FAQ-How Do You Decide Which Book To Write Next?

I consider myself to be a horror author, but depending on which one of my books you read first, you may have me classified as a vampire novelist or zombie novelist. Though I am both of those things, I am a horror writer with a ton of ideas banging around in my head.  It can get very noisy in there.

I am often asked the following:

How do you decide which book to write next?

If I have a contract with a publisher for a book, it's a no-brainer that I'll be writing that book. I'll drop whatever I have in progress to concentrate on the book that is under deadline to make sure I turn it in to my editor in a timely manner.  When the revision letter arrives for that book, I will again drop whatever I'm currently writing and concentrate on the contracted book. This happens with the first pass pages and the copyedits when they arrive, too. That's why sometimes my indie books get delayed.

Okay, but you haven't finished my favorite trilogy/series yet, so write the next one!

At this time I have two trilogies and one ongoing series. All three have their third book in a holding pattern.  AS THE WORLD DIES UNTOLD TALES VOL 3 is partially written and needs some major revision. The last book in the PRETTY WHEN SHE DIES trilogy is banging around in my head ready to be born. THE LAMENT OF THE VAMPIRE BRIDE, the third in the Vampire Bride series is unfurling in my mind's eye, but needs a ton of research. Fans of all three book series are sending me messages constantly asking for the next book.

Gawd, I'm so relieved that AS THE WORLD DIES is wrapped up and put to bed, otherwise I'd be crazier than I am.

So with the third book (and final book in two cases) waiting to be written for three of my lines, I have to do some math to figure out which one I will write next.

Because when it comes down to the bottom line, it really is about money.

Though I will write all three books, the top-selling series is the one I need to concentrate on. I'm a full-time writer and I have bills to pay, books to publish, and a life to live.

The reason why it took so long for PRETTY WHEN SHE KILLS to be written is because the first book, PRETTY WHEN SHE DIES, didn't sell for years. It wasn't until late 2011 that the book suddenly found its audience. When the first book was only selling maybe 50 copies a year, it wasn't really worth my time to cut a chunk out of my writing time to write the sequel. When it jumped up significantly and suddenly sold around 400 copies in one month, I realized that it was time to start on PRETTY WHEN SHE KILLS.

So after studying the numbers (sales, units sold, etc), financially it is more lucrative for me to write AS THE WORLD DIES UNTOLD TALES VOLUME 3. So that will be my next book after I finish PRETTY WHEN THEY COLLIDE (the novella in the same universe as PRETTY WHEN SHE DIES).

But that's not the book I want...

I realize that. I do. But in the end I have to consider the business end of my writing.  The next book after ATWD UT Vol 3 will be PRETTY WHEN SHE DESTROYS because of my two vampire series, that is the more popular one right now.  THE LAMENT OF THE VAMPIRE BRIDE is a much more intensive book to write because of all the research I have to do. It sits third on my list.

Once all three of these books are out, I will once again look at my sales and determine which direction I should go for my next big project.

But I want you to write the next book in ___________series!

This is where fans have clout and don't realize it. If you love one of my series, spread the word!  I'm not the only one looking at sales figures. Tor looks at sales, too. The best way to keep a writer in the business of writing books is to buy their book, whether it is self-published or traditionally published. I constantly monitor my sales and see which series are doing well.

Frequently Asked Questions: Will There Be More AS THE WORLD DIES Books

Today I'm starting a new feature where I will give an in-depth answer to the most frequently asked questions from fans.  Though I have answered most of these questions numerous times on my facebook page, Twitter, and even on this blog, I am aware from the slew of repeating questions that I'm garnering new fans nearly every day.  After this series is done, I will have links to the questions on facebook, my blog, and my website so that newer fans can find the answers they are looking for.

To start off this series, we start with the question I am asked nearly every day via facebook, twitter, and emails.

Will there be anymore books in the AS THE WORLD DIES  trilogy?

The trade paperback covers

The answer is simply no. A trilogy is three books, not more, not less. All three books have now been released in trade paperback and are  also being issued in mass market paperback with all new covers. My publisher, genre giant Tor, bought the trilogy in its entirety after its successful run as a self-published work. 

The mass market paperback covers

When I finished SIEGE, I felt an immense sense of completion. The trilogy fully tells the story I wanted to tell. It starts with Jenni and Katie fleeing a city in Texas for the Texas Hill Country at the end of the world. The trilogy ends when things come full circle for the characters. I totally and completely feel that I finished the trilogy on just the right note and it felt perfect.

