Can Music Be Used as a Weapon?

LindseyStirlingZombies

**ZOMBIE ACTIVITY ALERT**

Here at ZSC headquarters we receive volumes of information from all parts of the globe on a daily basis, alerting us to potential zombie activity. Most of the evidence coming in is suspicion rather than concrete fact, so you can imagine how exciting things got around here when we had actual film footage of zombie activity.

Now that we have the footage, we are studying it from all angles to glean what we can. At our focal point is the violin phenom, Lindsey Stirling. Is she friend? Or has she joined forces with the zombie underground? Through the actual footage it is hard to tell. At some points she appears to be able to hold off a zombie attack through music and using the violin bow like a sword to threaten the oncoming zombies. BUT she also joins their band.

Not surprisingly, the zombies are deflected from their purpose momentarily, but then remember they want to eat and a tender morsel has wandered into their midst. All of our research indicates zombies have a firm grip on their single purpose — which is to wipe out humanity one bite at a time. Watch the video yourself and tell us what you think. Is Lindsey friend or foe?

 

 

Photo credit: Devin Graham

Photo credit: Devin Graham

WHO IS LINDSEY STIRLING?

In 2010 she was voted off America’s Got Talent and a short-sighted Piers Morgan told her the world had no place for a dancing dub-step violinist. The world has disagreed. Lindsey has gone her own way since then building her fan base doing the thing she loves most, playing the violin and dancing. A true joy to watch and experience. She now travels the world to share her amazing talent with everyone.

Her fabulous YouTube station has a little bit for everyone as she mixes her original compositions with covers of theatrical, video games, and pop. Amazing performances in every one. And if you even half way like the Phantom of the Opera, check out her stunning video. Music is a powerful force and one which can be harnessed to unearth emotions in people … And apparently it can unearth zombies as well. How did Lindsey know to use music against the zombies? And why does she play and dance with creatures who want nothing more than to make her a midnight snack? More research will be required and we’re going to start with her debut album:

 

LindseyStirling

 

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Bound by Shannon Mayer

Bound is the second book of Shannon Mayer‘s Nevermore trilogy, a Zombie-ish Apocalypse novella series.

A continuation from “Sundered” that will again shock you with life in an apocalypse with twists, thrills, monsters, and, of course, an undeniable love story.

The trilogy is “I Am Legend” meets “Resident Evil.” The Nevermores are similar to the “vampires” in I Am Legend with their feral pack mentality, and the cause is because of a supposed cure-all drug, similar to the toxin inResident Evil. The Nevermores are quite zombies, in that they aren’t dead, but they will eat anything and everything.

Bound continues right where Sundered left off, where Sebastian attacks Mara along the back path behind their house. Directly after, they’re captured by an “army” squadron and taken from their farm. One of the Nevermores consistently outside the fence of their home, whom Mara named Scout, crawls up under the truck without being seen and makes it to the squadron’s compound, to Mara’s pleasant surprise. When the leader discovers she has control over Scout, mainly due to the fact that she stopped Scout from killing him, he decides to have Mara train the Nevermores.

Bound is a quick and easy read. There seemed to be a character name mix up at one point, but I could be mistaken and misjudged the relationship the author was attempting to build. It left me a little confused. Listed as paranormal romance, Bound is full of warmth and the power of love at its best, and heart wrenching at its worst.

We can only hope that in the next book, Dauntless, love truly will conquer all and Mara and Sebastian will get their happy ending.

You can find Shannon Mayer on her website: http://shannonmayer.blogspot.com/

The entire Nevermore trilogy is available at the following links:

Sundered

Bound

Dauntless

Scattered – (Scattered first appeared in Forever Nocturne e-zine under the title No Way Safe)

This review originally posted on Jinxie G‘s book review site.


Bewitching Book Tours: Wisteria by Bisi Leyton

We managed to catch up with Bisi Leyton during her busy tour with Bewitching Book Tours for the release of Wisteria and had a chance to ask her a few questions. Keep reading below the interview to find out how you can win a Kindle Fire!

