10 reasons Zombie Apocalypse Preppers love The IPhone 5.

To Whom it may concern:

This list was made in fun and in jest. I in no way shape form or fashion advocate violence towards anyone (except zombies). This article is to be taken in jest as it is all tongue and cheek fun. If this article upsets anyone then either learn to take a joke or stop behaving illogically! To anyone or corporate entity who is interested in suing me. Yeah give that a shot and see how it turns out I work for a living and I'm black too!

1. The IPhone 5 allows us to judge panicked and frenzied drivers. We can watch the mistakes they make while plotting traffic choke points. Wherever you spot a traffic tie up or accident on IPhone 5 launch date is an area to avoid during the initial stages of The Zombie Apocalypse. It also gives us a glimpse into the dangers of a preoccupied driver. Apparently driving while thinking about an IPhone 5 is fairly similar to driving like a zombie. Eyes will glaze over and become cloudy as the IPhone 5 Seeker looks down at their now suddenly old and decrepit 6 week old IPhone 4. All the while plotting a course to the next possible place they believe to have them in stock. You will get mowed down if you step in front of a person driving to get an IPhone 5. There is of course very little difference when dealing with a driver who is fleeing the living dead. This is one event the Zombie Apocalypse Preppers should watch and document from a distance. For on launch day there won't be a safe stretch of road or even side walk for that matter anywhere.

2. The IPhone 5 gives us the ability to discern fact from media and news outlet speculation and misdirection. When you hear words like "rumoured" it's easily seen as a "falsity." Which when translated means "We don't know." As news outlets become desparate for facts they begin to "massage the facts." This give us in the Zombie Apocalypse community the opportunity to hone our "that's government cover-up bullshit meter!" Many people will believe what the hear and or see on the release date of the IPhone 5 and the same can be said for the Zombie Apocalypse. Clearly at some point during that day sales outlets will sell through their on hand stock and yet IPhone 5 seekers will turn to the media. "Where shall I go and who still has IPhone 5's?" Are questions that any sane person will know that by noon won't matter because the answer will be false. The same will easily be true during the initial stages of the Zombie Apocalypse. People will tune into the media for directions since they haven't prepared at all. Then they are going to blindly follow whatever they are told. Even when it's clear the media is guesstimating. People will send themselves and their loved one too their doom heading for closed down, overrun and/or non existent shelters, checkpoints and safe zones. They call television "the idiot box" and guess what they call those who believe everything the see on t.v.? Answer "idiots!"

3. The IPhone 5 will allow us to gauge our abilities to deal with unruly crowds of survivors. You're in a protected zone secured by military or government forces. They make make food or medical deliveries and the only thing that separates you and your family from food or medicine. Is your ability to manhandle an unruly mob of people. They press forward packed in tightly jostling back and forth. There's yelling screaming, fighting and its not even 7am yet. The only way you can experience this phenomenon is to work for someone who sales IPhone 5's live in a third world country where food is airdropped in. This is no place for a child. During the Zombie Apocalypse basic human decency and morals disappear. Now magnify that by ten for launching the IPhone 5. You will have to deal with these people some of whom will be bulies while others will be manipulative. Their sole goal is to get what they want while depriving you and yours of what you need.

4. Another benefit of the iPhone 5 launch that will help us Zombie Apocalypse Preppers with is outdoor survival. It's expected that when the dead rise we will be forced to leave the comforts of home and live off the land. Moving from place to place setting up shop before fleeing ahead of the horde. To put this theory and skills to the test. Sleep on the sidewalk in front of a suburban strip like homeless person. Better yet prove you have some sanity and watch it from a distance. Catalog what the pros and cons of the situation are. Pro you might get an IPhone 5. Con you might get robbed. Pro you can rest after a day of being pursued by zombies. Con you might get eaten alive before you even know you are in danger. No sane human being should ever voluntarily leave the safety of shelter. If you are forced to leave your safe haven you shouldn't sleep out in the open. There is no product worth the inconvience or the headache. Hell you could get on a month later and say that "I've had it since launch day!" The only person who'd know is you. So as a Zombie Apocallypse Prepper watch from a distance as those who choose to sleep in line are harassed, line jumped and pickpocketed. Now ask yourself "what would have happened if those were zombies?" They would all be eaten alive but they'd at least be well rested

5. In an odd twist of fate IPhone 5 seekers will allow us Preppers a glimpse into the minds that have lost touch with reality. Now we are all well aware of the fact that the weight of the dead rising will cause some people to loose their tedious grip on their sanity. Other than spending a day undercover in a psych ward how can we test the limits of an unhinged mind? Spend IPhone 5 launch day with someone wants to just walk into a store and pick one up at say 5pm. Listen to the disjointed logic of how they will outwit all of humanity with a plan so convoluted even a politician couldn't keep up with it. Even though all news outlets, retail stores and other shopper will have told them the IPhone 5 is all sold out. The will drive about in a self induced frenzy. This poor mentally unfit soul will go running into stores while calling other stores to check availability. They will walk right up to store employees wearing shirts that say "IPhone 5 all sold out." In 14 different languages and holding signs that read "IPhone 5 totally sold out!" Then ask "Do you have any IPhone 5's in stock?!" This feeble minded individual is a prime example of what to look for in you group or survivor compound. Preferably before they throw open the gates and run head long into a crowd of Zombies yelling "Do you have any IPhone 5's in stock!"

6. One shocking aspect the launch of the IPhone 5 will have in common with survivors of The Zombie Apocalypse is the abandonment of children. Upon it's release date millions of children will suddenly find themselves devoid of parental support. Nothing brings out the true selfishness of self preservation like the undead or a new IPhone. Parents will fins themselves so overwhelmed at the thought of not having the IPhone 5. That they will react with no consideration for their children. Many a child will awake to no parents, no breakfast, no love or care. An equal number will return home to an eerily empty adultless house. Without so much as a note saying "gone to sleep on the sidewalk to get the new IPhone 5. Love you dinner is in the fridge." IPhone 5 launch date much like the Zombie Apocalypse will test your moral character. If you see a child wandering alone confused cold and hungry. You must help them they're our future we will survive the Zombie Apocalypse and IPhone 5 but children will ensure humanities survival.

7. The IPhone 5 launch will allow us Zombie Apocalypse Preppers to test the fortification limits and strength of our fallback and primary stronghold. Here's a perfect opportunity to run a fully functional field test. Let it be known that you have several IPhone 5's for sale on launch day. Then prepare yourself for the onslaught. Lock down every entrance or exit then time the IPhone 5 zombies. Add plus thirty minutes to the time it takes them to breach your defenses. Because they are hopped up on caffine and traditional zombies move slower. You should have a general idea of the weak points in your fortifications. Continually egg them on by running about yelling "we only have two left!" This will simulate zombies who hear living humans and are driven to devour their flesh. Make no mistake though these people can be just as dangerous as actual zombies. While both groups scorch the earth before them leaving destruction and desolation in their wake. The sound of the living dead will draw other zombies from several miles around your fort. IPhone 5 seekers with one call of "They still have'em they still have'em!" Will draw their kind from hundreds of miles away. Placing you in serious jeopardy but remember it's for a good cause. If your home, office or workplace can withstand this mass of the brain dead. You will probably breeze through an attack of the living dead.

