Sunday 1 March 2009
My guest this week is someone that I have been dying to interview for over a year. Back when I won an ARC copy of his first book I wasn't doing author interviews and then when things here started taking off I really wanted to wait for his second book to come out before inviting him here as a guest.

So finally the second book is finally out this month! So please welcome, after a long wait, Mr Mark Henry! Zombie extrodinaire!

I hope you all enjoy the interview as much as I did and keep reading down to the end and enter the contest!

------------

Amber - Welcome to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is a pleasure to finally have you here as a guest and I hope you will start things off by telling us a little about your cool zombie series?

Mark - I'm definitely glad to be here and you've totally hit on one of my favorite topics, oddly enough. Amanda Feral is not what you'd call nice, or pleasant even. In fact, most people think she's a beast, and they're more right than they know. Amanda's a zombie, a flesh-eating ghoul with a preserved consciousness and an appetite for fine dining, foul humor and haute couture. Along with her best friends, Wendy (another zombie with an eye for the forbidden fruit: chocolate) and Gil (a fashionable vamp with an eye for the gents), Amanda gets into all sorts of undead trouble in a Seattle that's more supernaturally grim than you expect.

Amber - The second book in the series 'Road Trip of the Living Dead' is due out now. What can readers expect in this new installment?


Mark - A whole lot more of the same craziness. With her mother dying, Amanda is trying to avoid the inevitable reunion, but when Gil's luxury vamping business produces one pissed-off and ravenous customer they've got to get out of town...and quick. There destination seems predetermined, Ethel's hospice center in decidedly unfashionable Rapid City, South Dakota. Along the way they meet up with dust devils, elder gods, an unusual hood ornament and a transient named Fishhook. There's gruesome murders, zombie outbreaks and the requisite shocking humor. Without that it wouldn't be an Amanda book.

Amber - How did you come up with the idea for your zombie books? Why did you choose a female lead?

Mark - The initial idea was a response to the glut of chick lit coming out about 3 years ago, that, and I found Sex and the City was a decent show, irreverent and funny. Pair that with a love of Douglas Winter's skewering of Bret Easton Ellis and Jay McInerney in his short stories, Less than Zombie and Bright Lights Big Zombie, and I had a recipe for a parody. The idea needed a framework, though. Urban fantasy was the closest fit, so that's what I did.

Amber - Is it hard writing from the perspective of a female? Do you get any help with that? or are you secretly a woman?

Mark - No. It's not hard at all. But I'm lucky to be able to draw not only from the women in my family and circle of friends but upwards of 800 female clients that shared their innermost thoughts and desires. It's quite the advantage.

Amber - Female hygiene products aside. Did you have to do much research for your books so far?

Mark - I did do quite a bit of research into the fashion (stacks of Vogue, Elle and Glamour do cause some odd looks at the cash register) and we tested out the drink recipes, that was fun.

Amber - Amanda is a fascinating character and seems like alot of fun to have around. Is she your ideal woman? Dead or undead?

Mark - Close. I love strong irreverent women, that's for sure. My wife is one. Amanda is probably an amalgam of all the characteristics I look for and love crammed inside this beautiful woman, who just happens to be dead and deadly.

Amber - Did you always want to be a writer? Did you pick the paranormal genre or did it pick you?

Mark - I didn't start writing until three years ago. Prior to that I was a psychotherapist for about 12 years and thought that would be my career for the rest of my life. Only, as it turns out, it's not such a fun job. The clients were the best and I loved helping each and every one. The broken social service system made helping nearly impossible and ultimately burnt me the f**k out. As for how I came to write paranormal, I'm pretty sure it chose me. I love reading literary fiction and memoir, but when I sit down to write, only the weird comes out so...Paranormal it is!

Amber - What have been the good and bad times of being an author? Any advice to anyone out there working on their first novel?

Mark - Well the good times are anytime there's a sale. Not that I've had many, but the times I did, are fantastic, and crazy-making. Their haven't really been any bad times, compared to my past career as a psychotherapist, the writing gig has been a breeze. As far as advice, I'd just let aspiring writers know that there's room for just about any story. Look at mine. Who'd have thought you could sell a predominantly villainous heroine that eats street kids and is bored by the idea of saving her own friends?

