The Husk Chronicles, Episode One - ACCEPTANCE

My, Corey, what an intriguing post title.

And what a nauseating image (courtesy of Rob Sachetto's Zombie Daily blog).

What's it all about?

Well, you may have noticed a marked decline in the posting of posts on this here website. Frankly, I've been rather busy. The new job as publicist for Goose Lane Editions keeps my brain a'popping, leaving me with scant energy at the end of the workday. I do what I can, but I am at heart a lazy man who needs serious downtime.

And now, the posts may be coming with even less regularity, although I will do my best to update, review, and whine. Another element has been added to the mix, one which will definitely eat away at my time, time usually spent watching House or 30 Rock. You see, after years (no hyperbole here, folks, bloody years) of wait, and work, and false starts and restarts, the almost unthinkable has occurred. Corey Redekop, your one and only favourite writer of novels and blogs entitled Shelf Monkey, has had his sophomore novel accepted for publication.

Now, now, put away your wallet, stop searching online for the best price. It will be some time before Husk (that's the title) reaches shelves. We're talking 2012 here, so you have plenty of time to start putting away the pennies. Why, just saving a dime a day will put you so far ahead you'll be able to afford two copies. Good for you, good for me.

But this will mean much time and effort be placed into editing, which goes on and on and on, and as a result, less reviews. I will desperately try to keep all three of you still reading this sentence entertained and informed, but no guarantees.

And the image? Suffice to say, Husk is not (despite some pleas from earnest fans) a sequel to Shelf Monkey. It is, rather, what I refer to as the Great Canadian Zombie Novel (hence the image). I feel I'm on pretty solid ground with that claim; there simply haven't been that many Canadian zombie novels, certainly not written from the zombie's POV. There was a small segment of Max Brooks' World War Z set in Canada, and Joey Comeau's One Bloody Thing After Another had its fair share of undead mayhem, but that might be it. Except for Tony Burgess' Pontypool Changes Everything, a gutbusting masterpiece, but really so much, much more that a 'zombie novel.'

So, prep yourselves for the 2012 release of Husk. I'll be blogging updates on my progress, as well as other things that entertain/infuriate me.

And if you can't wait until 2012, consider voting for Shelf Monkey at the CBC Reads nomination page, on until October 26. It'll help pass the time.