Have you been reading along with Julianne? Perhaps you’ve missed a stop on her fantastic Days with the Undead: Book One tour? No need to worry, we’ve done another round-up for you so that you can caught up and perhaps enter yourself in some giveaways to win a free copy of the book!

April 5 & 6 – The Sirens Song

The Science of the Undead (interview) -

SCP: Julianne, what draws you to Zombies in particular? Not why do you like Zombie stories, but what is it about the slow scuffle of Undead feet that makes you want to tell your story about them?

JS: I have always been drawn to Zombie literature. I’ve also been drawn to more psychologically thoughtful horror stories. If I hadn’t studied forensics, it would have been psychology. In the end, I found that the stories I had the opportunity to read the genre were lacking that psychological edge that I had come to crave. Admittedly, it’s a hard thing to work into the gruesome, gore filled story that a Zombie work needs to be, but it can be done. As I wrote Days with the Undead in my mind, it came from a deeper place within me. Sure, there are Zombies but it really is a story of human survival. It’s what I was trying to do in reality as I faced a life-threatening illness and a great deal of the psychological aspects derive from that experience. It wasn’t easy to impart some of my deepest inner struggles for survival into the book but I think that is part of what makes it different. When I read it, I feel my own struggle (minus the Zombies, of course) and when others read it, I hope they feel the psychological torment that can exist in a situation like that as well without having to experience it for themselves.

If you’d like to read the rest of The Science of the Undead, check out the links for Part 1 and Part 2.

April 7 – Joseph Pinto

An Interview -

It’s my pleasure to introduce you to Julianne Snow, author of the new book, ‘Days with the Undead: Book One.’

JP: Okay, Julianne, straight out of the gate: why zombies?

JS: Why not Zombies? They’re fun (in a weird sort of way). However, on a more serious note, I find Zombies to be remarkably more terrifying than any of the other supernatural creatures that are in literary and cinematic existence today. Zombies are the monsters that characterize the aspects of humanity to the greatest degree. By chance or design, the monster’s face that looks back at you is one that is so similar to your own. That sends chills down my spine.

Interested in reading the rest of Joseph’s interview with Julianne, find it here.

April 8 - Julianne Snow

Found: An Interview with Julie! (flash fiction) -

…Today I start my career as a serious journalist. I might not be the best yet, but I only plan on getting better. I have a feeling that something is going on up in Canada and while I can’t get there, I can take a look from here and see if I can’t help figure some of the confusing bits out for everyone. Not only have I scored an exclusive Skype interview with someone fleeing this riot, she actually has an idea about what is really going on! Without further ado, I give you my interview with Julie Odette, a resident of Toronto and witness to the situation that’s unfolding there.

GG: Welcome Julie! Thank you for agreeing to talk to me today.

JO: Gloria, thank you for giving me this unprecedented opportunity.

GG: Can you tell me what exactly is going on in Toronto?

JO: At the moment, I don’t know much about what is currently going on but I think it’s safe to assume the city is lost. However, I can tell you what happened eight days ago, if you like.

If you’d like to read the rest of Julianne’s flash fiction called Found: An Interview with Julie!, you can find it here.

April 9 – Carole Gill

Monster Face Off: Zombies vs. Werewolves vs. Vampires (guest post) -

In a war fought only by zombies, werewolves and vampires, who would win? Is there one supernatural creature that would reign supreme? In order to answer that question, we must first consider each of the creatures in turn.

The Zombie: The modern archetype of the Zombie is rooted deep in the genre. Zombies are undead; that’s fairly simple to ascertain. They are plagued with a voracious hunger, they never stop to rest, and they move whether it’s night or day. They have no preference in whom they will kill and they can add to their ranks with a single, infected bite. The Zombie exists with no subtlety, no brains, and absolutely no subterfuge. That makes them pretty formidable, but how will they stack up against the Vampire or the Werewolf?

Interested in finding out which supernatural creature Julianne thinks will win a Monster Face Off, read the rest of the post here.

April 10 – Keelan Foley

My Experiences of Crafting Tales (guest post) -

Hello, my name is Julianne Snow and I am a published author. I feel like I should be standing at the front of a room addressing all of my contemporaries when I say that. Writing is an addiction that I feed on a daily basis. It’s not something that I do once in a while or on a whim; it’s a part of my identity.

