FIGHTS: The Weird West with Dominic Stabile

A STRONG VOICE IN THE WEIRD WEST GENRE SITS DOWN WITH ZBFBOOKS.COM

ZBFbooks.com - What part of the world are you writing out of?

Dominic Stabile - I’m currently living in a small Maine town called Penobscot. I’m from South Carolina, so most of my fiction takes place in the South East.

ZBF - What got you into the weird west genre?

DS - Joe Lansdale’s Jebediah Mercer stories. I had been writing for about a year when I read “Dead Man’s Road” in a Lansdale issue of Weird Tales. I had never read anything like it. Most of the Horror I had read up to that point would build suspense, reveal the horror, and then end with the character either dying or going mad. I was expecting the same from Dead Man’s Road. But what blew me away was that after the horror was revealed, and the hero, Jebediah, narrowly escaped death, the story kept going. He went after the creature, and the story ended in a climactic battle. It was a refreshing break from the norm, but it also crippled my own writing for years, because nothing I did could stand up to it.

ZBF - Do you have any favorite weird west stories?

DS - Well, “Dead Man’s Road,” for sure, as well as the rest of Lansdale’s Mercer stories. A novella of Lansdale’s called “On the far Side of the Cadillac Desert with Dead Folks.” The films Seraphim Falls, Bone Tomahawk, Blood Moon, and others I’m sure I missed.

ZBF - Tell us about your title.

DS - The synopsis for Full Moon in the West goes: Juan “Tezcat” Medina is about to take the law into his own hands. Having lost his wife and daughter to a gang of outlaws, he strikes a deal with a local witch. She can resurrect his family. All he has to do is kill the six outlaws before dawn and bring their souls back to her. But there's something different about this gang of outlaws, something Tezcat isn't aware of until it's too late, and he's forced into a showdown with evil.

I originally wrote this for an anthology, but never submitted it. The story grew and took a path that didn’t fit with the anthology’s guidelines. By the time I was done, I had a story that was too long to submit to magazines and too short to submit to book publishers. I came across Grinning Skull Press’s Grave Marker Series, which focuses on publishing ebooks of stories in this range. They accepted it, slapped an amazing cover by Jeffrey Kosh on it, and that’s that.

ZBF -  Man, that sounds like an excellent story.  Where can people get your title?

DS - Full Moon in the West can be purchased for Kindle HERE.

ZBF - How can readers keep in touch with your progress?

DS - I write movie/book reviews at dominicstabile.com. I’m also active on facebook, Instagram , and twitter . I’ll be giving updates on my progress through the third book in my Scifi/Noir series from Mirror Matter Press (Stone Work is available on Amazon, Stone Wall and Stone Factory pending), as well as my progress on my Horror/Magical Realism novel, The Youth Room.

7.       Do you have a favorite alcoholic drink?

Oh yes. Maker’s, neat.

====

BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the Weird West title 'The Cruel Fate of Dr. Brewster McGill', available in paperback and Kindle format. Network with Bowie at his official website, ZBFbooks.com.

FIGHTS: ZBFbooks Interviews #WeirdWestern Author David J. West

DAVID J. WEST BRINGS SOME GREAT TITLES TO THE WEIRD WEST WORLD

by Bowie V. Ibarra

ZBFbooks.com - What part of the world are you writing out of?

David J. West - I was born in Utah, grew up in Montana, moved to Utah got married, back to Montana, got divorced, got remarried and moved to LA and then as luck would have it we are back in Utah. So I'm pretty familiar with the American west as I have traveled all over it. I enjoy traveling and seeing the sights wherever I'm at.

ZBF- What got you into the weird west genre?

DJW - I've always been into history and mythology and the old west is part of both those worlds. Writing the weird western is just the natural progression for me of blending two things I am fascinated with. Maybe fascinated isn't strong enough. Two things I absolutely love.

ZBF - Do you have any favorite weird west stories?

