How Would You Survive the Zombie Apocalypse?

You know you've thought about it. You know you've planned it out. How would you survive the zombie apocalypse? I’m un-dying to know! Send your essays (500 words or less) or videos to pembrokesinclair[@]hotmail[.]com or use the contact form at pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com. Please don’t send attachments. I won’t open them. Please paste your story or link directly in the body of the email or the contact form. Thanks!



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Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse

Earlier this week, I did a guest post about how I would survive the zombie apocalypse.  In a nutshell, I said I would do the exact opposite of what happens in the movies.  To read the whole response, go here.  

But it made me curious:  How would YOU survive the apocalypse?  Let me know in the comments!

Zombie Workshop

With the (almost) completion of my nonfiction zombie book, I've been brainstorming ways to share my new-found knowledge/obsession with others.  I thought there was no better way than to combine what I've learned with the books I wrote for the YA crowd, so with the help of my mom (who happens to be an amazingly kick-ass teacher), we came up with a summer workshop for teens.

Here's the description:

The scenario:  Zombies have overrun the world. The vast majority of people are either dead or transformed into the walking undead. You and your friends are still alive. How will you rank your supplies in order of importance to ensure your survival?

Surviving Zombies is geared toward a teen audience, but anyone who wants to participate is more than welcome. Participants will be given a list of 20 items. They will get 5-10 minutes to rank them in order of importance. This can be done either individually or in a group, depending on how many people there are. When they are finished, they will be asked to defend and explain their list. 

After the lists have been made, I will show the participants clips from various films and TV shows about decisions the characters in a zombie apocalypse make about survival and discuss the pros and cons of each. We will also look at the correct order for the items on the list and discuss why that order is important. 

While the possibility of a zombie apocalypse occurring is slim to none, other disasters are possible, including natural disasters (hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes) and acts of aggression (bombings, war). To survive these ordeals, it is important to have a plan to obtain the necessary elements of survival. This workshop will help the participants think critically about what needs to be done in a fun and entertaining fashion. The lists they draft to survive zombies could also help them in other situations.

Should be a good time!  I can't wait to present to an audience.

Zombie Preparations

Apparently, everyone is preparing for the rise of the undead, including the Pentagon.  No doubt, conspiracy theorists will have a field day with this information.  As someone who is zombie obsessed, I think it's an interesting bit of data to have.  I hope it actually helps us when the apocalypse occurs.

Being prepared is the most important part of any natural disaster--or unnatural one such as the dead rising from their graves.  It's important to have a plan and a backup plan should the first one fail.  While the chances of zombies actually occurring is slim to none, other things could occur, including earthquakes, tsunamis, terrorist attacks, etc.  Zombies are a great way to think about these situations because they are a worst-case scenario.  If you can be prepared for the undead, you can be prepared for anything.

Do you have a plan in place?  Have you talked to your family and friends about what to do should the worst occur?  Do you have supplies on hand?  Today is a great day to start planning your zombie/natural disaster survival.  It may come in handy.

Unlike Zombies, Time Keeps Going Faster and Faster

I swear, every week I'm like, Holy crap!  It's Thursday!  I have to get my blog post done.  It keeps sneaking up on me and comes sooner and sooner.  Where is all this time going?

Seriously, I need some more of it.  Sunday was the first day in about 10 days that I had a chance to sit down and write.  It's been crazy busy.  Sometimes I forget how incredibly freeing and stree relieving writing can be, especially when zombies are tearing someone apart or a character has worse problems than I do.  It puts things into perspective.

Well, since time is slipping away at an unnatural pace, I don't have a chance to delve much deeper.  I am on chapter 6 of my next zombie novel and hoping to accomplish more this weekend!

How Do Zombies "Survive"?

