Summer of Zombie Blog Tour 2014: Sarah Lyons Fleming

You're reading Books, Beer and Blogshit! Its the only blog that enjoys telling little white lies. I am your blog host that wishes he were a real boy, Mr. Frank!

We've made it! This is the final day of the Summer of Zombie Blog Tour 2014 interviews. So to end the whole shebang we've chosen Sarah Lyons Fleming so we can go out like a lion. See what I did there?

Sarah Lyons Fleming is a Mexican luchadora masquerading as La Cobra Toxico in the Juarez leagues. She currently has twenty seven wins and very questionable loss. When she is not busy wrestling, she enjoys kite fighting, box knitting and synchronized bicycle riding with her pit bull, Philomena.

Actually, none of that is true (to the best of my knowledge.)  Sarah Lyons Fleming writes about zombies. The rest of the facts she will fill in, in the final installment of the Books, Beer and Blogshit Summer of Zombie 2014 interview!

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

Sarah Lyons Fleming:  Well, I’ve got extra food, ammo and some survival skills, so I’d like to say survivor. But I’ve also got two kids, so there’s a good chance I’m dying for them.

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

Sarah Lyons Fleming:  My Until the End of the World series:

Until the End of the World: Book 1

So, Long Lollipops: A novella about one of the characters that takes place “off camera.”

And After: Book 2

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

Sarah Lyons Fleming:  I’d say classic in that the zombies are slow and lumbering. Progressive(ish) in that it’s chick-lit and focuses more on romance and relationships (platonic and not) between the characters. There’s a lot of homesteading and prepping as well.

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

Sarah Lyons Fleming:  I think they’re pretty similar in that they drive the story along, but there’s not a ton of gore in my books.

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

Sarah Lyons Fleming:  They’re real and full of emotion. They laugh and cry and act the way we all do—Which is to say sometimes they’re amazing people and sometimes they’re jerks.

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?

Sarah Lyons Fleming:  I think the only important thing is to have a good story and characters. If you do, it doesn’t matter because people will enjoy it.

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?

Sarah Lyons Fleming:  I wrote the first book as a standalone, but it grew from there. I think there is definitely room for a standalone story. However, I like when a story continues and think most readers do, too. I love my world and will be sad to leave it when book 3 is finished.

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

Sarah Lyons Fleming:  No, I love zombies and everything post-apocalyptic, so I wouldn’t be upset to be pigeon-holed in the genre. I wouldn’t feel pigeon-holed. 

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?

Sarah Lyons Fleming:  I think different. A different group of characters and different types of relationships is more what I’m thinking.

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?

Sarah Lyons Fleming:  I make and home-can a mean bread and butter pickle. I expect to be eating them on my post-apocalyptic zombie sandwich. Or the people who’ve killed us for our supplies will be enjoying them on their sandwiches. You never know.

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On The Web:  http://www.sarahlyonsfleming.com/

On Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Sarah-Lyons-Fleming/e/B00DXFM03O/

Summer of Zombie Blog Tour 2014: Stephen Kozeniewski

You're reading Books, Beer and Blogshit! Its the only blog... period, end of story. I am your terminal blog host, Mr. Frank!

We are down to the final two interviews. Not only of double header week but the entire Summer of Zombie Blog Tour 2014. What a long, interesting journey its been. But before we reflect, let's get the show on the road, there is a little more work to be done.

Author Stephen Kozeniewski faces the hangmans noose today.  Kozeniewski is a rarity in the zombie fiction realms, he wrote a stand along zombie novel. A beast more rare than bigfoot! Fret not, his latest work appears poised to continue on in serial format.

I've bothered you enough with my endless prattling. Ladies and Gentlemen... Stephen Kozeniewski.

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

Stephen Kozeniewski:  Well, statistically I’m all but certain to be dead, right?  According to “Day of the Dead” the ratio of dead to living is 400,000:1.  I don’t like those odds.

