Guest Blogger: Karina Fabian, Author of I Left My Brains in San Francisco

Zombie problem? Call Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator--but not this weekend.

On vacation at an exterminator’s convention, she's looking to relax, have fun, and enjoy a little romance. Too bad the zombies have a different idea. When they rise from their watery graves to take over the City by the Bay, it looks like it'll be a working vacation after all.

Enjoy the thrill of re-kill with Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator.

A Day in Neeta’s Lyffe by Karina Fabian

Neeta woke up to the strains of Radioactive Sushi wailing about the glow and smacked off the alarm. Why had she set it so early?

Oh, yeah—dinner with Ted’s mom and cousins, but before that, four quarterly treatments, a new customer appraisal, and Mrs. Beechman. Doable before four, if they didn’t get a 9-1-1 zombie call, but they hadn’t had a zombie sighting in months. More likely, Mrs. Beechman would refuse to hear the doorbell again. Last time, it had taken her half an hour to get her attention. Why someone who lives alone needs to wear noise canceling headphones was beyond her.

Maybe the fates will give me a break. Neeta rose to shower.

Neeta left her house/office to find Ted already loading up her van—a squarish job with bolts and flat panels just like its Hummer predecessors but twice as badass, even painted light blue with the Lyffe-Undeath Exterminations logo splashed on the sides.

“Time’s a-wasting, boss!” he greeted her. “Mom will not accept that we’re late because we were spraying for ants, you know.” Nonetheless, he slipped his arm around her waist and kissed her cheek before they got in the van.

The quarterlies went well, but the new customer had a lot of questions and a big house. It was almost three before they got to Mrs. Beechman’s.

“You start on the outside while I try to get her to let us in,” Neeta said as they pulled up to her house.

“Uh, are you sure she’s here?”

“I double checked the schedule.” Neeta scowled as she regarded the overstuffed mailbox and the newspapers on the porch. “Tell you what: get started anyway; if she’s on vacation, we’ll call and leave a message.”

Neeta grabbed a trash bag from the back and stuffed the mail into it. She could either give it to her or hold onto it until she returned. Then, Mrs. Beechman would have to let her in.

She stuffed the newspapers into the bag, then rang the doorbell. Waited. Rang the bell. Knocked. Finally, she leaned over the porch so she could peek into the window. Yep. There she was, sitting at her desk, those annoying earphones on her head. Neeta banged the window as hard as she could without breaking it. With a daily routine of whacking dummy zombies with a chainsaw, that was plenty hard. Mrs. Beechman jerked and rose from her chair.

Neeta almost fell off the porch when she saw the decaying but mobile corpse. “Ted! We’ve got a dead one!”

She spun and jumped off the steps just as Mrs. Beechman flung open the door. Her undead hand lashed out and grabbed at the swinging bag. Short and dense, she nearly jerked Neeta off her feet.

“Maaaailll!” the zombie groaned.

Neeta release the bag with a shove in her direction and ran to her van.

By the time she and Ted had returned to the porch, suited and armed with monofilament swords, the Late Mrs. Beechman had settled cross-legged on the cement, dividing the mail while grunting, “Spam. Bills. Spam.” She came across the catalog for organic farming and pressed it to her chest. “Graaaains!”

Neeta swung. The single, thin thread of a blade sliced through her neck while the electrified field surrounding it cauterized the flesh. A neat kill, overall.

That didn’t erase the fact that they’d have to clean up, go through decontamination, and fill out the paperwork with the authorities, however. Neeta sighed. “Maybe you’d better call your mom and give her our regrets.”

“Hey, don’t worry about it,” Ted said as he snaked an arm around her. “Such is a day in the life of a zombie exterminator.”

Damnation Books: http://www.damnationbooks.com/book.php?isbn=9781615727643
Amazon: Paperback  and Kindle
More about it at http://zombiedeathextreme.com

“Are You the Next Zombie Idol” singing contest?

Damnation Books and Karina are looking for someone to sing the theme song she wrote for I Left My Brains in San Francisco. Karina has the words and the tune; but they need a singer. They are offering prizes for the best singer, the most creative audition video, and are giving one in ten entries a copy of the e-book. The details are at http://fabianspace.blogspot.com/p/are-you-next-zombie-idol.html

Winner of the 2010 INDIE for best Fantasy (Magic, Mensa and Mayhem) and a Global eBook Award for Best Horror (Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator), Karina Fabian’s writing takes quirky twists that keep her--and her fans--amused. Nuns working in space, a down-and-out Faerie dragon working off a geas from St. George, zombie exterminators—there’s always a surprise in Fabian’s worlds. Mrs. Fabian teaches writing and book marketing seminars online.

