7th UK Festival of Zombie Culture - Show Report

The streets of Leicester ran red with blood. Had the Zombie Apocalypse had begun?... yes and no...

The 7th Annual Festival of Zombie Culture took place at the Phoenix Centre in Leicester on Saturday 16th November 2013, that's right 7th!!!

The Zombie Horde! Image by Grace Elkin Photography.

Over 13 hours of awesome Zombie Movie awesome-sauce including some festival and UK premiere screenings!

Zombies Rock! Image by Grace Elkin Photography.

Movies included Battery, Metelesta, the first UK screening of Zombie Hood, the World Premiere of Wasteland, Dolph Ludgrun's Battle of the Damned and Stalled.

Zoe Cosplay in full effect. Image by Grace Elkin Photography.

Some of the UK's top Zombie authors were on hand to share zombie survival tip, meet and greet with zombie lovers and sign copies of their latest books. David Moody, Wayne Simmons, Sean Page and Adam Millard were all on hand to stoke imaginations and  give you a lasting fix of zombie goodness.

David Moody. Image by Grace Elkin Photography.

Wayen Simmons. Image by Grace Elkin Photography.

Sean Page of the Ministry of Zombies. Image by Grace Elkin Photography.

Adam and Zoe Millard of Crowded Quarantine Publishing. Image by Grace Elkin Photography.

Zed Events Zombies. Image by Grace Elkin Photography.

The console gaming area was popular, with titles such as Dead Rising, House of the Dead, Call of Duty Zombies and many more, free to play all day long.

Blam Blam! Image by Grace Elkin Photography.

The event was staged once again by Zombie Ed from Terror4Fun. He's a 'very lovely man' and knows a thing of two about zombies.

Zombie Ed. He's a very lovely man. Image by Grace Elkin Photography.

Flipping Zombies made an appearance with their fantastic zombie craft kits and Zombie Shop was on hand to keep everyone supplied and talk zombies and gaming all day long.

Flipping Zombies. Image by Grace Elkin Photography.

Zombie Shop. Get yer Zombie On!

Whilst the event was horror themed, it was very much a family affair (except for the movies of course) so there was something for zombie fans of all ages.

Zombie Princesses... terrifying! Image by Grace Elkin Photography.

Zombie Slaying Practice... poor Ed! Image by Grace Elkin Photography.

Special mention to Grace Elkin Photography whose amazing shots adorn the majority of this post. She's awesome, so go check out the rest of the incredible images from the event on Grace's facebook page.

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SCARdiff 2013 Horror Expo Show Report

10.00 am on Sunday 27th October 2013 and the doors to Cardiff’s Mercure Holland Hotel open - Cardiff’s first Horror Expo SCARdiff had officially begun!

The doors open on SCARdiff 2013. Image by Carly Turner Photography

SCARdiff was co-produced by Fantasy Events, Shock Horror magazine and Horror author Wayne Simmons; a veritable smorgasbord of horror goodness.

Zombie Ad with Colin Murtagh from zombiebusiness.co.uk

The one day event was held at the rather well appointed (fully licensed bar, always a plus, nice toilets, conference rooms and good sized trading hall) and was jam-packed with horror writers, comic book artists, actors, producers, special effects artists, directors and horror fans alike.

SCARdiff Guests

The guest list was pretty extensive, including:

Dominic Brunt (Before Dawn), David Moody (Autumn and Hater series of novels), John Higgins (Razorjack, Watchmen), Simeon Halligan (Splintered), Adam Millard (The Dead series), Simon Williams (Bad Blood), Anthony D.P.Mann, Bobby ‘The Pimp’ Rhodes (Demons), Wayne Simmons (Flu and Doll Parts), James Plumb (Night of the Living Dead: Resurrection), Mike Peel (Rogue Creations SFX), Tony Jopia (Deadtime) and many more.

David Moody. Image by Carly Turner Photography

The guests made themselves available throughout the day so it was easy to meet with your favourite and everyone was more than willing to answer questions and generally geek out on anything horror related.

Adam Millard. Image by Carly Tuner Photography

The Q&A sessions were hosted by Colin McCracken, founder and editor of Zombiehamster.com and regular contributor to Rue Morgue, Diabolique, Shock Horror and more. The sessions were well received and tons of fun.

Zombie Shop. Image by Carly Turner Photography

A number of films were shown including screenings of Out There, Shellshocked and Radio Silence.

Mike Peel from Rogue Creations SFX. Image by Carly Tuner Photography

Cosplayers were out in force featuring characters from and inspired by 2000AD, Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Razorjack, Night of the Living Dead, Chucky, Interview with a Vampire, Little Red Riding Hood and more.

Silent Hill.

Judge Pal - Wewere let off with a stern warning!

The trading hall was packed with all manner of horror goodness from the macabre to the bizarre from traders such as Mad Science Films, Retrodec, Gadmachine, Science Fiction Collectables, ShottleBop, Sovrin’s Crafts, Feast of Flesh, Drown Soda, Fish4Comics and Zombie Shop.