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

Stephen Kozeniewski:  THE GHOUL ARCHIPELAGO

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

Stephen Kozeniewski:  I know my roots.  The Holy Trilogy above all.  ROTLD, Dead Alive, Cemetery Man, Keene, Brooks, all that good stuff.  I try to make sure all my work acknowledges the classics, but breaks free on its own.  I know “both” is a cheap answer, but that’s how I feel.

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

Stephen Kozeniewski:  In THE GHOUL ARCHIPELAGO, except for the unusual green hue of their eyes, they are classic Romero zombies, and purposefully so.  I do feature a different kind of undead in my debut novel, BRAINEATER JONES.  Jones and his ilk are thinking zombies who must consume alcohol to prevent themselves from degenerating into the classic flesh-munching stereotype.

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

Stephen Kozeniewski:  THE GHOUL ARCHIPELAGO takes place on the high seas of the South Pacific, which afforded me the opportunity to feature some character types not normally seen in zombie fiction: pirates, smugglers, sailors, and the like.  In this piece I’m particularly proud of my three main antagonists: a missionary, a warlord, and a robber baron who form a triumvirate of over-the-top, scene-chewing villainy which is hard to top.

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?

Stephen Kozeniewski:  Oh, God, reinvent the wheel.  I’ve read so many Chicken Little stories lately about how the zombie genre is played out.  The truth is just that a certain specific variety of urban survival apocalypse stories are overdone.  There are a million kinds of stories that can be spiced up with the walking dead.

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 standalone stories?

Stephen Kozeniewski:  Well, my debut, BRAINEATER JONES, is a standalone.  I think it’s important in any genre to write self-contained stories but leave yourself room for a sequel.  You shouldn’t force a sequel, but you shouldn’t close the door on one, either.

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

Stephen Kozeniewski:  Oh, no worries there.  I’ve already sold a political satire, a space opera, and a vampire story to Permuted Press.

The Blogshit:  For your next zombie story, standalone or series, do you think you will need to go sicker or smarter to keep it going?

Stephen Kozeniewski:  I think both are important.  I pride myself on my transgressiveness and judging by the reader reviews for THE GHOUL ARCHIPELAGO, I’ve succeeded in making the average reader lose his or her lunch.  Still, Romero set a big benchmark all the way back at the dawn of the genre in 1968 that we must always use our undead not just for cheap gore and laughs, but to shed light on social ills.  I take that responsibility very seriously, and try to make all my work at least somewhat thought-provoking.

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?

Stephen Kozeniewski:  Ether?

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On Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Stephen-Kozeniewski/e/B00FFLC5Y8/

Summer of Zombie Blog Tour 2014: Jack Wallen

You're reading Books, Beer and Blogshit! It's the only blog with writers who have a face for blogging. I am your cute-as-a-button blogger, Mr. Frank.

We aren't done yet. It's time for the p.m. edition of the Summer of Zombie Blog Tour double header week. And when you talk about two heads, you talk about Jack Wallen. Jack Wallen is a guy who writes things about zombies. When he's not busy writing things about zombies he does other things mostly unrelated to zombies, like pooping for instance. 

We on The Blogshit are sure his mother will be proud.  So mama Wallen, sit back and relax as your boy tackles the Books, Beer and Blogshit Summer of Zombie Blog Tour 2014 interview spectacular.

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

Jack Wallen:  Oh I am a survivor. In fact, I finally left corporate America and am now  on my own...oh wait, you didn't mean that kind of Undead. You mean zombie-undead. Still, I'm a survivor – like Eye of the Tiger survivor.

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

Jack Wallen:  The Last Casket was my latest release. It's a fun little romp through the apocalypse that stars the pyshchobilly band Kitty in a Casket. The band was awesome to work with. The gist of the book is:

When flesh-melting rock faces off against the undead horde, who will be left standing?

All hell breaks loose, when rock and the apocalypse collide. In this first spinoff of the popular I Zombie series, psychobilly band Kitty in a Casket kick the undead horde's ass with their special flavor of rock.

