Summer of Zombie Blog Tour 2015: Julianne Snow

You're reading Books, Beer and BLOGshit! It's the penultimate blog on the interwebs! I am your next to last host, Mr. Frank!

This also happens to be the penultimate blog on the Summer of Zombie Blog Tour for 2015. Author Julianne Snow drags her zombie in, kicking and screaming, for an interview with Books, Beer and BLOGshit. The zombie almost devoured me, so instead we just let Julianne take care of things herself.

Most zombies don't enjoy the interview and I can't say that I blame them. I'd rather be eating people too. Wait, I wasn't supposed to say that. Please, don't alert the authorities, instead read this interview with Julianne Snow's zombie, William McShane.

Julianne: Today I’m joined by William McShane, a legendary ladies man who died in the twilight of his life, who gets to live on even in death. How’d you become a zombie?

William McShane: I died. It’s pretty simple really. I drank too much, smoked too much, had sex like I was still a teenager—something was bound to do me in eventually.
Besides, everyone becomes a zombie when they die—it inevitable. Did you really think that life would be over once your heart stopped beating?

Julianne: Would you rather be alive again?

McShane: Maybe, I mean the ladies are a little turned off by the whole dead thing but when you’ve got the kind of ‘skills’ I’ve got, the ladies aren’t turned off for long… If you get my meaning… *McShane winks, his face breaking into a cheeky grin*

Julianne: What do the brains taste like anyway?

McShane: Who the hell eats brains? C’mon, we zombies have gotten such a bad rap over the years. We don’t eat brains… in fact, we really don’t need to eat after death. I doubt that’ll stop me though.

Hey, you’re a pretty thing, wanna grab a drink later? I’ll can show you what I like to eat…

*McShane winks suggestively*

Julianne: Does everything stiffen up from the Rigor Mortis?

McShane: It does for a few hours but after that you’ll need a little help. You know how the living have the ‘little blue pill’? Well, the dead have the “little green pill’ and I’ve already got my first prescription filled. Now I just need someone willing to test them out…

*Another wink and a few kisses blow in my direction*

Julianne: If you could eat anyone, who would it be?

McShane: By now, I think that would be obvious…

Zombie Author Julianne Snow

Julianne Snow is the author of the Days with the Undead series and Glimpses of the Undead. She is the founder of Zombieholics Anonymous and the Co-Founder and Publicist at Sirens Call Publications. Writing in the realms of speculative fiction, Julianne has roots that go deep into horror and is a member of the Horror Writers Association. With pieces of short fiction in various publications, Julianne always has a few surprises up her sleeves. Be sure to check out The Carnival 13, a collaborative round-robin novella for charity which she contributed to and helped to spearhead which was released in October 2013.

Social Media Links:

Twitter: @CdnZmbiRytr

Facebook: Julianne Snow

FB Fan Page: Julianne Snow, Author, Days with the Undead, & Zombieholics Anonymous

Amazon Author Page: Julianne Snow

Goodreads: Julianne Snow

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/cdnzmbirytr/

Google+: Julianne Snow

Blogs: Days with the Undead, The FlipSide of Julianne & Zombieholics Anonymous

Synopsis:

It’s a journal of survival.

Five people set out to escape the Undead who have risen too close to home. Join the emotional and physical struggle as they began on the third day after the awakening of Brooks VanReit, as they are recorded from the point of view of Julie, a former pathologist and part-time survivalist.

Each entry is geared toward helping those who want to help themselves and maybe give a few that don’t a swift kick in the ass. Join our group of survivors on their journey through these Days with the Undead.

Here is a picture of a barracuda for no particular reason.

Summer of Zombie Blog Tour 2014: Julianne Snow

You're reading Books, Beer and Blogshit! It's the only blog that gives more than it takes. I am your selfless blogger, Mr. Frank!

Final week of the Summer of Zombie Blog Tour folks! We have more interviews than days left in the week so to spice things up, you are going to see some double-headers this week! We are going to be throwing zombies at you fast and furious to close this mayhem out!

So for interview number one of two today, I am proud to present Julianne Snow. Anyone who follows the writers in zombie circles will find her name quite recognizable I am sure. She is a rising female voice not only in zombie fiction but horror in general. Her and I will actually be sharing the pages later this summer in not one but two STATE OF HORROR anthologies.

So read the Julianne Snow interview before the flesh rots from your face and you walk the Earth a souless monster.

Books, Beer and Blogshit:  Are you a survivor or one of the undead?

Julianne Snow:  Survivor most definitely!

The Blogshit:  What is your latest piece of zombie fiction we should be concerning ourselves with?

Julianne Snow:  Glimpses of the Undead – a short story collection that combines a few sub genres of the undead fiction realms (plus there’s a funny vampire story thrown in for good measure!)

The Blogshit:  Do you feel you are a classic or progressive type of zombie fiction writer?

Julianne Snow:  I’d classify myself as both. I’ve written more classic type zombies and delved into some of the newer sub-genres as well. I think every writer needs to mix it up a bit.