But I want more to read in the AS THE WORLD DIES universe...

Untold Tales Volumes 1 & 2

 I have written short stories that take place in the AS THE WORLD DIES universe and those have been released as the AS THE WORLD DIES UNTOLD TALES VOL 1 & VOL 2.  The stories either precede the first scene in THE FIRST DAYS or run alongside it in the timeline.  The untold tales are about the minor characters in the trilogy that never really got to be in the spotlight.  I started writing the untold tales for the fans and the final three stories will be released in VOL 3 sometime this Spring.

But you could write a next generation book...

I have never been a fan of  next generation books. It's inevitable that I end up missing the characters from the previous generation and original books. Finding out what happened to them in retrospect and not actually experiencing those moments always feels a little lukewarm to me.  I just don't care much for them.

If I were to ever write in the AS THE WORLD DIES universe again, I would most likely start a new trilogy where the other one left off. I have no desire to skip ahead, or write about a group of survivors elsewhere. I'm just not interested in doing that.

Spoiler Alert (Highlight text to read): For those of you who still think Jason is the fort's John Conner, remember that it's Calhoun, the schizophrenic, who makes this declaration. Rune's prediction that Jason was important to the fort was prophetic about Jason fixing the fire line in time to deflect the zombie horde. Jason doesn't have some epic legendary status to acquire in the future. He's just a kid with great ideas living in the zombocalypse. 

But shouldn't I write more if the fans want it....

I totally understand that the fans want more. I'm glad they do. That means I wrote a story that they love and feel connected to in a dynamic way.  Yet, I feel the story I wanted to tell is complete. Though I know in general what comes next in that world and what the future looks like even 150 years down the road, I don't have an actual story. It's like looking at a textbook and reading the history about a town. That's all the information I have with no more details. It doesn't feel like a complete story to tell. I'll be honest--the only way I'd be interested in revisiting that world is if I had a full, complete, very exciting 2nd trilogy to tell, and I don't have that. I just have enough information to maybe write a short story.

But what if Tor wants more books...

Tor, my publisher, would have to have a good solid reason to want me to continue writing in the AS THE WORLD DIES universe. In other words, it would have to make financial sense.  Sales would have to indicate that it would be worth the monetary investment. Even if I had a killer idea for another trilogy, if Tor looked at the numbers and felt it wouldn't be financially feasible, they would pass on the idea. 

If you want Tor to know you want more in the series, buy the books for yourself, for gifts, and for your local libraries. Though I have new fans of my work because of libraries, only the initial sale of the book to the library counts in the eyes of the publisher. A lot of times readers have no idea how powerful the simple act of buying a book (not second hand) actually is in the life of a writer. Buying a book is your way of voting for your favorite writer and your favorite series. It's a tangible indicator to the publisher that you are willing to invest in the writer and their vision.  

Right now Tor is interested in growing me as a horror writer, not necessarily a zombie writer. My next book for Tor, DEAD SPOTS, is straight up horror and not a zombie novel.  The only way they'd probably grow interested in any sort of book related to AS THE WORLD DIES is if the numbers reached levels that indicate the zombie craze in publishing is not quite over yet.

But don't you want to keep writing AS THE WORLD DIES...

Actually, no. I'm truly burned out on the world that I spent a ton of time in for nearly seven years of my life. I wrote the story as an online serial for two years then spent five more years refining it. The three books have been rewritten, revised, and overhauled for two different publications (self-pubbed and Tor). When I finished SIEGE, I felt a complete and total sense of relief. I had written the story I wanted to tell and was ready to move on. I have so many more novels to write with all new characters and new worlds and to remain in the one that ate up my life and creativity for seven years doesn't appeal to me.  I still have to deal with the first pass and copyedits for the mass market paperback version of SIEGE, so I'm still basically dealing with the trilogy.  

I love all the characters, I love the story, and I'm so proud of the book, but I'm burned out on it. Imagine if you could only watch the same three TV episodes of your favorite show over and over again for seven years. Yeah,that's pretty much how I feel.

I'm thrilled that the story and the characters are so beloved. I'm excited that fans love it so much they want more. It means that I wrote something powerful that touched people and what more could a writer want?  

Maybe one day I'll have enough distance from the trilogy to have fresh new ideas take root in that world and blossom into something great. Maybe one day sales will be so great Tor will come knocking and ask for more. Maybe...maybe...