Follow Kitty and her band to a dive bar in the middle of the apocalyptic landscape and raise your fist as they prove themselves worthy destroyers of zombies, cannibalism, and the Mengele Virus.

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

Jack Wallen:  Progressive – mostly because I drop a LOT of pop culture references and use humor in my books. Plus, I have (at the moment) about five different types of zombies – each of which has their own special flavor of horror to bring to the table.

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

Jack Wallen:  Their impeccable sense of fashion. No, that's not it. There are two things that make my zombies different: First, as the story progresses, the zombies evolve. Second, the Zero Day Collective (the politico-corporate “big bad” in the series) use the zombie horde in an attempt to cleanse the world (to start afresh, as it were).

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

Jack Wallen:  I work at a standing desk...that's a good place to start. I also work at home, as a full-time writer. I'm very lucky. I'm also one of those hermits capable of socializing...so I can go out in public (when I choose to) and be friendly.

I also bathe.

And brush my teeth.

And use product in my hair.

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?

Jack Wallen:  I refuse to run with any pack. If I cannot create a world and a mythos of my own, what's the point?

The Blogshit:  Zombie fiction seems heavily dependent upon working withing the construct of a series. Do you feel that is the way that makes it work best for you you or do you think there is still room for stand alone stories?

Jack Wallen:  I think it's part and parcel to the genre. I tried to write a one-off. That's what I Zombie I (the first book in the I Zombie series) was going to be. As soon as I completed the book, I realized I had way too much story left to tell and had created a world I certainly wanted to explore and expand.

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

Jack Wallen:  I write way too much to worry about that. But I will say that my zombie fiction outsells my other fiction, lights out.

But...even if I were pigeonholed, I'm not concerned. I have a LOT of story to tell in this genre (plus another series yet to come out).

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?

Jack Wallen:  Both. I always attempt to one-up myself. With each novel I make sure both the main characters and the monsters evolve. It's a sort of race to the top (or the bottom – depending upon how you look at it).

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?

Jack Wallen:  Man, that's a tough on. For me, it'd be important to hide the taste of rot. I'd probably go with a chipotle mayo.

*   *   *   *   *

On The Web: http://monkeypantz.net/ (This is a particularly sexy web site)

On Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Jack-Wallen/e/B004MZWR3W/

Summer of Zombie Blog Tour 2014: Thomas M. Malafarina

You're reading Books, Beer and Blogshit! It's the only blog that has its druthers about a great many things. I am your opinionated host, Mr. Frank.

Thomas M. Malafrina on The Blogshit today. He writes about these monsters called zombies. They are reanimated corpses that walk around trying to eat living corpses. Heard of 'em? 

You wanna know more? He has a metric ton of 'a's in his last name. Still hungry for more? Read the interview damnit!

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

Thomas M. Malafarina:  I’d be a survivor; at least for a while. I suspect something as mundane like a common cold or bronchitis would take me long before a zombie even got a chance. (I don’t have the strongest constitution when it comes to colds.) Then I suspect I’d be a lurching runny-nose coughing zombie spewing gunk all over the street.

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

Thomas M. Malafarina:  It is the first book in my Dead Kill series, appropriately called “Dead Kill Book 1: The Ridge Of Death.” It’s published by Sunbury Press (www.SunburyPress.com) and is available in paperback, Kindle and Nook.

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

Thomas M. Malafarina:  I suspect progressive since I strive to create new scenarios others may not have thought of previously. (I bore easily.)

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

Thomas M. Malafarina:  In “Dead Kill Book 1” the zombies act like most zombies (slow, clumsy and hungry) but their numbers have been reduced to the point where they are no longer a major threat to man; just an deadly annoyance.

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

Thomas M. Malafarina:  They are just regular people thrust into an unimaginable set of circumstances. They are reluctant heroes. In my book, the world is on the way back from the brink of extinction but there are still plenty of dangers from both the undead and man as well. There are a lot of new ideas in this book which I don’t believed have been touched on before. Hence, the reason I decided to make it a series rather than a single novel.