DJW - I'm a HUGE fan of Robert E. Howard and really dig his weird west horror stories Valley of the Lost and The Horror from the Mound and even those that are fantasy that are on the edge of frontier weird west stories like the Conan's tales of Red Nails and Beyond the Black River. I really liked Louis L'amour's Haunted Mesa and for more current authors I dig Joel Jenkins Lone Crow stories, R.S. Belchers Six-Gun Tarot, there are a lot more too numerous to list.

ZBF - Tell us about your title.

DJW - Scavengers is about what people will become when they are driven to the edge. I place a lotta bad dudes in an inhospitable desert wasteland (that I am intimately familiar with from numerous wild camping trips) and get to play around. It is based on some real dangerous people = Porter Rockwell and some real yet rumored lost gold stories in the area. I love using that local stuff as a background.

ZBF - Where can people get your title?

DJW - For right now, Scavengers and others like Cold Slither are only on Amazon HERE, but I will be making them available in more venues by summertime. That includes audiobooks.

ZBF - How can readers keep in touch with your progress?

DJW - There is my newsletter - https://t.co/Q2cP5JefXt Twitter - https://twitter.com/David_JWest My blog/website - http://www.kingdavidjwest.com/ and I shouldn't be too hard to find on facebook either.

ZBF - Do you have a favorite alcoholic drink?

DJW - Hahahaha! No, I am in Utah. I'm a sucker for anything with vanilla in it though.

======

BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the Weird West title 'The Cruel Fate of Dr. Brewster McGill', available in paperback and Kindle format. Network with Bowie at his official website, ZBFbooks.com.

BLOOD: Lindsey Beth Goddard releases "Ashes of Another Life"

GODDARD CREATES TENSE ATMOSPHER IN POLYGAMY-THEMED THRILLER

 

ZBFbooks.com had a chance to reach out to Lindsey Beth Goddard to talk about her new release, the polygamy thriller 'Ashes of Another Life', available in paperback or Kindle.

Here's the synopsis, followed by the interview:

When Tara Jane Brewer leaves her polygamous community behind after her family dies in a tragic house fire, she is plagued by ghastly images of death. Hunted by a member of the church who plans to bring her home to Sweet Springs at any cost, Tara Jane must fight to keep her freedom. But everywhere she goes, she sees the charred faces of her burned family, watching her, following her, all thirty-four of them, waiting for her to come home and resume her place in the family.

ZBFbooks.com - How excited are you about your new title?

Lindsey Beth Goddard - Super excited! Ashes of Another Life is my first novella. Prior to this book, only my short stories and poetry had been published. Next up will be a novel, of course.

ZBF - Tell us a little about the story?

LBG - It’s a fictional story based on a real life cult. I’ve been told it’s both disturbing and touching at the same time.

ZBF - What’s it about?

LBG - Ashes of Another Life is the story of Tara Jane Brewer, a fourteen year old girl who escapes a dangerous cult when her family dies in a fire. Now, the prophet of her church wants her back - at any cost, and the ghosts of her dead family refuse to rest in peace.

ZBF - What made you decide to write a story with this theme?

LBG - In late 2013 and early 2014, I read a lot of non-fiction books on the topic. The seed was planted in my mind, and from there, the story grew.

ZBF - How would you describe your writing style?

LBG - Character-driven, suspenseful horror.

ZBF - What are some stories you hope to write in the future?

LBG - At some point, I’d like to write an entire book from the perspective of the monster/ villain. It’s nothing new. It’s been done a million times before, but I’m not sure how often it’s been done exceedingly well without falling into the same old cliches. Therein lies the challenge.

ZBF - Where can folks keep up with your works?

LBG - Official Website:

www.LindseyBethGoddard.com

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLindseyGoddard

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindseyBethGodd

Google+: https://plus.google.com/+LindseyGoddard/posts

Tumblr: http://lindseygoddard.tumblr.com

Blog: www.DirtyLittleHorror.com

ZBF - And most importantly, what’s your favorite adult beverage?

