oh. my. zombie. (+ giveaway)

This is a red-letter day. Or bright-yellow-banner-proclaiming-general-awesomeness day. Well, it’s Saturday, and most Saturdays are like that, but this one is MORESO. Because we have a special guest at the blog - Adam Selzer, author of I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked It (insert clashing cymbals here)!


Adam is the author of eight books in addition to Zombie, including Smart Aleck's Guide to American History and How To Get Suspended and Influence People. He’s also kind of hilarious and very kind (see part where he is visiting my blog). You can learn more about Adam at www.ikissedazombie.com or his website. And if you need background on I Kissed a Zombie and how much I liked it, check out my review. Now…on to the questions!


What made you want to write about zombies? Have you had any personal experience with them?

Honestly, it was my publisher's idea. I had written a song about finding out that a significant other was dead, not just a goth, years before, but never thought to make it into a book. A person dumb enough to mistake a zombie for a goth is okay in a song, but how do you make it last a whole book? I had to do a lot of figuring to make that plausible. The closest I have to hands-on experiences was the zombie pub crawls I used to run in Chicago - we'd get a bus full of people dressed as zombie and drive around crashing New Year's parties. It was more fun a couple of years ago than it is now; people just aren't as surprised to see zombies show up at their party or in a bar as they used to be.


Ever meet someone whom you thought (secretly, of course) could be a zombie? Maybe a reclusive neighbor? A distant relative? An old fourth-grade teacher?

There was a rather cadaverous looking guy that roamed around at my high school - I have no idea what he taught, though. There's also some guy in overalls and a trucker hat who's been hanging around outside of a detective agency on Grand Avenue near my apartment here in Chicago - I don't know if he's a zombie, but he's definitely up to something.


I know that most people browsing around a bookstore are drawn to the title or the cover artwork. In the case of your book, which one is most effective?

Gonna skip ahead here; the next question kind of answers this one.


I had your book lying on the dining room table at my apartment. I had no less than four different people tell me it was ‘gross.’ Of course, I thought it was hilarious and ridiculous. I even read them passages from it to prove my point. What would you say to those doubters?

I think that any other year, people would know right away that it was a satire, but people don't seem to be picking up on that - they just think it's some mindless Twilight wannabe. It pisses me off when Zombie people post the cover on a forum and talk about how it's the most awful thing they ever saw and ought to be burned at once. I try to assure the doubters that it's a satire. But, then again, it's not JUST a joke book; I wanted the love story in it to be about as credible and realistic as I could make it and address the kind of issues that you have to deal with in every relationship (and which rarely turn up in books). So, at risk of annoying the Twi-hard, I'd like people to know that it's the perfect book for people who hate Twilight.


How hard is it to write funny books? Imbuing your words with the meaning you want them to have isn't easy, so how do you manage to make people laugh out loud? (Or, how long does it take you to come up with jokes?)

If I'm in the right mood, it's pretty easy. If I'm not, it's just about impossible. So, on a good day, the jokes practically write themselves, and it doesn't take much time at all. On others, they just never come.


Do you read YA books on a regular basis? Any favorites you’d recommend?

I read a fair share of it, but not as much these days, since I have no real interest in Twilight knock-offs, which make up about 2/3rds of the shelves this year (though i do like Claudia Gray - her books are cool). There's another zombie book out right now called FEED by Mira Grant that's pretty awesome, too.


How hard is it to get in the head of a teenage girl?

It's always hard to make up enough about a character to feel like you know what makes them tick and how to make them realistic, but making up a girl isn't much harder than making up a guy. It's easier, if anything, because I'm less concerned that people will assume that the main character is just a thinly-veiled version of myself.


If you had to own a cow (in a naturally-occurring cow color), what color cow would you own?

That light brown color that you see on cows sometimes.


I’ve been hearing about a Zombies vs. Unicorns war that is brewing in the YA sphere. Who do you pick for the win?

There's a unicorn in the Zombie follow-up that I'm finishing now. In my particular world, your average unicorn could probably beat up your average zombie, but they might be outnumbered in the long run. And humans would probably join in on the zombie side.


What is going to cause the Apocalypse?

Probably either a meteor of a supervolcano. But even that might not happen until we get a few colonies going off-planet. So I suppose the apocalypse will just come whenever the Flying Spaghetti Monster decides that enough is enough.


