

She can speak to the dead. Only problem is, they’re still walking around.

After enduring a week-long flu, Jane Smith wakes to find out a terrorist organization has spread a deadly virus over the nation, changing anyone who’s infected into the walking dead. With no choice but to flee her home, Jane teams up with her boyfriend, Josh Williams, as they venture to find something better than the desolate land that was once called the home of the brave and the land of the free.

Driving across the country, Jane encounters some of the newly turned and finds she can hear their thoughts inside her head. Before she can understand her link to the undead, Jane and Josh are captured by the terrorists responsible for the virus because of one special reason: they know she can communicate with the infected and they want her to be a part of their fight to take down the rest of the world.

Afraid for their lives, Jane must decide if she should join the terrorists or use her new found powers to stop them.

Oh! Sounds awesome! How have I managed to miss this one?? What makes your Zombies different, if anything?

The main character shares a mental link with the infected, allowing her the ability to control them and do as she asks.

That certainly is different and something that I don’t believe I’ve encountered while reading the troves of Zombie treasures available. What are your 5 favourite Zombie books that you didn’t write?

Surprisingly, I don’t read a lot of zombie books. I watch them and play video games with them more often. But I have read a great zombie book recently, called Rot & Ruin, a tale about a fifteen year old boy trying to find his place in this new zombie-infested world he lives in.

I’ve read that as well – loved it! Since you don’t read a lot of Zombie lit, what are your top 3 favourite Zombie films?

I love the latest three Resident Evil movies –  Resident Evil: Apocalypse; Resident Evil: Extinction; and Resident Evil: Afterlife. I’m also a huge fan of the video games too; I’ve played them all.

I’m a huge fan of the Resident Evil franchise as well and I’m super excited for Resident Evil: Retribution due out this fall. Switching to television for a moment, do you think the popularity of The Walking Dead and its appearance in mainstream media has helped to increase the popularity of the genre, or has there always been such an interest?

I believe the show has definitely helped spark people’s love for zombies again. There’s always been an interest, and I don’t think zombies will ever go out of favor, but the show helped reignite a mainstream media love for the undead because most zombie related videos were either movies or old shows. We needed something on TV, with current technology, and something that was believable.

Agreed! Now it’s time to test you… If the Zombie Apocalypse were to occur right now, 5 things found in the room you are currently sitting will be your weapons – what are they?

Well, considering I’m in the kitchen, there are so many great items at my disposal. I have a butcher’s knife, a large rolling pin, vegetable oil (which I can use to slick my front entryway), fire (from the stove), and a dining table (to bar their path inside).

Thank you Caterina for an informative look into your life with Zombies. If you’d like to pick up a copy of Zombie Whisperer, you can find it on Amazon, Lulu, iBookstore, Nook, and in Print. You can also find Caterina on Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter. Check out her blog where she publishes a running short story that is a side story to Zombie Whisperer!

Tune in next week when Miranda Doerfler stops by for a snack…