My schedule has been thrown off for this week. I went to Nebraska over the weekend and didn’t get back until Monday. It’s a long trip to drive there, but that will be the last time I do it for a visit. The next time I go, it will be to move there.
Because my week has been thrown off, I’m not posting as much as I normally do. That will change next week. I’ll get back into my groove. Since I haven’t been posting, that also means I haven’t been writing fiction. I’ve been doing some freelance stuff, but I haven’t been writing for me. That will also change in the coming weeks.
Soon enough, I will have a schedule that will allow me to be productive and creative, and I’m really looking forward to that. I have several projects that are demanding my attention. On the top of that list is getting my middle grade books ready for self-publishing.
I don’t foresee the process taking long, but it still requires time. They need to be edited again, then formatted and fitted with new covers. It’s an exciting process, and I really enjoy doing it, I just have to have the time.
Soon. It’s going to happen soon.
In the meantime, please feel free to keep yourself busy trying to win signed zombie paperbacks. The sign up is in the right hand column. May is Zombie Awareness Month, so I’ve been giving away free books. This is the last one for this month, so don’t miss out. It’s my nonfiction book, so it has some great advice on how to survive zombies.
Over the winter break, Starz was having a free preview of their channel. We had the chance to watch Ash vs. Evil Dead—which got me hooked and I want to see more—and they were showing Doom, which is an awesome movie.
This film first came out in 2005, and I remember going to see it with my mom. We’re both huge fans of The Rock, but I was surprised she wanted to go because it’s a horror film. She actually saw it before I went, then went again with me. There’s a part in the middle of the film where it basically becomes the first-person video game, and she thought that was kind of weird, but I thought it was amazing. I never played the video game, but I knew about it.
I absolutely love this film. It’s got a lot of great action, explosions, eye candy, and creatures—including zombies. I own this film on DVD, but I haven’t watched it in a while. Seeing it on Starz brought back such enjoyment.
As I was watching it, I couldn’t believe I didn’t include it in my Undead Obsessed book. It would have been perfect for the zombies from space section. I mean, it has zombies from space! And the portrayal of science is pretty stereotypical, but there’s also the twist. Perhaps if I ever do a version 2 of the book I’ll make sure it’s included. OR, if I’m so inclined, maybe I’ll write an article.
It made me so happy to rewatch this film. I want to watch it again with the boys, but it’s still a bit scary for them—they have to be a little older. I’m looking forward to the day when we can enjoy Doom together.
Have any of you seen this movie? What did you think about it?
Last week on the Girl Zombie Authors blog that I’m part of (you all knew it existed and read it, right? I talk a lot about zombies on there), Scott commented and asked a question about what I think about the hyper-realistic depiction of cannibalism as it pertains to zombie films and to the new movie Green Inferno that came out. I kind of answered it in the comments, but it got my mental wheels turning, and I feel like it needs more of an explanation.
Here was his comment:
Question re: slasher films.
Are you going to see Green Inferno? I state up front that my interest in z-poc fiction doesn't lie in the blood and gore part of the genre. Sure, there's that, and there should be, but I don't see it as a fun focus. On the other hand, there's a good deal of it out there, especially in anthologies, where the writers revel in it. So, with that in mind, and since you brought up slasher movies, how do you feel about a hyper-realistic depiction of cannibalism? Honestly...I can't imagine watching it any more than I can imagine watching Human Centipede or HC2. I know there's definitely a cult following of those two movie...not that I understand why, lol. But, thoughts?
He was asking the question in regards to my comment about slasher films. Many of you know that I have written about slasher films in my book Life Lessons from Slasher Films. Like a lot of the films Eli Roth creates, this genre was also condemned and critiqued for being overly gory and violent.
Oddly enough, I don’t believe I have heard the same argument made for zombie films. I’m sure there are people out there who have said it, but there seems to be a bit more acceptance of having gore and cannibalism in zombie films than in other horror.
I will say that when Night of the Living Dead first came out, it showed humans being devoured in gory fashion. Most zombie films before that had Haitian zombies, and they were more slaves than devourers of flesh. Night shocked audiences because of its content, and zombie films have been following its lead ever since—often to the point of pushing the envelope and showing deaths and the consummation of flesh in intricate detail. It’s rare to find a zombie film or TV show that doesn’t have intestines in it.