Thank you for joining us, Adam!


Now, for all of you who haven’t gotten your hands on I Kissed a Zombie, and I Liked It yet, I’m giving it away. Plus an ARC of Zombies vs. Unicorns that I picked up at ALA (signed by Holly Black!). AND some sweet Team Zombie flair. So, to be clear: one winner gets I Kissed a Zombie, and I Liked It, an ARC of Zombies vs. Unicorns, and zombie buttons. Entry information below!

-----


To enter:


Leave a comment on this post answering the question, "Who are the best kissers: vampires, werewolves or zombies?" You can get one extra entry if you comment on my review.


Please include your email address or another method of contact. Giveaway is open internationally. Comments will close on August 7 at 11:59pm EST, and I will notify the randomly selected winners via email.


Good luck!

68 comments:

Vidisha said...

Hmm..Werwolf's

vidishamun@gmail.com

Kim said...

Well as Zombies and Vamps are both dead I would have to say Werewolves.

:)

henderkd(at)email(dot)sc(dot)edu

S a n d r a said...

Maybe the warewolves =D

sandymanga@hotmail.es

Mrs. DeRaps said...

Werewolves!! All that passion, that heat, that transformation!! Zombies would be gross and vampires are too risky...Definitely team werewolf on this one!

hderaps @ mbrsd . org

Lexie said...

Ordinarily I would say Zombies pwn everything, but I'm still on the fence about 'romance' zombies.

And I'm not a huge werewolf fan.

So I guess vampires win by default! XD

Lexie C.
Lexie.Cenni(@)gmail.com

+ I commented on your review

Bunny B said...

I guess Vamps are better kissers cos they seem sexier to me :P
bunnybx at gmail . com

Unknown said...

I would say vampires would be the better kissers.

swordsforfighting at yahoo dot com

Jackie said...

If by werewolves we're talking Taylor Lautner looking, than of course they win. Zombies would probably taste like garbage and for vampires we don't really want a reinactment of A Christmas Story, (You know, tongue to the flag pole and all). I'd go with Werewolves. :)


jackie_love35@msn.com

Stacey Brucale said...

Warewolves!!

xxsquigglesxx(At)Gmail(dot)com

Jessica B said...

Werewolves, definitely.

shutupjessicasreading @ gmaildotcom

Aubrey said...

Vamps all the way. They are yummy and seductive. I've always been a fan!

I am so interested in this book! Great interview!

Darlyn said...

I will choose definitely vampire!

darlyn225 at gmail dot com

+1 commented on your review ;p

thanks!

Shooting Stars Mag said...

loved your questions and adam's answers. for the question though...this is hard. i guess werewolves like most of the others said. not a zombie though as they are a bit gross...vampires maybe.

-lauren

lauren51990 AT aol DOT com

Sullivan McPig said...

"I'd like people to know that it's the perfect book for people who hate Twilight"

You just won me over!!
As for the kissing stuff:
I will have to go for werewolves.
I'd be to afraid to be bitten by a vampire and I might clobber the zombie out of habit.

(email in profile)

Tia said...

I was also going to say werewolves (after all, they're the only ones who are warm), but perhaps I should be different and try to think of a defense for zombies...mmm...don't think I can!

tiasbook AT gmail DOT com

Reading said...

I would think that vampire would kiss better. Most of them are so old, I would think they would have more practice.

+1 Commented on your review.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Kulsuma said...

Hm, werewolves! So dangerous.

k_anon[at]hotmail[dot]co[dot]uk

Jasindo said...

Hmm... Zombies are gross and vampires have fangs and a strong desire to suck your blood. I guess werewolves win.

+1 Commented on review

unwrittn_melody @ yahoo com

fredamans said...

WEREWOLVES!! Warm, alive and feral!!

freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

The Book Owl said...

Werewolves!

McKenzie
mac.attack17(at)yahoo(dot)com

debbie said...

I would say werewolves,at least they would be lively.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Jenna said...

Probably werewolves. They're the only ones that are alive, so they win by default.

Thanks for the contest!

jennapomme[at]yahoo[dot]com

Icedream said...

I'd have to say Vampires by default. Zombies would eat my face and werewolves would slobber too much. :)

Fun giveaway!

waitmantwillie at hotmail dot com

Sharli said...

