Beta Reader wanted for Zom Rom Com (I still need an Australian's opinion on Slang usage)

[Phillip]

Hello. I received help with my last fantasy novel, now I'd like some with a zombie romance comedy. It's about 61,000 words. Unlike most zombie books, this one is NOT an apocalypse. Instead, Australia had an apocalypse ten years earlier, but now have all zombies (or ZBs, as they call them) safely contained. Now, the best vacation is a trip to Zombie Walkabout! There, intrepid hunters from across the globe will wear state-of-the-art armor (read chainmail and riot helmets) and satisfy their bloodlust by claiming the "lives" of the decayed corpses lurching around. Perhaps they may even earn the bounty on a trophy zombie (those poor souls who were related to celebrities and millionaires). The Jackal has been seen lately.

I would especially appreciate the opinion of any Australian members. I've watched dozens of hours of Australian television, hoping to get the slang accurate (a big shout out to the women doing hard time in Wentworth!).

I plan to publish around December and hope to get this first round of beta criticism by mid-July. I'm also willing to beta for you in exchange for your generosity. I look forward to hearing from you. I can't wait to share the cover image that currently resides in my mind.

Phil

[John]

I have never understood the popularity of Zombie books but it obviously has it's fans. I would like to offer a critique, but I just don't enough about this horror sub-genre. I would be glad to give it a beta read. Let me know when its available. johngllgskns@gmail.com

[Phillip]

John wrote: "I have never understood the popularity of Zombie books but it obviously has it's fans. I would like to offer a critique, but I just don't enough about this horror sub-genre. I would be glad to give..."

John,

Thanks for your interest. I'll send you an email. It's more comedy focused than zombie, if that helps. Regardless, I firmly believe praise from someone who isn't a fan of a genre is the best (just as criticism from a super fan is the best).

[Utsuri]

Hello! I would love to beta for this project. I am familiar with the ”as seen on TV” version of Aussie culture as well as romantic comedies and basic zombie lore. I would like to get more information on your timeline and feedback requests to see if I am a good fit for this project.

Thanks!
Utsuri

[Phillip]

I've gotten some feedback and implemented it, but I really need an Australian's perspective. The story is set there, and I want to make sure slang and locations make sense. Please help. Wentworth and Mr. Inbetween can only do so much. I'm going to final edit (assuming no offers arrive) in September. Thank you in advance.

[Phillip]

If anyone (especially Aussies) is willing to read a few selections (versus the full novel) here are some examples of how I've used the English language Down Under:

Sure. The context will be lost, and remember the only habitable part of the country is Cairns, so slang was taken from all around.
Here are a few examples:

"First, be here at eight each morning. Use the badge they made for you to buzz yourself in. Grab a cuppa and check the board."

Rule four: Never separate. We're one team. We don't search different buildings and fossick for supplies."

"I suppose. Once we admitted they were zombies, I was game as Ned Kelly for bashing them. It was easy when I didn't know them. That changed when Spencer turned."

"Pounder? What exactly do you pound?" a teen asked.
"His dad's clacker," Jasper joked.

Scarlett gestured at her body. "The fat girl isn't supposed to get the foreign spunk."

"Calm down, everyone," Chloe said. "I took a Captain Cook and saw another herd about a klick away."

"Don't make me drink with the flies."

"You're just ace, Sam." Scarlett pointed at a burger named Dingo's Favorite. "This one will do. It has a fried bum-nut, pickled beets, and pineapple. It sounds dodgy, but your mouth will thank me."

"Pounder, what are you earbashing Yanks doing? You're missing all the white pointers."

"I'm sorry about that; that dill was painful."

Theo nodded suggestively. "Yeah. I crack a fat just hearing her name. Especially when she's all tarted up."

"Ugg! Who opened their lunch?" Chloe complained.

Mark shrugged. "Who cares? It keeps Zombie Walkabout up and running, which keeps piss in my stubbie holder."

That's probably enough. Hopefully some of you made it this far down the list. Again, context is lost, but that may make your criticism better. Thanks in advance.

[[deleted user]]

Hi - Don't know if this helps but I am a Kiwi who spent 10 years living in OZ ( Australia ) before coming home to live. Both counties share similar slang.
Most of the slang in the above is correct , just a couple without the context does make it a little hard.
I was game as Ned Kelly to bash them - Its the word bash and Ned Kelly that doesn't work.
I took a Captain Cook - never heard it used like above and quite a old saying.
More likely to use the word grog in my stubbie holder than piss. (depends on the age of the character )

[Phillip]

Catrina wrote: "Hi - Don't know if this helps but I am a Kiwi who spent 10 years living in OZ ( Australia ) before coming home to live. Both counties share similar slang.
Most of the slang in the above is correct ..."

Thank you. I have a few other groups helping and you are all corroborating each other.

[A.J.]

Phillip wrote: "If anyone (especially Aussies) is willing to read a few selections (versus the full novel) here are some examples of how I've used the English language Down Under:

Sure. The context will be lost, ..."

Most of it is understood. I don't understand 'bum-nut'. I once had a beta reader from the States respond with a long list of Aussie idioms I included in a mystery set in Melbourne. It started me thinking: should authors tone down colloquial expressions for international readership? I posed the question on Facebook and was pleased most respondents claimed local idioms ad colour. Only Aussies would understand 'piss in my stubbie holder' is not drinking urine, but beer. It's a trickey one, but I can only point to Tim Winton who does not shy from Aussieisms.

[Michelle]

A.J. Henry, I am British, but came to Sydney Australia on 1971, so needless to say Aussie street slang or Aussieisms are certainly second nature when it comes to understanding.
When I first arrived here I couldn't for the life of me understand a word any Aussie spoke, especially out in the suburbs, with the local colloquialisms and the speed with which they spoke, they might just as well have been speaking Japanese.
There has been a rather dramatic change over the past 20 years or so, influenced by international opinion, generally within the community at large, teachers and parents have ensured a far more traditional speech incorporating the English style and pronunciation, which has produced an Australian speech without the Aussie "winge" and finally the whole conversation doesn't run in one long continual sentence.
No matter where you are in the world, the Australian dialect is very obvious which many people find very attractive and are curious with our variation in terminology, but I must say.. Thank God....in general most people do not run their words together in one long sentence, unless you are up in the middle of Australia or out bush.
If I can help in any way please don't hesitate to contact me.
michellechantler59@gmail.com