Celebrating an Approaching Zombie Invasion

My Friend Dave in the Foreground

In my newly finished book U.G.L.Y, the first wave of a violent fungal infection is observed by the main character from a mountain top overlooking the Los Angles basin. The story describes the main character, Duncan Stevens, rushing to stand watch over an approaching fire, like he and other members of his community had done during so many forest fires in the past. But they watch this time in horror as Los Angeles burns during the chaos of the first of an infection outbreak. 

Looking East Across the Mountains

Yesterday a forest fire erupted about 10 miles south of the pictured scenic turnout that does, in fact, overlook the Los Angeles basin. The images don't show the real impact of the fire but it had an ominous, end of world kind of feel to it. Above us, the smoke layer was growing, and the sun glowed red through the clouds as large ashes began to fall. It is fire season in Southern California and although there is some threat that this fire will cause a problem for the mountain communities, the folks that fight them are top end and have been throwing everything they have at it. By the time I arrived at the overlook there was already a helicopter landing area in use and forestry staged all around. 

The Red Sun Between the Trees

Feeling completely confident in the skills of our brave firefighting personnel, I worked my way to a bar that is very similar to one in the story where Duncan is having dinner and watching a baseball game. This was especially exciting for me because when I sat down at the bar and ordered a hot dog and a beer (as the character does), I looked up at the TV over the bar and a baseball game was on. In the story, the game is interrupted by a news cast reporting on the violence overtaking LA. Tonight, this was interrupted by news of the fire. I couldn't help but feel the story overwhelm my thoughts as the events of the evening played out. In my little world, life imitated art as I celebrated the (fictional) coming infection.