But the AS THE WORLD DIES trilogy is done. It's complete.  If I ever venture into that world again it will be a new story arc with a different feel and whole new dynamic, but I don't see that happening.

If you're dying to read about zombies Rhiannon Frater-style, remember I do have other zombie novels. THE LAST BASTION OF THE LIVING was named the #1 zombie book release of 2012 by Explorations, and THE LIVING DEAD BOY AND THE ZOMBIE HUNTERS is my little known zombie story that all ages can enjoy.

P.S. I honestly don't want to keep writing AS THE WORLD DIES until all the characters I love have died. :(

As The World Dies Untold Tales Volume 1 is Now Available in Most Ebook Formats!

AS THE WORLD DIES UNTOLD TALES VOLUME 1 is now for sale at Smashwords in multiple ebook formats.


Here is the description of the book:

THE FIRST DAYS: AS THE WORLD DIES introduced Jenni and Katie and their harrowing journey to the makeshift fort in the Texas Hill Country.
But theirs is not the only tale to be told.
In the first volume of the AS THE WORLD DIES UNTOLD TALES experience three terrifying tales of those who are forced to face the unrelenting and hungry walking dead.
Deep in the Texas Hill Country, a man and his little dog takes refuge in a bed and breakfast located in the hills above a doomed town where an infested rescue center might unleash the hungry undead… 
On a deserted highway slicing through the desolation of West Texas, a woman struggles to survive as she faces the horrifying aftermath of the rise of the zombies…
And finally, discover what happens on the first day to Katie’s beloved wife, Lydia, as the world dies…

The paperback will be available hopefully by the end of the week. Enjoy!


Update:  The Kindle version is now available at Amazon.com.

World Building...Texas Style

When I signed with Tor, I knew that the revision process was going to be a learning experience.  The fact that my editor at Tor was going to be Senior Editor Melissa Singer was very exciting, yet a little scary.  But I recognized that if I want to be a professional writer (and a good writer) I would have to embrace the process.    

After working on the revisions for the first two books under Melissa's guidance, I have to say that I have learned a lot.  I won't lie.  I will read books and think, "Melissa, NEVER would have let me get away with THAT."  Also, when working on my newer stories, I ask myself "What would Melissa ask me to do here?" 

But the one area of revision that really floored me was that I had to pay attention to my world building.  I never even thought about world building in the AS THE WORLD DIES novels.  They weren't science fiction or fantasy novels, so why did I have to world build?

The answer came in the first revision letter for THE FIRST DAYS.  

Melissa wanted to know why Jenni and Katie had a magic truck.  

I was perplexed.  I didn't understand what she meant at all at first.  I reread her notes, sat back and thought, "Well, shit, she's not from Texas. She doesn't know."

And that is when I realized I had to do a lot of world building for Texas.

I know my home state is not like the rest of the United States.  It's just not the size of the state that sets us apart, but also our history.   Texans tend to be very proud of our bigger than life heroes and the fact that we were our own country at one point in our history (and some would argue we are still the Republic of Texas).  

I love my state and I love the people.  There is a strong independent spirit in Texas that I feel is accurately reflected in the AS THE WORLD DIES novels.

But how was my editor from New York City supposed to know about our culture?  Our way of life? Our attitude?  Our multi-cultural background?  How was my editor from New York City who has never owned a car supposed to know that in Texas a person's truck is their pride and joy.  How was she supposed to know that most of those trucks are stocked to the brim with items for any contingency?  I asked a friend what he had in his truck.  The list was something like this:  tool chest, cooler, gun, ammunition, maps, GPS, snacks, change of clothing, water, sleeping bag, flashlight, and a hunting jacket.  

Therefore, what seemed like a magic truck to my editor in NYC (meaning it had everything Katie and Jenni needed), was an under-stocked truck in a Texan's eyes.  

As I worked on the revisions for the first two books, I made a serious effort to world build Texas so people who've never been here could get a better idea about the state.  For example, some areas of Texas were originally settled by the German settlers.  Ashley Oaks is in one of these areas.  The Latino population is a presence, but not the majority like it is in places like San Antonio or Corpus Christi.  A lot of towns in that area didn't even have a black population until Hurricane Rita swept onshore and decimated Jefferson County.  Jefferson County has a large black population, but after the storm, many families ended up uprooted and moved to other areas of Texas.  Realizing that I needed to world build Ashley Oaks, Texas, I incorporated all this history into the new versions of the story.  