LBG - Hm. I’ll go with a Long Island Iced Tea. Thanks so much for the interview, Bowie.


Pick up Lindsey's title in paperback HERE and Kindle HERE.

ZOMBIES: The complete ZBF.com ShuIzmz interview

AUTHOR TALKS 'McGILL', INSPIRATIONS, WRITING
by
Bowie V. Ibarra

 

I had a chance to sit down with Shu of Shuizmz.com and speak of the book, 'The Cruel Fate of Dr. Brewster McGill', inspirations, the writing process, and so much more.

 

Check them out here, collected for your enjoyement.

 

 PART 1

 

PART 2

 

PART 3

 

PART 4

 

BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuster.  His latest book, 'Tejano Star and the Vengeance of Chaplain Skull' is a superhero story with a south Texas Tex-Mexploitation theme.  You can get it via paperback or Kindle here.

 

BOWIE V. IBARRA earned a BFA in Acting and an MA in Theatre History from Texas State University.  Network with Bowie at his official website, ZombieBloodFights.com.

ZOMBIES: Interview with author Michael S. Gardner

by Bowie Ibarra

ZombieBloodFights.com is pleased to have with them today another author who is a part of this great modern wave of zombie authors.  Please welcome Michael S. Gardner.

ZombieBloodFights.com - Let’s start with an important question here.  The Evil Dead ‘rebirth’.  Yes or no?

Michael S. Gardner - I would have to go with a strong yes. The market is flooded with remakes, and there will be plenty more down the road. I honestly feel that it’s about time someone brought this movie back to life. After seeing it, I feel they did an excellent job.

ZBF.com - We followed ‘TheWalking Dead’ thru this season.  What are some things you’d would do differently if you ran the show?

MSG - I do believe the only thing that I would have changed would be offing Andrea a little sooner, like right when she was about to stab the Gov’na all naked and whatnot. I’m probably one of the only people you’ll find that’s been satisfied with everything so far. Too many people, I think, are expecting more and more and more, and they’re not getting what they want. I set my standards pretty low and have yet to be disappointed.

ZBF.com - What are some of your favorite zombie movies out there?

MSG - Favorite zombie movies… Hmm…

Okay, I’ll start with the 90’s remake of Night of the Living Dead. Had I not seen that flick as I child, I might not have been into zombies at all. It’s got great conflict, believable characters, and awesome effects for its time.

Another one I’m a big fan of is Land of the Dead. Okay, hold on, hear me out. It’s often been labeled that movie which points out we are zombies and zombies are us a bit too much. Okay, I get that. But, putting that aside, look at such a vast and detailed world Romero has given us with this story. Zombie fights, take your pic with a zombie, street vendors, and hot prostitutes. I feel that this one is one of the pivotal movies that show life after the dead have claimed the world. It’s by far not the only one; but it’s one of my favs.

I would say 28 Days Later, but that’s not a zombie flick. I’d actually walked out on it in the theaters when the movie was first released (big mistake!). They’d advertised an epic zombie movie, and that’s not what it is or was. That said, it’s one hell of a movie.

ZBF.com - Let’s talk a little bit about your books.  Tell us a little bit about ‘Betrayal’ and ‘Seller of the Dead’.

MSG - First, thanks for allowing me to spread the word about my work. It’s much appreciated!

Betrayal is a zombie novella (currently $0.99 on Amazon) which takes place a few years after the dead have destroyed most of humanity. An old farmhouse and adjoining property has been cordoned off, effectively keeping the hungering dead at bay. The survivors are lucky enough to have a squad of marines and a pilot to forage for food by traversing the fictional metropolis, Stryker City. But things aren’t as they seem – as they often aren’t – and the marines find themselves in a tight spot, abandoned by their pilot.

