Showing posts with label horror. Show all posts
Showing posts with label horror. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Character Interview - Trixie Collins from I, Zombie

Happy Wednesday, my wonderful peeps! Today I have a fantastic surprise for you all. I'm giving you my dream cast for I, Zombie, the movie, and a short interview with our leading lady, Trixie Collins. Grab your coffee, get situated, and let's get to it! I hope you get a kick out of today's post.

For our leading lady, Trixie, I'd like to see her played by Amber Tamblyn.




Angela Thibodeaux could be Amanda Seyfried.








Tammy Thibodeaux I'd like to see as Rachel McAdams.





Jack would be played by Chord Overstreet!





Lucy Fry would be honored with the part of Samantha.








And Henry would be Taye Diggs.




Now, on to the interview with our leading lady, Trixie!

Jo: Hello, Trixie! Thanks for joining us for an interview today.
Trixie: It's nice to be here, Jo.

Jo: I'm not sure everyone here is familiar with I, Zombie, so we're gonna start with a couple of questions about your infection. How did it happen?
Trixie: I was at this party and decided to dance with a boy named Matt. He got a little too frisky and when I pulled away, his fingernails cut me. *shakes head* Jack was so mad. When it was obvious I wasn't going to get away easily, he jumped in and punched Matt. Luckily, I was spared, but it caused Jack to get infected. It's all my fault.

Trixie Collins

Jo: You can't think like that. Jack did what he felt he had to. *puts hand on Trixie's arm* Where did your telepathic gift come from?
Trixie: *sniffles* My mom says it came from her mother, my grandmother. She was a Cherokee Indian and had some rather odd powers. I said it was a bunch of malarky one time and my mom told me about a man who cheated my grandmother in a business deal where they traded a bunch of chickens for a mule. The mule keeled over shortly after the deal was done. Two days later, the chickens were sick. He brought them back, accusin' my grandmother of poisoning them. She talked him into leavin' them (because they'd be dead soon anyway). They all survived. Healthy as they could be the next day. I don't question any of it anymore.

Jo: Wow. That's some seriously crazy stuff! So, can you hear what I'm thinking right now?
Trixie: *laughs* No. It doesn't work that way. Since the outbreak, the only one I can hear is Jack.

Jo: And is he with you all the time?
Trixie: Yeah. Sometimes, it drives me a little crazy because I can't get a moment to myself. But I never had any secrets from him so it's okay. Bathroom business is a little strange. I always wonder if he's watchin' and snickerin' at me.

Jo: I can't imagine. So what are you doing now that you've graduated and are a hero to the world?
Trixie: Easy on the hero stuff, okay? All I did was bring attention to somethin' someone else already figured out. If you recall, I found an article on the web that talked about where the disease originated from. All I did was print it out and get it to the right people. There was no guarantee we were right. But, man, I sure was relieved when we were. Back to your question, though, I'm gettin' ready to head off to college. I was accepted at LSU on a full scholarship.

Jo: Congratulations! I imagine, with your status, you could've gotten in anywhere.
Trixie: Yeah, but I wanted to stay close to home. I really love Louisiana.

Jo: Speaking of Louisiana, would you mind telling us all how to pronounce that city you guys hid in?
Trixie: I O W A?
Jo: *nods*
Trixie: Sure. It's easy! Say it like: eye oh way.

Jo: Ahhhh! Got it! Thanks for clearing that up.
Trixie: *grins* No problem. It's a common question. For anyone that's interested, I recently wrote to an advice columnist about having Jack in my head. You can see what she said if you visit her blog. If you're a fictional character, too, she may be able to give you some sage advice.

Jo: That's awesome! I appreciate you sharing that. Thanks for hanging out with us today and good luck in college!
Trixie: *bows and waves* Bye y'all!

If you want to read Trixie and Jack's story, you can pick it up on Amazon for just $3.99 here. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you had fun!

Questions for Trixie? Post them in the comments below. She'll be happy to answer.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Friday, January 10, 2014

I, Zombie Stats Thus Far

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! What a wild day it was around here yesterday, huh? We had some awesome reviews for I, Zombie to check out, a giveaway, and a free book to download! Well, today there's more! I have more reviews for the book, and some early statistics for you to feast your eyes upon. Let's get going!

First up, I'm gonna share some more reviews with you! I didn't want to overwhelm you all yesterday with a billion reviews to check out, so I'm posting the rest today. Enjoy! Be sure and click the links, go leave the reviewers some love, and download your free copy!