I was talking to another writer at a conference I attended and we discussed that as Texans we sometimes had to explain certain things in our stories that just didn't make sense to someone who wasn't from Texas.  We had some good laughs over it.  As Texans we're aware that we're pretty nuts, but sometimes we don't realize how different we are until an editor or copy editor are all "WTF?" about something we wrote that seems perfectly normal to us.

In all honesty, the books are better because of the world building I did. But who would have thought I would have to world build TEXAS?

Are we really that nuts?

Oh, yeah.

We are.

Hacked sign in Texas.

AS THE WORLD DIES Wikia Page is Now UP!

I've been contemplating putting up a Wikia for the AS THE WORLD DIES books for sometime now.  I just kept putting it off because I knew it would take a bit of time to set up.  After talking to the gentleman who optioned the TV/Film rights for AS THE WORLD DIES tonight, I remembered I had already a done a lot of the legwork for the Wikia.  Last year I wrote up short character biographies for most of the main characters as well as some of the supporting ones for the producer.

Excited, I went ahead and stared up the Wikia which you can find here.

I already have a few of the biographies up and I will be adding more very soon.

Since I know the fans of AS THE WORLD DIES can be very die-hard about their favorites, please let me know if you think anything else should be added to the character biographies.  I have a few ideas for categories, but I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Also, feel free to send me any fan art you're willing for me to put up.

Thanks again for all your support and enjoy!

Happy News! AS THE WORLD DIES SERIES to be Audio Books!!

It appears that my agent received an offer for the audio book versions of the AS THE WORLD DIES zombie series!  I'm so excited.  A lot of fans have asked me if there was going to be audio book versions they could listen to while traveling for work.  Until now, I wasn't able to give them a solid answer.  Once my agent finishes working out all the details, I should have more information for you.

I'm so excited!

Keep the ATWD zombie virus spreading!

UPDATE:  The deal is confirmed!  All three books will be published by Audible.com!!

A Whole Lot of Good Stuff

Most of my good news with all things publishing has landed firmly on Mondays. In fact this has really taken my hatred of Mondays down quite a few notches. At some point I began to look forward to Mondays.

That's just scary!

Anyway, I suppose because of the extended Fourth of July weekend Tuesday had to substitute for Monday. Almost as soon as I sat down at my desk the good news started to pour in.

And it was long awaited good news, which is just delicious.

First off, FINALLY the contract is done. It took a very long time due to Macmillan changing its contract at the beginning of the year. My literary agency's contract manager had to acquaint herself with this new contract and go through it with a fine tooth comb. Then my entertainment lawyer needed to chime in on the contract as well as my literary agent before sending all the requested changes back to the lawyers at Macmillan. Then rinse and repeat as their lawyers responded. Rinse, repeat....you get my point. So after months of back and forth, the contract is ready! By Friday or Saturday I should have it in my little hands ready to sign and fire back off to my agent.

*huge sigh of relief*

I'm not very good at waiting to begin with. My patience meter is on the low end. I'm not sure which was worse: waiting during the submission round to see if the book landed a deal, or waiting for the contract on the done book deal. I actually did quite well waiting for the contract until about two weeks ago. I hate the feeling of being stagnant. If I'm not moving forward, I start to get frustrated. Luckily, I didn't really feel we were at a standstill until that point. I had a day of utter pissiness about the deal, but happily, that is when I heard the news that we were almost done.

Frankly, I am so glad I have a literary agency and entertainment lawyer behind me. There is no way on God's green earth I would have been able to negotiate the contract. It terrifies me to think about writers signing contracts without a solid, knowledgeable team behind them and writers do it all the time.

The next big news to land yesterday was from my new editor at Tor, Melissa Singer. Tor is beginning to go full steam ahead getting ready to promote the hell out of the As The World Dies Trilogy. And, to my utter surprise, I'm going to get a say in the new covers! I'm thrilled to be included in the decision-making process, but honestly, I don't know what to tell them. The covers I wanted are on the self-pubbed versions. I do know for sure I want Katie and Jenni on the cover along with the zombies.

Believe it or not, there is MORE good news.

Tripod Entertainment has now optioned The Tale of the Vampire Bride for a possible TV cable show. I spoke at length with the producer and I'm very excited about some of his ideas about production. I am also very excited about being invited to help write the pilot episode. I am thrilled at the prospect of a TV show based on my favorite novel.

One more little thing, another production company contacted me about one of my short stories and possibly producing it as the second half of a one hour TV film. Nothing is set in stone and it might not work out, but just to be asked was really awesome!

