Today I have the lovely Annie Walls, author of Taking on the Dead, here with a guest post. I loved this book a lot! You can read my review Here.
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Title: Taking on the Dead
Author: Annie Walls
Published: September 20, 2012
Publisher: Self-pub
Series: The Famished Trilogy #1
Life for Kansas was perfect until the day the world changed.
She has been hiding out for four years in solitude. It’s the only way to survive. The only way not to draw the living dead. Helping a small group of people, she learns the new world might not be what she assumes. Venturing out of her refuge and comfort zone, she meets Rudy, who helps her find a greater purpose. She realizes that the world has moved on without her. Only it’s not what she expects. Her knowledge of the living dead grows and only makes her more curious as humanity continues to hang on by a thread. While on her search for answers she finds comfort in new friendships and love, but her past seems as if it will haunt her forever.
Kansas takes it upon herself to help other survivors, which would be easy if the famished were the only obstacles.
In a trilogy plot thick with twists and turns, this adult dark fantasy is emotional as much as it is horrifyingly gripping.
All is Fair in Love and… the Apocalypse?
Hey all! Annie Walls here… I’m excited to be doing a guest post for Christy and her love of books, so I’d like to thank her for having me.
One of the biggest criticisms I’ve faced since becoming an author is my addition of a romantic element in a post-apocalyptic novel featuring zombies as antagonists. Feeling the need to defend it, here’s why.
The decay of human society is one of the best things to read about in a PA story. While it’s raw and gritty, it’s really the characters and their motivations that drive the story. It’s amazing to see how they react in such situations. Would they really be reduced to just surviving like animals after living in a world of comfort? Maybe, but why would you want to survive at all if there isn’t a hope for something better to come?
That’s what The Famished Trilogy is all about. It follows a young woman who lost the most important years of her emotional and adult development to a zompoc. So what happens when she’s thrown into a thriving society headfirst? A lot of ups and downs happen. It’s her story and it doesn’t come easy, but one of the things that happen is she finds love, which ultimately changes her motivations. Even though the romance is no way a main focus, it is an element that drives it to make it more realistic.
Who would want to survive an apocalypse without someone beside them?
Not me.
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Thanks for joining us, Annie! I agree with what you said. I love zombies, have since I was a wee one. But it’s the living that the stories are really about. Are people supposed to just stop all relationships in the post-apocalyptic world or just romantic ones? Humans will always continue to have human emotions.
Controlling the Dead (book #2)
Release date TBA
Author of dark fantasy and sub-genres of horror. Voracious Reader and Googler. Lover of dark humor. Horror Buff. Zombie Apocalypse Enthusiast. Loyal Cracked follower. Pinterest Addict. Wife of adoring husband. Mother of a five year old Bruce Wayne. Cook. Maid. Kisser of boo-boos. Ultimate Time Waster. Perfect Procrastinator. Lolly Gagger. Trubie. Cake Decorator. Tea Drinker. Sculpey Sculptor. Girl Gamer. Perfectionist in the art of Facebook stalking. And now, God help me, a blogger. Oh yeah, and a twitter, twatter, tweeter. Well yeah, I’m one crafty bitch.
Great topic! It is interesting to know why the author would write about zombies and I have to agree, it would be hard trying to survive in an apocalyptic world if there wasn’t anything worse surviving for.
This sounds like a good read and I know if you loved it Christy then it is good enough for me!
I for one have to believe that even in the darkest of times we as humans would reach out to each other and if we are really lucky find love. Mira Grant did it in the Newflesh Trilogy and it rocked..why would anyone believe a romance wouldn’t happen? or couldn’t happen? Rock on Annie we love the romance!
Who would criticize Annie for putting romance in this series? Lemme at ’em, lemme at ’em! Seriously, if the world was ending or if it was being reborn, what better place for love or a need for companionship to blossom? Not only would the human spirit be crying out for hope, um…how would the human population be replenished if people didn’t start getting frisky again?
Great post! Adding a romantic element to a post-apocalyptic novel makes the story more interesting and the characters more realistic.
I love this! And I totally agree with Annie… I would definitely not want to survive without something to hope for!
I sadly have not read this (YET!), can’t wait to but man, TBR is killing me! Fabulous post Christy!
I am absolutely pro-romance in any setting, especially grim post-apocalyptic. I rarely enjoy books that are romance-free, altough it can be refreshing at times. I prefer it when the author achieves a nice ballance between the action and the relationship-y stuff.
I already have a copy so I’m not entering, but thanks for sharing, Christy!
Romance may not be the SMARTEST choice during an apocalypse (umm, babies…diapers, formula, noise…not great with zombies around), however, it’s only natural to want to feel a connection with someone especially during hard times. 🙂
I agree, I wouldn’t want to survive the Apocalypse if there wasn’t a good reason and I sure as hell wouldn’t want to do it alone. I bought this a couple of weeks ago and I am itching to read it!
great topic! I totally agree that it opens such a different and unique perspective about love and survival. Thanks for sharing!
I love how she included love in the book. That makes it more realistic to me. A world with no love/no bonds doesn’t seem worth it to me.
That’s true, I know I wouldn’t care much about living if I didn’t have anyone with me, or to live for.
I think that adding romance can be a good thing. Romance is one of the rays of sunshine that can realistically work in a PA story.
[…] Christy@ Love of Books: Guest Post & Giveaway: Taking on the Dead by Annie Walls […]
I think in times of great disaster – for example: post apocalypse – that we keep our humanity. I think that family & loved ones becomes even more important.
True that in times of disaster romance might not be the first thing on our minds but I do think in an apocalypse we will want companionship to help make us feel better! LOL
Love that romance is included! If you had someone to care about and someone to care about you in a PA situation, things would not look so bleak. Thank you for the giveaway!
Although I can usually pass on romance in books, I do agree with the author, that eventually, you would want someone beside you. As long as the romance is well done, I don’t mind seeing it, no matter what the genre.
I thought it was right on.. its all about human emotions.
I agree romance and hope are essential elements when writing about a grim post-apocalyptic future. The darker the surroundings, the more the characters need some ray of hope to keep them struggling to survive. Romance leads to hope and love. And love is something worth fighting for.
Definitely adding Controlling the Dead to my list. Thanks for the giveaway!
I agree that there should be some element of romance and / or the building of trust and love between characters – that is the point of living, why fight if there is no hope and love and friendship is hope 🙂
No need to defend, there’s always room for a romantic element.
[…] Guest Post & Giveaway: Taking on the Dead by Annie Walls […]
I like Annie’s topic and would agree. I love the dystopian genre the harshness of the surrounding but love and romance can still occur and readily bloom too.
I think it’s really interesting how Annie chose to incorporate romance into this zombie story. I love romance factors in any book, including apocalyptic ones so I’m completely fine with this idea. In fact, I’m really curious to see how it ties into the story and I feel like I will really enjoy it.
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