I'd have to say werewolves! Kissing a zombie seems way too gross and although vamps are among my faves, I'd rather kiss nice, warm lips :)

+1 comment on review

Thanks for the great interview!
entrelibros_blog at hotmail.com

Llehn said...

I say vamps. Teeth can be a little sexy.

lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com

Lucky's Luna said...

I would say vampires would definitely be the best, werewolves probably are too aggressive and would slobber on you and Zombies, come on they'd just use you for your brains!

luckysluna(at)yahoo(dot)com

titania86 said...

I would say between vampires and werewolves. Both can be in a human form that can be attractive. Zombies are rotting corpses and don't really kiss; they just bite your face off. They are still the most awesome!

I also commented on your review. Great interview and giveaway!

titania86@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I'd say werewolves too because they have that wild animal passion. :)
peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

Ryan said...

I don't think a werewolf could stop at just one kiss and would probably end up in mauling, so I will skip that kiss.

I would be worried about the lips or tongue falling out if I was kissing a zombie, so I will pass on that one.

So I guess that leaves vampires, and since a little nibble here and there never hurt anyone, I would be down for that.

Thanks for the giveaway!

fforgnayr@yahoo.com

EVA SB said...

Zombies are just too yukky.
Vampires have had years of practice but would you really trust them?

A werewolf would definitely be my preference - all that restrained animal passion - but he'd have to promise not to slobber!

eva.s.black[@]gmail[.]com

Anonymous said...

Great interview!

Usually I'm 100% Team Zombie, but in this case I'll go with vampires (werewolves - you might get pash rash, and I feel like zombies would be a bit tooo cold and lifeless, no spark)

smswain@live.com.au

Liz. R said...

Werewolves.

Zombies would taste repulsive, plus they're all rotting and dead, so who knows what kind of bacteria they may be passing on to you. Nope, zombies are better off in their armies of walking dead.

Vampires have fangs - they would end up cutting you, then you'd have a mouth full of blood and the vampire wouldn't be able to resist and ten minutes later you'd be dead on the floor, completely drained. No thanks.

Werewolves, however, are basically just human until they morph, so kissing them would be like kissing a normal person. Plus they're so cool :D.

Liz. R said...

Forgot to put my eamil: yeliz_rifat(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)uk. Plus I commented on the review too!

Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...

Werewolves!! Definitely!! They are the only ones who are alive!!! Thank you for the contest, i've been wanting to check this one out.

+1 comment on review

inthehammockblog at gmail dot com

Jasmine1485 said...

They all have their inherent dangers - namely that the werewolf could eat your lips instead of kissing them, the zombie's tongue could come off in your mouth, or find your brains more tasty than your kisses... I guess keeping that in mind I'd go with vampires, they're undead but they usually seem to have pretty good control of their urges.

Kate1485 at hotmail.com

Misha said...

I would love to win this book!
Vampires are the best I think..it appears so from all the books-the girls almost go dizzy and swoon!

Commented on the review.

Misha
mishamary@gmail.com

Kemendraugh said...

+1 commented on your review

I'm going to have to say werewolves. I'm still not wholly convinced on the whole kissing a dead guy thing :P

kemendraugh at gmail dot com

revolution93 said...

werewolves for sure (:

+1 for commenting on review

lisscake@hotmail.com

She said...

I would have to say vampires purely because I would be too afraid that something zombie would rot off into my mouth and kissing a werewolf would be like kissing my dog. Not okay.

ecaramil @ gmail dot com

Great interview!

throuthehaze said...

I am going to have to go with vampires on this one. Zombies would just eat my face and werewolves might be all slobbery.
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Definitely werewolves! They are warm to the touch and like to nuzzle and they won't eat your brain or suck you dry. And of course they are passionate and really touchy-feely :-D

stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com

Sarah said...

Hmm.. A werewolf i think :p

jocelyn said...

Werewolves! They're the only ones still alive!

A'lina said...

I think werewolves would be better kisses because they're really warm and, um, you know, more human.

+1 commented on review

linaramz at yahoo dot com

Liz said...

Werewolves!! All the way!! NOT because of twilight but I got hooked on werewolves reading books like Intertwined and Need.

+1 Commented on you amazing interview :)

liztapioka14[at]yahoo[dot]com

Alessandra said...

