Love in an Undead Age, A.M. Geever [best contemporary novels txt] 📗

There are so many people to thank for their help and support throughout the ridiculously long time (seven years!) that it took me to write this book. Infinite love and gratitude to:

My parents, Eamon & Teresa Geever, for their love, support, example, and encouragement, even if neither of them read this book because zombies are not their cup of tea. Ah well… I’m only sorry that you are not here to see the finished product, Mom. My parents taught me what is important in life: be kind and fair, show up, family is everything, don’t take life too seriously, try not to judge until you’ve walked in that other person’s shoes, and get a good therapist when you need one. But the number one lesson was to work your ass off to fight for justice and equality. They are the only foundation of a truly civilized society, and when regular people work together to make them a reality, we can make the seemingly impossible happen and hold the powerful accountable.

Hugest thanks in the world to my brothers and sisters: Patrick & Marie Geever, Teri Geever & Joe DeSantis, Mick & Nadini Geever, Mary Geever & Bob McNorton, Valerie Lally, Lucy Geever & Laurence Goodby, Joe & Popie Geever, Molly Geever, and Justin Geever & Lauren Millar. My nieces and nephews, who have all been so enthusiastic: Jodi Geever-Ostrowsky & Ben Ostrowsky, Colin, Maxine & Lorelei Geever, Devin Geever (dying was completely bad form, you little fucker, and yes, I based Doug on you), Rachel McNorton & Bill Brandt, Jess McNorton & Andrea Wiernik, John DeSantis, Michael DeSantis, and Owen Geever. I love you all and really am lucky to have the best family in the world.

Mick & Joe introduced me to the zombie genre and I still enjoy long conversations after a zombie movie about what we would have done differently (and therefore survived), especially the one after watching 28 Days Later (I think, or maybe Dawn of the Dead remake?) at Justin’s house where the Allegheny River and the recently purchased canoe from the Highland Park Rummage Sale featured prominently in our Zombie Apocalypse Survival Plan.

This book would be absolutely terrible if not for the incredible women in my writing group: Byddi Lee, Catherine Thrush, Shannon Hemphill, Eva Smith Glynn, and Lucy Geever. You have improved my writing beyond measure, supplied some of ‘my’ best ideas, and introduced me to new people and worlds, not to mention incredible amounts of hilarity and friendship. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Many thanks to Ellie McLove at My Brother’s Editor for cleaning it up; Darcy Prince for that final proofread (and for just being you, mischief pixie!); Doug Dean for the original and phenomenal cover and promotional art—I am still blown away; Molly Phipps of We Got You Covered Book Design for the incredible new covers when I rebranded the series; Kiki Chatfield and Colleen Oppenheim at The Next Step PR for saving me from doing everything wrong, as opposed to just some; Sarah Lyons Fleming for your friendship, encouragement, and being willing to read a cyber-stranger’s manuscript; Alessandra Torre for your amazing support as a person, a writer, and an educator—see you at InkersCon2020!—and every single last person on the Alessandra Torre Inkers Facebook group. I have learned more from the community of Inkers about independent publishing than pretty much anyone or anyplace else.

Humungous thanks to Christopher Chirdon, director and general improver of the Kickstarter video, which would have been really lame without your technical and creative contributions; Rachel McNorton & Bill Brandt for getting amgeever.com up and running; Sam Koda for your input on the Kickstarter script and for sharing The Lincoln Highway with me (it really is that good); Scotty Karavlan for your honest feedback, advice, and opinions, both in general and all things Zombie Apocalypse; and George at iJava Cafe in San Jose for your enthusiasm and support when I finally fessed up to why I spent so much time at iJava hunched over my laptop. Very Special Thanks to Bill Sundstrom for hiring me to work at Santa Clara University way back in 2007. This particular story would never have happened otherwise.

Thank you, Anti-Flag—Justin, Pat, Chris, and 2—for letting me use your lyrics and for the inspiration and support, not to mention the music. You boys still rawk. ;-)

Sometimes friends perform seemingly small favors that make a huge difference. Many thanks, Dos, for promoting the Kickstarter on Instagram.

A special thank you to the women and men religious of the Catholic Church who work for equity, compassion, and justice for the poor, abused, and oppressed. There are a lot of things wrong with the Catholic Church, as this semi-fallen away Catholic can attest, and there are a lot of things that it gets right. With three aunts who have devoted their lives to the service of others as Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, and Sisters of Saint Francis of the Neumann Communities, I have had the privilege to witness firsthand the good they have done through their work in education, health care, building safe and affordable housing for the elderly, and providing love and safety for children in need, just to name a few of the ways that they have improved the lives of others while living their faith. You will NEVER meet anyone more badass than a nun who has spent her life in the trenches.

A very, very special thank you to my little brother Justin for his unwavering and enthusiastic support of this project. Deciding to embrace and pursue a career as an artist is both liberating and terrifying, and often it’s just a slog. On terrified slog days I remind myself of how long it took (years!) before Anti-Flag received any recognition, let alone enjoyed success, and it helps—a lot. After an early advance reader didn’t like Miranda because of her relationship with Mario, I worried that this aspect of the story would turn people off. Hell, I still do… Just tonight I’ve been envisioning an overall half-star rating because of this one thing! I talked it over with Justin and realized if that turns people off, then this isn’t the book for them. When I’m deciding what choices to make for my characters that might turn some readers off but are right in terms of who the character is and the life she or he has lived, I remind myself that Anti-Flag has always stayed true to their convictions, especially when it was not popular—nor particularly safe—to do so.

I would be remiss if I didn’t thank both Justin and the AMAZING Lauren Millar for reading the book and insisting that the Father Walter chapter not be cut when I narrowed the book down to three points of view ‘cause yinz guys was right n’at.

Last but not least by any measure, the hugest thank you in the Universe to my husband, Drew. You have been a true partner in the creation of this book from the moment I said, “Too bad it can’t have zombies,” to your unqualified belief that I had stories worth telling and the talent to tell them well. I could never have done this without you.

— June 12, 2019

Very special thanks to everyone who supported the Kickstarter, including Jon Schmid, Lucy Geever and Laurence Goodby, Eva Smith Glynn, Steven Urquhart, Bob Chamberlain, Melina Lenser, Rebecca Sepich, Ariel Paradis, Christie Strub Biber, Lisa Conroy, Bill Brandt, Julie Wong, Susan Thompson, Kenny Koda, Sam and Trissa Koda, Tom and Catherine Thrush, Jimmy Curran, Terry G.H., Katie Bullers, Mr. and Mrs. Owl, Sundar Vaidyanathan, Ryan Crivella, Kuppusamy Ravindran, Andrew Bernard, Betty & Larry Fabbroni, Bill Trumpbour, Bobbi Stack, Chris Barker, Pat Roncevich, Char Guarnaccia, Shannon Hemphill, Nina Eilers, Anna Housková, Lita Kurth, Bob Maloney, PJ