Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel
November 5, 2015
Bushnell on Books:
'Zombie Moose of West Bath, Maine'
by Marsha Hinton
“Zombie Moose Of West Bath, Maine” is a hilarious spoof of the zombie craze, complete with exploding heads, squished tourists, toxic black flies, bad clams and public hysteria. Hinton’s self-published third novel is not great literature, but then she probably never intended it to be. Instead, she clearly just had fun with a wacky tale that has more laughs than scares, more goofballs than gore.
On Maine’s midcoast, the town of West Bath is the scene of moose mayhem as a big bull moose goes on a zombie rampage, stomping tourists and slurping up their brains. This is a very hungry zombie moose.
Animal control officer Gaige LaRoche lives on a healthy diet of Moxie and whoopie pies, nursing a bruised reputation for a previous environmental foul-up. It’s no surprise that nobody believes him when he reports the zombie moose. Desperate to restore his reputation as a biologist, he is determined to discover why the moose is a zombie (clue: Check out Lottie Day’s disgustingly rotten boiled dinner) and why it eats only tourist brains (some folks think that’s a good thing).
Panic strikes the midcoast as people flee in terror, but nobody runs faster than the municipal and state officials and politicians as they spin the mess so no blame sticks to them. The governor’s chief of staff is the most officious, arrogant, incompetent of them all, but she is dangerous, has an old score to settle and has a diabolical hidden agenda, too.
This silly story never takes itself seriously, but that’s what makes it so funny.
November 5, 2015
Bushnell on Books:
'Zombie Moose of West Bath, Maine'
by Marsha Hinton
“Zombie Moose Of West Bath, Maine” is a hilarious spoof of the zombie craze, complete with exploding heads, squished tourists, toxic black flies, bad clams and public hysteria. Hinton’s self-published third novel is not great literature, but then she probably never intended it to be. Instead, she clearly just had fun with a wacky tale that has more laughs than scares, more goofballs than gore.
On Maine’s midcoast, the town of West Bath is the scene of moose mayhem as a big bull moose goes on a zombie rampage, stomping tourists and slurping up their brains. This is a very hungry zombie moose.
Animal control officer Gaige LaRoche lives on a healthy diet of Moxie and whoopie pies, nursing a bruised reputation for a previous environmental foul-up. It’s no surprise that nobody believes him when he reports the zombie moose. Desperate to restore his reputation as a biologist, he is determined to discover why the moose is a zombie (clue: Check out Lottie Day’s disgustingly rotten boiled dinner) and why it eats only tourist brains (some folks think that’s a good thing).
Panic strikes the midcoast as people flee in terror, but nobody runs faster than the municipal and state officials and politicians as they spin the mess so no blame sticks to them. The governor’s chief of staff is the most officious, arrogant, incompetent of them all, but she is dangerous, has an old score to settle and has a diabolical hidden agenda, too.
This silly story never takes itself seriously, but that’s what makes it so funny.
Northern Journeys Magazine
Author hits her stride with self-publishing
A zombie moose lurking in West Bath Maine? You Betcha
Who else resides in West Bath besides Zombie Moose? Why, Ghostwriter Marsha Hinton, of course. Here she shares about her newest book, the world of self-publishing, and what keeps her going…
Q: Tell us about the books you’ve written and published…
A: All the books I write are shorter than many publishers like to see. I write fun, fast reads with a satisfying ending. No deep meanings, just fun entertainment. My first book was a clean romance, Rylee Rising,done by a hybrid publisher. That was a real learning experience for
me and I thought I could do the same thing myself, including distribution so I did. Published under my own imprint, Souvenirs is a murder mystery involving a wounded female soldier. My newest book, Zombie Moose of West Bath, Maine is just a hoot.
Q: I hear you lead writing workshops…
A: I’m a business ghostwriter and didn’t start writing fiction until about seven years ago. I didn’t have a clue how to do it, but I didn’t let that stop me. I learned about the whole novel writing process. Recently, I held a two-hour workshop to share what I had learned. I’m currently
working on a more intensive offering that includes a blue print for a novel, schemes to avoid, how to find ideas for novels, the true cost for getting your book published, and other little gems I’ve learned the hard way. I’m planning to hold an adult-education class at RSU 1.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received regarding self-publishing?
A: Spend the money and hire a real editor, not your aunt who teaches English or your English major cousin. You need someone who does more than catch typos and misspellings. You need an editor you can work with who will make suggestions for improving your work without
muting your voice.
Q: What are the top three lessons you’ve learned along the way?
A: Be business smart, but dream big. Write for the reader. Do what works for you, not what conventional wisdom dictates.
Q: How do you organize your writing time?
