The Walking Dead Issue by Lemon Magazine

lemon EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / THE-GALAXY-COLLECTOR DIRECTOR OF EDITORIAL OPERATIONS / ROBINWRITESALLTHETHINGS ASSISTANT TO THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / SEXYLIBRARIAN1 CONTENT DIRECTOR AND HEAD WRITER / DEATHVALLEYQUEEN SENIOR COPY EDITOR / ROBINWRITESALLTHETHINGS JUNIOR COPY EDITOR / JAZZYWAZZY89 STAFF WRITERS / 84REEDSY, BUTWHYDOILIKETHIS, CROSSBOWKING, JAZZYWAZZY89, JEWELSWRITES-ISH, KDCOLLINSAUTHOR, LILITHENALTUM, SEXYLIBRARIAN1, SUPERPRINCESSPEA, THEFUDGE

on the cover

tumblr: lemon-mag instagram: the.lemon.magazine twitter: magazinelemon pillowfort: lemon-mag itunes: the rule 34 podcast hello@lemon-magazine.org jobsatlemon@gmail.com

cover art by Laundy

editor's note It feels like things have finally settled after

Realize your flaws. Embrace them. Flaunt

Tumblrpocalypse and we're all getting into

them. Show the world. Give someone else the

writing routines as the new year begins.

courage to do the same. Help someone. But

While there's definitely things we need to

remember to help yourself too.

handle where Tumblr's mess is concerned, I think we can all agree 2019 holds a lot more

Be realistic in whatever goals you set. Writing

optimism than years past.

is like training for a marathon. You start off walking. Everyone starts off walking. Start

Because the world we live in is so volatile, I

with writing 50 words, then 100, then 1,000,

didn't want to look too closely at that. I

and before you know it you're writing 2,000

thought just letting it be was better in case

word chapters without breaking a sweat.

staring at it too hard would cause it to poof

You're suddenly finishing fics left and right.

out of existence. In short, I was worried it

You're telling the stories you were meant to

was fake. And with good reason. Everything

tell. Then you'll look back and see what it took

is fake, right?

to get where you are and you'll appreciate how far you've come.

We live in a perfectly curated reality, so it's hard to trust. We know that most things we're

At the risk of sounding too preachy, just try

shown aren't real. We all get, the majority of

to be nice, kids. The internet is a crazy, wild,

the time, the work that went into the finished

beautiful place, but it's also intense. Don't let

products and images we see, but it's still

the lure of anonymity turn you into a jerk.

hard. It's still hard not to compare, contrast, mold, shape, and force yourself to fit in.

Be kind.

As we embark on a new year (yeah, I got real corny there), I urge all our readers not to pay too much attention to the resolutions and word count goals. They'll be lofty. Most people won't meet them. That doesn't mean they're bad writers. It means they're human. The only thing I'd urge everyone to concentrate on this year is being more human.

galaxycollector EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

IN THIS ISSUE pg.5

pg.30

THE GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSE

THE RECOMMENDATION LIST

If you're not hip to all the lingo, or know all the characters by heart, this is the place to begin. It's not exhaustive, but it'll help.

We start off this column with a bang, giving you eighteen stories of fluff, angst, smut, and all the drama you can handle.

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pg.40

THE RULE 34 PODCAST

HOLIDAY BLUES?

Lemon has ventured into the realm of podcasts. Find us now on iTunes, Stitcher, and Soundcloud.

Are you having a hard time wrangling your muse? Check out jewelswrites-ish's article for her take on the subject.

pg.18

pg.44

FANDOM LOCATION REVIEW

ASK THE LORE NERD

Our Editor-In-Chief headed to Senoia, GA and gave us all the deets on Nic & Norman's.

This month's column is all about the newest Big Bad, The Whisperers. Got questions? Deathvalleyqueen has the answers.

pg.24 THE NEGAN SPLIT An in-depth article, by crzcorgi, detailing all the differences (and similarities) between the TV and comic version of our favorite villain, Negan.

pg.59 PROMPT-A-PALOOZA We have 31 word prompts to kick off the new year right.

SPOILER ALERT Lemon covers fandom and writing. That means there may be spoilers about not only the universe or theme of each issue, but other fandoms as well.

Please read at your own risk.

the walking dead A

GUIDE

THE

UNIVERSE

The Walking Dead is based on a series of comics that go by the same name created by Robert Kirkman. The franchise has spawned a spin-off series called Fear the Walking Dead that deals primarily with characters created just for television and not taken from the comics. There is a video game series that takes place in the comic universe made by Telltale that is also called The Walking Dead. Other franchise materials include tie-in novels for the television show, board games, and a variety of types of merchandise. For canon purposes, the comics and the television show are considered as separate timelines. This guide deals primarily with the television show. Please know these lists are not comprehensive. Acronyms: TWD: The Walking Dead FTWD: Fear the Walking Dead ASZ: Alexandria Safe-Zone TTD: The Talking Dead TPTB: The Powers That Be Locations: Alexandria Safe-Zone: Located in Virginia and not far from Washington, D.C., this was the community Rick Grimes led until his mysterious disappearance. His wife Michonne, daughter Judith, and son RJ still reside there, along with many others. The Hilltop: Only a short distance from Alexandria, The Hilltop is one of their greatest allies. Formerly led by Maggie Rhee and then Paul “Jesus” Rovia, its leadership is now in question. The Kingdom: Only a short distance from Alexandria, The Kingdom is one of their greatest allies. It is currently led by the oddly enigmatic King Ezekiel and one of Rick’s best friends, Carol Peletier. Oceanside: Once terrorized by Negan and The Saviors, Oceanside has withdrawn after taking their revenge on their oppressors. They are now a thriving women-only community that prefers to keep to themselves. The Sanctuary: The former stronghold of Negan and The Saviors, The Sanctuary has been abandoned after several failed attempts to make it a separate community. However, Negan has recently returned, and there is a possibility that he might reclaim it.

