Trailer Park Zombies

Hi Jason.
Wow, do you know how to write or what? You're the only person I know who can get great comedy, terrific atmosphere, entirely natural dialogue, an MC who absolutely demands empathy from the reader, plus powerful horror into one book. Into the first two chapters, no less. Brilliant, masterful writing.
You also have a great ending to ch 1, a fabulous start to ch 2, (one of the best I've read) and another superb hook at the end of ch 2.

How could I not shelve?
This is going all the way.
Cas.
KING'S ENVOY

Hi Jason . . . I just love this . . .
Great characters, brilliantly observed, and fast - but dark - funny action.
I zoomed through the first four chapters and if wasn't so busy, I'd have read on . . . and on . . .
but I'll be back!

I felt like backing you for your title alone, but now I've read it, I know the whole book is worthy of being shelved.
Great work.

Berni
(Fledgling)

Jason....this is really fantastic. I can't stop reading....I am desperate to get to the zombies LOL. Just finished chapter 2 and I am going to read on but wanted to comment and back first.

This is fast and funny and dark all at the same time. The voice is so strong...it practically screams redneck...but then there is so much more to it as well. I was expecting a spoof but this is multi layered and very clever.

reading on...well done.....best of luck

Rachael
'Falling Through'

Jason,
I have to back any book that elevates Wal-Mart to "something special" to the people in a trailer park. This is also a very well written story, and has a serious side that begins when Tamara is raped by the football player. I've seen other zombie stories on this site, but nothing that could compare to the polished professionalism of this manuscript. This is far above average.
Shelved.
Mark

Hi there, have had a read at your first chapter. Independent of the zombies - and I love me some zombies - there's some sweet moments here. I loved poor Fannie Mae's sweet adoration of the narrator, even though he's not totally interested, bless her. The interaction between the two mates was convincing, and I liked the depiction of school dinners. Is it preferable to brains? I must know! It's a great set-up and the last line is begging to be turned on its head. Terrific stuff.

All the best

p

AAAAGH!! You can't leave me hanging at the end of chapter 10! I have to know what has happened to your characters as I have fallen in love with the 3 of them. Any way I can read more? Why are you not published yet? If they publish, I will buy! Thank you for a gripping story that cannot be put down.
xxxooo

That's odd. I could have sworn I'd commented on this work before... Clearly not. let's try again.

It's like finding a diamond, this book. You expect mediocre horror with a couple of laughs and what you get is hit over the head with a fabulous piece of commercial literature. It's got everything it could ever need. Duke is superb, but you've not neglected the others to flesh him out. They're all wel-rounded and engaging in their own right.

I want to say something helpful, but all I'm coming up with is praise.
Shelved with pleasure.
Abi xxx

Zombie-Lit at its finest!
Backed with pleasure! Good Luck!!
A look at Sicilian Shadows would be greatly appreciated.
Frank.
If you back my work, you may also want to approach BJD (a big supporter of Sicilian Shadows) for a further possible backing of your book.

A fantastic name for a punk rock band or a novel. If you play an instrument and slam dance as well as you write, you could bring both to the public.

Took me a while to get to this one (been on my WL for a week or so). Glad I clicked on it today.

Vastly entertaining. Disturbed and hilarious.

Backed,

g

I really like your use of the first person narrative. Your work is well written, well paced and rounded out well with dark humour. Your character development of Duke is excellent and the dialogue is tight and realistic. Your descriptive writing style makes your finely crafted novel a pleasure to read. Backed.

Andrew Burans
The Reluctant Warrior: The Beginning

TRAILER PARK ZOMBIES
This is a good story. I like the way it starts with a typical day – then goes terribly wrong when Mason’s head hits that tombstone. And then gets even worse when the zombies appear. A lot of zombie authors get so caught up in their zombies, they forget to flesh out their real characters. You’ve avoided that trap. Makes this a good read. I’m adding this to my shelf. Burgio (Grain of Salt).

you rightly give us a slow build up for this book, taking in the normal way of life, so we can begin to relate to your hero, then...great horror...on watchlist...
su dan...read SEASONS...

Superb story that stands right up there with Shaun of the Dead. Witty, scary, great description anda story that plunges full on, backed with pleasure.

