Interview with Mira Grant

We cannot even begin to tell you how excited we were to interview Mira Grant (aka Seanan McGuire). She is responsible for one of my all-time favorite series, the Newsflesh trilogy. Her books started me on my zombie interest that somehow turned into this weird undead obsession. Feed, the first book in the trilogy was named as one of Publishers Weekly’s “Best Books of 2010″. In addition, Ms. Grant was the winner of the 2010 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. The Newsflesh trilogy includes three full length novels- Feed, Deadline and Blackout, plus Countdown, a novella set prior to the Rising. As Seanan McGuire, she is responsible for the bestselling October Daye series, and the new Incryptid urban fantasy series. You can find my review of Discount Armageddon (InCryptid #1) here.

Before we begin the interview, I have to give a special thanks to Regina, she is responsible for all of the truly awesome questions below and was a huge help with my first interview!

If you have not read Feed and/or Deadline, be warned. There may be spoilers in the interview below.

The Mira Grant Interview

Regina-
The Zombie plague is not new in books or movies but what you do with it is new. You have expanded the plague to all mammals (which is brilliant — of course it would affect more than just humans!) and you have made it so that countries with strong infrastructures have been able to survive in limited way — but the government and life persists. To me, this makes sense. I don’t believe that the US government and other governments would be brought to their deaths by a plague, but I do see that it would be crippled and adjustments would have to be made (which is exactly what you did). Okay, I promise there is a question here, when you started writing this series did you first think of the limited world that George and Shaun live in and then back up to think what could have caused it or, did you imagine how the world and the US would react to a zombie-type invasion/disease?

Mira-
I actually started with the question “what would the post-zombie society and ecosystem look like, and, assuming survival, how would we have adjusted to the ongoing threat of the walking dead?” This is because I am not-so-secretly an enormous nerd, especially when it comes to horrifying thought experiments that I can offer to my friends over dinner. Like, seriously, the behavioral patterns of zombie dogs occupied like, six months of mealtime conversation. I have incredibly tolerant friends.

Regina-
The little details really make the book — for example, the effect of the constant bleach washings on people’s hair, the inability to eat red meat, the issue of owning pets and horses. These are all things that limit our freedom in small but effective ways but also unique to other zombie type books. I see you attacking this world in a very scientific way, identifying how they would have to live and then charting out the consequences of such a survival — I imagine you with charts and lists and maybe even diagrams. What did it take to figure out all these little details that really enriched the world?

Mira-
Those thought experiments I mentioned before? Yeah, that happened. And I’d say to a friend who was a competitive swimmer “they bleach themselves constantly,” and my friend would go “well, we use citrus-based lotion to keep the chlorine from eating our skin off…” and I’d just use that. I came up with a lot of it, but so many of the little details came from other people whose areas of specific interest or expertise got involved in my admittedly vast and sprawling world.

Regina-
I love the idea that bloggers have such power, innovation and drive. Do you see such a thing in our world happening?

Mira-
I think it’s already happening, to a degree. The blog community hasn’t displaced the mainstream news the way it did in the Newsflesh books, but we also haven’t had something like the zombie apocalypse to really force the issue. More and more, internet news is where you look when you want the facts as fast as possible. That comes with its own issues—the news is a hungry beast that never stays fed—but it’s a fascinating developmental path.

Regina-
Do the people in the NewsFlesh world have scars on their fingers? My fingertips ache when I read these books just thinking about all of the blood tests!

Mira-
Yes. Yes, they do.

Michelle-
The ending of Deadline has caused quite the controversy. We have two “holy-shit” revelations at the end of the book. One, revelation is about cloning. The 2nd, revelation deals with George and Shaun’s relationship. Without spoiling anything for potential readers, did you plan for all of this to happen when you first created the characters of George and Shaun? What are your thoughts about the very animated debates that have shown up on various book blogs?

Mira-
I try not to read those debates, because I think you should have the freedom to debate without worrying that the author is looking over your shoulder judging what you said. But, with that being said…yes. Everything was planned. I am incredibly meticulous, and while not everyone may love where things go, they usually go where I meant them to, if that makes sense.

Regina-
As I read it, George and Shaun do not have a normal brother/sister relationship. There are intense feelings expressed between the two of them. We know they are not related by blood, but they have been raised together, yet they have pushed off intimate relationships with other people. What is your take on how readers see George and Shaun as more than just siblings?

Mira-
They really didn’t grow up as siblings, like we would understand it. I tend to say that they were the only students at a boarding school of the damned, and they really have more of that intense “we grew up together, but without a healthy familial bond” situation going on. Ironically, it’s closer to Scott Summers and Jean Grey, from the X-Men, or Ron and Hermione, than any sort of actual sibling situation. So there was never a chance for them to be “just siblings.” My take is that everything will be conclusively answered by book three.

Michelle-
I was in Atlanta, attending a conference in the main CDC building. As I am walking to the cafeteria, I notice a section that has an armed guard and security devices that rival any airports. For the rest of the day, I kept wondering, are they trying to keep someone from getting in, or trying to keep something from getting out? Your thoughts?

Mira-
Both. The CDC is really the last, best defense against humanity’s enemies. We’re talking the original Torchwood, here.

Michelle-
Zombies are the new vampires. The CDC has even jumped on the zombie bandwagon with their “Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse” campaign. Why do you think Zombies are so popular right now?

Mira-
Zombies are the ultimate monster. You can kill them with impunity, and without guilt, and they’re still flexible in terms of iconography and symbolism. Death, disease, fear of loss of individuality, they’re all in the zombie. Plus, vampires got too sexy, and werewolves are hard, thanks to everyone being so attached to the full moon thing. I’m pulling for swamp monsters next.

Michelle-
Why a machete?

Mira-
I dislike the idea of killing zombies that are close enough to be taken out with a knife. Also, machetes are useful for clearing dead wood and weeds. I like a multi-purpose weapon.

Michelle-
You get to pick only one- a pen to write with that never runs out of ink or an iPod with an endless source of power. What do you choose?

Mira-
I’d still have to go to the art supply store all the damn time, when the pens that didn’t have infinite ink needed refilling, and that would make me crazy. So I’d go for the iPod. I would never be without my Ludo fix again!

Michelle-
I’ve read that you’ve audited some college courses. Have you ever entertained the thought of teaching a class? I know I’d be one of the first ones to sign up!

Mira-
Maybe. I’d like to be an instructor at one of the big writing workshops someday. I think it would be a fascinating experience.

Michelle-
So please do tell, are you stranded in a Fairy Tale? (A must read-Ms. Grant’s Fairy Tale and Ballad Survival FAQ)

Mira-
Yes. Yes, I am. Now here’s a question for you: am I the princess of a very strange story, or an easily distracted evil queen?

Michelle-
I’m obsessed with Diet Mountain Dew (canned, slightly frozen- straight from the freezer) but Diet Dr. Pepper is my 2nd choice. So, what’s your 2nd choice because I know from personal experience, it’s a Pepsi or Coke world. (Ms. Grant’s favorite drink- Diet Dr. Pepper)

Mira-
Coke Zero. I would not have survived my time in Australia without Coke Zero. It is my salvation when the Diet Dr Pepper fairies desert me.

Thank you so much Ms. Grant for the wonderful series and for the interview! It was a real pleasure.
Coming tomorrow….

Blackout Review & Giveaway

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