Amber - Have you always been into zombies? Do you like any other paranormal creatures? Are you one yourself? Know any?

Mark - Always. Well, maybe not always. I was watching Night of the Living Dead and the Italian zombie flicks before I was even out of elementary school. My mother was and is a fan of horror films and introduced me to the genre at a pretty young age (today, it'd be seen as neglectful, but I wouldn't have it any other way, in fact, I'm happy to (and do) infect my own Godchildren with the zombie fan virus). I'm a fan of anything that's not "normal" from vampires to schizophrenics to yeti drag queens with air-brushed claws.

Amber - If you google Mark Henry there seems to be some other Mark Henry's out there who are a tad more famous than you. However you are extremely well known in the paranormal genre...your website, the reluctant adults, helping other paranormal author friends, book signings etc. It seems like alot of work. How do you find the time for it all and how do you relax?

Mark - I'm not going to lie, it's definitely a lot to juggle and I'm afraid it's often the writing time that suffers, but it's not always like that. The work is cyclical. I'm in the middle of a big promotional push now for Road Trip of the Living Dead, so I'm not writing as much, but it'll pass and things will even out. My biggest recent distraction was the relaunch of the League of Reluctant Adults site and new forum. Now that it's off and running, I'm able to breathe.

Amber - What is next? Another Amanda book? Any other projects you are working on?

Mark - I'm working on two projects at once (which isn't good for me), the third Amanda book, Battle of the Network Zombies, and the first in a new series about an incubus with an erectile dysfunction, which had better be good (I've been working on it long enough). After those are off to my agent and editor, I'm going to try my hand at a YA book (actually a mash up of a middle grade idea about life in Purgatory and my goth Nancy Drew, Velvet. The ideas are percolating.

Amber - What music, TV series or films do you like and do they influence your work?

Mark - I'm loving 80s throwbacks like The Presets and Cut Copy, anything electro. I also dig some of the neo-soul coming out of London and my old stand by is old-school goth and punk. Obviously the music flavors the work as some of the scenes have their own soundtracks, but oddly enough, I don't write well with music playing. I love movies, pretty much any genre except for the standard hollywood comedies. They grate on my nerves like nothing else. Give me a dark comedy any day, over Mall Cop or the latest Scary Movie sequel. God they're the opposite of funny. John Waters has been a huge inspiration, particularly the early stuff (Female Trouble, Pink Flamingos--watch Mink Stole's performances and tell me you don't hear Amanda a bit). My favorite show just got cancelled, Pushing Daisies. I loved the magical realism. Now I'm back on the reality shows like a crackhead.

Amber - If zombies are out there and you get infected. Should we shoot you in the head and put you out of your misery or are you happy to go around eating brains?

Mark - Absolutely let me loose to chew through some humanity, I can spot an asshole from a mile away. Won't we all be happier with less of those around?

Amber - You are stuck on a desert island. What 5 things do you hope to have with you?

Mark - Hmm. Five things. My wife, my dogs, a breezy bungalow, a personal chef (if we run out of food, I'll just eat the chef) and a loaded eBook reader (I don't have one now, but I figure it'd be as good a time as any to make the change).

Amber - Thank you for the interview Mark! Keep up the great work!

Check out my reviews of Mark's books -

Happy Hour of the Damned

Road Trip of the Living Dead






----------------


Contest Time!

So Mark says to me -

And let's do a giveaway. Get people started on the series with a signed Happy Hour of the Damned, eh?


I am sure you are all happy with that offer??

To enter the giveaway all you have to do is comment here telling us about your favourite zombies. It could be a film, book or comic but let us know what you think about the undead who love to eat brains!

No Zombies = no entry!

Earn another entry for each place you link this contest on the net. Make sure you add links here for me to confirm your entries!

The contest will stay open until Sunday March 8th 2009 4pm CET and the winner will be picked by a randomizer. Entrants should check back to see if they have won. I do not hunt down winners and will pick new winners for any prizes not claimed within 7 days.

If you are claiming a prize, have emailed me and have not heard back before the 7 day limit is up then post a comment here on the blog. Your email may get sucked into my spam filter.

Enjoy!

