Walter Greatshell's Blog, page 2
March 4, 2011
APOCALYPSO NOW!
The last book in my satirical XOMBIES trilogy, XOMBIES: APOCALYPSO, has been released! It is the climactic final voyage of Lulu Pangloss and the crew of the USS No-Name, a decommissioned Ohio-class submarine converted to a refugee ship during the Agent X plague. Having been infiltrated by the disease, sub and crew now search for love and meaning in the post-apocalyptic American wilderness. Yes, it's a romantic comedy!
Also, my thriller MAD SKILLS just got reviewed by Sci Fi Magazine! Here's the best bit:
"Walter Greatshell is a first-rate writer of action scenes, who choreographs the regular bursts of over-the-top mayhem with a genius that makes Maddy an endearingly resourceful and often frightening superhero of sorts, capable of fighting heavily-armed hit squads to a standstill with nothing but household items scavenged from beneath bathroom sinks. The conspiracy elements, the paranoid world building, and the loneliness of his protagonist, are all also profoundly well-handled. The narrative itself is compulsively readable."
Thanks, Sci Fi!
Also, my thriller MAD SKILLS just got reviewed by Sci Fi Magazine! Here's the best bit:
"Walter Greatshell is a first-rate writer of action scenes, who choreographs the regular bursts of over-the-top mayhem with a genius that makes Maddy an endearingly resourceful and often frightening superhero of sorts, capable of fighting heavily-armed hit squads to a standstill with nothing but household items scavenged from beneath bathroom sinks. The conspiracy elements, the paranoid world building, and the loneliness of his protagonist, are all also profoundly well-handled. The narrative itself is compulsively readable."
Thanks, Sci Fi!
December 6, 2010
MAD SKILLS reviewed by Publishers Weekly!
Mad Skills
Walter Greatshell, Ace, $7.99 mass market (320p) ISBN 978-0-441-02012-6
Equal parts science fiction thriller and coming-of-consciousness tale, this page-turner lays bare the inanity of modern-day existence in grand style. After 17-year-old Madeleine "Maddy" Grant suffers a severe brain injury, an experimental neurological treatment from the enigmatic Braintree Institute not only restores her to her former self but also advances her intelligence exponentially. When she goes home, Maddy is appalled by shallow, "suffocating" everyday human lives and is eventually sent back to the institute for re-evaluation. Eventually, she begins to realize that the institute isn't purely benevolent, and their scientists' experiments have downright terrifying implications. Powered by an endearing heroine (whose ingenuity and resourcefulness make MacGyver look inept), pedal-to-the-metal pacing, and generous amounts of social commentary, this science fiction thrill ride is the literary equivalent of a
syringe full of adrenaline. (Jan.)
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/mo...
Walter Greatshell, Ace, $7.99 mass market (320p) ISBN 978-0-441-02012-6
Equal parts science fiction thriller and coming-of-consciousness tale, this page-turner lays bare the inanity of modern-day existence in grand style. After 17-year-old Madeleine "Maddy" Grant suffers a severe brain injury, an experimental neurological treatment from the enigmatic Braintree Institute not only restores her to her former self but also advances her intelligence exponentially. When she goes home, Maddy is appalled by shallow, "suffocating" everyday human lives and is eventually sent back to the institute for re-evaluation. Eventually, she begins to realize that the institute isn't purely benevolent, and their scientists' experiments have downright terrifying implications. Powered by an endearing heroine (whose ingenuity and resourcefulness make MacGyver look inept), pedal-to-the-metal pacing, and generous amounts of social commentary, this science fiction thrill ride is the literary equivalent of a
syringe full of adrenaline. (Jan.)
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/mo...
April 11, 2010
XOMBIES: APOCALYPTICON GIVEAWAY!
FIVE LUCKY WINNERS WILL RECEIVE A COPY OF MY NOVEL, XOMBIES: APOCALYPTICON, AS WELL AS A SIGNED POSTER OF A SCENE FROM THE BOOK. TO SEE THE ARTWORK, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE, WALTERGREATSHELL.COM.
March 7, 2010
December 9, 2009
XOMBIES: APOCALYPSE BLUES winners to get books!
