Good Morning my goultastick viewers!! Today we are dipping into the other side of the night scale with zombies!! Everyone loves zombies! So what do you think? Zombies as a sexy lead? Can you picture it? A hot make-out scene with a rotting flesh corpse? Coping a feel on a sexy nipple ring, only to have it come off in your hands? Come-on!! That's funny! Well I asked my friend Julianne for her perspective since she writes some wickedly gruesome books. Stay tuned after her amazing post for a sneak peek inside her book and a chance to win your own copy!! Let it RIP Julianne!!
Today I’m honoured to be offering a guest post for Close Encounters with the Night Kind. Nikki is great and her blog is awesome – check it out for some eye candy (if you’re into that sort of thing *winks*) and wonderful interviews, guest posts and reviews. Considering the fact that I write about the Undead – the rotting, flesh consuming kind – I had to take a moment to wonder if the Zombie could take a place among the werewolves and vampires of the romance and erotica genres.
Zombies: The Romantic Lead?
It’s an interesting question. Could the zombie take over the top spot as the romantic lead in books and films? Before you make a decision, let’s consider a few specifics first.
Intellectual Attraction Can a monster that is thought to have no intelligence hold the collective heart of a nation in a romantic story? This seems like a no brainer. Zombies don’t really have the ability to think so the chance of an intellectual attraction developing between your favourite heartthrob and a Zombie is fairly slim to none. There can be no intellectual attraction where there is no intellectual stimulation. Do the Undead make you think? Yes; but what you are thinking about is not how great they look in their tattered and bloodied blue jeans. Instead, you are doing your best to escape their clutches. Interesting thought… Perhaps the Zombie can be resurrected after all as the stalker that continues their pursuit until it catches the heroine. Certainly gives it a Stockholm syndrome feel, doesn’t it? Albeit, there is a certain appeal in some circles for the quintessential airhead – mayhap the Zombie fits that particular bill a little too perfectly?
Physical Attraction Physical attraction is influenced by our personal tastes. It’s fairly safe to assume that a fresh Zombie may still retain that youthful appeal, the firm hard body, or the rippling biceps but once that flesh starts rotting away, are you sure you’re going to want to be leaning in close for a kiss? When you’re really considering the romantic lead of your dreams, you picture someone that you want; someone that you can imagine yourself cuddling up with on a rainy night without the constant fear of nibbling. There is absolutely nothing physically attractive about a shambling corpse pursuing you. Call me crazy, but that is one embrace I’d rather avoid.
Mental Attraction Mental attraction begins with affection, that feeling of connection to someone you’ve just met. During the Zombie Apocalypse, you may meet other survivors; in some cases, the chance may be slim but you never know. So you happen to meet a nice survivor that you develop an affection for – in times of stress, connection can come at you quickly and from any direction. Heck, consider the fact that you have a common enemy – that’s a huge connection. You may act on a momentary fondness while your survivor beau is living and breathing but will that soft spot still exist after death? Will your attraction sour the minute that their heart stops beating? Can you really feel affection for something that feels no affection for you, for something that only craves your flesh and not in the carnal way?
Spiritual Attraction Set aside your religious beliefs for this one – the Undead certain will. Spiritual attraction is something that runs deeper and encompasses your mind, body and soul. It seems almost silly to wonder if the Undead even have a soul – once a person dies, their soul it thought to depart to a better place. In a world full of the dying, the recently dead and the Undead, I’d like to think that is the case. And if that is the case, a Zombie is only going to have one of the three requisite pieces to form a spiritual attraction. Guess that thought is out.
There is one last thing for us to consider… Given that studies show that we tend to base our attraction to another on smell, the chance that you would choose one of the Undead is highly doubtful. The smell of decomposition certainly cannot be confused with highly potent pheromones. In the end, I cannot help but conclude that the werewolves and vampires of the world will remain firmly entrenched as the go-to supernatural creatures for romance. Keeping in mind that Zombie erotica does exist, I cannot help but think that Zombies aren’t going to be gracing the pages or screens anytime soon as the next sex symbol.
LOL!!!! That was great Julianne! I really enjoyed that piece. So lets take a look at the book and get a sneak peek inside:
It’s a journal of survival.
Five people set out to escape the Undead who have risen too close to home. Join the emotional and physical struggle as they began on the third day after the awakening of Brooks VanReit, as they are recorded from the point of view of Julie, a former pathologist and part-time survivalist.
Each entry is geared toward helping those who want to help themselves and maybe give a few that don’t a swift kick in the ass. Join our group of survivors on their journey through these Days with the Undead.
Date Released - February 29th, 2012
ISBN: 1468007998
ISBN-13: 978-1468007992
Available in print and digital formats.
