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[MarcW]

Now more than ever, I still think an American publisher should get off their ARSE (an English if not an Irish word ---  ) and pick up the rights to this book.  It reallly wasn't that difficult to pick up regardless.  But this book should be recognized on ALL shores.

Best of luck Wayne (not to say you need any).  You are a talent!  Congrats on an excellent book.  I will be quick to pick up your next book!  

[MarcW]

BTW... any similarities between you and Lark beyond the tats?  I must admit I pictured him as you, given your side pic on the Permuted boards.

Interesting collage... dedicated... reminds me of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451.  You must have a lot of tales to tell.  

[HOO-HAA]

Yeah, someone else mentioned Ray Bradbury when I was showing off my latest work. Why is that? Is there a tattooed guy in that book? I've never read Ray but he's on my 'people to read list' and I intend to pick up F451 right after I finish with my latest trilogy of reads: Earthbound (Richard Matheson), Ex-Machina (fellow Snowbooker, Robert Finn) and one of the 30 Days of Night novels (can't remember either the title or author at the moment).

Is Lark based on me? Well, I'm asked that quite a bit! And I can see why!  To be honest, I would imagine him even taller and lankier than me - kind of one of those people who seem to be all arms and feet. He's loaded with tattoos, of course,  and, as you know, Lark is hard as nails. And I'm a big pussycat

Personality-wise, believe it or not we're complete opposites. I think I'm a lot calmer, a lot more level-headed than Lark - and that probably says more about Lark than me. Leser known fact: we have a saying over here in Ireland: 'Mad as a lark'. That's where his name comes from. Lark was the kind of child who was the first to have a go at anything, whether it be climbing a wall or breaking a window. And he's grown up to have a similar mindset as an adult.

At one stage, I was writing Lark like a drunk version of me. I thought to myself, what would I do next if I was completely bladdered? So, in that sense, there's a bit of me in there. I had my crazy streak, back in the day.

The short answer, of course, is that there's a bit of me in every character I create - including the darker characters. As you remarked in your review, we're not either good or bad - we're somewhere inbetween. We're human and it's interesting to play about with that when you're writing, to test the water with what you might do yourself in those extraordinary situations.

Again, Marc, thanks so much for your review. It meant a lot, man. Sincerely.

[Snell]

Bradbury invented a character called the Illustrated Man. You have to read some descriptions of this character! When he moves, his tattoos become animated.

[HOO-HAA]

Bradbury invented a character called the Illustrated Man. You have to read some descriptions of this character! When he moves, his tattoos become animated.

Wow, is he in F451?

[MarcW]

I think I had the title wrong... I had meant Illustrated Man by Bradbury.  Just as Snell said, his tats told stories.

F451.... I haven't read it but I think its about burning books (451 being the temperature at which paper burns.)  Yikes!  Definitely not the kind of thing to talk about in a forum of writers.  :-) 

[Snell]

Bradbury invented a character called the Illustrated Man. You have to read some descriptions of this character! When he moves, his tattoos become animated.

Wow, is he in F451?

I think I had the title wrong... I had meant Illustrated Man by Bradbury.

The Illustrated Man also plays a role in Something Wicked This Way Comes.

[MarcW]

Something Wicked This Way Comes... never read it but should put it on my list.  :-)  I remember the movie adaptation when I was a kid.  It was pretty good.

Along the theme of Illustrated Man (with his each of his tatoos telling a story)... How about a short, "Illustrated Zombie"... a walking corpse with various damage all over its body.  Story would be about how it got each injury (from the bite that killed it, to the bullet holes that failed to put it down and the survivors who made the shots, to the tears and scrapes from other zombies while fighting over a meal, to the bloated tissue on his feet from standing in the water too long?   Perhaps an anothology, each short containing this particular zombie in the background, getting more torn up with each story.  the final story being something to tug at the heart strings since the reader might have gotten to like this particular zombie (or atleast spotting it within each story) but it meets its ultimate fate with that last story. In don't know, maybe call it "Scars of the Dead".

Than again, maybe I should make this my last beer.  

Again, excellent book Wayne!  Loved the characters and really look forward to seeing what happens next.  

[HOO-HAA]

Positive review of flu at Total Sci-fi Online. Big thanks to Paul and Matt for taking the time to look at the book.

'Flu feels like a less sanitised version of Survivors, telling the story that a TV series couldn't portray, on a mainstream channel anyway. Simmons doesn't waste time explaining what the virus is, or why it affects people so rapidly – he cuts to the chase, focusing on how this new post-apocalyptic world affects everyone from ordinary RUC coppers, to former IRA members, as they cope with cannibalistic zombies while still occasionally trying to settle old scores.'

READ MORE: http://totalscifionline.com/reviews/5506-flu

[HOO-HAA]

Congratulations to Todd Banks, Richard Ewell and Cristina McDowall - all winners in the special Snowbooks Horror giveaway organised by Thomas Emson and myself. They will all receive a personally signed copy of Thomas Emson's ZOMBIE BRITANNICA and my very own FLU. Thanks to everyone who entered the competition!

[HOO-HAA]

would like to apologise for the 'out of stock' messages re: FLU across online retailers. Alas, the book has now exhausted not one but TWO print-runs! Snowbooks had ordered another reprint but it was delayed by the snow. You can still get it in brick n' mortar stores and I'm assured it will be with online retailers by early Jan 2011, so feel free to order now and it will be dispatched to you asap. Thanks for your patience, everyone.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flu-Wayne-Simmons/dp/1906727198/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1293314882&sr=1-1

[MarcW]

Sounds like a classic case of demand outstripping supply, if only momentarily hindered by logisitics.  That goes with the territory when it comes to a quality product.  A THIRD print, no less!  That's awesome!

Congrats again, Wayne.  It is a great book!  All I can say is, though it might be a big ocean between our countries, whatever the logistics might be for shipping the sequel, I will find a way to get it as soon as it comes out.

I really enjoyed the depth and sensibilities you had instilled in your first book's characters.  Can't wait for the continuation.

[HOO-HAA]

That's the way of it, Marc. Not a bad complaint to have, of course.

My agent is shopping flu around US publishers, at the moment. Basically, the book has sold crica 4000 copies since May - which is a lot. So, fingers and toes crossed someone puts it out stateside.

Thanks for your very kind words, mate. Really means a lot.   

[HOO-HAA]

Delighted to report FLU is now back in stock online via AMAZON UK:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flu-Wayne-Simmons/dp/1906727198/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295028096&sr=1-1

And The Book Depository, for those outside of the UK or Ireland:

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9781906727192/Flu

[HOO-HAA]

Huge thanks to J.D. Gillam for his wonderful review of FLU at Terror4Fun...

http://www.terror4fun.com/zombie_zombiebook_FLU.html