Looking for a Singer--Is It You?

Damnation Books Seeks “Zombie Idol”

It’s not “American Idol,” but it’s all in good fun, and with zombies making a comeback, it’s a chance for zombie fans with a fair singing voice to strut—or shamble—their stuff.  Damnation Books and I are looking for someone to sing the theme song for the video trailer for I Left My Brains in San Francisco by Karina Fabian.

I Left My Brains in San Francisco is the second novel in my Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator series.  Neeta Lyffe is an exterminator with an unusual specialization—destroying zombies, the latest and most dangerous of the world’s household pests.  The first book in the series, Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator, won the 2011 Global eBooks award for horror and was an eFestival of Words runner-up. 

In the second book, Neeta takes on a hoard of zombiefied environmental terrorists targeting the Bay Area.  It's a lot of fun, with zombie sightings all around San Francisco, lots of chain-say and sword-hacking action, and an invasion in a refinery!  You'll see some old friends form Zombie Death Extreme, and meet some great new characters with a few surprises up their sleeves.  Plus--Neeta my finally find the love of her life.

But what's this about a contest?  I got silly one night and wrote the theme song using music by Kevin MacLeod on http://incompetech.com.   I can't sing it well, however, so we are looking for someone else--ans we thougth this would be more fun than hiring someone.

 The details of the contest, plus the music, lyrics, and a demo of Karina Fabian singing the song can be found at http://fabianspace.blogspot.com/p/are-you-next-zombie-idol.html.   Contestants need to create their best interpretation of the song and post it in the comments section on YouTube, or post a link in the comments section of the blog. Entries will be judged on singing quality, and the winner must produce an .mp3 or .wav file in order to receive the grand prize, including both books,  a Napalm Sticks to Zombies t-shirt and a $25 gift certificate.  One in ten entries will also receive a copy of I Left My Brains in San Francisco, and especially creative video entries may receive prizes as well.

The contest runs until November 1^st, with the winners posted by November 15. 

Learn more about the books at http://zombiedeathextreme.com.  I've updated the site with everything but bios on the ZDE-Bayou crew.

The Zombie Workout DVD

Welcome to the Zombie Workout DVD! I'm Roscoe, and I’m sure you saw me on Zombie Death Extreme. If not--where have you been? No matter. You're here now, and we're going to get your body moving, your heart pumping--and teach you a little about zombie defense while we're at it.

First, I want to congratulate you on your purchase of this video. The Zombie Syndrome is now, and it's not just in someone else's back yard. We don't know what causes some people to come back and others not to, so until we have an immunization, it's your responsibility to protect yourself. But you know that, so get off that couch--come on, up you go! Let's start with a good pat on the back.

Reach back with your arm and pat. We're so proud of you! Pat, pat…and now the other arm. You're going to feel so good when this is done--and safer, too! All right, now reach back with both hands and pat yourself on the butt. Oh--did you do that? You naughty people. We are going to have so much fun!

Let's roll those shoulders… Remember, you should never start a rigorous exercise regimen without first checking with your doctor. Moving to the wrists… If you've not exercised in a while, start easy. Now roll the ankles… If you feel any discomfort in the chest or pain anywhere in your body, slow down or stop, and see your doctor. I know the thought of a shambling hoard is a great motivation, but remember: I can't climb through the flatscreen to do CPR--much as I love mouth-to-mouth. Now shake it out. Work it!

Of course, the first line of defense against a zombie is to run screaming. Unless the zombie was an athlete in life, you can probably get away. So let's warm up with a light jog. Seven, eight… Now toss your hands up and scream! Good! Jog…and scream! Keep that pattern while we listen to a few words about zombie defense from one of my favorite people--Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator! …and scream!

Hi, I'm Neeta Lyffe, and I am a professional zombie exterminator. When the dead rise from the grave, it's my job to put them back. I'm certified and licensed to re-kill, and no one should attempt my job without proper training. However, in a pinch, there are ways you can defend yourself should you encounter a zombie.

The first thing to remember is that zombies are reanimated copses. Nothing more. Much as you want Aunt Sadie to come back to life, that is just a shell--and she wants to eat your brains, not pinch your cheeks. They are corpsicles. Animated rotting meat. And you should fear them.

Nearly all zombies have two things in common: they are attracted to meat and repelled by cleaning products. In addition, zombies have instincts ingrained by how they lived their lives. Use that. If you recognize that corpsicle as your former chain-smoking boss and you have a pack of cigarettes handy, toss them as far away from you as you can, then run.

Roscoe will have more tips for you. But remember: If you suspect a zombie is in your area, the safest thing you can do is call 911, arm yourself with Windex, and get to a safe place if you can.

