I’m happy to welcome back friend of The Phil Factor, author, tv & radio personality and zombie expert Marie Lanza! Marie is one of the few human beings in the world that I’ve allowed to write a guest post here at The Phil Factor.
I was planning to write a stellar review of Marie’s story in the anthology Under Her Black Wings: 2020 Women of Horror Anthology which features horror stories by all female authors. It’s almost Halloween, so it’s time to get in the mood with a great read. As I said, I was preparing to write a review of Under Her Black Wings and Marie’s story, The Faceless Woman, when I came across a post of hers on Instagram (where you can find her as @marie_lanza). I’ll let Marie take it away in her own words:
My hometown of Lake Charles, Louisiana has been devastated by #HurricaneLaura. The community needs help as they begin the long journey to rebuild their lives. There is no running water or electricity. Many have lost everything and so many are desperate for supplies.
For the month of September, 100% of book proceeds will go directly to individuals and families in need. We’ll be sending it in forms of gift cards, cash, clothing, food–whatever we can.
I accept Venmo and Paypal! Please DM me for details.
Donations of $10-$15 : You’ll receive paperback copy of an anthology – 25 Gates of Hell or Under Her Black Wings. Lots of greats authors in these books!
Donations of $15-$25 : You’ll receive the first 3 books of my Fractured series.
Or, if you just want to give something, please let me know. Alternatively, the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana was recommended by friends as a great group to give donations as well. I know there’s so much going on in this world, but this beautiful city needs all the help they can get.
Good books and a good cause. I can’t think of a better way to spend my money. For links and/or to DM Marie, you can find her at:
On today, Friday the 13th and just in time for Halloween, a new novella by my favorite zombie author Marie Lanza!
A group of young adults are handed a free weekend away at an old cabin in the woods. What was supposed to be a weekend of fun and relaxation quickly spirals into a fight to stay alive. As each person comes face to face with the realization of what is really lurking in these woods, will they be able to save each other before it’s too late? Or will they succumb to this nightmare and never get out?Marie is an actress and radio personality who can currently be heard on her radio show The DiRT on iHeart radio. The best move of her career however was when she wrote a Top Ten list for #ThePhilFactor. In addition to her new book she has also written several other awesomely scary, creepy novels. You can find her new novella The Strangers and all her other books HERE on Amazon.Have a great Friday! ~Phil
What? A zombie book on your blog on New Years Eve?Shouldn’t you be cracking jokes about the New Year or something? First of all, I love it when you talk to yourself about me, and second, of course there’s a zombie book on my blog if it’s written by Marie Lanza!
Just two days ago Marie released book 5, Rising, of her short story e-series The Colony. To be fair, I haven’t read everything Marie has written, but I’ve read two of her books and thoroughly enjoyed them. If you’re a fan of the AMC’s The Walking Dead you’ll love Marie’s books. Here’s her Amazon page so you can see everything she’s written and follow the story line in order. Maybe order a couple to read on your Kindle while you wait for midnight tonight… What better way to ring in the New Year than thinking about desperately fighting for our lives?
The Top Ten Things YOU Need To Survive the Zombie Apocalypse
This weeks Top Ten list is a first for The Phil Factor. I’m thrilled to have a guest Top Ten list by indie zombie author Marie Lanza. Some of you will remember Marie from her hilarious interview here back in January 2014. Since January Marie has released her first full length novel, Fractured: Outbreak Zom 813 and The Colony: Isolation which is the second installment in her Colony e-book series.
Marie Lanza
Last time Marie appeared here on The Phil Factor we had a fun interview, but this time Marie was kind enough to agree to participate in my Top Ten Tuesday with a list of the Top Ten Things YOU Need to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse. Here it is:
1. Weapons – Guns, Bullets, Knives, Swords, Machete, Shovel – It all works. Guns will always draw attention, so if you can, using your other weapons is best. Plus, it will help conserve bullets. Avoid non-lethal deterrents; pepper spray or stun guns, you’ll only hurt yourself and possibly more flavorful for the zombies!
2. Running Shoes – As much walking and running as you’ll be doing, a good pair of shoes is essential. With everything you’ll be dealing with, who wants to suffer from blisters? Those high-heeled shoes you’ve been dying to wear… ‘nuff said. Unless they’re spiked heels… put those in your weapons pile.
3. Bite proof clothing/protective gear – Leather, arm & leg guards. This will help when you’re fighting in close contact with the infected. Fashionable and practical.
4. Physical Fitness – In both The Colony e-series and my novel Fractured, my characters are strong physically. During the apocalypse, you’ll get winded from the day to day running. Zombies don’t get winded. Idea for my new workout video: 20 minute workouts for the Zombie apocalypse.
5. Technology – GPS system, Two-way Radios. In my novel Fractured these were essential for communication for Harmony and Dan to keep in touch with their families. Don’t forget batteries!
6. Food – MREs, canned food. This stuff will last forever. Leave the farm fresh salmon behind!
7. Water – Water bottles, Canteens, Camelbak, Water Purification equipment. You may be able to get away with no food, but no one can survive without water. Water bottles are key. If water sources are potentially contaminated, you don’t want to question whether or not you’re drinking to your own death. Boil anything going into the canteens, camelbaks and even the water you’re filtering through water purification equipment. But the questions remains… does even boiling it kill the virus?