With the failed mission and winter approaching, there is only one shot left before all is lost and the refuge has to be abandoned. But this time, the new squad of foragers discovers that the city beholds much more than they’d ever anticipated. A doctor has found a “cure” which will transform the world as they know it. He has the ability to control the dead, and is out to change the face of humanity.

Seller of the Dead is the first installment of my Working Class Zombie series. It follows Nathan Parsons, a living-challenged man who is simply trying to find his place in the apocalypse. After attending a seminar, he decides to take his chances and prove he is worthy to live among the living.

This is definitely not an ordinary tale. But, you’ll find references to a few of our favorite movies if you pay close attention to the details. This is by far my favorite endeavor as a writer, and I’m currently writing the second installment, The District, which I hope to have out in a month or two.

ZBF.com - What is your writing process like?

MSG - This’ll probably be my shortest answer. I just write when I have time and when my muse strikes. I know that’s not the best way to approach things, but I do what I can.

ZBF.com - What can readers expect from these books?

MSG - Conflict and characters you can relate to. The one thing most of my readers will point out is that I write about people. People you and I both know and like/hate. There is much more action in Betrayal, yet it’s not overdone. Seller of the Dead is a slower story, as I want my readers to feel what it’s like to be my protagonist. That said, Working Class Zombie will be a series with much action and conflict as the story progresses.

ZBF.com - Where can readers find out more about your books?

MSG - My Amazon Author Page is the best place at the moment: http://www.amazon.com/Michael-S.-Gardner/e/B00C0C28MO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

I also blog at www.atasteofterror.blogspot.com

ZBF.com - Let’s ask the question that needs to be asked:  Zombies, Blood, or Fights?

Ooh, that’s a tough one, man. I guess I’d have to go with Zombies, because then we’ll get to the Blood and the Fights. Hopefully!

================= 

BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuster.  His latest book, 'The Cruel Fate of Dr. Brewster' McGill' is a weird western tale of snake oil, Aztec Magic, and the dead rising from the grave to attack the living.  It is available in Kindle and paperback from Amazon.com.

If you are a blogger and enjoyed the blog, please follow me.

Enjoy the blog?  Share it with your friends using the 'Facebook', 'Blogger' and 'Twitter' buttons below.

Leave a comment below using your Google+ or Blogger account.

Follow Bowie on Twitter @wingback20

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You can network with Bowie and read about his Tex-Mexploitation stories and check out his book trailers at his personal website, ZombieBloodFights.com.

ZOMBIES: Author Bowie Ibarra gets weird in the old west

by Bowie Ibarra

ZombieBloodFights.com had a chance to visit with noted zombie horror and action/adventure writer Bowie V. Ibarra to talk about zombies, weird westerns, and his upcoming book, 'The Cruel Fate of Dr. Brewster McGill'.

ZombieBloodFights.com - Hey, Bowie.  It's great to have you on the blog today.

Bowie V. Ibarra - Thanks.  It's good to be here.

ZBF.com - I have to ask you this question first:  Does it actually make sense to have you interviewed on your own blog?

BVI - That's your first question?  I thought this was supposed to be a puff piece.

ZBF.com - Should we come back to it?

BVI - *shrugs* Yeah.

ZBF.com - Some people have suggested that this is how you write dialogue in your books.  Are you schizophrenic?

BVI - Wow.  No comment.  Who told you that?

ZBF.com - *shrugs*

BVI - No, goddammit.  Why don't we start with some stock dialogue?  You know, favorite color:  Maroon.  Favorite food:  Enchiladas.

ZBF.com - Okay.  That's enough ripping off dialogue from 'The Life Aquatic'.  What made you venture into writing a western, let alone a weird western?

BVI - Several reasons, really.  As a fan of the Jonah Hex comic, (Not the movie, mind you, that was a disaster with so much potential.  I enjoyed it, but I was very, very drunk when I watched it at a midnight screening.)  But as a fan of the Jonah Hex comic from back in the day and into the two reboots, I've always had a special spot for westerns.  Adding that 'weird' element was just a natural.