Wisteria
Wisteria Series Book 1
By Bisi Leyton

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Cover Artist: Olivia Smith

Blurb: Sixteen year old Wisteria Kuti has two options—track the infected around the Isle of Smythe or leave the only known safe haven and face a world infested with flesh eating biters. But even with well-armed trackers, things go wrong and Wisteria ends up alone facing certain death, until she is rescued by the mysterious Bach. Uninfected, Bach is able to survive among the hordes of living dead.

Eighteen year old Bach, from a race known as The Family, has no interest in human affairs. He was sent here to complete his Great Walk and return home as a man—as a Sen Son. The Family regard humans as Dirt People, but Bach is drawn to this Terran girl, whom he has never seen before, but somehow knows.

Hunted by flesh eaters, cannibals, and the mysterious blood thirsty group called Red Phoenix, Wisteria and Bach make their way back to the Isle of Smythe, a community built on secrets and lies.

Interview

  1. When did you first begin writing, and what inspired you to write your first book?

    The first novel I wrote was when I was twelve and I was inspired by the Sweet Valley High Series. So I wrote some ‘interesting’ fan fiction called Beach Landers. I started writing it because I liked the SVH stories, but never liked how the stories ended and also because I only owned one book. My classmates seemed to have hundreds.

  2. What books and authors have most influenced your life?

    Roald Dahl and Jeffery Archer really got me to love reading.

  3. Tell us a little about your main character, Wisteria Kuti. Is she based on any real-life person, or entirely from your imagination?

    Both: She’s named after my niece, but a lot the bullying she goes through is from my teen years. In some ways Wisteria is who I wish I was in high school, even with all her baggage.

  4. Faced with a world infested with flesh-eating biters, what would be your go-to method of defense and why?

    Select an island with only one bridge in or out and with some farm land. On my way in, fall in love with an army Major and convince him and his company to come to my island (they’ll provide security and organise the workforce). Getting to the island blow up the bridge and trade with pirates.

  5. In this ever-changing world, it behooves us to be prepared for disaster to happen at any moment. The Zombie Survival Crew members have a “go-bag” filled with items essential for their survival should disaster strike and they must flee to survive. What are the most essential items for your go-bag and why?

    • A crowbar – good for fending of zombies and marauders and breaking into places
    • Rat trap – Because face it, we gonna need a practical source of food and I can’t kill a deer.
    • Water purifier – For obvious reason, we need clean water
    • Map of whichever country I’m and how to get to Norway – lots of island and a very small population, so hopeful won’t be dealing with a lot of infected
    • A tool kit and instructions on how to use the tool kit – because you’ll never to what I’ll to break into
    • Book on Neuro Linguistic programming – so I can brainwashing anyone I need to help me and ensure in the survivor camp people don’t (a) plot against me (b)use me for food.

  6. Having lived and worked in several countries, how do you feel that has shaped the person you are today?

    Totally, because I’ve travelled some much right from when I was a kid, I don’t feel I can write about the normal world because I don’t know what that’s like or where anything is.

  7. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in writing for a young adult audience?

    My worry is to make sure I’m not patronising my readers. I don’t really feel I should dumb down my writing. I know my readers are smart (and I’m learning they are a lot smarter than me). I also worry about the amount of violent, swearing and sex include and how to talk about it.

  8. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

    If you have an idea, start writing and find people who you can talk to about your ideas. You will be surprised how much that helps you develop your story. Also, be clear who your audience is, it helps you focus.

  9. What are you working on now? Can you tell us your latest news?

    I’m working on two things. First will be the second and third book in the Wisteria Series. I hope they will be out mid-October and Early December respectively.

    The second project is my new Young Adult Paranormal Series that I’ll launch in 2013. This will also have zombies, but will include a re-imaging of Frankenstein’s Monster.

  10. Is there anything you would like to say to your readers?

    I just want to thank them for reading the post and taking the time to check out my book. They can find out more about Wisteria on my facebook page or my blog. And of course can email me at bisileyton {a t } gmail dot com

Wisteria Book Trailer

Author Bio:

Bisi Leyton was born in East London in 1978. She grew up in London, Nigeria and the States, listening to the stories life and love from aunts, cousins and big sisters.

