You've been hearing a lot here about vampires, but there's been a suspicious rumor floating around that zombies are the new vamps.  Well, I'm not so sure the fanged and fabulous are ready to cede the field just yet, but I think we can all play nice.  After all, the vamps are just in it for the blood.  What happens to the bodies after that....

So here's author Stacey Jay taking the pro-zombie stance and offering up some fun freebies for two lucky commentors, once from each side of the debate!

IN DEFENSE OF THE ZOMBIE by Stacey Jay

Hi Lucienne readers!

I’m Stacey Jay author of the Megan Berry, Zombie Settler series (You are so Undead to Me and Undead Much? from Penguin Razorbill.) Megan is a zombie shrink who does her share of zombie butt kicking, and lives in a world where the Undead are decidedly Unappealing.

But in my book for Flux, My So Called Death (Spring 2010), zombies are caused by a mutation in the human gene and aren’t so one dimensional. They still have to eat brains and worry about flesh degeneration, but they also go to school (Dead High), stress about getting the perfect foundation to mask the blue-ish tint of dead skin, and believe being pulse-challenged is no excuse for a lack of school spirit. They’re proud to be genetically Undead and they refuse to let anyone put zombies in the corner.

Chloe Neill had her say last week, http://varkat.livejournal.com/92341.html. Now it’s time for Team Zombie to have a go. Chloe concluded that vampires will always keep the top spot in the hearts of readers, but I think it’s time someone pointed out the dysfunction in the fangs:

1.    Vampires are not the common man or woman. (Vampires are elitist suckers who don’t care if you’re pretty on the inside.): You might have noticed that the average vamp is frozen in time somewhere between the ages of 16-30, is always beautiful and gorgeous (albeit unusually pale), and smart, and talented, and Perfect with Smoldering Eyes that Lure You to them Inexorably, and blah blah blah.

Not so with zombies! The shambling Undead are all about equal opportunity. Anyone of any age or hotness level can become a brain and flesh eater. Jocks, nerds, mean girls, dorks, emos—you name it, the zombies will welcome them with open arms (and mouths).

2.    Zombies stick together. (Go Horde!!): Zombies are not loners who hang out in old castles soaking in their own angst. They like to get out and socialize and are always eager to add another friend to the hunt. Team Work + Zombie Awesomeness= Feeding Frenzy of Supreme Coolness Wrapped in Win.

3.    Zombies keep it real. (I only want you for your brain.): Zombies don’t pretend to be anything but predators when it comes to the common human. They date other zombies, they eat live flesh—end of story. They won’t send you conflicting messages about the temptation of your yummy blood vs. the draw of your fabulous personality. Personality cannot compete with hunger, and they don’t believe in toying with their food.

4.    Zombies will always be just a little scary, and scary is cool. Vampires have slowly allowed themselves to be de-fanged and turned into boyfriends suitable for taking to prom. Not so with zombies. They will always be scary and, if taken to prom, will Carrie-fy the joint within a few minutes.

I think this list speaks for itself, so I will simply conclude with a GTZYRMW*!

Thanks so much for having me Lucienne! FEFTW**

Oh, and remember, ZRVD***

And MKAATLTVT****

(*Go Team Zombie, You Rock My World.)

(**Flesh Eaters For the Win.)

(***Zombies Rule, Vamps Drool.)

(****Mostly Kidding About All This Love The Vamps Too.)

Weigh in below on the vampire/zombie debate and the awesomely cool Stacey Jay will give away one free T-shirt for Team Vampire (a vampire with the slogan "I'm your biggest Fang") and one for Team Zombie ("You are so Undead to Me," image behind the cut).