Month: January 2013

Chewing Braaiiinns with… Emily Walker

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Today I am joined by Emily Walker, the author who has the perfect last name for writing about Zombies (too bad she doesn’t use it!)! Her book Zombified is due to be re-released in March under the pseudonym of Lyra McKen. For those of you that have yet to hear about Emily or Lyra, we’ll take a moment to introduce her to you…

2012-06-04_10-54-32_903_edit0Emily Walker is writer who writes as Lyra Mcken for GMTA Publishing and Jewels Moss for Midnight Fire! She is also described as a Self-Pubbing Maniac! Her favorite author is Heinlein, but she also has a weak spot for Jane Austin.

Her recent novels include The Reluctant Succubus with Midnight Hour Publishing, Why Yellow Jackets Can’t Find the Hole with Midnight Fire Publishing and then a self-published release Long Road Full Speed Ahead.

Welcome Emily, tell us – why Zombies? Is there anything specific that draws you to the genre?

I love the horror genre, and I just have a fascination with the end of the world and zombies. There isn’t really an explanation for it! Maybe I am a little disturbed.

Tell us about Zombified.

Zombified will be out with the Horror imprint of Great Minds Think Aloud Publishing, Grimiore on March 15th! I am so excited with this re-release which has gone through rewrites and a deep and very fun edit!

Awesome news! What makes your Zombies different, if anything?

They are aware that they are changing. They are aware that they will turn into monsters, and they are aware that they are starting to crave flesh.

Ooh, that’s creepy! What are your 5 favourite Zombie books that you didn’t write?

Undead Ahead

Dying Days

Hollowland

Reign of Blood {they are vampire zombies}

I will have a 5th favourite after I finish the 6 in my TBR pile

What are your top 3 favourite Zombie films?

Shaun of the Dead

Night of the Living Dead

Evil Dead

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 think that The Walking Dead has had a significant increase in the genre’s popularity. I feel like the influx in Zombie movies is related to it being more popular in television and books. That being said, I think that happens anytime there is a Zombie movie. Zombieland came before The Walking Dead, and Diary of the Dead, Dawn of the Dead, 28 Days Later and several others were released close together. The same thing happened for zombie culture with the release of Night of the Living Dead. There are always going to be Zombie enthusiasts, but there will always be more when the media is paying the genre more attention.

Pop Quiz: 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?

A pistol, a knife, a shotgun, a heavy vase, and my boyfriend! I am in a good room for that right now.

You may well survive Emily… Now let’s take a sneak peek into Zombified!

ZOMFullCover33Cassie is a typical teenager.  She’s crushing on a boy and trying to make it through high school. It’s a typical day of classes when all hell breaks loose. Forced to run and hide the situation just keeps getting worse. She makes a mistake and soon becomes infected. She meets others like her and together they sent out to find a cure. Is their fate already sealed? Can they find a cure before it’s too late? See what happens through the eyes of the infected when Cassie tells you how Zombies are people too.

Thank you Emily for taking the time to answer my questions! If you want to connect with Emily, you can find her on Twitter, her website, or on Facebook. If you want more information about Zombified, you can check out Lyra McKen’s website.

Don’t forget to come back next week when I talk Zombie serials with HorrO!

5 Hours Till Dawn – An IndieGoGo Campaign

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Have you ever wanted to be a part of something special?

What about something uniquely Canadian?

Do you love Zombies?

Then I have the project for you!

5 Hours Till Dawn is our first short film. It is about 6 survivors waiting to get picked up by the pilot and be taken to the safe zone. The result is a high action, character driven, suspenseful short film, that will leave you wanting more.

They need help with funding, but they will give you perks for your contribution! Plus if you’re interested in being an unpaid extra, and you can get yourself to Belleville, Ontario for filming you can totally be a part of the film! Details on the IndieGoGo Project Page.

That’s AWESOME!

So if you have some spare cash, think about supporting 5 Hours Till Dawn!

SUPPORT 5 Hours Till Dawn!

 

Chewing Braaiiinns with… TL Decay

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Today my guest is TL Decay, a poet and author who has a great and varied love for the Undead. If you haven’t come across any of his work, or him for that matter, let’s take a moment and learn a little bit more about him.

profile picT L Decay began writing during a deployment to Afghanistan. He has been published in poetry and stories in Collaboration of the Dead anthologies as well as pending anthologies for other publishers. His readers graciously voted him to be the Predators and Editors reader’s poll winner in the Poet category in 2011.