Labels: , ,

 
posted by Unknown at Sunday, March 01, 2009 |


88 Comments:


At 1 March 2009 at 09:42, Blogger StyleVamp

My favorite zombie...hmm would be from the movie 28 days later (talk about scary)

within a matter of seconds you're infected and turned into a walking meat eating zombie...

 

At 1 March 2009 at 11:13, Blogger Unknown

It'd have to be Billy Butcherson frmo Hocus Pocus. He wasn't much for flesh but had plenty of sass towards his witchy patrons.

 

At 1 March 2009 at 14:23, Anonymous Anonymous

My favorite zombies are from Shaun of the Dead. That movie was hilarious.

Valorie
morbidromantic@gmail.com

 

At 1 March 2009 at 15:51, Blogger Liviania

My favorite zombies are the ones in VERSUS dir. Ryuhei Kitamura.

 

At 1 March 2009 at 16:08, Blogger Nancy

Zombies have never been my thing, so I won't enter the contest. Besides, I already have Mark's first book, and will be getting the second - just bec. the guy is a stitch!

Mark , you rock!

Amber, thanks for the interivew!

Light,
Nancy Haddock
La Vida Vampire
Last Vampire Standing

 

At 1 March 2009 at 16:19, Blogger Daelith

I'd have to say it's a toss up with the zombies from Shaun of the Dead and the ones in the Resident Evil movies.

 

At 1 March 2009 at 16:50, Blogger Patricia Altner

I have to agree with Valerie. Shaun of the Dead is my idea of a good zombie movie. Very funny!

 

At 1 March 2009 at 18:38, Anonymous Anonymous

Zombies? Oh, Night of the Living Dead definitely. It's so bad, it's good. Sign me up for the giveaway please. Thanks!

tiffanyak1986(at)hotmail(dot)com

 

At 1 March 2009 at 18:46, Blogger Unknown

I'm ecstatic about this offer!! Ooh favorite zombie movie... Well I can't pick just one but I'd have to say The Resident Evil movies. I think zombies are scary. One of the worst ways I can think of to die is being eaten. Ew! But they fascinate me at the same time.

 

At 1 March 2009 at 19:18, Blogger Caitlin Hoy

My favorite zombies are the zombie dogs in Resident Evil: Apocalypse.

Caitlin
ckh988@aol.com

 

At 1 March 2009 at 20:43, Blogger Jeanette J

My favorite zombies are the ones in Night of the Living Dead..the original.

 

At 2 March 2009 at 05:38, Blogger alanajoli

I actually had only feelings of distaste toward zombies until Amanda and Wendy showed up on the scene. So Supernatural Seattle wins my vote. :)

I also mentioned the contest here at my blog.

 

At 2 March 2009 at 06:24, Blogger kaisquared

Has to be Shaun of the Dead...... before that, zombies freaked me out to much in Night of the Living Dead, etc.

 

At 2 March 2009 at 07:33, Blogger Chris J.

Hi Amber & Mark!

I loved the interview and the series sounds like a Must Read!!

As to fave Zombie movie, that would have to be: SHAUN of the DEAD! I had to buy it even and the kids loved it! :)
Do you watch FearNet on cable? Well this past staurday we watched it and there was this episode called "NEW YEARS DAY" done by the director of Saw movies and it was a Zombie flick. It was pretty good!
Also have seen all the Night of the Living Dead and so on ones.

Thanks for the interview, the fun question and all the info on your books!

Here's what I've done to try and win:
(1) Commented and said what my fave Zombie movie is.
(2)Posted the contest and all on my myspace blog here:
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll
(3) Emailed my friends on Yahoo with all the info as well and cc you with it.

Thanks Amber for the Contest and all the cool stuff you do for us readers!

 

At 2 March 2009 at 10:44, Blogger Unknown

LOL w/Caitlin
Whenever I'd play, I'd inevitably growl "I hate guard dogs!" ... but you're right, they really rock.

Yeah, I'm 100% a Resident Evil (video game) zombie fan. Err... right up 'til #4.
If Milla Jovovich's character, Alice, in the movies is a T-Virus carrier, does that make her a zombie, too? 'cause, yeah. That'd make her my favourite, all right ;-)

Amber, I put this on my blog, too: http://gategypsy.livejournal.com/73271.html

Raine <3 Zombies and Seattle! I can't wait to read this book ('cause if I don't win it, I'm totally still gunna buy it!)

 

At 2 March 2009 at 10:52, Anonymous Anonymous

Any Zombies from the Night of the Living Dead will work for me! I live for this kind of stuff!



texas_heartland84[at]yahoo[dot]com

 

At 2 March 2009 at 11:39, Blogger Unknown

Shaun of the dead.

 

At 2 March 2009 at 11:50, Blogger Denise S.

I'd say Night of the Living Dead.

 

At 2 March 2009 at 12:27, Blogger Michelle Olsen Sasak

The zombies from the movie 28 Days Later were awesome because they could run super fast and tear people up, which was a lot more exciting than the lumbering slow zombies in most movies.

Bookwise, the zombies in Brian Keene's The Rising and City of the Dead. Not only are there zombie animals (like zombie birds pecking eyes out, zombie dogs and cats attacking their owners), but the human zombies can drive cars, fire rockets, and plan traps. It's very cool.

Thanks for the chance to win!

 

At 2 March 2009 at 12:44, Blogger agordon10

I'm a huge fan of The Walking Dead comic book.

 

At 2 March 2009 at 13:01, Blogger mverno

the living dead is a blast how are you going to kill them

 

At 2 March 2009 at 13:02, Blogger mindy

i like the ones in resident evil thanks for the giveaway

 

At 2 March 2009 at 14:05, Blogger Miss Spoken

My favorite zombies are those from the old classic movie, Zombies. I remember watching it at a drive-in theater. I was probably 6 years old.
gkstratos@yahoo.com

 

At 2 March 2009 at 14:42, Anonymous Anonymous

Romero filmed his zombie flick about 20 minutes from where I live, but my favorite zombie movie for its camp nature was Night of the Comet in the 1980's. I have Shaun of the Dead on my shortlist, but have not seen it yet...
rmc1ra(at)aol(dot)com

 

At 2 March 2009 at 15:12, Blogger Sage Ravenwood

The zombies from 28 Days, stays with you for days after watching that film. The plausibility of that actually happening is so surreal. Thanks for the opportunity! Indigo

ravensquietscreams@gmail.com

 

At 2 March 2009 at 16:15, Blogger Annie1

Fav Zombies from Return of the Living Dead ...hands down!

Thanks

nancyrobster@gmail.com

 

At 2 March 2009 at 16:20, Blogger susan1215

My favorite zombies are from Shaun of the Dead.

s2s2(at)comcast(dot)net

 

At 2 March 2009 at 16:21, Blogger Annie1

I Tweeted your giveaway

greeeneyedwhwom (twitter name)

http://tinyurl.com/btoxek Win a Mark Henry Book (zombies y'all)


Thanks

nancyrobster@gmail.com

 

At 2 March 2009 at 16:24, Blogger Annie1

I shared this giveaway on my Facebook page.


http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=513603379&ref=profile&pub=2915120374

Thanks

nancyrobster@gmail.com

 

At 2 March 2009 at 16:45, Anonymous Anonymous

Zombies from Resident Evil Movies.

 

At 2 March 2009 at 17:48, Blogger Qwill

The zombies from Shaun of the Dead cracked me up. I loved when they were attacking them with albums and then when he kept one as a pet.

 

At 2 March 2009 at 19:22, Blogger The Merry Death

I love the gooey zombie in Return of the Living Dead.
meredycat*lycos*com

 

At 2 March 2009 at 20:47, Anonymous Anonymous

I always had an appreciation for the superpowers of the zombies in the Lucio Fulci movies. Their mere presence in an isolated area could cause beautiful Italian women to wander around barely dressed. Or perhaps the women were trying to minimize air drag while fleeing; alas, we shall never know...because they were eaten.

galeogirl at comcast dot net

 

At 3 March 2009 at 01:06, Blogger Carol EL

My zombies go all the way back to Night Of The Living Dead. jelly15301@gmail.com

 

At 3 March 2009 at 03:25, Blogger Belinda

I liked the Night of the Living Dead movies.
Thanks!
1bmore @ gmail . com

 

At 3 March 2009 at 06:56, Blogger malleycc

I like the Resident Evil movies with the zombies.