Website: http://fabianspace.com, http://dragoneyepi.net, http://zombiedeathextreme.com 
Blog: http://fabianspace.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karina.fabian
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/KarinaFabian
Google +: https://plus.google.com/103660024891826015212
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10981939-karina-fabian

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8-Oct			http://cookinwithmisshavana.blogspot.com/		guest post on how the story came to be & review
8-Oct			http://www.writersfunzone.com/blog/		Writer's Fun Zone  ILMBISF
8-Oct			tracysmorris.com		guest post--writing plot or finding time to write
9-Oct			http://virginiajennings.webs.com/apps/blog/		guest post--future tech
10-Oct			http://lincolncrisler.info		guest post
11-Oct			http://fabianspace.blogspot.com		guest post from george or kim
11-Oct			http://www.snoringscholar.com		Twitterview
11-Oct			http://www.freethewriterinside.com		interview
12-Oct			http://www.kees2create.com.au/the-other-side/		Interview
13-Oct			www.rebeccaminto.blogspot.com		Interview
14-Oct			http://www.garywolson.com/blog/		keeping zombies fresh
15-Oct			http://fabianspace.blogspot.com		Fun Facts About NLZE2
15-Oct				http://tmarquitz.com		Excerpt
16-Oct			http://www.snoringscholar.com		Interview
17-Oct			www.dennisauthor.com		info
18-Oct			http://www.snoringscholar.com		Guest Post--A catholic writes non-Catholic work
19-Oct			http://www.kees2create.com.au/the-other-side/		Guest Post-Writing Tips
20-Oct			http://michaelrwilsonfiction.wordpress.com/		Review
21-Oct			http://michaelrwilsonfiction.wordpress.com/		Interview
22-Oct			http://publottery.blogspot.com		interview
22-Oct			http://fabianspace.blogspot.com		Zombie Make-Up tutorial
23-Oct			http://potsnpens.blogspot.com/		recipe
24-Oct			http://roxannebland.com		guest post
25-Oct			http://www.snoringscholar.com		Review
25-Oct			http://www.freethewriterinside.com		guest post on zombies
25-Oct			http://susannedrazic.blogspot.com/		Neeta Interview
26-Oct			http://www.kees2create.com.au/the-other-side/		Gust Post-Marketing Tips
26-Oct			http://karencioffiwritingandmarketing.com		Building Neeta's World
27-Oct			http://www.provozombiechase.com/		LIVE signing in Provo
27-Oct			http://josephbspencer.com/blog		interview
28-Oct			http://www.suhalfwerk.blogspot.com/		Info,
29-Oct			http://fabianspace.blogspot.com		Shambling in a Winter Wonderland
30-Oct			http://beccabutcher.wordpress.com		interview
31-Oct			http://www.writersfunzone.com/blog/		review
1-Nov			http://fabianspace.blogspot.com/p/are-you-next-zombie-idol.html		Zombie Idol Contest Ends
2-Nov			http://www.kees2create.com.au/the-other-side/		Review & Giveaway

First Chapter Review: The One Percenters by John Podgursky

This is another first chapter that has been submitted to the blog directly from the author. It is listed as a psychological thriller novella and was released by Damnation Books.

BLURB: Natural selection has become unnatural. Having dealt with the vicious murder of his wife, Edward Caine takes his rightful place as a One-Percenter, eliminating those not fit for the human race. He must fight his instinct to use his role for revenge; he is after those who live on only because of money and medicine. The weak-gened are not fit to breed, and it's the job of Edward and his brethren to see that they don't. But can he finish the job before his own mind betrays him? He is an agent of the Earth. He is a One-Percenter.

COVER: Not my favorite, but definitely appropriate for the genre. The skull inside the capital O is a nice touch and speaks to the death aspect of the book. I would glance at the back cover blurb after seeing this book on the shelf to find out what it is about.

FIRST CHAPTER: Narrating this story is an unnamed male who has tied Samantha Jones to a tree in the forest. He tells the reader some details of how they came to be where they are. Carefully dropped clues provide information about him and Samantha's fate.