Zombie stories are always fun. You add to the experience with cynical, hard-bitten wit. This is very well written and a thoroughly enjoyable story. Good work; glad to back it for you.
Craig
The Job

I love this book! I see you haven't been on the site for a while but I think you have an excellent unique book with Trailer Park Zombies! Come on back on cause your book should be going up up up! You have a wonderfully crafted and original story here! I enjoy your style and the pacing is perfect! This should be going up in the rankings! BACKED with pleasure!


Liz
The Cheech Room

Hi - Backed! I enjoyed this zany, zombie yarn. Creeeeepy!
Barry (Little Krisna and the Bihar Boys)

Hi,

I'm backing your book to speed it along to its inevitable date with the Editor's Desk. Horror is not something I normally enjoy, nor something I should comment on, but your style is accomplished and readable. I did however show it to my son and he said I should back it.

Tim Chambers
Moonbeam Highway: With Apologies to Miguel de Cervantes.

"Ever had one of those perfect days? Yeah, me neither." Hilarious, gory, and very well written. What else can I say? Backed.

Hi Jason - your pitch and plot drew me in. What a crazy and weird premise. You're writing is the reason why I'm going to back you. Your characters are believable and your dialogue is great. Well done.

Jeanne (Dark Angel)

After a couple of chapters i was spell bound. Evocative, funny, and scary to boot.....

definatetly worth the backing...


BACKED

If you like zombies, you might like chapter 40 of my book.

TRAILER PARK ZOMBIES:

Jason,

This was such a special surprise. A fantastic title, but an even more fantastic mixture of humour, horror and realism. Your attention to detail brings the whole thing to life and the dialogue is worthy of a film script.

Backed with admiration and my good wishes,

Sheila (Pinpoint)

Dear Jason H. Jones,

Thank you for sharing your story with us. Great premise. Great title. I skipped to chapter thirteen and loved the polite zombie knocking and how you describe the severed as foot heavier than expected. “What’s worse than life in a trailer park? Unlife in one!” Bravo! Backed.

Best wishes,
Alan Marling
Ghost Warrior, the Stealing

'Reality is a big suck-ass sometimes.' Yes, it is, I completely agree. This is different - good different. I love the title, and the whole premise is just brilliant. Backed.

This is a book full of action, with an excellent plot outlined in the pitch, and above all with characters who you can't help loving right from the start. Duke Johnson has such a convincing, realistic voice. He talks just as an American teenager with a lot of intelligence would talk. I love 'a small doser of a person,' 'it did appear that she was applying for the position (of town slut,) and, after 'Ever had one of those perfect days?' etc, 'No, me neither.' There is so much wit and humour here, as well as depth. I hesitate to compare any character to Holden Caulfield, and yet there is a definite inclination to do so with this one. When Duke says about Fannie Mae, 'She was like the little sister I'd never had, and I'd be damned if I let anyone sully that for me,' there is an instant recognition of the sensitivity and morality which are basic to his character and which attract us to him. There is a poignancy which goes alongside the wit in this book. Duke isn't a whiner. He has so little going for him, in terms of background, but he has his plan of escape laid out, and is working hard for it. It is his courage, and his moral values, which get him into potential trouble in Chapter Two, but we can only admire him for it. He is a character we want to see coming out with a happy ending of some sort, and this impels us to read on.
Backed.
Gerry McCullough,
Belfast Girls.

Yeah this is a narrator it would be fun to spend some time with. Happy to support this.

Jason,

I love horror with comedy. I wish I had to time to read more. Loved the title and idea of Trailer Park Zombies and I appreciate horror with humor. The loved the names Fannie Mae, Duke, and Barret and the line ‘And a dead finger twitched.’

Backed!