In my book, Undead Obsessed, I talk a little about cannibalism. Here’s what I say:
Cannibalism is incredibly taboo within our society. We view it as the most abhorrent act one human can do to another. It is primal and barbaric. Only in extreme cases of survival is it viewed as tolerable. Night of the Living Dead takes this notion and portrays it in gory detail, often showing zombies fighting over various body parts of their victims. To add to the horror, the other characters never refer to the zombies as zombies, they are just “them” or “ghouls.” They don’t look like monsters, which makes them incredibly dangerous. This is especially evident near the end of the film when a little girl attacks and kills her parents. She still looks like a child, but behind her innocence is a desire to maim and consume. The girl eats part of her father, and when her mother shows up she knows the creature before her is no longer her daughter, but she can’t act to destroy her child. This leads to her being stabbed repeatedly with a trowel. If the monster doesn’t look different, how do you fight against it?
In most horror films, the basic premise is us versus them, humans versus a monster. In most films, that monster is a creature that looks different. Humans can differentiate themselves from them because they aren’t us. But at one point in time, zombies were us.
In most zombie films and shows, zombies aren’t the only creatures the survivors have to be wary of. They also have to be suspicious and cautious of other survivors. The lines between us versus them become blurred. There’s still a difference between the groups, but not a huge one.
While I haven’t seen the Green Inferno (and yes, I’m intrigued, but I doubt I will see it in the theater), I have a feeling that Eli Roth will portray the cannibalism in horrific and gory fashion. I’m sure his goal is to make the audience walk out of the theater feeling nauseous and uncomfortable. But that’s what he does.
Eli Roth and a few other horror film makers (the creators of Saw come readily to mind) have developed a genre that many refer to as “torture horror” or “torture porn,” and it is condemned for being ridiculously violent and gory for the sake of gore. And these films absolutely push the envelope when it comes to violence.
But they’re not the first. Slasher films used these tactics when they first came out. “Realistic” horror films such as Last House on the Left and The Hills Have Eyes or Wrong Turn also employ this over-the-top violence. And while some people claim it’s just gore for the sake of gore, it’s also used to shock the audience. It’s used to make us feel uncomfortable, to make us squirm in our seats, to heighten our level of disgust and fear.
One of the goals of horror is to bring to the forefront those things that scare society. In the 1950s, that fear was the fear of nuclear war and communism, so the films reflected that. There were such moves as Them! and Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
When it came to slasher films, which had their heyday in the 1980s, they reflected the idea of wanting to return to a more conservative time. The 60s and 70s had just happened with teens rising up to change social norms, so slasher killers try to suppress teens and their social change by killing them. They also want them to stop their sexual revolution, which is why most teens get killed during or after some kind of sexual encounter.
I have no doubt that Green Inferno also has some type of social message in it also. Again, I haven’t seen the film, only the trailer, which shows a group of teens who want to go into the rain forest to protest its destruction, and they get captured by a savage, primal tribe. I can only guess that they are tortured and eaten in horrific fashion with a few of them trying to escape—and maybe succeeding, but only after going through a horrific ordeal.
But, again, I don’t know because I haven’t seen the film yet.
My point is that horror has always and will always continue to push the boundaries of what makes an audience uncomfortable. There will always been an us versus them and a fear of the unknown—because that’s what continues to scare the American population.
It continues to be said that we have become sensitized to violence, and a lot of the blame lies in horror movies, but in some cases, it’s just real life. How much violence do we see on our news channels? How many reports do we read about people being killed by gunmen? What about the war? Violence is something we can’t and don’t get away from in our daily lives. We may not see it in all of its gory detail on the news like we do in horror movies, but it’s still present.
Horror movies have a certain freedom when it comes to depicting violence on film because the audience knows it’s fake. The audience may not like it or condone the violence, but we know no one really got hurt. The same can’t be said about what we see on the news. There is no fantasy or separation from reality there.
And we should be uncomfortable with the violence—both in the movies and in the news. We shouldn’t appreciate that bad things happen or become numb to it, and I think that’s where horror movies become important. By pushing the envelope and by making the audience queasy, it reminds us that we should react to violence. We should be horrified by what we see, and that should make us want to change.
However, on the other side, these are just films created to be entertaining and allow the audience to escape for a while. So, if that’s how you approach watching them, so be it. You are allowed to enjoy them.
So, to answer Scott’s questions, I think that hyper-realistic depictions of cannibalism and violence in horror films have their place, and I think it’s a safe place that allows audiences to confront the horror, know it’s fake, and then decide the best way to react to it. I think it allows us to look at what is happening in the real world and realize that something has to be done.