When I travel (which, remember, isn't often), not only do I look for ways to escape town, I also take in the climate.  We have such a varying climates in the U.S., from tornadoes to wild fires to blizzards to extreme heat, how do we survive?  Probably because we bend the environment to our will.  We create heaters and air conditioners and safe places to go.  But what about zombies?  They don't have the brain capacity to create new things.

On the plus side, zombies no longer have the ability to feel.  They don't notice the extreme heat and cold.  As the walking dead, they no longer worry about anything, except maybe finding and eating humans, but I doubt the thoughts consume their entire day.  It depends on what you're reading.  Anyway, the weather still has to affect them in some way.

 In  Life After the Undead, I explore that same question and claim that the zombies can't live in the East because the humidity causes them to deteriorate faster than normal.  They move to the West where the dry air preserves them.

At the moment, I'm in the Southwest visiting family, and I'm wondering if zombies would be able to survive here.  It's dry, there's no denying that, but it's also incredibly hot.  The sun pounds the earth with harsh rays, and it makes me wonder what it would do to a corpse.  As humans, we can counteract the effects by drinking water and finding shade, but zombies don't have that capacity.  What would happen to them?  Would they turn into a walking piece of leather?  Would they become so brittle every step would cause them to fall apart?

I'm going to have to contemplate this a little more and do some research.  To me, this kind of stuff is fascinating and could mean the difference between life and death.

Where Do You Want To Be?

I don't travel a lot.  Mainly because I have a job and two young kids, so there isn't a lot of time.  However, every 3 months, my job takes me to various destinations and in the summer we attempt to take a family vacation.  Whenever I'm in a new place, I always look around and think, "What would I do if the zombie apocalypse happened?"

I mean, half the time you don't know the layout of the town, who the people are.  How do you defend against that?  I like to be prepared, so I have to consider all aspects of my surroundings.  Ideally, being at home when the zombies rise from the ground would be the best.

 I know the place and already have an escape route planned.  It's possible to survive while on vacation, I just have to be a little smarter and more observant about what's going on.  I trust no one.  I look for stores where I can load up on supplies.  But mainly, I look for ways to get out of town and someplace secluded. 

How do you spend your vacation?

Out of ideas? Guess what? There's a whole zombie forum on preparing - and also finding that perfect vacation spot... hopefully zombie free.... Or try a few guaranteed zombie-filled events, if that's more to your liking.

A to Z Blog Challenge - Q is for Quinn from Zombie Books Life after the Undead and Death to the Undead

*** This month we are participating in the A to Z Blog Challenge. Check it out! *** 

Quinn is my male hero from my zombie books,  Life After the Undead and Death to the Undead, and the love interest of my female character Krista.  He's an 18-year-old boy who is trying to help Krista understand the world of the undead and help her survive.

Like so many other teens in the zombie apocalypse, Quinn doesn't have any parents, but that doesn't hold him back.  Born and raised on a ranch in Wyoming, he knows what it takes to survive.  Not only does he have deadly aim and a charming smile, but he can drive a semi and ride a horse.  His no-nonsense attitude keeps Krista out of danger, but his sympathy and patience teaches her the skills needed to survive.  It's not hard to see why Krista falls head over heels for him. 

Want to learn more about Quinn?  Pick up a copy of Life After the Undead and Death to the Undead.  Available at eTreasures Publishing and Amazon.

K is for Kill Zone

*** This month we are participating in the A to Z Blog Challenge. Check it out! ***

 

The Kill Zone on a zombie isn't that hard to figure out.  In most cases, it's the head.  You kill the brain, you kill the creature.  Sometimes, it's enough to sever the head so that the brain can no longer control the rest of the body.  However, I've seen/read some stories where the head is still alive even after it's been decapitated.  Personally, I like that idea and think it works.  After all, the zombie is dead, it technically shouldn't be up and moving, so if the brain isn't completely destroyed, the head can still function.