But the real idea came from a brainstorming session with writer and editor, Travis Adkins.  We were getting ideas for a collaboration (that I sincerely hope is still on the table, because the idea was tremendously great), and one of the ideas that didn't get picked up because of the direction we wanted to go still resonated with me.  I put the idea aside, but quickly found the spark for writing it as a short story.  And that's how we got 'The Cruel Fate of Dr. Brewster McGill'.

ZBF.com - So what's the story about?

BVI - The main theme that underlies the entire story is the power of greed and how dangerous it can become.  The story is about a British snake oil salesman named Dr. Brewster McGill and his trusty friend who come across a competitor that demonstrates an effective snake oil that not only cures-all, but can raise the dead.  Both salesmen are shady, but things escalate for the worst when McGill wants to have the source of the snake oil's power, an ancient Aztec relic, for himself.  As usual, the story rises to a tremendous finish.

ZBF.com - Where can people get a copy of the novella?

BVI - Its available at Amazon.com in paperback and kindle HERE.  $2.99 and $5.99.

ZBF.com - Those are great prices.  Why so affordable?

BVI - From the beginning, I've never wanted my books to be out of anyone's price range.  I'm perfectly fine with making minimal profit to pass savings on to my readers.  My books do me no good sitting on a cyber shelf at a high price.

ZBF.com - Thanks, Bowie.  So, before we go, back to my first question:  Does it actually make sense to have you interviewed on your own blog?

BVI - It makes absolute sense.  Remember the free promotional resources mentioned above?  Whether I was with a publisher or not, a majority of the promotion of any written work needs to be done by the author by any means necessary.  So I gotta do what I gotta do.

I'm like a promotional insurgent, attacking this new literary market from many different and unorthodox angles.

=================

Read an excerpt from 'The Cruel Fate of Dr. Brewster McGill' here.

Check out the book trailer HERE.

Looking for another great and affordable zombie read?  Give Michael S. Gardner's book 'Betrayal' a try here for only .99 cents on Kindle.

=================

BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuster.  His latest book, 'The Cruel Fate of Dr. Brewster' McGill' is a weird western tale of snake oil, Aztec Magic, and the dead rising from the grave to attack the living.  It is available in Kindle and paperback from Amazon.com.

If you are a blogger and enjoyed the blog, please follow me.

Enjoy the blog?  Share it with your friends using the 'Facebook', 'Blogger' and 'Twitter' buttons below.

Leave a comment below using your Google+ or Blogger account.

Follow Bowie on Twitter @wingback20

Follow Bowie's Facebook page.

You can network with Bowie and read about his Tex-Mexploitation stories and check out his book trailers at his personal website, ZombieBloodFights.com.

INTERVIEW: Zombie Horrors: Bowie Ibarra!

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ZOMBIES: Mainak Dhar - Amazing man, amazing zombie horror author

by Bowie Ibarra

Vital Stats

Full Name: Mainak Dhar

Nickname: They tried calling me Maniac in college, but it never stuck.

Primary Specialty: Making stuff up

Secondary Specialty: Blowing up or otherwise mangling stuff I make up

Favorite Quote(s): “Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

ZombieBloodFights.com - It’s great to have you here on the ZombieBloodFights.com blog, Mainak.  I have to admit I’ve been looking forward to this interview for a long time.  Welcome. 

Mainak Dhar - Thanks- really glad to be here.

ZBF.com - If your Facebook page is correct, you currently reside in Thailand.  Many of my readers enjoy combat sports.  Have you ever been to one of the big Thai kickboxing arenas like the Lumpinee Thai boxing facility?

