March 2008 Archives

I've spun a fun-funny-creepy-scary tale from Cluck, with the intention of turning it into a comic. Or "graphic novel" if you prefer. Anyway, it's coming along well, only I realized that I don't have an artist. Or any knowledge of the comic book biz. I'm in it for the fun, so the best solution would be if some independent comic artist wants a free plot line, with rights to use the story, etc. All I'd ask is for acknowledgement (think "open source GPL licensing") ... anyway, it's worth considering. The story is as fun as the book is. If you're interested, send email to edk AT ericdknapp DOT com.

Revenant Magazine — The premiere zombie magainze — just published a review of Cluck. highlights include the above, plus:

"One might predispose that a book about zombie chickens would be low-brow and intellectually void. That is certainly not the case with author Eric D. Knapp's 'Cluck: Murder Most Fowl', a literary romp through the world of undead chickens, and underdog anti-heroes.

With a unique blend of comedy and good vs. evil, Cluck manages not only to unfold an entertaining story but also to be incredibly humorous and very well written."

I've been waiting for several zombie-industry reviews to hit the public eye, and I'm thrilled that they've all been great so far. I was worried that the humor/horror combo would fall flat on die-hard zombie mongers. It looks like my fears were unfounded - yay!

The praise is not only flattering, it also further validates my belief that Bruce Campbell should help bring this puppy to film. (oh, for those who have asked: I would want Bruce to play both Armand and Bobby).

Read the full Review.

Cluck was selected as a finalist for the 2007 Book Of The Year award for horror. The contest is held by ForeWord, an indie-friendly publication that—among other things—apparently knows a good thing when it sees one ;-)

There were over 1600 books in the competition. Cluck was one of four books chosen as a finalist in the Horror category. Needless to say, I am very pleased! Giddy? Yeah, you could needlessly say that, too.

Cluck's shirt shop is now open, with all of the coolest zombie chicken shirts! Who wouldn't want to wear one of these new beauties? I know I would! The motto has been toned down a little (from "Cluck if you like Zombie Cock" to "Cluck if you like the Zombie Cock"), and a new "Bird Braiiiins ..." option has been added.

Spreadshirt Market Place Product

Cluck if You Like the Zombie Cock (2)

Author R.W.Ridley, creator of the Oz Chronicles, posted a review of Cluck on amazon.com. I know ... amazon reviews don't count for much in literary circles, but as Ridley is an author, I see this one as holding some weight. Highlights of the review include:

"It may sound strange, but Cluck is a more than decent literary effort. I thoroughly enjoyed and connected with both Bobby and even more surprising, the Rooster King. When you can make a zombie chicken a unforgettable villain, you're doing something right. My prediction is that this is destined to be a cult classic."

I love it! This is exactly why I published Cluck independently: to prove that real literature can be created outside of the mainstream, Oprah-endorsed, bookstore popup stand claptrap. And I love the term "cult classic" even though it more or less signifies "poor sales." Hey, Bruce Campbell is one of my entertainment-industry heros, and just about all he produces are poorly-selling B-list titles. If only my chin were bigger (and if only Bruce would read Cluck ... he was sent a copy, but is too busy to give a dying boy with cancer his lifelong wish of a celebrity endorsement. Oops, slipped over to the lifetime channel there for a second!

Anyway, you can read the Full Review at amazon. Check out Ridley's Books while you're there, too. I've read two of them and they're worth picking up.

I went to put away the snowblower and lock up the chickens last night (basically, taking the opportunity to widen the path while combining two chores into one ... you know to make room for the next storm, which is coming tomorrow), and I noticed that all of the chickens were lined up out side the door to the coop in a big semi-circle, with our two runner ducks in the front. Now, this is strange, as chickens will typically go to roost at night, rather than hang around outside in sub-freezing weather. The coop is lit on the inside, and the snowblower has a headlight, so there was this bizarre semi-silhouetted arc of chickendom spreading out from the open coop door.

Smelling trouble, I park the snowblower and run over to the coop. The inside is empty, except for a (relatively) small owl, and one headless chicken, upon which said owl was perched. It was headless because the owl, apparently, thinks the head is the tastiest part and had eaten it clean off, leaving nothing but a bit of sinew and part (but not all ) of the skull.

First thought: yuck.

Second thought: how am I going to catch the owl and get it out of there? owls have beaks that look nasty-sharp (and can crack through chicken skulls, it would seem).

Third thought: how ironic that I am in a coop with a headless chicken. I half expected it to get up and start looking for its braiiiiins.

TO make a long story a little less long, Brave Wife arrived on the scene with a wool blanket, which we used to catch the owl. The thing was terrified, somewhat terrifying, and also completely beautiful. I had never seen an owl that close before, and I can now honestly say that they are absolutely stunning. I wished it hadn't eaten one of my chickens, but hey - this winter sucks for owls, too. Of course, we can't let it keep eating all of our chickens, so it went into a dog crate for the night, and will hopefully be re-located to a safe (for the chickens) distance away. Not being owl experts, we're leaving the "what to do" details up to Fish & Game.

I've spent every waking moment doing one of the following things: commuting through crappy weather; working; some requisite hours of eating/sleeping; clearing snow. There is so much goddamn snow (and, living on a farm, so much of it that I have to move) that I literally spent over six hours clearing snow this weekend. The path out to the chicken coop is like a trench, and I feel more than a little bit like Red 5 when I walk out there.