Zombie Girl Shambling: Days With The Undead Blog Tour and Giveaway

"It was eerie, suddenly not being able to see around you but knowing what was out there in the darkness, surrounding you. I’ve never been someone that felt the effects of claustrophobia but in that moment, in the dark with all of the undead bodies pressing up against the truck; it took a firm grasp on me. As I fought the panic, the sounds of them moving against the metal became louder.

If you've never heard those sounds, count yourself lucky.

Max put the truck into gear, thinking that it was time for us to put some distance between us and them. As he pressed down on the accelerator, the truck met with a lot of resistance. How many of them were actually there? The sheer desperation of the situation nurtured the twisting knot of panic growing in my stomach."

Days with the Undead: Book One Synopsis:

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.

Date Released - February 29th, 2012

ISBN: 1468007998

ISBN-13: 978-1468007992

Available in print and digital formats.

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When I was contacted about doing this blog tour, I knew I had to say yes! Who can resist a fellow writer who also loves zombies? Not me! (Yes, I am currently working on my own zombie novel-updates to come...)

This novel is a fast paced zombie apocalypse set in Canada. A few days into the onset of the zombies taking over things, we find our group avoiding hordes and trying not to become a zombie's breakfast. Julie is a character I am looking forward to seeing more of.

In reading the book, I would have liked to see more interaction between the characters in the form of dialog. The format is almost journal like in the description of how events transpired and I wanted very much to "meet" some of the characters appearing in the adventure. All in all, I did enjoy the book. If you are a fan of zombie stories, you should check it out.

What I liked:

The adventure and the point of view of Julie. The fact that this begins in Canada is different from most American based novels and I enjoyed that.

What I Didn't:

The lack of dialog and interaction with the other characters.

Overall:

The plot was fast moving and you get the feel you are looking for from a zombie apocalypse novel. Julie is a character I enjoyed getting to know. Her blend of survivalist and scholar is interesting. I did miss the interaction of the characters and verbal sparring. The story is very much in the mode of a diary style novel.

What would a blog tour be without a word from the author...

Zombie Girl Shambling – honestly, who could resist a name like that? I’m so excited to be guesting on Dana Wright’s awesome blog! If I’m ever wondering what books may be worth reading in the Zombie genre, I always check out ZGS to see if Dana has read it and what she has to say. Considering that, I thought I’d tell you all about the -

Zombie Lit That Has Influenced Me

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!

One of the next books that I read was Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. While not a traditional Zombie story, it has all of the requisite elements. It was a piece of work that helped me to understand that a Zombie story can take on any form that you really want it to. The circumstances are totally up to you and you can take the story in any direction as long as you have those requisite elements of undeath and fear. What makes Frankenstein even more amazing is the lasting effect that is has on readers close to two hundred years later. Just think - Mary was only eighteen when she started writing it. Eighteen!

David Wellington's first book in his Monster trilogy, Monster Island introduced me to the concept of a serial novel. (For those of you that are unfamiliar with what a serial novel is, it’s a way of presenting a larger story in manageable chunks. The format drives interest and can develop quite the following that all wait for the next installment to be delivered to them via different and expanding mediums.) Monster Island is a magnificent story and another great take on the genre as a whole. It was absolutely encouraging to come to the realization that serial novels presented first on the internet can and do get published. If you have yet to read the series, I suggest that you pick it up – there are moments that will chill you to the bone and make you fear some of the aspects of our world.

The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks – who doesn’t love this book? Many tout this tome as a how-to book for survival in a world full of the Undead, but it’s so much more than that. Inside is not only a guide for survival but there is a brilliant story that those tips weave around. If you consider yourself an aficionado and you don’t have this one, may I suggest picking up a copy and making your collection complete? A definite must-read for lovers of the genre!

The last book that I want to talk about is probably going to raise a few eyebrows. Cell by Stephen King is one of those books that you either loved or hated. Most people that I have discussed Zombie Lit with said that Cell was a story that started off so well, but then… Stephen King has a way with words – there is no question about that. It was an interesting take on the Zombie genre and I have to give kudos to King for coming up with an original concept. The reason that so many people are torn on their admiration for the book is the ending. I am firmly entrenched on the side of the fence that enjoyed the book. I even learned a little something – there are just as many consequences as there are benefits to extreme character development in a Zombie or Post-Apocalyptic story. Check it out if you haven’t already, I found it to be one of his better reads.

So there you have it. I have given you top five examples of Zombie Lit that have helped to shape my own writing styles and skills. If you’ve never read a Zombie story, what are you waiting for?

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It was while watching Romero's Night of the Living Dead at the tender age of 6 that solidified Julianne’s respect of the Undead. Since that day, she has been preparing 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 an upcoming story in Sirens Call Publications first anthology Childhood Nightmares: Under The Bed.

Thanks for visiting with us Julianne! Looking forward to the next book in the series!

About the Author - Julianne Snow