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!

Heather M. Bryant

Stacey Mitchell

 Rebecca Green Gasper

Jen Leigh

Julie Luekenga

Von L. Cid

Johana Vera

Joylene Nowell Butler

Yolanda Renee

Jennifer

 Heather Murphy

Jennifer Lane

Julie Kemp Pick

Hart Johnson

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 ...