 

At 3 March 2009 at 07:00, Blogger clynsg

The zombies from Shaun of the Dead--they managed to make horror funny!

clynsg at yahoo.com

 

At 3 March 2009 at 07:10, Blogger sweetsue

I like the zombies in Stephen Kings book Cell.

 

At 3 March 2009 at 10:14, Blogger deb

My favorite would have to be from an old Night Gallery TV show about a man who falls in love with a woman he men in Hati but her father objected and said she could never leave the island so they tried to run away and then they found out she was really a zombie but she did not know it. It was very sad.
Debby
cleo@hbeark.com

 

At 3 March 2009 at 11:05, Blogger redron

Shaun of the Dead

 

At 3 March 2009 at 11:37, Blogger Sunnyvale

Night of the Living Dead zombies

 

At 3 March 2009 at 12:22, Blogger vboackle

it has to be dawn of the living dead.

 

At 3 March 2009 at 12:30, Blogger Leslie

I would have to say "Night of the Living Dead." They scared the crap out of me when I was little; saw it at a drive-in, I think. It was filmed pretty close to where we lived, but I was never brave enough to go check it out. Thanks for the giveaway. Great interview.

 

At 3 March 2009 at 14:11, Blogger Lady Roxi

Love to have this. My favorite zombies are the ones from the Thriller video.

Thanks,

darkfyre1(at)gmail(dot)com

 

At 3 March 2009 at 17:27, Blogger Deborah Wellenstein

My very favorite zombies are the gang from Night of the Living Dead, although the crowd from 28 Days Later are pretty cool, too. Thank you!

 

At 3 March 2009 at 18:49, Blogger Gabriel S-J.

I really like Shaun of the dead.

 

At 3 March 2009 at 18:58, Blogger danosor

Without a doubt "Shaun of the Dead is my fave.

 

At 3 March 2009 at 18:59, Blogger Donna

All three The Resident Evil movies, George A. Romero's Land of the Dead and definitely Shaun of the Dead!

 

At 3 March 2009 at 19:36, Blogger dwhogan

Dawn of the Dead

 

At 4 March 2009 at 11:02, Blogger iggysaysno

the shaun of the dead ones are so funny and my fav

 

At 4 March 2009 at 14:53, Blogger Nickolay

My favorite Zombies are from the Resident Evil games. The scariest video games ever. That is what really got me interested in Zombies. Resident Evil 5 3/13/09

jason@allworldautomotive.com

 

At 5 March 2009 at 08:15, Blogger Karen

From Shaun of the Dead.

ktgonyea at gmail.com

 

At 5 March 2009 at 10:25, Blogger Heather B

The Zombies from 28 days later!

 

At 5 March 2009 at 17:16, Blogger Pamela S

My favorite zombies are from "Night of the Living Dead". That movie scared the holy crap out of me!!!

 

At 6 March 2009 at 06:26, Blogger Smooshy

i like the 28 days later zombies, the fast ones are scarier!

 

At 6 March 2009 at 06:45, Anonymous Anonymous

It is kind of a toss up between Resident Evil and Dawn Of The Dead.

 

At 6 March 2009 at 12:05, Blogger Marie

I would say the zombies from Night of the Living Dead.

vmlay@artsci.wustl.edu

 

At 6 March 2009 at 19:18, Anonymous Anonymous

rob zombie is my favorite...just kidding :-) i would have to say the 28 days later zombies rival any others... thanks for the entry

 

At 7 March 2009 at 00:22, Blogger melsywsou

All of Lucio Fulci's zombies~

 

At 7 March 2009 at 08:08, Blogger ky2here

My favorite zombies are on catwalks at fashion shows all over the world.

 

At 7 March 2009 at 12:22, Blogger lezanac

I loved the zombies in shaun of the dead

 

At 7 March 2009 at 12:29, Anonymous Anonymous

Those in "28 Days Later..." and "28 Weeks Later..." were terrific!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

 

At 7 March 2009 at 12:50, Blogger Ruth Schaller

I love zombie movies!!!! I'd have to say that I loved the Zombies in Dawn of the Dead as they moved very quickly! They were more like rapid dogs than zombies, but funny none the less!

