Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Summer of Zombie Blog Tour 2014: Kirk Allmond

You're reading Books, Beer and Blogshit! It's the only blog that makes outlandish claims that are, more often than not, patently false! I am your blog host, Mr. Frank!

We have another repeat offender on The Blogshit for this year's Summer of Zombie Blog Tour. Kirk Allmond may have the most delicious sounding name in the zombie genre. He also wields a unique pen when it comes to zombies, twisting survivalism with the zombie apocalypse to create some very realistic stories.

Let's hear once again, from Mr. Kirk Allmond




First of all, thanks for having me. It’s always an honor to be invited on the Summer of Zombie Blog Tour, and of course to appear on the venerable Books, Beer, and Blogshit. For those who may not know me, my name is Kirk Allmond, author of the What Zombies Fear series. You can always check out what’s going on over at www.whatzombiesfear.com or my blog, www.kirkallmond.com.



Books, Beer and Blogshit:  Are you a survivor or one of the undead?

Kirk Allmond:  Survival is a matter of strong character, willingness to do what is necessary, and the drive to go on. I give myself seven minutes forty-three seconds of survival time.

The Blogshit:  What is your latest piece of zombie fiction we should be concerning ourselves with?

Kirk Allmond:  Hell on Rails (www.whatzombiesfear.com/Hell-on-Rails) is my free zombie web serial, it’s ongoing, currently up to 29 chapters. The first side-fiction is called “Hell on Rails: Apocalypse” and will hit Amazon in mid-June. Also, What Zombies Fear 6: The Incarnation will be published this October.



The Blogshit:  Do you feel you are a classic or progressive type of zombie fiction writer?

Kirk Allmond:  Classically progressive? I write about a lot of Romero style zombies, but then there are also smart, fast, super-zombies.

The Blogshit:  What makes your zombies different from all others?

Kirk Allmond:  Caused by a parasite that activates latent abilities in humans and zombies. Some of them are super-human.

The Blogshit:  What makes your living different from all the others?

Kirk Allmond:  Some of them are immune to the parasite that causes zombieism. Those who are get some pretty sweet benefits.


The Blogshit:  Do you think it's important, in this climate, to run with the pack or really try to reinvent the wheel in zombie fiction?

Kirk Allmond:  I think you have to constantly push the boundaries, both in terms of plotline, and the more technical writing skills.


The Blogshit:  Zombie fiction seems heavily dependent upon working within the construct of a series. Do you feel that is the way that makes it work best for you you or do you think there is still room for stand alone stories?

Kirk Allmond:  I think there is plenty of room for stand-alone stories. Until the fans start screaming for the sequel. The ‘series” model is totally based on fan expectations.


The Blogshit:  Are you ever afraid of being pigeon-holed in this zombie fiction genre?

Kirk Allmond:  I also have two sci-fi novels out and a post-apocalyptic young adult book coming out June 28th 2014, called Remnants. I try to alternate zombie stories and something else, it keeps me fresh and not feeling zombie-burnout.

The Blogshit:  For your next zombie story, stand alone or series, do you think you will need to go sicker or smarter to keep it going?

Kirk Allmond:  My second zombie story, Hell on Rails, isn’t really either. The zombies are out there, like an environmental element. “It’s not safe to go out alone or unarmed” kind of thing. But it’s two years after the apocalypse. By that point, killing slow, stupid zombies in packs of five or ten is kind of blasé. So, instead, Hell on Rails focuses on the surviving humans. Those who have gone crazy from eating the infected humans, and those who have eeked out a living in the zombie-infested world.

The Blogshit:  On last year's tour, we asked about what to put on your zombie sandwich. This year, we want to know: What special ingredients would you use to pickle the pickles on your zombie sandwich?

Kirk Allmond:  No zombie sandwich is complete without dill pickles. I know, it’s nothing unique. But sometimes, you just leave the classics alone man. You don’t fuck with perfection.




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