You're reading Books, Beer and Blogshit! It's the only blog that keeps plodding along on the Summer of Zombie Blog Tour 2014! I am your cantankerous host, Mr. Frank!
Today on the Blogshit we talk to the ever mysterious, TS Alan. Alan lurks in as much mystique as KISS in the 70s. Who knows the real face behind the man with the close up eyeball? The Blogshit sure doesn't but that doesn't stop us from trying to peel back the layers on the fresh blood being spilled in the zombie realms by TS Alan.
Get your sleuthing skills on becuse its time once again for the SoZBT 2014 interview with TS Alan!
Books, Beer and Blogshit: Are you a survivor or one of the undead?
TS Alan: I am a survivalist/prepper.
The Blogshit: What is your latest piece of zombie fiction we should be concerning ourselves with?
TS Alan: The Romero Strain.
The Blogshit: Do you feel you are a classic or progressive type of zombie fiction writer?
TS Alan: I am both. I have a tendency to write more about the George A. Romero style zombie, but also love the “infected” style of zombie that writer Alex Garland brought us with the film 28 Days Later…
The Blogshit: What makes your zombies different from all others?
TS Alan: Viruses mutate so why shouldn’t this affect those who get infected by creating different kinds of zombies. In my novel The Romero Strain you get the classic Romero zombie, but also ones call half-mutes that are not quiet the undead but certainly not a living human.
The Blogshit: What makes your living different from all the others?
TS Alan: They are flawed and weak in some aspects, but they know it. They try to improve themselves, which sometimes is difficult for them even though they know it could be a matter of their survival. The survivors also have to contend with their elected leader who not only as some major interpersonal skill issues when dealing with his fellow survivors, but also [Spoiler Alert] through his own unintentional doing became mutated after being bit by a zombie.
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?
TS Alan: I believe it is up to the writer. If you can come up with a really great story using the classic zombie, then do so. But don’t be afraid to try to invent something different.
The Blogshit: Zombie fiction seems heavily dependent upon working with 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 standalone stories?
TS Alan: I’m currently working on a series of standalone stories that are derived from the same zombie virus and take place in various countries, but are linked by one common element that is tied to the first story. It started out as a standalone story and then evolved into different ideas of how the virus might affect people in other parts of the world. So short answer long is yes, there is definitely a place and need for standalone stories, but I don’t think about whether it will be a stand alone only or a series when I’m writing.
The Blogshit: Are you ever afraid of being pigeonholed in this zombie fiction genre?
TS Alan: I first started writing science fiction and thriller shorts. I’ve even written a medieval period piece, but somehow ended up writing horror, mostly in the zombie genre. Though I want my other stories to be published and get recognition, and not just being recognized as a zombie writer, it would still be great to be known as an author for a genre that I love.
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?
TS Alan: Neither. I’m trying something different in the one I am working on now. The main protagonist will be a zombie. I am hoping readers are wowed and think it is truly something unique.
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?
TS Alan: Formaldehyde, because any good zombie sandwich would use undead fingers as pickles – bones in for crunchy goodness.
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Blog:
www.tsalan.com/blog
Twitter:
@suTSAlan1
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/TS-Alan/1430588100539649
Thank you.
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