Armand Rosamilia – Days with the Undead

As the Summer of Zombie Blog Tour continues, I have the pleasure of interviewing organizer and author Armand Rosamilia. For those of you that haven’t been acquainted with Armand, here’s a few words about him…

Armand Rosamilia is a New Jersey boy currently living in sunny Florida, where he knows the zombie apocalypse has already begun. And they are on the beach and driving too slow all around him. He is a prolific writer, with over 70 releases to date. He is also quite pleasing to the naked eye, and loves talking in third person. He also wishes he was rich and not so fat. Check out more of his insightful thoughts at http://armandrosamilia.com.

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

I wish I had a big, intelligent and cool answer… but I don’t. Zombies just kick ass.

Tells us about your latest project.

I just released Dying Days 3, the third instalment of the series (and conveniently numbered for ease)… it progresses the story, as well as the zombie apocalypse world itself and the changes that are starting to take place.

What makes your Zombies different, if anything?

My zombies don’t want to just bite you, they want to violate you.

So, not the kind of Zombies I’d want to meet? Is there a Zombie novel that has influenced you more than any other? If so, what is it and why?

The Rising by Brian Keene started me on this zombie path, because it was a bit different and an amazing book.

What are your top 3 favourite Zombie films?

Dawn of The Dead remake, Shaun of The Dead, and Beaches with Bette Midler.

I wasn’t aware of the Zombies in Beaches, but now that you mention it… 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 has always been a smaller but rabid fan base for zombie fiction. TWD brought more people interested in zombies, and I hope some of them stick around once the series is over.

As we all know, music and slaying the Undead go hand in hand. Given these headings, what would be your Soundtrack to the Zombie Apocalypse?

1. Overall theme for the Apocalypse: World Painted Blood by Slayer

2. What plays when I kill my first zombie: Oops I Did It Again by Britney Spears

3. What plays when you’re chased by the horde: Run Runaway by Slade

4. When you have to kill a loved one: Love Hurts by Nazareth

5. When you find a group of survivors: Theme from Convoy

6. Meeting a new love interest: Fat Girl by Steel Panther

7. Making a Final Stand: Balls To The Wall by Accept

8. You’ve survived it all: Eye of The Tiger by Survivor

9. Then you discover a bite mark: Didn’t We Almost Have It All by Whitney Houston

10. End Credits: The End by The Doors

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 sitting in Kokomo’s Café, so my coffee cup (after I finish the coffee, of course), a piece of six-layer carrot cake (my last meal, actually), these red chairs are heavy and will make a great weapon, the glass tops to the tables, and a fire extinguisher to bash some zombie braiinnnsss in.

You are screwed Armand – sorry… Now let’s take a quick look into Dying Days 3! Don’t forget to click on the cover in order to be whisked away to Amazon.

Flagler Beach Florida is a wasteland of ruin and gore, looted and picked clean of supplies… and now, Darlene Bobich and the other survivors have an even bigger problem… What could be worse than a mindless zombie horde? They are about to find out. Continuing the zombie series, “Dying Days”… extreme situations, extreme violence, extreme undead.

Thank you Armand for taking the time to answer my questions. If you’d like to find out more about Armand, you can find him on http://armandrosamilia.com.

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Today my guest is Armand Rosamilia, a prolific writer hailing from Florida by way of New Jersey. So Armand, why Zombies? Is there anything specific that draws you to the genre?

The juxtaposition of their role in society and… nah, zombies are just cool. I’ve always loved zombie movies and when I discovered zombie stories I was hooked.

That’s a very honest answer. I’d have to admit that Zombies hooked me from the ‘get-go’ as well. If you’d like the opportunity to plug your latest project, published or otherwise, feel free.

I have two series running right now. My Dying Days series of zombie books, and the next one will be out very shortly. It’s called Still Dying: Select Scenes From Dying Days, and it is 13 short stories set in the world of the other books with new and old characters throughout. Second is my Keyport Cthulhu series. It is a modern setting set of short stories in the real and creepy town of Keyport, New Jersey. I add definite Lovecraftian twists and turns to the series, and the third tale, “Cabal”, will be out shortly. My Amazon Author page has all of these releases and more.

Here’s a sneak peek at Barren, Armand’s second book in his Keyport Cthulhu series:

A short story with a Lovecraftian slant… In “Barren” (the second in the Keyport Cthulhu short story series) a biker, on the run from the motorcycle club he betrayed, finds something far worse than former friends to contend with.

8,600 words, including Author Notes… a modern horror twist with a Lovecraft feel to it.

Now, Armand, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty – what makes your Zombies different, if anything?

I don’t want my zombies to be hokey or goofy. I want them to scare you. Not only do my zombies want to eat you, they want to violate you.

Zombies that violate you? Interesting… Not something I’m sure I would want to encounter after the apocalypse. Actually the thought scares me… Moving on, what are your 5 favourite Zombie books that you didn’t write?

The Rising by Brian Keene is the one that got me started on this journey. The rest of his zombie books are up there, and anything by Mark Tufo is solid. I’m a fan of the TW Brown zombie books, as well as John O’Brien, Dave Jeffery and Ian Woodhead. Pick five? Very hard!

It’s always difficult, but we ask the hard questions around here. Let’s hope this one is a little bit easier to answer – what are your top 3 favourite Zombie films?

Dawn of The Dead remake, Shaun of The Dead and Pontypool.

I loved Pontypool! It ranks way up there for me as well, along with the book – which was fantastic! Speaking of how books influence other forms of media, 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 there is a great, healthy fan-base but it exploded with The Walking Dead. Once the series ends, those people will move onto the next big thing (Mummies? Spiders?) but the hardcore fans will always be around. I definitely helped.

Fair answer. 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?

The half-empty bag of M&M’s, hitting them with my paperback book collection, my Captain America coffee mug, my printer/scanner which never works when I want it to, and these pipe bombs I’m working on. Oops, should I say that out loud?

Probably not, but I’m sure you’ll be okay… Maybe… If you’re interested in connecting with Armand, you can find him on Facebook, Goodreads and Google + and also on Twitter via @ArmandAuthor. Oh, and don’t forget to check out his Dying Days series!

Join me next week as I interview Joshua Cook, author of the ZombieACRES series.