Guest Author: Stacey Jay + Giveaway!

Stacey Jay has been kind enough to stop by Reading with Tequila, along with her character Karen Vera, to tell us about zombie romance.

Romance for Zombies:

It’s a common misconception that zombies are totally gross, brain-munching, rotted-skinned freaks who couldn’t care less about things like love and romance. So not true!!

Hello, my name is Karen Vera. As a freshman at DEAD High—a top secret school for zombies, which isn’t so top secret now that my book MY SO CALLED DEATH has hit the stands—and a recent acquirer of my very first boyfriend (also a zombie, like me), I know a thing or two about love and dead people and I’m here to assure you that the two are NOT mutually exclusive.

Now I know you’re probably saying: “But, Karen, ew. That’s still so gross. Who would want to kiss a dead person, even if you are, yourself, a dead person?”

Aha! But you’re missing the point! We’re not dead. We’re undead. There happen to be some very big differences between the two; let me show you them:

1. Aside from very pale, cool skin and dark under-eye circles—which are easily concealed with a good base, I recommend the Mac kind that comes in the little pot, applied with a horse hair brush—zombies look and feel like people. Our diet of brains (Animal only! Don’t freak!) works a kind of magic in our undead flesh, keeping us looking very human to the untrained eye.
2. Zombies have feelings too. Sometimes we have even MORE feelings. Can you imagine dealing with the fact that you have to eat brains for the rest of your life, and that you could potentially outlive your entire family if you don’t get taken out by some supernatural zombie hunter first? Just the fact that there are supernatural zombie hunters out there alone is enough to whip up a big batch of angst. So yeah, we zombies feel stuff. We can cry too, normal, salty human tears, not the creepy, bloody vampire kind. So hug a zombie today if you get the chance. We won’t bite…usually.
3. Speaking of biting, only bad, black-magically raised zombies consider humans a food source. A normal Death Challenged individual would never think of a Breather as meal. In contrast, ALL vampires think of humans as food and you people don’t seem to have a problem thinking of them as romantic heroes.
4. Dead guys can be really cute. Take my boyfriend for example: totally cute. With a precious little dimple and big blue eyes and manly, swimmer’s shoulders and…well, you get the idea. (Okay, I’m blushing a little. Yes, zombies can blush too!)

In conclusion, I would like to add that love and romance are powerful forces of the universe that know no boundaries. It’s not like dead people are dogs and cats. We’re all still people, whether we breathe or are able to metabolize dairy foods or not. (Zombies can’t eat milk. We’re allergic.)

Join me next time, when I’ll be discussing why it’s okay for a zombie to be on team unicorn, and the reasons sparkles should NOT be considering a dying trend!

Best in life and death,

Karen Vera

About the Author

Stacey Jay is a recovering workaholic (or at least working hard at recovering) with three pen names, two small children, and a passion for playing pretend for a living. She’s been a full time mom-writer since 2005 and can't think of anything she'd rather be doing. Her former careers include theatre performer, professional dancer, poorly paid C-movie actress, bartender, waiter, math tutor (for real) and yoga instructor.

In her very limited spare time, Stacey enjoys cooking elaborate dinners and eating them very, very slowly, dressing up in costumes with her sons, and dancing like a total freak who all but the coolest of her friends are embarrassed to be seen with. You can write her email if you want. She’ll do her best to answer in a timely fashion and tell you thanks for reading.

About the Book

Just because you don't have a pulse doesn't mean you can't be perky.

One second, freshman Karen Vera's on top of the most fabulous cheer pyramid ever. The next, she's lying on the pavement with seriously unflattering cranial damage. Freakishly alive without a pulse, Karen learns that she's a genetically undead zombie.

Soon, Karen is sent off to DEAD High, a boarding school for the "death-challenged," and her non-life is suddenly an epic disaster. She's stuck with a greasy-haired, wannabe-Goth roommate who hates her guts. She's chowing down on animal brains every day to prevent rot (um, ew?). Even worse, someone is attacking students and harvesting their brains for a dark ritual . . . and it might be the hottest guy at DEAD High, the one who makes Karen's non-beating heart flutter!

As more brains are stolen—including her best friend's—Karen tracks down the brain snatcher to save her fellow students from certain zombie death.

Stacey Jay's website
My So Called Death at Indiebound
My So Called Death at Amazon

About the Giveaway

The fantastic Stacey has offered to send one lucky reader a copy of My So Called Death!

Deadline for entry is Monday, March 15 at 11:59pm EST. US & Canada only.

To enter, leave a message for Stacey!

Be sure to leave an email address so I can contact the winner.

Stacey's going to be popping in today to see your responses, so feel free to be chatty!