My Hogwarts Sabbatical: Why Won’t Zombies Die? by David P. King

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Why Won’t Zombies Die? by David P. King

Today it's my pleasure to have David P. King guest posting on one of his favorite subject -- zombies.
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Thanks for having me, Ken! Since releasing the first book in the My Zombie Summer series, The Undead Road, I’ve been asked a lot about zombies. The most frequently asked question? Why won’t zombies die? Or rather, how come they’ve been so popular for so long? Since the zombie is my favorite monster of all time, I may be able to shed a light on this gruesome phenomenon.

For one, when dealing with a zombie apocalypse, the variables are endless. You can have any character, in any location, dealing with zombies in every way imaginable. It doesn’t matter if the monster stays the same, it’s how people deal with the situation that makes it fresh and exciting.

Secondly, the storytelling has an instant investment value to its audience: no one is safe. It’s the ultimate what if? scenario. Anyone can go at any time, or may come back to pose a new threat. How would you deal with a friend or family member who’s about to eat you? Chilling, isn’t it?

Lastly, this scenario speaks volumes to human endurance and plays with our survival instincts. A long time ago, humans had to fight or flight all the time. With modern society the way it is now, we think we live in a safer world. Maybe the zombie craze keeps our instincts on their toes?

Zombies are scary, or funny, or even necessary, depending on the point of view. For this and many other reasons, I don’t see zombies going anywhere for a long time. And with the rate of their constant evolution, their longevity is practically cemented for the foreseeable future.

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Thanks David, and if you guys enjoy zombies as much as he does, be sure to check out his latest book, The Undead Road: My Zombie Summer: Part One. But don't wait too long, the ebook will only be on sale for 99 cents in the Kindle store between Jan 25-29th. And don't forget to enter the contest located after the book blurb.

Title: The Undead Road: My Zombie Summer: Part One

Publisher: Dashboard Books / CreateSpace

Ebook Release: January 2^st, 2016

Paperback: January 26^th, 2016

Cover by Steven Novak

Edited by Reece Hanzon

Nothing brings the family together like a zombie apocalypse …

Fifteen-year-old Jeremy Barnes would rather watch a zombie movie than shoot a real one, but he has no choice if his family wants to survive the end of the world. Their plan? Drive across the infected United States to a cabin in the Colorado Rockies without a scratch, but their trip takes a complicated detour in the middle of Nebraska when they find Kaylynn, a girl who can handle a baseball bat better than Jeremy can hold a .45 Berretta. And when they stumble into a sanctuary, Jeremy soon learns that Kaylynn is stronger than she looks—a deadly secret lies inside her.

After the radio picks up a distress call from Kansas City about a possible cure, Jeremy’s parents go with a team to investigate. They never return. The only way to find their parents is for Jeremy and his sister Jewel to rely on a dangerous girl who might just turn on them at any moment.

Praise for The Undead Road:

"For me, zombie stories are never about the killing. They're about the survivors and how people deal with the apocalypse. To this undead end, David Powers King has come up with the most original spin on zombies I've ever read." - Michael Offutt, author of Slipstream and Oculus

Contest Details:

Visit davidpowersking.com and leave and comment and/or tweet about The Undead Road (at least once) for a chance to win a free ebook. One out of every 10 comments and tweets is a winner! Use the Twitter Button below to ensure the author will see your tweet. Thank you!

And don't miss David's other stops during his Undead Road blog tour:

Alex Cavanaugh Jan 25^th

Donna Hole Jan 25^th

Chemist Ken Jan 26^th

Elana Johnson Jan 26^th

Nick Wilford Jan 26^th

Susan Gourley Jan 27^th

Tara Tyler Jan 27^th

Kristin Smith Jan 27^th

Lidy Wilks Jan 28^th

Elizabeth Seckman Jan 28^th

M.J. Fifield Jan 29^th

Michael de Gesu Jan 29^th

About the Author:

David Powers King was born in beautiful downtown Burbank, California where his love for film inspired him to be a writer. He is the co-author of the YA fantasy novel WOVEN, published by Scholastic. An avid fan of science fiction and fantasy, David also has a soft spot for zombies and the paranormal. He currently lives deep in the mountain West with his wife and three children.