8. The IPhone 5 release date will teach us Zombie Apocalypse Preppers how long we can truly go without food. As a test of will power throughout a zombie siege. The most basic human need will drive people to and past their limits. The survivors will want to eat and in most cases be separated from food by mere feet but won't be able to reach it. They will be surrounded on all sides by zombies or IPhone 5 seekers in a test run. As we have already established these mindless hordes don't need to eat like "normal" humans. Zombies only want human flesh while IPhone 5 seekers just need a cup of over priced swill from Starbucks. So you will be tested Zombie Apocalypse Prepper. As neither group care about you and you needs. They will only see their single minded desires. How long can you stay focused and on task as hunger gnaws away at your insides? Remember one day this could be what lures you form your hiding place and into the mouths of a mass of the living dead.

9. In yet another surprising way the IPhone 5 launch can assist Zombie Apocalypse Preppers. By allowing the prepper valuable time to work on their focus their mental fortitude. This is different from the single minded drive of the undead or mindless IPhone 5 seeker. Here a prepper is allowed to test the mental strength required to survive the Zombie Apocalypse. When you're surrounded by those pesky IPhone 5 seekers yelling "I want an IPhone 5" Over and over again. You will see as a prepper it's no different than being besieged on all sides by zombies. The incessant moaning of undead flesh eaters. Could drive the unprepared and untrained survivors insane in little or no time. If you can stand your ground on IPhone 5 launch day and learn to block out the ungodly wails from the horde at your gate today. The come the Zombie Apocalypse you'll be prepared to withstand one of the most debilitating and underrated weapons that zombies posses and that is sheer never ending noise and annoyance. The only key difference here between zombies and IPhone 5 seekers is simple. Zombies leave after there is nothing left and IPhone 5 seekers do not. They always believe you are holding out on them.

10. Zombie Apocalypse Preppers will be able to hone their hand to hand combat skills during the IPhone 5 launch. Now we all know that hand to hand combat is not the ideal method for fighting the undead horde but it will be a required skill. Weather you're dispatching a zombie with a silent weapon, fighting a fellow survivor over the last can of Spam or fending off an IPhone 5 seeker. The physical process is still the same. In the case you are accosted by a lone or manageable group of IPhone 5 seekers. Substitute an umbrella for your Kantana, a heavy flashlight for your Asp baton, a walking stick or ski pole for your baseball bat and you're ready to fight. No matter what type of mindless horde you encounter this constant life like training will prove invaluable. Imagine your horror when a group of zombies encircle you after the Zombie Apocalypse. I surmise it will be no different than a group of IPhone 5 seekers surrounding you after you buy some "Gold Bond Medicated Foot Powder" at Walgreens. Those mindless savages driven insane with unsatisfied IPhone 5 hunger. Will become desperate animals as the night grows long and they have found themselves without IPhone 5's. At this point anyone carrying a bag out of a store will become a potential victim. So what do you do? Throw you foot powder in one direction and then flee in the opposite direction or fight. Remember today it's a simple choice tomorrow it could be life or death. It's your move and it your training!

The Union: Chapter fourteen: Panic and Confusion

Chapter fourteen: Panic and confusion

  The streets were empty but not vacant the sounds of nothing and everything were all about. In the distance the destruction of the crash and subsequent explosions played out with all the subtlety of a Hollywood movie production. Behind them nothing stirs as they scurry about attempting to find shelter in Subway restaurant neither of them had actually seen. What they truly pray for is not to be found by the hordes of flesh hungry not quite dead creatures. Zombies now own the streets of Effingham, Illinois. This little corner of the Midwest was no different than the rest of the globe. These apex predators patrol their territory in packs with and hunt with an intense hatred of the living. What good would a mere forty seven rounds in a black Glock pistol be when facing an army whose foot soldiers came in endless waves. Then there was the ornate ax forged for a vampire elder, but wielded by a human. They might as well have been naked slathered in gravy and laying on a plate. Neither man had any idea where they were running to. The small man in the stained pilots uniform Jim Rivers carries an unconscious Asian-American woman clumsily over his shoulder.

   The vast majority of their foes were headed full tilt for the accident site the noise and explosions had signaled the presences of human flesh. Robert scans nervously around while deep in his inner recesses, he cursed himself. "How could you leave her?!" he knew that he was a self preserving coward at times. Memories of the train station blitz his mind, but it only bothers him to lose what he cares for or truthfully who he cares for. Robert Berry had paid not a second thought to the fate of the Deputy he'd left behind. Had he considered his selfish actions beforehand there was a good chance that he and Val would still be with in eyesight of one another, and possibly more survivors. Now he plods through the wide open daylight city exposed for those milky eyed demons to see. "Where do we go?!" Jim emphasizes the last word harshly. They were sweating in the new found intense sunlight. Robert wishes Trevor was around to see this with a smirk. "What the fuck is so funny!" Jim was hunched over his stamina rapidly decreasing as he carries his unconscious female friend. Robert wonders if he would "ditch the woman" to "save himself." Shaking his head "he'd better because is sure as hell aint helping him!" Rob focuses back on the situation at hand.

   "We can't stay out in the open!" moving cautiously up the street. "No shit dim wit you figure that one out all........" Jim's words go unfinished. Robert grabs his jacket lapel snatching Jim to the ground in a sly quick motion they were all under a green Buick sedan holding their collective breath. The feet of the dead visible scampering past some stopping grunting like animals did they have the survivors scent? The dead were all about some moving on some choosing to scamper away. A third explosion down at the gas station the dead snarl and beat a path for the distant ruckus. All but one its left leg being drug as it was snapped at the hip. Paralyzed with fear Jim doesn't feel the ax leave his hand as he is locked in an embrace with Li. Robert moves in silence with much effort tucking the pistol away positioning the ax under the car. He looks to Jim and mouths a single phrase with no audible words "we go the other way if you don't move I will leave you!" A curt nod of the head and Jim agrees to the terms of the deal. From under the car the smell of motor oil and burning human matter mix. Clutching the battle axe tightly choking up his grip Robert lashes out catching the limping cadaver’s good foot yanking hard. As the dead woman goes sprawling to the pavement Robert rolls from under the car. In the blink of an eye he is up parting the vile once human’s skull with the bladed weapon. It was the small miracles that people still alive thanked God for these in days. Killing one zombie at a time and going undiscovered. As the jury was still out on the big blessing because living another day fleeing in terror from the hungry mouth of your two year old was rather tiresome and gut wrenching foul. In his peripheral vision Robert caught sight of the approaching mummified doctor before it did him. This split second head start placed the ax head in the abominations mouth removing the top of its head with a home run swing. A fraction of a second ahead of a screech that would have alerted is pack mates. "Lets go!" urging Jim Rivers on as he pulls Li from under the car "fuck you.......not leaving her!" Rob hops from sidewalk to the street looking the way the dead had gone as Jim came around the car Li now placed lovingly back on his shoulder. They move in unsteady strides to a corner at the end of the wide main street in the small truck stop city. They turn the corner far to fast the sounds of footfalls echoing from down the block playing tricks on their ears in the early day’s heat. The stark reality that he should be looking where he's going and not where he came from caresses Robert Berry's uncaring mind to late. Spinning pulling the pistol he's faces ten numb individuals who have the same awaking to late as well.