I started writing in the latter years of elementary school and continued throughout high school. I gained intense enjoyment out of creating worlds and putting those worlds onto paper. At that point in time, I had always imagined my life would contain writing on some level. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it full-time or if it was something that I wanted to do for myself. A wise person, a mentor of mine, made a suggestion at the crossroads of my life, trying to guide me in pursuing the best education possible. At that junction I made a choice that I don’t regret, but I do wish I had made a few addendums to. I should have carried on writing fiction; instead I traded it in for the long nights of academic papers and lab reports. It wasn’t until I was facing down an illness that I rediscovered the joy that writing had once held for me. Since then, there has been no looking back.

If you’re interested in reading the rest of Julianne’s guest post, you can find it here.

April 11 – Heather Powers

Days with the Undead: The Author’s Perspective (guest post) -

When I first set out to craft an engaging story, my mind didn’t automatically jump to the Zombie genre. At the moment, it’s a bandwagon full of offerings with fans joining the ranks in exponential numbers. Zombies are popular at the moment; there is no doubt about it. The difference with Days with the Undead is that in the beginning I started out to write a story about survival. The perfect backdrop for that story just happened to be a Zombie Apocalypse and I’m not going to lie, the genre is one of my favourites.

In order to catch the attention of potential readers, you must have a story that captures them from the very beginning. Most stories tend to start on the first day; it’s almost an oxymoronical statement to suggest otherwise. With Days with the Undead, I place you right into the action. There is no gentle build to the crux of the story; instead you are thrown head first into the flight of the main characters as they evade the Undead…

To read the rest of Julianne’s guest post titled Days with the Undead: The Author’s Perspective, find it here.

April 12 – Kalla Monahan

Vision: The Fusion of Sight and Inspiration (guest post) -

While I was growing up, I always imagined my life would include writing in some capacity. Whether it was for pleasure or as a side project to a fulfilling career, I continually visualized that creating characters and worlds would run in tandem to the life I was going to live. Somewhere along the line, that all got pushed to the wayside.

In my young adult years, I spent so much of my time nose deep in books – academic tomes and periodic journals – while studying at University, it left little time to write fiction. But I still managed to read and added quite frequently to my collection of hardcovers and paperbacks in those four years. With all of the other pressures pushing down on me, reading was enough to satisfy the monster-sized imagination that had grown inside my mind…

If you’d like to read more of Vision: The Fusion of Sight and Inspiration, you can find it here.

April 13 – Erebus Horror

An Interview -

Well we’re lucky enough to have conducted an interview with this great writer and you’re lucky enough to read it!

Here we go…

EH: What made you decide to become a writer?

JS: I’m not sure if it was really a decision I consciously made. I had always written short stories and prose-like poems growing up, but before going away to post-secondary education it got put on the back burner. I didn’t end up coming back to it until later when a situation that arose that caused me to lose a great deal of my sight for a period of time. As a result, I spent a lot of that time in my head, rediscovering my love for creating plotlines and fleshing out characters. After that moment occurred, there really was no looking back.

EH: You’re a published author now. How hard was it to get where you are?

JS: The hardest part was actually writing the book. That’s a lot of words to weave together in some form of coherency! As the ideas and plotlines swarm around the sieve that controls what flows out of your fingers, it can get difficult to filter which ideas are viable for any given story. The fact of the matter is that I enjoy writing; I enjoy the sense of satisfaction I receive when I finish a chapter or a story. Once the story is completely finished, and the editing starts, there’s almost a relaxation that occurs. You have the story that you wanted to write out of your head and your soul, now it’s just polishing it to the point that it’s the best that it can be. Teaming with my publisher, Sirens Call Publications, helped me to traverse the world of publishing as well. Was it a struggle at times? Absolutely, but in the end it was a labor of love and one that I will happily do over and over again…

To read the rest of the Julianne’s interview with Erebus Horror, find it here.

April 16 – Stant Litore

An Interview for The Zombie Bookshelf -

The premise of Julianne Snow’s new Days with the Undead appealed to me at once because it is told as a survivor’s diary, reviving the oldest and original form of plague narrative. I remember reading Defoe’s Journal of the Plague Year in college, and many of the passages in it — the people being bound to their beds so they would not run naked and feverish into the streets screaming; the heaps of bodies; the fire — remain with me to this day. So it is with considerable delight that I see Julianne Snow reviving this form in her debut novel. Worth checking out!

Stant Litore. What most frightens and fascinates you about the hungry dead?

Julianne Snow. One aspect of the hungry dead that terrifies me the most is their similarity to us; it’s like looking in the mirror at your own potential (perhaps inevitable) demise. When you face down hordes of the Undead, you will confront a multitude of the walking corpses in differing stages of decomposition. You’re even going to encounter different degrees of wounds and carnage. The social commentary that can be drawn from those simple inferences is dangerous when you really start to think about it…

To read the rest of Stant’s Interview with Julianne, you can find it here.

