Zombie Week! Stacey Graham Zombie Q&A
Submitted by Doll Day on October 25, 2010 – 10:00 am20 Comments
*This Contest is Now Closed*
Meet Author & Zombie Enthusiast Stacey Graham
Born to two squares a year before the Summer of Love, I grew up dreaming that my *real* parents were Paul and Linda McCartney and now sneak a dab of patchouli behind my ear when I’m feeling nostalgic for my roots in Oregon. Ignoring my “natural” talent (as my family puts it when I try to get a job), I put off writing professionally until my late 30s, concentrating instead on my other “natural” talent of giving birth in rapid succession to five daughters with my husband, Bryan.I enjoy sorting through outgrown baby clothes, baby bottles that roll under the couch for a month and believe I smell faintly of cheese on occasion though I don’t know why. I have frequent daydreams of owning a cupcake bakery filled with Halloween-themed treats.
The past twenty-odd years have been spent periodically sitting in drafty attics chasing ghosts which pull my hair and breathe heavily in my ear. At first I thought it was just my husband but… I write about ghostly experiences at my blog, Wee Ghosties: A Beginner’s Guide to Ghost Hunting.
I’m the owner and editor of An Army of Ermas – The New Generation of Disgruntled Housewives. I’ve roped in thirty of the funniest humor writers and columnists on web and in print for their take on family, love & toilet clogs a la Erma Bombeck. The Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop named An Army of Ermas their Humor Writer(s) of the month, March 2010. Become a fan on facebook!
Zombies staggered into my life in 2009 with the release of my short story, Eye of the Beholder, in the zombie anthology, , by Ravenous Romance and releasing in print by St. Martin’s Grifin in September, 2010. That story sparked the idea for The Zombie Dating Guide whose proposal is making the rounds with my fabulous agent, Dawn Frederick of Red Sofa Literary. Please visit The Zombie Dating Guide’s page and for excerpts and sketchy dating advice from your host, Undead Fred.
We caught up with the amazing Stacey Graham and basically begged her to particiapate in our Zombie week. She agreed to answer a few questions for us about Zombies and here they are…
1) The Zombies are loose and the military is telling people to abandon their homes and seek refuge until the situation is contained. What books would you take with you if you could only bring three?
I’d be packing heat so I’d need Sarah Palin‘s Guide to Big Boom Sticks; 101 Ways to Cook Vermin and, of course, The Hooters Guide to Quantum Physics.
2) If zombies could be put to sleep by reading boring books, what book would you use as a weapon?
I’d go with War and Peace. That way when they nod off I can hit them over the head with it. Remember those movies where the heroine knocks out the villain and starts doing her nails only to have him rise up in back of her with bad background music? Not me, baby. Don’t hesitate to decapitate.
3) What is your all time favorite zombie movie or book?
I’m old school so Zombie Cheerleading Camp. You can’t go wrong with those high kicks. Until the leg comes off and take out a bystander. Book-wise, I loved Breathers by S.G. Browne, I’m sharing a couch with him on a panel at zomBcon in Seattle this Halloween so I’m practicing my girlish giggles.
4) Seriously…Do you think you could survive a Zombie invasion? If so, why?
Oh heck no. I wouldn’t even try. I suspect I taste something like Peanut M&Ms; inside. Who could resist that?
5) Fashion and grooming – Zombie style – What are a zombie’s most important fashion accessory? What’s “in” and what’s “out”?
Well, zombie fashion is a bit sketchy. What you see on the outside really may be what’s on the inside as well. And those beautiful eyes you’ve been admiring may have originally belonged in someone else’s face.
6) Any tips for better Zombie Hygiene?
Showers sort of fell by the wayside after zombies turned into the Walking Death. Who needs shampoo infused with Bulgarian Evening Primrose and Arabian Frankincense after sticking their head in a ribcage? Okay, you have a point. Nevertheless, zombie hygiene can be compared to that of a pubescent boy. No one wins.
7) Zombies and love life – Do you think it’s possible to fall in love with a zombie? How would you romance one?
Zombies are naturally affectionate – though it can be confusing trying to tell if he’s leaning in to kiss you or trying to bite your face off. If you have your eye on a sexy zombie, try to get it back before the end of the evening. It confuses the hell out them to figure out where the extra eye came from.
8) Why do you think vampires and werewolves got a sexy reputation while Zombies get well, a pretty bad reputation?
I’d have to go with the answer for question six on this one. At least they don’t stare at you while you sleep – that’s just creepy.
9) Do you believe the possibility of zombies and other supernatural being exists? If so, why do you think no one knows about it?
After a month of political ads on television, I believe more horrible things exist than zombies.
10) What is it about Zombies that attracts so many different types of people to read books or watch movies about them?
Zombies have a sense of humor. They’re neither moody like vampires nor whiny like ghosts. They have the whole “I’m going to eat you” thing, sure, but at least you’ll get a chuckle out of it before they bite through your skull. You can count on a zombie to take you to fun places. He may be chasing you through them but at some level you’ll appreciate the gentle beauty of the Undead. Humans are attracted to zombies because they’re not unlike the people we dated in college. Though with more potential.
