Author Interview: Amanda Ashby and the Living Dead

I was thinking to myself, "What supernatural monster can I use on my blog beside the ever reliable vampire"? Zombies, of course! And who knows zombies better than Amanda Ashby, author of Zombie Queen of Newbury High? I would like to thank Amanda for stopping by on our Spooktacular October to give us her take on those lovable brain-eating creatures!

Why did you choose zombies for your novel?

Honestly, it’s because the word zombie sounds so funny and I used to tease my writing buddies that if they weren’t careful I would write a book called ‘I Was a Killer Zombie Bride’. Anyway, the more I said it, the more I realized that it would actually be quite cool to write a zombie book.

How did zombies appeal to you as "monsters"?

They scary the furries out of me. Unlike vampires that often seem to operate alone, whenever you think of zombies, you think of a huge, never-ending stream of those flesh-munching little devils. In fact I’m pretty sure they would survive an apocalypse even better than a cockroach would.

Zombies are close to being just as popular as vampires. Which monster is better in your opinion?
Well, I’m a hardcore Buffy fan so I’ve always had a thing for vampires. Plus, when you think of vampires you think of clever and cunning. When you think of zombies you think of brain-dead and hungry – which is probably why I find zombies so scary because they are not swayed by a reasonable argument! If you have flesh and bones, they are simply going to eat you. Gulp.

Besides the living dead, is there any other supernatural being that you hold close to your heart?

Well I’m currently writing a book where the heroine turns into a djinn (genie) so no surprises that I’m pretty fond of them!!!!!

Will zombies ever reach heartthrob status like vampires have (*cough* Cullen)? I know that rotting meat may be off putting to some, but a girl can work around that...right?

I think you mean *cough* Angel!!!! But seriously, I’m going to have to say no. I mean I love Andy from SG Browne’s Breathers: A Zombie’s Lament, but I definitely didn’t see him as a heartthrob.

What is your favorite zombie movie and book? Why?

Shaun of the Dead. I just loved that movie so much. It was just so funny and so full of incredibly British comedians that I can’t imagine anyone not liking it. And the end was just too funny for words!!!!

As for book, argh – there are so many great zombie books out there right now so it’s really hard to pick. Carrie Ryan’s The Forest of Hands and Teeth is amazing and I’m already hanging out for the sequel that is out next year. SG Browne’s Breathers, which I’ve already mentioned, is wickedly funny. Mark Henry is the master of snark when it comes to zombies and of course Stacey Jay totally rocks (hahaha and did you notice that I managed to avoid just picking one. I’m sooo crafty like that!!!)

Thanks again, Amanda, for the awesome interview!