Monday, October 8, 2012

Post: Apology, The Next Big Thing, And Members!


Hey, guys! So I have a confession to make. I made a serious blunder. I told you Friday that Ellie was hosting a guest post. While this is true, the post won't show until December 5th (not October 5th - silly goose). So I apologize for leading everyone on and making you check back over the weekend. Seriously, I'm red in the face as I'm typing these words. I'll be sure to pay better attention to my emails in the future. You guys forgive me, right? *cricket, cricket* Right?

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The awesome Ilima Todd tagged me with The Next Big Thing, an interview meme that explores our current WiPs. I did one of these not too long ago, but now this is a great excuse to tell you guys a little about this zombie novel I'm working on. Here we go!
1-What is the title of your book?
The Undead Road

2-Where did the idea come from for the book?
Pretty much everything Zombie I’ve ever read/played/watched while growing up (imagine Walking Dead, Resident Evil, and Zombieland with kids). The main character is a caricature of my 14-year-old self, so I’m using a lot of alternative personal experiences in this one. 
3-What genre does your book fall under?
Upper MG science fiction/zombie
4-Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie?
I’m not far enough along to know who I'd pick yet ...

5-What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
To find and save their parents from a Zombified Kansas City, Jeremy and his little sister must rely on an infected girl who might turn on them at any moment.
6-Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I have no agent at this point yet, so I have no idea – someone from a small press has expressed interest, however. I may start there.
7-How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? May we see an intro?
I’m still drafting it – about a month in with 16,000 words down.
But here’s the first bit of it:
When Dad handed me his .45 for the first time, I didn’t know I’d use it ten minutes later.

Her name was Cassidy Mill. With big brown eyes, long brown hair and freckle-free skin, she was the most popular girl in Sands West Middle School. Throwing all the guys into a jealous frenzy wasn’t hard for her, the way she clung to new boyfriends like fashion accessories. I was never one of them. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think to ask her out once or twice, but we never talked. She never even looked at me. When she finally did, Cassidy ran for me—but not in that way. 

Red eyes, torn hair, rotted skin ... not my idea of a hot date. 

8-What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?


Hunger Games readers might like it. I’m sure fans of zombie-related material will be all over it, but the trick is I’m trying to appeal to non-fans of zombie stuff as well. It’s working among my CPs, so far.
9-Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I just wanted to do something fun and different that I could draft up quickly. Hopefully it will be finished before the new year.

10-What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?
If the story works out the way I’m planning it, this will be unlike any zombie story out there. It might even transcend the genre as The Walking Dead did. The key difference is kids against a zombie-infested world without adult help. That, and they're using the side effects of the infection (through someone) to help them. Who will survive? Who will be zombiefied? You’ll have to wait and find out.

I pass this on to the last five people who commented on my blog (if you've done this, you don't have to do it again). And they are:

Ellie Garratt
Leigh Covington
Susan Gourley/Kelley
Newly Agented Robin!
The Golden Eagle 

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Joining the Insecure Writer's Support Group has generated a lot of support (and I mean A LOT - holy cow). I really appreciated your encouragement and kind words in response to my first IWSG post. It was an unprecidented welcome. Because you're all awesome, this is your huge THANK YOU for joining the blog. Welcome to the Laire!

Karen Walker
Robyn Alana Engel
 Mama J
Farawayeyes
Linda King
Rachel Searles
Laura Brown
Shauna Kelley
Rena
Andy
Anne
and
Elaine Vickers

Thank you again for following and I appreciate your support. Just so you know, we hand out free virtual crullers here. Please, take one.

Also, if you would kindly go congratulate my awesome blogger bud Jessie Humphries for landing her dream agent, that would be stellar!

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Update: Like most goals I set, I wasn't able to tack much onto Undead this week. Been busy with online/blogging business and gearing up for a new critique group. Now that I have a group again, the motivation factor for drafting new material should kick in any time now. Any time ... now. We're also a week away from the new season of The Walking Dead. That should get me fired up, too. So, yeah. New material this week, and possibly a few other surprises!

Be sure to click back for another week of unsaturated awesomeness. I'm also turning 30 this week. I guess that's a plus, right?

I'm David, and this is how Spider-Man should have ended ...

46 comments:

  1. I've had a great experience with my small press. Don't pass up the opportunity if it sounds good.
    And saw Ellie's post - no big deal! Will catch you in December.

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  2. I thought I was clicking the wrong 'Here' last week, lol. I'm like, "I think I'm doing something wrong!!!" But I will keep an eye out for it in December :)

    And I've heard great things about small presses. No fear if it's what feels right :D

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  3. Wow. I'm not really a Zombie fan, but I would definitely check that out.

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  4. Thanks for playing, David. This book sounds awesome. I love the idea of an MG zombie book...so curious what the infection side effects are. :)

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  5. Zombies, young adults, you can't go wrong.

    Good luck!

    Mistakes -- no one makes those on here! :)

    Have a great week.

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    1. Scrolling slower, hey, there I am. Thank you!!!!

      Just wondering, would you consider doing an anthology of horror shorts? Or maybe just zombie shorts? We could gather a few fellow writers and put it up on Amazon Kindle. Of course, all the details need worked out, but it could be fun! My email yolandarenee(at)hotmail(dot)com

      Just a silly idea, I get those on Mondays!

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  6. Small presses can be hit or miss. I've signed with two so far. One has been a miss and the other at the moment seems more likely to be a hit.