Ring Side with The Zombie Bloodfighter himself Bowie Ibarra

Have you ever heard the expression "You don't mess with Texas?" Well tonight I talk with a Texan who backs up that creed with an extreme love of bare knuckled entertainment. Bowie Ibarra is Texas born and breed and he writes with the same combative edge as he lives.

 

 

 

 

1. What's typical for Bowie when you are not speaking ill of the dead? How did you translate you acting and theater experiences into your writing?

-- Man, when I'm not writing, I'm working. And when I'm not working, I'm writing.

-- Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration. But the truth is when I'm not doing either of those, I'm spending time with my daughter.

-- As for the acting experiences, its brought me a lot. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting and a Masters in Theatre History. And I can say with absolute certainty that apart from understanding character motivation, the biggest gift my theater training bestowed on my writing is the dramatic structure. It's the heart by all great stories are told, and I use it to its full effect in my stories.

 

 

2. You have to be the biggest fight fan I know Bowie. Tell me how you take your poisons. Explain to us your love for The UFC and Wrestling. Who is you favorite fighter and wrestler? What do you think about Brock Lesnar returning to the WWE?

-- I absolutely LOVE all combat sports, bar none. It started with growing up with an appreciation for western boxing. I also thought Bruce Lee was the man. And pro-wrestling was a big part of my life. Being a Texan in the '80s, it was all about the von Erichs.

Pro-wrestling is really a release for me. A catharsis. I don't have to be nice. I can be mean to people. I can watch a match play out and let my inner anger and frustrations out at the people in the ring and how they made me feel. They are symbolic representations of our lives. Good vs. Evil. You ever want to cheer for the good guy? Support a pretty girl or call names at a mean girl? Call a douchebag out for being a douchebag. You can do it at a live pro-wrestling show.

So this love of boxing, kung fu, and pro-wrestling immediately provided an appreciation for the colorful Capcom game, Street Fighter. I first learned how to use Chun Li because of her kung-fu-style (and those legs! Yum!). Then it was Zangief, because he German Suplexed and Power Bombed motherfuckers. Eventually, I mastered them all.

Even to this day, people don't know how to handle me when I play them with Zangief, and I take great joy in throwing their characters around. Especially Ken. I hate that sonovabitch.

-- So when UFC II came out on VHS at the local video store, I immediately fell in love and have followed it ever since. This was truly street fighter come to life!

-- I have a huge list of favorite fighters:

Boxing - Mike Tyson, Pacquiao, Marquez, DeLaHoya, John Sullivan (old school), Ali, Foreman. The list goes on and on.

Pro-Wrestling: Believe it or not, 'The Red Rooster' Terry Taylor was the first wrestler I ever followed. What a mistake that was. But since then, easily Mil Mascaras, Santo, Dr. Wagner, Jr., Black Tiger 1 and 2, Tiger Mask 1, Kenta Kobashi, the late Mitsuhara Misawa, David von Erich, Missing Link, Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen (esp. Arn Anderson), Bryan Danielson. It's a huge list.

MMA - Gerard Gordeu, Dan Severn, Randy Couture, Matt Hughes, Bas Rutten, Ken and Frank Shamrock, Cung Li. Just another long list.

-- Brock needs a revenue source, so I'm okay with him coming back to WWE. It adds a great intense element to the show.

 

 

3. Speaking of your love of fighting. In "Pit Fighters: Baptism by Fire" your fight scenes leave the reader almost punch drunk. Is it easier to write realistically about a subject you are well versed in? What finally spurred you to put you desire to write with your love of fighting. Any plans to revisit the world of "Pit Fighters" again?

-- It's very easy to write about fighting. Like any art form, and even life, when you approach it with love and great passion and without fear, its easy. When you love something, its easy to write about. In fact, all you want to do is write or talk about it, give it attention, you know?

-- There is a 'Pit Fighters; Double Cross' that has been completed. But to tell a ZBF.com secret, I'm doing some realignment of some past books into the ZBF.com library. Once those are back in order, you can soon expect more combat sport-themed books from ZombieBloodFights.com. My time table is to have all things sorted by January 2013.

 

 

4. I loved "Down the road: A Zombie Horror Story" first and foremost. Going back to the beginning with your first book "Down The Road.", which is now available from Simon and Schuster. What were the challenges of "Self Publishing?" Eventually "Down the Road" was picked up by Permuted Press. How did that plant the seeds for "The Down The Road" trilogy or was it what you had always envisioned?

-- The first challenge? Money. When I self-published, I think I put close to a grand down. It was up to me to make that money back. And I've certainly made it back in spades.

-- There was no real plan for a trilogy. But that's how it turned out, and I think it all played out well.

-- Romero. George A. Romero and his classic 'Night of the Living Dead' is my total inspiration for writing. Apart from that sacred spark, I draw inspiration from the world around me. Moments. Situations. Stories. Real world stuff. When I hear something and it sparks an idea, that's it. Game over. I start taking notes and plan to write it. I've got one lined up to write in the near future, too, that relates to the troubles on our Mexican border with those damn drug cartels. Drug cartels and zombies, you ask? Keep an eye out for that, perhaps next year.

-- I think its fun to play with what zombies can do. I don't know if they can learn 'new tricks'. But they are unpredictable, so that's always fun to play with.

 

 

6. Tell me about "Codename: La Lechusa." The story weaves folklore in with a thrilling modern storyline and fighting. What exactly is the story behind the name La Lechusa? What gave you the idea for the story? Why make your lead character a single mother?

-- I put a lot of love into 'Codename: La Lechusa'. It's the story of a single mother who's a hard worker by day, but a government-trained assassin by night. Supernatural mystery enters the standard action story when her neighbor, who is a curandera, bestows two necklaces for her and her daughter in order to protect them from a dark cloud she predicts is coming over their trailer house.

-- It was inspired by this thirty-something single mom I know that just stole my heart and crushed it under her patent-leather heel. One night, we were talking about our lives and the way she talked about guys, her daughters, and her work was inspiring. When she mentioned she always stood up late, I told her she's like an owl. A lechusa. And immediately the super hero idea hit me and I started writing.

-- The whole book, and series if I can get it moving again, is one giant ode of love to her. She was an amazing woman. She remains only in my memory, but I've immortalized my feelings for her in the book.

 

 

7. In your most recent book "Big Cat." You take your writing and subject matter in a different direction. You take a group of geeky friends and put them up against an unknown beast. What's the back story with "Big Cat?" In "Big Cat" will we recognize "The Beast" or is it and it's lore your own creation?

-- 'Big Cat' was inspired by an episode of 'Monster Quest'. They talked of people seeing these big cats on the prairies across the US and the UK. Ranchers said horses, cows, and sheep were attacked. It's not an uncommon story in Texas. But the way it was presented on TV lit that spark of creativity.

