Monday, 13 October 2014

Book Blitz: Dead New World by Ryan Hill


Dead New World by Ryan Hill
Published by: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication date: October 13th 2014
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult, Zombies

Synopsis:
Zombies aren’t mindless anymore.
Before the world fell into chaos, the undead existed only in the imagination. Now, more of them walk the earth than living. Zombies move about freely, while humans entomb themselves inside concrete barricades to stay alive.
All that, while the leader of a powerful cult – known only as Reverend – becomes the next threat to the rebuilding United States. Believing zombies to be God’s latest creation, making humanity obsolete, he wants to give every man, woman, and child the chance to become one. With his combined army of humans and zombies, he may well get his wish.
Best friends Holt and Ambrose went up against the Reverend once. Holt lost a foot and a zombie bit Ambrose…though he survived the virus, only to become a human-zombie hybrid, reviled by the living and unwelcome among the dead. When the Reverend kidnaps the woman Holt loves, the race is on to save her from a fate worse than death.


Purchase:

"Disgusted with myself, I let go of Nancy and walked, alone and with a heavy heart, to Ambrose’s room. I could see him through the window, asleep on a twin bed.
“Push the red button to talk into the microphone,” Nancy said.
I pressed the red button on the control panel next to the door. “Hey, man, wake up.”
Ambrose slowly stirred from his sleep. “Who is it?”
“Your mother.”
“Ha.” Ambrose stood, draping bed sheets over his white scrubs. The days of being stuck in this small room seemed to have sapped his strength. He leaned against the wall, too tired to stand on his own for long. “Nice to see you on your foot.”
“Funny. I could say the same for you. I hear you got one hell of a hickey. Didn’t your mother teach you to stay away from strangers?”
“I never did mind her like I should have.”
I tried to get a good look at him, but the lack of light made it impossible. “They said most people don’t last a day after being bitten. You’ve made it four. I guess I should congratulate you.” Surviving this awful disease longer than most. What a terrible silver lining. I bet he wished the virus would get it over with and turn him.
“Yeah, lucky me.” Ambrose coughed into his bed sheets. “Maybe they’ll give me a prize, like some bacon or something.”
“What… what does it feel like?”
Ambrose shrugged. “Kind of like being sick. Had a fever at first, then some numbness over part of my body.”
“Is it getting any worse?”
“No.” Ambrose sniffed. “Some parts still feel like me, others… like these gray parts, nothing.” He pointed at his arm where the skin had turned a sickly gray. “They’re dead, I guess.”
Nancy loudly cleared her throat. “We need to get you back to your room. They patrol this place pretty regularly, especially when we have… guests.”
I nodded to her, then turned my attention back to Ambrose. “I have to go. I’m sorry. I wish it was me in there, instead of you.”
Ambrose stepped up to the window. The light from the hallway revealed his face. For the first time, I got a glimpse of what his loyalty to me cost him. I froze, unable to take a breath for a long beat. One of his eyes remained normal, but the other took on that awful redness. Patches of dead skin were all over his face. The guilt rising up seemed almost too much to bear. What kind of hell had I sent my friend to?"

AUTHOR BIO:
Growing up, Ryan Hill used to spend his time reading and writing instead of doing homework. This resulted in an obsession with becoming a writer, but also a gross incompetence in the fields of science and mathematics. A graduate of North Carolina State University, Ryan has been a film critic for over five years. He lives in Raleigh, NC, with his dog/shadow Maggie. Ryan also feels strange about referring to himself in the third person.

Author links:
 
Interview 

It seems like everybody is writing about zombies these days. What sets yours apart from the herd?

DEAD NEW WORLD is full of large action sequences, thrills readers expect from a zombie novel, and even some hand-to-hand combat between humans and zombies. DNW also has one major caveat: a select few people can survive a zombie bite. These survivors become human-zombie hybrids, capable of communicating with and controlling zombies. The book also does not feature Brad Pitt running around in a scarf.

What is the novel about?

Holt, a seventeen-year-old soldier, must save the woman he loves from a cult leader bent on turning everyone into a zombie. Born shortly after the zombie apocalypse, this hellish world is the only one Holt knows. Before it's over, he's going to learn that zombies may not be the most dangerous thing in this... dead new world. Dun-dun-dunnnn! You like how I worked the title into my answer.

Sure. It was awesome. Moving on. Would you touch a zombie on a dare?

No.

What if you were offered a dollar?

Hm... is there a chance it could bite me?

50/50.

Let me think... yeah. For a buck, I can roll with those odds. 

Were you inspired by any zombie tales when writing DEAD NEW WORLD?

Absolutely. Actually, every zombie book, movie, or television show I've come across influenced me. I love a well-told zombie tale, and I'd sometimes find myself wishing they'd stretch the limits of the genre. Some people don't like Isaac Marion's WARM BODIES, but it's certainly a unique take on the genre. For me, the biggest thing was "Why is the zombie virus, or whatever it is, 100% lethal?" I wanted to explore the possibility of someone surviving. Yes, 28 WEEKS LATER has some people who survive, but aside from an eye changing color and their fluids becoming contagious, what's different about them? Nothing. I wanted to dig deeper into that idea, while also writing a story that had epic action and fun scares.

Is there anything else you'd like to see in the genre?

Honestly? I wish they hadn't made a film adaptation of Max Brooks's WORLD WAR Z. It's by far the best zombie novel ever written (mine is a somewhat distant second), and while the film isn't bad, it's not WORLD WAR Z. That novel needs to be turned into a 13-15 episode miniseries for HBO, with each chapter being a different episode. It would be the greatest zombie story ever filmed. It can still be done too. Maybe if enough people buy DNW, I can go up to Brad Pitt and his scarf, and offer to put up the money to make it for HBO. It can happen.

No it can't.

You're right. But a guy can dream, right?

Sure. Have your dream. Is there anything else you'd like to say about DEAD NEW WORLD?

DNW is the first in a trilogy. The second novel is DARK NEW WORLD, and the finale is THE NEW WORLD. Each novel will dig deeper into this world I've created. They will also further explore the psychological and emotional impact of surviving the zombie virus. It's all quite exciting!



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