 

The Kill Zone doesn't always have to be the vulnerable area on a zombie.  It can also be an actual location.  For example, cities.  They would become Kill Zones because that's where lots and lots of people are located.  Cities would be overrun with undead and impossible for the survivors to navigate.  We've all seen movies and read books where this happens, so you know exactly what I'm talking about.  They are Kill Zones because of the amount of death and rejuvenation that occurs and Kill Zones because of the amount of zombies that can be taken down.

 

If you're a survivor, make sure you are aware of any and all Kill Zones, including ways to put down the enemy.  Always be aware of your surroundings and know the best way in and out of the Kill Zone so you don't get trapped and killed...or worse!

A to Z Blog Challenge - E for Expectations

When the zombie apocalypse occurs, no matter how much you've planned, there will be unexpected occurrences.  The best way to deal with them is to expect the worst.  If you plan for the worst-case scenario, you will be pleasantly surprised when the opposite happens.

Expect that nothing will go according to plan.

Expect to be flexible.

Expect to think on your toes.

Expect to do things that go against your morals and better judgement. 

Expect to come out of the situation alive and more than likely you will.

In the meantime, why not sit back, relax, and read how other people get through the hordes of undead.  My novella, Finding Eden from eTreasures Publishing, is now available in paperback.  You can find it on Amazon.

Sabrina's Word Wednesday - Determination; Pembroke Sinclair's formula to survive those zombies

Sabrina's Word Wednesday - Determination

This week, we will be highlighting a word that is a definite must for anyone wanting to survive and/or thrive after a zombie apocalypse. Determination.

Not only that, but we will be highlighting Pembroke Sinclair, an awesome zombie writer with a great set of zombie apocalypse books.

Determination is all over Sinclair's stories, Life After the Undead and Death to the Undead , mainly concentrated on a young girl named Krista. 

After a wave of zombieness takes over the United States, young Krista loses her family, but is determined not to follow in their fate. She escapes to a division, a wall separating the zombies from the more humid Eastern United States, and helps to build it. She is determined to protect as many people as she can, and along the way, she battles with not only the mindless undead, but also the tyrant families that now hold power over the remaining population.

In the second book, Krista and Quinn, the survivor she has fallen in love with, are caught between the zombies who want to eat them, the powerful ruling Families that want them captured, and other survivors who want them dead. Determined to make it and thrive, Krista and Quinn become perfect examples of zombie apocalypse survivors.

From the reviews on Amazon.com: "Life After the Undead is a well-written story that represents a perfect blend of young adult fiction with a horror twist. Sinclair does an excellent job of fully developing both the plot and all of the characters involved in the main action of the novel, and she walks the fine line between too much blood and gore and just enough eloquently and with style. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a good adventure, regardless of their age. It was fun and exhilirating to get lost in the world of the undead as seen through the eyes of a capable and independent protagonist."

Definitely determination. 

Check out Life After the Undead here, and Death to the Undead here.

Surviving Zombies

I would like to piggyback on the post from Wednesday, as I found the idea incredibly intriguing.  In the most basic sense, surviving the zombie apocalypse does mean not becoming a zombie, but there is so much more to it than that.  I think that is the essence of what zombie stories are looking at:  what does it take to survive?

But it's not only surviving, it's living.  Anyone with a brain can survive.  The survival instinct is one of our most primitive functions.  But what does it mean to live?  And what does it mean to live when you've lost everything?  I think this is one of the basic questions zombie stories strive to answer, along with what it takes to be human.

I'm not going to say I have the answer to that question because it will vary from person to person.  And it's a question I explore in my own writing.  For some, surviving/living might be enough to have their heart beating and most of their family/friends around them.  For others, to survive and live they have to face the zombies and wipe them off the face of the earth. 

We survive/live everyday and face hardships and overcome obstacles.  But how would those hardships and obstacles change if the dead rose from the grave and started eating us?  How would we cope with losing loved ones closest to us to the undead hoard?  How many of us would find the strength to carry on? 

