Well, it’s that time again- time for another installment of Three Ways Thursday’s! So grab your poision (the happy-times good stuff, not the kind you slip to your hubby concealed in his morning coffee! ), slip into something more comfortable and prepare yourself for some rollicking good fun!
Today’s spotlight Author is the handsome and wickedly talented Jack Wallen. I’m reading his book A Blade Away now and really digging it! Enjoy!
Part One: The Facts
Author: Jack Wallen
Website: http://www.getjackd.net
Location: Louisville, KY
Quirky Factor: (Self-rated) Good gravy, ask anyone around me and it’s probably 10 out of 10. I am a living, breathing testament to “quirk”. My quirkiness factor would probably hinge on what I was wearing at the moment. 
(Here’s Jack… Isn’t he adorable!)
1. How long have you been in the game, so to speak, as an author with published books? Why did you decide to indie publish? It’s been a real on-again, off-again, roller coaster ride for me. I wrote my first book ten years ago and it sat around while I wrote my second and third books. I was absolutely clueless as to what I was doing with trying to get those books out. I submitted the first two over and over, but I was doing so without having the slightest idea what I was doing. Those first three books sat around until 2009 when I realized I could put them out on for the Kindle and maybe something would happen. That was another flight of ignorance as the books had not really gone through any sort of vetting or editing process.
Eventually I went shopping at Target, bought a baskart full of clues, and got my books to where they were actually ready for the reader. In the process I discovered I had a knack for writing about zombies (a subject I already loved), so I started on the I Zombie trilogy.
2. As a kid, were you a bookworm or did your love of books develop
later? Which came first, love of reading or writing? This is going to sound odd, but I didn’t really start reading (as in “Oh my God I have to find a new book NOW” kind of reading) until I discovered Clive Barker. Once I started reading his magical words, I was transfixed. So I attribute my love for reading and writing to my idol, Mr. Barker (and Pinhead of course.)
3. What “classic” book do you wish you had written? Why? “Classic”? As in dust off the bookshelf and break out the Earl Gray? Or “Classic” as in the “Classic Rock” definition of “Classic”? I’ll answer both. Dracula, by Bram Stoker and The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker. Although, had I written The Hellbound Heart, Hellraiser might never have been made and that would have been a shame.
4. Ever think about writing outside of your normal genres? Try your hand at something totally outside of your comfort zone? I love writing outside my comfort zone — it really stretches me. At the moment I’m trying to focus on my zombie series (I have a new one starting soon) and my Fringe Killers series. Once those are done I have a vampire novel, a YA Paranormal, a religio-horror novel, and a whole host of strange beauties to write.
5. Books that you loved, maybe re-read over the years? I loved Imagica. It was the book that really launched my thousand ships. Books from my past that are on my deserted island bookshelf are:
The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker
Jennifer Government by Max Barry
Snowcrash by Neil Stephenson
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Books from my present that will be on my “re-read or die” list are:
Kissed by Darkness (by Shea MacLeod)
The Temple by Heather Adkins
I Zombie I
I Zombie I is the book that started my real zombie craze. One day I woke up with the question “What would it take to become a zombie?” That question really begged me to be answered. After my brain insisted I figureout how to answer the question, I embarked on writing what became “I Zombie I”. During the middle of writing that book I realized it hadto continue on beyond this one book so the idea behind both My Zombie My and Die Zombie Die was born.
Blurb:
“The virus has spread.”
In a moment of pure chaos, the majority of the Earth’s population has become the walking dead. One man promises to help bring the truth to light.
“The lies have spread.”
When journalist Jacob Plummer is infected, Jacob turns to the written word to not only ease the pain of change, but to bring to surface a truth far deeper and deadlier than anyone could have imagined.
“The truth must now be spread.”
With some new friends, Jacob helps to fight off the growing undead horde in hopes of saving himself and the planet from the rot growing within.
From Misty Baker of kindleobsessed.com:
“…as for “I Zombie I,” it’s completely ridiculous, BUT (and that is a really big but so pay attention) in a completely wonderful way. Incorporating the sarcastic humor of say… “Shaun of the Dead” and the desperation of “28 Days Later” Wallen managed to blaze a path that felt both original, and undeniably refreshing.”
“Opting for sarcasm over pure terror made this one of the funniest books I have read in a while, and in doing so, captured a (very highly coveted) place in my zombie hall of fame. No worries though… this book was NOT all about blood slushys and sound bombs, there WAS a deeper story intertwined, one of hope, love, and the recognization of loneliness, making this a well rounded and spectacularly written piece of literature.”
AVAILABLE AT:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Smashwords / Paperback
Part Three: Quirky Nonsense!
I could probably go on for days about quirks. Here are a few of my fun quirks:
When a bag of chips (or peanut butter) is opened for the first time around me I MUST have the first smell.
I dress for comfort. Sometimes that might mean a skirt of kilt.
If I ever met Larry David, I could probably go toe to toe with him.
My step-daughter just recently said “When did you start listening to the music of my generation?”
I believe the band “Journey” taught my generation how to love and live.
My podcast zombieradio.org is 90% improvised on my part.
I almost ran away with a circus once. Seriously. I studied clown in grad school and I was damn good. I also wrote a stage play called “The Secret Life Of Clowns” which explained why so many people hate clowns.
I have a pair of shoes with soles made of soap box.
My favorite character on Buffy the Vampire Slayer was Willow. Go figure.
I firmly believe that Shea MacLeod is a closeted D&D player.
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I do hope you’ve enjoyed this segment of THREE-WAYS THURSDAYS and I want to thank Jack Wallen for being with us. I’m reading his novel, A Blade Away now, so you can expect a review soon!
On a side note, as a gi-normous fan of the quirky and off-beat, I have to share the cover of one more of Jack’s books – Shero – I love, love, love this, and I’ve already added it to my TBR pile 
You should go check out Jack’s blog and books now. Go on now, nothing more to see here…
Until next time peeps!
~Karen