"Trixie and Jack don't get much time together in the beginning of the book before the infection starts to spread. Jo did a wonderful job making me feel the pain and misery of having your body fail when your mind is still thoroughly intact."
Amber Garr 4/5 Stars!  ~

"If you love good clean books then this one is for you!  If you love Zombie books, this one is for you! If you love books with a touch of romance, and a touch of action, then this one is for you!"
Ohana Day Academy 5/5 Stars!  ~ 

"Overall this was a creative read and I really enjoyed getting lost in the story. I look forward to more books by Jo Michaels. I would recommend this novel to zombie lovers and zombie sympathizers lol."
Justine on Amazon 4/5 Stars!  ~

"I enjoyed this bit of fantasy very much. These teens have a grip on reality, and a kindness for others not often seen in today's world."
sweetpea on Amazon 5/5 Stars!  ~

"This story is essentially about a small southern town whose young people are infected and the various ways everyone deals with that. It's about friendship and love, heartbreak and loss. It is truly an incredible read if you're looking for something that will make you feel."

Now for some pictures and stat updates!

As you can see, the beginning of the day had the book at #21 for YA Horror and #3,738 overall. However, by this morning, it jumped to here:

It jumped to #1 in YA Horror, #11 in Literature and Fiction Horror, and #353 overall.

I'm blown away. Not only because the book is doing so well right now; but, also because I know it's due to every single one of my fans sharing and screaming about it from the rooftops.

Thank you all SO much for helping me make the launch awesome!




Remember, it's free through Monday so keep sharing!! If you haven't picked one up, go grab it here!

Here are a few premade posts for you:

For Twitter:

Love #Zombies? Grab this #KindleFreebie today: http://bit.ly/1cYCdYi 1/9-13 Plz RT & get one #FREE. #Horror #YA

Looking 4 a #FREE #YA #Horror novel? http://bit.ly/1cYCdYi 1/9-13 only on #Kindle Please RT & get your own!

For Facebook:

If you love #zombies or #YoungAdult then you'll squeal over this free ebook - http://bit.ly/1cYCdYi

If you've read it, please be so kind as to leave a review.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Thursday, January 9, 2014

I, Zombie Release Day Fun

Happy Thursday, everyone! Today's the big day! I've sent I, Zombie out into the world for you all to consume and enjoy. Let's get this party started right. Get your clicking finger ready!

First, be sure you've entered the Goodreads giveaway for your chance to win one of four signed, printed copies of the book.

Enter here:

Second, read a couple of the fabulous reviews from my ARC reviewers! Just click the links to get to the whole review. And please leave these wonderful folks some love while you're there.

"It is a fun and beautiful story. An emotional read, with words painted to beautiful perfection. Unique and Intriguing. I loved every minute of it."
Casey L. Bond 5/5 stars!  ~

"This book rocks! You will fall in love with Trixie and several other characters. From page one, it's a constant thrill ride. But, more importantly, it's a story with heart and soul--a great read for action-seekers as well as those who want to connect with characters."
Mom in Love with Fiction 5/5 stars!  ~

"Seeing things from the infected's point of view? Different. This one pulls at the heartstrings, too - needed some tissues. I appreciate the author keeping the book fairly clean - although there were a few gory details, nothing was revolting or overdone."
Pauline Creeden The Book Ninja 5/5 stars!  ~

"Two-parts horror, one-part romance, this book is a great addition to any persons electronic book shelf."
Regan Claire 4/5 stars!  ~

"This novel was a quick and easy read that kept me turning pages –  With quirky banter between best friends, classmates hunting each other down, zombie themed chapter names, and of course a little bit of love."
Elyse Schramm Contagious Reads 4.5/5 stars!  ~

"Within the first few pages I found myself anticipating what was going to happen and anxious to get to the end so I could know the whole story."
Nichole Greene 5/5 stars!  ~ 

Last, we move on to informational type stuff; like where you can get a copy!

Title: I, Zombie
Author: Jo Michaels
Genre: YA Horror
Length (print): 262 pages
Purchase Links: Createspace $14.99 Amazon Kindle $3.99 FREE!

Synopsis:
It's the end of the world as we know it.

Trixie Collins is a normal teen making her way through high school. One night at a party, a boy comes on to her and won't take no for an answer. As she jerks her arm away, his fingernails cut into her skin.

When she finds her dog's mutilated body and realizes she's to blame, she starts to think maybe the zombie apocalypse they've been screaming about on the news isn't a hoax after all. Worse, she begins to think maybe she's one of the infected.

Now it's a fight for life as she joins together with her brethren to stop the humans intent on destroying them. Are zombies all bad, or is it just a huge misunderstanding?



What's a release day without something special to go along with it? For the next five days, you can pick up a copy of this book absolutely FREE. That's right, I said free. What are you waiting for?