She lives in London, but has worked around Europe including France, Germany, Ireland, Belgium and the Czech Republic. She has a fondness for reading graphic novels.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

And now for the Tour Wide Giveaway—Kindle Fire

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Trailer from Bach’s point of view


In Brazil, Nobody is Safe!

To countdown the final week before The Walking Dead returns to AMC on February 12th, our friends over at the Brazilian TWD fan site are getting together with zombie caricature artist, Celso Ludgero (Twitter: @Celsoludgero).

Together, they think that just because someone is famous, it does not mean they will be immune to becoming a zombie during the Zombiepocalypse. We fully agree with their decree that “Nobody Is Safe.”

Stop by their website: http://www.thewalkingdead.com.br

The first victim to go under Celso’s brush is pop singer Lady Gaga. See her zombie portrait here.

 


Dead, White, & Blue and Coming for You!

Billy Tackett

We stayed in touch with Zombification Specialist Billy Tackett after our interview with him earlier this year, and now Billy is one of our Special Forces operatives. Back in February he hinted that there were some fun projects in his future, but didn’t want to jinx himself. Now we’re finally getting a sneak peek at what’s kept him up to his eyeballs in rotting flesh for the last few months.

Billy has taken his iconic Zombie Sam image and turned it on it’s head, creating Dead, White, & Blue Comics, a graphic novel centered around Zombie Sam and his Fightin’ Yanks. The artwork harkens back to older comic book styles while delivering on the grotesque and twisted humor. Hope y’all have a strong stomach for this one.

From billytackett.com, “During World War 2 Sam & His Fightin’ Yanks were a comic book sensation. Every red-blooded American kid followed their monthly adventures in Red White & Blue Comics, never knowing that their favorite Star-Spangled heroes were actually based on real live super powered beings! During the final days of the Great War something began to go terribly wrong. Sam and his partners Fannie and the Sarge began to turn into horrific, cannibalistic monsters! They were taken out of service and put into suspended animation.

Fast forward to the day after tomorrow: The evil that Sam & His Fightin’ Yanks battled decades before has returned with a vengeance! Every man, woman and child on Earth are in danger. Our only hope lies in the monsters we once called heroes…”

The creative plot and use of existing zombie pop culture references has us really looking forward to Dead, White, & Blue Comic’s release. Billy has a 14-page teaser up on his website right now. Crawl on over and get a taste of what is to come from this amazing artist.

Dead, White, & Blue Coming SOON!


Calling Authors and Artists ~ New ZSC Feature

Our guest post by Heather McCorkle proved to be such a success, that the command has decided to make it a regular feature. We have a lot of talented folks within the ranks of the Zombie Survival CrewTM and we want YOU to have a chance to show off your talents/knowledge. Soooo, got any Zombie shorts or artwork or educational articles laying around and think you’d like to share? We’d love to take a gander.

To submit your brainchild and share your work, send it to submissions@zombiesurvivalcrew.com.

All submissions will be carefully reviewed and responded to, and revisions may be requested.

And this is where I get to rattle off all of the small print stuff like: submitting your work to the Zombie Survival CrewTM provides tacit consent for the Zombie Survival CrewTM to publish and promote your work as a part of the Zombie Survival CrewTM site. No payment will be given to any person for their submission and no payment will be accepted by the Zombie Survival CrewTM to publish any individual’s work. The Zombie Survival CrewTM will not be held liable for any copyright infringements should the work submitted not be the express original work of the submitter, but the infringement will be born by the submitter. By submitting your work to the Zombie Survival CrewTM you agree that you are the owner of the copyright to the material. And if for any reason you have lied to us about the copyright ownership, the Zombie Survival CrewTM reserves the right to send a horde of zombies to your doorstep to give you your just desserts.


Billy Tackett – Zombie Artist Extraordinaire

The ZSC command met Billy Tackett Zombification SpecialistTM through his Zombie Sam pic. At the time, we didn’t know who created the wonderfully decrepit looking Sam, but we knew good Zombie art when we saw it. Since then, we had a chance to check out Billy’s site and impressed is an understatement for how we feel about his wicked talent. We interviewed Billy to learn more about him and to share him with the crew – ’cause he is someone worth getting to know.