So Tuesday was awesome.

If this keeps up, I may have to shift my hate of Mondays to Thursdays. It is such a tease sitting right before Friday.

As The World Dies: The First Days in eBook!

After we published Pretty When She Dies in eBook formats, we received requests to do the same with As The World Dies: The First Days. We've been very pleased with Smashwords and have now uploaded the first book in the zombie trilogy for all those who would like to download the book in formats for their eBook readers and other devices.

This is the link to the Smashwords page where you can buy your stripped down version of the book (no cover, no fancy formatting, etc), but with all the great zombie fun.

As The World Dies: The First Days: A Zombie Trilogy has been reviewed at Bitten By Books!

Bitten by Books posted a brand new review of As The World Dies: The First Days! To say I'm excited is an understatement.

As The World Dies: The First Days Nominated For Best Book!!!

This morning I received the news that As The World Dies: The First Days is nominated for Best Book in the fiction category at Mail Order Zombie! I'm so excited. My book is up against some awesome competition, but if you enjoyed the novel and you want to cast your ballot for my novel, I would appreciate it.

It sounds cliché, but it’s so true. It is an honor to be nominated!!

Link to Mail Order Zombie: http://www.mailorderzombie.com/?
Link to ballot: http://improbabilia.com/MOZ/DLA2008Ballot.pdf

I'm Off To Fear Fest 3!!!

For those of you planning to come out, I will see you there!

A Brand New Interview!! This Time With STORYHACK:The Blog!!

I just did a brand new interview with Storyhack: The Blog! It was quite a lot of fun to do! I really enjoyed it.

There is a little bit of news in it that I have not shared with all of you. That news is that I received an offer for my zombie trilogy from a very well-known and kick ass publisher. It was a shock to my system, but also a tremendous honor. I took a week to consider the offer and discuss it with my trusted inner cycle. I was very anxious to make the right choice.

In the end, I decided to stay an Independent Author. I love working with my husband on the novels, I love working with artists on the covers, I love the ability to express my creativity, and I love the whole concept of being an Indie Author. I really want to do this as long as I can and we'll see what the future holds.

I will consider any and every offer made to me by a publisher. I'll weigh the financial aspects against the creative freedom I enjoy and see how it fits into my long term plans as a writer.

Again, this was not an easy choice, but I do feel it was the right one at this time.

I'm not opposed to working with publishers on new projects, but As The World Dies just means so much to me, I want to handle it myself.

Meanwhile, I do have a brand new zombie short story appearing in Zombology, a new anthology by Library of the Living Dead. It is about a seeing eye dog trying to protect her mistress on the first day of the zombie uprising. I will definitely keep you posted on when the anthology will be out.

Library of the Living Dead Presents As The World Dies: The First Days-Chapter 1, Part 3

Dr. Pus has done it again! The new audio excerpt is up and its awesome! I hope you enjoy it!

0:00 - Intro by Unoshato
1:02 - "Zombie" By Rusty Eye
4:49 - Dr. Pus Intro.
6:50 - Rhiannon Frater's "As The World Dies" Chapter 1, Part 3
18:17 - A.P. Fuchs' "Blood of the Dead" Chapter 3
33:03 - A new "Manic Minute"
35:16 - James Melzer's "Zombie Chronicles" Chapter 5
57:28 - Rob Fox's "Z Day Is Here" Days 70, 71, 72
1:09:48 - "What's Up Doc?"
1:28:44 - "Done In One" - "Germs"
1:33:44 - Fray & Dr. Pus present a chapter from "Sleepy Hollow"
1:49:44 - Out Comments
1:52:59 - Rob Best's "Chapter 10" - Rob Best

Here's the link: www.dr-pus.podomatic.com

As The World Dies: The First Days on Library of the Living Dead!! Episode #65!!

Dr. Pus has put up his latest and greatest podcast at Library of the Living Dead.

Here is a rundown of what is in the episode.

New bumber intro by Unoshato
"Zombie From Empanina" by Laura Best
Doc intro
Professor Emcee Square pimpage
Rhiannon Frater's "As The World Dies" Chapter1 Part 2
Monster Librarian's Zombie Novel Reviews
Rob Fox's "Z-Day Is Here"
A.P. Fuchs' "Blood of the Dead" Ch 2
"Zombie Zcience" Contniuation of Zombie Running
Mur Lafferty's "The Takeover" part 7
WZOM "Real Zombie News You Can Use"
James Melzner's "Zombie Chronicles" Ch 4, Part 1
"Alive Inside" by Eric Busby "Season of the Dead" Part 3
Long ass outcomments
Rob Best's "Chapter 10" for ZombieSurvivor

This is the episode where I give voice to Katie! Yay!