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?

Thomas M. Malafarina:  That’s not really an issue for me. I’ve never run with the pack and never will. If you aren’t the lead dog, the scenery never changes.

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?

Thomas M. Malafarina:  As long as there are creative minds, there will always be room for good stand-alone stories. This is my first zombie novel. I’ve written about 5 or 6 zombie short stories; all cool and all different. At one point, I had no intention of ever writing a zombie story and most certainly not a zombie novel. But I decided if I could find a way to do something different then I would. So I did.

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

Thomas M. Malafarina:  Not at all. Zombies are just one aspect of horror for me. I write about whatever horror happens to be on my mind at the time; it could be ghosts, demons, vampires, werewolves, humans or whatever I feel like. If somebody wants to pigeon hole me that’s fine with me. I’ll still write whatever I choose.

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?

Thomas M. Malafarina:  A little of both. Sicker is great for color (and I sure do love sicker) but you always need a good story so smarter is essential.

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?

Thomas M. Malafarina:  God I hate pickles! In fact, I pretty much hate all vegetables. I’m a major meat-a-terian and I love everything grilled and burned. So I suppose I would have to eat my zombie sandwich, well done, burnt to a crisp with no traces of leaking puss or limp flesh. I’d probably want to scrape off the fried maggots and blowflies as well.

*   *   *   *   *

Publisher: www.SunburyPress.com

On The Web:  http://www.thomasmmalafarina.com/

On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ridge-Death-Dead-Kill-Book-ebook/dp/B00K7GBWCM/

Summer of Zombie Blog Tour 2014: Bryan Cassiday

You're reading Books, Beer and Blogshit! It's the only blog that forgot to take its Prozac. I am your blog host Mr. .....SQUIRREL!  

How's that sandwich you're eating? Good? Hope you enjoyed it becuase it's time to lose your lunch on The Blogshit. With a name like Bryan Cassiday you might think we are about to experience our first zombie western (and why haven't we this blogger dares to ask?)  But we aren't, Bryan Cassiday brings the zombie apocalypse in all it's modern glory and all its modern gory. 

So crack open some liquid lunch and throw it back as Bryan Cassiday helps you bring it back up in the afternoon edition of The Summer of Zombie Blog Tour.

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

Bryan Cassiday:  I think I must be a survivor. If I was one of the undead I wouldn’t be able to answer this question.

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

Bryan Cassiday:  My latest zombie novel is Poxland, which is book 5 in my Chad Halverson zombie apocalypse series.  You don’t have to read the other four books before it to figure out what’s going on, but it might help.  I also have a collection of horror stories, which include some zombie stories, that is being released in June 2014.  It’s called Comes a Chopper.

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

Bryan Cassiday:  I’m a classic type of zombie fiction writer.  I still prefer the shambling hordes of zombies to the fast-moving diseased zombies, such as the ones in Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later.  My zombies move clumsily like corpses that have come back to life.  That being said, my zombies are caused by a virus, so they are diseased like Danny Boyle’s, even though they stumble around like drunkards.

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

Bryan Cassiday:  My zombies are caused by a man-made virus which was deliberately unleashed on the world.

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

Bryan Cassiday:  Not only do I depict the struggles of the ordinary individual against the zombie apocalypse, I also try to deal with how the politicians, the high and the mighty, deal with the zombie apocalypse.  I try to get into their heads.

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?  

Bryan Cassiday:  I say it’s important to stick with what you personally think terrifies you about the zombie apocalypse.  If that means running with the pack, so be it.  If it means reinventing the wheel, so be it.

The Blogshit:  Zombie fiction seems heavily dependent upon working withing the construct of a series. Do you feel that is the way that makes it work best for you you or do you think there is still room for stand alone stories?