Other Names for Walkers: Biters Cold Bodies Dead Heads Dead Ones Floaters Geeks Lame Brains Lurkers Monsters Roamers Rotters Skin Eaters Main Characters: Rick Grimes: Rick woke up to discover the world had ended. His constant quest is to protect those he loves. He has recently been captured and taken to an unknown destination, but everyone else thinks he is dead. Carl Grimes: Rick’s son was a beacon of hope in the new world gone mad. Sadly, his journey has ended. Judith Grimes: Rick’s adoptive daughter. She has taken over several of Comic Carl’s storylines after his death in the show. Daryl Dixon: At first, Daryl was an odd companion, albeit a useful one. Now he is one of Rick’s greatest allies. Michonne: In the beginning, Michonne was a loner. However, she became an integral part of Rick’s group, and eventually his lover as well. Paul “Jesus” Rovia: Despite a tumultuous beginning, he become one of Rick’s most trusted friends. The Whisperers recently got the better of him, and now one of the group’s greatest fighters is lost. Aaron: Aaron was the scout who originally brought Rick and his group to Alexandria. Despite the fact that none of them trusted him initially, he always saw their potential. He continues to be a bright spot in the darkness, despite an abundance of personal tragedy. Henry: Henry was adopted by Ezekiel and Carol at a young age. He now resides at The Hilltop, where he is learning to be a blacksmith.

Maggie Rhee: Maggie met Rick’s group when they came to her father’s farm. She fell in love with and married Glenn Rhee, who kept her going even as every member of her family was lost to her. She led The Hilltop for a time, but with Glenn dead and her revenge scheme against Negan unrealized, Maggie has unexpectedly departed the group. Rosita Espinosa: First seen after the collapse of the prison when Glenn and Tara run into her group on the road. Two out of three of her boyfriends have been killed by Negan, so we’re not sure what this means for Father Gabriel, her current flame. Father Gabriel Stokes: At the beginning of the apocalypse, Father Gabriel barricaded himself inside of his church and listened to his parishioners die out of fear. Now he is integral to the running of Alexandria. Carol Peletier: Carol was in an abusive relationship when the apocalypse began. With the loss of her husband and then her daughter, Sophia, everyone thought she would break. But she didn’t, and has morphed into one of the strongest warriors and leaders the group has. She is married to Ezekiel. Ezekiel: Ezekiel is oddly dramatic and has styled himself as a king in his community, but he is a great ally, excellent orator, and skilled fighter. He used to have a tiger named Shiva. Enid: Enid was in a budding relationship with Carl when he died. She is now The Hilltop’s doctor. Tara Chambler: Tara has proven to be one of the most loyal and kind-hearted of all of Rick’s allies, despite repeatedly losing those she loves. Eugene Porter: Eugene is brilliant, but also a liar. He has repeatedly made up qualifications he does not have, but the results speak for themselves. Despite a brief stint as one of Negan’s Saviors, Eugene is now back with the original group, but walking on eggshells. Ship Names: Aaric = Aaron x Eric Bethyl = Beth x Daryl Carnid = Carl x Enid Caryl = Carol x Daryl

Daaron = Daryl x Aaron Desus = Daryl x Jesus Gleggie = Glenn x Maggie Jaaron = Jesus x Aaron Jarryl = Jesus x Aaron x Daryl Lorick = Lori x Rick Richonne = Rick x Michonne Rositara = Rosita x Tara The Big Bads: Shane Walsh: Rick’s best friend. Shane became unhinged and tried to kill him when he didn’t think he was leading their group properly. Rick had to kill him to save his own life. Philip “The Governor” Blake: Charismatic on the outside, The Governor was pure evil on the inside. After leading his community, Woodbury, in a futile attempt to attack Rick and his group at the prison they made their home, he disappeared before returning to make another grab for power. He was finally stabbed by Michonne and fatally shot by one of his own people. Terminus/Gareth: After their prison home was destroyed, Rick’s group sought refuge at Terminus, which was supposed to be safe. However, it turned out to be inhabited by cannibals. Even after escaping, the group was plagued by them before managing to kill their leader. The Wolves: The Wolves were a group that survived by preying on others. Attacking Alexandria was their last move. Negan and The Saviors: Negan and his Saviors were the most formidable foes Rick ever faced. Negan used psychological warfare and the fear inspired by the use of his signature weapon, the baseball bat Lucille, to subjugate other communities. Rick finally beat him and imprisoned him. Though Negan seems to understand the errors he’s made, his future is unclear. The Whisperers: The Whisperers are the newest villains on The Walking Dead. They wear the skin of Walkers over their entire bodies so they can blend in with zombie herds. They communicate by whispering, hence their name. They are sure to be formidable villains in the future.