My humble request is that you please leave a review after you finish the book. Easy peasy.

Thanks for popping by! And, if you'd like to share the zombie goodness with your friends, here are a few premade posts for you:

For Twitter:

Love #Zombies? Grab this #KindleFreebie today: http://bit.ly/1cYCdYi 1/9-13 Plz RT & get one #FREE. #Horror #YA

Looking 4 a #FREE #YA #Horror novel? http://bit.ly/1cYCdYi 1/9-13 only on #Kindle Please RT & get your own!

For Facebook:

If you love #zombies or #YoungAdult then you'll squeal over this free ebook - http://bit.ly/1cYCdYi

Thanks for joining me today for my release! If you've read it already, tell me your favorite part!

Don't forget to follow Trixie on Twitter while you're here. Some fun stuff coming from that account soon!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Thursday, December 5, 2013

I, Zombie Release Date and News

Happy Thursday, good people of the blogosphere! I'm running a bit late today. Yikes! Today, I'm gonna share with you some of the details about my upcoming release, I, Zombie. I know you've all been chomping at the bit to get hold of that book, so here's some news!

First off, I've settled on a cover design for the book. Isn't it pretty?


Second, I'm sharing infobits (just keep going, the really good stuff is coming in a moment).

Title: I, Zombie
Author: Jo Michaels
Genre: Young Adult Horror (recommended for 13+ because of a little gore)
Release Date: January 8, 2014
Length: ~ 51k words (subject to change)
Price: TBD
Synopsis:
It's the end of the world as we know it.

Trixie Collins is a normal teen making her way through high school. One night at a party, a boy comes on to her and won't take no for an answer. As she jerks her arm away, his fingernails cut into her skin.

When she finds her dog's mutilated body and realizes she's to blame, she starts to think maybe the zombie apocalypse they've been screaming about on the news isn't a hoax after all. Worse, she begins to think maybe she's one of the infected.

Now it's a fight for life as she joins together with her brethren to stop the humans intent on destroying them. Are zombies all bad, or is it just a huge misunderstanding?

Would you all like the updated excerpt? Yeah, I knew you would! Well, here you go:

1 – A is for Atrophy

     Bang, bang, bang!
     As the axe struck the thick wooden door, the windows of the deserted house rattled in their frames, sending curls of fear through the forms huddled inside. Unintelligible moans erupted from their mouths as they pressed together.
     Trixie sent out a thought: “Calm. Don’t let them hear us; maybe they’ll go away.”
     When the groans died down, they could hear the humans outside walking the perimeter of the structure, looking for an entry point.
     Twigs snapped.
     Leaves rustled.
     They were coming.
     Shuffling of the beings increased and a small hand found its way into Trixie’s. She knelt down near the child and put her scabby forehead to his. He seemed to understand this meant: We’ll be okay. And she felt the tension leaving his body. They stayed that way for a few minutes until a human shouted out, “Here! I found a way in!”
     Instantly Trixie was upright, willing her brethren to move from their corner, closer to the blacked-out window she intended to smash to make an exit. It was the only route they had. As one, they shuffled toward it.
     A prayer was offered up that the humans wouldn’t recognize the window for what it was and avoid it. Prior inhabitants had done a good job of making it blend with the wall.
    “I can’t get this door open!” It came from one of the female hunters.
     She sounded like she was in the basement.
     Off the kitchen, a doorknob jiggled.
     Guttural moans erupted from the group again.
     Trixie could barely make out the heads of huge nails protruding from the jamb. Those uninfected would have to have a crowbar to get that entrance open. She sent out another thought: “They can’t open it. Be quiet.” At once, the low droning stopped.
     Her group continued to move slowly.
     She hoped they could make it to her jeep. Dragging her numb right leg, she did the best she could to herd the others toward the soon-to-be exit.
     When they got to the house, they’d done what they could to fortify it against the humans giving chase. It was sheer luck the earlier inhabitants had already reinforced most of the windows, entrances, and exits. She snickered. Apparently, the threat of zombies caused people to do strange things. With speed she didn’t know her group possessed, they moved to secure the house against the certain death on their heels like the hounds of hell. Couches and La-z-boys were stacked against doors, and the fridge was used to reinforce sheets of wood nailed over large, picture windows.
     She wished she could speak; but the rot invading her skin had eroded her vocal chords. While she had a strange connection with those who were like her, allowing access to their minds, she couldn’t communicate with humans.
     This was supposed to be a rescue mission. It was an easy in and out trip. She’d received contact a few days prior from three members of a family hiding out in a barn. A team of amazing fighters had volunteered to join her to bring the family back to the camp safely.
     But, here they were, trapped in a run-down house, about to get their heads squished.
     More banging echoed through the house, eliciting gasps and shivers of terror from the group.
     It didn’t do to attack humans, and she tried to avoid it whenever possible. But if they were a threat, she felt certain her squad wouldn’t hesitate to do whatever they had to.
    “We’ll have to do it. We can’t move fast enough to run and there’s a child here.” It wasn’t speech, but she heard it like she would someone speaking out loud to her.
     Jack grabbed her hand, his voice still echoing in her mind.
     A moment passed between them and her shoulders sagged.
     There was no way to avoid it; the humans would have to be killed or assimilated.
     Jack lifted a chair and mimed throwing it through the window.
     She nodded.
     Glass exploded in a whirlwind of tiny sparkles as the momentum of the chair forced it apart. Two of her unit members guided the family of three through the opening and the ones left behind tensed for battle.

