In Anticipation: My Life As A White Trash Zombie

So, this is not exactly hot-of-the-presses news or anything, but nonetheless I need to show my love for an upcoming series by Diana Rowland. The author's Kara Gillian series is just so fabu-tastic. This summer will mark the release of the first book in her second series, featuring the most misunderstood of paranormal creatures, the zombie. ^_^

     Living with her alcoholic deadbeat dad in the swamps of southern Louisiana, she's a high school dropout with a pill habit and a criminal record who's been fired from more crap jobs than she can count. Now on probation for a felony, it seems that Angel will never pull herself out of the downward spiral her life has taken.
      That is, until the day she wakes up in the ER after overdosing on painkillers. Angel remembers being in an horrible car crash, but she doesn't have a mark on her. To add to the weirdness, she receives an anonymous letter telling her there's a job waiting for her at the parish morgue--and that it's an offer she doesn't dare refuse.
      Before she knows it she's dealing with a huge crush on a certain hunky deputy and a brand new addiction: an overpowering craving for brains. Plus, her morgue is filling up with the victims of a serial killer who decapitates his prey--just when she's hungriest!
     Angel's going to have to grow up fast if she wants to keep this job and stay in one piece. Because if she doesn't, she's dead meat. Literally.

Now, I've already read two of the Kara Gillian books. And I tell you, Ms. Rowland is gifted when it comes to writing about forensics and detective work. Not surprising, seeing as how she writes from experience and first-hand-knowledge. The fact that this new series has a protagonist that works for a morgue...well, you can bet there'll be some interesting visuals. ^_^ 

What's more, the protagonist seems to be a bit of an f-up as far as responsibility goes (during her mortal existence, at least). While it seems that Angel's death is a bit of a wake up call for her to get her act together, I'd imagine she's bound to me a more down-to-earth type. Not a vision of perfection, but a potty-mouthed, mistake-making...human like some of us are. Well, maybe not quite human. One doesn't often think of zombies as loveable, cool or sexy. This book will likely be a nice change from the vamp and shifter protags of most urban fantasy series.

Now, I've got to Cover-Talk for a second, because as it happens, this artwork was done by none other than Dan Dos Santos. The man is just so gifted. A beautiful, cute-looking zombie with blood all over her mouth? Love it. And the "I Love Brains" tattoo is just a crack-up.Thankfully, the cover copy is simple and lets the beauty of artwork shine through.

A sample of the book cover with full copy text. From dianarowland.com

What are your thoughts on this new series? Do you like the cover art? Do you think you might pick it up when it's released this summer?

My Life As A White Trash Zombie will be released on July 5th, 2011 by DAW.