SLEEVELESS JEAN SHIRT - $18 (WALMART) ANGEL WING VEST - $109 (AZCOSTUME.COM)

DARK TINT JEANS - $42 (JCPENNEY) REPLICA CROSSBOW - $18 (AMAZON.COM)

EXTRAS: BUNCH OF DEAD SQUIRRELS, DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T SHOWER FOR A WEEK BEFORE YOUR CON, RIPPED BICEPS

* FOR THE WALKING DEAD, IT'S BETTER TO START AT A THRIFT SHOP FOR THESE COSPLAYS

SHERIFF'S HAT - $20-40 (AMAZON.COM) KING'S COUNTY SHERIFF STAR - $18 (RAKUTEN.COM) GOLD HAT CORD - $8 (GALLS.COM) UNIFORM SHIRT - $19 (UNIFORMSWAREHOUSE.COM) KING'S COUNTY SHERIFF PATCH (x2) - $8 (ETSY.COM) BROWN PANTS - $13 (HALLOWEENCOSTUMES.COM) EXTRAS: FELLOW DARYL COSPLAYER BROMANCE, STERN DAD LOOK

PAGE 8 | THE WALKING DEAD ISSUE

PAGE 9 | THE WALKING DEAD ISSUE

TWEED DRESS PANTS - $59 (DILLARDS) WHITE BLOUSE - $15 (AMAZON.COM)

BLUE CARDIGAN - $13 (H&M)

EXTRAS: CASSEROLE, COOKIES TO BRIBE NAUGHTY CHILDREN, A DARYL COSPLAYER TO TELL HIM THAT HE LOOKS RIDICULOUS ,

* FOR THE WALKING DEAD, IT'S BETTER TO START AT A THRIFT SHOP FOR THESE COSPLAYS

FOAM LUCILLE - $30 (SHOPTHEWALKINGDEAD.COM) LEATHER BIKER JACKET - $52 (COSICONCOS.COM) MOTORCYCLE BOOTS - $35 (H&M) RED SCARF - $7 (WALMART) CANVAS PANTS - $50 (ZUMIEZ.COM) SINGLE LEATHER GLOVE - $20 (AMAZON.COM) EXTRAS: DIRTY MOUTH, THE LEAN

RULE 34

LEMON ON THE GO What is the Rule 34 Podcast? Rule 34 is just another way for our readers to find and interact with us. We know that sometimes you're not able to sit down and read a whole issue. The podcast is another avenue to get the same information.

Why call it Rule 34?

IF IT EXISTS, THERE IS PORN OF IT What inspired you to start the podcast? We always planned on doing the podcast. It was set to be another extension of Lemon Magazine, an additional way for readers to get the info. We know a lot of people can’t sit down and read a whole magazine every time. This was just another avenue for authors and readers to connect. We meant to wait, but with Tumblr’s adult content ban we became pretty much an overnight news source, so we decided to do it way early. And we love podcasts! What can your readers expect from the podcast as they transition to listeners? You get a more behind-the-scenes, and less polished, look into Lemon and how we operate. We talk about fandom and things that affect it without worrying about putting it into article format so much. You also get more of a look into our personalities. There’s a lot more of a discussion than you’ll see in the magazine just because of the type of medium it is. It’s all healthy and respectful debates about things that deal with writing fanfiction. It’s fangirls in their natural habitat.

It’s definitely meant to be a nod to our fanfiction roots. While we don’t ever blog, reblog, tweet, or read fanfiction on our podcast or in our magazine directly, that’s our audience. We are working our butts off to give legitimacy to this forgotten genre and we wanted to honor that in some way. Rule 34 of the Internet states, “If it exists, there is porn of it,” and the fanfiction

Are there any special episodes planned right now?

community has taken that to heart.

Unless something crazy happens, no. We try to stick to talking about the magazine as much as possible. It’s really supposed to be one episode a month, but this month has already proved to be different with the fall of Tumblr.

We don’t see a thing wrong with it

Where can we find the podcast? The podcast is on Soundcloud, iTunes, and Stitcher, for now. We also include special episodes for those just on our Patreon. Type in “The Rule 34 Podcast” and it should pop up. There’s another one with the same name, but it’s old, and only has one episode. That’s not us. Speaking of Patreon, what can listeners expect if they sign up and support the podcast that way? Each tier is all-encompassing and supports both the magazine and the podcast. For example, at the bottom tier, just $2 a month, you get access to Rule 34’s episode outlines, an advanced digital copy of Lemon each month, sneak peeks into articles, and access to an exclusive Discord channel. Some of the tiers are limited, so once they’re full, that’s it.

either. It also became very relevant the minute Tumblr decided to try to ban all adult content. It just gets funnier by the day.

Find Us On:

iTunes Stitcher Soundcloud

P. 11

THE WALKING DEAD ISSUE

STATE OF THE FANDOM TL;DR:

The show finally has a new showrunner, Angela Kang.

The TWD fandom is wild.

Some think that she has injected new life into the story,

There's movies and video games and character

but others have already left the bandwagon. They

deaths, oh my!

might be gone, or just dwelling in seasons past for

Fans are frustrated, but this too shall pass.

now. Will they come back and try it out? Maybe eventually. But it might not be enough. I know that I haven't personally watched in a long time, and even

My fellow fandom members,

though I love the characters and the actors, it's hard for me to to consider coming back because I've been

Hello, intrepid readers, and welcome to our Walking Dead

so disappointed in the past. I may still be writing

issue. Though our portents are not as dire as they were

Walking Dead fanfiction, but you can write fanfiction in

when we discussed Tumblr's impending adult content ban,

a vacuum, as we all know.

they are still not great. That's because The Walking Dead, both the comics and the television show, are in, honestly,

All is not well in the comic universe, either. Robert

kind of a weird place right now. Fans are hanging on, but

Kirkman, who is no longer involved with the show, has

how long will it be before they move on to bigger, better,

announced that he knows how the comic will end. He

and brighter fandoms? Only time will tell.

hasn't yet specified when that end will come, but we can probably assume that it's going to be sooner rather

The big news, obviously, is that Rick is gone in the television

than later. He has also announced that everyone's

show. Andrew Lincoln will be starring in a set of movies that

beloved protagonist, Rick Grimes, will not survive to the

continue Rick's story, but he will no longer be a regular cast

end of the series, and some fans are mad enough that

member. In addition, everyone on the show thinks he's

they've decided to stop reading.

dead, so they've all moved on. With the previous death of Carl, and the most recent death of Jesus, fans are weary.

