There is just something horrifyingly irresistible about zombie fiction—something terrifyingly appealing about this $5 billion dollar genre that that pits the ravenous, mindless throngs of walking dead against humanity.
If you count yourself among the hordes of the zombie-crazed living here in the Hudson Valley, then you are in for a bookish good time with HVZA: Hudson Valley Zombie Apocalypse.
In June, author, Linda Zimmermann of Chester, NY released her new zombie novel, HVZA: Hudson Valley Zombie Apocalypse. In her novel, Zimmermann imagines a world in which Peekskill is the hot spot at which the zombie apocalypses begins. The epidemic quickly spreads throughout Westchester and Rockland counties.
Zombie fighting protagonist, Dr. Rebecca Truesdale is a Nyack resident who is working at the Nyack hospital when the outbreak hits. Truesdale has two huge advantages in her fight for survival: First, her expertise in tropical parasites is invaluable because—you guessed it—the zombie outbreak was caused by mutating parasites, and second, Dr. Truesdale’s intimate knowledge of the Hudson Valley River and river-towns comes in handy when she realizes the zombies have an aversion to water.
Zimmermann treats us to hair-raising trip across the Tapan Zee Bridge, impossible zombie gridlock up-and-down the New York State Thruway, and West Point’s transformation to an active military base. HVZA is a fun roller coaster-of-a-ride for anyone who has imagined how they would survive an apocalypse in the Hudson Valley.
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Here Linda Zimmermann gives up the inside scoop on her novel:
You are a resident of Orange County, yet most of your novels focus on Rockland and Westchester Counties. Why?
Linda Zimmermann: I grew up in Pearl River and my parents and grandparents are from Nyack. So I love this particular region of New York.
Is zombie fiction your primary genre?
LZ: No, I’ve written 29 books. Most people know me for my ghost books, but I’ve also written non-fiction. My favorite is a book called Bad Science which is about the history of science.
When did your zombie obsession begin?
LZ: As a kid I saw the original Night of the Living Deadand it scared the heck out of me. I thought there couldn’t be anything more terrifying!
Have you joined the rest of the zombie-crazed American’s who are addicted to watching AMC’s The Walking Dead?
LZ: Actually, I love it! It sort of inspired me to write HVZA because before The Walking Dead, so much of the zombie fiction was ridiculous. The Walking Dead brought back a purity to the genre. I wanted my novel to have the same purity and realism.
How did you make it realistic?
LZ: I did so much research. I researched actual scientific papers, and I traveled up and down the Hudson Valley. I also did a lot of research on the guns my main character Dr. Truesdale uses to fight zombies.
Will there be a sequel to HVZA?
LZ: I don’t think there is any way I can keep myself from writing a sequel!
