Winter of Zombie 2015: Thad David

You're reading Books, Beer and BLOGshit! It's the only blog on the internet that is posting the last Books, Beer and BLOGshit interview of the Winter of Zombie 2015 Blog Tour. I am you exhaused host, Mr. Frank.

This is it! This last and final interview this season. And who else do we end this whole shit and shebang with? That's right! Your pal and mine, Thad David. He is co-author of a zombie book talked about earlier this season with his partner in crime, J.L. Koszarek. Together they wrote DIVIDE THEN CONQUOR. But tonight, the last night we all spend together until the summer, I say we all Unite and Multiply!

Feel the love and read the interview!

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

Thad David:  We are promoting Divide Then Conquer – Book 1 of the Zombie Company Crusade Series.  The ZCC series is a collaboration between Jodi and myself that sparked from the creation of the Zombie Company Crusade video game that launched Sept 1^st.  I’m always fascinated with politics and the lengths that people go to “protect the party” as well as how much people think their one side can save the country.  I wanted to use Zombies as a catalyst to divide the United States and bring these political cleavages to light.  Jodi and I talked about this for over an hour and she asked me to send her what I had.  The next day I received an e-mail that blew me away.  She had taken what little I had down on paper and added a ton of info and turned it into an amazing story.  Since then that’s been our whole process, a constant back and forth collaboration on this really cool idea.

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

Thad David:  Before we both answered these questions, Jodi and I agreed to not read each-others until after we wrote it.  I’m dying to hear what she put down for this one because its something we haven’t discussed yet in full detail.

As far as my answer, I see the outcome of the story to be a pretty messed up place.  We are basically taking 3 trains, putting them at full speed ahead, and blasting them into a head on collision.  We have a lot of action happening all at once coming from several different places.  I know this doesn’t fully answer your question so in short I do believe mankind will prevail here as long as they can get over their petty differences and beliefs.  The real question now is which faction of mankind will survive, good, evil… it’s a bloody political battle inside of this war.  Even if mankind wins the fight against zombies, they may still lose.

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

Thad David:  Ill be as honest as I can here.  Divide Then Conquer is my first attempt with writing anything.  I have some outlines for several books but putting pen to paper is another story.  My strengths as a writer is the story creation and I focus on creating suspense.  J.L. Koszarek is the mastermind behind the writing in our story.  We get a ton of complements on the writing style and character development and that is all thanks to Jodi.  She is a true author and artist.  I have another Thriller storyline I would like to pursue in the future but for now I am trying to learn as much as I can from Jodi.  We are planning to make the ZCC series at least an 8 to 9 book series so we have a ways to go and I have a lot to learn. 

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

Thad David:  I personally enjoy the human perspective, especially in survival situations.  In ZCC we have a TON of characters.  They range in a wide scope of human personalities.  I believe we have at least one character that a reader can relate to and enjoy following.  I started out the series as a huge fan of Jack Mason and I’ve really fallen in love with some of the other characters.  I would really hate to see some of them succumb to the virus that’s running wild across the country.  While I have others that I truly hate and would love for them to fall face first into a pit of crawlers.  A soft-landing though so they remain alive and can watch as they are eaten from the inside out.

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

Thad David:  I am very new to Zombie fiction as a fan and a writer.  For me personally I would say the most important writers are Shawn Chesser and Armand Rosamilia.  These two writers have been a huge help to me personally in so many ways.  They both care deeply for the Zombie culture and it shows in their actions and work.  I really enjoy their stories.  I’m jumping into some other stories as well and I can’t leave out Mark Tufo.  I am very excited for this blog tour.  I have met so many wonderful authors so far and I am really excited to read their stories.  To many books is a good problem to have right now.

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

Thad David:  I hope so.  I wouldn’t want to live in a world without meaningful relationships.  Love and sex are at the forefront of most of these stronger connections that we as humans thrive on.  Besides how will mankind truly survive if we aren’t reproducing?  If everyone around you is falling it doesn’t mean we have to stop having a little fun.  Obviously it may be tough to find the right time, place, or mate but I don’t see how we as humans would go without sex for too long.

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

Seasons have not played a large role in DIVIDE yet, but they will in Book Two. Surviving the zombie apocalypse in warm weather is difficult, but winter is coming and with it will come challenges specific to freezing temperatures and precipitation. The cold and snow will affect the zombies, too. In the apocalyptic world, the weather has a direct influence on our chances of survival.

The change of seasons is also a great literary tool to convey the passage of time. The ZCC series will span months, and possibly even years. It is my feeling that the change of seasons will come into play in this way going forward.

Thad and I are gearing up for our first Winter of Zombies in the ZCC series. As I sit here today, I wonder which character(s) aren’t ready. I wonder who will be alive in the springtime. 

Thad David:  A lot actually, as Book 1 ends winter is just around the corner in the story.  We are preparing and have discussed the different possibilities and ways that zombies will be affected by the colder climates.  It’s going to be interesting to see how everyone attempts to survive the cold in some of our mountain regions of the story.

