
The horror/supernatural/paranormal genre isn’t just for adults; kids also like to play in that sandbox. For that reason, I like to include both children’s and YA authors for the younger crowd (and readers who prefer a more kinder, gentler type of horror) in Bad Moon. As a zombie fan (anyone catch The Walking Dead last night?), I burst out in laughter when I first read the premise of this author’s book. What if you were a zombie – but vegetarian? Victoria Zigler and Vinnie are here today to brighten up your Monday!
Would you rather sleep in a coffin for one night or spend the night in a haunted house?
Spend the night in a haunted house for sure. I hate the thought of being trapped in something like a coffin even for a short time. I’ve even made it known among my family that I want to be cremated rather than buried when I die, because I hate the thought of ending up in a coffin – dead or alive. But a haunted house… Well, that I could deal with.
I’m a firm believer in ghosts, having had encounters in the past. However, half the time the hauntings aren’t real anyhow. But even if they were, I’d much rather put up with a ghost for the night – even one with anger management issues, who causes all sorts of awful things to happen during that night – than be trapped in a coffin for even a few minutes. Yeah, that’s how much I hate the idea of being in a coffin. Besides, I’ve slept in haunted houses before. Perhaps not the kind you’re thinking of from horror novels, but I’ve lived in places with ghosts in the building. So, like I said, haunted house for sure.
Has a movie or book scared you so much you couldn’t sleep? Which one?
This is very rare. Mostly I don’t scare easily. You’re talking to someone who watched “Nightmare on Elm Street” as a child, and “The Exorcist” as a teenager, without any problems going straight to bed afterwards. Like I said, I don’t scare easily.
Having said that, there have been a couple of books that actually managed to scare me. “Dark Matter” by Michelle Paver scared me so much I had nightmares during what sleep I actually got for days afterwards. I’ve re-read it since, and it gets me every time. “Thin Air” by Michelle Paver came close to following in its footsteps, and Teri Polen’s “Sarah” is one of the few other books to actually scare me (though Teri didn’t scare me quite as much as Michelle did… Sorry, Teri, but you came close, and that’s quite an achievement).
Would you rather put your hand in a box and feel something slimy or furry?
Furry. Definitely furry! There are so many gross things that “slimy” could mean, and some of them I’d rather not even think about, let alone touch. “Furry” is much more likely to be something pleasant. Of course, there are no guarantees, but still. Plus, at least if the furry thing is gross, I probably won’t be covered in nasty goo from touching it, which I definitely will be if the box contains something slimy.
If you had to give up snacks or drinks during writing sessions, which would be more difficult?
Drinks. I don’t actually snack while writing. I sometimes use getting snacks as an excuse to get up from the computer for a bit, and the rest of the time don’t even bother with a snack break (especially if the dogs, phone, etc, have been disturbing me a lot, and I’m trying to make the most of the time before something interrupts me again). So giving up snacks would be easy. But I like to have something to drink nearby, so it would be a harder habit to break.
*takes sip of tea before continuing*
Do you write to music?
No. It doesn’t matter if someone else has it on, or if there’s TV on, or whatever though. I’m not one of those people who needs noise – or lack of it – to write. I’m one of those people who can generally just tune out whatever else is going on around me and write, or listen to it and still focus on my writing, depending on which I want/need to do at any given time. I say, “Generally,” because there are times it doesn’t work, and even I have my limits as to how much I can filter out. But mostly I can do this. If only I had the same control over the filtering of internal noise as I do external noise, and could pick and choose when and what my mind was focused on… Ah well, nobody’s perfect, and you can’t have everything.
What was the hardest scene to write in your featured book?
The final scene. I wanted to show what happened to both Vinnie and Annie at the end, but had to be careful with how I did so. Partially because it’s a children’s story officially, and you have to be more delicate with that kind of thing in a children’s story, and partially because I’d taken pains to show that Vinnie wasn’t just another zombie out for brains, and had to take that in to account as well, which added an extra reason to tread carefully with what happens and how.
I can’t explain more clearly without spoilers, but if you read the book, hopefully you’ll see what I mean. Perhaps you’ll even think I handled it well. I sure hope that’s what you think anyhow. But you’ll have to buy the book so you can judge that for yourself.

When Vinnie the zombie smashes his way in to the fruit and vegetable shop where six year old Annie is waiting in hiding for her Mother to come back for her, Annie isn’t sure what to do. But Vinnie isn’t like other zombies. A vegetarian in life, it looks like Vinnie may also be one in death, and it may not be Annie who’s in danger after all.