Retrodec's macabre collection. Image from zombiebusiness.co.uk

Zombie Shop's Trading Table at SCARdiff 2013.

It was a great day out and an awesome celebration of all things horror. When SCARdiff 2014 comes to town it is highly recommended for any horror fan. Zombie Shop will be there!

Missed out? Check out the video report from S4/C.

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SCARdiff - A brand new Horror Expo comes to Cardiff

Co-produced by Fantasy Events SCARdiff is a brand new horror expo co-produced by Fantasy Events, horror author Wayne Simmons and Shock Horror Magazine.

SCARdiff is a one day event taking place at the Mercure Holland Hotel Cardiff on Sunday 27th October 2013.

SCARdiff will feature a multitude of horror fandom awesomeness including: writers, publishers, comic book artists, actors, special effects artists and directors.

The organisers want to keep things highly interactive so there will be a number of workshops, Q&A sessions, guest panels and film screenings throughout the day.

Confirmed guests include Dominic Brunt and Joanne Mitchell (BEFORE DAWN), bestselling horror author David Moody (AUTUMN, HATER), comic-book artist and colourist John Higgins (RAZORJACK, WATCHMEN), author Adam Millard (THE DEAD series), artist Simon Williams (BAD BLOOD), actor and filmmaker Anthony D.P. Mann, actor Body Rhodes (DEMONS), author Wayne Simmonds (FLU), director James Plumb (Night of The Living Dead) and director Simeon Halligan (SPLINTERED) and many more.

There will also be a number of EXpo EXclusive launches with the Shorts Showcase. The SCARdiff Shorts Showcase is curated by writer, critic and journalist, Colin McCracken. Founder and editor of the leading genre website, zombiehamster.com, and regular contributor to the print publications RUE MORGUE, DIABOLIQUE, SHOCK HORROR and more, Colin will also be hosting several Q&As at the event.

Movie screens include:

Zombie Shop, Gadmachine, JewelVenom, Mad Science Films, Science Fiction Collectables, ShottleBop, Sovrin's Crafts, Feast of Flesh, Drown Soda and Fish4Comics will be trading among others.

SCARdiff is a ticket only 18 or over event, book your tickets now at SCARdiff.co.uk

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Win a free signed copy of Dead West by Adam Millard

COMPETITION TIME:

We're giving away a signed copy of Adam Millard's DEAD WEST via the Zombie Shop facebook page.

"As the stranger rides into Jonestown, hoping to forget his past and forge a future worth living, he discovers that not all things are that simple.

A terrible virus has taken over the town, turning most of the residents into the undead.

Blaine, the mysterious drifter, has nothing more to loose.

The West is about to get bloodier..."

All you gotta do to win is answer one question on the Zombie Shop facebook page.

Competition ends Friday 16th March 2012 at 18:00. The winner's name will be plucked out of a Stetson and announced on the following Monday. Y'all be carefull out there.

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20 Questions with Adam Millard

Life for Adam Millard revolves around writing.  If he isn't writing, then he is usually found with a book in his hand.  He is also a true Metal-head who loves to play the guitar and has an overwhelming collection of music that make his wife’s ears bleed. 

Adam Millard - Zombie Horror Author.

He is a self-professed connoisseur of all films but with a disturbing enthusiasm for everything horror under his skin, quite literally, thanks to his other passion of tattoos and tattooing. Adam’s body boasts over 50 tattoos (some of which were inked by himself) with his back being a showcase for all the modern classic horror characters thanks to his brother, Clint’s, tattoo skills.*



In this town, dead ain't dead enough.

We had the chance to catch up with Adam at the 2011 Festival of Zombie Culture and here's what he had to say.

1 Why zombies and how did they come to be the cornerstone of your work? To me, zombies are the only creatures in literature without restrictions. Vampires and werewolves have rules, weaknesses. The only way to kill a zombie is by decapitation or severing the spinal cord. I love that about them, which is why I write so much post-apocalyptic zombie fiction.

2 Do you mostly write in the morning, daytime or the witching hour? I used to write in the morning, but things have changed a lot since my son, Phoenix, came along. Now I write when I can, which might be after everyone else has gone to bed. As long as I hit my word count, though, it doesn't matter at what time of day I write.  I still go to bed happy.

3 Name one writer who has been a major influence on your work and why? I would have to say Stephen King. I grew up reading everything I could by King, and he is still one of the only authors that I pre-order months in advance, regardless of the book. I love the style, the way he can paint a vivid image so successfully.  I think that might be why there are so many poor movie adaptions.  People have their own ideas of what his characters are about, and it's difficult to make that leap from page to screen.  Apart from a few adaptions, of course: Misery, Carrie, The Green Mile.

4 One book you think everyone should read. Going back to King, here, but I would have to say The Stand. It's one of the greatest books ever written, and one that, should I be marooned on a desert-island with nothing but the clothes on my back, I could read over and over, or until I ran out of coconuts.