8. Lighting – Flashlights, Flares, Candles, Glow Sticks and of course, lighters and matches. In a pinch a mag-light or a flare can make a good weapon!
9. Storage – Backpack, tactical belt or vest, easy to handle and easy to run with. Don’t make the mistake of duffle bags, over the shoulder or anything that’s not easily carried while you’re running. These items could also get caught on something easier than a backpack, tactical belt or vest. Leave the roller bags at home.
10. Misc Tools – Swiss Army knife, can opener, duct tape, scissors, batteries and solar chargers. Look for ‘101 uses for duct tape in a Zombie filled Wasteland’ at a bookstore near you!
Wow! It doesn’t get much better than that. Zombie survival advice from one of the world’s foremost experts! I have to say, I read Marie’s novel Fractured: Outbreak ZOM 813and I was not disappointed. I’m a Stephen King fan and I loved Marie’s novel. If you want to know what it would be like to survive day to day after a zombie apocalypse this is the book for you. In addition to enjoying Marie’s fantastic novels you can also find her on her radio show The Dirt which you can find on iHeart Radio and TradioV. By all means make sure you also follow Marie on Facebook and Twitter. Like I said though, if you like a good, no, great zombie survival story check out all Marie’s books on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback versions.
As always, if you enjoyed #ThePhilFactor and want to help your friends survive the zombie apocalypse please share by hitting the Facebook, Twitter, or re-blog buttons below.
This weeks Top Ten list is a first for The Phil Factor. I’m thrilled to have a Top Ten list by indie zombie author Marie Lanza. Some of you will remember Marie from her hilarious interview here back in January. Since January Marie has released her first full length novel, Fractured: Outbreak Zom 813 and The Colony: Isolation which is the second installment in her Colony e-book series.
Marie Lanza
Last time Marie appeared here on The Phil Factor we had a fun interview, but this time Marie was kind enough to agree to participate in my Top Ten Tuesday with a list of the Top Ten Things YOU Need to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse. Here it is:
1. Weapons – Guns, Bullets, Knives, Swords, Machete, Shovel – It all works. Guns will always draw attention, so if you can, using your other weapons is best. Plus, it will help conserve bullets. Avoid non-lethal deterrents; pepper spray or stun guns, you’ll only hurt yourself and possibly more flavorful for the zombies!
2. Running Shoes – As much walking and running as you’ll be doing, a good pair of shoes is essential. With everything you’ll be dealing with, who wants to suffer from blisters? Those high-heeled shoes you’ve been dying to wear… ‘nuff said. Unless they’re spiked heels… put those in your weapons pile.
3. Bite proof clothing/protective gear – Leather, arm & leg guards. This will help when you’re fighting in close contact with the infected. Fashionable and practical.
4. Physical Fitness – In both The Colony e-series and my novel Fractured, my characters are strong physically. During the apocalypse, you’ll get winded from the day to day running. Zombies don’t get winded. Idea for my new workout video: 20 minute workouts for the Zombie apocalypse.
5. Technology – GPS system, Two-way Radios. In my novel Fractured these were essential for communication for Harmony and Dan to keep in touch with their families. Don’t forget batteries!
6. Food – MREs, canned food. This stuff will last forever. Leave the farm fresh salmon behind!
7. Water – Water bottles, Canteens, Camelbak, Water Purification equipment. You may be able to get away with no food, but no one can survive without water. Water bottles are key. If water sources are potentially contaminated, you don’t want to question whether or not you’re drinking to your own death. Boil anything going into the canteens, camelbaks and even the water you’re filtering through water purification equipment. But the questions remains… does even boiling it kill the virus?
8. Lighting – Flashlights, Flares, Candles, Glow Sticks and of course, lighters and matches. In a pinch a mag-light or a flare can make a good weapon!
9. Storage – Backpack, tactical belt or vest, easy to handle and easy to run with. Don’t make the mistake of duffle bags, over the shoulder or anything that’s not easily carried while you’re running. These items could also get caught on something easier than a backpack, tactical belt or vest. Leave the roller bags at home.
10. Misc Tools – Swiss Army knife, can opener, duct tape, scissors, batteries and solar chargers. Look for ‘101 uses for duct tape in a Zombie filled Wasteland’ at a bookstore near you!
Wow! It doesn’t get much better than that. Zombie survival advice from one of the world’s foremost experts! I have to say, I read Marie’s novel Fractured: Outbreak ZOM 813and I was not disappointed. I’m a Stephen King fan and I loved Marie’s novel. If you want to know what it would be like to survive day to day after a zombie apocalypse this is the book for you. In addition to enjoying Marie’s fantastic novels you can also find her on her radio show The Dirt which you can find on iHeart Radio and TradioV. By all means make sure you also follow Marie on Facebook and Twitter. Like I said though, if you like a good, no, great zombie survival story check out all Marie’s books on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback versions.