Laurie – Into The Master’s Lair

Jason,

From the start, Duke grows in character as likeable and sympathetic. He's frank, at times self-deprecating, almost as if he sees it as futile to have hope amongst those of his background, "Sport had never been my thing. I was a wiry little bastard' - couldn't easily say that of myself; once wiry, possibly, but could never question my...eh... legitimacy.
I felt for Duke; gauche with girls, awkward before Fanny Mae who nudges him in the arm and "laughs at his formality."
Perhaps she has to do this to compensate for her own feeling of inadequacy, bound, it seems, to have limited horizons.She seems to acknowledge this when she says "You know I'm not going to get out of here. I'm third generation trailer trash".
Then Duke shows his tenderness in putting his arm around her and, himself limited by a humble beginnings, tries to comfort Fanny Mae. He grows more likeable.
The dialogue - perhaps I should say banter, at this early stage - between Duke and Barrett, spares no politeness or gentility - to understate - but is entirely consistent to the characters you've created.
The whole flows smoothly in unpretentious and very accessible prose, both when first person narration and when dialogue.
Because I want to see Duke and Fanny Mae, in particular, and Barrett perhaps secondarily, freed from the idea that their lives are ordained to drag on in obscurity while other classes can wallow in privilege, I'm rooting for them to "get out of here" as Fanny craves.
When Duke says "The car keys felt a bit like freedom for me', I think I can say I was moved - to read on. Shelved
Ray
(A Child from the Wishing Well)

Hi, I read your first chapter to get an idea of your style - hoping I wouldn't encounter any zombies yet! I don't like horror, but I did enjoy your writing. It is interesting and entertaining. Good luck with your book :)

I love the setting for this book. A trailer park! It's almost humorous.

A couple of comments:
"It was obvious from the tilt of her head that she didn't find me that funny. 'I don't find that funny, Duke,' she said." This is repetitive. Have her say something else or change his internal dialog.

She's suddenly in tears without us seeing any emotion. It makes her feel not quite human. And him putting his arm around her shoulders doesn't feel like he's being true to his character. He dislikes her and his internal dialog has shown that he's pretty irritated with her on a regular basis. He should be doing his best to get away from her rather than to comfort her.

I love the humor you throw into things. I laughed out loud several times while reading, which doesn't normally happen for me. I feel this has potential, and am shelving it.

Andrea
The Key of Kilenya

Hi Jason, I didn't get as far as the zombies... (not really my thing) but I did think your first two chapters were really, rally well done - nice tone of narrative voice, good dialogue, good pace - it all came alive on the screen. Shelving! AnneX

Brilliant! There's no doubt in my mind about this one -- shelved! I'll read the rest later. Really excellent work. :-)

Ah good old zombies. This is a great read, intense, sullen and later horrifying. The writing flows well and the characters are immediately recognisable. Everybody knows a Barrett. Everyone knows a Fannie Mae. Everybody knows zombies and that is why this is destined to be a gruesomely popular piece of work.

|n addition to the comments I wrote, I don't know if I communicated just how much I liked this story. As in I thought it was really good. I really enjoyed reading it. I didn't offer criticism, just what I thought. I only meant to read every second or third chapter, (there's so much to read here!) But in the end I read the entire thing in three sittings. You want to know what happens next. So again great story.

Shrapnel Jones,
The Survivor

And btw, I think Washingtons change is too quick and not done well. I think it would go better if he died protecting Duke and FM. And the guys who disappear on the bikes. Duke should see their bikes crashed on the side of the road as the truck pulls away.

But overall, great dialogue, great pace. The heart quickens when I read it. Fantastic false ending and happy to back.

Let me know when you get a chance to go through mine.

Shrap Jones.

Dude. Dude. Dude.

'Not really, but I'll wait till this is over to break down.'

'It worked in Lost Boys, right.'

'Shove a knife into the chest of a zombie and what do you get? um. A zombie with a knife in its chest.'

great story. However, in places I feel you could do with with watching for repeat phrases in certain chapters. While I get the references to zombie films, I think it takes away from the story, constantly referencing them. Takes you away from the believability of it all. I don't think you need the Epilogue and the story shoud end when he climbs into the truck. maybe throw a two line ending at it. There are some great wry moments.

Seems an interesting read on what I have read so far. Some suggestions: might be worth giving it a "moderate" rather than "universal" rating -- not really sure its for the kids. Importantly, I noticed a number of grammatic errors, mainly run-on sentences and occasionally your use of comas when transitioning from dialog. worth fixing, it'll just give publishers a reson to reject it. But aside from that, it's got something going for it!