Well, the Goodreads giveaway of my book, XOMBIES: APOCALYPSE BLUES, is officially over. Congratulations to the five winners! The signed books are in the mail and should be arriving soon. I feel like Willy Wonka sending out Golden Tickets, although having a copy of my book doesn't necessarily guarantee a creepy-yet-delicious adventure where a girl turns blue...wait, yes it does!
Thanks to everyone who participated! We'll have to do this again when the sequel, XOMBIES: APOCALYPTICON, comes out in February. Oompa loompa fiddlee dee...
Thanks to everyone who participated! We'll have to do this again when the sequel, XOMBIES: APOCALYPTICON, comes out in February. Oompa loompa fiddlee dee...
December 4, 2009
Writing vs. posting
How do you people do it? I'm addressing the writers out there--not necessarily the published authors, but anyone who is serious enough about their fiction writing to actually do it every day. If you do that, you're a writer. And my question to you is: how do you find the time and energy to post things to the Web?
I realize it's a bit silly to ask, since I'm clearly doing it right now, but I feel like I'm stealing valuable writing time to do this. Which is not to say I don't like communicating with people--that's actually my favorite thing in life (other than writing itself): meeting people who love books (and movies, and food, etc. etc.) as much as I do. But meeting people and posting on the Web are two very different things. One is actually an act of human contact, the other is just me spewing more unasked-for opinions into the blogosphere. Does anybody actually read these things? Maybe that's the problem: I just don't believe there's anybody on the other side.
I've never been very big on the idea of self-promotion; it seems vaguely sleazy, and I only do it because I feel I have to for the sake of my career, which I love and have devoted the last twenty years of my life to. So I don't want to blow it with any highfalutin' ideas about artistic integrity. It's more a question of time, of which this is a prime example: I've now been sitting here for an hour hashing this stuff out, when I could have written another page of my new book. Does that make any sense?
I realize it's a bit silly to ask, since I'm clearly doing it right now, but I feel like I'm stealing valuable writing time to do this. Which is not to say I don't like communicating with people--that's actually my favorite thing in life (other than writing itself): meeting people who love books (and movies, and food, etc. etc.) as much as I do. But meeting people and posting on the Web are two very different things. One is actually an act of human contact, the other is just me spewing more unasked-for opinions into the blogosphere. Does anybody actually read these things? Maybe that's the problem: I just don't believe there's anybody on the other side.
I've never been very big on the idea of self-promotion; it seems vaguely sleazy, and I only do it because I feel I have to for the sake of my career, which I love and have devoted the last twenty years of my life to. So I don't want to blow it with any highfalutin' ideas about artistic integrity. It's more a question of time, of which this is a prime example: I've now been sitting here for an hour hashing this stuff out, when I could have written another page of my new book. Does that make any sense?
November 7, 2009
What inspired me to write XOMBIES: APOCALYPSE BLUES
This is a question people ask me often, and I usually give an easy answer, but this time I thought I'd really try to parse it out. So here's at least a partial list of books and movies that inspired me to write XOMBIES:
For Lulu's narration, I was inspired by the wonderful character of Mattie Ross in Charles Portis's Western masterpiece, TRUE GRIT, and the strong female characters that populate Jane Austen's work.
The very idea of writing a zombie novel I owe to Richard Matheson's classic, I AM LEGEND. And the fact that my book is in the first-person probably comes from Anne Rice's INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE.
For the fast-moving, unkillable Xombies, I was inspired by the '80s zombie flick, RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD. Though the overall zombie concept must be credited to George Romero--in particular his DAWN OF THE DEAD.
For the submarine subplot, I have to give credit to the movie ICE STATION ZEBRA, as well as the novel ON THE BEACH, by Nevil Shute.
For the satire or black comedy elements, I was aiming for Stanley Kubrick, a la DOCTOR STRANGELOVE; Paul Verhoeven, a la ROBOCOP; and authors like Patrick McGinley (GOOSEFOOT), Joseph Heller (CATCH-22), and Thomas Berger (LITTLE BIG MAN).
There's a lot more, I'm sure, but that's good for now.
For Lulu's narration, I was inspired by the wonderful character of Mattie Ross in Charles Portis's Western masterpiece, TRUE GRIT, and the strong female characters that populate Jane Austen's work.
