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Monday, April 30, 2012

Z = Zombies #AtoZChallenge @AprilA2Z (Author Interview & Giveaway)


Welcome to day twenty-six of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.
Today's letter is "Z" and my topic is = ZOMBIES.

Well, guys, we've done it. This is the last entry for the 2012 April A to Z Challenge. I hope you have enjoyed visiting me and reading about the topics I chose. 
Today we are going to get up close and personal with the awesome Rusty Fischer, author of Zombies Don't Cry (A Living Dead Love Story)

Zombies Don't Cry (A Living Dead Love Story)     Maddy Swift is just a normal girl—a high school junior surviving class with her best friend and hoping the yummy new kid, Stamp, will ask her out. When he finally does, her whole life changes. 

Sneaking out to meet Stamp at a party one rainy night, Maddy is struck by lightning. After awakening, she feels lucky to be alive. Over time, however, Maddy realizes that she’s become the thing she and everyone else fear most: the living dead. 

With no heartbeat and no breath in her lungs, Maddy must learn how to survive as a zombie. Turns out there’s a lot more to it than shuffling around 24/7 growling, “Brains.” Needing an afterlife makeover is only the beginning of her problems. As Barracuda Bay High faces zombie Armageddon, Maddy must summon all of her strength to protect what matters most—just as soon as she figures out exactly what that is.

1.       What inspired you to write this particular book? (Hence Zombies!)

The same thing that made me connect with “Blubber” so much: I’m a sucker for underdogs. Zombies are the supernatural’s biggest underdogs. No superpowers, really, not sexy enough like vampires, not cool enough like werewolves, so… they’re fighting an uphill battle. I thought I could help. 

2.       How long did it take you to write Zombies Don’t Cry?

Which version!!? Seriously, it went through about 7 drafts. The first one was really, really violent. They got less violent, more serious, more funny, more realistic, with each draft. The last draft, the “keeper,” took me about two months. That’s pretty much my pace. I set word count minimums for myself each day: 1,000-words at least. But generally once I get started, it takes over. I get up early, and write. I stay up late, and write. When it gets like that, it’s really exciting and I lose track of time. 

3.       Do you have any rituals? Do write in the day or night?

I’m actually a full-time ghostwriter by trade, so during the daytime I write for my clients, period. But at night, I use my free time to write for myself. So, yeah, I’m a night writer. Rituals? I listen to smooth jazz and light a candle, but that’s about as “artistic” as I get!

4.       What question are you never asked in interviews but wish you were?

You know what’s funny? No one ever, ever, EVER asks me what my favorite zombie movie is? (It’s Return of the Living Dead, FYI.)

5.       Please list seven random likes; then do the same for dislikes, go way random.

Rusty’s 7 Random Likes

1.)     Scary movies
2.)     Fig newtons
3.)     Coke Zero
4.)     Christmas music
5.)     Comfortable shoes
6.)     An empty chair on either side of me
7.)     Listening to Christmas music while eating Fig Newtons and Coke Zero wearing comfortable shoes with an empty chair on either side of me while waiting to watch a scary movie!

Rusty’s 7 Random Dislikes

1.)     Cell phones
2.)     People talking on cell phones
3.)     People taking pictures of themselves every minute of the day with cell phones
4.)     People asking me to take their picture with their cell phones
5.)     People watching Family Guy on their cell phones
6.)     People making me watch Family Guy on their cell phones
7.)     Raspberry anything (Hey, you said “random”)

6.       Is there anything that you’re working on that we need to be looking out for?

Well, now that you ask… I just finished the first round of edits on the sequel to Zombies Don’t Cry. It’s called Zombies Don’t Forgive and comes out early next year from Medallion. I’m pretty stoked. My first sequel. And also… zombies!!!!!!!!!!!

***
Awesome. Thanks, Rusty! Can't wait for that sequel. Now, if you guys have not read Zombies Don't Cry, here is your chance. I'm offering a copy of your preferred format to one lucky person. Giveaway ends 5/7 at midnight.

Enter --> HERE! 

4 comments:

  1. I ADORE RUSTY!

    I think he probably hates me though. I use Instagram like crazy. HA! I DO hate Family Guy tho! Does that count?

    Coke Zero FTW!

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    1. Ha! Smash, I use what I call "selective frustration," where if it's someone I already like, I tend to look the other way. That and the fact that I don't even kow what Instagram is, so I'd probably be too intimidated to call you on it!?!?!?

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  2. Rusty majorly rocks as did Zombie's Don't Cry sooooo looking forward to the sequel yay!

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    Replies
    1. No, U ROCK Jessica! And, PS, I can't wait for the sequel either!?!?!

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