Purchase Links
Audible: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Children/Vinnie-the-Vegetarian-Zombie-Audiobook/B07CX44QY6
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/459076
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vinnie-the-vegetarian-zombie-victoria-zigler/1119982818
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/vinnie-the-vegetarian-zombie
Chapters-Indigo: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/vinnie-the-vegetarian-zombie/9781311948908-item.html
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/vinnie-the-vegetarian-zombie/id900774428
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/audiobook/vinnie-the-vegetarian-zombie-unabridged/id1383256619
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/cka/Vinnie-Vegetarian-Zombie-Victoria-Zigler/1512324256/
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/d/cka/Vinnie-Vegetarian-Zombie-Victoria-Zigler/1512324256/
Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/d/cka/Vinnie-Vegetarian-Zombie-Victoria-Zigler/1512324256/
The Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Vinnie-Vegetarian-Zombie-Victoria-Zigler/9781512324259
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Author Bio
Victoria – or Tori, if you prefer – has been writing since she knew how, and describes herself as a combination of Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood from the Harry Potter books: Hermione’s thirst for knowledge and love of books, combined with Luna’s wandering mind and alternative way of looking at the world. She has a wide variety of interests, designed to exercise both the creative and logical sides of her brain, and dabbles in them at random depending on what she feels like doing at any given time.
To date, Tori has published nine poetry books and 46 children’s books, with more planned for the future. She makes her books available in multiple eBook formats, as well as in both paperback and audio. She’s also contributed a story to the sci-fi and fantasy anthology Wyrd Worlds II, which is available in eBook only.
Additionally, Tori’s Hermann’s Tortoise, Artemis, was featured in both the Magnificent Pets Coloring Book For Children and the Magnificent Pets Mandala Coloring Book For Adults, which are available via Praise My Pet.
Social Media
Website: http://www.zigler.co.uk
Blog: https://ziglernews.blogspot.co.uk
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/toriz
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Victoria-Zigler/424999294215717
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/victoriazigler
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakYxH7BNyc2Lxr1g1nbP9w
Find Tori’s books on…
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/toriz
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Victoria-Zigler/e/B00BHS9DQ6/
Another great author for me to look into. Thank you!
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A perfect book if you have some younger readers to buy for. Thanks for dropping by, Jay!
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Absolutely! Every day this month I will definitely be checking out your amazing recommendations.
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Thanks for that. 🙂
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🙂
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Another fun interview! And another book to look into. Thanks, Teri and Tori 🙂
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Thanks for visiting, Harmony!
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Thanks, Harmony. If you do grab a copy, I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
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Tori’s answers were great. I’d say she’s definitely freaked by coffins–though I can’t blame her!
Vinnie looks like a great book for young readers. 🙂
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Thanks, Mae. And, yeah, I’m definitely freaked by coffins.
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Ha! This book sounds great, Teri. Congrats to Victoria. This is a wonderful addition to Bad Moon Rising. Hugs on the wing!
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Thanks, Teagan.
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Hugs to you and Crystal!
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I think I love the answers to the Would You Rather question most of all and I’m totally with the response today. I’m claustrophobic so I can totally see the logic ❤️. This looks like such a fun book. I’ll make note of it for gifts. I have many nephews who would love it!
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Thanks, Tessa. If you buy the book for any of your nephews, I hope they do love it. 🙂
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I think it’s wonderful that someone is writing in this genre for kids. Great guest today.
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Thanks, Craig. Like Teri said in her intro, scary stories aren’t just for adults. 🙂
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Great guest today, Teri! I feel the same as Tori about coffins. I have a fear of being put into one when I’m not really dead.
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Exactly, Jill!
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Thanks, Jill! And I’m wilth Tori about the coffins also.
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Thanks for having me and Vinnie over, Teri. It’s awesome to be a part of Bad Moon Rising again this year. 🙂
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Always a pleasure to host you, Tori – and thanks for the shoutout to Sarah!
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Thanks, and you’re welcome. 🙂
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Love the premise for this book, Victoria- fun interview!
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Thanks, Jacquie!
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My daughter read all the books in the Goosebumps series. Yes, kids like this genre also. Good interview, Victoria and Teri.
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My youngest son read several of the Goosebumps books, but when it came to the “scary” parts, he’d get me to read it to him, lol. Thanks, Miriam!