End of chapter 1.

Last, I'm sharing the giveaway that starts tonight at midnight over on Goodreads! *squeals* It's gonna run for the next month (through Jan 17th) and might be a great late Christmas gift for the reader in your life. Four printed, signed copies are up for grabs (U.S. only).


Goodreads Book Giveaway


I Zombie by Jo Michaels

I Zombie

by Jo Michaels


Giveaway ends January 17, 2014.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win


I'll be slinging the widget onto the sidebar for the duration. Good luck!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

My NaNoWriMo 2013 Survival Kit

Happy Thursday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I'm talking about NaNoWriMo and what I do to survive a month of writing when I need to crank out 50k plus words and make Thanksgiving dinner. Grab those pens and notebooks and let's get going!



If you don't know what NaNoWriMo is, what planet do you live on? Seriously, if you're an author and you haven't heard of NaNo, you need some edumacation. Click here to find out more!

Now, about that survival kit...

I have:

  • fingernail clippers (you never know when you're gonna have a hangnail)
  • a fingernail file (same reason)
  • pre-written blog posts for the month (self-explanatory)
  • dinners planned out (some frozen already) for the whole month (and groceries bought to fill the menu)
  • Hootsuite (my helping hand for all social media)
  • an iPad (so I can keep up with other commitments when I'm not writing)
  • a warning sign on the door (so people won't be knocking while I'm trying to write)
  • a blanket (for those freezing cold days)
  • an outline of my novel (hey, I want to jump right in with both feet)
  • a cover designed for my novel (why not get that out of the way now? Winner below!)
  • a plan to take every weekend and three weekdays off during the month which leaves me 18 writing days
  • my super awesome writing schedule which outlines how much time I have to dink around with other things that includes solid time slots each day to write no less than 3k words in order to meet my goal of 50k (I had 6k word days last year)
  • my family on high alert
  • a ton of amazing writing buddies

What I need now is an emergency button! When I'm stuck or overwhelmed, I need something I can push that will call for help. Haha!

Here's the winning cover design for I, Zombie (image only, text may change):


Let the insanity commence!

In case you missed the special posts from this week, check out my interview with UtopYA author Tania Penn and get on over to the Mystic~Coralie release post to enter to win copies of the awesome fifth book in the series!

Are you participating in NaNo this year? What's in your survival kit?

Add me as a buddy and let's support each other! You can find me here: Jo Michaels on NaNoWriMo

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Vote for Your Favorite Cover

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Today, I'm busting out the cover considerations for I, Zombie, my NaNoWriMo 2013 novel. I'm gonna start by giving you the synopsis, then the three cover choices, and then a poll so you can choose your favorite. I did this when I wrote The Bird for NaNo 2012 and we had a lot of fun. Just something light for this dreary, rainy Tuesday in Georgia. Enjoy!

Title: I, Zombie
Author: Jo Michaels
Genre: Horror
Length: TBD but at least 50k words!
Synopsis: It's the end of the world as we know it.

Trixie Collins is a normal teen making her way through high school. One night at a party, a boy comes on to her and won't take no for an answer. As she jerks her arm away, his fingernails cut into her skin.

When she finds her dog's mutilated body and realizes she's to blame, she starts to think maybe the zombie apocalypse they've been screaming about on the news isn't a hoax after all. Worse, she begins to think maybe she's one of the infected.

Now it's a fight for life as she joins together with her brethren to stop the humans intent on destroying them. Are zombies all bad, or is it just a huge misunderstanding?

Now for the cover choices! In order. Note: click on them to see them larger!




Now for the poll!
Which cover for I, Zombie is your favorite?
  
pollcode.com free polls 


Thanks for playing along, everyone! I'll announce the winning design next week.

If you're participating in NaNoWriMo this year, add me as a buddy by clicking here.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo