Sunday, October 23, 2011

Zombie Love at ZomBcon...a writer researches a story

The Coffin Hop Horror Blog Tour





The winner(s) are:

1. Craig Smith

Craig has won Twit Publishing's PULP Anthology Summer/Fall 2011, a Coffin Hop mug and magnet, and zombie finger puppets!

Two runners up have won Coffin Hop magnets:

Anne Michaud and April Denton! 

Thank you to everyone who entered my Coffin Hop contest! I hope you had a spookily wonderful Halloween!





Zombie love.  Eew. Gross. Yuck. Gag me with a lobo.



However creepy it may sound, I’m writing about it. At least I’m starting to write about it. I intend to submit a zombie love story to an upcoming anthology. I headed to ZomBcon in Seattle, Washington to gain inspiration for my story this past weekend.   


Here I’m having a makeup artist from Bandersnatch Studios in Seattle design a zombie scratch on my cheek. www.bandersnatchfx.com

October 21-23, 2011 was the second annual ZomBcon.  It was a weekend full of zombies, as well as many non-zombie attendees including authors, actors, special effects artists, photographers, comic book artists, directors, and publishers.


Jason, Scott, Norman Reedus of The Walking Dead,  and Drake at ZomBcon.




There were panels, a costume contest, movies, and video games. 




Renee Pinzon and Julie, bloodied but still human.

Only a few steps behind the zombies were the zombie hunters, zombie researchers, zombie survival weapon specialists and suppliers, and so much more.



There were even zombie gnomes!

I started the ZomBcon experience at a lecture by Bradley Voytek, PhD, a neuroscientist sponsored by the Zombie Research Society. I wasn’t sure if the subject of zombie love would come up but was pleasantly surprised when it did. When a certain part of the brain is stimulated, it causes a rage reaction. When tested on cats, it triggers a primal response mixed with rage I wouldn’t call love, but in fiction we can stretch that idea a bit. I won’t stretch it here.


Brad Voytek, PhD, neuroscientist, http://blog.ketyov.com/

Next we moved to Artist Alley, which was more like author and vendor alley. I picked up my frame-able Every Zombie Eats Somebody Sometime lyrics from A Book of Zombie Love Songs by Michael P. Spradlin and we hummed along to the pun on Dean Martin’s original tune while talking with authors Jonathan Maberry (http://jonathanmaberry.com/), Jason Kristopher (http://www.greygeckopress.com/2011/author-1-example/), and Abi Post (http://starkfairweather.com/).

A zombie combat seminar included two brilliant authors, an amazing Fangoria moderator, and an obnoxious actor who’s never appeared in any zombie film or show I’m aware of. I learned to wrap carpet around myself to protect from zombie bites (tip from Jonathan Maberry) and to fight, if possible with something like a piece of metal pipe, a bat, or a sword. You want to have something light enough to carry around. Guns are heavy. Plus for guns you need bullets. Those are bound to run out.  




Why sit in on a panel about combat when researching a story about zombie love? I’m thinking that zombie love won’t be entirely gentle. And it won’t necessarily involve two zombies. If there’s a non-infected human in the mix, there’s bound to be some fighting. The obnoxious actor on the panel took the idea of zombie love a step further. He seemed not to mind the idea of hooking up with a supermodel zombie. Yuck.

While not researching zombie love, I stumbled upon a great place for zombie toys, like these little finger puppets sold by Todd at Zombies & Toys (www.zombiesandtoys.com).


And these zombie cupcakes!


Did I find inspiration for my zombie love story at ZomBcon? 

Yes.


This zombie’s mother loves her.

We’ll see what happens come submission time!

As a Coffin Hop Horror Blog Tour participant, I'm offering a prize to one lucky winner. The winner will be announced November 1, 2011. 

To win zombie finger puppets (pictured above), a Coffin Hop mug, a Coffin Hop magnet, and a hard copy of Twit Publishing’s PULP! Anthology that includes my story Radon’s Daughter, all you need to do is leave a comment that includes your email address and follow my blog by no later than end of the day October 31, 2011.

Good luck!

To return to the Coffin Hop site, click here.


Thank you for stopping by and have a Happy Halloween!!!


59 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is great, Julie!
YUMMMM!!!
love it.
The photos are too much (much too much)! no, only kidding!
xx

Deborah Walker said...

Oooh those zombie. The picture where the Mum is kissing the daughter made me feel funny.

Thanks for the competition. If it's open to overseas readers I'm at

deborahjudithwalker at hotmail.com

Red Tash said...

Totally awesome Zombie post! I could not decide which pic I liked the best! Each one was better than the last. Lawn of the Dead was pretty sweet, though.

Sharon Stogner said...

