By David Lubar

Nathan Abercrombie was born in a Chinese restaurant and baptized in a bathroom shower. It all started on Mott Street in Manhattan. I was at a Wo Hop with my wife, celebrating our 30th anniversary (It's a little known fact that the traditional 30th anniversary gift is duck skin).

My publisher was there, too (yet more proof that Tor is very family-oriented). We were discussing ideas for a middle-grade series when Kathleen Doherty mentioned that zombies were going to become very popular. This was well before the recent crop had staggered into view. (Kathleen has an eerie ability to see into the future).

I liked the idea, but I wanted to give it more thought before I committed myself to writing five books with a zombie hero. I'd touched on zombies before (and always washed my hands afterward), but only in short fiction and in the opening scenes of one chapter book. Whatever direction I chose, I'd have to live with my decision for several years.

The next day, in the shower (where all the best ideas appear), something happened that convinced me I'd found the right story. I had a vision. I pictured a zombie kid taking out his eye and rolling it down a hallway so he could spy on people. That scene didn't make it into the first book. And I apologize if you're eating while reading to this. But I think it shows the potential for the kind of cool action sequences you can write when your main character is one of the walking dead.

It definitely got me going. I dove in and soon found myself feeling giddy on a daily basis with all of the over-the-top action that happens in Nathan's home town of East Craven. (I'm particularly fond of the experiment with the defibrillator, and the disastrous chicken-wing incident from book 2.) If you want to get an idea of the results, imagine a melding of South Park with Wayside School.

Unlike traditional, mindless zombies, Nathan can still think. He can also stay underwater as long as he wants, since he doesn't need to breathe. He can play computer games all night since he doesn't need to sleep. And he can win staring contests since blinking isn't a part of his life anymore, either. On the down side, his fingers tend to break off and he has no pulse. But everything in life, and in death, is a tradeoff.

I had a total blast writing My Rotten Life, and I think it shows. If you're familiar with my novels and short story collections, you already know I like strong plots, weird situations, and lots of humor. This book has all of that. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you might even gag a little. I hope you enjoy my rotten new book.

(from the Tor/Forge August 2009 newsletter)