Zombie Week! Guest Blog and Giveaway: Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby
Here’s a secret. Despite the fact I wrote a book called Zombie Queen of Newbury High, I really hate zombie movies. In fact, a few years ago when I first told my husband about my new book idea, he thought I was joking since I had refused to watch any zombie moves with him (with the exception of Shaun of the Dead, because obviously that rules!).
But you see, there’s a reason I don’t like zombie movies and it’s really quite simple. They are mega scary. I mean have you seen them? They never end well and eight out of nine survivors always get eaten. So, based on a numbers game, that sucks. And here’s the thing, I grew up in the eighties with a Doctor Who obsessed father so I watched them all and you can bet your bottom dollar that I had my escape plans all sorted out.
For Daleks it was stairs (sort of a given). For alien bugs who were trying to eat my brains out, it was insecticide (duh). I even had a general invasion covered (there was a lift shaft in the local mall that you could kick open the back of and it revealed a secret little hiding spacing. And no, I’m not making it up. I truly discovered it and duly noted it for when I needed to flee).
But with zombies there is nowhere you can run and hide. They keep on coming and they never seem to die. Seriously. Even when the movie has ended, there is always one sneaky zombie who has managed to break the quarantine. And don’t even get me started on all the mindless slaughter. At least with vampires or werewolves, they only tend to eat you if they are hungry, of if they just really, really hate you. But with zombies, it’s totally indiscriminate. I mean you could just be wandering around, minding your business (perhaps even debating between a Snickers and a Mars bar) when you suddenly get attacked for no good reason.
How do you work with that? Which is my whole point. Zombies are scary because they are completely illogical. They have no brain cells. They don’t care if you’re a sassy heroine with loads of swords and a cute outfit. Or if you have plans for next week. They just see you as something in their way that must be destroyed (which is code for having the life chomped out of you). So my advice to anyone who thinks that zombies are cool is that they should think again.
So with that in mind I’d like to ask everyone how they would prepare for a zombie attack? Would you run? Hide? Try and squeeze into the lift shaft with me (bearing in mind that I will have Skittles, because that’s the way I roll)? Or do you have a more sensible suggestion that would actually ensure you survived? Inquiring minds want to know!
Amanda Ashby was born in Australia and after spending the last sixteen years dividing her time between England and New Zealand, she’s finally moved back and now lives on the Sunshine Coast. When she’s not moving country, she likes to write books (okay, she also likes to eat chocolate, watch television and sit around doing not much, but let’s just keep that amongst ourselves, shall we?) She has a degree in English and Journalism from the University of Queensland and is married with two children. Her debut book, You Had Me at Halo was nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award, and her first young adult book Zombie Queen of Newbury High was listed by the New York Public Library’s Stuff for the Teen Age 2010. Her latest release is called Fairy Bad Day and involves killer fairies, sword fighting and Skittles. – Website
A prom night Mia will never forget…Quiet, unpopular, non-cheerleading Mia is blissfully happy. Rob-super hot football god-has asked her to prom! Life couldn’t get any better. Enter Samantha -cheerleader queen and Miss Popularity-who has made it quite clear that Rob should be her prom date. Mia is desperate to make sure she doesn’t end up dumped in front of the whole school. So with prom in just a few days, she turns to Candice-her holistic, hypochondriac best friend-and decides to try a love spell to make Rob stay with her. Unfortunately, she ends up inflicting a zombie virus on her whole class instead, and she is their zombie leader! At first she loves all the attention. But when she learns from zombie hunter hottie Chase that her classmates will actually try to eat her in a few days, she’s not too thrilled. She’s sure she and Chase can figure something out, but in the meantime, she’s suggesting that no one wear white to prom, because things could get very messy. Out now
That’s an Ooops and a half, turning the whole class into zombies! Sounds like a light, fun read.
Sounds like an interesting read. Please enter me in contest.
Skittles! That’s enough for me to go with anyone… :)
Congrats on your new book!
Interesting title btw… :)
Great question. My plan is two-fold. First, I would throw raw meat as a distraction. Then I would take my sword (I really do have a sword) & chop the zombie’s head off. If all else fails, I’m running to the nearest meat market. They have meat & weapons!
Thanks!
I loved this book! I remember I was sick & my hubby bought it for me. I read it in 3 hours. Lots of fun. I just put it on my favorite zombie books list this week.
I would just stick with my husband and do whatever he told me to do. He’s the zombie expert.
I would say, I would stay at home and board-up… I always carry a sufficient amount of food and water for any kind of disaster, but in short supply of wooden boards so that can be a problem lol also, we live on an Air Force Base so it’s a little added plus to stay put =)
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You have Skittles? Well, hell! I’m with you :D
Oh, I do like how prepared everyone is! I can see that we will all be surviving the apocalypse together (which of course means that we can have all the Skittles we want!!!!)
Wow, this book sounds so good! I have a feeling that I’d be the first one killed by a zombie. I think I’d freeze and not know what to do if I was being chased by a hoarde of brain-thirsty zombies!
Looks like a cute book. Hum easy question. Ivwould secure the location I was in, then scout for weapons of every kind. Load my person with said arsonal. Stock up as many flaslights candles etc. Find non perishable foods and drinks stock up then go out and find all of my family and bring them back. Hopefully taking out as many zombies as possible along the eay.
I think my first priorities will be a fast vehicle and a long distance weapon! Then I can fight or flee, which ever is more convenient.
Well, I would already have my shotgun handy, as they usually are ;) Then I would pursue shelter, food and water. Bunker down.
Turning everyone into zombies….Well done, Mia! How would I prepare for a zombie attack? Grab a shotgun, blunt weapon and a flamethrower. Obtain food and water and somewhere to stay. And surround self with treadmills. No zombie will get near me.
I would probably run and hide. There’s no way I’d be bada** enough to stay and fight :P
I would fight for my life, and always remember the double tap.