-- The Big Cat of the title might or might not be a natural cat, but its not a big plot element of the story. The reader gets to figure that out for themselves. Future books might reveal the truth to the big cat that hunted along the banks of the Nueces River near south Texas.

 

 

8. Now give me and the readers a sneak peak. What can we look forward to from the head ZombieBlood Fighter? What is coming down the pipe for you? Can we expect zombies, fighters or something new for the fans?

-- Truth is, we're months away from the release of another zombie book. It is a book about one of the lead characters in the nationally recognized fictional z-day podcast, 'We're Alive'. It will feature the back story for 'Burt', one of the podcast's main characters.

-- I'm moving to take control of some of my books that lost their publisher, but that shouldn't take too long. My plan is to go ahead and self-publish the rest of my future works through Amazon under ZombieBloodFights.com.

-- More stories are on the way, including a reboot of the 'Pit Fighter' series and its sequel. Then, an epic ghost story, a super hero story, a lucha libre inspired zombie story, and more great books. But all of this is contingent on me first re-securing some books to me and then working with editors/amazon publishers to get my work up and running. My plan is to hit the ground running in 2013. But I'm in no rush. I've got a 'second job' to pay the bills. Writing is my first job, after all.

9. Bowie where can my readers, your new and soon to be fans find you on the Internet? From Amazon to Zombiebloodfights.com what's in between?

-- ZombieBloodFights.com is the best place to network with me. You can find my Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, GoodReads, and blog. If you like Zombies, Blood, and Fights, this is the place to be. Especially check out the YouTube page. You'll find some of the best low (no) budget trailers on the Internet. The website has the links to purchase the books on Amazon as well.

 

 

10. Bowie tell us where you see The Walking Dead going during Season 3? What are your predictions who stays, who dies and who should die? Also do you ever think Carl will learn to follow parental directions?

-- I have absolutely no idea what's going to go down. But I certainly hope it will be good.

-- As for Carl? He might be the one who dies, perhaps. We'll have to wait and see.

The Duality of Michael Dick Author and Illustrator.

Tonight I interview Author and Illustrator Michael Dick. Michael is a talented and awesome force who is about to let us in on everything from himself to his new book!

Michael C. Dick was born in Buffalo, New York and raised on a steady diet of Comic Books, Abbott and Costello, SCTV, Monty Python, Airplane, Student Bodies and the lesser known Saturday the 14^th and, of course, chicken wings – lots and lots of chicken wings.

A career as an Illustrator and designer led him out of the frozen north and into the unfamiliar, blistering heat of Northern Virginia were he currently resides with his wife, daughter and son. A short time after the move Michael made a carrier change and in his new occupation found ample time to start the outline of the first of many short stories. During this period, Michael submitted several pieces of art work to David Moody’s website, www.lastof theliving.net. The website was dedicated to the re-launch of David’s zombie book series, Autumn. Michael’s meeting with the famed English horror author spurred him on after he received advice, praise and, much more importantly, encouragement from David Moody himself.

Michael’s stories have been published in several anthologies by an assortment of publishers. His first full length book, When Good Holidays Go Bad: Rise of the Fiend is currently available for purchase and published by Knightwatch Press. If you wish to read more please visit him on his blog at michaelcdick.blogspot.com or on Facebook, search Michael C. Dick Author Illustrator or When Good Holidays Go Bad: Rise of the Fiend.

1. Michael tell us about the "private" side you your "Public Persona." Who is Michael Dick separate of the Author/Illustrator?

Who am I? That  sounds like the opening line from a trip on the psychiatrist couch! It is a good question though. I often loose sight of who I truly am when I set out to start a project, art or writing. I become so focused on the job at hand that everything else takes a back seat until it’s concluded. Who am I really, bottom line, a husband and father who wants to give those that he loves everything he possibly could give them, to make them completely happy. Nothing more than that, I’m a simple man with simple beliefs and I embrace those beliefs whole heartily. The simple things in life make me happy.


2. Now tell us about your "Illustrator" side. What is your medium or preferred subject matter? Is illustrating your hobby or a separate component to what your offer? Can we contract your services for say a book cover? If so what would we need to do?

I started out as an illustrator, my whole life it was all I knew. I went to college in 1987 and graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. I worked several years as a graphic designer and a lot more as a freelance artist. Most of my work as a freelancer was for tattoo designs but, I also did a lot of crafty stuff after I had been pestered to death to do them, I was always against that type of art for some reason. I don’t really have a particular medium I prefer. I use whatever I feel is best to get the feeling I want for whatever illustration I'm working on at the time. I use graphic pencils for a lot of my Zombie pictures, water colors for caricatures, oils for landscaping or book covers, colored pencils for tattoo designs and acrylic for things like tee-shirts, tool boxes and gas cans and other crafty projects. I still illustrate but not as much since taking up writing. It’s funny. I’ve always considered myself to be a pretty decent artist but, when it came time to designing the book cover for When Good Holidays Go Bad: Rise of the Fiend, I couldn’t do it, I guess I was just to close to the project. I did find a terrific artist out of England named Peter Fussy, he’s simply brilliant. I’ve already commissioned him for the second part of the story and, will undoubtedly be using him for many; many more…Brilliant artist, can’t say that enough. As for contacting me for art, by all means do so. I can be reached on Facebook, search Michael C. Dick Author Illustrator or, email me at

 mikeydgodzilla@yahoo.com  drop the words ‘art project’ in the tag line.


3. I have seen Illustrations from your in several places on the web including David Moody's lastoftheliving.net. Where else can we view illustrations from you Michael?

You can see some of my art, as you said, on David Moody’s lastoftheliving website. I also have a couple goofy pictures on zombiesandtoys.com and a portfolio, as such, under my profile and my books page on Facebook. Most of my work is usually private commission stuff and, when the customer pays for it, they retain all the rights so I destroy all my copies after so I don’t accidentally reuse them 5, 10 or however many years down the line.


4. I have read a few of your shorts and was even privileged to be in two anthologies with you. What makes the writer inside Michael Dick tick? When you write about things others than zombies. What subject matter brings you the most joy?

Privileged…thank you but, I always feel it is I who should feel privileged to be in any anthology, with all these writers who have struggled and slaved for far longer at this than I have. What makes me tick? My over all driving force is my family and my need to want to make them as happy as I can. They are also the inspiration behind my work. I don’t mean that I base my characters on them, what I mean is, with my son and daughter being so young, their experiences in the world are fresh. At night, when we’re sitting around, talking, watching TV they’ll often tell my wife and me what they did during the course of the day. I’ll sit and listen and then, somewhere in my mind, a rusty wheel will turn and, Wala, I’ll say ‘hey, if I tweaked this or I tweaked that it would make a great line or scene in a story’. Then you have my wife. She’s great, simple as that. Putting up with me for as long as she has, that says something right there…especially over these last 3.5 years that I’ve been out of work. There’s not too many people out there that I know of who would continue to be so supportive with all the ‘problems’ being out of work causes. As for writing about other things and the most joy I get out of it, can’t rightly say. I mean, there’s obvious the thrill of hearing or reading an interview or comment about your story but, I think the greatest feeling is, after you get the final edits back from the editor and have sent it off to the publisher, you sit back and wait, knowing that shortly your words will eventually be read by countless people, that’s a feeling I can’t seem to put into words.