5 Do you think genre fiction has finally got the recognition it deserves? I think these last two years have been amazing for genre fiction. There are more genre-writers successfully hitting the stores than ever before, and I am glad to be a part of it. The introduction of the Kindle, of course, has made a massive difference to how books are received, and that has a part to play in how well genre-fiction is currently doing.

6 Zombies - slow or fast and is there room for both? There is room for both, but I prefer slow zombies. Romero had the right idea, with his slow, shambling, couldn't catch a cold zombies. What people forget is that the faster creatures, like the ones in 28 Days Later, are not even zombies.  They are infected, but not dead.  I love that movie, but it does piss me off when people refer to them as zombies.

7 Blunt instrument, firearm or blade? I'm a massive fan of the Remington shotgun. It'll do the job every time, provided you're pointing it at the head. Failing that, though (as they are quite difficult to come by in my hometown of Wolverhampton) a machete and any decent .22 pistol.  You have to get up close and personal with a machete, but the kills would be so much sweeter.  Just keep your mouth closed at all times.

8 If you could save just one luxury, what would it be? Well, I've been sober now for almost a year, so missing drink would not be a problem. I smoke, so I would have to say cigarettes, or a few pouches of tobacco. I think, with all of the carnage going on around you, a nice smoke would take the edge off.

9 What do you think is most likely to cause an actual zombie outbreak? The government. Not David Cameron, directly, but certainly some government-funded laboratory taking an experiment a little too far. We saw it this year, when a group of foolish scientists decided to mutate the H1N1 virus so that it would pass more easily from human to human.  How ridiculous is that?  Let's create a more viral strand of Ebola, while we're at it.

10 What is your number one piece of advice for surviving a zombie apocalypse? Stay away from populated areas.  The mall might have looked inviting in Dawn Of The Dead, but it's the last place you should go. Don't wander into the city and expect to make it out uninfected.  What you need to do is get yourself as far out into the countryside as possible, somewhere quiet, secluded.  Find a nice farmhouse, fortify it, and see what happens from there.



Life doesn't always mean life.


11 If you were a character in one of your books, what would be your opening line? “I bet she was as fit as fuck when she was alive!”

12 How much has music played a part in your work? I have a writing soundtrack, which mainly consists of Metallica, Avenged Sevenfold, Atreyu, Bullet For My Valentine. I think it sets the tone for the story. If I had been listening to Avril Lavigne at the time I wrote Dead West it would be a completely different book.

13 If you had to live in a clichéd alternate reality would you choose medieval fantasy or futuristic sci-fi? Fantasy, without a doubt. I've always seen myself chopping heads off things wearing nothing but a facecloth and tribal paint. I know I could do that in the future, too, but I think it would be more fun in a medieval fantasy.

14 If you had a super power, what would it be? Invisibility. You can keep your flying and controlling fire. I would just love to be able to go anywhere without being seen. I'd probably do it naked, too, just for shits and giggles.

15 Star wars, Star Trek or Sci-Fi curious? I was never really into Star Wars as a kid, so I would have to say Star Trek. I loved the original series, and then Next Generations, but after that I lost track.  DS9 never really did it for me. I recently re-watched the original Star Wars trilogy and loved it.  Just wish the second trilogy could be wiped from existence, somehow.

16 Has Gary Gygax (creator of Dungeons & Dragons), and the phenomenon he spawned, influenced you in any way? I think he's influence almost everybody in the genre in some way. I used to watch the D&D cartoon series as a kid; it was great, though probably not so thrilling if I were to watch it again now. He was the King of Role-Playing games, and that is still a title that he holds to this day.

17 Do you see the influx in zombies in entertainment as good thing and do you think we are headed the right way for the genre? It's about time, too.  AMCs The Walking Dead has introduced a whole generation to zombies, which is good for authors like myself.  There's a lot of terrible stuff out there too, though, and you have to sift through all of that to find a decent novel or movie.  Personally, I think it's a great time to be in the genre.  As long as people find new ways to approach the undead, it will remain fresh.

18 Dead Island, Dead Rising, Left 4 Dead, Call of Duty Zombies or 'They just haven't made one quite right yet'? Dead Rising. It was like being in Dawn Of The Dead, and the fact that you could pick up any object and use it as a weapon was amazing. I had hours of fun, and many sleepless nights, with that game.

19 Do you have a guilty pleasure you are willing to share? An interest completely unrelated to the genre? I bake cakes. My wife runs a small bakery, and when I'm not writing about post-apocalyptic hordes of flesh-eating undead, I'm knocking up batches of vanilla sponge.

20 What's next for Adam Millard? Dead Frost is launching at the Cardiff Comic and Animation Expo on the 25th February, which I am very excited about. I am already working on the fourth book in the series, but in the meantime I have a bunch of short stories that I need to write for various anthologies.  It's going to be a great year.



Dead Frost. Due for release on 25th February 2012



Find out more about his other work and latest news at Adam Millard's website.

*Opening paragraph text taken from adammillard.co.uk

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