And to his other question about the Human Centipede and its sequel, I have never seen either film and don’t plan on seeing either film, but I believe that like other horror films they speak to the depravity of the human condition and what some are willing to do to others and the reaction they get should be one of disgust; however, if it’s something an audience enjoys, they can.
Everyone needs a Rockin' Read! Stop by Sept 23rd to 30th and find out which reads have rocked 2015 for us! There will be a giveaway on each blog, so don't forget to visit them all! You can visit the main blog post here.
My Rockin' Read so far this year was The Girl With All the Gifts by M. R. Carey.
A friend on Facebook recommended this to me, so I went to Amazon to check it out. Mystery surrounds what the book is about, and the description is vague yet intriguing. Here’s what it says:
Melanie is a very special girl. Dr Caldwell calls her "our little genius."
Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite, but they don't laugh.
The Girl With All the Gifts is a groundbreaking thriller, emotionally charged and gripping from beginning to end.
Even in the reviews there’s this desire to keep the story a bit of a secret. I understand why. It makes it more intriguing, but at the same time, I bought it knowing it was a zombie novel (and now you know too), and I don’t think knowing that took anything away from the thrill of the book.
There are several other twists and surprises throughout the story, but I won’t reveal what those are. They have to be experienced first-hand to truly be appreciated.
What I will say is that this story was amazing! The author did an awesome job of creating a post-apocalyptic world that I haven’t seen before. He developed characters that I cared about and became emotionally attached to. By the end of it, I was smiling and pleased with the outcome. I got chills because the book made such an impact and impression on me.
There were a few stereotypes in the story, especially when it came to how science and scientists or the zombies were portrayed, but that was expected. There are certain tropes that exist within the genre, and I fully expected them to be there. However, I was pleasantly surprised that he undermines a few of those expectations later in the story.
If you’re looking for gore, this may not be the book for you. There’s some, but it’s not over the top—which often occurs in zombie books and films. There’s violence, but it’s not horrific. And if you’re reading a zombie book, you expect it to be there anyway.
I would definitely recommend this book, even if you aren’t a hardcore zombie fan. It deals much more with the human side of the zombie situation and focuses on my favorite question: What does it mean to be human?
I am pleased and honored to be part of the Summer of Zombie 2015! It’s awesome to be among so many amazing and wonderful zombie authors.
There are interviews and giveaways and a t-shirt! Who doesn’t want a t-shirt? I’ve already ordered mine, and I can’t wait for it to get here! You can order yours here. They are only available for a limited time, so don’t delay!
So, if you looking for some zombie mayhem and a lot of really cool authors, check out the blog and see what cool things these zombie lovers are up to!
Here is the list (and schedule) of the authors participating:
SUMMER OF ZOMBIE 2015
Here (for your convenience) you will find all of the various posts for the #SummerofZombie 2015 event… and we’re looking at over 100 posts!
Feel free to reblog and/or share any and all of these posts to help promote the zombie authors as well as letting new readers know what is out there!
In addition to writing, I like to get out into the world and talk about what I've done. You may recall that I've blogged about some of my presentations. Well, in an effort to get my information out there, my friend designed a newsletter mailer for me. I think it turned out awesome!
During it's creation, she asked if I wanted any color in it, and I jokingly told her "zombie green." What she added is just spectacular. I think it gives it pop and makes it look even more amazing!
If you know me, you know it’s not really a secret that I’m a horror fan. I like to write it, read it, and watch it. In some cases, I become obsessed with it. Uh hum.
Lately, I’ve been telling my coworkers that Christmas needs more horror in it. One day a year devoted to all things scary just doesn’t cut it for me. So, as you can imagine, Krampus makes me happy.
Not surprisingly, I’ve become obsessed with Krampus. Last year was the first year I discovered he even existed. How in the world had this demon gotten by me? If you ask me, he’s a better threat to use against the kids than Santa not showing up. He’s definitely more scary.
So, as the kids get older and more influenced by my interests, Krampus will become a permanent Christmas figure in our home. Yes, I’m fully aware that there’s something wrong with me (I would never argue against that), but I’ve made peace with it.
Earlier this week, my book manager (hi, Pam!) hesitated sending me a link to a review. Understandably, she didn’t want to ruin my day. The review isn’t exactly flattering. The reviewer didn’t love Undead Obsessed.
