Malinda Lo

The First Sentence Tour starring the 2009 Debutantes continues this week with Stacey Jay, whose novel Undead Much? (the sequel to You Are So Undead to Me) came out in January.

What’s one of your favorite first sentences from one of your favorite books?

SJ: From The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne:

A throng of bearded men, in sad-coloured garments and grey steeple-crowned hats, intermixed with women, some wearing hoods, some bareheaded, was assembled in front of a wooden edifice, the door of which was heavily timbered with oak, and studded with iron spikes.

Why do you think that first sentence works so well?

SJ: It paints such a strong visual image, while conveying this ominous sense of foreboding. I love it.

Why did you choose to start your book with this first sentence:

Okay, this was it.

SJ: Wow. That is a short sentence. You can tell I wasn’t obsessing about the perfection of those first few words, lol. But honestly, I was wanting to jump right into a high-energy, high-stakes moment, and for my main character, Megan, this really is “IT”, a moment she’s been anticipating for a long time.

About Undead Much?

Even Zombie Settlers with Super Hot Boyfriends get the Blues…

A few months ago I was a normal girl with a normal life. But that was before my power to Settle the Undead returned and someone tried to kill me with zombies.

Now I work magic and practice kicking butt while trying to find time for pom squad and my boyfriend, Ethan, and trying NOT to think about how freaky my life has become. It can be tough. Still…things could be worse…

Oh yeah, right:
1. Feral new super-strong zombies. Check.
2. Undead psychic hottie predicting a zombie apocolypse. Check.
3. Earth-shattering secrets that could land me in Settler prison for life. Check.
4. Cheerleader vs. pom squad turf war threatening the end of the half time as we know it. Check.

I’m going to need therapy (and a cookie) if I live through the week. Unfortunately I’m learning that’s not something Zombie Queens can take for granted.

About Stacey Jay

Stacey Jay is a workaholic with three pen names, and a sick sense of humor. She loves creepies, crawlies, and of course, romance. What would a zombie novel–or any novel–be without kisses that make your toes tingle?

Stacey has been a full time writer since 2005 and can’t think of anything she’d rather be doing. Her former careers include theatre performer, professional dancer, poorly paid C-movie actress, bartender, and waiter.