Jean Stuntz, an associate History professor at WTAMU, has recently published a book through Yard Dog Press. The book, entitled “The Alamo and Zombies” takes a spin on history by adding a fictional species to a factual event.
Stuntz described her book as a “mixture of real history and horror.”
“The book is about the Alamo and the whole story of the Texas Revolution, but in a universe where zombies and other supernatural creatures exist,” she said. “For example, Jim Bowie developed the Bowie knife especially to behead Zombies.”
Stuntz says that her idea was inspired by a recipe contest held by the publisher.
“Yard Dog Press publishes mostly science fiction and horror stories,” she said. “They have several books of short stories set in a universe where only Bubbas survived the apocalypse as human, and others turned into zombies. The publisher had a contest at a convention in Oklahoma City to make a recipe that people from those stories might have eaten, and then tell a story about how the recipe came to be.”
Stuntz entered the contest and won the writing portion. The prize was getting a published book, but Stuntz struggled to think of ideas for it.
“I am a historian and have never published fiction before,” she said. “The main piece of advice for fiction writers is to write what you know, and I know Texas history.”
After that, Stuntz was inspired to write The Alamo and Zombies. It took her several months to finish the manuscript before sending it off to other Texas historians for peer-review.
“With all of that and editing, it took about a year from the time I won the contest to where I sent in the finished manuscript,” she said.
Stuntz said her book is aimed at anyone that loves history or zombies, and that it may help in learning. While suited for adults and young-adults, the book has no sexuality or language, but contains lots of violence.
“What is a zombie book without violence?” Stuntz asked.
Stuntz will be signing copies of her book in “blood” in the JBK Commons from 11-1 p.m. on April 17. Books are $8 each.