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

Thad David:  Small Bites – A Little Something To Gnaw On

Thad David on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Thad-David/e/B00QFMMV2C/

Thad David on Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10068886.Thad_David

Winter of Zombie 2015: Brice J Chandler

You're reading Books, Beer and BLOGshit! Its the only blog on the internet that is ludacris enough to ride this blog tour out for the whole ride! I am your sore fingered host, Mr. Frank!

This, the next-to-last interview for the Winter of Zombie 2015 Blog Tour, features Brice J Chandler. He's quite handsome. Unless he is a she, in which case, she's quite pretty. But if she is a he well I mean he could be pretty too, you know? I've heard men labeled as pretty before. They are the type of men who are extremely secure in their masculinity too. Unless of course their masculinity is a farce and they are totally feminine, in which case it would be wholely appropriate to call them pretty as well.

Wait, what's going on? Oh ya! Interview with Brice J Chandler! Read his/her interview now!

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

Brice J Chandler:  I’m promoting alcohol, violence, and tearing shit up… wait, sorry, I thought you meant what kind of writing process do I promote/use. I’m here to promote my novel Whiskey Jack, which has many of the previously mentioned qualities. 

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

Brice J Chandler:   The zombies in my story are probably not going to decompose, at least not any time soon. So the outcome doesn’t look good for humanity.

Even with that bleak forecast, there’s always hope. Without hope, there’s no reason to have a story because no one is going to care about the outcome. If the reader doesn’t think that the protagonists have a shot at making it, then they won’t want to keep reading to see what happens in the end. Besides who the hell wants to read a story where the zombies walk around moaning and grunting because there aren’t any humans to eat.

As far as the outcome for humanity in Whiskey Jack, I’ve contemplated a sequel to the book where I would explore the world after the apocalypse (maybe 25-50 years later). I think humans will still be around, but they’ll need new heroes to help reestablish their place in that world. I might have a returning protagonist, but it’s tough to bring back my heavy drinking, main character from the first novel 25 years later. I’m a writer and a factory worker, and I can barely get up some mornings because my knees, back, or some new pain is killing me. Forget going on a drunken zombie killing spree.

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

Brice J Chandler:   I initially started writing Whiskey Jack in 2001, when I was on a deployment with the 15^th Marine Expeditionary Unit. So, the zombie sub-genre is where I started my career and my first love, but I’ve already branched out into other genres.

I don’t think that all of my writing will be in the genre. I really love the zombie genre, but I have a lot of other worlds I’d like to explore. I’ve had a couple literary short stories published in different places, and I’m currently working on a cross genre zombie/literary and also a post-apocalyptic series with a sci-fi/steampunk basis.

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

Brice J Chandler:   That’s an interesting question. Normally, I’d say a sympathetic human, because I think readers will better relate to another human.

As a writer, I’m interested in the zombie’s point of view, especially if they have an interesting story. Like, what if the culprit of the zombie apocalypse – the person who started it (assuming that it was some kind of biological weapon… something like that) – thought that they were doing something to better humanity.

What if that that zombie could tell its story? It might not be much as far as dialogue (some moans and clacking of teeth). Unless they could speak. I think that would make for an interesting story.

What would be really interesting is if such a zombie came face to face with a sympathetic human. How could that zombie justify being the catalyst of the apocalypse to a guy or gal who was forced to kill their loved ones because they turned? That would be really interesting. I’m sure it’s been done. I briefly touched on that idea in Whiskey Jack.  

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

Brice J Chandler:   The political answer would be to say, “all of the authors on the Winter of Zombie blog tour,” or better, “Armand Rosamilla,” but that really isn’t trying to stay on everyone’s good side or kissing ass. It’s the truth. The indie authors are the people out there fighting in the trenches for readers’ attention. They’re out there saying “hey check this book out. Please give it a chance.” That’s really hard to do as a writer in any genre, but the amazing thing about zompoc authors (and a lot of indie authors in general) is that they work together as a group so that everyone benefits. Armand goes out of his way to help promote the genre and indie authors. There’s also a lot of Facebook groups such as All Things Zombie and Band of Dystopian Authors and Fans that are making huge strives for authors. It’s pretty cool to be a part of that. It’s too bad that I’m sort of a social media introvert, but I’m going to try my best to pull my weight.

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

Brice J Chandler:  Gotta repopulate the Earth somehow. Look back at human history and you’ll find that even in our darkest points of despair there was room for sex. Wars, disease, depression, famine… doesn’t matter. Somewhere in the midst of it all, people were having consensual sex. Why should the zombie apocalypse be any different?

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

Brice J Chandler:  I’ve written zombie stories set in every season, and I make sure to consider the effects of season on the survivors and the zombies. I’ve been that guy out running around in the desert in summer in full gear with weapons and a heavy pack. Even when you’re in pretty good shape, running a hundred yards in the heat isn’t easy. You have to consider how people are going to operate in the different weather extremes. You also have to consider if a zombie’s brain will freeze in below freezing temps.

Although, to be fair, the seasons and weather are not my number one priorities when I write. I’m generally too focused on trying to create a story I think kicks ass and that my small fan base will love. I think that if I can entertain one reader then I’ve succeeded, regardless if something defies logic and science. It’s the zombie apocalypse after all.