MD - Yes, am in Thailand but in the process of moving to Singapore on July 1. This is my second stint in Thailand (I lived here between 1999-2001) and I really love the people and the culture. I have seen a couple of Muay Thai fights in areans, but most of my exposure to it has been courtesy Tony Jaa’s bonecrushing badness in Ong Bak.

ZBF.com - What are your thoughts on combat sports?  Do you have any favorites, or would you rather be participating in something else.

MD -  learnt Karate for 7 years as a kid, ending up with a Brown Belt, callused hands and too many bruises to remember from sparring. So combat sports and self-defence was a part of my formative years. To be honest, I don’t like watching it much as a spectator sport, but someday I hope to learn Aikido- a sport that has always fascinated me.

ZBF.com - Your Facebook page also talks about a project you are working on involving your father.  Tell us about that.

MD - My father, Maloy, passed away in May 2012. He was a prolific writer as well, and what made his story really cool was that he published his first book at the age of 59 and went on to be  the #1 bestselling non-fiction writer in India. He was an intelligence officer, and his blockbuster was a book called Open Secrets, the first time a retired intelligence officer in India wrote about the state of Indian intelligence agencies and how they are misused by politicans. Created a real controversy and earned him tons of admirers for his courage, and of course a few enemies. I want to keep his legacy alive- and the first phase is over. I have digitized Open Secrets and some more of his work, and put it up on the Kindle store to reach readers worldwide. Phase II is finishing an unfinished book he had letft on his computer.

ZBF.com - When did you become interested in writing stories?

MD - Ever since I was a kid, my dream was to be a writer. My first `published’ work was in Grade 7 when we were living in Canada. I stapled together some of my poems with solutions to the next term’s Maths textbook and sold it to my classmates at 50 cents a pop. That was the first time I got the thrill of seeing my work `published’ and I remembered a quote by Stephen King that the moment someone pays you a cent for your work you are a professional writer. So at age 12, I decided I had become a professional writer, and there’s been no looking back.

ZBF.com - What is your process when putting together a story?

MD - It all starts with the spark for an idea. That can come in different ways- for some books (Vimana, Zombiestan), the name stuck in my mind and I began creating the story. For the Alice in Deadland story, the idea came first and the story followed. But wherever the spark comes from, I jot down the broad flow and themes in a diary I have with me (for my next book, am planning to move to the digital equivalent on my Galaxy Note). Once the broad flow make sense, I start typing. Of course, as often happens, I revisit the flow and change things as I actually start writing it down, and it is an iterative process.

ZBF.com - Tell us a little bit about your book with Zombiestan.

MD - Zombiestan was my first zombie novel, and my attempt was to inject something new and unique into a genre I enjoy tremendously as a reader. I believe a writer succeeds when he embraces what makes him unique v/s being another of a herd, so instead of yet another zombie apocalypse story set in the US, I set Zombiestan in the Indian subcontinent, where I am originally from. The connection to the War on Terror (the outbreak starts among Taliban exposed to bio-weapons) gives it a universal resonance, but setting it in India give the story a couple of unique areas to play with. Simple things like the higher population density and what that would mean for the speed with which the outbreak spread, the fact that personal gun ownership is almost non-existent in India, and what that would mean for those survivors trying to fight back.

ZBF.com - Though the groundwork for zombie horror was set down with a western perspective on the fictional events of a zpoc, I believe it’s very important to get global perspectives on the event as well.  I’ve recently read many great zombie stories from European writers.  What cultural perspectives about the zombie apocalypse can readers expect from your book?

MD - There are several cultural themes I explore in Zombiestan which I hope readers take away along with enjoying the action. First, the outbreak is in a way a metaphor for religious fanaticism and how those blinded by it seek to spread their message, even if it means destroying innocent lives. The key protagonists were chosen deliberately- a Christian Navy SEAL, a Hindu boy and girl, and a Muslim writer- all banding together to protect a young child who may hold the key to stopping the outbreak. That was done to show that irrespective of our religion or background, inherent goodness can unite us all when faced with evil.