Welcome TL, let’s jump right into this. Why Zombies? Is there anything specific that draws you to the genre?

I’ve always enjoyed zombie themed horror, but I began writing about them during my last tour in Afghanistan. Movies like 28 Days Later, I am Legend, and The Walking Dead series brought zombies to the forefront. While these movies were circulating so were conversations involved in watching them. I ran out of movies that were available on my base so I moved on to reading the stories on Kindle. From there I decided it would be fun to bring my own story ideas out and began writing for myself and my deployed buddies.

Tell us about your latest project.

I am currently working on a non-poetry story that I plan to publish that involves a twist on regular zombies. As part of the infection the undead also grow claws. These claws are the primary means of spreading the infection. I really look forward to finishing the edits and seeing how I can get this story into reader’s hands.

That sounds very interesting and practically pre-empts my next question. I’ll ask it anyway: what makes your Zombies different, if anything?

I don’t stick to one zombie type. I try to have zombie fit the story.

What are your 5 favourite Zombie books that you didn’t write?

My first pick would be Tim Long’s Beyond the Barriers. This story involves what amount to be human collaborators that intentionally get infected and control the purely undead hordes. I also enjoyed After the End by Bonnie Dee. I had no idea she had been a romance writer when I read her book. Her follow up book, Dead Country was also very entertaining. After I read DA Roberts book Ragnarok Rising, I became pretty good friends with him. His story took place near where I grew up and it involved a different character perspective. That would bring me back to Tim Long. In Among the Living, he dares to make his survivors hero’s that shouldn’t be. He uses a sword wielding serial killer mixed with some journalists and even a metal band singer.

Great choices! What are your top 3 favourite Zombie films?   Of course The Walking Dead makes the top of my list. Zombieland just kicked butt. Who does not love a geek teaming with a country boy competing with scheming women on a cross country getcha-backathon that includes Bill Murray? I know it is probably sacrilege to say it but I also loved the remake of Day of the Dead. It’s not that I don’t enjoy the original but I really like the 2008 version.

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?

This show definitely has led to an increased popularity. Going to see a zombie flick is no longer like taking a trip to the theater for The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It is not just a cult following that is only shared with a select few. I think it helped bridge the social and age gaps of fans. Of course the slew successful movies in the same time period using main stream actors and actresses helped as well.

Pop Quiz: 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 I just got back from the range with my family so I actually have 3 pistols and a lot of ammo beside me. But I don’t think this is the idea of the question so I will tell you what would normally be beside me in my living room. I have a survival style knife for each person in my family sitting on display on our book shelf. There is a floor lamp that would work to bludgeon a couple zombies before being bent into a pretzel. I would also be able to use my coffee mug as a brass knuckle substitute. This would help in two ways; obviously it would damage the zombie, but if anyone gets between me and coffee then there will be a price to pay.

If you’d like a sneak peek at So Long, and Thanks For All The Brains, here it is…

In a world where the dead walk… 

In a world where the living struggle to survive… 
In a world where Munchkins fight alongside flying monkeys… 
Those are just some of the things you will find inside this mammoth book of zombie fiction by writers from Michigan to Malaysian, from Austin to Austria. 
So, pull on your bibs and prepare to sink your teeth in.  There’s plenty of brains for everyone!

With stories by Bint Arab, Robert Forrester, Michael C. Dick, K. A. Masters, T. Fox Dunham, Kenneth E. Olson, Jason Papke, Richard Jay Goldstein, T. L. Barrett, Theresa Derwin, Joe Sherry, Jack Bantry, Bruce L. Priddy, Jonathan Wood, Gary Madden, Nicky Peacock, Douglas J. Moore, Iain Rob Wright, Dale Elster, Rebecca Snow, T. L. Decay, Philip Harris, Annie Neugebauer, Jamal K. Luckett, Marc-Anthony Taylor, Michelle Ann King, Suzanne Robb, C. Douglas Birkhead, Anne E. Johnson, Indy McDaniel, Bryan Vogt, Paul S. Huggins, Stef White, Jim Gadsby, J. Rodimus Fowler, Golda Mowe, Mihai Boc, Jessica A. Weiss, B.E. Scully, Scott Lininger, Katie Young, Allen Jacoby, Kelly Evans, S. Wayne Roberts, Alyn Day, R. S. Pyne, Kristal Stittle, Theresa Derwin, Pembroke Sinclair, Justin Sharples, Vince Liberato and an amazing cover by Gary McCluskey.

Thank you TL for taking the time to answer my questions!

