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Books, Beer and Blogshit: Are you a survivor or one of the undead?
John O'Brien: I hope I manage to end up on the survivor side of things. Although I can totally see myself stuck in a mall when it goes down and being bitten within 45 seconds. That would suck.
The Blogshit: What is your latest piece of zombie fiction we should be concerning ourselves with?
John O'Brien: I released A New World: Untold Stories a few weeks ago. It’s a set of short stories based in the world created with the series. The last few stories are submissions from fans.
The Blogshit: Do you feel you are a classic or progressive type of zombie fiction writer?
John O'Brien: I’m old so I’m not even sure the term “progressive” could ever apply anymore. However, the creatures in the series are not the classic types and, technically, they aren’t really zombies. But shhhh….I won’t tell anyone if you won’t.
The Blogshit: What makes your zombies different from all others?
John O'Brien: Well, I guess I will tell…dang. They are genetically mutated from a vaccine. Fast, strong, agile, and persistently ferocious, they hunt the streets at night.
The Blogshit: What makes your living different from all the others?
John O'Brien: I don’t know. They are just ordinary people trying to make it to the next day. They make mistakes and people die. The main protagonist isn’t perfect nor does he wear a red cape.
The Blogshit: Do you think it's important, in this climate, to run with the pack or really try to reinvent the wheel in zombie fiction?
John O'Brien: To each, their own. It’s certainly not for me to say what people should write about. I say, write your story the way it is in your head and go along for the ride.
The Blogshit: Zombie fiction seems heavily dependent upon working within the construct of a series. Do you feel that is the way that makes it work best for you or do you think there is still room for stand alone stories?
John O'Brien: I think it depends on the writer. I do think there is room for stand-alone stories and some prefer it that way. However, for me, I can’t tell the story in just one book. The world has to be created, the characters introduced, and the story of survival told. It’s such a vastly different place, and so much that goes on, that I couldn’t tell it in just a single book.
The Blogshit: Are you ever afraid of being pigeon-holed in this zombie fiction genre?
John O'Brien: No. I think the genre is expanding into one of the major ones. The stories encompass several different angles: Post Apocalyptic, survival, perhaps military. So, in writing within the genre, I feel that I’m writing in at least three others.
The Blogshit: For your next zombie story, stand alone or series, do you think you will need to go sicker or smarter to keep it going?
John O'Brien: I just think my next series will be different. I’m not sure you have to go one way or the other. I just don’t feel that I have to outdo anyone or anything, I just have to write down the tale spinning around in my head.
The Blogshit: On last year's tour, we asked about what to put on your zombie sandwich. This year, we want to know: What special ingredients would you use to pickle the pickles on your zombie sandwich?
John O'Brien: Now you’re asking me to be creative…sigh. I’m not sure I have that in me.
Okay, first, you have to capture an Armand. They’re tricky and wily, so care and caution has to be taken. Not everyone has the skill necessary to track one of these beasts. Then, you have to hunt down and nab a Tufo. This is a very reclusive creature and difficult to find. However, I’ve heard stories tell that it can be lured out with the promise of beer. Once you have these two, you must snip several hairs from their beards. Don’t take too much or you will enrage them beyond control. Add the hairs for a touch of twisted humor to your pickles.
* * * * *
John O'Brien
Author of the series, A New World
Author page: http://www.amazon.com/John-OBrien/e/B005IDEPP0/
Web site: http://anewworldseries.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/A_NewWorld
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJohnOBrien
Merchandise store:
http://zazzle.com/anewworldsupplies
http://www.cafepress.com/anewworldseries
The second author up in our interview series is John O'Brien. Mr. O'Brien joined us on last year's Summer of Zombie Blog Tour and his interview was one of the big successes. So if we are going to dip back into that well, we may as well make it one of the bigger names in the group.
Since we are no stranger to John and he is no stranger to us, let's jump right in and see how he tackles the new batch of hard hitting questions:
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Books, Beer and Blogshit: Are you a survivor or one of the undead?
