Thursday, October 10, 2019

"Our Undead: Abe" by Theo Vigo


As I drove to the store yesterday, I couldn't help but notice all the Halloween decorations which adorned my neighbors' yards. I don't know about your neighborhood, but here in southern Louisiana, especially in New Orleans, home to voodoo and such, we pretty much go all out. Everywhere you look, you see the eerie decorations. What better this time of year than to come across the perfect book to read while waiting on the ghouls, zombies, Darth Vadar's, Jokers, princesses and so many more to knock on the door and say, "Trick or treat." And, I have found the perfect one to keep you on the edge of your seat in Theo Vigo's novel, Our Undead: Abe


ABOUT OUR UNDEAD: ABE


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In a disease-ridden Portland, Oregan, a middle-aged businessman wakes up to find himself lost, undead and alone. A new world waits for him outside the hostel doors he was laid to rest in, one where he might find himself to be quite comfortable... at first.

The dead are coming back to life, and taking ownership of the land. Our zombie walks freely amongst his kin, fighting, feeding and searching, but to what end? Can a walking corpse find solace? When his chance to rest in peace has been stolen from him, can a ghoul find grace?

Perhaps in the emotional vulnerability and unplugged humanity of two teenagers; a girl 17, and a boy 13. Perhaps the coincidental meeting of this unlikely trio will bring some sort of meaning back into the lives of all three, all three who found themselves abandoned and thrust into a nightmare.

Join our zombie, the girl with long blonde hair and the boy as they trek to Hollywood, California on a revealing journey of relationships, morality, and conspiracy in "Our Undead."


THEO VIGO


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  1. Tell your readers a little about yourself, where you grew up, where you live now, where you went to school etc. Let them get to know the personal you.
    Well, I feel like I'm just a normal 33-year-old guy - uhhh, maybe a bit underachieved. I work a part-time job in a restaurant, and I'm currently rooming with a couple of friends in downtown, Toronto, Canada. I have an older brother and an adorably sweet mom (although she can be kind of sassy sometimes).

    I guess, on a personal level, I love creating, especially in the veins of music, and written word. It's a bit funny and sad that I referred to myself as a bit underachieved because I really do want to achieve - - I guess I'm still trying to figure out what that thing (or things) that I want to achieve is. Freedom, that's for sure. Haha.

    But, through what medium? I spent my twenties exploring different writing, music and business projects. I'd like to spend my thirties creating in the space I feel best in and nurturing projects from my past that I feel have some potential. I'd like to improve at investing in myself and connecting with other people who have their own amazing talents to share. I really don't know what to expect from the future, but I have high hopes. You have to, right? Lol
  2. What inspired you to author this book?
    The main reason this story exists today is that I thought the world was going to end in 2012. Ok ok, I wasn't completely convinced that it was going to end, but I didn't want to take the chance, so just in case, I wrote this book.

    It all stems from the fact that my dad would strongly encourage me to read when I was a child and in my teens. At that time, I didn't read all that much. I'd rather be playing video games. I enjoyed a few short mystery novels here and there, book adaptions of my favorite movies of the time, novels that had to be read for school. I didn't neglect reading completely. In fact, I enjoyed it, but I didn't really realize how important it was.

    When my dad passed away in my early twenties, I took to reading some books he had left behind. The first ones that I started reading were about spirituality, meditation, life after death and such things. Reading them was my attempt to gain some sort of understanding after such a big loss, and I wonder, as he was getting closer to the end of his life if he was reading them to gain understanding too.


    Regardless, reading spiritual books lead me down a couple of paths. First, I began building a collection of business and personal development books on top of the spiritual ones. Reading all of these things inspired and taught me how to express myself creatively. Writing was one of those creative outlets, a mashup of novel and scriptwriting.

    Coming all the way around, I wrote Our Undead because I wanted to honor the gift of reading that my dad gave to me; a thank you. I promised myself, for him, that I would write a complete novel before I died. If 2012 was going to be the year then I had to write it that year.