But, honestly, those things don’t bother me. I told her to send it along, and I happily read it. I actually chuckled a little afterward. The reviewer didn’t like the book, but I think it’s because he wanted it to be something it wasn’t. The way I read it, he wanted it to be more scholarly. And it’s not. At one point, I had attempted to make it much more academic, but it didn’t feel right. So, I changed it. And I was much happier with it after that.
Anyway, my point is that as an author, there will always be people who don’t like my books. I’m going to get bad reviews; it’s the nature of the beast. How I react to those reviews is up to me. Personally, I don’t let them bother me. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Love it or hate it, at least they read the book (or at least part of it).
At this point, I’ve received some real doozies in my writing career. Some were incredibly confusing (and by that I mean I couldn’t figure out exactly what the reviewer's issue was with the book), and some just didn’t like my work. And the vast majority of the books I’ve written have gotten at least one—from my kids’ books to my YA to my adult. I won’t lie, a bad review can sting a little at first, but then I move on. There’s absolutely no sense dwelling on the negative.
So, what are some things I do when faced with a negative review? First and foremost, I read it. I try to tease out exactly what they are saying and what their rejections are to the work, and then, if said review is posted on their blog, I thank them for reviewing my book. Even if they didn’t like it, they still took the time to look at it, and as someone who doesn’t have a lot of time, I know how difficult it can be, so I thank them for that.
I never engage them or argue with them or tell them that they missed the point completely. Again, they are entitled to their opinion. I may comment on what I think they meant (like I did at the beginning of the post), but the truth is, I don’t really know what’s going on in their head.
I don’t get upset. There’s absolutely no point. The only person that hurts is me, and life is way too short to dwell on the negative and be mad at someone for having an opinion. I become even more thankful for the good reviews and focus my energy on them.
I remind myself that I’m not alone. Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, Christopher Pike, Piers Anthony—every author that has been brave enough to put their work into the world has received a bad review. At least we are all in good company.
Here’s the thing: whether a review is good or bad, it’s not going to stop me from doing what I do. I’m going to continue to write. Yeah, good reviews are awesome because they reinforce that what I’m doing is right and make it worth it, but bad reviews won’t break me. They don’t decide if I continue to write. Only I get to decide to do that. I refuse to give anyone else that much power over me.
I will be giving away two copies of Undead Obsessed, open to U.S. shipping only. For a chance to win, all you have to do is leave a comment telling me what your favorite zombie movie is (or show or book, whatever, just make it zombie related), and your name will be placed in the drawing. Daily entries are not allowed. No matter how many comments you leave, your name will only go into the drawing once.
Good luck! Have fun!
Here are the other blogs participating in the hop:
I suffer from many different neurosis, which includes both anxiety and paranoia. That can become problematic for an author, and let me explain why.
I love creating stories. The voices in my head refuse to shut up until I've put their story onto paper. I also really enjoy researching things and putting my findings onto paper. I love sharing those stories/observations with other people, but it also scares me to death to think that people will actually read it.
Earlier this week, I gave the people who helped me with Undead Obsessed copies of the book. And I had an internal freak out about them reading it. I started to panic. What if they don't like it? What if I didn't edit their parts the way I was supposed to? What if they want me to change something?
I talked myself down, telling myself everything was going to be all right. Later in the day, I delivered a couple of the books, and the professors seemed excited to get them. As I left, I had second thoughts about giving them copies. I had to fight every urge to run back into the buildings and take them back.
Again, I calmed myself down. I spent the night and this morning thinking about the situation and trying to figure out why it was bothering me so much. After all, these people knew from the beginning that I was interviewing them for a book. I gave them the courtesy of reviewing their chapters before finalizing the chapters, and I made the vast majority of the edits they suggested. So why was I still freaking out about it?
As I thought about it more, I realized it was because I didn't think I was worthy to have written it. I had convinced myself that all the hard work I had done was worthless. No one was going to like it, least of all the people who helped me with it, and they were going to be angry at me for associating them with the project.
And the truth of the matter is: they could. They could hate it. They could be upset to be associated with it, but you know what? That's their prerogative. They were given the opportunity before it came out to make changes, and they did. But at the end of the day, I'm still the author. I did the best I could. I wrote what I wanted to write. I don't need anyone's permission to research and find answers to questions I want answers to. I'm allowed to write anything that strikes my fancy.