ZBF.com - When you have time to read, who are some of your favorite authors, and some of your favorite books?

MD - My all time favorite is the Lord of the Rings trilogy because of the wonderful worlds and characters Tolkien created. I read a fair bit of sci-fi and fantasy (Larry Niven, Stephen Baxter) and of course, a healthy dose of horror (Stephen King being another favorite).

  

ZBF.com - What do you look for in a good zombie horror story?

MD - Believable characters (every protagonist doesn’t have to be a `Rambo’ archetype), and a twist that injects something into the genre beyond just the blood and gore. Just read a book by Thomas Brookside called De Bello Lemures, which was about Roman soldiers encountering zombies in ancient Britain and how they would interpret it, retold as a translation from a scroll. That’s what I mean by original twists on an otherwise pretty crowded genre.

ZBF.com - In a true zombie apocalypse, do you think humans from different cultures and belief systems could unite against a common goal, or will they not cooperate and, ultimately, join the zombie hordes?

MD - I hope they do, and in Zombiestan that’s what I try and portray. However, while common people will probably help each other, I hold out little hope for how our politicians and leaders will behave.

ZBF.com - Any other projects we can look forward to?

MD - Just polishing off my Alice in Deadland trilogy, which I think zombie lovers will enjoy. Book II- Through The Looking Glass, was uploaded a couple of months ago, and Off With Their Heads, the prequel to Alice in Deadland, will be ready by early July. Including Zombiestan, that would make it four zombie books on the trot for me, and I may take a break from zombies and work on a dystopian novel I’ve been thinking of for some time.

ZBF.com - Where can readers find out more about you?

MD - My personal piece of real estate on the web is at www.mainakdhar.com and I’m on Facebook and Twitter (@mainakdhar).  I occassionally write a blog at mainakdhar.blogspot.com. Always happy to meet new people and connect, and am just a click away.

ZBF.com - Thanks, Mainak.  It was great to have you visit the blog.

MD - Thanks for giving me the opportunity, and loved visitng your blog. Good luck.

============

Bowie Ibarra is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuster.  His latest zombie book, "The Fall of Austin", was said to "...kick undead ass" by Johnathan Mayberry, New York Times bestselling author.  It is available in paperback, Kindle, and other e-reader versions.

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ZOMBIES: The 'Summer of Zombie' Blog Tour storms the ZombieBloodFights blog!

By Bowie Ibarra

It's a great honor for the ZombieBloodFights.com blog to welcome members of the 'Summer of Zombie Blog Tour'.  At the end of today's blog is a special offer from the madmen of the Zombie Blog Tour.  

It's my pleasure to welcome Ian Woodhead and Mark Tufo, authors of 'The Unwashed Dead' and 'Zombie Fallout', respectively.

ZombieBloodFights.com - Hi all.  It’s great to have ya’ll here.

First off, let’s talk about that wild zombie/cannibal situation in Florida a few days back.  Naturally, as I imagine most of ya’ll did, I reserved judgement until all the facts were in.  But did you have a moment where you thought, “Holy crap.  It’s going down,” when you heard about it?

Mark Tufo: I'll probably end up being like most people and think, 'Naw that shit isn't happening!' For maybe the briefest of seconds I thought possibly, yet no matter how unrealistic I think a zombie apocalypse is going to happen, I'm still preparing. As long as I'm not the first zombie or victim I'll be happy!

Ian Woodhead: I saw all the posts on Facebook just hours after it had happened. Strange to think that of all the atrocities that our species do to each other on a daily basis, that was the one that went viral. 


Did I think it was going down? To be honest? It didn’t cross my mind, I just felt for the poor bastard and his family who had to undergo such a traumatic experience. Yes, I did do an image search, looking for the guy’s mutilated face. For research purposes only, you understand. (Honest)

ZBF.com - Everybody’s got their favorite weapon for the zpoc.  Everybody’s going to have water and other supplies.  But let's talk about what many (including myself) would also like to include in their supplies:  BEER.  What would be your beer of choice for the zombie apocalypse?