5. Share with me some of your general opinions on the living dead. How do you flavor you zombies when writing?

My feelings of the Living Dead? When I write about zombies I tend to add a lot of subtle humor to them, things you might not pick up on right away. Why, because they are funny. If you’re able to look past the gore and their unending hunger and the need to eat us, they’re quite comical. I also tend to describe them more like the traditional zombie, slow moving, not sprinters. I think that, in the beginning, when they have first turned, their movements will be fast, not as fast as a speed walker but not painfully slow. As time progresses their bodies start to break down and, because of this, they start to move slower. I believe this would be a more accurate description, that is, if it ever really happened, zombies walking the earth I mean. Another thing I won’t or should I say, try not to do is have a zombie go for the brains like they did in so many 1980’s movies. It’s too unrealistic if you think about it. I mean, zombies are pretty far fetched to begin with so, as a writer you want to make them a bit more realistic. So, how realistic is it that a decaying corpse whose teeth are falling out, their dental plans suck, can actually manage to somehow bite through a skull. Come on, skulls are thick and hard, ask my wife – she’s constantly calling me a thick headed…that’s another matter. Getting back on track. How are we honestly to believe that teeth, rotten ones none the less, can tear open or bite through a skull? To unrealistic, that’s why I won’t touch that subject in a story.

6. You new book "When Good Holidays Go Bad Rise of The Fiend" seems to cover a broad scope from folklore to pop culture. Tell us about it from inspiration, to inception, to publication. Where can we get a copy and what can we expect from "Rise of The Fiend?"

The inspiration behind my book, When Good Holidays Go Bad: Rise of the Fiend actually came from all the characters I mention in the book. The book actually started out as two short stories. The first one written was titled the Death of Love. I wrote it basically to poke fun at greeting card companies and how they have created a card for nearly everything.  My wife and I were discussing how much they cost and how ludicrous some of them sounded when we were supposed to be buying a package for my daughter to share with her class on Valentines Day, speaking of which, a question for you. Why and when did they change it from St. Valentines Day to just Valentines Day? Getting back to the question, we couldn’t understand spending so much money on something that was just going to get thrown out as soon as the kids got home from school so, I wrote the story to get ‘my feelings’ out there. The second short was called Easter Festivities. The family had just finished watching ‘Mad Monster Party’ and I thought we needed something like this but for Easter, as far as I knew there wasn’t a good Easter cartoon made yet so, I wrote Easter Festivities. The last part was called Jack the Fiend. This story I created when my publisher suggested tying the first two together to somehow make a complete story. I had just finished writing and having accepted a Halloween short story called ‘the Initiation’ and we just happened to becoming into the Halloween season at the time so I figured, I've already got Easter and Valentines Day, let tie it all together with another, less popular holiday and well, that’s basically how it all meshed together. From there it just kind of took off. I pulled inspiration from all those things I loved as a kid, and still do, and, took all my frustration out with being out of work and the way things were being run in the country and then next thing I knew, I had a very comical, horror story. As for where you can purchase the book, it’s available right now on Amazon, in the UK and America, as well as Created a space. I also post on the books Facebook page any events I might be attending, book signings and such, where copies will also be available to purchase.

Something’s Not Right With Halloween Night:

Halloween, that magical night that compels adults to act like children, children to gorge themselves and a host of creatures and ghouls, those nasty beasties that hide under your bed, in your closet or the deepest recesses of your mind, all come out to play, scaring and frightening their human victims; at least, that’s how it was in the old days.

Welcome to Halloween Hallow, a disturbing land where all the nefarious creatures that wander the world on Halloween night come to dwell during the off season. In this land of strange and weird creatures lives Jack, the only human ever allowed to live amongst them.

Over the last four years Jack has noticed a disturbing trend, the children of the real world no longer fear the hard working citizens of Halloween Hallow; Halloween is no longer scary!

When government funding is pulled and the threat of their holiday being shut down, Jack formulates a daring plan, a plan that doesn’t sit well with the ruling council.

A murderous plot is set in motion, a transformation from normal and mundane into the truly fantastic, yet somewhat psychotic, takes place and Jack sets out to have his revenge.

Behind the scenes lurks the tall, lumbering, dead figure of Frankenzombie with sinister, world dominating plans of his own. What is being past to Peter Rabbit, Cupid and Father Time during their late night rendezvous with Frankenzombie? What evil is the rouge council member planning and how does Santa Claus fit in? Find out in,

When Good Holiday’s Go Bad:

7. What audience are you aiming for with "Rise of The Fiend?" Is it something we can all share in, is it more Young Adult or should the kiddies just sit this one out?

As for the audience range, I like to think of this book as a great cross over story. Its written so a Young adult might like it, not to much swearing and gore but also, with the characters I use and the subject matter I deal with, helps make it acceptable for adults as well…a book for young and old as it were.

"Michael Dick has a winner here on his twisted ride into the imaginary world, where our favorite holiday characters are brought to life. His debut novella, WHEN GOOD HOLIDAY'S GO BAD: RISE OF THE FIEND, has all you want in a great, engaging story. Action, suspense, and yes, humor too. I enjoyed the character's he developed, including the way they interacted with each other. For the few who may know me, I love Halloween. So, of course my favorite character was Jack, the Pumpkin Fiend. Nonetheless, it's what happens to poor Jack in the first few pages that had me hooked to the very end. An amazing journey full of fantasy and horror, combined. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who loves those holiday's where the characters are just as fun as the holiday itself. Two bony thumbs up from the evil little jester and myself.

--Charles Day, Author of THE LEGEND OF THE PUMPKIN THIEF


8. Without giving away to much about "Rise of The Fiend" can we expect to hear more from this story line maybe sequels? In that vain of questioning what does in on the way or in development for Michael Dick the Author and The illustrator?

Yes, you shall see more. I’ve nearly completed the second part to the story and have up to part 3 outlined and mostly filled in. The potential the story has to go the long term if great but, it’s a fine line, I don’t want to loose my reader’s interest by going to far either. As for the art work, I continue to do freelance work. Currently I’m working on several sketches I’m developing to pain on old metal gas cans and tool boxes. These are all aimed at the ‘old car enthusiast ‘who do the car shows. They’re pieces they can put on display with their cars.


9. Direct us to all the places where your fans dwell Michael. From Amazon to Facebook where can we get in touch with the Head Fiend?

The head Fiend, I like that. Currently there isn’t much but, in the near future I’m hoping to have a website developed for the story. Currently you can find me and the book on Amazon; I’ve an author’s page there that I post upcoming events and such. Also there is the Facebook page for both me and my book and lastly, I’ve a blog I’m re-starting, you can find that at  HYPERLINK "http://www.michaelcdick.blogspot.com" www.michaelcdick.blogspot.com.


10. Now for the grand prize tell me your feelings and predictions on season 3 of The Walking Dead. Who goes who stays and who dies?


Season 3 of the Walking Dead…Well, I’m not sure who stays or goes but let me say this right quickly, they better not dwell so much on Carl again. I’m also quite happy Dale and Shane are gone, took much too long for Shane to die. Season 3 needs to see T-Dog, what the heck kind of name if that? And Carol gone. Both characters do nothing, as of yet, to add to the depth of the show, they’re filler that needs to be replaced with a character or 2 that does something for the program and as a character for the group.

