BooksChatter: ℚ♫ The Girl's Guide to the Apocalypse: The Girl's Guide [1]

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Daphne Lamb to talk about The Girl's Guide to the Apocalypse (11 August 2015, Booktrope Editions 218 pages), a New Adult Post-Apocalyptic Action Adventure, book one of The Girl's Guide series.

Author Q&A | Synopsis | Teaser | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops

Welcome to BooksChatter, Daphne, and thank you for taking the time to join us today.

Before we start I would like to share your music playlist for The Girl's Guide to the Apocalypse - enjoy!

What was the inspiration for The Girl's Guide to the Apocalypse?

"A few years back I worked on a project for Habitat for Humanity in Belfast. While there, I learned a very important lesson about myself - I had no actual real skills. By the end of the day when I had gotten demoted to pouring water in a bucket, I realized that when it came to building something or making something that was necessary for survival, I failed at all of it."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"Quite a bit, actually. I based a lot of Verdell on myself and made her sort of an exaggeration of my worst flaws."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for The Girl's Guide to the Apocalypse - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"I love the cover! The super talented Greg Simanson designed it and it was better than I imagined.

We wanted to show the basic idea of the story, which was a world on the brink of death and the people still trying to solve their first world problems in it. The cover conveys all of that and so much more."

I like that she is holding a hot cup of coffee!

Why should we read The Girl's Guide to the Apocalypse and what sets it apart from the rest?

"There’s no doubt, Apocalypse-lit is prevalent these days and it offers a lot of issues to talk about in our day in age. What you see a lot is the grimness of survival, everyone has guns, and heroes who are making beds and clothes out of twigs. This is not The Girl's Guide.

If a society of people go from the comforts of the 21st century to a stark dying world overnight, its not going to be a something that everyone will adapt to. In fact, most of us might go kicking and screaming into that reality and that’s what this book explores and what sets it apart from what else is currently available."

Can you tell us something quirky about The Girl's Guide to the Apocalypse, its story and characters?

"Most of characters are based on people in real life. Basically, I tried to imagine those that I see every day trying to make it in a world that’s taken everything comfortable around them.

I threw in an ex-boyfriend, an ex-boss and the character of Tatiana is based on a cubicle mate I had while writing it (don’t worry, she knows its her.)"

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I love writing satire, there’s just something about taking the rules of a genre and turning it on its head and finding a new perspective in it. I love exploring different genres - but some are just harder to write than others.

I love reading science fiction, historical fiction and adventure. I wish I could branch out into something more serious, but the need to tell jokes is too strong."

Ah, funny you should mention that... as I have found an old clip of you doing some stand up comedy, which, of course, I must share ;-)

What is in store next?

"Lots of fun things and I can’t believe that they’re going to be a reality!

The second book of The Girl's Guide is finished and in the editing phase and I have another book, a sort of thriller parody about what happens when you don’t really know your spouse after he takes you into the woods to meet his family. Both are scheduled for release later this year, so be on the lookout!"

A lot to look forward to. We wish you all the best with these future releases, and thank you again for chatting to us.