We know it hurts to see our favorite things end. We

Which may be ironic, considering the content of the show,

don't want to say goodbye to our favorite characters

but a lot of these decisions don't seem to have been

played by our favorite actors, or that favorite comic

motivated by plot, which can be a hard pill to swallow.

that we look forward to reading religiously every

P.Â 12

STATE OF THE FANDOM

month. But all things must come to an end, and maybe

wrong with healthy debate within a fandom. But I'm

it's time for The Walking Dead to wind down. One of

talking about the hateful arguments and lashing out,

our writers addresses that idea in this very issue.

and they're just not worth the drama. It's not worth people being driven from their fandom spaces just so

There is a little bit of good news on the horizon. The

an opinion can reign supreme. No one is in charge of

Walking Dead video game produced by Telltale was

any fandom, and hierarchies developing is often toxic,

thought to be left hanging without an ending because

as another of our other writers points out this issue as

the studio folded, but Telltale has since announced

well.

that the final season, which had already begun releasing before their financial troubles, will be

But don't give up. You can't change everybody else,

finished by Skybound Entertainment and Robert

but you can change you. No matter what is said in a

Kirkman, who swooped in to save the day. This video

fandom, you know the truth about yourself and what

game series has been very well-received by critics,

you want out of your experience. I know it sucks

video game fans, and fans of The Walking Dead, so it's

sometimes, because I've been on the receiving end. But

nice to see that it will end as planned.

that means you can also see that I've survived, and am in fact thriving. That means you can too.

Still, fans are understandably frustrated. Unfortunately, that often leads to division in a fandom, and The

Do everything you can to make your favorite fandoms

Walking Dead is no exception. Fans who will never give

places that you love to be, because then they'll be

up on the show and will never admit that it's flawed

places that other people love to be as well. That's the

clash with those who are still around, but aren't happy.

wish I'm making for fandoms this year, so please. Help

Those who are fans of a hated character face unfair

me make it come true.

scrutiny and vitriol being in their favorite tags, and even in their asks. Trust me, I love Negan, so I've seen a lot of bad things get directed at a huge number of people. Again, these aren't problems that plague only The Walking Dead fandom. They plague all fandoms.

It's customary to start the new year off with a resolution. So let's make a fandom resolution to begin 2019. Resolve to, as Bill and Ted would say, be excellent to each other. Support each other. Be friends with each other. Love each other. And if someone likes a character you don't, or has something constructively critical to say about your favorite show, just let it go. To be clear, I don't think there's anythingÂ Â

RISK AND REWARD F

BY DEATHVALLEYQUEEN

We, as fanfiction writers, think that because we

being a solitary fangirl, while lonely, kept things

share a common interest that it’s easy enough for

simple. In the current climate of fandoms, with

us to find our own little groups within larger

shipping wars and Tumblr slowly imploding, this

fandoms. No one wants to admit, even though

is a trend that I see coming back. If we look at the

most of us are very much adults, that when it

fandom experience as a whole, there is something

comes down to the social constructs of fandom,

both inherently social and anti-social about it. So

we are far closer to high school cliques than a

many of us declare we want friends who like what

mature social discourse.

we like, but at the same time, there are just as many that will turn tail and run as soon as drama

The very nature of participating in fandom is like

starts, because who needs more drama in their

joining a club in high school. It’s voluntary. We

life? Not me.

join because we like an actor or actress or love the source material. We don’t get to pick who else

The key with finding your fantribe, that little

is part of that fandom, though. In large fandoms,

network of people you just click with, is being

like The Walking Dead or Marvel, it’s easy to find

yourself. If you aren’t yourself, and

a wide range of people within a subset to make

unapologetically so at that, you will never find

friends and to form meaningful relationships

those people that will appreciate your crack ships

with. In smaller fandoms, this is a little more

and late night rambles. Those friendships can

difficult. The smaller the fandom, the smaller the

happen, and they can be some of the most

variety of people. Which isn’t a bad thing, by any

rewarding of your life. I have had friends I met

means. It can just make finding your tribe that

through fandom that I’ve known for over a

much more difficult.

decade now. So if I can actually take the plunge and make friends in fandom, anyone can if they

Finding your people isn’t as simple as joining a

want to.

fandom and declaring, “I am here, now love me”. I wish it was. The bulk of finding your circle is

I wish I had a magic formula on how to find your

being brave enough to be like, “Hey, I like what

fantribe. I really do, but there is none. It’s

you do… I think we could be friends”. For me,

because we all want different things from our

being horribly socially awkward on the best of

time in fandoms. Some just want friends who will

days, this is hard. It’s sometimes the scariest

gush over a character with us. Some of us want

thing in the world for me to be the person that

writing friends to help us fill in plot holes in our

initiates that first conversation. It’s a risk. Even

fics, and some of us just want to be left alone to

then, there is never a guarantee that the

ship in peace and quiet. Whatever the case may

foundations of friendships will be laid by one

be, you won’t know who you will find unless you

message. Sometimes that is all it takes, but most

start reaching out to the author that you love or

of the time, it’s really hit or miss.

that GIF maker you think is the best. You will never know if they are your new best friend

Now, there are people who also don’t feel like

unless you take that chance and send that

they need a tribe to be a part of fandom. I,

message.

for one, was like this for many years. I found

author spotlight

neganandblake Did you get the idea for her from someone specific? Or did she just pop in your head one day and refuse to leave?