It would be incredibly naive of me to think that everyone in the world is going to like my work, but I can't let that stop me. I can't be afraid to do what I want to do because someone in the world might not like it. I can't continue to believe I'm not good enough.
Putting my writing out there is scary, and it opens me up to criticism. I know that, and I have to be able to deal with it. For the most part, I can, but the illogical part of my brain, the neurosis, can make it incredibly difficult. However, there is no reward without risk, and I'm willing to take the chance. I hope the rest of you are too.
It's not a secret that I'm a dork. When I find something I like, I become incredibly passionate about it. Obsessed even. I'm that way with Star Wars, the Alien films, and zombies, among other things. It's fun for me to immerse myself in these worlds and learn as much as I can about them.
A few weekends ago, I had the opportunity to be involved with a local zombie 5k. I was giving away some of my zombie reading kits, but I thought it would be fun to have them fill out some questions to be put into the drawing. I asked five zombie-related questions, which I thought were fairly easy, but most of the people couldn't answer them. It surprised me.
Again, I know I'm a dork and full of useless information, so maybe what I thought were easy and common-knowledge questions about zombie weren't. In either case, I thought it would be fun to see if anyone else could answer the questions. I'm doing a giveaway, also. For everyone who answers (whether right or wrong), I will put you in a drawing for a chance to win one of three copies of Undead Obsessed: Finding Meaning in Zombies.
The questions are below. Please try to answer them without Googling the answers. Place the answers in the comments, and please leave a way for me to contact you if you win. I will announce the winners on Wednesday. Good luck! Have fun!
1. What was the name of the zombie in Day of the Dead that they kept chained up?
2. Who directed Night of the Living Dead?
3. What was the first film to introduce the world to the fast zombie?
4. What do the characters in The Walking Dead call zombies?
Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year. I love watching my kids get excited about costumes and going trick-or-treating and seeing them try to be brave while the world becomes scary.
But this Halloween is even more special for me. Undead Obsessed: Finding Meaning in Zombies is now available for you reading pleasure! You can find it on Amazon both in print and on Kindle. I hope you enjoy it. I had a blast writing it!
Jessica Robinson's obsession with zombie films started when she was in junior high. Horror films are a great lens to examine concerns society has about modern science. Let’s face it, when it comes to horror movies, science has a bad reputation. Blind ambition, experimental serums, and genetic experiments are often blamed for the giant monster terrorizing the city or the reason aliens are taking human prisoners or the cause of the dead rising from the grave to consume living flesh.
Using film, literature, and interviews with experts, Robinson examines how zombies portray real-world fears such as epidemics, mind control, what may or may not exist in space, the repercussions of playing God, and the science behind the fears. Robinson's goal is to explore how zombies become a metaphor for our fears of science and what could happen if science gets out of hand.
As Friday and the release of Undead Obsessed approaches, I can't help but be nervous and excited at the same time. It's exciting and wonderful to see my labors come to fruition, but it's frightening to think about how people are going to react to it.
I realize that not everyone is going to like it. And that's OK. It's not for everyone. But my fear is that EVERYONE is going to hate it. And let me know about it. It's a thin, strange line between wanting readers to read and enjoy my book and being afraid for them to. I think some people call that neurotic.
But then there's the other side of that coin too. What if everyone LOVES it and this is the book that launches me into the stratosphere. As much as I dream of that happening, that frightens me also. Don't get me wrong, I love to talk about my work and be the center of attention, but I'm not sure I would even know HOW to handle it!
These are the types of things that always run through my head when a book comes out. Yes, I'm well aware of my shortcomings and my psychosis. I can't speak for every author, but a few of my close friends also have the same fears and concerns. So far, none of us have had to worry about what would happen if we made it big. But maybe one day...
It's hard putting myself out like this. I never know how the world is going to react. I put a lot of work into my books, and I really enjoyed writing them, and my only hope is that others can see how much fun it is for me. But if they don't, they don't. I can't control other people. I can only take things one day at a time.
The last few months in my house have been crazy. We've moved into a new office building, moved into a new house, and then had a grand opening for new office building. We also got a new puppy. All of this on top of all the regular duties I must take care of in life.
Things are finally starting to settle down and get back to normal. I'm very excited about that. But I'm also super exhausted. If I could just sleep for an entire day, that would be awesome. I think it would help so much. Sadly, that's not going to happen.