The Blogshit:  What makes your zombies different from all others?

Julianne Snow:  The easy answer is that I’ve written them. Every author has a style and their zombies are going to reflect that. I try to keep aspects believable in terms of the scientific realm because that’s where my background is—of course people could argue that nothing about zombies is scientific, but I do beg to differ. Tissue is going to behave in a certain way when exposed to different phenomena. If you expose your zombies to fire and they don’t burn, it’s going to be fairly unbelievable. Certain things just can’t be messed with… But I digress!

The Blogshit:  What makes your living different from all the others?

Julianne Snow:  That’s a very good question! I write flawed characters because the simple truth of the matter is that we’re all flawed. Sure there are heroes that emerge, but chances are those individuals had absolutely no idea they had that capability within them.

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?

Julianne Snow:  I think the story needs to go where the story needs to go. So many readers lament the fact that zombie fiction is the ‘same old, same old’. If we never change it up, we’re definitely going to lose the interest of those readers. Now I’m not advocating breaking the mold—but if you want to breathe a little new life into the genre, I think it will be refreshing and welcome.

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?

Julianne Snow:  I think there’s room for both. I’ve got a great idea for a standalone book that I plan to start before the end of the year. It’s a little different, but I think it will definitely work.

The Blogshit:  Are you ever afraid of being pigeon-holed in this zombie fiction genre?

Julianne Snow:  Not at all. I love what I write and I love that people love it. If that pigeon-holes me in the opinion of some, it still doesn’t define who I am as a writer or what I write.

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?

Julianne Snow:  That’s a hard question to answer. I don’t see myself going overly gory, but I do have that within me. We’ll just have to see where the story takes me!

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?

Julianne Snow:  Here’s the recipe I use—it’s a little sweet and a little sour, just the way I like it!

25 medium pickling cucumbers, washed and sliced 1/4-inch thick with a crinkle vegetable cutter, if desired

6 medium onions, cut into thin rings

2 washed and diced green peppers; if desired you can use a hot pepper for flavour

3 minced cloves garlic

1/2 cup pickling salt or kosher salt (5% saline solution works just as well though you need to be sure you don’t exceed your liquid ingredients)

3 cups cider or white vinegar

5 cups sugar

2 tablespoons mustard seeds

1 1/2 teaspoons celery seeds

1/2 teaspoon whole cloves

1 tablespoon turmeric

1 cup formaldehyde

*   *   *   *   *

Julianne Snow is the author of the Days with the Undead series and Glimpses of the Undead. She is the founder of Zombieholics Anonymous and the Publicist at Sirens Call Publications. Writing in the realms of speculative fiction, Julianne has roots that go deep into horror and is a member of the Horror Writers Association. With pieces of short fiction in various publications, Julianne always has a few surprises up her sleeves. Be sure to check out The Carnival 13, a collaborative round-robin novella for charity which she contributed to and helped to spearhead which was released in October 2013.

Social Media Links:

Twitter: @CdnZmbiRytr

Facebook: Julianne Snow

FB Fan Page: Julianne Snow, Author

Amazon Author Page: Julianne Snow

Goodreads: Julianne Snow

Google+: Julianne Snow

Blogs: Days with the Undead, The FlipSide of Julianne & Zombieholics Anonymous

Summer of Zombie Blog Tour - Julianne Snow

You're reading Books, Beer and Blogshit! It's the only blog that has satanic messages in it when read backwards!  We are your bloggers, Mr. Frank and Mr. Jeff.

We are one third of the way through our Summer of Zombie Blog Tour interviews. Since three times is a charm we figured we'd bring on a sparkling bauble of an author, Ms. Julianne Snow. That's right, this zombie fictions stuff isn't just for the fellas. Julianne Snow is showing the ladies can get it done with grit and gore as well. And maybe, just maybe be more bad ass then the boys in the process.

She's fairly new on the scene but she is one to keep an eye on. Let's tear into her brain and see what's inside. Good Readers, we present to you without any commercial interruption The Books, Beer and Blogshit interview with Julianne Snow.

The Blogshit:  Which of your books do we need to be talking about now and what is inside the pages to get excited about it?

Julianne Snow: You absolutely need to be talking about Days with the Undead: Book One. It’s the first in a series and it follows the journey of group of (semi)prepared individuals as they move away from the point of outbreak. There are tonnes of things inside the pages to get excited about. There are zombies, though admittedly they are never referred to as such; death; mayhem; perfectly flawed characters’ moments of hope’ moments of despair; and undead chipmunks. Yes, you heard me correctly. Undead chipmunks. I dare you to look at a chipmunk without shuddering after reading my book.

High Five, Bro!

The Blogshit: What is it about zombies that keep you writing in this genre?

Julianne Snow: I love the genre. I have since I was a young girl and caught a showing of Romero’s Night of the Living Dead at the age of six. Since that moment, I’ve sought out as much of the Zombie related media that I could – books, movies, video games. I consider all of it research because you never know when you’re going to need to think fast.As for what keeps me writing in the genre – that’s simple. I have a number of stories in my head that need to be written down. I don’t choose them, they choose me. Could I set these tales against a less apocalyptic backdrop – more than likely, but it certainly wouldn’t be as much fun!

The Blogshit: With the saturation of zombie fiction in the current market, what do you do to keep your writing fresh and relevant?

Julianne Snow: I read a lot of Zombie fiction, but I know there’s no way I could read it all. That being said, my stories aren’t just about the zombie and the apocalypse. I write about flawed people and how they would react. I write about ordinary circumstances made extraordinary by the situations that unfold as they arise.

The Days with the Undead series is written as a first person narrative mainly comprised of journal entries. There is no dialogue and the format truly reads as a non-fictional account. I have received compliments and criticisms for the style I chose, but in the end it’s the way the story comes to me. I take you inside the main characters head and show you the world through her eyes. It’s intense and gritty and by the end, you’d swear you were there with her through it all.

The Blogshit: What makes your zombies stand apart from all the others?

Julianne Snow: That’s an interesting question – my zombies don’t stand out when compared to others. They’re just zombies. But my story does stand out from others. It’s not told in the typical style. Days with the Undead gets into your head and messes with it. It’s super intense and delivers moments of epic savagery right alongside distraught hopefulness.

The Blogshit: Do you write (or plan to write) outside the zombie genre?
Julianne Snow: I do write outside the genre and have had pieces of short fiction published in anthologies and online magazines. I also have plans for longer works too. Now to find the time to write them all…

The Blogshit: Do you think the mega hype around the movie adaptation of World War Z will have a positive or negative effect on the zombie fiction scene?

Julianne Snow: I believe the effect will be a positive one. I loved Brooks’ World War Z and I cannot wait to see it on the big screen. I’m very interested to see how they’re going to fill in the blanks that Brooks left and if they’ll leave it open for a sequel.

The Blogshit: Is there a need for attrition in the zombie fiction market?

Julianne Snow: As long as there are readers hungry for the stories, I see no reason to limit what they have access to. There are a lot of talented writers creating within the genre and voracious readers will eventually weed out what they won’t give a second chance to without needing our help. That’s the beauty of the written word – we can write it, but we need the readers to read it.The Blogshit: What do you see in the future of zombies, both on the page and off?

Julianne Snow:  I see dead people…Fictional dead people. The genre is going to follow the typical cyclical trend of popularity to obscurity to popularity again. There will be the mainstays that never change and many of the addicts (myself included) will worship greats like Romero forever.
Oh and unfortunately, I see the Zombie Apocalypse as inevitable. One day, a few cells will align and the world will never be the same.
The Blogshit: We are building a menu for a fictional sandwich shop. Typically we ask what to put on the namesake of you sandwich. For the Summer of Zombie Blog Tour we are going to set aside a special menu sub-section so: What do we put on your zombiefied sandwich?
Julianne Snow: Brain, Lung and Tomato on toasted marble rye with a side of intestines covered in a head cheese and liver gravy. Mmmm delicious!

What a woman! We suggest you check in on Julianne's work and see what it's all about. We are sure you won't be disappointed. We've added a brief bio on Julianne and a set of links to various ways and means to get your eyes on her work:

It was while watching Romero's Night of the Living Dead at the tender age of 6 which solidified Julianne’s respect for the Undead. Since that day, she has been preparing herself for the (inevitable) Zombie Apocalypse. While classically trained in all of the ways to defend herself, she took up writing in order to process the desire she now covets; to bestow a second and final death upon the Undead. As the only girl growing up in a family with four children in the Canadian countryside, Julianne needed some form of escape. Her choice was the imaginations of others which only fostered the vibrancy of her own.

Days with the Undead: Book One is her first full-length book, the basis of which can be found in her popular web serial of the same name. Along with many zombie shorts published on her blog, she has a story in Women of the Living Dead as well as two zombie pieces; a standalone short and a collection releasing the summer of 2013. Julianne’s second novel in her Days with the Undead series will also be released in 2013. Stay tuned!

Social Media Links:

Twitter: @CdnZmbiRytr

Facebook: Julianne Snow

FB Fan Page: Days with the Undead

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/cdnzmbirytr/

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110149434437717424445/posts

Goodreads: Julianne Snow

Amazon Author Page: Julianne Snow

Blogs: Days with the Undead & The FlipSide of Julianne & The Randomness of Julianne

Days with the Undead: Book One

Synopsis:

It’s a journal of survival.

Five people set out to escape the Undead who have risen too close to home. Join the emotional and physical struggle as they began on the third day after the awakening of Brooks VanReit, as they are recorded from the point of view of Julie, a former pathologist and part-time survivalist.

Each entry is geared toward helping those who want to help themselves and maybe give a few that don’t a swift kick in the ass. Join our group of survivors on their journey through these Days with the Undead.

Links for Purchase:

Amazon: US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Japan, Brazil

CreateSpace (Print)

Smashwords (Kindle, Kobo, Nook, Sony)

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Apple