CBB Book Promotions Blog Tour, Interview, & Giveaway: Undead Ultra (Camille Picott)

Welcome to my tour stop for Undead Ultra (A Zombie Novel) by Camille Picott! This is an adult post apocalyptic horror novel and the tour runs June 20 through July 1st with reviews, interviews and excerpts. Check out the tour page for the full schedule!

Undead: a reanimated corpse with a craving for human flesh.
Ultramarathon: any footrace longer than a traditional marathon (26.2 miles).

For ultrarunners Kate and Frederico, a typical Saturday morning is spent pounding out a twenty- to thirty-mile “fun run.” It’s during one of their runs that an insidious illness descends upon northern California, turning humans into flesh-shredding zombies. When Kate receives a desperate call from her son, Carter, she and Frederico flee their hometown and set out to help him. The only problem? Carter attends college over two hundred miles away and the freeways—clogged with car wrecks, zombies, and government blockades—are impassable. Running back roads and railroad tracks becomes their only means of travel, but neither of them has ever run so far before. As pain, injuries, hunger, and fatigue plague them, getting to Carter and staying alive seem impossible. It’s either outrun the undead or become one of them, and for Kate, death is not an option.

Goodreads | Amazon

Camille Picott has been writing novels since she was twelve. When she’s not working on a book, spending time with family, or whipping up a new vegetarian meal, you can find her trail running in Sonoma County, California.

Website | Twitter | Facebook 

 

1. What gave you the inspiration to write this book? 

I’m a thirty-something wife and mother. I feel like I am an under-represented demographic in scifi/fantasy. I get tired of reading books about teenagers and characters in their twenties who don’t have much life experience. I really wanted to write a book with adult characters who had families and dirt under their nails, so the speak, because that’s something that’s meaningful to me. I’m also an ultrarunner, and I thought it would be fun to share this crazy sport with readers.

2. Who is your favorite character in the book?

 Hands down, Frederico. He is so real and beautiful – kind, funny, tragic, and flawed. I enjoyed getting to know him and his many nuances.

3. Which came first, the title or the novel? 

The concept of the novel came first, but I had the title figured out before I started writing.

4. What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why? 

The scenes where Frederico talks about his sobriety and shares some of the acts he committed when he was still drinking and doing drugs. The tragedies of his past, all of them self-inflicted by his drug and alcohol abuse, add to the texture of his character. I loved bringing him to life on the page for readers.

5. Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you've learned as a writer from then to now? 

Don’t get bogged down trying to make the first 3 chapters perfect. Focus on the act of completing a work. The more stories you finish, the better you’ll get at the act of finishing. 

6. What do you like most about the cover of the book?

 I love how the book designers (Derranged Doctor Designs) melded two genres: zombie stories and running books. I think (hope!) the book will appeal to fans of both genres.

7. What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2016? 

I’m really hoping Streaming Dawn by Steve Bien will be released as an audio book soon! I love his Fated Blades series and am anxious for this next one to be available.

8. What was your favorite book in 2015? 

Walden on Wheels by Ken Ilgunas. This is nonfiction book about a man who moved into a van to avoid going into debt for his post-graduate work. It was really mind-blowing and made me look at the way I live in a whole new way.

9. What’s up next for you? 

 To celebrate the release of my novel, I rounded up 14 people to run 200+ miles from Geyserville to Arcata – the same route the characters run in the book. We just finished the run last weekend. It was an amazing adventure! I’m working on a short film to document it.

10. Is there anything that you would like to add? 

Thanks for hosting the Undead Ultra tour and posting my interview!

Two (2) $5 Amazon gift cards (INT)

Ends July 6th

Prizing is provided by the author, hosts are not responsible. Must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 18. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win.

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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.