Zombified Interview with author GB Banks

GB Banks is the deadly dude behind many zombific stories. Now, he and Blaine Hislop have unleashed Zombie George Washington: The Zombie President and His Zombie Army March to Retake DC. GB took time from horrifying grateful readers to allow us to dig around in his brain...

Ang: When were you first bitten by the zombie affliction? Can you take us back to how the infection began? What’s the most difficult part about sharing this ghoulish love as an indie?

GB: Honestly, I’m not sure when I first got bitten. I have loved dark fantasy and horror most of my adult life. I mean between vampires, werewolves, and the ever-present, loveably undead zombies, how could you not love any of them?

The most difficult thing as an Indie is to come up with something fresh and original. Seems like everyone and their mama is writing zombie stories now, and getting one’s head above the writer-filled waters to be noticed is extremely hard.

 

Ang: If you had to dumb down the plot of your series so a zombie could understand, how would you explain it?

 

GB: I’d probably just say: “President. Washington. Resurrection. Army. Corruption. Murder. Pissed. Justice. War.”

 

Ang: Describe the lucky survivors who engage with the festering horde of the dead.

 

GB: This book is actually written from the zombie’s, in this case the clone-resurrected President Washington’s, perspective. As he begins to realize the true reasons he was brought back from the grave, he initiates a plan to take back the government and return it to the people. And without giving too much away, the people respond en masse.

 

Ang: What was the most important aspect when writing your non-zombie characters? Realism (losers, assholes, and cowards) or fantasy (Rambo or the guy/gal who has a Rambo hiding inside them)?

 

GB: While the story is primarily an epic action adventure told from the zombie perspective, realism was the biggest concern because in many ways the story is an allegory for so much of what’s actually going on in Washington, DC today. When President Washington learns that the government is no longer “by the people, for the people”, all hell breaks loose.

 

Ang: Does your series begin just as the zombies start building their paradise or have zombies already gotten things rocking and rotting?

 

GB: It begins with the zombies as obedient soldiers working for the humans. It’s only later on that they start rocking and rolling (or I guess in this case, shooting and eating!).

 

Ang: Zombies are people too. They come in all shapes, sizes, speeds, and smarts. What types of the walking dead inhabit your series?

GB: These zombies are resurrected clones, the dead brought back to serve as mindless ultimate warriors for nefarious purposes. So technically, “these ain’t your father’s zombies”. But they may be a whole lot deadlier!

 

Ang: Will your infection spread to more books and series? How many blood and guts offerings do you predict in your future? How soon can our zombie and human readers expect to see your next festering contribution?

 

GB: I see at least two more books, but I think it could go on farther than that if the fans really support the story. I also don’t like it when an author takes years between sequels, so I expect that we’ll see ole Zombie George shuffling off in Book II in the first half of 2014.

 

Ang: What is your favorite way to kill a zombie? Shoot ‘em, hack ‘em, poke ‘em, burn ‘em, or something even more fiendish? ***Zombie readers please turn away to avoid having your putrefied feelings eviscerated.

 

GB: Better question: Is there a bad way to kill a zombie? Okay, so maybe death by tickling would be a bit silly, but anyway that involves much violence and copious amounts of blood is fine with me.

 

Ang: Do you have a favorite cinematic zombie? Example: My co-blogger Zombie Earl is quite fond of Zombie Roger from the original Dawn of the Dead.

 

GB: You know, I was just watching the cult classic film Lifeforce last night, and I realized that although the main characters were space vampires, the infection that they spread throughout the human population actually created zombies. And for a film made in 1985, these zombies were really cool! And who doesn’t love Zombie Ed from the end of Shaun of the Dead? And having just recently seen the film Warm Bodies, R has got to be one of my new all-time favorites.

 

Ang: Who is your favorite character from The Walking Dead (comics or TV show)?

 

GB: Rick’s son, Carl, because he’s just totally badass. He’s going to be crazy as hell when he grows up after everything he’s been through, but he’s also going to be the kind of leader it’s going to take to survive in this new undead-infested world.

 

Ang: Finally, how prepared are you for the zombie apocalypse that we all know is just around the corner?

 

GB: If curling up under my bed in the fetal position and whimpering until it all goes away is considered preparedness, then bring on the “Zompocalypse” right now.

 

*****

 

Claw into Zombie George Washington at Amazon.