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

Brice J Chandler:  Brice’s Bloody Burritos and Body Shots. I can make a pretty mean burrito, and I’ve made too many trips to Chipotle or Moe’s where I could barely walk after eating so much. I figure that if I can entice the zombies to eat to the point of being bloated, it’ll make escaping easier after I’ve run out of food. Also every food truck needs to serve alcohol. What zombie wouldn’t love a body shot where they can take a chunk out of a body, just as long as it’s not mine.    

Brice J Chandler on Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Brice-J-Chandler/e/B00IS8BMHQ

Brice J Chandler on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thewritebrice

Winter of Zombie 2015: P. Mark DeBryan

You're reading Books, Beer and BLOGshit! Its the only blog on the internet that believes all the writers on the Winter of Zombie Blog Tour 2015 deserve all the recognition this tour can possibly muster for them. I am your decidedly unsuccessful host, Mr. Frank. 

As we wind down here on The BLOGshit on the eve of the final day of the tour I'd like to extend my hope to every writer whose participated in these interview, the very best of luck. The indie zombie market is crowded and its a large crowd in a larger sea of saturated independent authors. Making an name in this world and getting your books out there is a daunting task. We at The BLOGshit sincerely hope we have helped in some small way help put your work in front of a few more eyes that may not have seen you otherwise.

And with that sappy stuff out of the way, we present the Books, Beer and BLOGshit Winter of Zombie interview of P. Mark DeBryan. Happy reading.

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

P. Mark DeBryan:  My novel Family Reunion! It has quite the backstory and as a matter of fact it was originally a short story. It started its life as In For A Dollar In For A Dime, a short story that I wrote for John O’Brien’s Untold Stories. John was gracious and allowed me to take the story and expand it to a full length novel. Basically it’s about a large family spread out across the U.S. who are all on their way to the Pacific Northwest to attend a long overdue family reunion when a pandemic breaks out. Then a vaccine causes millions to turn into crazed, blood thirsty creatures that live only to feed on you!

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

P. Mark DeBryan:  Well, there is always hope, or there would be no reason to go on. I think humanity creates these crises in order give us something to fight back against. Of course we will eventually either overcome the crisis or we won’t; by that time I guess we won’t be worried about it. We will all be gone!

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

P. Mark DeBryan:  I love this sub-genre! It give us a great opportunity to create hope, by making us face the overwhelming odds of not making it. It also speaks to the underlying fear that many feel these days of an uncertain future. We all think “Oh crap, at least we aren’t living in a zombie apocalypse… we really don’t have that much to fear!” = Hope

I have read voraciously since learning how in my second time around in the second grade. I was “held back” because I couldn’t read. My mother began reading to me every day, and I became a book junkie. I read in all genre. I would list them but… let’s just say there are not many that I don’t like or haven’t read. I only say this to point out that I do not fear “having to” write outside the genre. I look forward to it daily. I think of about six book ideas in as many genre every day, but right now I am happy that I get to play in this niche’.

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

P. Mark DeBryan:  Hmmm… That’s a loaded question. I think the human survivor is key because I believe that most, if not all, good stories revolve around relationships. The human condition is only relatable when there are more than one of us around to relate too. You can have a sole survivor, but he/she is always relating to that one fact; he/she is all alone. What does that one survivor do that makes us want to read about him/her?  They survive, but their main goal is to find another human or group of humans. You can insert sentient being in place of human, but the zombie no matter how interesting, by its very definition doesn’t care about anything but its next meal. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that the zombie’s storyline can be disregarded, but I feel it is only as important to the story as it relates to the human counterpart(s). Although, I have been wrong about much less complex queries. Like, does this dress make me look fat?

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

P. Mark DeBryan:  John O’Brien, Joe Mckinney, Tufo, Chesser, oh crap, this could go on and on… there are just too many to list. I think any of them that put together an entertaining story are important to me as a reader. As a writer I learn something every time I pick up a well written story. Whether it is format, style, creativity, or the business end of being an author. David P. Forsyth has given me award winning advice on “how to” while John O’Brien is the one responsible for unleashing the beast inside me.

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

P. Mark DeBryan:  Not for me, I’ve been married for 28 years.

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

P. Mark DeBryan:  Well, I have only written my first book, and it only takes place over a couple of weeks. So, no, not yet. I will however (hopefully) be writing for the foreseeable future, and I will take care to make each story follow the laws of physics and the changing of seasons.

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

P. Mark DeBryan:  Oh my! This is actually right up my alley. I love to cook, and every cook I know wants to please those that they are cooking for. That being said, brains will have to play a major part in the name, however, as the genre has evolved the zombies have become much less picky and are into fast food now. Intestines and internal organs are more often the first choice of the zombies as the buffet gets picked over. This is really an important question and I don’t want to give it short shrift, but I procrastinated until 10 pm the night of your deadline for getting this in, so… Brains Intestines Organs NOW! The design of the logo would be key. The acronym would be BIO NOW!

P. Mark DeBryan on Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/P.-Mark-DeBryan/e/B014POIOSQ

P. Mark DeBryan on the Web: http://pmarkdebryan.com/