Happy Anniversary Breathers
Authors are a lot like parents when talking about their newborn published books:
When was you book born?
One month ago.
What a cute little novel? How old is it?
Fourteen weeks.
Your novel looks just like you. What’s his name?
Breathers. He’ll be six months old next week.
Yes. Breathers has been out for six months on September 3. While not exactly next week, it’s close enough to throw a contest to celebrate the fact that my first novel has made it halfway through its first year of publication.
So to mark the occasion, I’m throwing a party. Okay, really more of a contest, with the prize being a personally autographed copy of Breathers sent straight to you. Or you. Or you. Plus I’ll throw in some Zombies Are People Too stickers and buttons.
All you have to do to enter for a chance to win is leave a comment to this post and mention Breathers. Be sure to include an e-mail or link so I know how to contact you if you win. And if you’re inclined to blog or post or tweet about Breathers to help spread the word, that would be appreciated, though it’s not a requirement to win.
Entries will be accepted until midnight PST, August 31, 2009. I’ll announce the winner on September 3.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I smell a chapter that needs changing.
August 21st, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Cant wait to read Breathers. Currently paying my bills and all that.. Then I will have some cash left to buy it with. Awesome. But a signed version would be awesome.
August 21st, 2009 at 1:51 pm
I would really like to read the book breathers and if its really good I will make other people read it. Starting with my wife and then the 4 people I have locked in the cellar and then those german neighbors of mine will have to learn to read english so they can read it too.
August 21st, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Breather’s is one of my favorite books. I tried to convince myself not to buy it due to lack of funds, but am very happy I judged a book by its cover. I couldn’t help it!
August 21st, 2009 at 2:20 pm
I have made every one of my friends read BREATHERS! It is an amazing novel! Thank you SO much for it!
August 21st, 2009 at 2:34 pm
OMG!!! I read Breathers last month and thought it was awesome!!! I have nothing bad to say about the book, I LOVED your insight, sensitivity and humor to the issues of the undead. I don’t want to write too much regarding the end….but OMG!!!
I have been a fan of zombies for years and would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE a signed copy of your book. Oh, you should come to New Orleans for a book signing!!!!
Your fan always,
Lisa
August 21st, 2009 at 2:39 pm
I can’t wait to read this book
August 21st, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Breather’s is probably one of my favorite books. It was actually a gift, I almost didn’t read it due to being so busy in school but I’m happy to say I did!
August 21st, 2009 at 2:52 pm
I work in a bookstore and I always recommend Breathers to any zombie aficionado. It’s one of the best zombie books I’ve read! Made me want to recreate my life in porno collage!
August 21st, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I remember the day I first saw Breathers. Just sitting on the shelf under ‘horror’. It was unlike all the other books in that category. I picked it up and liked the cover, so I thought I’d get to know it. It didn’t take long to fall in love. This book was everything I’d want a book about zombies to be. These zombies had brains… in every sense of the word. Now anytime I go to the bookstore, I make sure Breathers is easily accessed so other people can wander over to the eye-catching cover and fall in love with what is inside as well.
August 21st, 2009 at 4:10 pm
I would love to win a copy of Breathers. I love zombies and other horror/comedy creatures. I love how you have equated books with babies. I think the process of birthing both is tough.
August 21st, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Breathers brought a much needed laugh during a very sucky time in my life. The support group reminded me of the non-zombie ones I used to attend. Fortunately, most of the members retained various body bits and we didn’t have to go retrieve them.
August 21st, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Haven’t read Breathers yet, but it’s at the top of my list!
August 21st, 2009 at 4:52 pm
I cannot wait to get Breathers. I have loved zombie fiction for a while and have read quite abit of it. I have heard nothing but good things about Breathers and it is on my things to save money for.
August 21st, 2009 at 6:31 pm
I’d like to read Breathers for inspiration when writing zombie song parodies at Zombaritaville!
August 21st, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Breathers has been on my Amazon wishlist and personal zombie radar for an age; love the pop art cover, love the concept, and love the “undead commandments” (the zombie version of Asimov’s Laws of Robotics, perhaps?) Much luck to you!
August 21st, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Given the amount of zombie media promotion I’ve been doing of late, Breathers’ll fit right in there with the rest.
August 21st, 2009 at 8:24 pm
I love the book Breathers! I even convinced my boyfriend who is not a fan of horror to read it and he loved it too!! I have told tons of people to read the book. I stumbled upon this website through the Seattle Zombie walk event site and boy am i glad i did. I bought the book within like 10 minutes of being on here! I hope there are more books to come!!
August 21st, 2009 at 8:36 pm
I selected Breathers at random, because it looked like it might be amusing and I had some time to kill. I am SO glad I read it! I have recommended it to everyone I know, at least twice. I love Breathers!
August 21st, 2009 at 8:37 pm
As a (relatively) upstanding member of the zombied community, it’s difficult to publicly admit my failing (singular) eyesight. Saying this, I am wondering if an audio version might be available while ears remain?
On a side-note… Will your stickers adhere to skin?