And so that ends Julianne’s Days with the Undead Blog Tour – I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

Have you been reading along with Julianne? Perhaps you’ve missed a stop on her fantastic Days with the Undead: Book One tour? No need to worry, we’ve done another round-up for you so that you can caught up and perhaps enter yourself in some giveaways to win a free copy of the book!

March 30 – Ami Hendrickson

An Interview -

MuseInks welcomes Julianne Snow, zombie expert, whose new book Days With the Undead has recently been released by Sirens Call Publications. Julianne graciously answered my questions about her creative process, what she learned on the road to publication, and offers her top 5 tips for surviving a Zombie uprising…

Q: You wrote throughout Junior High and High School, but stopped writing for a long time after a teacher suggested you were better suited for other things. What happened to make you rediscover your love for writing?

A: I got sick and found that I could no longer escape into the worlds that others were creating for me. Losing that outlet and having to live in my own head for quite some time brought all of the worlds and stories that I had succeeded in suppressing bubbling back up to the surface.

If you would like to read more of Ami’s interview with Julianne, find it here.

March 31 – David Jon Fuller

An Interview and My Writing Playlist (guest post) -

Today I’m pleased to present an interview with a Canadian zombie writer, a none-too-subtle reference to Julianne Snow, which should come as no surprise to those of you who follow her (@CdnZmbiRytr) on Twitter.

Julianne is in the midst of a marathon blog tour for her new novel, Days With the Undead, which brings her to As you Were today.

Julianne was born in Toronto, Ont., where she still lives, and was the only girl in a family with four children.

She got her taste for horror early, watching Alien at age four with the rest of her family (her older siblings chickened out, but Julianne hung in till the end).

By age six, she was watching George A. Romero’s zombie classic Night of the Living Dead, so her chosen genre of writing should come as no surprise.

What to read the rest of David’s interview with Julianne, you can find it here.

***

How does my iPod know what song needs to follow the next when it’s on shuffle? I’ve always wondered that – mainly because as I’m writing, there is never a moment that I need to hit the skip button. Is my iPod magic? Probably, but that’s only from the sheer fact that I don’t readily understand how all of my music fits into such a little thing.

Since I knew that I was going to be guesting on David’s blog, I thought it was the perfect time to enlighten everyone as to what I like to listen to while I’m writing. Now I know that some people need the constancy of silence while in the zone – but not me. When I write sometimes I find myself needing something hard and heavy to help fuel the mood with which I want to write in. Other times, I’m looking for something smooth and melodious. It mainly depends on my mood and how much of a brain beating I need to take in order to expel the distractions around me and immerse myself in the world of my choosing. In the end, I’m sure that it only serves as background noise to my subconscious but if I don’t have music playing, it doesn’t feel right. Music and writing are forever connected for me.

If you’d like to read the rest of My Writing Playlist, read the rest of it here.

April 1 – Jim Mcleod

An Interview and Zombies: Why I Dig the Undead (guest post) -

Many people don’t care for Zombies and I can understand that opinion in some cases. Many think that the genre has been overdone. The fact of the matter is there has been such an evolution in the genre as of late that there are some new and fresh perspectives that breathe new life into the Undead.

Tools used during autopsies

*****

SCP: On the topic of necrotic flesh… In older movies where the gore factor wasn’t so highly valued, the dusty, dirty, dried out zombie was as acceptable as a mummy, but not anymore. Describe in full detail (and don’t be shy about it) how a Zombie’s dead flesh and sinew would change with time, and what the slough time factor should be in actuality? How long does it take for the flesh falls from the bones?

JS: That isn’t something that can be completely quantified as there are different factors that can come into play. The first aspects that need to be understood are the five general stages of decomposition.

Fresh: The fresh stage commences immediately after the heart stops beating. Rigor mortis (the rigidity of muscular tissues that sets in three to six hours after death and starts to dissipate anywhere from forty-eight to sixty hours after death); Livor mortis (the pooling or settling of the blood in the lower portions of the body dependent on position); and Algor mortis (the cooling of the body after death) all occur within this stage of decomposition. Once the heart stops beating, chemical changes occur within the body which also results in a change in the overall pH level. The resulting change in pH causes cells to lose their structural integrity which in turn results in a process known as autolysis; the release of cellular enzymes which break down the surrounding cells and tissue. Any oxygen left in the body is quickly depleted by the aerobic organisms creating the perfect playground for anaerobic organisms. It’s the anaerobic organisms from the gastrointestinal tract and the respiratory systems that begin to transform the carbohydrates, fats and proteins in dead tissues. As they break down into organic acids such as lactic and propionic acids along with gases like methane, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, it’s the spread of these microbes within the body that is more commonly referred to as putrefaction.

