Why would a zombie author write Giant Land Octopus?

Hey there this is George L. Cook III. I fancy myself an author (others may differ) as I have written a series of 5 zombie books titled The Dead War Zombie Series. On August 1, 2014 I released my latest book Giant Land Octopus which one can tell by its title has nothing to do with zombies. It's more in the sci-fi horror/humor genre (if there's such a thing) and the title says it all.

Some may wonder why I would write Giant Land Octopus. To be honest it's not the first book I have written outside the zombie genre. I have written urban fiction and children's books also but I'm a science fiction and horror fan at heart so I always find my way back to both genres. But to be honest constantly write about zombies eating people are coming up with creative ways to kill zombies can get depressing. I know what you are thinking, zombie apocalypses are usually depressing.

I'm also a big sci-fi fan. I grew up watching U.F.O. , Star Trek, Space 1999 and newer shows like Space: Above and Beyond or Battlestar Galatica (The newer one). I currently watch The Last Ship, The Strain, The Walking Dead or basically any show that starts with "The".

I love sci-fi movies like Star Wars, Aliens, Blade Runner, and The Matrix. I really have a fond spot for old creature feature movies. You know movies like THEM which was about big giant ants or Food of the Gods which was about giant rats. (don't ever watch the sequel. I warned you.) I also loved Kingdom of the Spiders which has a tile that should be self explanatory.

I will also admit to liking some of the stuff on the Syfy channel. You know like Sharktopus or Sharknado. Hey it's not high art (but it's better if your'e high) but it's enjoyable garbage that elicits a few laughs. That's what I was shooting for when I wrote Giant Land Octopus.

I don't really know how I came up with a giant octopus but it was down to that and a giant gerbil. I decided that no one but Tom Cruise would be excited by a giant gerbil so I went with the octopus. (I know that was uncalled for but you laughed.

Now I did't take the overly campy route although there is comedy it's not the spoof or outright parody type. I even studied up on octopuses (I learned that octopi is not actually the plural form). I found two species that fit the story and tried to keep things as realistic as you can in a story titled Giant Land Octopus. I took a few liberties as far as calling the liquid it secrets to disable it's victims ink when it's really not and I made (or believe I did) some crap about octopuses not leaving their "hunting grounds". Hey it sounds good and explains why the octopus just want go away and eat another town.

I wanted to have fun with a story and share my love of sci-fi and old creature feature movies. There are even a few reference to at least three sci-fi movies in the story. I wonder who can catch them. I think I have shared my love of these movies with a quick and witty old fashioned monster of the week story. I hope you take the time to check it out and maybe even leave a review (please!).

Well what are you waiting for? Buy the damn book already...LOL. No really buy the kindle version of the book on Amazon for 99¢ by clicking the picture below:

Interview with George Cook author of The Dead War Series Book Two: Abomination

Hi this is George Cook, the author of The Dead War Series. I have released book two in the series, Abomination. I occasionally interview authors of zombie books here on Thedeadwarseries.com so it only makes sense that I interview myself about the new book. Check out my interview below.


TDWS: Let's get right top it. There is a big surprise at the very beginning of the book. How or why did you come up with that?

George Cook: First let me thank everyone who purchased The Dead War Series: Book One and made it successful. Without those people there would have been no book two.

The surprise at the beginning of Abomination was not part of the original story arch for The Dead War Series. I had planned out how the story of the first three books would go and I ran into the issues with the motivations for certain character's actions.

If you have read book one you know that some characters seem to be against humanity. I had to come up with a reason, a good reason for their actions. Hence the surprise at the beginning of the book was born.

TDWS: You mentioned characters. Are they all back in Book Two?

George Cook: Oh yes Sergeant Richards, Jackson, Holloway, Smith, Duncan, Blake, Delice etc are all back. There are also new characters and Sgt Jackson's platoon The Peacemakers are introduced.

Also Sergeant Liu who previously only appeared in the short stories "Zombie Killer" and "Safe Zone" finally shows up in the main story line.

TDWS: How would you compare Book Two to the first book?

George Cook: Book Two is a lot more action oriented with some bigger action sequences than the first book. The horror and suspense element are still there though as the antagonist and protagonist are in a dark hospital full of the living dead. You never know what's around the corner.

I also tried to insert a little humor to keep things from being so dark. That's hard though since the whole world has gone to hell.

TDWS: At the end of Book Two we start to see some technology. What's up with that?

George Cook: LOL. Let's just say that both sides have things that they don't want anyone to know about. That will play in big time in Book Three: War.

TDWS: Sergeant Richards seems even more sure of himself this time out. Are we seeing an evolution of the character?

George Cook: I think what you are seeing with the Sergeant Richards character is a man thrown into extraordinary circumstancesy making the choice to rise to them instead of be crushed by them.
As seen in the short story "Safe Zone" he truly believes that mankind can win the war against the dead and now he has a chance to make sure that happens.

TDWS: The entire cast of The Dead War Series is very multi-cultural. Why so?

George Cook: Because the United States is. I hope it doesn't take a zombie apocalypse to bring us all together but if it does no one will care if the man or woman next to them is black, white, brown, yellow, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, straight or gay. They will only care whether or not you can kick some zombie ass and help ensure their survival.

TDWS: There is another surprise when Sergeant Richards and The Peacemakers finally find the zombie.What comes of that?

George Cook: Nice try, but that wont be divulged until Book Three. All I can say is that the surprise will lead an enemy to reveal themselves more than they wanted to and lead to an all out war at The Rock.

TDWS: So there will be another battle at The Rock?

George Cook: Yes that was planned from the start. I actually made a video back in January 2012 after the first book came out. Watching it now is funny because Book One actually had a different name at the time. Here is some audio from the second battle and this is all the scoop you are going to get.




TDWS: What will you tell us about Book Three: War?

George Cook: There will be much more action, military hardware, and that no character is safe. It will be all out war.

TDWS: When will Book Three: War be released?

George Cook: The week of October 31st of course. LOL.

TDWS: Where can people keep up with you and what's going on?

George Cook: Of course right here on The Dead War Series Blog. They can also follow me on Facebook or Twitter.

TDWS: Thanks for the interview and thanks for your time.

George Cook: For you guys anytime.

New book trailer for The Dead War Series Book Two: Abomination

Check out the trailer for my latest book, The Dead War Series Book Two: Abomination. Please feel free to share it, tweet it, and like it. I promise I wont mind...LOL