As an extra added bonus we have the "Foreword" to "When good Holidays Go Bad Rise of the Fiend" By none other than Bowie Ibarra the Zombie Blood Fighter himslef.

I blame Freddy Krueger.

And it’s not because I’m a Jason Vorhees fan, either.

I blame Freddy Krueger for making jokes out of horrifying deaths. And I blame Freddy Krueger for taking the ‘scary’ out of Halloween.

Okay, maybe that’s a bit of a stretch.

There was a time when Bill Cosby would make jokes in his early comedy routines about staying too late at the monster movies and having to walk home in the dark. One night he knew he was out too long because it was 8pm. That’s when the monsters came out. Having spent the day watching the classic werewolf, vampire, and mummy movies, his imagination had been charged with monster mania.

The slashers came and went in the 80s, giving way to the comedic catharsis of Freddy Krueger, cracking a joke while eviscerating one of his victims in his dream deathland.

What happened? Why the need for humor during a horror movie?

Let’s face it, laughing is good for the soul. And as far as we can tell, we’re the only species on the planet that can laugh or understand humor the way we do. The only other animal is the monkey that has been known to play jokes or rough up its friends in a silly manner. And let’s not forget the YouTube video of the chimp that decided sticking its finger in its butt and smelling it was a good idea before throwing its hands up in the air in melodramatic shock and falling off its tree limb.

It’s great to have such high-functioning brains.

And yet we humans take the joke a bit further. Our high-functioning brains can take a ‘smell my finger’ joke just that much further. I was once in a summer stock theatre show in Palo Duro Canyon many years ago, and there was this guy I’ll just call “Corey’. Corey enjoyed goosing his friends by sliding his index finger up the pants portion of people’s butt-crack. And while the people are in the middle of making that silly grunt of a surprise goose, he would stick that same finger under the victim’s nose and say, ‘smell that’.

Ah, yes. Jokes and the high-functioning brain.

With the evolution of horror movies comes the evolution of humor, too. We’ve always laughed at things that crack us up, and every individual finds humor in different things. Mel Brook’s ‘History of the World’ makes light of laughter during the caveman days, where a caveman tries to act silly to no response from the tough crowd. But when a dinosaur (!) appears and eats the caveman in the middle of his act, the crowd laughs out loud.

The mixing of humor with drama or tragedy is also nothing new. Shakespeare used to inject humor in the middle of his darkest tragedies like ‘Macbeth’ or ‘Hamlet’. It added to the peaks and valleys of the story, and was a great way to ease tension before ratcheting it up again. I used that same convention in my zombie horror story, “Down the Road: On the Last Day” and “Down the Road: The Fall of Austin”, with a duo of characters (two friends in ‘On the Last Day’, and two clownish gang members in ‘The Fall of Austin’) to bring a little levity to the zombie apocalypse.

So just like in horror movies, the old comedies of yesteryear (Keystone Kops, Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello) would elicit barely a chuckle with kids, or adults for that matter, like the shows probably did back in the day. Humor, like horror, has also evolved and changed over the years.

And that’s where this lovely humorous tale comes in. Set in the world of Halloween Hallows, ‘When Good Holidays Go Bad: Rise of the Fiend” is like Goosebumps after an all-night bender. It’s a good-natured parody of scary monsters of yesteryear with the humorous sensibility of an ‘Airplane’ movie. It’s like Monty Python ate R.L. Stine and then wrote a book.

You will enjoy the laughs and you will enjoy the characters. But most of all, you will enjoy the story.

And you won’t have Freddy Krueger cracking a bad joke after dismembering someone.

So grab your favorite beverage and get ready for a fun read and plenty of chuckles.

Enjoy,

Bowie V. Ibarra

Author of the ‘Down the Road’ zombie horror series

ZombieBloodFights.com

 

On Amazon.com

 

http://www.amazon.com/When-Good-Holidays-Go-Bad/dp/0987874764

 

On Amazon.com.uk

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Good-Holidays-Go-Bad/dp/0987874764

 

On Createspace

 

https://www.createspace.com/3952387

 

On Kindle

 

http://www.amazon.com/When-Good-Holidays-Bad-ebook/dp/B008S0DQ8C

 

From Knightwatch Press

 

Contact:

David Naughton-Shires

Creative Director/Owner

KnightWatch Press

Email:

info@knightwatchpress.info

Tel: +353 86 3951402

Web site:
www.knightwatchpress.info

 

 

 

 

Armand Rosamilia a Jack of All Trades Survior.

Ladies and Gentlemen tonight's "Sunday Night Sit Down" brings us one seriously cool cat Armand Rosamilia. Armand is a writer and editor whose been published in anthologies and full length works as well. He is everything and then some over at Rymfire Press. Let's get to it then.

1. Armand you had "other loves" before you discovered the undead? Which outlets have you taken the most enjoyment from?

Writing more traditional horror stories is my first real love. I'm not really big on slasher violent crazy stuff, I like more horror that freaks you out by what you can't see or read, letting your own thoughts fill in the blanks.

2. What is your favorite subject matter to write about other than Zombies? Tell us about "Keyport Cthulhu Tales."

I've always been a huge Lovecraft fan, since I was a teenager and trying to figure out what he was talking about. The Keyport Cthulhu series is my loose homage to the feel of his tales, set in modern day, in a real town in New Jersey that is pretty creepy in its own right. Toss in some odd characters, some Lovecraftian twists and turns, and you have a series of short stories that can be either read separately or tied together.

3. Tell us about Rymfire Books and what your editorial role is? What genre does Rymfire Books specialize in?

I am the editor. And pretty much everything else right now. I've focused on getting the State of Horror anthologies out, and have nearly a dozen released or in the works, and the plan is (obviously) to get all 50 States done at some point in the distant future. That's been the focus for me right now, as well as my own writing.

4. For those of us who don't know tell us about "Metal Queens Monthly?"

Metal Queens and Metal Queens Monthly is my non-fiction series of releases, showing my love for Heavy metal and female musicians and fans of the genre. I do interviews with female members in bands and also interviews with fans, telling me what they love about Metal. It's a fun series and I wish I had more time to keep it going, but at this point I put them out whenever I get back to it.

5. In "Zombie Writing!" you speak of how you had no interest in "zombie" fiction but upon finding a book by Brian Keene that changed. I've read all of Brian's "Dead" books myself. Tell me what sparked you interest in "Brian's Zombies and how it influenced your writing of the dead?

I went into reading The Rising by Brian Keene with the pre-conceived notion I'd like it because it was a Keene book but that was it. When I started it and saw he'd done something a bit different with zombies, I was intrigued. I finished the book and grabbed the rest of the zombie books from him, and then started reading other authors and especially zombie anthologies. I was amazed at how many slightly different ways you could tell a zombie story. I came up with my own concept and that eventually turned into the Dying Days series.