Bloat: As the accumulation of the gases mentioned above collect, it causes the distention of the abdomen, giving the corpse an all over bloated appearance. These gases mix with any naturally occurring liquids and any liquefying tissues, making them frothy. As the pressure inside the body increases, these fluids are forced to escape from any orifice or wound they can exploit, akin to a release valve. The purging of fluids and gases is what results in the strong and distinctive odors of decay. In addition, the pressure may also cause the skin to rupture if an easier means of escape is not available. A corpse gets its marbled appearance as the anaerobic intestinal bacteria transform hemoglobin into sulfhemoglobin and other solutions with varying pigments. It’s the presence of decomposition gases that aid in the transportation of sulfhemoglobin along with the other pigment carrying solutions throughout the body via the lymphatic and circulatory systems.

Active Decay: This is the stage characterized by the greatest loss of body mass. This loss is mostly in part from the feeding of maggots and the purging of decomposition fluids to the surrounding environment. In this stage, the liquefaction of tissues and disintegration of the body becomes apparent. Strong odors of decomposition will persist throughout this stage.

Advanced Decay: A body in advanced decay usually doesn’t go through a huge amount of decomposition as the tissues that would normally decompose are no longer available in large amounts. The corpse, having already lost a great deal of its mass in active decay, will continue to break down until only dry remains are left.

Dry Remains: All that really remains at this stage is dry skin, cartilage, and bones. Pieces of soft tissue may remain in some cases but they are dried to the point that they will not continue to decompose.

So now that you understand how a body is mostly likely to decompose, let’s discuss the factors that will either speed up or inhibit decomposition. The actual speed can vary greatly, so it’s best to keep that in mind.

Temperature and Climate: Colder temperatures and climates will decrease the rate of decomposition and conversely warmer temperatures and climates will increase the rate. Humid conditions with help to increase the rate while dry and windy conditions can actually dehydrate a corpse to the point where bacterial growth will cease as there are no nutrients for them to feed on.

Access to the Corpse: This refers to the access that insects and carrion have to the corpse. In conditions where there is restricted access, either by clothing present on the body or by the locale of the body (for example in water or underground), the rate of decomposition is reduced. If insects and other carrion have easy access to the body, either by the fact that it is out in the open or not wrapped or dressed in tight-fitting garments, the rate of decomposition is increased.

Cause of Death: Corpses with open wounds will decompose faster. The increased surface area open to insects and carrion is obvious as well as the ability for the body to vent the by-products of anaerobic decomposition. Aerobic bacteria can also act on the body from the outside inward, aiding in the speed of complete decomposition.

Percentage of Body Fat: Fat has high water content which aids in decomposition as well as retaining heat longer after death. The higher the percentage of body fat, the faster the rate of decomposition as a rule.

Body Farm Photo - a body farm is a research facility where human decomposition can be studied in a variety of settings.

There are more factors that affect decomposition as the list is nearly endless. The Undead will inevitably follow some of the observed trends so I’ll sum up the Zombie that is likely to decompose the fastest and the one the will likely decompose the slowest.

If the Zombies in your area are larger than most, wearing little or no clothing or with clothing that is loose-fitting, in a humid and hot environment with numerous gaping wounds, it’s likely they will decompose faster than most. If however you live in a cooler, drier climate where the Zombies are less corpulent and dressed in tighter fitting fashions with little to no gaping wounds, they’re going to decompose at a slower rate.

None of this takes into account the mobility factor either. The body mass reduction of insects in the stage of advanced decay is dependent on the fact that maggots have to be able to feed on the body. If said body is in motion, those maggots are going to have a hard time gaining a significant purchase on the surface resulting in a longer period of advanced decay. It’s also wise to note that whatever turned the bodies of the dead into the Undead may actually slow down or counteract the natural processes of decomposition.

I guess the easy answer would have been “it’s hard to say” but how is that going to help you understand the Undead?

SCP: Describe for us the most horrific Zombie of your nightmares in full detail? Dare we say “spare no parts?”