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  7. Story sounds great. Looking forward to hearing more about it. And thanks for the "shout-out"! Happy 30th.

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  8. Love the meme. I have some Zombie-loving friends who would be interested in reading this. Keep plugging away. Get it out there. :) Hope you don't mind if I steal the meme and drag it over to my blog for a game later this week.

    Enjoy the week.

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  9. Hi David,

    That's great you're participating in The Next Best Thing and IWSG. Good luck on your zombie story, eek!

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  10. Really hope you keep going on this book fast! It is something I am anxious to read...

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  11. Welcome to the 30's!!!!! I'm still reeling myself. These are the years, my friend. Live it. Love it!

    And love the meme. You've got it, DPK. :D

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  12. Zombies...why oh why? Just kidding, you'll have tons of fans with that one! And early Happy Birthday, 30 is great!

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  13. 30 didn't scare me nearly as much as crossing into the mid-30's did.

    Thanks for sharing the fun with your WIP - can't wait to read it.

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  14. Your WIP sounds great. It's not my usual reading genre but the sample you gave caught my attention. I was glad to join your blog and did so for selfish reasons. Look forward to hanging around!

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  15. Sounds like a great story. Exciting that you've already got a publisher interested.

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  16. I just looked up "cruller" and I virtually took the whole batch. Apologies to everyone else. They're virtually delicious. Thank you, David.

    Your enthusiasm is contagious. I appreciate our connection.

    xoRobyn

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  17. Great excerpt! It's a sign of awesome things to come when you finish the book.

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  18. Your WIP sounds cool, look forward to hearing how it's going.

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  19. Oh, I like the sound of your book! I am not normally a zombie girl, but I think some humor helps and I like your premise of the zombie girl helping them.

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  20. I enjoyed reading the excerpt from your book! Thanks for the shout-out, and I look forward to getting to know you! Have a wonderful birthday! Julie

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  21. Thanks for sharing more about your book, David! I'm all for small presses. :)

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  22. Awesome, David! I love the sound of this. Very fresh.

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  23. Love the little bit of internal dialogue you shared from your new piece. And thanks for passing it on to me. I had a spot I needed a post for in the next week.
    I'm hoping with winter coming on, I'll find time to rejoin my critique group.

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  24. I love that one sentence synopsis -- especially the part about needing the help of an infected girl who might turn on them at any moment. A great hook -- and something that makes it stand out from other zombie books. Good luck on it!

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  25. Love zombie books! I love that first part. Happy early birthday! I'm a couple years into my 30s now and...still getting used to it. I'm not a happy ager.

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  26. What a great first sentence! And I love how the kids have to solve this on their own. PERFECT! Thanks for sharing and may the drafting infection bite you soon!

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  27. Love the sound of your new book, and the excerpt was awesome! I'm personally a bit of a Horror fan, and I love it when authors take new twists on old ideas. Best of luck with writing. :)

    Don't feel bad, I've done the same thing time and time again when it comes to when someone's hosting a post. I'm glad you mentioned something, because I thought I was going insane, because I couldn't find the post. I'll look forward to December, then. If nothing else, I've found another great blog to visit!

    Best Wishes,

    Alexandra~

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  28. Hey, no hard feelings, David. It happens to us all.

    And hey, already have some interest in your story. Crossing my fingers that that can translate into even more for you.

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  29. Oh DPK! You are too kind to be shoutin' me out! I seriously love, like LOVE, your new idea. That sample is uh...mazing! I could totally dig it. Great post.

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  30. Loved the information about your new book. Looks like soemthing my son might enjoy a lot. Happy birthday this week. I am also celebrating a birthday this week but it is a higher number than yours. :)

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  31. regarding #5 - love how you up the ante with the infected girl. This sounds like an awesome story!

    Did I mention I love zombies?

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  32. Thanks for the shout out. Your WIP sounds exciting and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

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  33. I love the premise of your novel! Sounds like an interesting take on zombies.

    Thanks for the tag. :)

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  34. Oh, David, I love this meme. That opening is AWESOME!

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  35. While you're on your rounds, you must check out Susanne Drazic's blog Putting Words Down on Paper. Susanne LOVES anything zombie.

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  36. I loved hearing more about your WIP! I hope I get to read more of it. :)

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  37. Awesome one sentence synopsis.

    .........dhole

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  38. Great blog! Sounds like you got a great book going on!

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  39. Your WIP sounds absolutely FANTASTIC. I was never big on zombies until I watched Zombieland. That movie never fails to make me laugh :P

    Have you read Warm Bodies? That's a pretty cool zombie book that I read not too long ago. It's being made into a movie now, though I'm not sure I agree with the casting...anyways it by Issac Marion, in case you're interested.

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  40. Love the sound of your WIP, and it sounds really fun to write! :)

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  41. Glad to see you, too, are *not* a borg :)

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  42. Your future blogging host beaming in. I'm sure December 5th will have beamed into existence before we know it. Until then, we have your zombie WIP to think about. Sounds like exactly the kind of story I want to read. And then there is The Walking Dead! I can not say enough good things about it.

    Brains. Argh. Brains!!!

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  43. You are totally forgiven! I do that kind of thing all the time! No worries at all! We'll look forward to it on December 5th!

    And thanks for the tag! I really need to do this. Jessie tagged me too and I've been slacking! I promise to get it together soon.

    BTW - your book sounds awesome! ZOMBIES! Ewww!

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