Lockdown: Contagious Virus Spells Suspense
In Lockdown by Samie Sands, Leah Watton’s practical joke has spiralled way out of control—all to impress a crush…
She can’t go it alone—after all, Leah has none of the skills needed to survive—but with Michelle and Jake by her side, not even a contagious virus and a sea of the dead can keep her from… Breaking out of the Lockdown…
Lockdown
by Samie Sands
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GENRE: Horror/Sci Fi
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Interview: Lockdown
- What or who inspired you to start writing?
I didn’t really plan out Lockdown, I didn’t think I’d start writing at all. I read a lot and I enjoy horror books, in particular zombie novels, but I always found the main characters a bit too capable. I wanted to see what would happen to a character without too much common sense or any skills to survive. The idea for the novel just spiraled from there in my mind and in the end I guess I wrote the book I wanted to read.
- How did you come up with ideas for your books?
After Lockdown the idea process was a little different. I knew that I wanted to turn the AM13 Outbreak into a series so I actually started to plan out the next few books (although the original ideas never fully made it to page, things changed a lot along the way). Still, my ideas always start with realistic characters and the plot builds around them.
- As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?
More recently I have been branching out into the romance genre. My Wattpad book Living on Borrowed Time has received some very positive feedback. It’s even been used by Netflix to promote one of their films. I also have a new novel, Lottie Loves which I’ve recently signed a contract for so keep your eyes peeled!
- If you could be one of the characters from any of your books, who would it be and why?
Georgie Blake from Extinct is a zombie author trying to survive the real life apocalypse so I guess if things did go that way I would be most like her. She’s also very introverted and very unsure of her capabilities which is exactly as I would be.
- If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your leading roles?
I would love Rachel Macadams to play Leah from Lockdown, Michelle Rodrigues to play Michelle, and James Franco to play Jake. Of course many readers have very different ideas!
- What is the best advice you ever received?
Just do it! It’s very hard to write a first draft because of the fear of it being terrible, but an awful first attempt is better than writing nothing at all.
- Do you outline your books or just start writing?
I outline but don’t stick to it rigidly as I work. Often the plot and characters take on a life of their own which I think makes for a more exciting, better flowing end result.
- Have you started your next project? If so, can you share a little bit about your book?
I have recently released Not Dead Yet which is the fourth book in the AM13 Outbreak series which shows how the virus is affecting the rest of the world in an anthology style novel. All the books are a little different and can be read as a standalone so right now I’m figuring out how to plan out book five,
- Can you tell us a little about the black moment in your book?
As I’m sure you can imagine in a zombie novel there are a lot of terrible moments for Leah. She loses a lot on her journey, people and things, and she feels herself slipping away as that happens. There’s a moment where she really has to chose to fight or give up and for a while she doesn’t even know which option she’ll pick.
- Can you tell us a little bit about what it was like to write a series
Writing the sequel books is much harder than writing the first one for me. I had more writing experience and knowledge but that also made it more challenging because I was very critical as I wrote, rather than being able to simply focus on the plot. Writer’s block was much more common!
Blurb: Lockdown
Leah Watton’s practical joke has spiralled way out of control—all to impress a crush…
With a prank online video, Leah hopes to catch the attention of Jake Colton, a cute, blond-haired, blue-eyed co-worker she’s had a crush on for months. But instead of sending it to Jake, she manages to forward the clip to her boss—who buys every gory second.
When mass panic ensues, Leah learns the video is more than a staged act…
The government is calling the virus AM13. As the outbreak spreads, citizens are forced to stay indoors while they assess the gravity of the illness. Most people are quarantined in their homes, but Leah, Jake, and Leah’s best friend Michelle are some of the unlucky few who are stuck at work when the Lockdown occurs.
That’s where she first encounters one of the infected…
Aside from a contaminated woman devouring one of her co-workers, Leah has another problem. Does she do as she’s ordered and stay at work? Or should she disobey government orders and break free to reunite with her family?
She can’t go it alone—after all, Leah has none of the skills needed to survive—but with Michelle and Jake by her side, not even a contagious virus and a sea of the dead can keep her from…
Breaking out of the Lockdown…
EXCERPT: LOCKDOWN
As the kettle boils, I idly glance out of the window. I stop in my tracks and move to get a closer look. There’s a lone, dishevelled woman walking past the wall. She’s in a seriously bad way—her clothes are all torn and bloody, her hair is matted with grime, and she has a massive gushing gash on her leg. Something dreadful has happened to her, that much is clear. The awful possibilities race through my mind, sending me into a tailspin.
I bang on the window to let her know I’m there and cry out for someone to call an ambulance. I’m desperate to do something to help her, but she doesn’t even acknowledge me. It’s as if she’s crazy, comatose, like she’s sleepwalking or something. Maybe the loss of blood has sent her into a state of delirium.
Not knowing what other option I have, I turn to race outside. I can’t just stand here and leave her to die of her injuries. I’d never be able to forgive myself! But just as I’m about to rush out of the room, a feeling of unease spreads over me and stops me dead on the spot. I flick my gaze back out to the road and a cold chill comes over me. Now she’s looking this way and I can see her face fully. Her jaw has disconnected and is hanging down from her face and in her hand is a severed human arm.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Samie Sands is the author of the AM13 Outbreak series – Lockdown, Forgotten, and Extinct. She’s also had a number of short stories published in very successful short story anthologies. To find out more about her and her work, check out her website at http://samiesands.com.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samiesandslockdown
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamieSands/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samiesands/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8102183.Samie_Sands
Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/SamieSands
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2uo6Um7
Lockdown Link US: http://amzn.to/2uoj3b2
Lockdown Link UK: http://amzn.to/2slui7A
Boxset Link US: http://amzn.to/2tu1B8q
Boxset Link UK: http://amzn.to/2s6ED2K
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:
Samie Sands will be awarding a $10 Amazon or BN GC to one winner, and three additional winners will each receive a print copy of a book in the series.
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