…and jog and scream! Everybody march now. Wasn't Neeta divine? We're going to start with an easy basic--the 911 call. Put that imaginary phone in your back pocket. Ready? Reach and dial-9-1-1! Reach and dial 9-1-1.Now with the other hand--ambidexterity can save your life! Good! Let's up that pace! Reach and dial! Now back to the first hand. You can do it.

OK! We're warmed up and now we're taking it up a notch. It's time for some dashes. We're going to practice running to the window and throwing it open. First, let's work on the motion. We want to be sure we check the area for more zombies before we jump. Look before you leap! Still marching, right? Good! Now, reach down, look around, grab and lift! Reach down, look around, grab and lift! Keep it up--the corpsicles are coming! Reach down, look around, grab and lift! If you have a side-sliding window, reach sideways, but don't forget to look-see. Reach down, look around, grab and lift!

Fabulous! Now, we're going to combine these three into the window dash. When I say, "go!" toss you hands in the air and scream, make that 911 call and head to the nearest window, reach down, look around, grab and lift. But don't go jumping out just yet--we have 30 more minutes of body-building and life-saving exercises that'll tone you up your body and keep your brains safe.

Ready? GO!

By the 2040s, zombies are a part of our culture--and if you think the Zombie Workout is something, catch Neeta Lyffe as she and her partner take on an infestation in a Korean restaurant in "Wokking Dead," in The Zombie Cookbook, an anthology by Damnation Books. And be sure to look for Neeta and Roscoe, along with the rest of the cast and crew of Zombie Death Extreme, in Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator, coming December 1 from Damnation Books. If you like Karina's humor, check out all her books at www.fabianspace.com . In the meantime--reach down, look around, grab and lift!

* This is actually my sister, Regina Koske. Isn't she beautiful? And tough--definitely the Neeta Type. I'm so glad she posed for me.

Announcing the Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator Book Tour!

By the 2040s, the shambling dead have become and international problem. While governments and special interest groups vie for the most environmentally-friendly way to rid the world of zombies, a new breed of exterminator has risen: The Zombie Exterminator. When zombie exterminator Neeta Lyffe gets sued because a zombie she set afire stumbles onto a lawyer's back porch, she needs money, fast. So she agrees to train apprentice exterminators in a reality TV show that makes Survivor look like a game of tag. But that's nothing compared to having to deal with crazy directors, bickering contestants and paparazzi. Can she keep her ratings up, her bills paid and her apprentices alive and still keep her sanity?



Excerpt:
The workout room had a weights set and an elliptical in one corner, but Neeta ignored them. She needed more vigorous exercise than that if she wanted to burn off her emotional funk.

None of the plebes had done the routine she'd just set for herself. It didn't really reflect the reality of zombie movements, either. Although the crew had designed the targets to look much like actual undead, they moved too quickly, changed direction too suddenly, lunged and retreated in ways zombies couldn't imitate. They zigged and zaggged, dropped from the ceiling to zoom back up, flung themselves from the ground to trip the unwary. For once, this wasn't about training.

Neeta steeled herself, found an opening and dove in with a roar. She swung high, tagging the first zombie with the edge of her blade just as it got within her reach.

This was about reflexes,

She jumped over the arm that sprung up in front of her, doing the splits as she brought down her chainsaw to slice the hand off at the wrist.

…about burning aggression,

She spun a full circle, moving the saw in a sine wave. She took one target out at the knees, sliced another sideways across the chest, beheaded a third.

…about moving beyond thought and planning and negotiations with writers and directors and people who cared more for ratings than lives,

She lunged, spun, kicked and swung, her battle cries a perfect accompaniment to the pounding music.

A buzzer sounded, and the lights brightened and steadied. The targets stopped their frenetic motions and presented themselves for her to examine. She dropped the saw where she stood and braced her hands against her knees to catch her breath. Her arms felt like lead. A good feeling. She moved among the grimacing targets, noting the strikes that would have severed limbs, the ones that would have beheaded... When she came to the long-haired one with the pot belly, she gave a feral grin.

She's landed the blade in perfect position to slice Dave's manic smile right off his face.

Want more fun? Check out the Zombie Death Extreme show website!

Check out the Tour!

17-Oct		www.fabianspace.com		info
17-Oct		http://jaletaclegg.blogspot.com		Interview for Frightliner & Neeta Lyffe
18-Oct		http://rryalsrussell.com/blog/		Try a New Format
18-Oct		http://rosalieskinner.blogspot.com/		Why I wrote a Zombie Book when I Don’t Like Zombies
19-Oct		http://naomi-jay.livejournal.com/		Websites and Worldbuilding
20-Oct		http://museituppublishing.blogspot.com/		how to put on zombie make-up
21-Oct		www.snoringscholar.com		review
22-Oct		www.savvyauthors.com		Making Monsters
26-Oct		http://sallyfranklinchristie.com/wp/		interview
26-Oct		http://blog.sabolich.info		Best job in the world
29-Oct		http://timothycward.com/		podcast
30-Oct		http://shovedtothem.blogspot.com		review, guest post
31-Oct		www.fabianspace.com		What my Writing has done to My Kids

Press Release: Zombies: National Disaster, or Local Pest?

