An interview with David Lubar, author of the Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie series

December 9, 2010

David Lubar was kind enough to let me interview him about Enter the Zombie, the fifth and final book in the Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie series. We talk about the book, the series, his writing, and how Nathan would do against a unicorn.

GK: Where did you get the idea for the Nathan Abercrombie series?

DL: My publisher, Kathleen Doherty, mentioned zombies to me back in November, 2007 when we were discussing series ideas. The idea intrigued me, but since then I’d be writing multiple books, I wanted to give it some thought before I plunged in. The next day, I was struck by the image of a zombie kid rolling his eye down a hall so he could spy on someone. That led me to think about all the ways a zombie kid could be a wonderful spy.

GK: Nathan’s a great protagonist, but it’s really the team of Nathan, Abigail, and Mookie that shines. How did Abigail and Mookie find their way into the story?

DL: They just showed up. I’ll often start writing, with a basic plot in mind, and see who comes to the party. I knew I’d need Abigail to set things in action, but I had no idea who she was when I put her at the pariah table in the cafeteria. Originally, I thought she’d just be a kid with a mad-scientist uncle. Then, I realized it would be so much more fun if she was the genius behind the disaster. Mookie was a gift from my imagination. It takes a special kind of kid to be best friends with a zombie. I love characters who hear not just a different drummer, but even a different chromatic scale.

GK: Who did the cover art for the series? What were your first thoughts when you saw the cover for My Rotten Life?

DL: The covers are by Adam McCauley, who also illustrated the Wayside School books. It was love at first sight. I think the cover for book four, The Big Stink, is my favorite. But all of them are great, and the decapitation depicted on book five should pique the curiosity of anyone browsing the shelves. I put a framed copy of the first cover on the wall in front of me for inspiration while I wrote the rest of the series. Tor does an amazing job with covers. I’m well aware how important that is, and how fortunate I’ve been.

GK: How did you like writing a five-book series rather than a stand-alone novel or a collection of short stories? Were there specific enjoyments or challenges in doing so?

DL: I liked being able to start subsequent books with established characters. One thing I enjoyed was that this wasn’t a formula story with five variations. It was a complete narrative arc, though each book can stand alone. I guess one of the challenges was giving the reader enough backstory in the latter books. Probably the biggest challenge was that I have a busy travel schedule. I did a lot of writing in airports and hotels Another challenge is that anyone writing a series has to live with the world as it has been created. I can’t suddenly make a sibling appear or vanish. I can’t change a character’s height or eye color. But it’s okay to paint yourself into a corner when the corner is part of a fun house.

GK: What initially made you want to write for middle grade readers and teens? And why humor writing?

DL: When I started trying to sell short fiction in the 1970s, there were three viable markets – genre magazines, women’s magazines, and kid’s magazines. I felt qualified to submit to two out of three of those. My early sales were mostly for young readers or for the SF market. As for humor, that’s how my mind works. It’s a gift. And a curse.

GK: There are some pretty awesome gross-out scenes in this series, especially the bleachers that turn into a “fountain of puke.” What is it about farts and barf that’s so hilarious?

DL: I don’t know. I took a course in college on comedy in literature, and discovered that there is nothing less enjoyable or amusing than trying to analyze humor. On the other hand, maybe I can answer the question with a single word: schadenfreude (which is German for “my psychotherapist just soiled his pants”).

GK: Has your history as a game designer and programmer shaped how you write or what you write about?

DL: I don’t think it shapes how I write (except that I need to write lots of book so I can buy lots of video games), but it does color what I write. My characters are often gamers, and some of my horror stories involve games that have gone awry. One of Nathan’s early traumas in the book occurs because of his lack of gaming skill. This sweetly reverses when his rock-steady zombie hands and unblinking concentration allow him to master a variety of games.

GK: Because of his zombification, Nathan doesn’t need to eat or sleep, so he can stay up all night playing games, reading, and thinking through life’s problems. If you no longer required sleep, what would you do all night?

DL: I would play video games, read books, and maybe slink through the back alleys of my neighborhood dressed as Batman. Or Borat.

GK: Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier recently compiled Zombies vs Unicorns, an anthology of short stories that all seek to answer the question of which creature is better. Are you on Team Zombie? How do you think Nathan would do against a unicorn?

DL: Not well.

GK: And while I’m asking silly “this vs. that” questions: ninjas or pirates?

DL: Ninjas, for sure. The ninjas would give the pirates some rum. Then the ninjas would get the pirates to chase them across the water. Ninjas can run on water. Pirates can’t (though rum makes them think they can). Glub, glub – ninjas win.

GK: Thanks so much for taking the time to answer these questions! And if I can have just one more for the road: now that Nathan’s story has drawn to a close, what are you working on next?

DL: You’re quite welcome. I enjoyed the questions. As for the final one, I’ve started a novel for middle grade kids. I’m aiming for something that’s both dark and funny, which is not a great departure from the norm for me, but I’m hoping for wider swings than usual. I’m also writing stories for a sixth Weenies collection. (The fifth, Attack of the Vampire Weenies, comes out in May.) No idea what the title story will be, yet, though I’m pretty sure it won’t involve unicorns.

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Tags: children's books, david lubar, interviews, ya lit