ZSC: A lot of your artwork is centered around the undead. Would you consider yourself a zombie sympathizer?

BT: I don’t like the term “sympathizer”. I have been creating zombies and other undead creatures since the mid 70s. The oldest drawing I have is of a vampire from around ’77 or ’78 which would have put me around 7 years old so zombie sympathizer would be an understatement! I mean my career is based on these guys. I wouldn’t dare think of biting the hand that feeds me regardless of how rotten and decrepit it is. The “World’s Foremost Zombification SpecialistTM” has to be pro-zombie.

ZSC: What inspired your “Dead White & Blue” series?

BT: That’s an idea that just kind of evolved and is still evolving. I did the black & white Zombie Sam for a publication back in ’04 or ’05. A year or so later I created the color version. The response from those two pieces were pretty over-whelming so I added Fannie the Flesheater (Rosie the Riveter). And then Sgt. Rot. At some point while working on these pieces I got the idea to zombify other images and since I was already working on American icons I thought that would be a nice series. Combining my patriotism with zombies was perfect.

Keep in mind that I was doing all this four or five years ago which was way before the “zombie mash-up craze” that’s going on now. People were a little unsure how to take what I was doing at first glance. And now it has evolved to include the graphic novel which will be out later this year and possibly some other cool projects that I won’t mention because I don’t want to jinx myself.

ZSC: You’ve tackled some pretty famous faces and turned them into zombies. Who do you think made the most ideal zombie?

BT: That’s tough. I think the best ones are the most unexpected ones. My Breakfast Is Tiffany is probably the best example of that. Several people have done their own versions now so it’s pretty common but when I first did it people were taken aback a little. The imagery coupled with the title is a great combo.

ZSC: Monsters seem to have a large part in your life. Which monster do you feel you have the most in common with?

BT: When I was younger I connected with vampires but as I get older I seem to gravitate towards Frankenstein’s Monster more and more. I grew up in rural Kentucky and I was always into horror and heavy metal music. You know, with the long hair and the black t-shirts and such. So I had always been stereotyped by those that didn’t really know me as being scary. And now I find that when people find out I’m a horror artist the same stereotypes are applied. “Anyone that can imagine such bloody and scary images ain’t right in the head!” But as most of us in the horror industry know that’s not always the case.

Even with all the strangeness that goes along with my chosen career path we lead a pretty normal life. It’s probably more normal than the lives of most “normal” people! So the parallels between myself and Frankenstein’s misunderstood creation can be pretty close. Except for the torches and pitchforks…

ZSC: Who do you think will be Zombiefied next by your pencil (or brush)?

BT: Right now I’m finishing up a zombified Tyler-Davidson Fountain which is a Cincinnati landmark. I have a list that’s as long as my arm and I don’t think too far ahead but my very next piece will be Happy Days’ Fonzie. After that, who knows?

ZSC: A loved one has been made into a monster (ravenous vampire, zombie, werewolf…) would you be able to “put them down” in order to ensure they do not harm others?

BT: I’m not sure “putting them down” would be an option. What if ‘monsterism’ is the next stage in natural evolution? Do we have the right to interfere with mother nature? Wouldn’t the killing off of werewolves, vampires or zombies be akin to genocide? Or at least the extermination of a species? Conservation should be the keyword. We live in a world filled with endangered species lists. I’m not sure we can justify killing off a creature just because it wants to eat us.

ZSC: You have a wide ranger of products for your work in addition to your comic books: T-Shirt designs, logos, book and magazine layouts and design, tattoo’s, ads, web sites, signage, movie poster, murals, and photo restoration. Which is your favorite type of project to work on and why?

BT: I prefer just plain old oil painting regardless of subject matter. Everything else is a nice change but oil painting is a medium that if I’m away from it too long I start to miss it. And then I start to think about it a lot. It’s an addiction.

ZSC: In the event of a zombiepocalypse what weapon would you choose to fight off the undead?

BT: Who said anything about fighting them off?

Be sure to check out Billy’s site, although in his Bio he issues the following warning: Avoid visiting www.BillyTackett.com if you suffer from heart problems, weak stomach,fear of the dark or a shortness of a sense of humor.