by Mark Tufo
I admit for the vast majority of my adult life I was all for a massive z-poc, running and gunning. Wiping out hordes while saving the damsel in distress and all that stuff. Then something happened, well a couple of things, well shit actually a bunch. I’ll cover the main ones. I don’t consider myself an old man but definitely older. The accumulated joint stress from playing football, being a construction worker, a Marine and an avid runner have left my knees in less than stellar shape. I can run if need be but I’m going to pay for it later.
And since I have started writing about zombies I’ve truly begun to understand the horror and hardships that will come along with an apocalyptic event. Not least of which is not having a hot fucking shower, I know, I know, first world problem. But maybe we should start there. I mean where are you when you’re reading your favorite story? In bed maybe, with nice fresh sheets, you smell of Ivory soap because your skin is scrubbed clean, your teeth have a nice clean Colgate-y sheen to them. You’re safe and warm, cuddled under your blanket, a night table light on or perhaps you are reading by the light of your reading device. Maybe you haven’t quite brushed your teeth yet and you’re enjoying your after dinner treat, Ben& Jerry’s chunky monkey while you read. All splendid things indeed.
Now picture, the zombies have come, you haven’t showered in two weeks. Your teeth are coated in a thick brown slime. You haven’t slept more than a few hours at a time in any one location as you do your best to stay safe. To keep your loved ones safe.
The only food you’ve found that isn’t spoiled comes out of a can. How many times can you eat cold beans?
But Tufo I have ten guns and ten thousand rounds! I can stay in my house indefinitely! I’m like you friend, I have weapons I have ammo, but as secure as I would like to believe my house is, it has weaknesses. If a horde found this place my guess is they would be inside in a few minutes. Sure I could kill a bunch, maybe even fight our way to a car. Then what? We just lost our home base and vacated with the bare minimum, we’re on the road, adrift. I think the switch flipped for me about two years ago. Apocalypses are a blast to write, read about and to watch, other than that I’d rather eat the ice cream.
If you’re looking to find me you can start here! Thank you!
Check out Tim 3 or begin with the first book of this dark trilogy.
If you have not read the Zombie Fallout series, begin now!
Check out the United States of Apocalypse coauthored with Armand Rosamilia.
Check out Book 2 of the Dead Song Legend by Jay Wilburn.
Jay Wilburn lives with his wife and two sons in Conway, South Carolina near the Atlantic coast of the southern United States. He has a Masters Degree in education and he taught public school for sixteen years before becoming a full time writer. He is the author of many short stories including work in Best Horror of the Year volume 5, Zombies More Recent Dead, Shadows Over Mainstreet, and Truth or Dare. He is the author of the Dead Song Legend Dodecology and the music of the five song soundtrack recorded as if by the characters within the world of the novel The Sound May Suffer. He also wrote the novels Loose Ends and Time Eaters. He is one of the four authors behind the Hellmouth trilogy. He cowrote The Enemy Held Near with Armand Rosamilia. Jay Wilburn is a regular columnist with Dark Moon Digest. Follow his many dark thoughts on Twitter, Instagram, and Periscope as @AmongTheZombies, his Facebook author page, and at JayWilburn.com
Or begin the series with Book 1.
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