Julianne Snow Interview

Well it’s Friday the 13th – A day despised by some, but celebrated by others.

This is a day where horror is at its most popular, so we were left wondering how we would celebrate this momentous day. Should we post a toe-curlingly cheesy feature on the movie Friday the 13th? (like so many will probably do…) Or do we give you something new and different? Well, as you know, we’re all about giving you something new to sink your teeth into. Why should today be any different?

So, on this gruesomely delicious day, we introduce to you an amazing horror author specializing in……. ZOMBIES!

Yes it’s Julianne Snow! Here’s a bit about her;

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.

Great right? Well we’re lucky enough to have conducted an interview with this great writer and you’re lucky enough to read it!

Here we go…

What made you decide to become a writer?

I’m not sure if it was really a decision I consciously made. I had always written short stories and prose-like poems growing up, but before going away to post-secondary education it got put on the back burner. I didn’t end up coming back to it until later when a situation that arose that caused me to lose a great deal of my sight for a period of time. As a result, I spent a lot of that time in my head, rediscovering my love for creating plotlines and fleshing out characters. After that moment occurred, there really was no looking back.

You’re a published author now. How hard was it to get where you are?

The hardest part was actually writing the book. That’s a lot of words to weave together in some form of coherency! As the ideas and plotlines swarm around the sieve that controls what flows out of your fingers, it can get difficult to filter which ideas are viable for any given story. The fact of the matter is that I enjoy writing; I enjoy the sense of satisfaction I receive when I finish a chapter or a story. Once the story is completely finished, and the editing starts, there’s almost a relaxation that occurs. You have the story that you wanted to write out of your head and your soul, now it’s just polishing it to the point that it’s the best that it can be. Teaming with my publisher, Sirens Call Publications, helped me to traverse the world of publishing as well. Was it a struggle at times? Absolutely, but in the end it was a labor of love and one that I will happily do over and over again.

Tell us about your Days with the Undead series.

Days with the Undead: Book One is the first thing that I wrote after my sight came back. It’s the story of a Zombie Apocalypse which starts in Toronto, Canada and is told completely via journal entries. You get one point of view, that of Julie, a former pathologist and part-time survivalist but don’t let that fool you; the cast of characters come alive through her words. The action starts from the first second and doesn’t let up throughout – the group of survivors, made up of Julie, Max, Bob, Ben and Barbara are constantly fleeing the growing army of the Undead. The uniqueness of a singular point of view is that you really get to explore the psychological turmoil that flight and, ultimately, survival, wreak on the psyche.

What is it about zombies that you find so compelling?

I honestly believe that Zombies are the most terrifying of the supernatural creatures. They are unwavering in their desires to pursue you and your flesh. Akin to a parasite or virus, they continually seek out new hosts to assimilate. That’s pretty scary when you think about it because there isn’t much that will stop them. The only way to protect yourself is to kill as many as you can…

What has been the most difficult hurdle to overcome on your journey?

My own self-doubt. I had a discussion the other day about narcissism and how some authors deal with it. While I am guilty of being narcissistic to a degree (I did put my own writing out into the public forum), I sometimes wonder if my story is appealing enough to the fans of the genre. I have had many positive comments as well as some negative ones but in the end, I grow as a writer from each and every one of them.

When you’re not writing, what are you generally doing?

Catching up on all of the other things that I don’t do when I’m writing! Mainly just work around the house, reading, watching a little television or perhaps a movie, and my daily walk. Oh wait, I totally forgot about the day job! The kinds of activities that allow your mind to relax and that allow the stresses of the day or the passage that I’m writing to melt away.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far?

It was receiving my proof in the mail. To actually see my name on a printed book was just awesome and it totally buoyed my spirits. As an author, you write, but there are times when the road to getting your work to the masses seems endless. To get to the point where readers can read it – that’s so rewarding!

Will there be any additions to the Days with the Undead series, or will you be starting something new?

I have many plans for Days with the Undead; there is a second book currently being adapted from my online serial series along with a number of companion books. The story is still unfolding so I have a long way to go before it’s over. I do have plans to write non-Zombie genre novellas and novels as well, I just need to get them finished. It’s hard work with a full time job and my other responsibilities – not that I’m complaining, I wouldn’t change my world for anything else!

If you were to set a goal for the future, what would it be?

To reach the point where I can quit my day job and concentrate on writing full time. Isn’t that every writer’s dream at some point?

And finally, who is your favorite horror icon?

That’s a very good question – Ellen Ripley, hands down! Even though I haven’t been able to sit down and watch Alien in one complete sitting, the franchise is still one of my favorites. As a female lead, she demonstrated that given the right incentive, you can do anything you put your mind to. I think her character really opened up the door to the believability of other strong female leads in horror.

Now we know you won’t need any help falling in love with her, but since it’s Friday the 13th we wanted to give you something extra.

Curious?

Well wait no longer, here’s a snippet from her book;

“In the areas where they were not so deeply layered at the edge of the shore, we could see that some had ventured into the water. Perhaps they felt that they could walk on the water to the prey that they so viciously wanted. Instead, you could see them being tossed about in the crashing surf; the waves pelting them back toward the shore and the undertow of the current talking them back out again. It was a tumultuous jaunt from shore to cresting waves and potentially one that they would have to endure for some time.

The noise of our engine attracted some of the closer ones. They turned as if in unison to stare milky eyed in our direction. I never thought I would see the day when the Undead had a look of genuine surprise about them, but in that moment they actually looked startled to see us.

On the other hand, we were utterly stricken with horror to see them. This was a moment of truth for us…”

Caught your interest? Well here’s an extensive list of where you can purchase her book:

Purchase Links – Print:

CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/3736479

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Days-Undead-Book-Julianne-Snow/dp/1468007998/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330611569&sr=8-1

Purchase Link – Digital:

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/137213

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Days-Undead-Book-One-ebook/dp/B007F14OTA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1330471120&sr=8-2

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007F14OTA

Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B007F14OTA

Amazon FR: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B007F14OTA

Amazon ES: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B007F14OTA