Bryan Cassiday:  I wrote five books in my Chad Halverson zombie apocalypse series, but I’ve also written stand-alone zombie short stories.  I believe there is plenty of room for stand-alone zombie novels and short stories.

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

Bryan Cassiday:  I’m concerned about it, but I don’t lose any sleep over it.  I wouldn’t want to be considered solely a zombie writer.  I have also written espionage thrillers and I’ve written horror short stories without zombies present.  I don’t feel that I can’t write any other kind of novels simply because I’ve written zombie novels, but, then again, you have to find your place in the marketplace.  If zombie books sell better than other books, I have no problem writing zombie books—unless I get sick of writing the things.  At that point, I would stop writing them.  I don’t feel that zombie writers should have opprobrium heaped on them just because they are writing in one of the newer genres, as opposed to say, for example, science fiction or mysteries, which have been around much longer.

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?

Bryan Cassiday:  Not really sure what you mean.  Do you mean my zombies will have to get sicker or smarter?  I don’t feel that my zombies have to become more intelligent, but that’s always a possibility that I can’t discount.  By sicker do you mean they have to become more grisly and more bloodthirsty?  I don’t believe that is necessary, but, again, I wouldn’t rule it out.

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? 

Bryan Cassiday:  Formaldehyde.  Warning!  Do not do this at home. 

*   *   *   *   *

On The Web:  http://www.bryancassiday.com

On Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Bryan-Cassiday/e/B002BM2RFQ/

The stench of rotting flesh is in the air! Welcome to the Summer of Zombie Blog Tour 2014, with 33 of the best zombie authors spreading the disease in the month of June.

Stop by the event page on Facebook so you don't miss an interview, guest post or teaser… and pick up some great swag as well! Giveaways galore from most of the authors as well as interaction with them! #SummerZombie

https://www.facebook.com/events/286215754875261/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular&source=1

PLEASE send all the above to booksbeerbullsh1t@gmail.com along with your author and cover pictures.

Summer of Zombie Blog Tour 2014: Rhonda Parrish

You're reading Books, Beer and Blogshit! It's the only blog that can't believe its getting paid to do this. I am your overpaid and underworked blogger, Mr. Frank.

As promised, this is the year of the female zombie writer. Let's kick off today with yet another lady taking on zombie fiction with grace and poise and maybe a bit of sinew. Rhonda Parrish is up on The Blogshit today.  

The fun part about spotlighting over thirty authors on this years blog tour is seeing just how differently the subject of zombies can be tackled. Rhonda Parrish uses the humorous side of zombies to weave her tales of woe. Cute and creepy is always a winning combination in this bloggers book.

So let's dive deep into the psyche of a person just crazy enough to believe a rotting corpse can be hysterical. Books, Beer and Blogshit now presents the Rhonda Parrish interview.

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

Rhonda Parrish:  I am absolutely 100% a survivor. Except when I’m working on a deadline, then I suppose I much more closely resemble the undead.

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

Rhonda Parrish:  Waste Not (And Other Funny Zombie Stories) is my latest piece of zombie fiction. It’s a collection of three zombie tales meant to make you smile more than you squirm… though they aren’t completely without gore ;)

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

Rhonda Parrish:  Classic, in that my zombies tend to be of the classic slow-moving, not intelligent variety. I do like to try and look at them from different points of view or give them a twist in some way to make my zombie fiction not “just another zombie story”.

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

Rhonda Parrish:  Oh. Looks like I was getting ahead of myself a little bit with the last question. Wewps! Well, to answer the question, in this collection I’ve got zombie munchkins. So… that’s different, right? J

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

Rhonda Parrish:  Well, they aren’t always human. I think that’s pretty unusual. The main character in Feeders, for example (which is one of the stories in Waste Not…) is a cat.

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?

