Winter of Zombie 2015: GG Silverman

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While I peel myself away from YouTube for a brief moment, I'd like to introduce you to YA zombie author G.G. Silverman. I believe she is the first pure YA zombie novelist we've had on this or any Winter of Zombie tour. We are struggling to keep it PG here on the BLOGshitshoot. This doesn't bode well. I fear we are just going to be censored from here on out. Fuck it. Opps. Read G.G. Silverman's interview on the BLOGshit before we get in deep shit!

This is G.G. Silverman

The Blogshit: Let’s cut to the chase, what are you promoting for the Winter of Zombie?

G.G. Silverman:  I’m promoting my first novel, VEGAN TEENAGE ZOMBIE HUNTRESS. It’s a comedic YA horror novel, and my one-sentence description is that it’s a mash-up of some of my fave things from pop-culture: Daria, Mean Girls, and Shaun of the Dead. The main character is a feminist and vegan, and her non-violent principles come into conflict with having to kill zombies, and that conflict provides so many opportunities for comedy. But I’ve been told that as funny as the book is, it also delivers on the horror, but not so much gore that non-horror fans can’t get into it. The humor softens the blow.

The Blogshit: It’s rarely ever talked about, but how do you envision the outcome of the zombie world you have created? Is there hope? Will humanity succumb to the new world order? What is the outcome of all this horrible zombie business?

G.G. Silverman:  In my book, life starts returning to normalish after a year, but I gloss over it. Most of the action occurs during the z-poc.

In the real world, it’s such a big question to ponder. I think that so many things are possible. On the one hand, a dreadful cannibalism scenario like something out of Cormac McCarthy’s THE ROAD could happen for sure, if food became scarce. But then you’ll see some people creating great acts of kindness, and you’ll see others using the ingenuity to come up with great tools. But overall, I think there’d be a lot of destruction, and that part makes me nervous. Imagine if tomorrow your sewer line stopped working, and you couldn’t flush. That right there is the beginning of a horror show. Some of my neighbors can barely handle sorting their garbage into the right bins, if it even makes into the bins. I can’t even imagine what would go down even if everyone started crapping in the woods. SO. GROSS. <gags>

The Blogshit: As a writer of zombie fiction, do you feel you can sustain your career writing about zombies only or do you feel you will need to write outside the sub-genre to continue? What avenues will you branch out to if you do feel a need to expand?

G.G. Silverman:  not ever exclusively written about zombies. I’ve got a dark spy-ish thriller in the works, and I’ve had a science-fiction story published as well as a ghost story, and I’ve got some literary stuff coming down the pike. I like working in as many forms as I can. Keeps my writing fresh. That said, I will continue to honor my zombie fans with MORE BOOKS about their fave characters, Cokie, Clarissa, and Lila, and new ones too. That’s right. There’s several more coming down the road. Stay tuned!

This is G.G. Allin

The Blogshit: What is more important to the story: A sympathetic human survivor or a zombie with an interesting storyline?

G.G. Silverman:  Either can be interesting if done well. Take a look at WARM BODIES by Isaac Marion. It’s told from a zombie’s perspective, but is soooooo beautiful. It’s the first time I ever had a crush on a zombie. I’d totally make out with R from Warm Bodies. Is that weird? Making out with a zombie?  I mean, R is total sweetheart and I just can’t help myself.

The Blogshit: For you, who are the most important writers in zombie fiction at this moment?

G.G. Silverman:  I mentioned Isaac Marion above, because he’s doing unexpected things, not following the norm. Then there’s obviously Robert Kirkman, who’s WALKING DEAD took the world by storm. I also have to thank Max Brooks for WORLD WAR Z and THE ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE. About ten years ago, he truly did the hard work of paving the way for the rest of us zombie genre folks, and without him, none of us would be here, I think. He got everyone hungry for more, pun intended. And he’s still writing great zombie stuff. I have massive respect for him.

The Blogshit: Is there room for sex in the zombie apocalypse?

G.G. Silverman:  Um, there will have to be if the human race wants to survive! I mean, last time I checked, sex was how babies were made. Unless you know another easy way that someone can do at home without test tubes or turkey basters.

The Blogshit:  How much consideration do you give to the seasons in your zombie stories?

G.G. Silverman:  So far, my zombie books occur all the space of one night, so I consider the season so far as what the weather will be on that one night. So, if it’s raining because it’s spring in the Seattle area (my setting), there might be mud. And mud makes for fun pratfalls.

The Blogshit: Our final question always revolves around zombie themed food. This Winter of Zombie, Books, Beer and BLOGshit wants you to consider setting up a food truck to cater to a zombie clientele. What would you name your Zombie Food Truck?

G.G. Silverman:  <spits out coffee> Ohhhhh my goodness. So many fun things pop into my head. I’m a branding consultant by day so this naming gig is right up my alley. My dark, zombie-infested alley.

Ok, here’s a list of fun food truck names serving specifically zombie clients. Warning, they’re tacky:

• Pleased to Meat You

• Bone-anza Barbecue

• The Beefcake Bus

• Break-a-leg Barbecue

• Flesh-tone Foods

Well, that’s it for now. Thanks for letting me play!

G.G. Silverman's Web Page: http://www.ggsilverman.com/

G.G. Silverman on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/G.G.-Silverman/e/B00F64HFQC