JS: The most horrific Zombies of my nightmares are not the most gruesome one by any stretch of the imagination. It’s the Zombie that has just turned. The Zombie that has no readily discernible Zombie features. The Zombie that doesn’t have the insatiable hunger in its eyes yet. Those are the ones that scare me the most as they are the ones that will get too close before you realize what they truly are. Oh, and Zombie children scare me. They are so small and tend to escape your notice until it’s too late. There’s also something inherently sad, creepy and terrifying about lost innocence. Avoid Zombie children; they will break your heart and likely turn you before you have to bash their brains in.

*****

Here is a little bit about Days with the Undead: Book One -

It’s a journal of survival.

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

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

Interested in buying Days with the Undead: Book One?

Print - CreateSpace, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

eBook - Smashwords, Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon Germany, Amazon France, Amazon Spain, Amazon Italy and Kobo.

Autographed Print Copies can be purchased here.

*****

Before we begin, let’s learn a little more about Julianne -

Julianne Snow

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

Days with the Undead: Book One is her first full-length book, the basis of which can be found in her popular web serial of the same name. You can find Julianne’s The Living Dead of Penderghast Manor in the anthology Women of the Living Dead and stories in upcoming anthologies called Childhood Nightmares: Under The Bed and Twisted Realities: Of Myth and Monstrosity from Sirens Call Publications.

*****

SCP: Julianne, what draws you to Zombies in particular? Not why do you like Zombie stories, but what is it about the slow scuffle of Undead feet that makes you want to tell your story about them?

JS: I have always been drawn to Zombie literature. I’ve also been drawn to more psychologically thoughtful horror stories. If I hadn’t studied forensics, it would have been psychology. In the end, I found that the stories I had the opportunity to read the genre were lacking that psychological edge that I had come to crave. Admittedly, it’s a hard thing to work into the gruesome, gore filled story that a Zombie work needs to be, but it can be done. As I wrote Days with the Undead in my mind, it came from a deeper place within me. Sure, there are Zombies but it really is a story of human survival. It’s what I was trying to do in reality as I faced a life-threatening illness and a great deal of the psychological aspects derive from that experience. It wasn’t easy to impart some of my deepest inner struggles for survival into the book but I think that is part of what makes it different. When I read it, I feel my own struggle (minus the Zombies, of course) and when others read it, I hope they feel the psychological torment that can exist in a situation like that as well without having to experience it for themselves.

SCP: A decaying corpse has a distinct odor, yet in all the entertainment we see, out heroes or heroines blast/chop/cleave or beat the head off the Zombie, which is of course how you dispatch it. Why is it that no one ever focuses on the horrendous and wretched smell this creates? Are we supposed to believe that Zombies that have been (un)dead for good this time and those which are lying, truly dead in massive heaps in the sun don’t let off a foul stench? Your main character has a background in forensics, are the masses at large just not up to the challenge of dealing with this ugly reality?

JS: To be perfectly honest, the smell would only get to you for so long. How do people who live in certain “smellier” parts of cities deal with the stench, or the people who happen to live next to smelting plants or landfill sites. At some point, your olfactory senses will make you immune to the smell. As your exposure is prolonged, you will find that you can rely on it less and less. The only thing that you’ll be able to smell after a while will be the new and different scents, until you get used to those as well. Another factor to explore is this; even though the corpses of the dead Undead are lying around in the streets, rotting away, the chances that you will smell them is reduced. As long as the bodies are not confined to in an enclosed space, the odor will dissipate. Is it going to be hard for people not used to smelling decay? Most definitely. We live in a world that promotes sanitization from odors at every turn. Perhaps learning to live with the nasty smells that can happen around us (in our homes, on the streets) will ultimately help us to survive a Zombie Apocalypse.

There is another factor to take into account with respects to the smell given off during the decomposition process. A clinically dead body will begin to smell during the bloat stage. This occurs when the body purges the build-up of organic gases and fluids that result from the reactions of anaerobic bacteria already present in the body and their metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. It’s the process more commonly known as putrefaction. The strong and distinctive odor of decomposition remains throughout the stages of bloat, active decay and even into the stages of advanced decay. As a zombie’s body breaks down further and further, there will come a point in time where it will likely stop giving off that distinctive odor. Keep in mind that the odor may still remain on any clothing that has been stained with the fluids of decomposition.

SCP: Guts, and not the bravery kind! As long as the head is attached, the body still moves. Gut or intestinal dragging is a big wow factor in modern-day Zombie lore. Do you think it’s necessary to go to that level to get the reader to fully feel the impact of the terror the characters are feeling when watching half a Zombie crawl towards them? What makes ‘half’ a Zombie so much more visceral than a whole one?