Rhonda Parrish:  I think it’s important to stand out from the pack, but not by too much. If you totally reinvent the wheel in zombie fiction you’re going to piss off people who want a good old-fashioned zombie story, but if you’re just borrowing other people’s wheels, well, then your story won’t have any bite and you’ll piss the reader off for a different reason. Perhaps the key is to take the wheel as it’s already been invented, but paint it a different color, or change up the rims, and stay at the head of the pack rather than getting lost in the crowd.

Wow. I milked those metaphors to death, eh?

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 you or do you think there is still room for stand alone stories?

Rhonda Parrish:  I think series’ definitely have their place, and they absolutely make up a huge part of the market, but stand-alone stories have a place as well. Sometimes you just want a quick bite (heh) not a ten course meal. It can still be satisfying and delicious, but it won’t take as big a commitment of time and energy as something bigger.

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

Rhonda Parrish:  Nah, I don’t just write zombie stuff. And besides, really, zombie fans are some of the best fans in the world, so if I did get pigeon-holed as a zombie writer, I don’t think that would necessarily be a bad thing J

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?

Rhonda Parrish:  I have a lot of room to go sicker in my zombie fiction because there’s not a whole lot of gore in the stories in Waste Not (And Other Funny Zombie Stories), but I’m not sure I’m interested in that direction. We’ll see… sometimes a girl just really needs to write something so disturbing she wigs herself out. You can never be sure precisely when that compulsion is going to strike.

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?

Rhonda Parrish: Oh my. Well, you’ve got to start with formaldehyde, because that’s just tradition but in addition to that, I’m thinking some Dead Sea salt. Because reasons.

*   *   *   *   *

On the web:  http://www.rhondaparrish.com

On Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Rhonda-Parrish/e/B00IN688KC/

The stench of rotting flesh is in the air! Welcome to the Summer of Zombie Blog Tour 2014, with 33 of the best zombie authors spreading the disease in the month of June.

Stop by the event page on Facebook so you don't miss an interview, guest post or teaser… and pick up some great swag as well! Giveaways galore from most of the authors as well as interaction with them! #SummerZombie

https://www.facebook.com/events/286215754875261/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular&source=1

Summer of Zombie Blog Tour 2014: Jamie Johnesee

You're reading Books, Beer and Blogshit! It's the only blog that's got ninety nine problems and you're all of 'em!  I am your blogger puttin' it on wax, Mr. Frank!

The Summer of Zombie Blog Tour double header ends today with the one and only Jamie Johnesee. Jamie is the author of the light-hearted zombie series, Bob The Zombie. If you've ever felt the need to be endeared by your zombies, be sure to pick up Johnesee's Bob The Zombie books. They are sure to please!

This blogger has also appeared with Jamie Johnesee (and others) in Armand Rosamilia's Dying Days anthology, Still Dying 2. In that tome, she shows that she can work her zombies beyond Bob. Don't let her sweet looks fool you, this girl has come to eat brains. Best keep an arms length away as you ready our interview with Jamie Johnesee

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

Jamie Johnesee:   I am one of the undead. Though I still get to keep my human personality so I won't be eating brains...much.

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

Jamie Johnesee:  That'd be my Bob The Zombie series.

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

Jamie Johnesee:   Progressive. Bob is not your typical mindless chomp-monster.

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

Jamie Johnesee:  They are raised from the dead and have their human soul, and personality, restored. Basically they're the same people they were before death, just rotting.

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

Jamie Johnesee:  For the most part they are unaware of the existence of supernatural creatures like zombies so when they see Bob they think he is just a huge zombie fan with a gift for special effects make-up.

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?

Jamie Johnesee:  I think that a person should write what appeals to them. For me I wanted to do something different only because my character, Bob, is me. I wanted to make him more than just some dead guy intent on eating flesh. I wanted to make him real.

The Blogshit:  Zombie fiction seems heavily dependent upon working withing the construct of a series. Do you feel that is the way that makes it work best for you you or do you think there is still room for stand alone stories?

Jamie Johnesee:   I absolutely think there is room for stand alones. I write a series because, well, I use a lot of my real life to bring my zombie to life. It's cathartic for me.