The very idea of writing a zombie novel I owe to Richard Matheson's classic, I AM LEGEND. And the fact that my book is in the first-person probably comes from Anne Rice's INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE.
For the fast-moving, unkillable Xombies, I was inspired by the '80s zombie flick, RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD. Though the overall zombie concept must be credited to George Romero--in particular his DAWN OF THE DEAD.
For the submarine subplot, I have to give credit to the movie ICE STATION ZEBRA, as well as the novel ON THE BEACH, by Nevil Shute.
For the satire or black comedy elements, I was aiming for Stanley Kubrick, a la DOCTOR STRANGELOVE; Paul Verhoeven, a la ROBOCOP; and authors like Patrick McGinley (GOOSEFOOT), Joseph Heller (CATCH-22), and Thomas Berger (LITTLE BIG MAN).
There's a lot more, I'm sure, but that's good for now.
October 25, 2009
Meet me on Writerspace, October 28th (and maybe win my book!)
It's time again for the annual Writerspace Halloween Party, to celebrate the chill in the air and find some terrific books to curl up with this fall! So please join me and dozens of your favorite authors at the 2009 Halloween Mash at Writerspace on Wednesday, October 28th from 8pm ET to 11pm ET. Authors will be dropping in to chat all during the evening and we will be giving away 100s of new books and other fantastic prizes -- autographed, hard-to-find, advance copies plus special treats like gift baskets and more. We hope to see you Wednesday night! You don't have to be present to win, but you must be registered. To register, and for details on all participating authors and the prizes they're giving away, visit http://www.writerspace.com/halloween
Meet me on Writerspace, October 28th (and maybe win my book!)
It's time again for the annual Writerspace Halloween Party, to celebrate the chill in the air and find some terrific books to curl up with this fall! So please join me and dozens of your favorite authors at the 2009 Halloween Mash at Writerspace on Wednesday, October 28th from 8pm ET to 11pm ET. Authors will be dropping in to chat all during the evening and we will be giving away 100s of new books and other fantastic prizes -- autographed, hard-to-find, advance copies plus special treats like gift baskets and more. We hope to see you Wednesday night! You don't have to be present to win, but you must be registered. To register, and for details on all participating authors and the prizes they're giving away, visit http://www.writerspace.com/halloween
October 2, 2009
My first post!
Well, it's taken me long enough. I've been on Goodreads for almost a year without posting, but I finally have something to say:
My book, XOMBIES: APOCALYPSE BLUES (ACE/Penguin), is out.
Thank God. I threw a book release party at my local bookstore, and just about everyone I know in Rhode Island was kind enough to show up. I was worried I'd be sitting there all alone, pitiful as an abandoned dog, while passing strangers averted their eyes.
But it was cool--definitely not a disaster. Thank you, my friends! And the best part is, now it's only a few more months until the sequel comes out--XOMBIES: APOCALYPTICON.
Whatever happens, I have made a vow that I will not obsessively Google my books. I did that last time, and it almost drove me crazy, checking the goddamn Amazon ranking fifty times a day. I practically became a zombie myself. Not this time, bub--I have more writing to do!
Hey, if you want to see my XOMBIES-related artwork, or my weirdo book trailer, check out my website:
http://www.waltergreatshell.com
My book, XOMBIES: APOCALYPSE BLUES (ACE/Penguin), is out.
Thank God. I threw a book release party at my local bookstore, and just about everyone I know in Rhode Island was kind enough to show up. I was worried I'd be sitting there all alone, pitiful as an abandoned dog, while passing strangers averted their eyes.
But it was cool--definitely not a disaster. Thank you, my friends! And the best part is, now it's only a few more months until the sequel comes out--XOMBIES: APOCALYPTICON.
Whatever happens, I have made a vow that I will not obsessively Google my books. I did that last time, and it almost drove me crazy, checking the goddamn Amazon ranking fifty times a day. I practically became a zombie myself. Not this time, bub--I have more writing to do!
Hey, if you want to see my XOMBIES-related artwork, or my weirdo book trailer, check out my website:
http://www.waltergreatshell.com