How long before you started to gain some traction on the story and see the notes and reblogs roll in?

to her readers and open to talking to

The character of Blake really just

The TWD fandom is huge compared

annoying reporters, like myself.

formed from the first chapter

to some of the others I’ve been a part

onwards. In my head, she was just

of. Almost the moment I started

supposed to be someone who is a

posting to Tumblr, the followers

good match for Negan, mentally and

started coming in. But the story really

physically. I pictured her as beautiful,

started to take off after Blake got rid

strong and funny, but with her own

of David. I think people realized from

flaws and weaknesses, like her

that point that she was more than

ongoing trust in an abusive

just a weak woman and definitely

fiancé and her own self-doubt. And

more of a match for Negan.

eganandblake has managed

to create a mini-fandom inside a much larger one, carving out a name for herself. Despite this, she remains accessible

First, I just want to say how awesome it is to have you sitting down with us today. We love your story here at Lemon! How does it feel to have so many people connect with something you've written like that?

since I’ve been posting to Tumblr, and

Is this your first story to post?

It feels so good. I’ve been writing

I guess because of her name, many

fanfiction for 10 years and this is the

people have told me that they

first fic I’ve written that people have

pictured Blake Lively when reading,

For The Walking Dead, yes. For other

really gotten behind. I’m just

so I made her my face-claim which

fandoms, no. I’ve written for the

overwhelmed at the constant support

definitely works really well and

Deadpool fandom, Supernatural,

the story gets and it’s also great to

makes GIF-hunting super fun!

Jurassic World, Lost, and many more.

How many words are you up to now with that story?

How many hours a day do you write?

517,505 words so far - if my data

It really depends on how busy I am. I

on FanFiction.Net is anything to go

used to get out a chapter, 1500-4000

by.

words, a day, but since having some

see it coming to life in lots of other types of media too, like GIFs, artwork, banners, etc.

Where’d you get the idea for this one? Obviously, it’s an alternate universe fic with the addition of an original character, but was there a theme or plot you just couldn’t shake?

health problems this year, my work

Who was the first AU off of your story? Did you know them prior to them writing it?

has definitely slowed. Now I write for about thirty minutes a day, if I’m lucky, as and where I get a moment.

Well, I knew I wanted to write a

And finally, what’s the hardest scene you’ve had to write for “Peaches” so far? Why?

Negan fic from the offset, but hadn’t

I think the first AU I had written for

got an entire plot in mind and so the

Negan and Blake was by the

ideas really just formed as I started to

wonderful @warriorqueen, a fic called

write. I’d already written fics about

Peaches and Cream; a very apt title! I

abusive relationships in the past and I

had been a fan of her work for a

There have been a few. Writing

wanted to see how I could slide an

while and was so flattered that she

David's abuse was hard. I received

original character with so much

wrote something especially for my

lots of criticism for making Blake

baggage into the TWD world. I

OC. Since then, I’ve had so many

seem weak, but I wanted to get

originally intended ‘Peaches’ to be a

super talented writers include my OC

across just how much being in an

friendship-only fic, but as it went on,

Blake in their fics and I always feel

abusive relationship can change

Negan and Blake’s relationship

over the moon each and every time

someone.

seemed too perfect not to delve into.

any of them post a chapter or fic.

NEGANANDBLAKE | JANUARY 2019

THIS OR THAT? VANILLA OR CHOCOLATE? VANILLA PANCAKES OR WAFFLES? PANCAKES DAY OR NIGHT? DAY SUMMER OR WINTER? SUMMER TEXT OR CALL? TEXT HORROR OR COMEDY? COMEDY

dear simon, You know I love you, right? You know that you are my second choice for a post-apocalypse husband, right behind good ol’ Negan. You know I think you're funny, highly intelligent, and let's face it, oddly attractive. These are all things that make me want to protect you and see you do well in your life. But then, well, I am reminded of your problematic side. I am sure you know that this is my “type", but Simon, baby, we gotta have a conversation. There's some things I really think you should work on if you want to get through this next little bit with your windpipe still intact. Okay? First off, we need to work on that temper of yours. It’s a little, how can I put this nicely, volatile. Listen, before you even start getting your mustache in a twist, we all got tempers, but not everyone takes things quite as far as you have in the past. I know you have made efforts to change, but I hate to say it… we all see you backsliding. Negan did his best to try and bring you back into the fold after that unpleasantness with all those boys. We both know that was really bad and may or may not have been a catalyst for the situation The Saviors have found themselves in now. My point is, backsliding like you are, babe, it’s just giving Negan the big ol' middle finger for his all forgiveness. Secondly, while I am on the subject of Negan… what the hell is going on between you two? Y’all were good friends, you were his right-hand man. Now all this bickering, this tension, it’s not going to end well for you. I am not saying I am clairvoyant or something, but let’s just say I may know a little about what will happen if you don’t just drop that war against Negan. It’s not pretty, and let’s just say you don’t come out on top. I care about you and would rather see you alive and in a cell than one of the Biters and chained to the fence. One last thing. Why the hell do you think Gregory is worth anything? He is a politician, in the worst way. Guys like him used to run the world and look what happened. They ran it into the ground. He has no loyalty, like none. I am not sure that guy cares about anything but protecting his behind. Do you ever wonder who sent Rick and his merry band of assholes to attack your outposts in the first place? I mean, I would be asking myself the question why were they even there? Something doesn’t feel right with that slimy git, yet you insist on protecting him. I don’t understand. If I am being brutally honest, and you know I will be, every time I see his smug mug I want to stab him in the neck, because something about him just makes me feel like he is not your friend. He isn’t Negan’s friend. He is only his own. So yeah, just do us both a favor and don’t bring him around anymore. I am only saying these things because I care and I don't want you to die, Simon. If you did I would miss you terribly, even if you are problematic and kinda murdery.