Hi Jason!

Sorry it has taken me so long to read and comment on this - but it was definitely worth the wait!

I love every aspect of your tone - this is engaging, compelling prose, with a lightness of touch and humour that is winning in every respect. Backed! Anna (Traitor's Heir).

I haven't got to the zombies yet, but your portrayal of high school is chilling on its own. ;)

Good read, with a definite sense of atmosphere, and character.

Great stuff - even though we don't have trailer parks over here and I've never met a zombie (crosses fingers) - this feels like the real thing. Great trio of characters (do they really call girls - Fannie Mae?) - and excellent pace, a real page turner. Can't fault the writing, reads like many other, - published book. Great read, backed and I'll read some more when my heartrate comes down!!

Draco/ Veil

Thorughly enjoying this. Stopped to shelve you and wl keep on reading. I like the way you paint the picture of despair within the trailer park life, its a great undertone which sets up the story. On we go.

Cheers

Rayo

Hey Jason,
I'd planned on three but had to take a peek at chap 4 with that ending. This is pacy, action-filled stuff. A cracking read, natural dialogue, characters I can relate to... Yes. It ticks the boxes and is on the shelf.
Cheers!
Simon

I LOVE zombie films. I've never read a zombie book before. This captures everything I love about the films though - it's horrific but with a dry sharp wit plus shedloads of gore. I read all the way up to the end of Chapter 6 in one go and I will definitely read the rest of this. I think it might be my favourite book on Authonomy so far. Shelved!

Jason-

I put this on my WL one day after readinga thread about it. Great story. I like how it starts of with the bleak teenage humor. As it progresses we really get the feeling of desperation and the end, wow! Extremely moving considering you expect cheesy zombies. Shelved.

Hello Jason

Firstly, the name Trailer Park Zombies and your book cover are excellent, spot on. I'm a bog fan of the old (and recent) zombie films so I had to read this. A zombie story set in a trailer park has to be good.

First chapter has a good bit of character building and scene setting, you have a good writing style. There's humour beneath the surface, and although its not a laugh a second read, it keeps a smile on your face.
Second chapter carries on the scene setting and builds the story. The main character is a very likeable person, the action at the grave yard was very good. the suspense is building very well. No zombies yet, but I think I can tell how they arrive or appear, which is good.

It needs a bit of grammar looking at and editing, don't all of ours though, in particular though I think it's pretty good practise to write numbers in full, i.e. sixteen, twenty etc.

I'll be back to read more, this has all the makings of a classic zombie story, definately shelved for now
Charlie

Hi Jason,

You asked me to swap-review, so here I am...

It is as I thought - that I would not enjoy the subject. I shy from such book covers, too (you'll understand when you read Death: The Guidebook).

The writing style is excellent (grammar needs work and text needs editing - but nothing serious). I like the launch pages and the humour is just right - not silly and not patronising. This is very good writing, but wasted. If only it were a different subject, title, cover...

Regards,
Philip (Death: The Guidebook)

A cracking read. I await the film.

Jason,
Your “Trailer Park Zombies” is an “autobiographical” tale told in glib, quippy first person narration by 16-year-old Duke Johnson. His drunken parents forget his 16th birthday and that’s the way he wants it. His goal is to graduate high school in two years and get his ass out of their white trash trailer park. Perky 14-year-old Fannie Mae Jennsen bounces into his morning with a birthday greeting. (Do I detect irony here – since Fannie Mae is the acronym for the federal government’s lending agency for homes?) He reiterates his dream of leaving and she quashes it with “You have to come back. . . .I’m third-generation trailer trash and that’s all I’ll ever be.” Enter Barrett Inman, Duke’s best friend and pain in the ass, a lucky bastard who doesn’t live in the trailer park. The three of them verbally joust their way through lunch as Duke contemplates Tamarah Rogers, a hot cheerleader who lives in the trailer park. Although she doesn’t notice his lustful gaze, Barrett reminds Duke that her boyfriend Mason certainly does. The trio make plans for the weekend – Barrett’s parents are out of town, he’s found his dad’s car keys, and he offers to teach Duke how to drive on the dirt field behind the cemetery. Surely a disaster in the making, and the reader will want to turn the page.