As always, if you enjoyed #ThePhilFactor and want to help your friends survive the zombie apocalypse please share by hitting the Facebook, Twitter, or re-blog buttons below.
I guess I should rephrase the title. As you can see from the picture below, Marie Lanza is not a Zombie author. She is an author who writes Zombie stories. Not that I have anything against Zombies. If a Zombie who is also an author wanted to be on my blog I would happily invite him or her. Rob Zombie, if you’re reading this feel free to drop me a line. BTW, do I really need to capitalize the word Zombies? Who’s going to be offended if I don’t?
Since The Walking Dead premiered on AMC in October 2010, teenage witches and amorous vampires are all but forgotten. Zombies are everywhere. Marie Lanza published her first zombie story The Colonyin September including the short story As They Laid Me Down To Die. In addition to being an author Marie is also a radio show host and producer on The DiRTwhich can be heard on iHeartRadio, Spreaker and as a podcast on iTunes. She is also the Production Director for TradioV. If it involves media Marie is involved, but today she’s visiting The Phil Factor to talk zombies.
TPF: Hi Marie and welcome to The Phil Factor. Thank you for taking a few minutes for my readers. Let’s get right to the important questions. In the event of a zombie apocalypse, if your twin sister were to become a zombie would you shoot her or let her continue to live on as a human flesh-eating zombie?
Marie: I would do all the living a favor and shoot what’s left of her body then take her bike… it’s a really nice bike.
TPF: Would you want her to do the same for you?
Marie: I already know she would do the same for me. We’ve had plenty of conversations about it. In fact, not only do I know she would shoot me if I were turned, I’m pretty sure she would sacrifice me if it came down to one of us. In 2012 we did a Zombie Run together and she threw me in front of the Zombies. She survived that race. I died.
TPF: You were once in an episode of BRAVO’s Orange County Housewives. Which are scarier, zombies or Orange County housewives? Why?
Marie: While both are flesh eating man-eaters, Orange County Housewives are much scarier because they are completely unpredictable!!
TPF: If there were a real zombie apocalypse, 1. Are you prepared? And 2. Would you be afraid or excited?
Marie: It’s not “if”, the question is “when!” and of course I’m prepared! I’m certainly not excited about it, although I imagine Zombie-killing is great cardio.
TPF: Both of your stories in The Colony are told in the first person point of view of a strong female lead. When you’re writing are you picturing yourself as that character?
Marie: I hope I would have the strength of Emma on her journey alone in a post apocalyptic world. I like to think I would. There’s always a small part of myself within my characters. It’s a form of escapism for me. Creating new worlds and putting myself right in the middle of it is like putting a kid in a jungle gym for the first time.
In the short story, As They Laid Me Down To Die, I pulled from my sisters. I’m in a family of very strong women, my mother and three sisters are grizzly bears when it comes to their children. It’s fascinating to watch the transition of a woman when she becomes a mother. Exploring what a mother would go through when…. Well I’ll stop there so I don’t spoil the story.
TPF: You’re releasing a new book Fractured: Outbreak Zom-813 sometime in 2014. Is that a continuation of The Colony story or is it a different story line?
Marie: Fractured: Outbreak ZOM-813 is my first full-length novel and it is a stand-alone work. The Colony is an e-book series and will be continued. I’m excited to see where Emma’s journey takes her.
TPF: If my readers were to tune in to your radio show, what can they expect to hear?
Marie: Zombies and gardening. Ha ha. We talk a lot about life, everyday stuff. Zombies do come up, so does gardening. We do DVD reviews, discuss TV shows and my favorite strange news stories from around the world.
TPF: Ok, you’re locked in a room with a zombie. You don’t have a gun. If you could have only one weapon with you, what would it be? And don’t tell me you haven’t thought about this.
Marie: A machete. I sleep with it by my bed and when I travel, it travels. True story.
TPF: How do you get the machete through airport security? Is it in your checked luggage? My choice of weapon would be a baseball bat. It has longer reach.
Marie: Ha ha. Well I haven’t traveled by plane with it but by car it’s always with us…. two of them. Everyone asks me about the reach. Just a little shorter than a baseball bat. 😉
TPF: Good to know. I’ll make sure to stay on your good side if I ever meet you in person.Last question. Why do zombies always have really bad teeth? Certainly some of them had good dental hygiene just before they became infected. They’re not all British are they?
Marie: I don’t think it’s that they have really bad teeth. They’re just eating so much flesh, blood and guts that their teeth get dirty, or they may break off in fights. And really, what Zombie carries a tooth brush?
TPF: Marie, thank you for your time. If you want to check out Marie’s book you can find it available from Amazon and other e-bookstores. You can learn about her radio show The DiRT here, follow her on Twitter, and you can read more about everything Marie Lanza on her website. You can also follow Marie’s writing on Facebook. As always, if you’ve enjoyed #ThePhilFactor please hit the Facebook or Twitter share button below.
Self-proclaimed grand poobah of leisure and author of humorous suspense novels The Sneaker Tree & White Picket Prisons, the humor essay book Fifty Shades of Phil and the long running blog The Phil Factor.
thephilfactor.com