KEEP READING: I'm definitely intrigued. The style of this opening chapter is unique in that author John Podgursky has created a character who has a very calm, friendly manner. He reminds me of a serial killer or a person who massacres a bunch of people one day and the news reports from those who knew who claim he was such a nice, quiet guy. Though we don't know the male character's name in the first chapter, we can assume by the first person narrative that it is Edward Caine who is speaking. The reader also doesn't know his history yet, so Podgursky has quickly created a scenario where she is eager to discover why Edward has Samantha tied to a tree. Even though it is assumed no good can come out of this event, Edward admits he doesn't know what he is going to do with this young woman. His personality is one that doesn't create a sense of anger or hatred on the part of the reader, which is smart, because in psychological thrillers there is much to be gained in getting inside the main character's head and creating a sense of empathy for him.

I would continue reading The One Percenters for a bit to see how it evolves. The book blurb doesn't indicate a story I would generally be interested in, but the first chapter is well-written and has captured my attention. I might be pleasantly surprised by the rest of the book.

• Paperback: 166 pages
• Publisher: Damnation Books, LLC (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 161572012X
• ISBN-13: 978-1615720125
• SRP: $15.25
• Also available in a Kindle edition. 

The author submitted the first chapter of this novella to me via email, so I can provide my honest opinions. I received no monetary compensation for this first chapter review.

Interview with John Podgursky, Author of The One Percenters

Joining us today is John Podgursky, author of The One Percenters.

John lives in Brooklyn. He’s spent the last 15 years traveling the U.S. of A., trying to make sense of it all. He’s still confused, but sleeps well at night knowing that nobody else knows any better, and in the end
we’re just going to die anyway.

Welcome to The Book Connection, John. Can you tell us where did you grow up?

I was raised on Long Island, but I have the travel bug. At one point, I lived in 8 states in 13 years.

When did you begin writing?

I won $5 in a writing contest in first grade. I wrote about a magical zebra. It was a very inspiring moment in my life!

Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

I need my writing environment to be eerie. Nighttime by candlelight. I can't write in a cafe.

What is this book about?

Edward Caine survives his beloved wife, the seventh victim of a cunning serial killer. During the grieving process, he notes that modern medicine and distorted economics have skewed survival odds within society. Survival of the fittest has become defunct, with the weak and weak-minded allowed to pass on their genes, provided they are suitably funded. Edward is predestined to become a one-percenter, an agent of nature given the job of eliminating the weaker persons from society. He learns that his task requires the discipline to discern between the people he wishes would die and those who should. The One Percenters is reflective in nature, and challenges the social and religious differences among all of us.

What inspired you to write it?

I studied anthropology in college. I'm always considering what makes us tick, especially our base qualities, and what defines sanity and intelligence. I like to look at humans as primal creatures, and one day the story just popped.

Who is your favorite author?

I've read all of King's work, but Bill Watterson has also been a huge influence. In the writing of "Calvin & Hobbes," he injects profundity into a "simple" medium. He is, in my eyes, brilliant.

Do you have an agent or are you looking for one?

I have decided to get one for my next novel, now that I know a bit about the process.

Was the road to publication smooth sailing or a bumpy ride?

I worked on it for two weeks a year for eight years-- whenever I felt renewed for the challenge.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

You can buy it in paperback at amazon or bn.com, or as an e-book at: http://www.damnationbooks.com/book.php?isbn=9781615720132

Do you have a website and/or blog where readers can find out more?

Unfortunately I am a Luddite, but I welcome e-mail at flyinthewater@gmail.com.

What is up next for you?

I am constantly writing short stories, and now I'm toying with a new novel.

Is there anything you would like to add?

The next time you see someone in trouble, offer your help. It could be ME that's in trouble. And I'll do the same. You never know in what awful place you might find yourself tomorrow. Peace!

Thanks for spending time with us today, John. We wish you the best.

Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator by Karina Fabian Now Available!



eBook ISBN: 9781615722723

Price: $ 5.95

Genre: Horror

Sub Genre: Zombie

Novel of 84563 words

Sex rating: 1

Violence rating: 4

Edited by Kim Richards

Cover Artwork by George Silliman

Print ISBN: 9781615722730

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?



Read an excerpt:


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.




PURCHASE NOW FROM DAMNATION BOOKS OR THE KINDLE VERSION FROM AMAZON.COM!

From zombie exterminators to dragon detectives to nuns in space, Karina Fabian' universes make readers laugh, cry and think. Winner of the 2007 EPPIE Award for best sci-fi and the 2010 INDIE Award for best fantasy, she lets her characters take her where they will and is never disappointed. Karina Fabian is married to Colonel Robert Fabian. They and their four kids call home wherever the Air Force sends them. Learn more at www.fabianspace.com.