    I started in February and finished in October. Luckily enough, the world didn't end so I got to edit it multiple times and released it officially for the first time in February 2013.
  3. Where did you get the inspiration for your book’s cover?
    The book's cover holds a hidden meaning. It can't really be understood without knowing the whole story. Beyond this book even.

    I just told an incredibly talented friend of mine what the story was about and he came up with this design which I really enjoy looking at.
  1. Who has been the most significant influence on you personally and as a writer?
    Personally, I guess my biggest influence would have to be my dad or the experience of his passing. Many of my thought patterns and whole attitude towards life changed after his death. It matured me quickly. My mom is also I big personal influence for me, because more than anything, I want her to know I'll be okay if she comes to pass before me. It keeps me ambitious.

    As for writers who have influenced me, it's a bit hard to think about, because although I enjoy writing, I'm not a geek for it, so there's no one writer that I'm a fanatic for. My mind gravitates toward some of my favorite television series; The Newsroom, Entourage, Community, The Walking Dead, etc.

    Writers of movie scripts are very influential for me as well. Scott Pilgram, Snatch, Dumb and Dumber, and Attack The Block are some movies I don't see myself ever getting tired of.
  2. What were your struggles or obstacles you had to overcome to get this book written?
    The hardest part about writing this book was committing to the amount of time it would take to write it. I think that a lot of people, writers and anyone trying to accomplish something that seems grand, find it hard to actually sit down and get started. One reason is that the task ahead of you seems so large. Can you keep it up? Will you start this large task and then stop halfway through?

    My solution was the fact that I had a big reason for writing this book. Having one made it easier to write every day. Writers' block is a common challenge for some authors but I think that when you force yourself to sit down and write, the ideas will come. Get your ideas down and refine them later.
  3. Tell your readers about your book.
    In a disease-ridden Portland, Oregan, a middle-aged businessman wakes up to find himself lost, undead and alone. A new world waits for him outside the hostel doors he was laid to rest in, one where he might find himself to be quite comfortable... at first.

    The dead are coming back to life and taking ownership of the land. Our zombie walks freely amongst his kin, fighting, feeding and searching, but to what end? Can a walking corpse find solace? When his chance to rest in peace has been stolen from him, can a ghoul find grace?

    Perhaps in the emotional vulnerability and unplugged humanity of two teenagers; a girl 17, and a boy 13. Perhaps the coincidental meeting of this unlikely trio will bring some sort of meaning back into the lives of all three, all three who found themselves abandoned and thrust into a nightmare.

    Join our zombie, the girl with long blonde hair and the boy as they trek to Hollywood, California on a revealing journey of relationships, morality, and conspiracy in "Our Undead".

  4. Who is your target audience, and why?
    The target audience for this story would most certainly be people who are like me. If you like zombies, grand adventures, action, feeling sorrow and triumph in a story, movies, goofiness, shounen anime, growing up and overcoming obstacles then I think you might be into this story.
  5. What do you consider your greatest success in life?
    Although I don't feel like I've achieved my greatest success of my life yet, when I look back, there are a few things I am proud to have accomplished.

    Finishing this book is one. Playing and recording songs in a pop-punk band with my friends is the second. The third is heavily preparing the first season of an anime I'd like to have made. I wrote the script for the first episode, springboards for the rest of the season's episodes, and had a pitch bible made with illustrations made. Eventually, I'd like to take the next step and get it animated.

    These are the things I'm currently most proud of accomplishing in life.
  6. What one unique thing sets you apart from other writers in your genre?
    The one thing I think sets me apart from other writers in my genre and in general is the fact that I'm not a trained or studied writer. I didn't go to school to learn how to write novels or scripts, I just took it upon myself to learn with the help of the internet.

    Because of this, avid readers might get annoyed by the style I chose to write this story in. I don't know for sure but reading this book might be a love or hate experience for people.