I hope you enjoy!

--Rhiannon

So Basically This Is What Is Going On....

Good news and bad news in this post. I actually put off posting until I had a good handle on what exactly was happening (or not happening) in this craziness I call my life.

First things first...

New Website Is Up!!
Check out my new and improved website! My husband has totally revamped it and I think it looks pretty cool. He was not satisfied with the first version. I liked it, but I saw his point. I think the new one looks really good.

I'm Not Going to BiteFest....WAAAAAAAAH
Our car continues to give us issues. We considered renting a car to head down to San Antonio, but I just started getting flash fevers and I'm having issues with asthma. I know this feeling oh too well. I'm getting sick. So we have opted to cancel (sadly) and stay home. I think I'm going to go on a horror movie marathon to make myself feel better.

*sigh*

Maybe next year...

I'm Not Going to Zombie Fest at the Monroeville Mall...but As The World Dies Is!!!
Dr. Pus is a total love and he is taking pamphlets of the book to Zombie Fest with him. They have the first part of Chapter One in them along with information on where to buy the book and a little bio about me. I'm so excited! He is SUCH a great guy to do this for me. He will also be putting them as bookmarks in the first Library of the Living Dead novel called "Dead Tide." It just came out, so I haven't read it yet, but you may want to check it out.

What Katie (from ATWD) and I Have In Common
We share the same voice! I am now doing the voice work for Katie Kiel in the Library of the Living Dead Podcast! Episode #65 will be my debut. I think I'm doing a fairly good job doing her voice. I absolutely adore the voice work of April as Jenni. Her performance is GREAT! And Dr. Pus is doing a fantastic job at narrating the story. I'm so excited about this endeavor and I hope you check it out.

Pretty When She Dies Is Closer to Publication!!!
If you love vampires, please check out my new vampire novel, Pretty When She Dies, when it is released. I think you will really like it. It's modern, its fun, it's gruesome, it's sexy, and it's intense.

The new cover is now done and the proof copy of the novel is ready to be reviewed by the proof reader.

Check out the final version of the cover!

I absolutely love it!

Once the proof copy is reviewed, we will set a publication date and announce it on my blog and website. The first chapter will probably be going up sometime tomorrow night for you to get a sneak peak at.

Amazon. Com Reviews
If you hop over to Amazon.com and look up my book, you'll see that reviews have been coming in for both the paperback and Kindle version of ATWD:The First Days. Yes, I do read the reviews. I do it for two reasons:

1. To find out what people think of the story and characters
2. To see if there is any critiques I can learn from

My husband takes negative comments a lot harder than I do and I love him for that. I do try to examine what is being said and determine if I need to adapt. So far, nothing has really stood out to me.

We have been praised (and criticized) for the editing of the book. This does not really bother me considering we had 3 editors work on the novel. All are highly qualified to do that job and I felt they did a good job. If there is a goof up, it was probably me missing one of their editing notes. Plus, I have read so many NYC bestsellers filled with misspelled words and grammar mistakes, I just kinda shrug it off. I can't do much more than I am with all my proof readers and the editors scouring the books for any goofs I committed.

As for remarks on the plot or characters, I read those comments, consider them, and discuss them with my husband. So far I think the comments that have been made are very subjective. It reminds me of the old days when the story was online and there were comments about a variety of things that didn't make much sense to me.

For example:

Comment: Katie is a lesbian so she should be hooking up with Jenni.

My Answer: Katie is actually bisexual (is attracted to both men and women) and Jenni is straight. Their relationship was that of sisters/best friends. There is no reason for them to "hook up."

Comment: Isn't it convenient how they find a hunting store and everyone has guns..not realistic!!!

My Answer: I had to wonder if this person had EVER been to Texas.

Comment: Jenni is so dreamy and off-kilter in the beginning and its all nightmarish and surreal...why does that stop? ...not realistic!!

My Answer: Err...she comes out of shock...and gets a gun. And wants revenge on the zombies.

Comment: pfffffffft..an old woman who was an Israeli sniper...yeah right!

My Answer: I know one in real life. It happens. Get over it.


And it goes on and on and on....hehehehehee... I've come to realize people are always going to have an opinion on how they perceive that the story should go, or how a character should act, or how you should write the book in general. And they absolutely, positively have a right to that opinion. But in the end, its my story and I have to write it the way I see fit.