Don’t forget to come back next week and check who I interview next!

 

Chewing Braaiiinns with… Franklin E. Wales

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Today my guest is Franklin E. Wales, author of Zombie fiction. For those of you unaware of who Franklin is, let’s take a quick moment to get acquainted with him.

DSCN1380The author of six novels and numerous shorter works of fiction and nonfiction, Frank prefers the title of Storyteller to Novelist or Journalist. “It’s a time honored tradition passed down through our parents and our grandparents,” he says. “No matter what I am writing, it is my goal to entertain you with the story I’m telling.”

Born and raised in Conway, NH, Frank now lives with his beautiful photographer and novelist wife, Jacki, in the South Florida home they share with their dog named Boo and a cat named Oz (as in Wizard of).

Welcome Franklin, tell us: why Zombies? Is there anything specific that draws you to the genre?

Forget all that mumbo jumbo about the zombie gene representing a deeper look at Society’s blah blah blah. The Undead are just Fun.

Tell us about your latest project; published or otherwise.

I’ve got a Lycanthropy novel coming out in the spring. In the meantime my zombie novel Deadheads: Evolution seems to be taking a life of its own. Book sales, Kindle sales even the audio sales are kicking the hell out of all my other work. You can find all three editions on Amazon. I have recently entered negotiations with Stained Vision Pictures in association with New Logic Entertainment to bring the book to the screen. I’ve signed on as scriptwriter for the duration of the project. I’m pretty excited to be working with these guys. They seem to have their ducks in a row, and actually value the author’s input. If all goes well shooting will begin Spring 2013 in the Miami, Florida area.

Let’s take a moment to delve into Deadheads: Evolution…

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00062]It’s been two and a half years since the Deadhead Virus was let loose, raising the dead to walk the earth in search of human flesh. Now, as the remnants of humanity try to rebuild in the land of the living dead, legends are whispered of a warrior, part human, part Deadhead, who walks the line between both worlds. Gage Owens longs for the day when humans are once again at the top of the food chain. Lately he has noticed a disturbing trend: the Deadhead race is evolving…

***

That’s fantastic news, Franklin. Congratulations! Give us a clue as to what makes your Zombies different, if anything?

My story picks up two and a half years after the virus. In that time civilization has been trying to rebuild while the Deadhead race has begun to Evolve. They have begun to understand that we are their food source.

So Franklin, what are your 5 favourite Zombie books that you didn’t write?

The first Zombie novel I ever read was the novelization of Night Of The Living Dead. I actually hadn’t had the chance to see the film in the pre video days and living in a small town, it was the only way to get the story. I’m also a big fan of I Am Legend by Richard Matheson. I know they are supposed to be Vampires, but it’s really a Zombie tale to me. I like anything by Eric S Brown. He has a fun way of bringing Zombies into everything he writes. I’ve also just discovered Dane T Hatchell’s Resurrection X: Zombie Evolution, a new novelist I’m now following. Currently I’m digging Days With The Undead: Book One by Julianne Snow!

Wow, what a great compliment! Thank you! Let’s move onto to movies: what are your top 3 favourite Zombie films?

Only 3? Okay how about Lucio Fulci’ Zombie, Michele Soavi’s Cemetery Man and The Last Man On Earth with Vincent Price.

Ooh, you went old school! Nice! Now let me ask you this – 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?

It has brought the Undead into America’s living rooms, and thus making our work more acceptable to people who thought zombies were not entertaining enough for them.

Pop Quiz: 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?

I’m in my office at the moment so supplies are limited. I guess the claw hammer would help, I have a half dozen pairs of scissors here, though I don’t know why so many, I have an old fashioned letter opener that was my Grandmothers, 32 Soft Feel BIC pens…Looks like it’s all up close battle stuff I guess. I could splash some Southern Comfort on them and light them on fire, but that would just be a waste of good alcohol.  Guess I’d just start in on the Southern Comfort myself and see what happens!

You may well survive, just don’t imbibe too much! You’ll want your reflexes sharp! Thank you Franklin for taking the time to answer my questions. If you’d like to connect with Franklin, you can find him on his website or pick up some of his works via his Amazon Author Page.

Join my next week when my guest will be an author and poet that goes by the name of TL Decay!

Chewing Braaiiinns with… D. Alexander Ward

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Today my guest is D. Alexander Ward, an author of Zombie fiction among other things. For those of you unacquainted with D., let’s take a moment and introduce him.

dawpic-2D. Alexander Ward lives with his wife and daughter in the Virginia countryside near the city of Richmond, where his love for the people, passions and folklore of the south was nurtured. While he works a straight job by day, he spends his nights and weekends penning stories of the dark, strange and fantastic.