All the love in the post-apocalyptic world, Jane

Regardless of what many may think, fanfiction is not just something the millennial crowd came up with. It has been around for decades. There have been countless ways that our forefathers (and mothers) used to share these gems of fanfiction with the masses. From

THE WALKING DEAD ISSUE | JANUARY 2019

FANFIC ARCHAEOLOGY old school Yahoo message boards, newsletters, and yes, even good old FanFiction.Net, which believe it or not has been around for almost 20 years. Lemon’s team of fanfiction archaeologists have combed through the oldest depths of fandom to find some of the best, and long forgotten, fics that the internet has to offer and remind us that even twenty-year-old fics can still be amazing!

The Walking Dead is not an exceptionally old fandom. Some of the most popular characters have only been around for a few years. So we aren’t going back to the 90s for this round of fanfiction archaeology. Rather, we’re dusting off one of the first fics dedicated to the most controversial and popular character of The Walking Dead, Negan.

STIGMATIC BY 217 Synopsis: I don't even think about my life before. The way I see it, things are better now. We are the new world order. We are the Saviors. Pairing: Negan x OC Universe: Comic Book Platform: ArchiveOfOurOwn.Org, FanFiction.Net Rating: Mature (contains content not suitable for children and some young adults)

FANDOM LOCATION REVIEW / BY THE-GALAXY-COLLECTOR /

NIC & NORMAN'S Senoia, GA is a short drive from Atlanta and is the base camp for all current filming of The Walking Dead. Within this tiny town is Nic and Norman's Restaurant, owned by Greg Nicotero and Norman Reedus, and it boasts a wide range of options, including vegetarian. $$ (moderately priced) cont'd on the next page

If you're a fan of The Walking Dead, you probably know where it's filmed. At the end of each episode, like many shows, it says, "Filmed on location in the state of Georgia," and a little Googling will tell you right where to go.

but the walking tour (get it?) looked like a blast.

Senoia is a fairly small town, but it's become comfortable hosting some big names. The minute you drive in it's clear where you are, as their own Main Street doubled as Woodbury's in season three (and a short flashback in season four). Oh, and there are people roaming around in full Walker makeup. Now, normally this might be cause for concern, but seeing a guy with an arrow sticking out of his stomach in Senoia just adds to the ambience.

The one and only con to this experience, which isn't even a complaint about the restaurant, is the lack of nearby parking. It is free, though, throughout the whole town. I'm sure this doesn't apply if there's a special event of some kind, but on a normal Sunday in November, it was easy to find. The town is older, and adding more parking directly in front of the restaurant won't be an option. Just keep that in mind when you go. All of Main Street is also on an incline, so it might make things tough (not impossible) for those in wheelchairs. The restaurant itself is wheelchair accessible. There's a huge ramp right to the front door.

My goal was to stop at Nic & Norman's, so I'll concentrate on that this time. I will say I plan on returning in the near future. It was way cold when we stopped,

Once inside, you see the wide open floor plan. That's something I love. The pictures that lined the wall were hilarious and tied back to the two owners. When we were

there, we got to a table in less than five minutes with no reservation, but we only had three people in our party. Regardless, it was still packed. There was inside seating and, of course, if you don't have any minors with you, you're more than welcome to wait at the bar and enjoy a Cucumber Mule or a Sweet Sheila. I, however, was with my kids, so I chilled out in the lobby. The service was excellent. The waitress was attentive and friendly. We didn't even wait for our food that long either. I had a Classic Burger, my teenager had the Gourmet Chicken Pot Pie, and my little dude got Norman's Pick (the veggie burger). No complaints from either of them, which made it that much more magical, in my opinion. Everything was exactly as shown on their website, so no surprises. Because I picked something standard for most restaurants, it wasn't anything special,

but it was really good. I did enjoy how many different options there were available too. After we were finished, I did drag my kids to the set less than a block away. You walk out of the front door and can see Alexandria's Safe-Zone. They weren't impressed, but they're not allowed to watch the show. They still went along with me without much fuss because they thought the sets staying up year-round was pretty cool. They even humored me when I asked to take their picture at the front gate. If you go when they're filming, I would say be prepared for a much different experience. You won't be able to get anywhere near as close as we did and you'll be stopped often as they block off scenes. This town operates around the show, so plan accordingly. Overall, I'd give it four out of five lemons.

THE NEGAN PLAYLIST Brought to you by The Lemon Magazine

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THE WALKING DEAD ISSUE | JANUARY 2019

TROPES:

AN AUTHOR'S BREAD AND BUTTER BY ROBINWRITESALLTHETHINGS

Your two favorite characters stop to rest at a cabin in the woods. They're cold and tired, but, oh, what's this? There's only... one bed? We all know what's about to happen, and we cannot wait for it. This is what's known as a trope. Tropes are every author's bread and butter. They are what stories are made of. But lately, tropes are taking a beating. Some claim that using tropes is lazy, or even stealing. Well, writers, we are here to tell you that these claims are absolutely not true. What is a trope, exactly? Trope is a catch-all word used to refer to genre hallmarks. Broad plot points, character archetypes, and themes all define genres. Their use is a flag to us that waves and says, hello, I'm romance! Or, I'm horror! While they aren't necessarily used the same way in each story they inhabit, they are generally there in some way, shape, or form. Perhaps it's the sheer volume of tropes in every story that has led to some thinking they have a bad reputation. Are tropes washed up? Definitely not. Tropes tell us, both as authors and readers, what we like. This goes for individuals and communities. Have you ever noticed that, in both publishing and fanfiction, there seem to be trends of certain types of stories? Suzanne Collins wrote The Hunger Games and we were suddenly smacked in the face with tons of YA (young adult) apocalyptic novels. Stephenie Meyer wrote Twilight and the market was flooded with paranormal romance. In fanfiction, someone writes a hot forbidden priest smut, and suddenly, over the next month, every fandom and every character

TROPES: AN AUTHOR'S BREAD AND BUTTER | PAGE 23

seems to get a hot forbidden priest smut too. Or an A/B/O (that's Alpha/Beta/Omega) werewolf story, or a fic where our favorite characters from our favorite shows suddenly run a motorcycle club.

copy the plot of a story, using a trope is not stealing. Tropes are meant to inspire you, to make you think, and to push you as a writer to put your own spin on things. In fact, trope subversion has become a trope in itself.