But if someone were to point out a legitimate issue with a plot point or in the character development, I would embrace that in a second and learn from it. I have in the past and I will in the future. I am not a perfect writer, but I try damn hard.

So far, I really like all the reviews I've read and I'm so pleased that those people took the time to write them. I am very thankful.

Of course, when that one star review comes in....I may rant. :)

Meanwhile...
FearFest 3 is coming up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and I will be there!!! If you're anywhere in the area, please come by and say hi!!!

In closing, it's a crazy but good time right now.

Thank you for all your support!!

As The World Dies: The First Days on Library of the Living Dead!!

Dr. Pus posted his new podcast for the Library of the Living Dead late last night. And I'm very excited to announce that the first part of Chapter One-Tiny Fingers-is awesome! I had heard the mp3 (complete with voices, sound effects and music), but to hear it intertwined with the rest of the show was a great experience.

Please check it out! Here is the playlist for the episode:

0:00 - New intro bumper by Unoshato
1:36 - "Zombie" by Steve Cain
4:44 - Dr. Pus' intro
7:32 - Rhiannon Frater's "As The World Dies: The First Days" Chapter 1
25:55 - "Zombie Zcience" - Running Zombies and Muscle Degredation
42:43 - A.P. Fuch's "Blood Of The Dead" Chapter 1
56;29 - Rob Fox's "Z Day Is Here" Days 64-66
1:10:50 - Poem for contest
1:11:34 - "What's Up Doc?"
1:31:03 - "Voices"
1:34:37 - James Melzer's "Zombie Chronicles" Episode #3
1:42:12 - "Out Comments"
2:01:34 - Rob Best's "All Kinds Of Things Kill" Chapter 10 for BabyGirlMinxie

I think you'll love it as much as I do! Let Dr. Pus know how much you like it by dropping him a line in the comments. He has been very supportive of my novel and his dramatization is amazing.

Zombies Invade My Book Signing on Zombie Day--EEEEK!!!

Zombie Baby, the woman behind the Zombie Ball at Elysium.

Ah Zombie Juice...I love you so.

Zombie Christa holding her brand new copy of As The World Dies: The First Days. That's me at her side.

Cassandra, owner of Secret Oktober, and her husband, Ross. He has mad zombie love for her...and her maggoty cheek.

Me and Mary, co-owner of Secret Oktober.

EEK. Zombies!! The pretty zombie beauty queen was the genius behind the zombie makeovers today.

Me and the little zombie!! The hanging eyeball thing was huge with the kids today. This little guy had fun walking back and forth in front of the store scaring peeps.

Me and Zombie Baby's husband, a.ka. D.J. Void of Elysium.

Darling, you read the book...not eat it!!! *sigh* Zombies....

We had a sign in book for people to leave us their email for updates.

My husband hates having his picture taken. Here he is wearing the t-shirt he designed for As The World Dies: The First Days. It is nicely accessorized with the earphones from his PSP.

As the photos show, there was much fun to be had.

It was a FUN day!


Yay! Zombies!!

October 11, 2008 is ZOMBIE DAY at Secret Oktober!!!

This coming Saturday, October 11, 2008, is ZOMBIE DAY in Austin, Texas. Not only is the Zombie Ball hosted by Zombiebaby occurring at Elysium, but Secret Oktober is celebrating all things zombie.

If you are in the area and looking for the final touches on your costume, come on down. There is also a rumor that someone will be doing zombie makeovers.

And, of course, if you want my latest zombie novel, As The World Dies: The FIrst Days, drop by, pick up a copy and get it autographed. I'll be there from 4PM to 8PM.

Remember the Zombie Day and keep it GOREY!

100 Books Sold and Updates All Around!!!

One Milestone Passed In Book Sales
First off, as of early this morning, the sales for As The World Dies: The First Days, crossed the 100 books sold mark. This may not seem like a big number to some people, but it is huge for me. The book has only been out since August 15, 2008 (officially), so I am feeling very solid about the sales.

Considering that my promotion of the book has been minimal, I have to give big kudos to the fans who are spreading the word. I read somewhere that an Indie Author should not expect to sell 100 books. And that 200 book sales was even more rare. Well, that's one milestone down and another in sight. I have a lot of faith in this book and I feel it is a solid contribution to the zombie genre. I believe its going to keep going in its sales. That would definitely help out a lot toward getting the next books into the pipeline for publication.

