Today I have the distinct pleasure of welcoming Greg McCabe. Greg is the author of the newly released The Undying Love and he’s currently touring the interwebs hocking his own brand of zombie-related charm. Let’s take a quick moment and get everyone acquainted…
Greg McCabe is a proud Texan. He was born and raised in Midland, Texas, received a degree in Speech Communication from Texas A&M University, and currently resides in the Lone Star State. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Mandy, his daughter, Annabelle, and his dog, Walter, as well as traveling, sports, movies, reading, and writing. He enjoys all genres of fiction, but seems to gravitate towards horror and science fiction. The Undying Love is Greg’s first book.
Welcome Greg. So tell me: why Zombies? Is there anything specific that draws you to the genre?
As far as end-of-the-world scenarios go, I think flesh-eating cannibals is the most intriguing. I also like how zombies are one of the few villains that you absolutely cannot reason with. And the very idea of walking corpses is mind blowing enough, let alone all the moral and ethical questions associated with handling undead friends or family members. There’s also all the survivalist and post-apocalyptic scenarios involved with zombies. I also enjoy all the creative makeshift weapons used for zombie killing, such as modified crossbows, bats with nails in them, and even a weed whacker with knives instead of twine. But usually, when people ask me: Why zombies? My answer is: Because they’re awesome.
Tell us about your latest project.
I recently released The Undying Love with Sirens Call Publications. It’s about a young couple fighting for survival after their wedding is crashed by zombies.
What makes your Zombies different, if anything?
They are your typical viral-based undead zombie. My book features both fast and slow zombies in that right after they’re bitten they are able to move with similar gusto to before they were infected, then eventually turn slow as decomposition and what not starts to take place. That just seemed to make the most sense to me.
That’s an interest concept Greg, and one that has found its way into my own writing. What are your 3 favourite Zombie books you didn’t write?
In no particular order: World War Z by Max Brooks, Dead City by Joe McKinney, and Cell by Stephen King. However, I have a number of zombie books in my ‘to read’ pile that could shake up that list.
What are your top 5 favourite Zombie films?
In order, with comments:
Night of the Living Dead – George A. Romero’s ground breaking classic gave us the mold for the modern zombie that we all know and love today.
Pontypool – This low-budget, under-the-radar zombie flick was surprisingly good and featured one of the most creative ways I’ve ever seen of spreading the zombie plague.
Zombieland – A highly-effective, big-budget, blockbuster Zom Com with famous movie stars and one of the best cameos ever. What’s not to like?
World War Z – Without a doubt the biggest zombie movie ever made. Who would have thought that a zombie flick would be Brad Pitt’s highest grossing film to date?
Tie: 28 Days Later/Dawn of the Dead (2004) – I saw both of these movies around the same time and they’re the reason I got “really into” zombies. They were both well done and both featured fast zombies, which I thought were particularly terrifying.
Pontypool almost tops my list as well. It’s set in an actual town not far from where I live and the author truly kept the feel of the setting throughout the book (and movie to a degree). If you haven’t read the book, I suggest giving it a read. 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 the genre’s popularity exploded around ten years ago and that The Walking Dead is just a part of the giant tidal wave of zombie entertainment that has come out over the last decade.
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 don’t think I could hold five things and be a productive zombie slayer. It would probably be a bludgeoning weapon like this candlestick next to our television:
You may well survive Greg, but I don’t like your chances… You were a little too shady about what you’ve got in the room around you and that spells disaster for most!
Now let’s take a quick look into The Undying Love…
For Diane and Jackson, life is just about perfect. They’re healthy, happy, and madly in love with one another. Unknown to them, a virus is sweeping across the globe that instantly kills the infected and turns their corpses into mindless, murdering cannibals. In short: zombies have taken over the planet.
Diane and Jackson find out about the epidemic the hard way when their wedding is crashed by friends and family who have succumbed to the virus. Now, fighting for survival, they’re faced with unthinkable decisions.
Follow their story across Southeast Texas as they meet unforgettable characters and face challenges that will put their love, and lives to the ultimate test.
If you’d like to pick up a copy, you can find it online at any of these places!
Amazon: US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, Brazil, India, Mexico
Days with the Undead 