JS: I suppose there would be some that would say that seeing a piecemeal Zombie clawing its way toward you would be more terrifying but that comes from the perspective that half-beings are not supposed to move. Dead things aren’t supposed to move but if a whole Zombie was coming at you, you may be able to process the event faster and react in time. Considering that the half-Zombies have to crawl and claw in order to be mobile, that puts them out of your direct field of vision. Watch your ankles!

SCP: We know what makes your story different and love the journalistic approach you’ve taken with it, but what sets your Zombies apart in your mind? Not what you’ve written per se, but in your mind’s eye when you are writing, why are your Zombies worthy of the Julianne method?

JS: That’s an interesting question. I don’t think my Zombies are any different from those that can be seen in most movies or read about it any number of books. I think what sets my book apart is the fact that I’ve explored the psychological turmoil of survival to a greater degree. Are there moments of Undead action? Of course, and some of them are quite gory, but it’s also a real chronology of flight and survival.

Make sure you tune into The Sirens Song to catch the end of our interview with Julianne tomorrow!

Here is a little bit about Days with the Undead: Book One -

It’s a journal of survival.

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

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

Interested in buying Days with the Undead: Book One?

Print - CreateSpace, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

eBook - Smashwords, Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon Germany, Amazon France, Amazon Spain, Amazon Italy and Kobo.

Autographed Print Copies can be purchased here.

Have you been reading along with Julianne? Perhaps you’ve missed a stop on her fantastic Days with the Undead: Book One tour? No need to worry, we’ve done another round-up for you so that you can caught up and perhaps enter yourself in some giveaways to win a free copy of the book!

March 23 – Dana Wright

Book Review and Zombie Lit That Has Influenced Me (guest post) -

I have been reading Zombie literature for quite some time. It makes sense though; I love anything to do with them. I’ve been thinking for quite some time about the Zombie literature that has influenced me and I ended up coming up with a relatively short list in comparison to the troves of treasures out in the world.

The first book that really made me realize that Zombies had invaded the pages of literature was Herbert West – Reanimator by HP Lovecraft. It is something I read in high school and it opened my eyes to a whole new realm of horror literature. I had been watching Zombies for quite some time but I hadn’t really read that much about them. Nor had I really even looked, to be honest. I had my favorite authors already firmly entrenched and while I read books from other authors, my favorites kept me busy. When I stumbled across it, though, I found that Lovecraft has such a specific style in what he writes. Even with the simplest words, he can strike a chord of fear deep down inside. If you haven’t read it yet, I suggest you get to it!

If you’re interested in reading Dana’s review of Days with the Undead: Book One and the rest of the Zombie Lit that has influenced Julianne, you can find it here.

March 24 – Erin O’Riordan

My Other Favourite Supernatural Creature (guest post) -

I think it’s safe to assume that everyone knows that I love Zombies. I read about them, I watch them on television and in movies and I even write about them. My first book Days with the Undead: Book One is currently available at all the major self-publishing outlets. But the subject of this post is not Zombie related. What I want to talk to you about is my other favourite supernatural creature: shape shifters.

I have had a fascination with supernatural creatures as far back as I can remember. There is something dangerous and secretive about the things that we don’t readily understand. Shape shifters are among the most compelling of those for me. You’d never know that you were looking at one unless it let you in on its secret. The ability to transform into someone else is a power that many just may covet. Imagine if you could be someone else for a few days… The things that you could do, the things that you could find out, and the experiences that you’d be able to live. The list is endless.

Interested in reading more about Julianne’s Other Favourite Supernatural Creature, find it here.

March 25 – Coral Russell

**TOP SECRET** (flash fiction) -

Attention: An audio file was accessed remotely by the Centre for Disease Control shortly after the incident in Toronto, Canada. The following is a transcript of an examination performed on an unknown individual.

Begin Transcription –

This is Case #01-3967 conducted at the Centre for Forensic Sciences on May 31st, (year unintelligible). My name is Dr. Julie Odette, resident pathologist. Assisting me is pathology assistant Greg Travers. Greg, are you ready to begin?

(Unintelligible chatter in the background, sounds of trays being moved around)

On the table in front of me is a Caucasian female, approximately 20 to 45 years of age with brown hair, blue eyes and an average build. The decedent – err – patient was brought into the morgue under heavy restraint about 45 minutes ago with no vital signs and no identification. The female is currently restrained to one of the autopsy tables. What I am encountering defies all reasoning. I admit that I am scared but unashamedly curious.

If you are intrigued enough to read more of Julianne’s flash titled **TOP SECRET**, you can read the rest of it here.

March 26 – Coral Moore

An Interview

CM: What’s the first word of your book? (You can exclude articles, pronouns or prepositions.)