John O'Brien: I hope I manage to end up on the survivor side of things. Although I can totally see myself stuck in a mall when it goes down and being bitten within 45 seconds. That would suck.
The Blogshit: What is your latest piece of zombie fiction we should be concerning ourselves with?
John O'Brien: I released A New World: Untold Stories a few weeks ago. It’s a set of short stories based in the world created with the series. The last few stories are submissions from fans.
The Blogshit: Do you feel you are a classic or progressive type of zombie fiction writer?
John O'Brien: I’m old so I’m not even sure the term “progressive” could ever apply anymore. However, the creatures in the series are not the classic types and, technically, they aren’t really zombies. But shhhh….I won’t tell anyone if you won’t.
The Blogshit: What makes your zombies different from all others?
John O'Brien: Well, I guess I will tell…dang. They are genetically mutated from a vaccine. Fast, strong, agile, and persistently ferocious, they hunt the streets at night.
The Blogshit: What makes your living different from all the others?
John O'Brien: I don’t know. They are just ordinary people trying to make it to the next day. They make mistakes and people die. The main protagonist isn’t perfect nor does he wear a red cape.
The Blogshit: Do you think it's important, in this climate, to run with the pack or really try to reinvent the wheel in zombie fiction?
John O'Brien: To each, their own. It’s certainly not for me to say what people should write about. I say, write your story the way it is in your head and go along for the ride.
The Blogshit: Zombie fiction seems heavily dependent upon working within the construct of a series. Do you feel that is the way that makes it work best for you or do you think there is still room for stand alone stories?
John O'Brien: I think it depends on the writer. I do think there is room for stand-alone stories and some prefer it that way. However, for me, I can’t tell the story in just one book. The world has to be created, the characters introduced, and the story of survival told. It’s such a vastly different place, and so much that goes on, that I couldn’t tell it in just a single book.
The Blogshit: Are you ever afraid of being pigeon-holed in this zombie fiction genre?
John O'Brien: No. I think the genre is expanding into one of the major ones. The stories encompass several different angles: Post Apocalyptic, survival, perhaps military. So, in writing within the genre, I feel that I’m writing in at least three others.
The Blogshit: For your next zombie story, stand alone or series, do you think you will need to go sicker or smarter to keep it going?
John O'Brien: I just think my next series will be different. I’m not sure you have to go one way or the other. I just don’t feel that I have to outdo anyone or anything, I just have to write down the tale spinning around in my head.
The Blogshit: On last year's tour, we asked about what to put on your zombie sandwich. This year, we want to know: What special ingredients would you use to pickle the pickles on your zombie sandwich?
John O'Brien: Now you’re asking me to be creative…sigh. I’m not sure I have that in me.
Okay, first, you have to capture an Armand. They’re tricky and wily, so care and caution has to be taken. Not everyone has the skill necessary to track one of these beasts. Then, you have to hunt down and nab a Tufo. This is a very reclusive creature and difficult to find. However, I’ve heard stories tell that it can be lured out with the promise of beer. Once you have these two, you must snip several hairs from their beards. Don’t take too much or you will enrage them beyond control. Add the hairs for a touch of twisted humor to your pickles.
* * * * *
John O'Brien
Author of the series, A New World
Author page: http://www.amazon.com/John-OBrien/e/B005IDEPP0/
Web site: http://anewworldseries.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/A_NewWorld
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJohnOBrien
Merchandise store:
http://zazzle.com/anewworldsupplies
http://www.cafepress.com/anewworldseries
nice...just started the series thanks to Tufo recommendation. Its great so far, but narrator sounds a little like Nicholas Cage.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview! Not so sure about the pickles, though. :)
ReplyDeleteLove the how to pickle your sandwhich lmao
ReplyDeleteFantastic! Just finished the book and am ready for the next one ... hurry up, John!!! we are waiting!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI am on a diet, but tufo? That doesn't sound a bit appetizing to me, almost to much like tofu. Love your work man! Keep them coming!
ReplyDelete