*~*~*~*~*GIVEAWAY*~*~*~*~*
*this contest is now closed*
Are you hungry for some zombie love? Stacey Graham is so awesome she is GIVING AWAY a signed copy of the zombie anthology . To enter the contest leave a comment here telling Stacey your tips for dating a zombie or zombie hygiene. This contest is international and will run through October 30th. As always, we have a few ways to gain extra entries:
+1 for every place you share this giveaway(Twitter, Facebook etc.) & leave links.
+5 if you follow The Zombie Dating guide blog
+5 if you follow Stacey on or
All points will be tallied and winner will be selected using Random.org We ask that the winner leave a review of the book somewhere, be it a blog, goodreads, amazon…wherever, just please help spread the zombie love.
Learn more about the amazing Stacey Graham by following her on her on:
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Paperback Dolls wish to thank the lovely Stacey Graham for participating in our ZOMBIE WEEK and offering such a fabulous prize to our readers!
Aren’t the contest type? Order your copy of the Anthology below.
Aren’t the contest type? Order your copy of the Anthology below.
Day is a dreamer who has never met a stranger. She is fearless and will talk to anyone and read anything! She taught music and dance and was a singer/actress for years, performing on stages both nationally and overseas. Now married with children, she spends less time singing on stage and more time writing songs at home. But, family life has not completely slowed this chick down. She still loves an adventure and learning new things. She resides in Texas with her family, Great Dane (Sophie), Labradoodles (George & Cosmo) and Chihuahua (Juan Carlos).
My tip would be to keep limes handy. Lime peel cologne might cut back on the stench making the dates more pleasurable.
cordy dot lou at gmail.com
HA! Thank you Stacey for making me spit my drink all over the screen!
"Never hesitate to decapitate!" Great advice.
*waves to Cordy* Hi stranger!
Thanks so much for a brilliant giveaway!!
My tip would be to hang those little pine car air fresheners all over yourself!
+5 follow The Zombie Dating guide blog
+5 Stacey on Twitter
and Facebook
chidoryx AT hotmail DOT com
My tip is to eat out at a seafood or cajun restaurant to camoflauge the stink!
This book looks interesting, and the author is hysterical. LOL
I follow her and Zombie on twitter.
Hot tipe for dating Zombies: Don't!
Nothing like a sense of humor when it comes to dating zombies….or men in general. Great Interview!
Thanks y'all! You make it easier to face therapy… ;)
Don't enter me, I just wanted to say that the interview is hilarious and I really need to get this book. Thanks Stacey!
I would say, keep spraying them with febreeze.It has taken odors out of everything else I have used it on, I would think it would work on zombies.
I like that Hot TiP "DONT", lol I was going to say extra strength mouthwash and floss for those little bits of brain that get caught in there teeth :) Here is were I posted
+1 I shared the contest on FB under Brandy Umphreys-Blake were I have a Group contest page I listed it on Book COntest- Win Free Books
+1 Shared on Twitter under brandlwyne
+5 if you follow The Zombie Dating guide blog (follow the main website under Brandy B aka brandlwyne);
+5 if you follow Stacey on Twitter (brandlwyne)
+5 (Brandy Umphreys-Blake) follower on Facebook
=17 points ???
I hope I did this right. It was a great contest!!!
-Brandy
ROFL!! "Don't hesitate to decapitate." That and retrieving any eyes I might have had on sexy zombies… although if their hygiene is on par with pre-adolescent boys, wouldn't that make "sexy zombie" an oxymoron??
Keep Bounce fabric sheets handy. Drop them into his pockets, car and such and Lysol. .
lmao! I spit tea onto my keyboard laughing from this! Awesome interview. I can't wait to get my hands on The Zombie Dating Guide now! :)
Thank you, ladies!
The Zombie Dating Guide has yet to find a publisher so keep those fingers crossed for me! Until then, I'd love some new victims, er, querents for the Undead Fred advice column found on the website if you'd like to be famous. ;)
Tips to dating a zombie? Sleep with one eye open and a shotgun under your pillow… and hope you come to your senses soon!
I agree with Verena – come to you senses soon!! I can only guess that it was a "blind date" that made you end up with a zombie – and I will quote some other commenters "don't hesitate to decapitate".
~Chrizette
baychriz at gmail dot com
I want the Zombie Dating Guide NOW not later!
:)
My tip assumes that the date goes well –
Make sure your "safe word" is mono-syllabic and preferably excludes vowels – might I suggest Mmmmrrggghhhh
My tip to dating a Zombie is to first read the Zombie Dating Guide so you will know how to get the Zombie of your dreams!
This book looks great, I'd love to win it! I unfortunately don't have any zombie tips today – that's why I need to win this book!
anastaciaknits AT verizon DOT net