Bronx-born, LA transplant, E Van Lowe, began writing at the age of 10 and hasn't stopped since. A graduate of Lehman College and the University of Southern California, E sold his first short story to a romance magazine while still a student. He has gone on to write for many award-winning TV shows including: The Cosby Show and Even Stevens. He also co-wrote the Academy Award nominated short film, Cadillac Dreams.
A Little About the Novel:
NEVER SLOW DANCE WITH A ZOMBIE is E's first teen novel, but it won’t be his last. E still has lots of important, and weird, thoughts to share with readers. It hit shelves August 18!
The Blurb:
On the night of her middle school graduation, Margot Jean Johnson wrote a high school manifesto detailing her goals for what she was sure would be a most excellent high school career. She and her best friend, Sybil, would be popular and, m
ost important, have boyfriends. Three years later they haven't accomplished a thing!
Then Margot and Sybil arrive at school one day to find that most of the student body has been turned into flesh-eating zombies. When kooky principal Taft asks the girls to coexist with the zombies until the end of the semester, they realize this could be the perfect opportunity to live out their high school dreams. Now all they have to do is stay alive...
The Assessment of Yours Truly:
Margot is awesomely horrible!! Maybe she deserves a PhD in Horribleness?
- Translation: As a protagonist, Margot is an incredibly refreshing twist on the shallow, but unnoticed, teen who wants nothing more than to have it all. Instead of being empty and "what adults think unpopular teens are like," Margot was conflicted about her increasing bad girl behavior almost from the start. But she did horrible, mean girl things anyway – a sad, but true fact about some teenaged girls, and executed very creatively.
Lovelovelove the relationship between Margot and Syb!
- Translation: While Syb is the basic sidekick, less-dominate character, the genuine sweetness and goodness about her was the perfect compliment to Margot's increasing selfishness and self-delusion. They worked together very well without feeling over-the-top or like a "because I said so" relationship. (Sub-translation: When an author decides that things "just are" and never really shows the hows or whys.)
Very, very bizarre, but in a good way!- I wasn't sure what to expect, but with a title like NEVER SLOW DANCE WITH A ZOMBIE, I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised by some of the things Margot did. It read a lot like a situational comedy, and that was something I wasn't used to. It's something I love about television and didn't realize was missing from books...until now!
All-in-all, I couldn't put it down, and that's really the litmus test for books as far as I'm concerned. E surprised and delighted me, and really, what more can a girl ask for? Except maybe a zombie boyfriend. ;)The Interview:
Writing...is the elixir that keeps me young and vibrant.
My favorite part of the publishing process (so far) has been...seeing my first copy of the ARC. I was on cloud nine.
My least favorite part was...rewrites. I can't tell you how many times that danged book came back. At times I thought it was a homing pigeon.
Without my agent...I wouldn't be a published author. That's for sure.
The best thing my editor suggested was...the summer camp story from the book. It's something that really happened to her. Capturing her pain helped me with Margot.
My greatest writing asset is...my computer? Why do I suddenly feel like I'm back in high school, taking a test, and failing? LOL. That's my answer, and I'm sticking to it.
NEVER SLOW DANCE WITH A ZOBMIE is like...Mean Girls meets Shaun of the Dead.
Margot's biggest problem is...that she hasn't gotten over a past hurt. The pain is what shapes who she is in the story, and until she gets past it she can't become a better person.
Don't read this book if...you are a hard core zombie fan, or don't like light-hearted stories.
If I were a zombie and had to choose between brains and flesh, I'd eat...brains. I'm not a meat-eater.
The best zombie movie EVER is...28 Days Later!
Come zombie apocalypse time, I won't be able to live without...books and movies, and pizza.
If I had to be back in high school, I'd...hopefully realize that others are going through exactly what I'm going through. That definitely would make it easier.
If I had to be back in high school, with zombies, I'd...probably try to find a cure. Zombies are not fun, and I like fun!
Zombies...represent the ultimate in getting along and tolerance. Margot says: "...they don't snark at each other, or gossip behind each other's backs, or get jealous when their friends like a cute boy. They have one thing in common–they're zombies. But we kids have a whole lot in common, shouldn't it be easier for us to hang together?" We humans can learn a few things from zombies.
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For the record, I would like to state that, though this blogger believes in peace and harmony, if forced to choose: UNICORNS RULE, ZOMBIES DROOL!
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed having E here as much as I did. Class, say, "Thank you, Mr. Van Lowe!"
If you want to know more about E or NEVER SLOW DANCE WITH A ZOMBIE (in stores now, people!!), his Web site and blog are great places to start.
Please stay tuned for more author interviews in the future, and don't forget to pick up your copy of this hilarious book today! 
1 comment:
Thank you, Mr. Van Lowe!
What a great introduction to a new book -- if I can find it for Kindle, I'll definitely get a copy! Please keep doing these author interviews. I like finding new things to read!
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