 

At 7 March 2009 at 14:09, Blogger chromiumman

definitely romero's first dead movie, scared the crap out of me

 

At 7 March 2009 at 15:19, Blogger Karrie

I love zombies that really scare me and the ones in 28 weeks Later did that

 

At 7 March 2009 at 16:00, Blogger Princess Golden Hair

I still get the chills when i watch night of the living dead. my favorite zombie though is shawn of the dead.

teechbiz at gmail dot com

 

At 7 March 2009 at 17:06, Blogger Jean F

I like cheesy South American Zombie movies, with wrestlers!

 

At 7 March 2009 at 17:19, Blogger CanAmBlond

My favorite zombies are the ones from the 28 days movies. Thanks for the cool giveaway! Looks like another great book by Mark.

 

At 7 March 2009 at 18:22, Blogger Debs Desk

Please include me in your giveaway. My favorite zombies are the ones in Night of the Living Dead.
Thanks
Debbie
Debdesk9@verizon.net

 

At 7 March 2009 at 18:58, Blogger Jamie

I guess you could consider the ones from Rainbow and the Serpent as zombies...those scared the crud out of me!

 

At 7 March 2009 at 19:17, Blogger jayne

My fav zombie movie is dawn of the dead! Scar-yyyyyyyy!

 

At 7 March 2009 at 21:00, Blogger Unknown

My favorite zombies are the kind that stay away from me.
nhertel85ATyahooDOTcom

 

At 7 March 2009 at 21:19, Blogger Alicia

Night of the Living Dead, definitely.

Thanks for the giveaway >^..^<

 

At 7 March 2009 at 21:24, Blogger Angela

"Aim for the Head", Shaun of the Dead! Great zombie flick!

 

At 7 March 2009 at 21:51, Anonymous Anonymous

Zombies are creepy and at the same time fascinating. My favorite zombies would be from Resident Evil and 28 Weeks later.

I posted about this contest on my LJ:

http://okibi-insanity.livejournal.com/5816.html

Sue
okibi_insanity[at]yahoo[dot]com

 

At 7 March 2009 at 21:59, Blogger Jinxy and Me

I liked the 28 days later zombies!

 

At 7 March 2009 at 23:00, Blogger kalea_kane

My favorite zombies are kid zombies in ANYTHING! You know you got to blow their cute little heads off, but you get totally torn by the fact that they are a kid. Eventually though, you just got to squash the little buggers! LOVE THEM!

Thanks for the giveaway!

enroutetolife(at)gmail(dot)com

 

At 8 March 2009 at 00:00, Anonymous Anonymous

Shaun of the Dead zombies were great. Who knew a movie about zombies could be that funny? Thanks!
pjgirl74 at aol dot com

 

At 8 March 2009 at 08:49, Blogger lilyk

My favorite zombies were on that episode of Moral Orel
where Orel created zombies because he was trying to be a good Christian.

 

At 8 March 2009 at 09:23, Blogger James Rasmussen

Shaun of the Dead jumps to mind...like many minds here. I'm also keen to watch Dead Set...who wouldn't be interested in Davina McCall playing herself as a zombie?

 

At 8 March 2009 at 09:23, Blogger James Rasmussen

This comment has been removed by the author.

 

At 8 March 2009 at 10:20, Blogger /\Heather/\

I have to have funny going on with my zombies. Shaun of the Dead, people. Rock 'n Roll.

 

At 8 March 2009 at 11:07, Blogger angie

This comment has been removed by the author.

 

At 8 March 2009 at 11:09, Blogger angie

The 28 Days Later zombies were cool. I also love Shaun of the Dead.

 

At 8 March 2009 at 12:59, Blogger deidracox

my favorite zombies were SHAUN OF THE DEAD, i love simon pegg!!thanks so much for the cool contest!!

 

At 8 March 2009 at 14:48, Anonymous Anonymous

I've got a couple of favs.. Night of the comet and Night of the living dead... Plus I also rally like Billy from Hocus Pocus..

 

At 8 March 2009 at 16:37, Blogger ZESTYWONDERLAND

I LOVED 28 DAYS ~SO I WOULD SAY THE ZOMBIES FROM 28 DAYS.

 

At 8 March 2009 at 16:49, Blogger Helen

Billy Butcherson from Hocus Pocus!

 






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