Discover the hilarity of DOWNTON ABBEY meets zombie infestation in Lauren Baratz-Logsted’s ZOMBIE ABBEY!
Lauren Baratz-Logsted‘s new novel Zombie Abbey takes takes the era of lords, ladies, and decadence to a new extreme with one simple addition: The freaking zombie apocalypse!
The novel follows three sisters, all ladies of a wealthy estate, and their house staff (including some in-house crushes), and even the local villagers as they come together to fend off the living dead. Think of it as Downton Zombie, if you will.
Back in March, we shared an exclusive excerpt and now, we’re talking with author Lauren Baratz-Logsted about crafting the perfect zombie apocalypse to disrupt polite society (and how she would survive it!) Check it out below!
Of all the ways polite society could go sideways, why did you choose a zombie apocalypse?
Most zombie stories I’ve seen are futuristic, with the settings and costumes appropriately drab. I just figured, why not take a stylistically gorgeous Downton type of world and toss some zombies in there? In addition, zombies seems to be one of the few things you could add that would force all factions in a class-conscious society to work together in order to survive.
Why do you think the mixture of posh society and the creepy gory elements elicits such a response from readers?
Because can you imagine a more visual contrast than people clad in black tie or jewel-toned gowns and tiaras trying to do something about a zombie stumbling around in their midst? To me, it’s a stunning picture.
Tell us about the Clarke sisters!
If you think of Dorothy’s companions in “The Wizard of Oz,” you wouldn’t be too far off! Lady Kate could use more heart, Lady Grace could use some courage and Lady Lizzy could use a better brain (or at least others have convinced her of that).
Each sister also has a specific love interest. What makes these young men such great matches for the ladies?
I’d say they each inspire the ladies to be more than what they already are. Don’t great lovers do that, rather than attempt to change, inspire?
If you were in a zombie apocalypse in the 1920s, what would be your weapon of choice?
Other people. Failing other smarter and braver people to hide behind while they do the dirty work, I’d look for a suit of armor, grab the long hatchet-like weapon from its grip and start swinging – that should do the trick!
What’s your favorite part about the writing process? What’s the most challenging?
Favorite part: the actual writing. Most challenging: promoting – not really, but what if I say something stupid here??? You may never read my book!
Zombie Abbey is out now! Snag it for only $5.99 via…
Amazon | B&N | iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo | Entangled Publishing
MORE BOOK INFO
1920, England
And the three teenage Clarke sisters thought what they’d wear to dinner was their biggest problem…
Lady Kate, the entitled eldest.
Lady Grace, lost in the middle and wishing she were braver.
Lady Lizzy, so endlessly sunny, it’s easy to underestimate her.
Then there’s Will Harvey, the proud, to-die-for—and possibly die with!—stable boy; Daniel Murray, the resourceful second footman with a secret; Raymond Allen, the unfortunate-looking young duke; and Fanny Rogers, the unsinkable kitchen maid.
Upstairs! Downstairs! Toss in some farmers and villagers!
None of them ever expected to work together for any reason.
But none of them had ever seen anything like this.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lauren Baratz-Logsted is the author of over 30 books for adults (Vertigo), teens (The Twin’s Daughter) and children (The Sisters 8 series which she created with her husband and daughter). She’d love to dress up in period costume from the 1920s but she’d be a lot less excited about meeting zombies. Lauren lives in Danbury, CT, with her husband and daughter and cat, all of whom are writers (well, maybe not the cat).