I would have LOVED to have gone to this con! My teenage daughter is a big horror fan and likes to do horror make up . Thanks for the give away. I can't find a place to become a follower though...I will go looking around some more...sstogner1 at gmail dot com

Elizabeth said...

Love the website and hope Coffin Hop goes well!
egstanley@gmail.com

leesa said...

Love this site, leesa.j.k@gmail.com

A Novel is Born said...

I love those cupcakes! Yum!!

suemydliak@yahoo.com

Axel Howerton said...

Zombie love, Zombie love-love...
Wicked good. Looks like you had a hell-on-earth of a time at Zombcon.

Keep on Hoppin' on partner!

axelhow@gmail.com

Anthony Rapino said...

Awww, Zombie love stories are so nice. :-) And I want those cupcakes! Followed. You can reach me at horrorwritercontest AT gmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

All in all that looks like a wonderful time! I'm still for guns against zombies, look at how effortlessly Glenn carried an entire bag of them in the first episode of The Walking Dead!

I'd love to be entered in the contest. My hate mail address is fear.in.words@me.com

Anonymous said...

I'm an offical follower. Gotta love The Walking Dead!
flowomiles AT hotmail DOT com

SacredmOOn said...

You look like you had an awesome time! What fun and plenty of inspiration! Ty for sharing and also for the great giveaway!
DeAnna
sacredmoon1(at)gmail(dot)com

C.W. LaSart said...

That looks so cool! Makes me excited for WHC this year! Great post. C.W.LaSart@hotmail.com

J.Q. Rose said...

Hey, you have truly immersed yourself into the zombie culture. Zombie love? Who knew? So much to learn, so little time. Sounds like you had a great time. Now write that book about Zombie love!!

Erin O'Riordan said...

Zombie cupcakes shouldn't look so appealing. Haven't they been eating the brains (batter?) out of normal cupcakes?

erinoriordan (at) sbcglobal (dot) net

KCarey said...

Looks like you had a blast.

Michelle Muto said...

Now THAT'S a lot of zombie love!

Anonymous said...

I'll chime in. Looks like a great time.

As to zombie love, the television show "Fear Itself" did a rather fun version of this theme entitled "New Year's Day." You can stream it if you have Netflix.

Anyway, nice to meet you. Happy hopping.

pdail73@gmail.com

Paul D. Dail
www.pauldail.com- A horror writer's not necessarily horrific blog

Anonymous said...

I love the cupcakes....I may have to make some and decorate them all zombie-ish.

Saph
saphsbookblog at gmail dot com

Bev said...

I never knew about this event...I will have to check it out.

prbev611@sbcglobal.net

A. F. Stewart said...

Lots of undead fun!

Rae Lori said...

Ooh love the photos. I squeed when I saw Norman Reedus. :-D

I must read your zombie love story when it's available. I have to admit I've always been curious how that would be handled! :-D

Anonymous said...

Call me crazy, but those zombie cupcakes look good. ZomBcom sounds like a must-see attraction. Love all the phots and I'll be waiting to read that new story.--Lauri

Anonymous said...

Gotta love those zombie cupcakes! rachellereese at starband dot net

James Garcia Jr said...

Very cool post. I got way more zombie information than I ever wanted to know. *laughs* I especially love the lawn gnome. That was awesome! I would love to win.
rapture22@hotmail.com

-Jimmy

RL.Treadway said...

Hi Julie!
#41 here, not into zombies but stopping by to say Hallo!

Max Booth III said...

Dude, that was a shit load of zombie information. I seriously want to attend one of those. Wow. Too cool.

Any idea if there's a place on the net that sales that zombie sign? I'd love to have it.

(madd_maxxx3@yahoo.com)

Rob Smales said...

Okay, you made zombies look like a LOT of fun! And if anyone out there is paying attention, one of those "In Case Of Zombie Attack, Break Glass" baseball bat cases would work a treat for me this Christmas!
...I'm just sayin'.

(Robert.T.Smales@Gmail.com)

Carol L. said...

What a great event . I love the Every Zombie lyrics sung to Dean Martins classic hit. My daughter would love it. The cupcakes looked great. Thanks for the opportunity.
Carol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

Beth said...

Love the hands coming out of the cupcakes. Will be searching for those today. Beth

J.C. Martin said...

I'm in if this is an international giveaway!

J.C.
Coffin Hopper

Read my Coffin Hop post HERE

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for sharing your ZomBcon experience, wished I could be there.

Love the prizes!
aprilrdenton@hotmail.com

Stant Litore said...

Those are the most glorious pictures, Julie! My email addy is zombiebible@gmail.com.