August 21st, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Dear S.G. Browne,
As a follower of your goodreads.com Breathers’ forum, I was very excited to read about this contest. I am still looking for a job as I have been for 6 months (My husband and I were both laid off due to the economy), so book purchases have been slim to say the least. It would really mean a lot to me to have an autograhed copy of Breathers. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Ashley K.
August 21st, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Breathers was one of the best zombie books I read all summer! And i read a lot of them…
August 22nd, 2009 at 5:21 am
This was one of the most original horror stories I’ve ever read. As I was reading, my wife kept asking me why I was saying “Ewww!” and then laughing wildly. I told her she’d have to read it to understand.
August 22nd, 2009 at 8:15 am
I’m always on the look-out for good books about ghosts or zombies. My husband came across Breathers on Amazon and ordered it for me long before publication. I enjoyed it so much I reviewed it on my blog and at goodreads. My original copy is making the rounds among my broke book friends and I hope to get one of my reading groups to check it out. I smile every time I see a stack or Breathers at The Strand.
August 22nd, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I was in Borders, sheepishly contemplating buying a Charlaine Harris book. It’s not my normal thing and not to insult anyone at all, but it almost felt like buying a Harlequin Romance or something. So anyway, I turned around and they had a display of Zombie-Lit, featuring “Breathers.” I know they advise against judging a book by it’s cover, but I have to say the cover definitely grabbed me. I decided to buy this instead of the Harris book. I think I certainly made the right decision.
August 22nd, 2009 at 6:24 pm
I cannot express to you how much I loved breathers. I devoured the book(pun intended) in 2 days. It has led me to discover other zombie novels as well. I cannot wait for browne’s new book and to own a signed copy of breathers would be like eating a jar of meat for a zombie. I would be ecstatic and thrilled!
<3 lex
August 22nd, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Would love a autographed copy of Breathers. Either way I’ll have to check this book out.
August 23rd, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Greetings, I would be glad to read & possibly review the book.
(I hope I’m not being too forward to suggest that your website be checked for typos & such.)
Good luck with the success of Breathers.
August 24th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
I loved Breathers, can’t wait for the movie to be made, it is going to ROCK! Love, your book groupie
August 24th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Just finished read this, AMAZING. i read it all in one night. I couldn’t put it down. Great book. Great story! I’m looking forward for MORE
August 24th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
I read a lot, but I haven’t enjoyed a book as much as Breathers in years. I’m sharing it with all my breather friends, hoping to make them aware that zombies have feelings too. I also hope I get it back. If not I’d like to win this one. I don’t know any zombies personally yet but now I would certainly view them in a different light, hopefully in a social setting (with lots of other people).
August 24th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Breathers is a great title for a book about zombies.
It’s derogatory, right? Like with homosexuals and ‘breeder’s.
That’s, like, allegory right there.
August 29th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Dear Mr. Browne-
I can not fully express my feelings upon finishing your novel. All I could think upon finishing was, “Finally!!! A story told from OUR point of view.” Andy embodies the thoughts and struggles of us all…..but if you’ve never felt like an outcast from society because your internal organs are on the outside of your body, you wouldn’t understand.
Your novel is going in my “Zombie top five” along with the Romero films, the Walking Dead comic series and my Marvel Zombie action figures! You are absolutely right…so much of the popular media’s outlook on us is exploitative (*ahem*Zombieland…I’m talking to you.).
Breathers have no idea what it’s like to be us…to struggle to make a living. I’m actually fortunate to be employed by a zombie public school. It’s fairly new so we’re working on a few things. We are allowed internet access, but the school lunch leaves a bit to be be desired (with the exception of “mystery meat” Tuesday).
Anyway, thank you for your inspiration. I’m not sure if I can figure out how, but I want to include a picture of myself and one of my homeroom students. Anyway, keep fighting the good fight!
John the Zombie
(I will try posting the pics below!)
August 29th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
I read Breathers within the first month of publication, after seeing an ad for it on a website. I can not wait for another novel my Mr. Browne. If you haven’t read Breathers and laughed your decomposing behind off, you just wouldn’t understand.
August 31st, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Move over Gone with the Wind…need to make room for Breathers.
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Thanks to everyone who submitted an entry for the contest. Your comments were all kind and flattering and sometimes made me blush with humility. If the rewards of writing a novel can be measured in the words of my readers, then I would have to say I’m the richest man in town.
Although I wish I could give a book to everyone who responded, alas I have but the one copy up for grabs. And as I mentioned, making a decision based on your comments was impossible. So after a very scientific method of writing names on pieces of paper and drawing them out of a Peter Grimm fedora, I came up with a winner…
Congratulations to David Fooden! You’re the proud new parent of a signed copy of BREATHERS!
For the other thirty-three people who entered (sorry to those who didn’t, but I have to keep this somewhat simple), if you’d like a Zombies Are People, Too sticker, just mail me a self-addressed stamped envelope and I’ll be happy to send one to you. You can contact me for my mailing address at scott@sgbrowne.com.
Thanks again to everyone!
September 8th, 2009 at 10:14 am
oh, damn, I missed out! This is still on my wish list! Congrats on your 1 yrs!
September 14th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
I remember hearing about the book and then I tracked it down right after it came out. I devoured “Breathers” in about 2 days..no pun intended.