The Cannibal's Guide to Fasting
by Dana Hammer
GENRE: Comedic Horror
BLURB:
Igor
Fenenko, a former research scientist, is a scary, scary man. Not only
is he a massive bodybuilder with a spider tattooed on his face, he
has also been infected with Pestis Manducans — viral cannibalism.
Igor tried to resist indulging, but his research specimens smelled so
delicious. Who did it hurt, really, to nibble a corpse?
Caught,
disgraced, and sent to a ‘rehabilitation’ center, Igor is now
forced to live in a government-mandated Containment Center. He spends
his days pressing wildflowers, growing blueberries, and doing his
best to avoid human meat. More than anything, he wants a cure for the
virus that has ruined his life.
Igor’s
brother, Karl, is also infected with Pestis. But unlike Igor, he does
not live in a Containment Center. He lives down by the river, where
he runs a cannibal rights group. At first, the group seems harmless
enough, if a bit creepy and overzealous. But when Igor discovers
their evil practices, he is forced to intervene.
Aided
and opposed by rich eccentrics who have their own agendas, Igor must
use brains and muscles to find a cure while fighting the urge to turn
brains and muscles into a delicious lunch.
Purchase The Cannibal's Guide to Fasting on Amazon
Excerpt:
Igor’s home is a single-wide trailer in a “community” that the government has set up for former cannibals. Decent, lawabiding, non-infected folks do not want man-eaters to live in their neighborhoods, but they won’t go so far as to demand executions for the infected, and so the forced cannibal community was born.
For a time, the infected were held in prisons and jails, until those became too overcrowded, and the state was forced to find other solutions. Now, the official plan of action is this: identify the cannibals, send them to a treatment center, and then house them in secure, guarded communities with their own kind.
Igor’s community is one of the nicer ones. The trailers are small but clean, and the neighborhood is kept tidy and quiet. Each trailer even has a small patch of lawn, for residents to use as they please. Igor uses his for fruit and vegetable gardening. Some other people plant flowers, and some of them plant nothing at all, but fill their yards with furniture or above-ground pools.
Other communities aren’t so lucky. Igor is grateful for his home, despite the security guards who occasionally take their jobs a bit too seriously. Despite the constant scrutiny of the inspectors, despite the fact that his ID lists his address as “High Risk Containment Center” and that any time he has to show that ID to anyone, he gets glares or looks of disgust or flat refusals of service. He is grateful, because without it, and without a job, and without anyone willing to take him in, he would likely be homeless.
Interview with Dana Hammer
How did you become involved with the subject or theme of your book?
I wouldn’t say I’m “involved” with cannibalism, haha. I studied it in college a little — specifically as it was practiced by the Asmat people of Papua New Guinea — and I’m a big fan of anything Hannibal Lecter. But that’s as far as my involvement goes.
What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?
My goal was to write a satire about drug addiction and how it’s handled in our society. I also wanted to write a book with a gentle-giant protagonist who wasn’t too stupid to live. And of course, I wanted to write a book that people loved. I think I achieved the first two goals. The book hasn’t been released yet, so I’ll have to wait until later in the year to see if I achieved the third. But the ARC reviews that are trickling in have all been positive so far!
What was the hardest part of writing this book?
Reducing the influence of Esteban Zappa. In the first version of this book, he was a major character, because I love him so much, and he’s so fun to write. But it was pointed out to me by my beta readers that the way I was using him didn’t make much sense. This is the thing with writing for myself versus writing for others. Sometimes to write something others will enjoy, you have to make sacrifices.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
I enjoyed brining Igor to life. The world needs more Igor.
Were there alternate endings you considered?
Not seriously. Of course, as a writer, you’re always asking “What if” and thinking up new scenarios. But from the start, I always knew what type of ending I wanted.
Can you share some stories about people you met while researching this book?
All the research I did was online, pretty much. I wish I had some cool stories about infiltrating a community of cannibals and learning their ways, but I don’t. I could make one up though, if you like, just let me know. :)
What genre of books do you enjoy reading?
Horror, comedy, dystopian — anything speculative. I also enjoy a nice classic English novel with ladies in petticoats drinking tea in rooms. I adore quirky non-fiction. And, if I’m feeling it, a nice rom-com. I read very widely.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Dana Hammer is a novelist, screenwriter and playwright. She has won over forty awards and honors for her writing, few of which generated income, all of which were deeply appreciated. She is not a cannibal.
Connect with Dana Hammer
5 comments:
Thanks for hosting!
Sounds like a good story.
The blurb definitely makes you want to read more
Do you have any pets?
What is your favorite thing to do on your days off?
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