JS: The first word of Days with the Undead: Book One is “close”.

CM: Tell me something about your book that I can’t find in the blurb.

JS: That’s a very interesting question… It’s a book about choices. You can choose to live or you can choose to die. Each of your actions is a micro decision closer to either one of those extremes. It’s also a book written completely from the perspective of the protagonist and is told through narratives only.

To read the rest of Coral’s interview with Julianne, you can find it here.

March 27 – Jeremy Hawkins

An Interview

JH: Tell us about your career and what you are currently working on or involved with?
JS: My writing career is only just starting. I have published one book, Days with the Undead: Book One and have been writing for different anthologies. I currently appear in Women of the Living Dead with a story titled The Living Dead of Penderghast Manor and will soon have two more stories in upcoming anthologies both released by Sirens Call Publications.

JH: Is this what you thought you would be doing with your life, what was your first passion?
JS: That’s an interesting question, to be honest. I have always had a passion for writing but I admit that I lost it somewhere along the way. Lost it might not even be the correct term either. I took the advice of a mentor and focused more on science over literature. I was still a voracious reader; I just didn’t have the time to write anything original. I’m very much glad to be in a position to fulfill that need within my soul again.

To read the remainder of Jeremy’s interview with Julianne, you can find it here.

March 28 – Kriss Morton

Book Review

I want to go on and on about how wonderful this collection of days is. It was a brilliant idea and with Julieanne’s forensic background she was able to bring to the plate not only a scientific take but her own passion for this genre. We as readers are immersed in a daily fight for survival. From the early days. Unlike with The Walking Dead where Rick wakes up much later, this is them riding the wave of infection out of Toronto.

There are parts of these days that definitely make this a mature read. The video games have rated most zombie games as Mature (17 and above) I would have to label this read with the same. Not because there is gore and violence, there is but it is not the show it is the reality. But because there are specific scenes with particularly small individuals that I would not want my 16 year year old, let alone the younger ones, reading just yet.

To read the rest of Kriss’ review, check it out here.

March 29 – Nikki McCarver

Zombies: The Romantic Lead? (guest post) -

It’s an interesting question. Could the zombie take over the top spot as the romantic lead in books and films? Before you make a decision, let’s consider a few specifics first.

If not, you’re missed quite a lot of interesting guest posts and interviews!

Don’t worry though, we’ll help you get caught up!

March 16 – Jason McKinney

Survival Strategy According to Julianne Snow, Zombie Killer (guest post) -

Thank you for joining me today as we will be talking about strategies to help you survive during a Zombie Apocalypse. What I have to offer is simple and is not going to include telling you to pack a bug out bag. That’s common sense and while important, it’s just not part of the scope of this session.

There are six main strategies and they are all important. As we have no idea when the proverbial sh*t is going to hit the fan, shall we get started?

Interested in reading more Survival Strategy According to Julianne Snow, Zombie Killer, you can find it here.

March 17 – Zane Bradey

The Hallmarks of a Credible Zombie: A Purist’s Perspective (guest post) -

Credibility. That is an important word. There are a multitude of Zombie archetypes out there at the moment, and who is to say what is credible or not? While I write, I am a purist and that’s something I cannot hide. Please note the title again – everything that I plan to include in here is going to be from that purist standpoint. While I can appreciate each of the different archetypes, they are outside of our scope today. One might wonder what the hallmarks of a credible Zombie may be. For the most part they fall into four related but unique categories. Let’s begin by discussing the first.

Want to read more of The hallmarks of a Credible Zombie: A Purist’s Perspective, you can find it here.

March 18 – Caityln Downs

An Interview

CD: First of all, congratulations on Days of the Undead. Your work has appeared in an anthology (Women of the Living Dead) before, but how does it compare to having your work stand alone?

JS: Thank you Caitlyn, I appreciate the kudos. I also appreciate your time in interviewing me. It’s definitely been a fun ride. As for the comparison between being part of an anthology and a having my own standalone book, there really is no difference. Knowing that people have the ability to read the words that I have so carefully crafted is invigorating. Being a published author is a heady mix of joy and excitement along with a little bit of doubt. My words are very special to me and I want people to enjoy the end result of my labors. I will say this however, getting an email that states that your work has been accepted for publication always slaps a big smile on my face.

Want to read the rest of Caitlyn’s interview with Julianne, you can find it here.

March 19 – Kate Monroe

Women in Horror (guest post) -

Is the average horror reader discriminatory?

Can female authors gain the same level of respect for their work as male authors?

