As I’ve found it difficult to find participants for my weekly Fridays 5, I’ve decided to interview the characters from the books I’ve written. This is my first time trying this so bear with me.
This week I give you Jimmy, an eleven year old who helped with the survivors at the Willowbrook Apartments where he lived with his mom. If you want to learn more about Jimmy and what he went through scroll down to the bottom of the page to get a copy of Zomething Dead This Way Comes. It’s free, well all I ask for is an email address in exchange for this full length novel I’m sure you will enjoy.
Let us begin
Jimmy is eleven and carries himself with the air of someone who knows they are right. Yet he seems hesitant to accept who he is. He and his mother moved to Willowbrook Apartments several months prior to the events that unfold in Zomething Dead This Way Comes. As he enters the room he crosses to the chair and settles into his seat, glancing around with unrestrained curiosity. Outwardly he appears alert and responsive, yet slightly withdrawn.
RS: What brought you and your mother to Willowbrook?
The question immediately puts him on guard, and he wipes at his eyes to hide the tears threatening to spill down his cheeks.
J: My Dad died in a fire. (Here he falters as he lowers his head and struggles to bring himself under control. When he looks up it’s obvious he’s very proud of his dad.) He was a section chief for the Richmond Fire Department and became trapped in a warehouse, but he saved his crew before the building collapsed. So, he’s a hero. Mom couldn’t afford to keep up with all the bills, he didn’t have enough life insurance to cover the house, so she let the house in Reeds Landing go, and we moved here.
RS: Do you miss your dad?
J: Of course, but he always taught me that these things happen. That we only have a little control over our future. I believe in a way he was preparing me for what might happen.
RS: When you say control, what do you mean?
J: You know, such as the money you make, your life choices. Who you end up with and if you’re happy. That’s under your control. Like my Dad. If your choice puts you in danger, there’s a bigger chance of getting killed than if you worked in an office all day. Your chance is never zero because things happen. But working in a place where you go into burning buildings all the time, narrows that chance.
RS: What was your childhood like?
J: I’d say better than most, but not as good as some. There were rules I had to follow, chores I had to do, but I didn’t mind. I had to keep my grades up too. My dad always said if you want something you have to work for it, and if you must work, do the best you can no matter what the job is.
RS: Do you have any dreams?
J: I think we all have dreams, no matter what your life might be like, it can always be better. Right now, my dream is to find a safe place to sleep. Somewhere I can let my guard down and be a kid again, but I don’t think that’s gonna happen anytime soon.
RS: What scares you?
J: Before the awakening I was always afraid of losing my family, of becoming an orphan. I knew a kid in school whose parents were killed in a car accident. Before it happened, he was always happy, listened to the teachers and did his homework. After it happened, he became a different person.
He stopped listening and seemed to be hiding inside himself. He was only in school for a couple of weeks after they died. One day he never showed up. Later we learned he had been placed in foster care. After my dad died I was so afraid something was going to happen to my mom, and I’d have to go to foster care too.
Now you have to be careful with anyone you meet. You won’t know until the last moment if they’re friendly or willing to cut your throat to take what you have. I’m sure there are still good people out there, but you can’t assume everyone is going to be nice.
RS: What would you say is your biggest weakness?
J: What do you mean?
RS: Like what is something you find hard to do?
J: Hurt people, unless they deserve it. I trust people too much. I’d like to believe there are more nice people out there, but I know I’m wrong.
RS: If you could have anything in the world, what would you want?
J: My parents!
This concludes Jimmy’s interview, if you ‘d like to learn more about Jimmy and what happened, signup for my readers group and grab a copy of Zomething Dead This Way Comes below.
Synopsis: Jimmy and his friends have come to the roof of their apartment building to watch the passage of the comet Omega9. Little do they know the dust from the comet contains ancient organisms that are about to turn their world upside down.
They’re already dealing with tough times, but things get even crazier when Robert’s mom is attacked by his dad and turns into a zombie. This is only the first act in a chain of events that plunges the world into the zombie apocalypse. Forcing the boys to figure out how to survive in this new, terrifying reality.
Trapped between the undead, and the evil living in the building, their future becomes more perilous until Robert makes a startling discovery in the basement. In the end it’s all about survival, friendship, and facing their fears as they fight to protect each other and their home.
Richard Schiver 