MT: True beer aficionados would look at my list and turn their noses up at me. Right now my first choice would be Molson Canadian followed closely by Rolling Rock. Want to know what my REAL favorite is though? It's free beer followed even closer by cold.

IW: Beer? Oh yeah, I’d have beer. I’m currently enjoying a brands. McEwen’s Champion, a dark ale of 7.3% and a double strength IPA of 9.6%

ZBF.com - Let’s jump to the big six questions:

In your opinion, what are some key elements that make up a good zombie horror story?

MT: Suspense, I love that good hanging on the edge of your seat, have no idea what is going to happen next feeling, whether from a book or a movie. Also I know you have to suspend some believability when dealing with this subject but I don't like stories where out of the blue the fantastical happens. 'Tom and his gang were surrounded by zombies, the end was in sight, but oh no what is that in the sky? It is a meteor that has wiped out all of our enemies! How fortuitous! That kind of things shows laziness on the part of the storyteller.

IW: So the dead have risen and are eating the survivors. Yeah, we get that. The survivors won’t stand for this, they all tool up and get ready to kick some serious zombie arse!

Bollocks.

I focus on how the normal bloke in the street would react if the zpoc ever happened. Granted, writing about video game characters have an endless supply of shotgun shells who are also kung fu experts who ALSO save the day AND get the girl are a lot of fun but not very realistic.

So, a good supply of ordinary characters, throw in an exciting plot with plenty of twists, create plenty of tension between the characters and kill a few of them off. Add some gory deaths and there you go. Probably.

ZBF.com - What and/or who were some of your artistic influences?

MT: I've got to bow to the great one, Stephen King. I have been consistently reading his books since I was probably ten years old. There are dozens of others, but he would stand above them all.

IW: You can’t beat a constant supply of metal blaring through those speakers when writing. Be it Power, death, doom and black. Spliced with Beethoven, Mozart and Strauss, you have a winning formula.

ZBF.com - If you could add elements to a zombie movie that you feel could have been better, which movie would it be and what would you add (or delete)?

MT: I've mostly enjoyed every zombie film I've watched, obviously some more than others. There have been some with an operating budget of maybe 24 dollars that maybe shouldn't have been made but that's not my call. The only thing that is kind of getting my goat at the moment is in The Walking Dead, I wish Rick would tell his wife and his bratty kid to take a hike. But that's just me!

IW: I think it would be interesting to see the original Dawn of the Dead remade, keeping the essential plot and characters but placed in a modern setting. Keeping our dead antagonists SLOW!

ZBF.com - What’s your pick?  Zombies, Fights, or Blood?

MT: I like bloody fights with zombies!

IW: Fighting zombies and plenty of blood!

ZBF.com - Where can readers find out more about you and your works?

Mark Tufo

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-Tufo/133954330009843

www.marktufo.com

The Mark Tufo Amazon page

Ian Woodhead

http://www.facebook.com/ian.woodhead.50

http://deadian.webs.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Ian-Woodhead/e/B004G7514S/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ian-Woodhead/e/B004G7514S/

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All six of us - Todd Brown, Mark Tufo, Ian Woodhead, Armand Rosamilia, John O'Brien and Dave Jeffery - hope you'll keep following us on the Summer of Zombie blog tour, and comment as we go along.

And… one lucky commenter for each blog will receive a Free eBook or Print book from one of the authors! Simply leave a comment with your e-mail address and we'll pick a random winner each day! Simple as that! 

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Bowie Ibarra is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuster.  His latest zombie book, "The Fall of Austin", was said to "...kick undead ass" by Johnathan Mayberry, New York Times bestselling author.  It is available in paperback, Kindle, and other e-reader versions.

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