Why is a Grammy
so enamored of zombies?

Good
question!

I've
always been a big fan of the unusual, strange, and especially
"possible?" impossible!

My life
as an author just seems to lead me to weird subjects, places, people, and
events... hence my new book: My Life As A Third Grade Zombie! 

My
grandmother really did have a voodoo doll pincushion.  I have read many
scientific things about how there really can be "zombies."
 Along the same lines: (and especially since I plan sequels) My Life as a
Third Grade...Werewolf and My Life as a Third Grade Vampire, and perhaps, My
Life as a Third Grade Mummy, it's because I just know a lot about— 

a.  how,
scientifically, someone can be a werewolf, for example

b.
 and how it feels to be the geeky, shy kid, which is what these books are
all about—how to be yourself, love yourself, accept yourself, and not worry so
much about what other people think about you.   I know that's hard
when you're a kid, but really, we need to help kids get a self-determined
mind-set to help them take the initiative and cope with the stupid stuff that comes
their way, from peer pressure, to bullying, to just plain hatefulness.   

But back
to the fun stuff!  I really do have info on a man who was diagnosed with
porphyria; he was a young adult, in treatment, but left the sanitarium (in
western NC) before being cured; I always wondered if I ever, uh, dated this
guy?

I love
going to Anne Rice country in New Orleans and checking out all the vampire
lore; learned a lot when I wrote The Mystery at Dracula's Castle, set in
Transylvania, Romania.  Truth is truly stranger than fiction!

As for
mummies, well, it's been confirmed:  they really did get the brain out
with a hook put up the nose!

Made your
day yet?

I love to
help kids learn by learning that life is flabbergasting and that facts are a
lot more interesting than they think!

In this
new series, I also enjoyed mentoring Savannah College of Art and Design grad,
Dexter Blanding, who did the lovely (uh, did I say lovely?  maybe, more
like zombie-lovely) color illustrations.   

You can
see us at the Books Down South Festival next Saturday or at the Savannah
Children's Book Festival in November.

Oh...yeah,
you'll know me when you see me!