Since the CDC has issues a warning to prepare for the zombie apocalypse, I just had to issue a statement of my own. Feel free to repost on your blogs or wherever! CDC article is here: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/05/18/cdc-warns-public-prepare-zombie-apocalypse/?test=latestnews

PRESS RELEASE

Karina Fabian Kim Richards, Publisher, Damnation Books

2712W 1475N PO Box 3931

Layton, UT 84041 Santa Rose, CA 95402

801-593-0531 707-595-4738

karina@fabianspace.com kim@damnationbooks.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Zombies: National Disaster, or Local Pest?

Layton, UT: When it comes to handling the zombie apocalypse, author Karina Fabian has a little more faith in the government than its own Center for Diseases Control. While the CDC assumes an overwhelming contagion of Zombieland proportions, Fabian's book, Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator, postulates a country where private and government resources rally to tackle the problem.

"Look at how we handled H1N1. As soon as we recognized the problem, we mobilized. From public service announcements to vaccinations, we were on the problem like ugly on the undead," Fabian said.

In Fabian's zombie-infested world, thirty years in our future, zombies had gone from international threat to local pest. How? Federally mandated spine severing to prevent the reawakened brain from making the body move and private- and government-funded research institutes to not only seek a cure, but find more effective ways of battling the shambling undead. (Incidentally, "undead" becomes the official legal moniker for zombies, and the government issues professionals licenses to "re-kill.") Also in the private sector, extermination companies have found a new niche market: zombie extermination.

Of course, Fabian notes that she put in a few parameters to control the spread of zombie-ism.

"I didn't have a widespread sweeping contagion that took everyone at once," she said. "It didn't make sense to me. For the most part, diseases don't work like that, anymore, thanks to human knowledge and intervention. Also, my zombies have a few unusual characteristics that make them easier to manage. They aren't just brain sucking monsters. They have just enough brain function to retain bad habits. A smoker in life will take a pack of cigarettes over brains. TV will distract most zombies. Cleaning products repel them. It's ridiculous, I know, but so are zombies."

Fabian extends that "ridiculous" to include the world's reaction to zombies: zombie rights activists; conspiracy theorists, self-help videos ("You CAN Survive the Zombie Apocalypse!") and the reality TV show, Zombie Death Extreme. (Check out the website at http://zombiedeathextreme.com)

Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator, published in December 2010 by Damnation Books, stars Neeta Lyffe in the first season of Zombie Death Extreme as she deals with maniacal directors, bickering trainees, lawyers out for blood, and zombies out for brains. She's working on the second book, I Left my Brains in San Francisco.

Fabian said she realizes the CDC issued its release as a fun way to draw attention to disaster preparedness. "It's an important subject, especially with all the extreme weather we've been having. However, my vision of a 'zombie apocalypse' is just a bit different--and a lot more fun."

Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator, is available in print or electronic formats.

* * *

Photos, press packages, and more available upon request.

The Zombie Death Extreme Website is up!

OK, dirty little secret time: I played with some formats in Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator in part because I didn't want to write some of the background scenes. Rather than slowing down the story with a lot of background and explanation, for example, I would put up a forum announcement by a fan saying, "Whoa! Check out this article about Neeta's lawsuit! Did her really sue her for $500,000?!" or I could refer to a previous episode of Zombie Death Extreme with only the words, "Goldie's responding well to medication--right?"

But when you have an ambitious publisher with a sense of fun, shortcuts can backfire.

Kim contacted me last week withe the suggestion that we build a website and fake forum with all the reference stuff I'd put in the book. I told her I thought it would be fun, then I went back and realized just how much background stuff I had. By then, however, she'd bought the domain name, set up a strawman, created a forum, and even made a subdomain for Lyffe Undeath Exterminations.

Oh! uh, guess I'd better fill that up then. So I looked at some reality tv show sites and some exterminator business websites and created www.zombiedeathextreme.com.

The Zombie Death Extreme website is full of fun stuff. I didn't put in all the references--I can't afford to hire actors for the video blogs, and haven't gotten to the articles yet--but I do have the characters and all the episode summaries, and a little bit of fun about zombie extermination. There's a forum up, too, and I already have at least one friend willing to play crazed fans (he's multi-tasking) and post for me. Go join in the fun. www.zombiedeathextreme.com.

I'll go back and add stuff later, too. Shortcuts are nice, but sometimes, the long scenic route is fun, too!