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

Jamie Johnesee:  I don't think Bob really can be pigeon-holed but if he is, so be it. I just hope people enjoy reading him.

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?

Jamie Johnesee:  No, I think I just need to stay true to Bob as a character.

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?

Jamie Johnesee:  Morton Kosher salt, fresh dill, fresh dill weed, fresh dill seed, and a little bit of Tetrodotoxin to make for more compliant zombies.

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On The Web: http://www.JamieJohnesee.com

On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Jaime-Johnesee/e/B007P5CLDW/

Still Dying 2 (along with the really great, Frank Edler (and others that are great but not nearly as great as Frank Edler)): http://www.amazon.com/Still-Dying-2-Days-ebook/dp/B00H4HHALO/

Summer of Zombie Blog Tour 2014: Robert Chazz Chute

You're reading Books, Beer and Blogshit! It's the only blog that is both Loonie and Toonie. I am you extremely southern Canadian blog host, Mr. Frank, eh!

It's time to take the Summer of Zombie Blog Tour to the Great White North. We are talking about zombie moose, zombie beavers and maybe even a zombie maple tree or two. Well, okay we aren't talking about any of those things. It's much worse. We are talking about the one and only Robert Chazz Chute.

One of the most prolific writers on the tour, Chute writes both horror and crime fiction. In addition, he wields his pen with deadly precision on his own blog, followed the world over by both aspiring writers and seasoned vets (and also Armand Rosamilia.)  If that's not enough for all you're multi-media needs, he also conducts a podcast that's nearly as good as Books, Beer and Bullshit Podcast. Links to all points of interest will follow the interview.

Chute is a highly regarded writer and we are honored to be able to present our silly interview with him, here, on Books, Beer and Blogshit.  So sharpen those skates and make yourself a bowl of Kraft dinner becuase it's time for the opening salvo in today's double header, Mr. Robert Chazz Chute...

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

Robert Chazz Chute:  I like lattes and Wi-fi too much, so I choose Door #3: Suicide by cupcake orgy and a Call of Duty/Lawrence of Arabia marathon followed by quick cremation.

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

Robert Chazz Chute: This Plague of Days Season 3, if you’ve been reading along or This Plague of Days, The Complete Series, if you’re into global plagues with an autistic hero at the center of the zombie apocalypse.

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

Robert Chazz Chute: My approach is quite different from all the zombie versus fortress fiction, so progressive, I guess. I like to play with expectations. It gets meta and metaphysical in a fun way. The story starts with a linear concept but, across the books, you’ll find yourself in The Matrix. Stranger in a Strange Land is another inspiration.

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

Robert Chazz Chute: They don’t rise from the grave, so they’re of the 28 Days Later variety. However, the virus and the beasties keep evolving.

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

Robert Chazz Chute: There are paranormal elements, but it’s the humans that get strange powers. My protagonist is on the autism spectrum, of course, but readers will find a lot of odd perspectives in my books. This Plague of Days is a survival story, but there are a lot of questions raised about what we should do with that survival.

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?

Robert Chazz Chute: I enjoy the pack, but I’m genetically engineered to reinvent. With all my fiction, I have to do something different or I won’t write it. I don’t think my work is experimental, but twists and surprises that go where the reader doesn’t expect often lands us both in strange territory.

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?

Robert Chazz Chute: Mine started as a serial and that got a lot of attention. In the end, I broke mine into three books because I had a huge story to tell. I could have made it four books, but I worried that could be perceived as a cash grab. I’d rather read a good stand alone than feel, as a reader, that stories were unwinding too slowly and keeping a series going artificially.

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

Robert Chazz Chute: I write suspense. I don’t see most readers of one genre going to another genre just because I wrote it. I understand. I love Stephen King but I’m just not into his Dark Tower stuff. I’m coming out with a lot of different books so I won’t be put in a box. Series in one genre is a better business decision, but I’m not built that way. Can’t settle for one genre or one series.