A: This is a trick question, isn’t it? I believe that at least 80 percent of writing happens in your head. For example, today I did four loads of laundry, made dinner and a cheesecake, had my car towed to the repair shop, helped my mother figure out her mail, and freaked out when the accumulator sprung a leak and flooded the basement. During that time, I also figured out how to write a scene that has been giving me grief for days. So you could say I was writing all day today but didn’t type a word. I have to be very flexible for a number of reasons. I could be right in the middle of writing a scene, the words flowing from my fingers like water, and the dog will decide she needs to go for a walk RIGHT NOW. I’m so jealous of writers who can actually set aside time just to write.
Q: What keeps you writing day after day?
A: Writing fiction is fun for me. I don’t think of it as work and love the entire process from conception through publication. I don’t beat myself up if I don’t spend x number of hours typing each day. Most of my writing happens in my head and I allow time for my unconscious to work things out. It’s so much easier to put words down on paper when I do that. Rylee Rising was written because someone told me I couldn’t write a novel. What I discovered was not only that I could write a novel AND get it published, but that I loved doing it. Writing fiction is so different from business writing. I can’t keep the ideas out of my head. Keeping it fun and fresh keeps me going day after day.
Q: Where can we purchase your books?
A: Rylee Rising is on Amazon. You can order Souvenirs and Zombie Moose of West Bath at all the major (and many minor) on-line booksellers – Amazon, Barnes and Nobel, and Books-A-Million. Any bookstore, including Books-A-Million in Portland where you can grab a copy off the shelves, can order a copy for you as well. For a small self-publishing house like mine, having a national bookseller agree to stock your book in the store is huge. When I saw it on the shelf for the first time, I don’t think my feet touched the floor.
For more information, go to www.marshahinton.com.
Author hits her stride with self-publishing
A zombie moose lurking in West Bath Maine? You Betcha
Who else resides in West Bath besides Zombie Moose? Why, Ghostwriter Marsha Hinton, of course. Here she shares about her newest book, the world of self-publishing, and what keeps her going…
Q: Tell us about the books you’ve written and published…
A: All the books I write are shorter than many publishers like to see. I write fun, fast reads with a satisfying ending. No deep meanings, just fun entertainment. My first book was a clean romance, Rylee Rising,done by a hybrid publisher. That was a real learning experience for
me and I thought I could do the same thing myself, including distribution so I did. Published under my own imprint, Souvenirs is a murder mystery involving a wounded female soldier. My newest book, Zombie Moose of West Bath, Maine is just a hoot.
Q: I hear you lead writing workshops…
A: I’m a business ghostwriter and didn’t start writing fiction until about seven years ago. I didn’t have a clue how to do it, but I didn’t let that stop me. I learned about the whole novel writing process. Recently, I held a two-hour workshop to share what I had learned. I’m currently
working on a more intensive offering that includes a blue print for a novel, schemes to avoid, how to find ideas for novels, the true cost for getting your book published, and other little gems I’ve learned the hard way. I’m planning to hold an adult-education class at RSU 1.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received regarding self-publishing?
A: Spend the money and hire a real editor, not your aunt who teaches English or your English major cousin. You need someone who does more than catch typos and misspellings. You need an editor you can work with who will make suggestions for improving your work without
muting your voice.
Q: What are the top three lessons you’ve learned along the way?
A: Be business smart, but dream big. Write for the reader. Do what works for you, not what conventional wisdom dictates.
Q: How do you organize your writing time?
A: This is a trick question, isn’t it? I believe that at least 80 percent of writing happens in your head. For example, today I did four loads of laundry, made dinner and a cheesecake, had my car towed to the repair shop, helped my mother figure out her mail, and freaked out when the accumulator sprung a leak and flooded the basement. During that time, I also figured out how to write a scene that has been giving me grief for days. So you could say I was writing all day today but didn’t type a word. I have to be very flexible for a number of reasons. I could be right in the middle of writing a scene, the words flowing from my fingers like water, and the dog will decide she needs to go for a walk RIGHT NOW. I’m so jealous of writers who can actually set aside time just to write.
Q: What keeps you writing day after day?
A: Writing fiction is fun for me. I don’t think of it as work and love the entire process from conception through publication. I don’t beat myself up if I don’t spend x number of hours typing each day. Most of my writing happens in my head and I allow time for my unconscious to work things out. It’s so much easier to put words down on paper when I do that. Rylee Rising was written because someone told me I couldn’t write a novel. What I discovered was not only that I could write a novel AND get it published, but that I loved doing it. Writing fiction is so different from business writing. I can’t keep the ideas out of my head. Keeping it fun and fresh keeps me going day after day.
Q: Where can we purchase your books?
A: Rylee Rising is on Amazon. You can order Souvenirs and Zombie Moose of West Bath at all the major (and many minor) on-line booksellers – Amazon, Barnes and Nobel, and Books-A-Million. Any bookstore, including Books-A-Million in Portland where you can grab a copy off the shelves, can order a copy for you as well. For a small self-publishing house like mine, having a national bookseller agree to stock your book in the store is huge. When I saw it on the shelf for the first time, I don’t think my feet touched the floor.