6. Please tell us what is an "Extreme Zombie Novella" and what makes your "Undead Extreme?"

I think it is more of a marketing concept than actual, to be honest. My first Extreme Zombie Novella was Highway To Hell, which shocks you from the first line. But then I wrote a actual story. It has plenty of gratuitous sex and the threat of zombies not only eating you but raping you is there, but never got into actual rape scenes… OK, just in the beginning paragraph, lol. The Dying Days series isn't about rape scenes, it's about the added threat from the zombies.

7. Who is "Darlene Bobich Zombie Killer?" How does a woman come to be a "Slayer of Zombies?"

Darlene Bobich is your typical 28 year old woman, plain and a bit overweight in the beginning. She works at a makeup counter in the mall in Maine, lives with her dad, and has the same fears we all do. She's no super woman, she has panic attacks, she cries, she is just normal.

8. Armand what's on your "Event Horizon?" Tells us what we can expect from you and Rymfire Books in the future?

I will be continuing both the Keyport Cthulhu and Dying Days series, so look for releases coming up in the next few weeks in both. I also have a few other things up my sleeve. Angelic Knight Press will be releasing a horror novella by me somewhere around October, and I have other things that aren't finalized yet. I'm always writing.


9. For new and old fans of Armand Rosamilia. Where can we find you and Rymfire on the web? Let's start with your Amazon page and go from there.

I try to be everywhere. Amazon Author page:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Armand-Rosamilia/e/B004S48J6G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

 

… find me on Facebook, on Twitter

 

 (@ArmandAuthor)

 

… on Goodreads… and my blogs at:

 

http://armandrosamilia.com

 

http://rymfirebooks.wordpress.com


10. Let's twist the last question a bit. What's your Walking Dead preference the TV show or the Graphic Novels? Tell me what you see in the future for your pick as it relates to story line and/or characters?

 

I have to be honest. I never read the graphic novels. And once I started watching the show I decided not to start reading them and point out all the differences in the two and judge one against the other. I find myself doing that with Game of Thrones and I get annoyed at remembering small things different in each. Once The Walking Dead is over I will go back and read the graphic novels.

 

There you have it Ladies and Gents Armand Rosamilia!

Suzanne Robb The Zombie Whisperer

1. Suzanne if you have to spend one day without the dead, undead, living dead or zombies. What other "Normal" things would you do?

First, that sounds wonderful, a day off. How I would spend it? I would start with a calorie laden breakfast, then a couple hours worth of swimming. After that I would take my dog to the park and let her run around and have some fun. The day would be finished with a BBQ and dip in the hot tub with friends, and if I was a really good girl, a really hot guy would enjoy the day with me.

2. I keep hearing the word "prolific" in reference to your work with "anthologies." How many anthologies have you been in and give me some highlights?

I hear prolific a lot too, and for me it does not seem that way. How many anthologies? I really do not know, somewhere between sixty-five and seventy-five?

Highlights, my most recent acceptance into the Zombie Fairy-tales anthology being put out by Chaosium is one of my favorites. Others include, Live and Let Undead, in which I have a story about how zombies are "rehabilitated" after the apocalypse. Monk Punk, edited by A.J. French, I worked my butt off to get in that one. Also, the anthology I edited with Adrian Chamberlin, Read The End First, it is one of my favorite projects. Another story that makes me chuckle is Thank God For Chicken, a woman is the sole survivor of an apocalypse and goes a lilttle crazy. It will be in Soul Survivors V2 later this year. Lastly, A New Breed, my story in the Post Mortem Press Dead Souls anthology. There are many others, but these stick out for me at the moment.

3. Conventional wisdom says girls aren't "supposed to like horror." What words do you have for young women looking to break into horror, writing or just loving zombies?

I say go for it. There are so few women in horror, and I have many friends that tell me they would love to try their hand at penning a story, but are intimidated. I try to coax them into it, and offer as much advice and support as I can. Some of the best stories are not being read because of fear, so any woman/girl reading this - if you have a story, write it.

4. Tell me when and where you first experienced symptoms "Zombie Infatuation?"

I was about eight years old and my parents didn't monitor my TV watching. One evening, Night of the Living Dead came on and I was hooked. The phrase "They're coming to get you Barbra," still rattles around in my mind. From then on, the undead were a part of my life. I had nightmares, was terrified of hospitals (one of the extras in the movie was wearing a hospital gown), and developed a strange love/hate relationship with the idea of zombies. Now, I am fully addicted to all things zombie.

5. You have two full length works that have peaked some interest. Tell me about "Z-Boat" and your new book "Contaminated." How can we get a copy of either and or both?

Z-Boat has received a lot of attention. The premise, at least to me, seemed pretty simple. Zombies on a submarine. There are also elements of a dystopian future, spies, mystery, and suspense, with the horror in the last third of the book. As of now, I have it back and am doing an overhaul on it then will be resubmitting it. If another publisher decides to pick it up, you can get a copy that way, other than that I have about four copies left.

Contaminated is from Severed Press and is a shorter story, about 64,000 words. The idea came to me after one to many movies about space and mutants. I asked myself, since Pluto was downgraded to an asteroid, what wonderful goodies has it accumulated during its lifetime hurtling through space? And what if one of those goodies was brought back to Earth. In the book, Dr. Arthur Covington does just that. He loses his family and credibility because of his obsession with his probe. He is an idealist and hopes the sacrifices he made will be worth it. What he does not know are that other people with both known and unknown agendas are at work. When he gets his dream lap in a retro-fitted silo, he doesn't ask any questions. Of course something goes wrong, and the book becomes a tale of survival as he and a few others who must trust one another have e to climb fifteen levels of a secured facility, fighting the undead. At the same time a rescue team is trying to make its way down, when the two meet, not all goes well. It is available here -

Amazon Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/

Contaminated-Zombie-Survival-


Novel-ebook/dp/B008PONZPK/ref=

pd_rhf_gw_p_t_2

Amazon Paperback - http://www.amazon.com/

Contaminated-A-Zombie-


survival-Novel/dp/1478333499/

ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_t_1

6. Rumor has it your dog has "final say so" on your works. What is her name, what are her qualifications and how can I hire her?

My dog does in fact have the final say. She is a tough nut to crack, and even harder to please. I can't count the number of times I have rewritten something because it did not keep her attention, which is not surprising with a Boston Terrier. Her name is Loki, and she loves to take pictures to help others promote their works. Her qualifications are her ability to find a tennis ball no matter where you hide it, play fetch until the end of time, outrun a zombie, and I have trained her to crawl should the need arise in the ZA. As for hiring her, Milk Bones. She works cheap.

7. Tell me your zombie style do you stay strictly "Romero" or do you take "liberties with the living dead?"

Oh, I am the master of taking liberties. I have done a few "Romero" stories, but like to shake it up. For example, in Z-Boat, the zombies were the result of a bacteria trying to survive. Once the host is infected, they are eaten slowly from the inside out, but can work with others who are infected. In the story I mentioned for Post Mortem, I took a woman who was pregnant get infected. Her husband has to get the baby out before the virus spreads, but he is seconds too late. The result, a new breed, but of zombie or human?


The traditional zombies scare the crap out of me, most likely why I take liberties and try to come up with something different every now and then.