So jealous of all those who went to ZomBcon... busy having a baby, so actually not that jealous after all. Still, I would be very excited to be at the next one!

Love the undead garden gnome.

- Stant Litore
Author, The Zombie Bible

Craig Smith said...

I wish events like that would happen by me!

Following your blog and my email is zoolinvale@gmail.com

typicallydia said...

I would have loved to stroll around ZombCon~ Thank you for visiting my site for Coffin Hop too!

Unknown said...

Gotta love the zombies.


earthsbooknook at gmail dot com

Tim Ward said...

So jealous you got to go to ZomBCon. Thanks so much for coming on audiotim, and starting this blog tour!
And if I don't win the coffee mug, I will go up to Calgary and wrestle Axel for it, whether or not he wins it, just because. ;)

Jennifer Mathis said...

how awesome that looks like alot of fun

meandi09@yahoo.com

Sarah said...

Zombie fingerpuppets! Brilliant!! Lizzy Ford

Jennifer S said...

Zombie love story.. it reminds me of a song I heard not too long ago, Zombie Love Song..
Thanks for the opportunity to win!

JenniferSmith.ga (at) gmail (dot) com

hopeinga said...

LOVE the zombie cupcakes. I may have to "borrow" that idea.

Thanks
Hope

hdhamrick@gmail.com

Sarah Butland said...

Wow! Looks like you had a terrific time and gained valuable insight to your next project.

Although I'm not a zombie fan I would love to win this prize pack! What an amazing contest/ giveaway, thank you!

info@sarahbutland.com

Ryoji Iwatsubo said...

I haven't seen zombi cupcakes in Japan. I wish I could try those. It looks yummy!

Jeanette J said...

I would have loved to have gone to ZomBcon...I would have had so much fun there.
GFC follower-jlindahlj

Ella said...

Hi! Wow, very cool zombie pics, I'm sure you had a blast at ZomBcon! I didn't even know that existed xD Thanks for the give away! (: I followed your blog (GFC-Ella)!

vampyreprincess109(at)gmail(dot)com

sweetheart8181 said...

I love zombies! This is an awesome idea!

sweetheart8181@yahoo.com

Nora B. Peevy said...

Hi,

Thanks for the follow on The Demon Stole My Pencil.

I am a huge zombie fan. Maberry is a great author, for anyone who hasn't read Ghost Road Blues and his other work.

Sounds like a fun Con I would love to attend. Good luck with your zombie love story. I have a zombie novella and a zombie comedy short I am working on at the moment -- with a zillion other things.

Following you back too.

Here's my email: nora at norabpeevy dot com.

I have an interview with editor Ellen Datlow, speaking of horror. Stop on by ... or hop ... LOL

-Nora
http://norabpeevy.blogspot.com/2011/10/twenty-questions-with-editor-ellen.html

miki said...

if this is an international giveaway i would like to be entered.
thanks

gfcname: isabelle frisch ( or miki)

isabelle(dot)frisch(at)gmail(dot)com

jer said...

Zombies! Happy Halloween!

Michael Montoure said...

Ahhh, man, that looks like it was all kinds of fun. Now I wish I hadn't been too lazy that weekend to go. Next year!

Hi, I'm Michael Montoure -- montoure@bloodletters.com -- and am now following, as requested. Nice to "meet" you. "The Ginger Men" was wonderfully strange and creepy, by the way, one of my faves in Vol. 1.

Raingirl said...

OMG....this site is great...Love the lawn gnome...bet them cupcakes are great too.
Happy Holloween!
and I +1
sandym1959@gmail.com

Anne Michaud said...

OMZ, I'm *so* jealous of you - we never get zombcons in Canada!!

I LOVED the blog hop, so happy to have participated, thanks so much for it:)

Happy Halloween, and don't eat too many brains, they're bad for your liver.

prettyprettyproductions(a) yahoo(dot)ca

Shadow said...

Happy Halloween! Thanks for the awesome giveaway! Great pictures!
shadowluvs2read(at)aol(dot)com

Lilly said...

Zombies in Seattle? I'll be saving the date for next year, for sure! :D It looks like you had a lot of fun. Can't wait to see what you do with zombie love. lol
crymsin.lilly@gmail.com

Holly S. said...

That looks like so much fun! Weird.
hstorm799{at}gmail{dot}com

Penelope Crowe said...

Hey!! made it in this time! Yay!! Thanks for putting this together--I loved it! Hope to do it again next year. Happy hopping!
Penelope XO

Anonymous said...

I love puppets. I love zombies!

Thank you!

Erik

balitiger at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

Very nice work

Anonymous said...

I love Zombies! I love zombie Love!!! What a great theme for a story.

Gabrielle
gabriellerynn@yahoo.com