For more information, go to www.marshahinton.com.
Encore
Sun Journal
Hinton novel finds shelf space
Encore |
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
WEST BATH — Books-A-Million, a national bookseller, has agreed to offer for sale local author Marsha Hinton's novel "Zombie Moose of West Bath, Maine."
Being a self-published writer, Hinton had hopes of great success for "Zombie Moose." However, she recognized the hard realities of self-publishing did not give her good odds on achieving her hoped for success. On Sunday, Oct. 25, she stood in the Books-A-Million store in Portland and looked at "Zombie Moose" sitting on the shelf.
“Getting the folks at Books-A-Million to agree to place Zombie Moose on their shelves was huge for an unknown little guy like me. While it is available online just about everywhere, I had no idea how exciting it was going to be to see it on the shelves in a store. Particularly a national bookseller.” Hinton said. “I think my feet were two inches off the floor. I wanted to drag everyone shopping at the Portland Books-A-Million over to see it. I had to restrain myself.”
Hinton believes that having something fun to read is important. “I love to read funny stories. I think everyone does. 'Zombie Moose' is guaranteed to make you smile and you may actually laugh out loud. Skewer a few politicians and throw in some boiled dinner, Moxie and whoopie pies and you have a mix for some serious hilarity,” Hinton said.
Sun Journal
Hinton novel finds shelf space
Encore |
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
WEST BATH — Books-A-Million, a national bookseller, has agreed to offer for sale local author Marsha Hinton's novel "Zombie Moose of West Bath, Maine."
Being a self-published writer, Hinton had hopes of great success for "Zombie Moose." However, she recognized the hard realities of self-publishing did not give her good odds on achieving her hoped for success. On Sunday, Oct. 25, she stood in the Books-A-Million store in Portland and looked at "Zombie Moose" sitting on the shelf.
“Getting the folks at Books-A-Million to agree to place Zombie Moose on their shelves was huge for an unknown little guy like me. While it is available online just about everywhere, I had no idea how exciting it was going to be to see it on the shelves in a store. Particularly a national bookseller.” Hinton said. “I think my feet were two inches off the floor. I wanted to drag everyone shopping at the Portland Books-A-Million over to see it. I had to restrain myself.”
Hinton believes that having something fun to read is important. “I love to read funny stories. I think everyone does. 'Zombie Moose' is guaranteed to make you smile and you may actually laugh out loud. Skewer a few politicians and throw in some boiled dinner, Moxie and whoopie pies and you have a mix for some serious hilarity,” Hinton said.
Accepted for review by Publishers Weekly.
Zombie Moose of West Bath, Maine
Marsha Hinton. New Meadows, $11.43 trade paper (276p) ISBN 978-0-9882036-2-4
Hinton (Souvenirs) fills this strange tale with quirky Maine residents who react unpredictably to the presence of a brain-eating moose in their midst. At the story’s outset, the animal is an ordinary young bull, but after encountering a swarm of black flies and then consuming some rotten leftovers disposed of in the woods, the moose’s appetite changes. His first victim is animal control officer Scott Anderson, after which the moose selects tourists for his attacks. Failed biologist Gaige LaRoche is certain that there is some logical explanation and tries his best to find a cure. Others do not take such a level-headed approach. Lottie Day was a witness to Scott’s death and is certain that the moose was sent by Satan. Idalene Richie, the governor’s ambitious chief of staff, sees the crisis as a way to simultaneously crush her old foe, Gaige, and further her own career. While many of the characters behave bizarrely, that doesn’t really make the book funny, and the moose’s attacks aren’t particularly frightening, leaving this as nothing more than an odd souvenir from Maine. (BookLife)
Reviewed by Publishers Weekly on 12/11/2015
Release date 09/01/2015
Zombie Moose of West Bath, Maine
Marsha Hinton. New Meadows, $11.43 trade paper (276p) ISBN 978-0-9882036-2-4
Hinton (Souvenirs) fills this strange tale with quirky Maine residents who react unpredictably to the presence of a brain-eating moose in their midst. At the story’s outset, the animal is an ordinary young bull, but after encountering a swarm of black flies and then consuming some rotten leftovers disposed of in the woods, the moose’s appetite changes. His first victim is animal control officer Scott Anderson, after which the moose selects tourists for his attacks. Failed biologist Gaige LaRoche is certain that there is some logical explanation and tries his best to find a cure. Others do not take such a level-headed approach. Lottie Day was a witness to Scott’s death and is certain that the moose was sent by Satan. Idalene Richie, the governor’s ambitious chief of staff, sees the crisis as a way to simultaneously crush her old foe, Gaige, and further her own career. While many of the characters behave bizarrely, that doesn’t really make the book funny, and the moose’s attacks aren’t particularly frightening, leaving this as nothing more than an odd souvenir from Maine. (BookLife)
Reviewed by Publishers Weekly on 12/11/2015
Release date 09/01/2015