Purchase Links - Print:
Purchase Link - Digital:
"We started a silly conversation today that just reminded us of how much of the world we’re going to miss. Ben posed the question, asking each of us what we were going to miss the most. Immediately Max answered with Melissa, then followed it up with fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and cold milk.
Bob was quiet for a moment and countered with seeing a long awaited movie on opening night at the theater with the never ending bag of hot buttered popcorn and ice cold Coca-Cola.
Ben piped in with long walks along the boardwalk of the Beaches on Lake Ontario’s shore while eating ice cream. After that the three of them took turns trying to one up each other. Max: cold beer. Bob: vacations. Ben: still warm pecan butter tarts from his favorite bakery. Bob: lazy Sunday mornings with the paper and a cup of coffee. Ben: the joyful, innocent play of puppies at the pet store. Max: listening to the new album from his favorite group. Ben: sleeping in, just because you can. Bob: sex.
Bob’s last answer stopped each of them for a moment. Max turned to me from the passenger seat and gave me a long, hard look. It wasn't a look that I interpreted as interest in sex; these men were my family and I trusted them implicitly.
After staring at me for a moment, he said that I hadn't offered an idea of what I will miss most. I looked at him, hating to end the moment of boyish excitement. My answer: freedom."
And a little bit about Julianne:
About the Author - Julianne Snow
It was while watching Romero's Night of the Living Dead at the tender age of 6 that solidified Julianne’s respect of the Undead. Since that day, she has been preparing herself for the (inevitable) Zombie Apocalypse. While classically trained in all of the ways to defend herself, she took up writing in order to process the desire she now covets; to bestow a second and final death upon the Undead.
As the only girl growing up in a family with four children in the Canadian countryside, Julianne needed some form of escape. Her choice was the imaginations of others which only fostered the vibrancy of her own. The horror and forensic/crime thriller genres top her list of favourites, but she can never turn down a good science fiction, fantasy or mystery read.
Julianne appears in the anthology Women of the Living Dead with a story entitled The Living Dead at Penderghast Manor. Look for her short stories in future anthologies. Days with the Undead: Book One is her first full-length book, the basis of which can be found in her popular web serial of the same name.
A BIG Thank you for joining us on CEWTNK Julianne!! I hope you'll consider coming back soon. So up for grabs is a copy of her book! Just fill out the rafflecopter! Good Luck!!a Rafflecopter giveaway
27 comments:
I don't think they will ever be a lead, unless it is with another zombie...two zombies could. There was kind of one going on in the Y.A. novel DUST. But human/zombie relationships are doomed because of the rot factor :) thanks for the chance
I'm not sure if I could see myself getting into that...I mean vampires are technically dead but at least they are not rotting. LOL
Hmmm. It's really hard to say! First, I'd say no. But if I sat and thought about it, and maybe the author did some tweaks... there are many different breeds of vampires, werewolves, shifters... all kinds of everything. So maybe there is a chance for a new breed of zombie? It would REALLY throw a wrench in my survival plan if the zombie was not rotting and capable of a mature relationship, with a hard addiction for my flesh. LOL. I'm saying no, but I'd jump at the chance to read otherwise!
A sexy lead, probably not...they are rotting corpses after all. But, I'm willing to give a book with one a try.
As I was writing this all I kept thinking was this scene...
Mister: Do you give your hand in marriage?
Only to have either the groom or bride quite literally give their hand to the other. It has certainly given me some ideas so you may see something along these lines from me in the future! I love the comedic as well as the graphic side :)
Bram from Dearly Departed is super sexy so it is possible to have one as strange as that may be lol. This was a wonderful piece!
As a sexy lead, not really picturing it, they are dead and rotting, unless somehow there is a different type of zombie that comes forth. Book does sound like an intriguing story.
I'd be interested to learn more since I've never encountered one. I hope he has a heart.
I am all for a zombie lead! Why not!
I love this post! So funny.
I'm not sure about a romantic lead whose arms might come off with a hug, or whose lips might remain on mine after he's moved away. *shudders* Plus, if your romantic lead has no brains, he at least needs brawn. No brains or brawn? Yawn.
Very interesting question that I honestly don't know how to answer. But sexy is sexy, right? I'll take him. :D LOL
Pam
Seems so unique - I have to admit I don't know how to make a zombie sexy, but it would be really interesting to find out! :)
Thanks for the giveaway,
Leanne
I'm not sure if rotting and sexy go together but I'm willing to give it a shot with this book
hmmm, I suppose I will never know until I try it, will I?
Antane
That is a very difficult question, maybe yes, if his body parts are not falling off or he doesn´t look so gross... I don´t know, but I would love to read it.