They are both interesting questions; ones that I have wondered about since releasing my first horror/science fiction novel Days with the Undead: Book One.

Looking through history, the horror genre is one that has been dominated by men. I have to wonder if that is a product of how society has viewed women as the weaker, fairer sex. Women have been seen as needing protection and guidance from the men in their lives and in some cases weren’t allowed to vote or speak their minds publicly until the 19th and even the 20th centuries. Yet, despite all of these forms of societal censorship, women have managed to gain popularity in the circles of horror writers and horror readers.

Interested in reading the rest of Julianne’s thoughts on Women in Horror, can you find them here.

March 20 – William Butler

My Earliest Literary Horror Influences (guest post) -

I have been a fan of horror since the first moment that I can remember. Books, films – you name it and I will find a way to read it or watch it. I love the momentary feeling that being frightened creates within my body. Ruminating on this topic, I can’t help but remember back to those first books that helped to cement my love of the genre.

The first horror story that I ever read was The Mist by Stephen King. I was around eight years old at the time and I remember being scared by that ominous fog that rolled in. Sometime in the next few days, a layer of light fog rolled over the landscape outside of my window and I can remember the feeling of dread that overcame me. Luckily, it passed without incident.

Intrigued to find out more of what influenced Julianne at an early age, read more of her guest post, My Earliest Literary Horror Influences here.

March 21 – Kriss Morton

An Interview

Q: As with you, so many people are interested in Zombies these days why do you think that is?

JS: I think that Zombies represent society in a small way. They were once us and I know from my own standpoint that they are some of the scariest monsters out there. Why is that? It’s the reflection of ourselves that we see in their faces. Sure, they don’t remember what it is to be human but having once been so, it reminds us all that we are only one bite away from becoming the monster as well.

Want to read the rest of Kristine’s interview with Julianne, find it here.

March 22 -April Denton

What NOT To Do During the Zombie Apocalypse (guest post) -

Okay, you’ve made it. You’re still alive, at least for the moment. As you try to make your way through the newly undead landscape, what are the actions you should avoid? What activities are likely going to expedite your demise? There are six major things that I believe won’t help you at all. Just six and if you can avoid them, you may just have a chance of surviving.

Don’t Underestimate Your Foe: Zombies are going to come at you in any which way that they can. If you think that they are going to act exactly like what you see in the movies, you’re going to have a problem. They’re not going to behave in a scripted way, moving ever closer in a prolonged sequence. They are not going to wait until the precise moment for the money shot. Instead they are going to pursue you relentlessly and they will catch up if you’re not careful. You’re going to need to take your mind out of the movies and live in the moment. No rules and definitely no apologies.

If you would like to read the rest of What NOT To DO During the Zombie Apocalypse, you can check it out here.

Right now Julianne Snow is touring around the internet on her whirlwind tour, promoting her book Days with the Undead: Book One. Have you been keeping up? Not to worry if you haven’t – here is a round-up of all the sites that she’s visited since March 10.

March 10 - Colin F. Barnes

For the Love of Horror (guest post) -

My name is Julianne Snow and I love Horror.

I’m not ashamed to admit that either. Some of my earliest experiences are entrenched in the seat of all that horror entails. My first memory is of opening my eyes as a young toddler and witnessing the underbelly of a large Daddy Long Legs spider; its eight legs radiating outward over my field of vision. I can remember being frozen, unable to move, unable to swat the spider off of my face…

If you’d like to read the rest of For the Love of Horror, you can find it here.

March 11 - Nina D’Arcangela

An Interview -

ND: Describe for us the difference in Julie’s emotional state between day 3 and day 31. Did she lose hope at any point and come to see the world as a bleak place that she must endure with only the possibility of making it through to yet another day of hell?

JS: As the voice of Days with the Undead, everything that you feel while reading is from Julie’s point of view. In the beginning, you know that she is rattled. It’s an obvious reaction to what the world is coming to. There is an overall aura of detachment radiating from her in certain regards, a throwback from her analytical life before the end of the world began unfolding in her backyard. The main emotion throughout the book is one of survival. Some might not view survival as an emotion but I maintain that it is – it’s that thing that keeps you going, the will to live. Hope also plays a role, albeit a much smaller one…

If you’d like to read the rest of Nina’s interview with Julianne, you can find it here.

March 12 - Angela Brown

How Easy is it to Write Unease? (guest post) -

To write? Or not to write? That really isn’t a question for me. I have to write. It’s a feeling that consumes me. There are times when I should be sleeping or catching up with friends… Where can you find me instead? Either furiously typing on my computer or at my desk, scribing out a story longhand.