8. Tell me where fans can find you on the web? Have any pages, blogs or other "social media" hideouts? Also tell us what the future will bring us from Suzanne Robb.

I have a blog that I use to promote my work!

- http://suzannerobb.blogspot.

ca/

I am also learning/trying to learn how to use Twitter at @srobb76. I am not very good yet, but learning.


As for the future? I have several short stories coming out in various anthologies. I am working on the sequel to Contaminated. I need to edit the sequel to Z-Boat. And I am working on the final touches on a book I wrote titled The Moonlight Killer. Non-zombie, more of a horror/parody/paranormal/

fantasy. A werewolf story I had a great time writing, and love, which means it is probably horrible.

9. Where do you see zombies heading in the future now that "Hollywood has made them the flavor of the month? Do you like the direction the "genre" has take?

I know people say zombies are done, but it is impossible. We as a people are fascinated with death in all of its incarnations, and the walking dead are part of that. Movies have been made on them for decades. More and more writers are coming up with new and unique ways to bring about the zombie apocalypse.


I think they might fall out of favor for a few years, but they always come back up (bad pun intended).


As for the direction the "genre" has taken, I think it is necessary. Romero made a wonderful movie with Night of the Living Dead, and all of his follow ups. What made them great, was the hidden social commentary within them. Once that starts being thrown back into the mix, I think we will be in for some great movies once again. For the time being, people will have running zombies, funny zombies, whatever kind of zombie you can think of, but the classics never die.

10. Talk to me about season 3 of The Walking Dead. What are you predictions and who would you "kill off?"

I love the show. I know some people get tired of it, but for me I like the interplay between the characters and how they deal with the fact the world has ended. Denial, anger, stupidity, and so forth.
I am glad with some of the characters they "got rid of" last season, however I think one of them was a big mistake because this person was the center of most of the drama between the two main characters.


For season three I hope/pray they start to use the other characters on there more often like Daryl, T-Bone, and Glenn. I also hope Lori never utters the phase "let the men folk handle the walkers" ever again. That scene was so painful to watch. I wanted to rip her head off, then again she is an idiot and why the heck is Carl never in the house? Really, during the Zombie Apocalypse my dog would not be out of my sight let alone my kids.


As for who to kill off, Lori and Carol, or was that a trick question?

TW. Brown "Writer of The Dead!"

1. Describe each component of TW Brown. Who is The Man, The Myth and The Legend?

I am a husband (took four attempts to get it right) and a father. I have a beautiful daughter, Ronni, and two amazing sons, Cody an Alex. They were born in May and December which is where the name of our publishing company comes from--May December Publications. I am a die hard Seattle Seahawks fan win, lose, or draw. I have been the lead guitarist and vocalist for a band named 'The KaQlin' Zombies'. I love the band KISS and have been hooked since around 1975. I love working out, hiking, and playing fetch with my Border Collie.

2. We both had stories in "Collabthology: Collaboration of the Dead Presents." I love the idea of being published but writing isn't my full time job. What's your opinion on the "payment vs non payment" for a authors from a Author/Editor standpoint?

Naturally I love the idea of getting a little money here and there, but I think that the contributor copy anthologies are a fantastic chance for me to get free advertising. I have no qualms about submitting with the knowledge that my only compensation will be a copy of the book. That being said, I also understand the need to try and crack the "pro-rate" market. If nothing else, it is a nice accomplishment, it certainly isn't for the cash considering it will only be a couple hundred at the very most and usually considerably less. It might get me seen by a larger audience, but the reality is, anthologies are not big money makers statistically. Of course the publisher who can snag a Kirkman or a King is gonna make a few bucks, but the average Joe like me just can't expect to command that type of audience. And I am on record as saying that if I ever crack the "Hollywood" nut, I will still send my stuff to the small presses and indie publishers. I think that there is just a plethora of talent as good as or better than some of the "names" out there.

3. How does a writer become an editor and how do you maintain the "integrity" of the writers work when editing?

Lots of studying, lots of hours pouring over very dry texts, and LOTS of reading. Some rules just can not be found as easily as others. As far as the integrity, I have the opinion that if I am contracted to work on somebody else's work, then we are a team. I send the work to the author for feedback and approval. I have one author who insists of fragmented sentences. He is going for a certain "vibe" and that is what he wants. The bottom line in my opinion as an editor in the indie world is that "the customer is always right" when it comes down to the final decision. If I see something, I will make suggestions, but I always make sure that the author is happy with the final product.

4. You have quite the prolific catalog of work. Is there one that leaves you in awe?

As far as anthologies, it would be Midnight Movie Creature Feature, hands down. I wanted something unique and quirky. The submissions I had to choose from were the best I have ever received. There were at least a dozen stories that did NOT make the cut that were outstanding, but we had to make a cut off. As for my own personal work--I would say I am most proud of my DEAD series.

5. What's on deck for TW Brown and May December Publications?

We have our Spiders anthology coming along with a thriller titled Elena as well as the second volume of the Midnight Movie Creature Feature anthology. Personally I have bowed to fan demand and will be releasing the fourth book in the Zomblog series titled Zomblog: Snoe which I am making a point to stress is NOT a zombie story. Yes, zombies are there, but it is 20 years after the apocalypse and they are not the focus of the story. I am currently writing the fifth book in the DEAD series--Dead: Siege & Survival (due out December 15th of this year) and will be putting together the next collection of Gruesomely Grimm Zombie Tales and the next book in my non-zombie Dakota series as well as the first full length That Ghoul Ava novel.

6. Now that zombies have gone "mainstream." TW how do your zombie tales stand out from the masses?

Zombies are mostly universal. I think my stuff stands out because of the depth of the characters and the story line. My books can often go several pages without mentioning the Zed word. I had read a lot of the stuff out there and have to say I might have not been the first, but I was one of the first to have my bites not be a guaranteed death sentence. Having people who demonstrate immunity is a twist I think makes my stuff unique.

7. Do you pen you zombies as traditional "Romero" Walkers, "28 Days" Olympic Sprinters or somewhere in the middle?

I am a traditionalist. I like the good old-fashioned slow mover. They are like the tide...always in motion.

8. How many ways we can find TW Brown and May December Press on the internet?

Well, there is MayDecemberPublications.com, I am on Facebook with May December Publications, Author TW Brown and Todd Brown. Also, I have my blog at twbrown.blogspot.com and my Amazon author page at http://www.amazon.com/TW-Brown/e/B00363NQI6 then there is @Maydecpub on twitter. And if you can't find any of those, email me at twbrown.maydecpub@gmail.com or twbrown@maydecemberpublications.com.

9. For those looking to jump into your writings feet first. Where do you recommend they begin?

I would say Dead: The Ugly Beginning. I believe it is my best work. And if you are not into horror, then Dakota by Todd Brown would be more your cup of tea.

 

10. For the win give me your predictions for season 3 of The Walking Dead. Who lives, who dies and who would you kill off?

I think all of the majors live, but if they are going to knock somebody off, I would love it to be Lori. I don't want to say too much in case they decide to follow the graphic novel again. I know who lives and dies as far as the characters that exist ion the graphic novel version of the story.

Ladies and Gentlemen TW Brown!