FearFest 3 is BACK!
I got the word toward the end of this week that FearFest in the Dallas/Fort Worth area is back on! We have gone a head and shifted our reserved tables to this event and we're very excited! Wizard World has taken over the event and the lineup is looking really good! They have also moved it to a bigger venue and I think its just going to be awesome. If you can make it out to the event, please make sure to drop by my table and say hello.

The Doc Has Spoken
I have to thank Dr. Pus from Library of the Living Dead podcast for giving me 11 Severed Thumbs (out of a possible 1o) for As The World Dies: The First Days. I have agreed to let them do the entire novel on the podcast and I'm so excited about that!

Also, Dr. Pus wrote a review for Amazon.com that you can find here. My favorite part of the review is this quote: "Rhiannon sucks you in with the very first chapter. A chilling account of an entire family torn apart .... literally. When I began this book I actually stopped after the first chapter and went back and read it again. IT'S THAT GOOD!"

The Doc also gave me a big shout out in his newest podcast. I got a huge kick out of him trying to say my name correctly (ree on an freighter is correct). Check out Episode #63 for lots of zombie goodness along with news on the upcoming podcasts of As The World Dies: The First Days.

Spotlight On...
This month I also made the list of Spotlight On... for independent horror/suspense novels. I have to say, I really like the way my cover looks on that page and the amazon.com reviews always make me smile.


Anyway, that is enough of an update for now! Back to working on the novel!

The Terror and Joy That Are Reviews

Most of the authors I know love to hear that people appreciate all their hard work and adore their writing. It validates all your time and effort and salves some of your anxiety over whether or not your story is any good.

In all honesty, I write what I want to read. A sudden inspiration will spring up in a dream or a odd moment during the day and I will want to follow that train of thought to the end of the line. Sometimes I find a really cool story I want to share with other people and sometimes I realize that the flash of inspiration was all there was.

The As The World Dies Trilogy was a moment of inspiration based on a dream. It came to me in a flash and I quickly wrote it down. I posted it on a forum on impulse and it was the reviews that inspired me to write out the epic story.

Now, some of the reviews were harsh. I read those along with the positive ones. I wanted to see if there was a kernel of truth in the reviews that were taking aim at the story (and oftentimes, me). If there was something valid in the critique, I learned from it. If not, I dismissed it.

I also learned, in the time span that As The World Dies was online, that sometimes people are hateful just because they want to be. Nothing you write will ever make them happy and they will always pick at you. I still remember this one person saying that Jenni and Katie were so shallow, you could change them into men and no one would know the difference. I read that to my husband and he just shook his head.

The one strength of the story is that the leads are women and view things from a totally different perspective. Jenni, as a mother, has suffered a severe loss of her children and this sends her over the edge in a very strange, yet endearing way. Katie, a bisexual woman, has suffered the loss of her beloved wife and is a nurturer and protector at heart. The need to keep Jenni alive (and later Jason), is what keeps Katie motivated to live. The two of them form a strong bond that they probably would not have made otherwise and become sisters in a new family they create.

Of course, if some of my critics had their choices, Jenni and Katie would have spent most of their time having lesbian sex, had some big strong military type come and take care of them, they never would have found a gun store (c'mon..its freaking Texas!) and the fort would have been overrun immediately by zombies despite the survivors actually having a freaking brain in their head and fighting back.

If I had made all the changes my naysayers had urged, I wouldn't have written my story, but theirs. And that was the biggest lesson I learned during the whole process. Being true to the world, characters, and premise I had created. Happily, other people (the apparent majority) agreed with my view on the story.

Which brings me to my newest reviews...on Amazon! Before, the reviews were a litmus test of how well I was doing with the story, but now I'm trying to build my readership and get the word out about the novel. Every good review is extremely helpful. Of course, at some point, someone is going to hate my book. I'm trying to mentally prepare myself for that. But right now, I would like to appeal to those of you who do like the book and feel its a good read you would recommend to other zombie fans, please write an Amazon review. I would love to hear what you liked about the novel, but also, what you say about the story may encourage someone else to visit the world you love and get to know Katie and Jenni.

Reviews have served a definite purpose in my life. They have encouraged me, taught me, vexed me, and helped promote my book.

Meanwhile, the first review of the brand new first chapter of the second book is in. I handed it off to a co-worker who is also a fan. He loved it! So, I definitely feel I am on the right track.

One more thing, check out this awesome new flyer for Bitefest.

I'm totally in love with it!