Visit his website, WyrdTales.net for information and reviews. You can also follow the online serialized book, Haunting the Crowes as it takes shape. You may find him on Facebook and Twitter as well.

Welcome D., tell us why Zombies? Is there anything specific that draws you to the genre?

Historically, I haven’t been a huge fan of the zombie genre. For a long time, I just felt the zombie-as-monster was a little too simple and uninteresting. But in recent years, I’ve definitely found more that I like about it. Seems like the genre itself is evolving. I tend to cotton towards anything with a unique take on zombies, which is what I wanted to do with “The Red Delicious” in the A Quick Bite of Flesh anthology from Hazardous Press.

Tell us about your latest project; published or otherwise.

Well, I have a story in the forthcoming Historical Horror anthology from Hazardous Press and another slated to appear in The Midnight Diner IV: Wastelands Under the Sun when it comes out. I am shopping a novel around called Pound of Flesh, which concerns a mother and her son living in a remote mountain home who lead a life trapped between an abusive husband/father and a malevolent spirit that torments them. Also, I’m looking for a publisher for a novella which is the first in a series I call The Blackguards and centers around a group of southern superheroes who aren’t always particularly heroic but are nonetheless pretty bad-ass. Those projects are completed but there are other things I’m writing as well.

What makes your Zombies different, if anything?

Well, mostly they’re pigs. And I don’t mean that metaphorically. I don’t reckon that’s a real spoiler if you haven’t yet read the story, is it?

Pigs, you say? Interesting! What are your 5 favourite Zombie books that you didn’t write?

Honestly, I don’t know that I have read five. But I would say: Lovecraft’s Herbert West: Re-Animator, Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend (zombie status is arguable) and The Walking Dead comics. Otherwise, there are stories from various writers that I have enjoyed.

What are your top 3 favourite Zombie films?

For me, Deadgirl is #1 hands-down. That is one hell of a disturbing film that really gets under your skin. Again, not the typical zombie story, though. Others would be The Serpent and the Rainbow and then Zombieland.

Great films! 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?

There’s no doubt that it has increased the popularity of the genre and deservedly so because I think it’s brilliant. Clearly zombies have always had a place in our culture and in the human psyche but The Walking Dead is a shining example of how zombies can really be made relevant and compelling.

Pop Quiz: 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?

A fireplace poker, an oil lamp, a ram’s horn letter opener, two bottles of Irish whiskey and a The Sound of Music DVD. Okay, admittedly the whiskey would be for me but The Sound of Music is no joke. That shit’ll make you wish you were dead even if you already are.

The hills are alive with the sounds of shambling… Okay, I couldn’t resist that one *wink*. But in terms of the rest of your weapons, you just might have a chance!

Thank you D. for talking the time to answer my questions. If you’re looking to connect with D. Alexander Ward, you can find out more about him and what he writes at his website – WyrdTales.

Let’s take a quick peek at A Quick Bite of Flesh from Hazardous Press…

A Quick Bite of Flesh draftA Quick Bite of Flesh is an outstanding collection of 55 bite-sized tales of zombie goodness. Stories of terror, sadness, adventure, revenge and betrayal. Whether you like your zombie stories terrifying, humorous, or bizarre, you will find plenty to love in this collection.

Stories by Terry Alexander, Jason Andrew, Michael H. Antonio, Mary Ann Back, Rose Blackthorn, H.G. Bleackley, Rebecca L. Brown, Charles Colyott, Alyn Day, Mandy DeGeit, Deborah Drake, T. Fox Dunham, Kris Freestone, Aaron Gudmunson, Tara Fox Hall, Dane Hatchell, Janet Joyce Holden, David James Keaton, Ken MacGregor, John McCarthy, Fi Michell, Joe Mogel, Doug Murano, Paco, Jennifer Paquette, Lucy Pireel, Joseph Polega, Tori L. Ridgewood, Suzanne Robb, Armand Rosamilia, Cinsearae S., Mark Scioneaux, Matthew Smallwood, Rebecca Snow, Tony Southcotte, Cameron Suey, Emily Vater, Edd Vick, Steve Voelker, D. Alexander Ward, L.E. White, Sheri White, William Whorton, Jay Wilburn, Matthew Wilson, Robert S. Wilson, and Wol-vriey.

Don’t forget to join me next week when I will be joined by Franklin Wales!