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?

Robert Chazz Chute: I do gross out stuff occasionally to satisfy the hardcore gore folks, but it’s really a sprinkling not a splatterfest. I’m always interested in how to make the context smarter.  Smarter makes everything in the story more powerful.

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?

Robert Chazz Chute: I’ll go with the Buddhist monk solution: cow urine.

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ThisPlagueOfDays.com

ChazzWrites.com

AllThatChazz.com

CoolPeoplePodcast.com

DecisionToChange.com




Have you read This Plague of Days yet?
It's the only suspense thriller that pits an autistic kid against the zombie apocalypse and teaches you fun Latin proverbs. Guaranteed!
ThisPlagueOfDays.com

Summer of Zombie Blog Tour 2014: Ian McClellan

You're reading Books, Beer and Blogshit! It's the only blog that's playing a double header! I am your second string blogger, Mr. Frank!

It's two-fer week on The Blogshit to wrap up the Summer of Zombie Blog Tour 2014. So for today's second feature we present to you the zombierific, Ian McClellan. So don't go to bed yet becuase we aren't quite done. Grab another cup of coffee or a multi-hour energy drink and burn the midnight oil (or mid-afternoon) with Mr. McClellan!

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

Ian McClellan:  I’m a survivor, or I’m eating a bullet, but I’m definitely not one of the undead.

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

Ian McClellan:  My latest is One Undead Step which was published by Severed Press. It tells the story of how the U.S. faked the moon landing to avert the zombie apocalypse. It’s my second book and it’s been amazingly well received. Being a truck driver and a high school dropout, it’s kind of wild to see the reviews people have written that have gushed about my work. It’s surreal.

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

Ian McClellan:  I’d never really thought much in those terms, but I guess I’m sort of progressive. I did have some zombie animals in my first book, and my stories are far from traditional, not that there’s anything wrong with traditional.

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

Ian McClellan:  I haven’t read every other zombie book out there, but I don’t recall zombies that start out like mine. When they first turn, they’re a little slow and clumsy, almost like they’re in an infancy stage. I don’t see how they could just start right out as fully coordinated killing machines the way they do in some books and films.

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

Ian McClellan:  I drive a delivery truck for a living, which isn’t all that uncommon. Oh, you mean the characters in my book. I try to just write regular people. I’ve read a few books that have that super hero main character and just can’t get that into them. I’m a regular, flawed person and just don’t relate to that. Also, most of my characters are really snarky.

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?

Ian McClellan:  As a reader, I like zombies, and I like a good story with good characters. If you can give me that, I’m happy. It does seem like everyone is trying to create the next big thing when it comes to zombies, which is fine, but not really necessary, to me. As far as the market, though, I think what you really need is to be good at marketing, above anything else. I’ve read a good number of books that have sold well, but were mostly drek. It wasn’t because the authors reinvented the wheel, it was because they’re tireless promoters.

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?

Ian McClellan:  I hope there’s still room for stand alone stories, since I’ve written two of them. I guess I’m not the average consumer, but I really don’t get the series craze. I enjoy them, but no more than I enjoy a single book with no sequels or prequels.

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

Ian McClellan:  Not at all. It’s what I enjoy. I don’t know that I’ll never write anything else, but that’s fine if I don’t.

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?

Ian McClellan:  I’m going snarkier. It’s just who I am, I think. I wanted to make One Undead Step completely serious, unlike my first book. My good friend J. Cornel Michel, who wrote the awesome book Jordan’s Brains: A Zombie Evolution, beta read One Undead Step and said it was hilarious, among other things. I told her that wasn’t really what I was shooting for, and she said it was just natural for me and I shouldn’t fight it. She’s very talented and went to one of those fancy learnin’ schools, so I usually take her advice on these things.

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?

Ian McClellan:  I like spicy, so I’d definitely throw some jalapeños in there.

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On Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Ian-McClellan/e/B0088Q14BM/

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

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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