But it's all good. Everything will be all right. It may have been super busy, but I also got Undead Obsessed ready for publication, and that comes out next week! I'm super excited about that, but also really nervous. It will turn out awesome (I hope).
Just a quick note to apologize for being absent from the blog recently. It has been crazy busy at my house. Next weekend won't be any better. It's going to be even busier. I will get back on schedule as soon as I can!
On the plus side, I turned in Undead Obsessed for formatting on Friday, and I'm hoping Dealing with Devils will go to editing this coming week.
Undead Obsessed is still scheduled for release on Halloween, and Dealing with Devils is scheduled for publication on January 16. Woooooot!
I hope the rest of you are having an awesome weekend!
Yesterday, I participated in the Cheyenne Zombie Fest. It was a lot of fun, and I would definitely do it again.
This was the 4th year this celebration has been going on, but I only recently heard about it. I contacted the organizer and asked if I could sell my books there, and he set me up at a table with another author. Her name was Jill Pope, and she wrote Haunted Cheyenne. It was fun to talk about ghosts!
My youngest was incredibly helpful in taking this picture.
There were quite a few people who dressed up, both as zombies and zombie hunters. There were even people there from Cheyenne's Umbrella Corporation (the boys loved these guys because they looked like Army soldiers). I didn't take as many photos as I wanted, but I had a blast!
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to stay all day. I only stayed for a few hours. I didn't sell any books, but I was able to network with Matt Mogk, who happens to be the founder of the Zombie Research Society and guest of honor. My book manager contacted him recently to review Undead Obsessed, which he said he would, so I wanted to thank him and also talk zombies. He was a really nice guy.
I'll admit it, I geeked out a little. But it didn't seem to bother him. I mean, he didn't shy away from me or call security, so I figured that was a good sign. I probably talked his ear off, but he humored me.
All in all, I had a great time at the festival, and if they have it again next year, I'm going to make a point to stay all day!
I can't tell you how excited I am that Booktrope is going to be publishing Undead Obsessed. They are the ones who put out The Appeal of Evil, and they are fantastic to work with.
I was a little disappointed that the agent route didn't work out, but I honestly wasn't surprised. How many books have I queried for? At least five, and not one of them enticed an agent. But I'm not letting it get me down. I can't. If you think about it, I have quite a lot stacked against me. I live in Wyoming, I don't have an MFA degree (although I do have my Master's in English), and I write genre.
These may seem like inconsequential things, but when agents want you to have a platform (which is just a fancy way of saying they want lots of people to know/follow you), I'm at a disadvantage. I'm not near any major cities. And I'm definitely not near New York.
Having an MFA degree would mean that during my education I would have had access to the publishing industry and famous writers. Sadly, when I was getting my master's, the university I attended didn't have a formal MFA program. They do now, but I'll be damned if I'm going to go back to school. (And yes, I'm well aware that this is a personal choice that could affect my career, but I'm OK with that too.)
Writing genre is really difficult. For one, there aren't necessarily a lot of agents who represent that genre. For another, the genre can be so saturated with authors or have greats that still dominate that it's hard for a newbie to break into.
Now, don't get me wrong, new authors with less connections than I have make it big in the publishing world. I have a close friend who landed an agent. All I'm saying is that I have a lot stacked against me. But, again, I'm fine with that. It doesn't bother me. At least I can say I tried.
In addition, it's not going to stop me from writing. I've come a long way since 2009 when Coming from Nowhere was published, and I really enjoy creating books. Just because an agent doesn't want it, that doesn't mean I'm going to stop.
Wow. I kind of got off on a tangent there for a minute. Let's get back to Undead Obsessed!
I spent a year writing this book. In the scheme of things, a year really isn't that long, but it's also really long. I dedicated a year of my life to this one project. And I'm damn proud of it. I've always wanted to write about zombies, but I never knew exactly what I wanted to say. When the inspiration for this book hit, it just took off.
There were ups and downs along the way, some criticism that cut deep, but in the end, it all contributed to making Undead Obsessed what it is. And I can't wait to share it with the world. And I can't thank Booktrope enough for agreeing to help me share it.
As I mentioned yesterday, we are currently looking for reviewers. You don't have to be a formal reviewer or have a blog, you can be an average reader with a love for zombies and access to Amazon. A secret group was set up on Facebook, so if you're interested, let us know and we'll add you. You can download the ARC from there.
I didn't need another reason to enjoy Halloween, but now I really can't wait for it to get here!