I'd say werewolves, at the very least they're warm (as opposed to the icy-cold vampires). No idea about zombies: I haven't read nearly as many books about them as I should have. I'm going to have to fix that, lol.

Alessandra
outofblue1(at)gmail(dot)com

pointy star said...

With vampires, I think the fangs would get in the way; you know, you wouldn't want to impale yourself on them while trying to get some lip action or anything. Zombies...well, they seem like the drooling type...kind of a turn off if you're drowing in saliva...

In conclusion, I would have to pick werewolves as the best kisser out of the three choices. As long as they are in their human forms at least or else that would be beastiality XD

And that is my crazy opinion :D
pointy.star@yahoo.com

Diana Dang said...

Werewolves in human form. xD

faked_sugartone at hotmail

Cass said...

"Who are the best kissers: vampires, werewolves or zombies?"
While I have a problem with this question, I'm going to say werewolves.

+1 I commented on the review.

Thanks for the international-ness of this contest! :D I'd love a copy of Zombies vs. Unicorns

cc932005[at]hotmail[dot]com

Aleksandra said...

Werewolves :)

Thanks for the giveaway!

sandric.sk(at)gmail(dot)com

Pixie said...

Werewolves- it may be a little slobbery, but that is better than ice cold or decomposing.

~Pixie
weblogbooks(at)gmail(.)com

Kai Agito said...

I'm gonna go with vampires. I still think its a bit weird kissing a zombie (decomposing? O_O) or a werewolf (hairy!) so...

amaterasureads@gmail.com

Cackleberry Homestead said...

I'm going with werewolves.

crystalfulcher(at)ec.rr.com

Bailey said...

Werewolves, no question! I would not want to kiss a zombie or vampire! THey are both dead, gross! Also, I have a thing for werewolves so I would be really happy to be kissed by one! =)

angelgirl122193[at]aol[dot]com

Pokadots1121 said...

Werewolves rock at kissing. Trust me. ;) Plus- At lest werewolves are somewhat human. Zombies would get dead skin on you, and vamps would probably chew you after.

Pokadots1121@yahoo.com

Allison said...

Vampires!

allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

k_sunshine1977 said...

i'm a vampire girl....besides, werewolves are hairy, and what if something falls off the zombie when you're kissing? i think i'd be scarred for life!

k_sunshine1977 at yahoo dot com

Ashley said...

Ew definitely not zombies; I'm gonna go with werewolves! At least they're part human...

booksobsession(at)gmail(dot)com

Breanne said...

hmm I'll go with werewolves because they're not dead!

Unknown said...

Most definitely werewolves!

texas_gal45@hotmail.com

Joanna said...

vampires all the way baby!!!
joanna_102693@hotmail.com

blog:
http://pinkangel1026.blogspot.com/

Laina said...

Either werewolves or vampires. I like them both. :) Zombies... would probably rather not kiss.

Laina1312@gmail.com

Zara said...

Definitely werewolves...I wouldn't risk my neck to kiss a vampire (bad pun, I know), and zombies? Ewwwww. I need to go take a shower now. :D

bookworm396 at gmail dot com

Badass Bookie said...

I going to go werewolf! but really if any boy would kiss me I would be happy ( that was a joke, i not THAT desperate) Anyway, I not too fond of excessive facial hair but it's the safer option :P

callmeghostgirl@yahoo.com.au

Pink Panther said...

Definitely werewolf. I mean, razor sharp fangs? Um, no thanks. And I really don't care for the idea of kissing something that is grey or dead. Seriously. At least the werewolf is warm-blooded and breathing. :)

+1 comment on review

You can reach me at luvpinkpanther@gmail.com

Fi-chan said...

werewolves! I don't want to risk my life with vampires, never really like zombies (i don't know much about them, yet).

+1 commented on review

feeyonachan at gmail dot com

thank you for this!

Unknown said...

Oh man, that is a very tough question. Okay, I have to give this some thought... I like my brain, so zombies are out... I'm not a fan of slobbery dog kisses, so werewolves are out... Hopefully the vampire would only leave me a little anemic-looking, rather than drained...

Vampire. I'll go with vampire.

Awesome interview and generous giveaway! So glad I came by!

elegantsnobbery@hotmail.com

Okbolover said...

I've always fallen for Vamps. Vampires it is. :)

sensitivemuse at gmail dot com

thx for the giveaway

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