It's because, as a group, we saw something we liked and wanted more of it. Authors thought, oh, I could write an apocalyptic story with a different twist, or a paranormal romance between a human and this other type of creature. In fandom, the drive is usually an author or a requester wondering what that trope would look like with their favorite characters. It's not that authors are being lazy, or that readers are boring because they love a certain trope. They just know what they like, and there's nothing wrong with using that to direct their writing and reading.

Subverting tropes can be very fun and make an author stand out. By playing with something so well-known in a genre, authors can show their creativity and breathe new life into something that may have become a bit tired and overdone. However, you can go too far when trying to subvert tropes. When authors do it just for shock value, it tends to fall flat. One of the biggest culprits that we see, especially in television shows, is killing off main characters just to seem edgy. The Walking Dead, for example, has become increasingly guilty of this. They killed Carl for no good reason at all. Jesus is the show's most recent casualty, and he's gone out just when his character was finally starting to get interesting again. Ultimately, it's just annoying to fans, and it's become so expected that it fails to be shocking at all in the end. So, if you're a writer, don't try too hard to do something different. Tell the story you want to tell.

In addition, authors rarely use a trope in exactly the same way. You'll recognize it, sure, but every author puts their own unique spin on tropes. Maybe they do a genderswap and the virgin character is male, not female, which is definitely (and sadly) unusual in a romance story. Maybe there's something about their main character that makes them different from others that fit a certain trope. Or maybe they use a trope and a setting that you wouldn't normally find together. It's the same concept as prompt lists in fanfiction. You could send the same prompt and character request to five different authors and you'd get five totally different stories. That's the beauty of writing. But wait. If everyone is writing the same trope, aren't they stealing from the person who seemed to start the trend? Simply put, no. Tropes have been around literally forever. That's why they're tropes in the first place. If using tropes is stealing, every author ever is guilty. Tropes are vague by nature. As long as you don't plagiarize or completelyÂ

So, writers, there's nothing wrong with using tropes. Stories are made of tropes. You're not being lazy, and you're not stealing. And readers, you're allowed to read as many stories with similar tropes as you want. No one can tell you what you can like, no matter how silly they may think it is. So get to your computer, pull up that stack of stories where your faves inexplicably end up in one bed, and go to town. You deserve it.

PAGEÂ 24

THE NEGAN SPLIT written by crzcorgi picture by frank ockenfels

THE WALKING DEAD ISSUE

LEMON

Negan is the character you either hate or love; thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s usually no in-between. The emotions he elicits are most often extreme, both in the comics and on the television show. But the two versions are quite different, and yet alike in many ways. At first glance, Jeffrey Dean Morgan looks very little like his comic counterpart. But once he talks and walks, you realize what a perfect choice he is, although many of his lines have been changed and the colorful language replaced by a more restrained speech. TV Negan still imparts that cocky, arrogant, egotistical leader of The Saviors to perfection, even without the beloved F bombs.

Comic Negan does seem to possess a softer side than TV Negan, and at times his expression, even his comments, show an almost innocence. His sense of humor is also much more present. But that’s not to say TV Negan doesn’t show some heart. His interactions with Carl show that. I must admit, I am hopelessly in love with Comic Negan. His filthy mouth, his juvenile sense of humor, the innocence I spoke of drawing me in. I adored Comic Negan before his TV equivalent was cast. Just as I was a huge fan of Jeffrey Dean Morgan long before he was announced to play the part. So I may be thought not quite impartial in my love of Jeffrey as Negan. So not the case. I feel that the TV Negan has been changed a bit, in a not-so-positive way. In the comics, Negan’s childlike behavior almost makes his bad deeds forgivable. TV Negan does not portray the same emotional honesty. He’s all tough guy all the time, he means business, and is as scary as any of the best horror movie bad guys. There are definite similarities. The outfit of choice has stayed the same: the leather biker jacket, the moto boots, the multiple belts, and the

signature black glove on his right hand. I can’t imagine Negan wearing anything else. Both the comic and TV versions also convey their love for Lucille, a barbed wire-adorned baseball bat that he uses to dispense his form of justice. We do learn that the bat is named after his late wife, who died from cancer just as the apocalypse began. The bat became a monument to her, and he seems to attribute almost human-like traits to it. Both versions also abhor the act of rape, and will swiftly punish anyone who is caught in the act. They believe their form of leadership will ensure a future for everyone. I’m not always a fan of change, so I was very unsure of the “new” Negan. However, in this case, I do think that a change is good and keeps the comic readers on their toes, almost forcing them to watch the show, not knowing what to expect. And Jeffrey definitely brings a bit of himself to the part. His accent, his lean, the swagger; it gives Negan a different feel. In my opinion, Negan, be it the comic or television version, breathes new life into The Walking Dead universe. He is like no other character and will keep people talking, or arguing, for years to come.

podcast listen list by deathvalleyqueen

Sistah Speak: The Walking Dead RATED: R (STRONG LANGUAGE)

While this podcast hasn’t covered anything new since season seven, their back catalog breaks down each episode of TWD, from season four to season seven. It's hilarious and they even have a 'best of' episode if you want to just hear the best bits. I also want to note that they have podcasts for multiple fandoms, all just as funny as this one!

Two Dead Chicks

RATED: PG-13 (MILD LANGUAGE) A currently running podcast that features, as the name suggests, two ladies talking about the latest episodes of TWD. It has its fairly funny moments and even some great insights. It’s a light type of podcast that is definitely more conversation between friends than structured podcast.