Written with teenage sarcasm, full of witty observations and clever devices, and populated with believable characters. I’ll move this to my bookshelf.
Mary

I've read chapter one and the writing flows smoothly enough for me to enjoy. We're introduced to three characters. POV is first person and works well with the MC's sense of humor. Information is slid in without being too obvious. Characters are described well. Putting a few individual touches on their speech might tighten their characters even more. I find Fannie Mae is a little long-winded and if she's a trailer park girl then maybe her speech needs to reflect her background a bit more. I can understand the MC trying to improve himself and talking better, but Fannie Mae is described as destined to probably continue the trailer park cycle.

Overall, an excellent first chapter with good POV work and sense of character. Would you like me to keep reading or is there a specific chapter you want me to look at?

Quenntis
Tales Tell Tales
Dancing with mini-shorts

This is great! Funny and wonderfully written. I haven't finished reading (I assure you, I will read on), but I just had to stop to inform you that I am placing this on my shelf.

I love your first paragraph and the last sentence in it in particular: “But it there was some equivalent to oysters in a white trash trailer park, then that’s what the world was to me.” The second paragraph gives a pretty decent fleshing out of “sweet sixteen;” especially, the sentence, “The last think I needed was drunk mom and dad acknowledging my presence.”

“You can get your license, get a car, do anything you want.” “Mom and dad woke me up this morning with the keys to my very own car: a Corvette. Can you believe it?”

The dialog with Fannie Mae is a little campy, but it has a pretty realistic sound to it; except for the “I’ll never get out of the trailer park” lines, but I think that’s probably intentional. Obviously, you’re making is a little over-the-top since you’re going to be bringing zombies and other bullshit into this “real” world of trailer park trash. The whole setting is so B-movie, so Ed Wood. So, “they’re really messed up.” I can already feel the fear of a zombie ripping off the aluminum siding of a double-wide.

I love the “Archie and Jughead” twist of the conversation when Barrett comes into the morning conversation: “my sometime best friend, and all around pain in the ass . . . I really didn’t go around checking out my best male friend’s eyes, okay?” “Mom get you booze or cigs this year?”

Great lines out of a multitude, but ones that gave me a flashback to high school (a time I’d rather forget for the most part): “A smorgasbord of flesh greeted the eyes and waited all comers. Well, not really all comers. Mainly just the football team.”

“This was going to be the best birthday ever.” Oh yeah? Time will tell while you’re out by the cemetery and the zombies shuffle on by. Shelved with pleasure.

Hi Jason, just finished the first two chapters. This is impressive, flowing writing and I loved it, so easy to read. You don't usually read true stories, and I am often a little scared of zombies, vampires etc. But I liked this, and might even come back for more! Backed.

Best wishes, Agneta

Ok, you sold me. Very readable. My only quibble is that I would lose the opening paragraphs of Ch1 and start with Fannie Mae calling out. You have a spot on my shelf.

There's a sense of humor at work here that I like. Not sure how you do it, but it takes some skill in writing. It's like the reader can sense you standing back, observing your characters with a wry sense of humor. And it also has the benefit of detaching the reader a bit from some of the more blood-curdling material that I suspect is to come.

Your characters are very well-etched. You seem to know the joys of teen angst in a white trash trailer park pretty well. And your dialogue rings true to each character, the situation, and helps advance the narrative.

I think you are on to something here. Shelved.

Hi Jason. This is a good read with some very dark, colorful characters. I liked Fannie Mae (a take on the government housing agency?) and Duke. A trailer park full of hammered rednecks watching Deal or No Deal--ha, I really liked that. Mason seemed plastic and I didn't get far enough, but see that he becomes a zombie. Good fight scene in the cemetery. Good description of Duke's family life and his yearning to escape the small town and trailer park. You follow a well-defined writing craft technique for plotting an incident in the first act (killing of Mason). This propels the story into the second act. I didn't get far enough, but I suspect the second act begins when the zombie appears. Only suggestion is to spell out small numbers such as 16 and 21. Very fine work and shelved.

Randy
(Buttermilk Moon)

You write very well. One wants to go on reading. And the black humour is excellent. This gets my vote.

Charles