Interview and Giveaway -28

In Today's TMI moment, I have a ridiculous rash. It's everywhere except my stomach. Face, arms, legs, feet, palms? soles? Yeah, I didn't know you could have rashes there either.

But back to bizz, the winner of Mina Esguerra's FAIRY TALE is...

Sana Castellano!

Congrats! It's on the way.

Today's giveaway:

BAD TASTE IN BOYS by Carrie Harris. And she's been nice enough to come over today!

Carrie Harris has a purple blog and writes about zombies. In a previous lifetime she researched Mad Cows, qualifying her to produce entire theses on brain-eating monsters.

Thanks for stopping by Talk Back Thursdays, Carrie. Seems like you made it safely past the undead watch-dogs.
YOU HAVE ZOMBIE DOGS? ZOMBIE DOGS CRACK ME UP. I’m one of the only people who saw the Resident Evil movie four times in the theater and giggled maniacally every time.

Well then, that's rare. lol. So, zombies in high school? Where did the idea for BAD TASTE IN BOYS come from?
My books are less AN idea and more a BUNCH of ideas all mashed together like an algebra equation gone out of control. So I started off thinking I wanted to do a book about the dead football players from Beetlejuice. And I wanted to do a book about a rational person who became convinced that zombies were attacking her town. And I wanted to write a book in which the geek saves the day. And I think mad scientists are awesome. So you put all those things together, and the result is BAD TASTE IN BOYS.

Your blog is so chock full of humour that you once earned the title of “Grand Lord Snarf Zombie” on a prestigious (ahem ahem) industry blog. Can we expect the same fall-out-of-chair-roll-under-table inducing writing in BTIB?
I still love that title. LOVE.

Personally, I tend to gravitate toward really campy horror. If I’m simultaneously hiding my eyes and snarfing things out my nose, I’m happy. So I did try and write a book that was funny but still had lots of zombie mayhem. I also wanted to add random photos of my head on David Hasselhoff’s body, but for some reason, my publisher wasn’t down with that.

Professionally, you’ve done a little bit of everything. What made you decide to take the writing plunge?
Yeah, I’ve had the prerequisite writer’s wonky job history, DEFINITELY. But I’ve been freelance writing since I was in college. I’ve always enjoyed it, but I figured it would just be a hobby. But after having three kids, my husband and I decided I’d stay home for a couple of years and give the writing thing a try. If it didn’t work, I’d find a job once the kids were all in school. And I don’t have to do that! EEEEEEEEEEEEE. I’m so so soooooo lucky.

How would you describe your publishing journey? Slower than Frankenstein on a treadmill? Sparklier than merpires? More brain-devouring than football zombies?
Slower than Frankenstein on crutches using a treadmill. My first book didn’t quite make the cut, so I was on submission for over a year straight, even though BTIB sold pretty fast. And it will be two years from the offer until the book hits the shelves! Not that I’m complaining, because I’ve had a lot of time to learn about what to expect, and what to do, and things. I’ve had a lot of time to write more books and get better at it. I HATE feeling rushed, so I think the slow and steady thing has really worked for me.

Finally, as an aspiring author, I’d like to pick your brains. Any words of advice?
BE YOURSELF. I spent years attempting to write Serious Books about Serious Issues, and they sucked some serious suckables. But I kept at it, because I wanted people to take me seriously as a writer, and who’s going to do that when you keep sticking your head on the Hoff’s body all the time and writing treatises on why all paranormal creatures deserve sparkles too? But I finally decided that I should just be myself, and if people thought I was certifiably insane, so be it. And really, isn’t self-acceptance a Serious Issue? I think there’s something pretty cool about a person who waves their Freak Flag proudly, so I always try to do that.

I think that’s really important in a profession like this, when you’re always hearing that you need to follow this trend or that one. Sure, it’s good to know the industry, but that doesn’t mean it’s worth leaping on bandwagons all the time. Be YOU. And write YOUR books, and then learn to write them BETTER. Even if that means waving a Freak Flag.

I love that advice!

Thanks for stopping by, Carrie. Er- *looks outside* - it seems the zombie dogs have picked up your scent. Guess you won’t be leaving any time soon. Mummy in a blanket?
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BAD TASTE IN BOYS has been devouring teenage brains since July 12!

For a chance to win a copy, tell me:
What's your favourite zombie story?
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