It's been a great week. I met my deadline for projects at work, and I set a date for the release of Undead Obsessed: Finding Meaning in Zombies. We're planning on having it available by Halloween.
The agent route fell through for me--again. Even after all the drama and miscommunication with one particular agent, I never received any response after sending my full manuscript. But, hey, it's all good. The book still has a home and will be available for readers to read.
Before that happens, my book manager and I have set up a secret group on Facebook for people who are interested in reading the book. The only stipulation is that you have to post a review. If you're interested in being part of the group, please send me an email (address on right hand side of blog) or my book manager Pam (pamela.labbe[@]booktrope[.]com)and we'll add you.
For your information, here's what the book is about:
My obsession with zombie films started when I was in junior high. They are a great lens to examine concerns society has about modern science. Let’s face it, when it comes to horror movies, science has a bad reputation. Blind ambition, experimental serums, and genetic experiments are often blamed for the giant monster terrorizing the city or the reason aliens are taking human prisoners or the cause of the dead rising from the grave to consume living flesh.
Using film, literature, and interviews with experts, my nonfiction book, Undead Obsessed: Finding Meaning in Zombies (approximately 65,000 words), examines how zombies portray real-world fears such as epidemics, mind control, what may or may not exist in space, the repercussions of playing God, and the science behind the fears.
Science has made it possible for us to live the way we do; it has given us numerous advances in all fields of life from medicine to agriculture to entertainment. Yet, with all of these advantages, there are a multitude of disadvantages that could prove to be detrimental to humans and society. Weapon technology used in wars is one of these major disadvantages, but anything that is beneficial to humanity, including medicine, has the potential to harm us. My goal is to explore how zombies become a metaphor for our fears of science and what could happen if science gets out of hand.
This week it became clear that Undead Obsessed wasn't going to be picked up by an agent. The revelation was bittersweet. Of course I would have loved to get a agent, but it wasn't meant to be. But don't fret. All is not lost. The book will still see it's way into the world.
I'm currently in discussions with a publisher. They will more than likely take it, but some details about photos in the book need to be worked out. I have confidence that it will work out. As usual, I will keep you informed of progress.
Other than that, I've been booking library visits to give my various presentations. I have one next week, then two in October. I'm also doing a program called Ignite Laramie, and I'm hoping to be part of the Cheyenne Zombie Fest. So many fun things coming up in the near future!
On top of that, I finished the first draft of Dealing with Devils. It's the sequel to The Appeal of Evil. It still needs a lot of work, but at least I have something to work with. It felt good to get that accomplished. For a while there, I didn't think I would get it done at all!
It's been a productive week, and I'm feeling energized and inspired. It feels great!
This week was a good week. Nothing overly exciting happened, and I was incredibly busy with freelance edits and editing The Ifs Return for the publisher, but it went by fast.
I crossed a bunch of agents off my list this week. Their window of response had closed. It was bittersweet as that meant several less agents were interested in my work, but it gets me one step closer to knowing where the book will be published. That doesn't make me sad. At least it has a home. And I'm already brainstorming a whole bunch of promotional ideas that should be really fun. Of course, I'd do those no matter who put the book out.
I still have one agent interested--I think. He hasn't given me a concrete rejection, and when I email him updates (which happens incredibly rarely), he says "Thanks for the update." On one hand, it's a great response because I assume that means I'm still being considered, but on the other, it's irritating because I want a concrete answer either way. Sigh. I guess I just relish in the moment that he hasn't rejected me outright.
Speaking of the nonfiction zombie book, I got it back from the editor and sent it off to the people I interviewed for their approval/input. I gave them until the end of the month to get it back to me, so I'm sooooo close to being done done. It feels so freaking good!
As I mentioned up top, I'm also working on edits for The Ifs Return. I just need to finish those up and send them back to the publisher. I will get that done today. I feel bad because I've had it for two weeks now, but I wasn't kidding when I said I've been busy.
My goal this coming week is to work on Dealing with Devils (the sequel to The Appeal of Evil). I'm close on that one. Maybe five chapters left before my first draft is finished. To me, that's the hard part. I like editing and rewriting--that means I actually have something down on paper!
I feel like this month is flying by super fast. I feel like I haven't accomplished everything I want to accomplish, but I've done a LOT! All I can do is keep plugging along, and that's what I plan to do.
is a groundbreaking thriller, emotionally charged and gripping from beginning to end.