When it comes down to it, zombies stories aren't about gore and walking corpses (although they are present and fun!).  Zombies are nothing more than catalysts that make us face our deepest fears and question what it takes to continue on.  They make us question our own humanity.  Like Sabrina said, there is way more to survival than trying to avoid becoming a zombie.  How many of us would be up to the challenge?

Using the Enemy to Your Advantage

I have to say, one of the coolest things I've seen is Michonne in The Walking Dead using zombies to her advantage.  By keeping them on a leash and near her, she masks her smell and can walk safely from one place to another.  It is a very practical solution to an impractical situation.

I started writing a story a few years ago, right after the horrific earthquakes in Haiti, about using zombies for defense.  That story was put away and I worked on other things, but I think it's about time to pull it out again and finish it.  Using zombies as tools fascinates me to no end.

There are inherent risks using zombies.  First and foremost is catching one.  It's rare that zombies travel solo.  They are usually in packs.  And how do you stop it from alerting others to your presence or attacking you?  Michonne obviously overcame that hurdle by removing the zombies' biggest threats:  the arms and mouth.  That works since she is only using them to move from one place to another, but what if you need those intact?  If you're using them to defend yourself or your property, you need their "weapons" fully functioning.  These are some issues I haven't worked out quite yet, but I plan to when I write.  Hopefully, my characters will have some good solutions to the problem.

If the world is going to end because the dead have risen from the grave, the survivors are going to have a long road ahead of them.  They'll need to use every tool they have at their disposal, and that might include using the undead.  Using zombies might have advantages that haven't yet been explored.  It will be interesting to see what those are.

Would you ever use zombies to your advantage?  If so, what would you use them for?

Life After Zombie Skills

When people talk about the zombie apocalypse, they usually focus on what kinds of weapons they will have and what kinds of fighting skills they will need.  While those are important factors to consider, it’s also equally important to obtain other survival skills, including First Aid and outdoor survival skills.

You can be the best shot ever, but if you’re trapped in the woods and hungry, you’d better figure out real fast what is poisonous and what isn’t.  You don’t want to come back as a zombie because you ate the wrong mushroom or drank tainted water.  Plus, you’ll need to know how to care for injuries, even minor ones.  A tiny scratch could open the door for tons of bacteria, and I’m sure you don’t want to come back as a zombie because you died from a staph infection.

Even if you don’t leave the city to take your chances in nature, it will still be important to know survival skills.  Again, injuries can happen in the city.  There are numerous things to cut yourself on or things to fall down.  And don’t think that just because you have access to food it will be safe.  We kill a lot of bacteria by cooking our food thoroughly.  Don’t forget about sanitary conditions, either.  Once the city falls to the undead horde, running water might not be a luxury anymore.  Neither will garbage trucks.  Once a zombie is put down for good, who’s going to take care of the corpse?  Germs thrive in unsanitary conditions such as these.

If your plan after the zombie uprising is to head to the hills (or forest or mountains or desert or anywhere else away from civilization), make sure you are an expert on how to survive there.  Know which plants will keep you alive, which ones will kill you, and which have medicinal purposes.  Know how to distill water so it is safe to drink.  Learn how to make medical supplies with the items available to you.  Eventually, you’ll have to live off the land, so know what thrives in each area so you will have successful crops for years to come.

If you decide to take your chances in the city, you’ll still have to know the same skills.  You’ll have to know how to make water safe and how to heal wounds.  You’ll have more supplies at your disposal, but be cautious of how they are used, they won’t last forever—and realize that they’ll probably be guarded by walking dead. 

After the zombies take over the world, the first thing you’ll need to do is rely on your weapons and fighting skills to get you to a safe place.  After that, you’ll need your wits and knowledge of the surrounding landscape.  Survival isn’t about being the strongest or smartest, it’s about finding the balance between those two.  Do yourself and favor and arm yourself with knowledge and weapons before facing the undead.  Your life will depend on it.