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Thanks, Miriam. I love the Goosebumps books! I haven’t read them all yet, but I’ve read a lot of them, and some of them I’ve even read a few times.
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I remember teaching 3nd and 3rd grades and Goosebumps were popular for those grade levels, By 3rd to 4th grades, there was another series but I forgot the name because my daughter moved on to reading other books.
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Fearstreet, perhaps?
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That sounds about right – heart a lot of talk about Fearstreet when I volunteered at the school library.
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Not by that name, Victoria. Let me check the reading list for fourth grade. I can recognize it when I see it. It’s just that my daughter didn’t read that series enough to stick in my mind.
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Well, if it’s still R. L. Stine, there’s Horrorland (a branch of Goosebumps) and Goosebumps 200, as well as some others, but can’t remember them all off the top of my head.
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I can’t remember either, but it’s not Horrorland. I may check Scholastic.
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I absolutely LOVE the concept of a vegetarian zombie! Brilliant, Victoria! And I’m pretty sure my grandson would enjoy this book tremendously. So glad to read about it here on Bad Moon Rising, and will happily be sharing this one in multiple places. Thanks, Teri, for having Victoria, and thanks to Victoria for coming up with such a wonderful idea for a spooky children’s book! 🙂
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I laugh every time I think about a vegetarian zombie, Marcia. So glad you’re enjoying Bad Moon – and thanks for much for sharing every day!
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Absolutely my pleasure, Teri. These are too good not to pass along! 🙂
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Thanks, Marcia! I hope, if you get him a copy, your grandson enjoys the book. Also, thanks so much for spreading the word. 🙂
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Reblogged this on The Write Stuff and commented:
If you’re looking for some fun Halloween books for the kids or grandkids, be sure to stop by Teri Polen’s blog today. Her Bad Moon Rising guest is Victoria Zigler who has written what sounds like a super book for young Halloween enthusiasts, and I’m pretty sure it’s going on my list for my grandson. A fun post in a fun series! Hope you’ll share, thanks, and thanks to Victoria for her clever idea and toTeri for this whole month of shivery shares! 🙂
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Once again, thanks so much, Marcia! 🙂
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I enjoyed seeing Victoria here today, Teri. I enjoyed her answers. answers
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Thanks, John! Glad you enjoyed my answers.
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😊
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The book sounds fun, and I love all the answers. I’m with Victoria in the haunted house front. I’d much rather that. I don’t think a coffin would be too comfortable. Thanks for another great guest and book, Teri!
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Thanks, Olga. Glad you enjoyed the post.
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Thanks for visiting, Olga – glad you enjoyed Tori’s interview!
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Nice to meet you Victoria!! Always a pleasure to meet a fellow horror writer / tea drinker 😉
Teri, this is a brilliant feature – it’s great getting to know so many new authors (and books!)
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Thanks, Jessica. Yes, definitely a tea lover over here… I’ve got a whole cupboard just for tea in my kitchen. 😉 I haven’t written much in the horror genre as yet, though I do have plans to do more in the future at some point.
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It’s like a month-long party, Jess.
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Lovely to see Tori here, Teri. I enjoyed this book of hers very much. You can read my review of it here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R3DW8HO9UKIWNL. I remember Nightmare on Elms Street as being the movie that scared me the most as a girl.
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Thanks, Robbie. Also, thanks again for reading and reviewing Vinnie’s story. I know a lot of people who were scared by Nightmare on Elm Street. One of my brothers (a little over four years older than me) had nightmares for weeks after watching it. Like I said though, I don’t scare easily.
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You are amazing, Tori.
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Thanks, though there are plenty of people much more deserving of being called amazing than I am.
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I still remember the first time I saw Nightmare on Elm Street. I was a horror fan from an early age, Robbie.
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So was I, Teri. I read The Shining by Stephen King when I was ten. It scared me to death though. That is why I liked horror.
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Great idea, and great cover!
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Thanks, Annabelle. 🙂
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I agree on both counts, Annabelle!
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I’m with Tori on her first answer regarding the coffin or haunted house. Have you written about the encounters you’ve had with ghosts, Tori?
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No, Hugh, I haven’t. Perhaps I will some day…
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If you fancy writing a guest post about one of the encounters, then please let me know. I’d be delighted to host it over on my blog.
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Thanks. Maybe I will. 🙂
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I don’t think the thought of a vegetarian zombie ever entered my mind. I have a vegetarian friend who doesn’t like gross horror I’ll let know about this.
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