Jesse Petersen stopped by RJ after hours

Hi Cat and thanks for having me. I think I’ll start with a Diet Coke since I’m not a big drinker and I tend to get quite silly and talky when I have something. Maybe after a bit I can be talked into a Mai Tai or something. Actually, though, maybe I take that back. I might need a drink since I’m right on the cusp of a new release. My first Zombie Comedy, MARRIED WITH ZOMBIES is already shipping from Barnes and Noble and is supposed to be in real stores by September 1. So I’m basically freaking out and that drink sounds better and better the more I talk. Okay, one double scotch.

Lots of people ask me how I made a shift from romance to zombie fantasy with a dark sense of humor. I didn’t mean to do it. I’ve just always liked zombies. And I got an idea and had so much fun writing it. In fact, I wrote MWZ mostly to entertain myself and it ended up selling, which was very cool. Still, it’s been so fun to play with the concept and the promotional aspects are really fun, too. For example, I got to have my author photo “zombiefied”.

And I think I can write off my very cute Zombie Shoes which I intend to wear to some promo events later this year and next.The zombies have also been very good to me. They paid off my car and then they told my husband and I to take a break and head to the UFC Fan Expo. I’m a HUGE UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fan and it was just the most fun weekend ever. I got to meet Dana White (President of UFC), Jens Pulver, Wanderlei Silva and my very favorite fighter in the whole world, Forrest Griffin, who I also gave an advanced copy of MARRIED WITH ZOMBIES to.

But it’s not all work or zombie vacations for me. My husband and I actually really love to travel together. This picture is of the two of us on the Great Wall of China when we went there two and a half years ago. We were on the wall for our 11th wedding anniversary and fell deeply in love with China. I would love to go back some day, but we have other continents to conquer. We’re already planning a trip to Europe maybe next summer and a trip to Africa with my parents and brother and sister-in-law for the year after that. I’m wondering what kind of inspiration those trips will bring.

Finally, one last trip I’m taking this year that is not zombie related is to Arizona where I’ll be visiting my little nephew Jake and his new baby brother Ben. I love being an aunt and I hope one day Jake and Ben will think Aunt Jesse’s zombie books are awesome. Maybe when they’re grown-ups.

Anyway, so that’s my life at present, zombies and travel, zombies and travel. Hope you’ll come along for the journey by picking up a copy of MARRIED WITH ZOMBIES when it hits stores September 1!