Now it may surprise many of you (probably not) that I’m not really into holidays. I don’t really have anything against the holidays specifically, but Black Friday is enough to make me lose what little faith I retain in humanity and want to punch the nearest mall Santa. That being said, it should come as no surprise that Christmas themed stories don’t find much space on my already overcrowded book shelf. But as with all things in life there is an exception.
The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore is not only a quality Christmas read, but one hell of an entertaining zombie one as well. Haven’t read it yet? Go look in the mirror. Then punch yourself in the face. Now go read it.
Moore has written numerous international best sellers, all of which are worth a read, but being that it tis’ the season, The Stupidest Angel might be the best place to start.
Christopher Moore was kind enough to sit down with BuyZombie.com and discuss his thoughts on zombies, the holidays and how he brought them all together with a little bit of squirrel porn in his novel The Stupidest Angel.
I got some bells you can jingle…
Here’s a quick bio:
Christopher Moore is the author of eleven novels, including the international bestsellers,Lamb, A Dirty Job and You Suck. His latest novel is Fool, a retelling of King Lear from the perspective of Pocket, the Fool.
Chris was born in Toledo, Ohio and grew up in Mansfield, Ohio. His father was a highway patrolman and his mother sold major appliances at a department store. He attended Ohio State University and Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara. He moved to California when he was 19 years old and lived on the Central Coast until 2003, when he moved to Hawaii.
Before publishing his first novel, Practical Demonkeeping in 1992, he worked as a roofer, a grocery clerk, a hotel night auditor, and insurance broker, a waiter, a photographer, and a rock and roll DJ. Chris has drawn on all of these work experiences to create the characters in his books. When he’s not writing, Chris enjoys ocean kayaking, scuba diving, photography, and sumi-e ink painting. He divides his time between Hawaii and San Francisco.
1. You’ve written The Stupidest Angel, as well as the introduction for It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Zombies, both of which bring together the undead and Christmas. What about this holiday says zombies to you?
Well, if you’ve seen the crowds on Black Friday, there’s that, but more I think it was just a contrast. The idea to write the Stupidest Angel actually came from Mike Spradlin, who wrote It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Zombies, although the zombies were my idea. But still, if there’s blame, it goes on Mike. I just thought it would be a fun thing to do for a Christmas party.
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2. What were your thoughts as you wrote The Stupidest Angel? How did this idea come about?
Well, as I said, it was Spradlin’s idea. Not the zombies, but he came up to me at my publisher’s sales conference and said, “You know Chris, you should write a Christmas book, we could sell the shit out of it.” And I said, “Oh really, what should it be about?” And he said, “Oh, I don’t know, Christmas in Pine Cove.” And I was off to the races. I liked the idea of having zombies who not only had been lying in the ground for years, but who had been listening to everyone’s secrets, so when they came alive, they’d be yelling all sorts of embarrassing things at the citizens barricaded in the church. Stuff like, “Gabe Fenton likes squirrel porn!” Pretty sure that was a first for a Christmas Story.
3. Have there been any adverse or angry reactions to your blending of Christmas and zombies?
Nah, there’s a big warning at the beginning of the book, so most people who would get mat, stay away, but there was one woman who bought the book and didn’t read the warning and got all pissed off because there was all the zombies and profanity, but I’m pretty sure she was an idiot.
4. You wrote Stupidest Angel before zombies were the en vogue monster. Any plans to revisit zombie fiction in the future?
It could happen. I really don’t think much about trends, except that I kind of try to avoid them. I think the genre has been pretty-well trampled for a while. Like I said, it could happen, but I don’t have an idea right now.
5. When zombies are decorating a Christmas tree what is the first thing hung?
Entrails. “The entrails were strewn on the tree with care–” etc. etc.
6. Which would be more frightening, a zombified Santa Claus or an undead Easter Bunny?
I’ve done zombified Santa, but undead Easter Bunny has some great possibilities. I don’t know about more frightening, but way more funny.
7. How do you think Santa handle an outbreak of zombie elves?
He’d have to grab the elf hammer out of the workshop. Okay, right back at you. Imagine Peter Jackson’s Tolkeinesce elves working in Santa’s work shop. Weird, huh?
8. Zombies mean different things to different people. What do they mean to you?
Just a plot element for me, really. I tried to put my own spin on them, but for the most part, they’re just puppets for stories.
9. What is your favorite holiday? Why? Least favorite?Â
Hmmm. Probably Thanksgiving, because I like pie.
10. Black Friday photos tend to look like an uprising of the undead. Any fears about the dead rising from the grave to ruin your holiday plans?
Nah. I really do loathe the holiday season, but for very anti-social reasons. I always have a book due, and I don’t really take days off, but around the holidays, there’s always something you have to do, somewhere you have to go. It’s kind of a pain in the ass. The holidays get in the way of my work.
11. Â Are there other holidays that you feel should or should not be given a little undead flavor?
I think there are great possibilities for Veterans day. I mean, if all those people rose from the grave, they’re fighters. Shit could get real, real fast.
Information on Christopher Moore and his books can be found at:Â http://www.chrismoore.com/
Question #3… Did her really say they would ‘get mat’?
Then I went and did it… Maybe you were writing on an iPad too…
The joys of auto correct. Thanks for the heads up Proofreader Maximus. No, I am sure that Mr. Moore meant “mad” and I missed that correction.