Monday, May 13, 2013

BBT: How Not To Train A Zombie



BLURB:
How does a thirteen-year old become the most popular kid in 8th grade? He trains a zombie to be a pet... And that's exactly what Max Taylor plans to do, even if he had to lie, steal, and lose his best friend in the process.
Excerpt:
“That’s not only the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard, but it’ll get us in all sorts of trouble.” Chad’s nasally baritone voice blasted its way through the crowded hallway. Only the clanks of locker doors slamming shut were louder, but not by much.

Up and down the hallway, students turned and stared at Chad and Max. Some pointed and laughed, but most just ignored them as if they didn’t exist.

“Sheesh! Can you talk a little louder? I don’t think they heard you in the band hall.” Max’s face turned several shades redder than the lockers lining the wall. This wasn’t exactly the kind of attention he wanted, especially not after yesterday’s Career Fair. How his mom found out about it, was beyond him. He had thrown away the first flyer asking for volunteers to speak to his class about their careers over a month ago, and he made sure to throw away every flyer he had gotten since then.

But somehow she found out.
 
And yesterday, she showed up in a bright pink flower shirt and her overalls and talked to the class about the joys of being a gardener. Max wanted to die. Gardening wasn’t even her career. It was her hobby! And everyone knew it. And then his mom singled him out when she left. Shaking hands would have been okay, but is that what his mom did?

Oh no!

She hugged him in front of the whole class. Even having Eddy Pratt’s dad talk about being a zombie exterminator couldn’t erase the embarrassment and humiliation Max endured the rest of the day.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
I live in Texas with my husband, son, and two cats who think they run the place. I read, write, play Texas Hold’em poker (I'm actually part of a local league), and occasionally I compete in BBQ competitions with my husband. Our team name is Outcast Cookers. I also teach in a public school.

My likes include: a wide variety of music (see my play list for book 2 on my blog), Star Trek (My son got me a signed picture of Patrick Stewart which sits on my desk.), Star Wars, Grimm (TV series), winter (though we don’t have snow), the holiday season, coffee, hot tea (with cream and sweetener), pizza (no anchovies though), puzzles, Edgar Allan Poe, Ray Bradbury, and JK Rowling.
Buy Links


The author will award a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

  he tour dates can be found here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/03/virtual-blurb-blitz-tour-how-not-to.html
 

13 comments:

Shelley Munro said...

I think that training a zombie will provide some interesting obstacles. An intersting premise. I wish I'd thought of it. :)

Mary Preston said...

Hi,

I'm wondering how you did come up with the idea?

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Annie Rachel Cole said...

Thanks Sandra for hosting.

Thanks Shelley.

Mary, the idea actually started with a series of nightmares I had--all starring zombies! To deal with the dreams, I started jotting down the bits and pieces I remembered. I teach junior high kids, so the idea slowly merged. It didn't hurt some of my kids were getting ready for the science fair. The various things going on just clicked and Max was born.

Goddess Fish Promotions said...

Thank you for hosting

Andra Lyn said...

I don't know if I'd be a cool kid, or someone to be feared beyond belief in middle school if I knew how to train zombies! Sounds like a fun read though!

andralynn7 AT gmail DOT com

Sandra Cox said...

Glad to have you, Annie.

Thanks to all who stopped by to support, Annie.

Kate said...

Thanks for sharing! Excited to hear more about the book! :)

hense1kk (at) cmich (dot) edu

Rita Wray said...

I love the premise of the book.

Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

Unknown said...

I love to see the little guy win, sounds like it is going to be a great story

fencingromein at hotmail dot com

Annie Rachel Cole said...

Thanks for stopping by and for your comments. :)

bn100 said...

Sounds fun

bn100candg at hotmail dot com

Chelsea B. said...

Lovin' the way this sounds!

justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

Jbst said...

Such a cute excerpt with his embarrassment about his Mom.

strive4bst(At) yahoo(Dot) com