To be honest with you, I've only read one book with a zombie in it- Rusty Fischer's Ushers Inc., so I'm no expert on zombies. I'm reading Hollowland by Amanda Hocking now as well, and given all that I know of zombies, there's nothing that makes me imagine they'd make good romantic leads. However, Lia Habel's Dearly Departed seems to have garnered much attention and many fans so I'm hoping that will change my mind about zombies as romantic leads. Until then, I consider zombies to be the least romantic of all paranormal creatures.
Rafflecopter: Sarah Bibi Setar
Hmm not sure, but would be willing to give it a go. Should make for an interesting read :)
I think I'm gonna have to say no to that question! Why? Because of the smell reason that you Julianne so kindly pointed out! LOL Decomposing flesh for some reason just doesn't appeal to me that much! Thanks so much for the awesome guest post:)
I am having a hard time thinking of a zombie as a romantic lead. I mean what if something important falls off on the fella, that could really be awkward LOL Thanks for sharing the zombilicious fun today!
Love the breakdown on attractions :)
It's nice to "meet" Julianne. Her book sounds great and I wish nothing but the best for it!
I don't believe they will ever be a lead. I read one zombie book so far (2 if Pet Cemetery counts as a zombie book)out of over 700 books I've read and that was Hollowland. While I enjoyed it and do love watching anything zombie (even the corny ones). They just don't do it for readers like vampires, weres and the like. I mean really. A rotting flesh eating walking mound of flesh. Just not very appealing. Still interesting to read though.
~Ava~
dragonlady029@aol.com
Hi Julianne! "waving" I agree that I don't think zombies will ever be the love interest in a romance novel but like at least one other post on here I know in Dearly Departed Bram is a zombie. I haven't read this book yet but may have to. I used to be scared of zombies when I was a kid. I always would have nightmares where they were coming after me. Now I faced my fear and I really enjoy the novels and movies with the zombies in them. Thanks for the giveaway!
Wow, this is a busy thread! I think that points can be made on both fronts for Zombies as a sexy leading lady or man - personally, I just don't see it. I also don't see why some of Hollywood's leading men are considered sex symbols but there is no accounting for taste really. I can say however, that the last thing I want to taste is putrefying flesh! I'll leave you with just one more thought - if arms and such can come away in your hand, so can other things *winks*
Great post! Had me laughing out loud. I think the only way a zombie could end up being the sexy, romantic lead is if the whole idea of what a zombie is has to be turned on its head. Another commenter came up witht the idea of different breeds of zombioes like there are with other supernatural creatures. Why not a Master breed of zombies that have developed over time who don't have rotting flesh or pull apart limbs and such? Perhaps they have some kind of achilles heel that will revert them back into a flesh eating, mindless bags of meat and bones. I think that if someone could write it (hint..hint..hint), it could break open a whole new type of zombie book.
Thanks for the giveaway - I'd really love to win this one!
MJB
msmjb65 AT gmail DOT com
Its kinda gross
Mixed feelings but will be interesting to read and see how it goes.. gross or just awesome!
Yeah....I don't think I will ever consider them a romantic lead. It's too ingrained in me that if zombie wants me, it's because he want to eat me. So, no. Zombies as a romantic lead are a fail to me.
Hello Julianne & Nikki,
Thank you Nikki for hosting Julianne Snow on her "Days With The Undead Blog Tour - 2012, It's All About Survival..." on your Blog, Close Encounters with the Night Kind.
Thank you Julianne for taking the time out of your day to spend with Nikki's Fans today as a Guest Blogger & to let Us know about your recent release, "Days With The Undead".
I really enjoyed your post "Zombies: The Romantic Lead?". I liked how you broke down whether Zombies could take a place among Werewolves and Vampires in becoming Sex Symbols by using 4 types of Attractiveness;
Intellectual Attraction
Physical Attraction
Mental Attraction
Spiritual Attraction
I agree with you...although there is definitely growing interest in Zombies (especially with the Huge success of The Walking Dead, I know I'm a BIG Fan), I don't see falling pieces of rotting flesh & the rancid smell of Zombie a Big Turn On! LOL I'll stay with my Fantasies of Shifters & Vampires. ;)
I'd like to go on the Zombie Apocalpyse Journey (ONLY in the pages of your Book alone lol) with your Group of Survivors & Julie, former pathologist and part-time survivalist, through the "Days with the Undead".
I would very much appreciate the opportunity to be considered in your very generous giveaway. Thank You!
Take Care & Have a Great Week,
PaParanormalFan (Renee’ S.)
paranormalromancefan@yahoo.com
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