Hear The Walking Dead RATED: PG

One of the shorter podcasts on our list, their average episode lasts about twenty minutes, so it’s great for that drive home or something to listen to on lunch. It is a pleasant and fairly amusing podcast that covers each episode without being longer than the episode was in the first place!

The Walking Dead 'Cast RATED: PG

A really solid podcast that reviews and breaks down each of the episodes after it airs, not only for The Walking Dead, but also Fear the Walking Dead too. The fact that they stuck out the whole fourth season of Fear says a heck of a lot about their dedication to this fandom.

Fear Me: The Walking Dead

RATED: PG -13 (DRINKING, MILD LANGUAGE) Like all the other podcasts, they react to the episodes as they air. I enjoy their personal dynamic and more mature take on the episodes. There are usually some adult beverages involved, so things can get fairly amusing as the podcast goes on. They also cover both the main show and Fear, which again wins big points, as their fanbase is a fair bit smaller than the main show.

author spotlight

thedeadwalks ne day, you're just minding

then I started to watch some of Jeffrey

your own business and BAM!

Dean Morgan's other work, and the

A new character walks

rest is history!

into your favorite show and steals your heart. For a lot of us in the TWD fandom (not all, don't @ me) that was Negan. He was a season's Big Bad

No, I had never even written a fanfic

hard to deny this deliciously devious

until around two years ago. When the

character and we can see why.

blog started to become more Neganfocused, I started to see Negan fanfics

One is a mob-Negan AU, and the other is a prequel to My Savior,

before the apocalypse.

How long, on average, does it take you to finish a story?

on my dashboard. Before then I hadn’t even read a fanfic! The first one I

I haven’t officially finished any yet!

wrote was ‘The Sheriff of Alexandria’

But for a chapter, I’d say it depends

and it was for a competition. It was a

really on how well planned out I have

Negan in a Western AU - Rick was in it,

that scene. Sometimes it just flows,

I think he had about two lines at the

and I can have 1,000 words in an

end!

hour, and other times I’m stuck writing

So, I actually started my blog way

Walking Dead TV Series. I started

now they only exist inside my head.

where we see Negan and Baby

want him to. For thedeadwalks, it was

before Negan appeared on The

I do have a few plot ideas I’m thinking over, but unfortunately for

Did you ever start to write some Rick fanfics that didn’t get published?

that never went away and we don't

First, thank you for joining us! It's amazing to get to chat with you. I like that you say you were Rickobsessed, until Negan happened. How did that process occur? Was it gradual?

about?

five words a week.

How many hours a day do you get to write?

watching when season 2 aired,

What are your favorite writing tropes? What’s the one you just can’t get enough of?

rushed through the first season to

Depends on the day! I’m currently

catch up, and then sometime around

doing my Masters Degree at University,

season 3 or 4 I made the blog, but I

so fitting time in to get some writing

I’m always a sucker for an over-

never really updated it much. I’ve

done for myself is a little difficult

protective Negan. I love reading

always loved horror, especially

sometimes. I do really enjoy writing on

fanfics that change the original story

zombies, so Rick Grimes quickly

the train though. I find it’s a good

around too, so Vampire!Negan,

became my favorite (as anyone who

atmosphere to get my mind focused,

Werewolf!Negan, Alpha!Negan... I

followed me back in those days will

and I know I’ve got around an hour or

just find them so creative, and I

know).

so to do nothing but write.

absolutely love any fanfic that includes the dorky and funny side that

As for Negan, I live in the UK so we don’t get to see new episodes until a day after the US. I remember seeing GIFsets, pictures, and text posts all

Is writing more of a hobby or a job? Like, outside of fanfiction do you get paid to write in some other way?

we see in Comic!Negan.

Do your family or friends know about your blog?

over my dash of the ‘big new bad guy’. I watched the episode after I

Fanfic is definitely just a hobby. But for

No, I would probably turn into a

got home and I remember thoroughly

my Masters I have to do research

zombie myself if they found out. My

enjoying it - sorry Glenn and Abe! But

papers, literature reviews, etc. and

family doesn't even know I like the

for the first time in a season or so I

eventually I want to go on to do my

show! It was something I started

was actually really excited to go

PhD. So, I guess writing is both a

watching with my friend, and I’ve just

home and watch the newest episode.

hobby and what I do professionally.

never told them. There’s just some conversations you don’t need to have

That’s when the blog started to drift into more of a Negan fan blog, and

Are there any fics we haven’t seen yet? If so, what are they

with your family.

THEDEADWALKS | JANUARY 2019

THIS OR THAT? LIBRARY OR MUSEUM? MUSEUM BOOKS OR MOVIES? MOVIES RAIN OR SNOW? SNOW BOAT OR PLANE? BOAT PHONE OR COMPUTER? COMPUTER MONEY OR FAME? MONEY

THE MICHONNE PLAYLIST Brought to you by The Lemon Magazine

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THE WALKING DEAD

THE REC LIST

Negan x OC Beth x Daryl Daryl x OC Rick x Michonne Judith Rick x Siddiq Rick x Negan x OC Daryl x Rick Negan x Siddiq Simon x Reader Aaron x Jesus Glenn x Maggie Daryl x Jesus Tara x Rosita

THE WALKING DEA

Title: Breathe Main Pairing: Rick Grimes x Siddiq

Author: Marium

Title: I think I liked you better when you didn’t have a knife in your hand, Peaches... Main Pairing: Negan x OC

Title: Drink, Brew, Love Main Pairing: Rick Grimes x Michonne

Author: Richonne Writing Network

Title: Little White Lie Main Pairing: Simon x Reader Author: NegansOtherWife

Author: neganandblake Title: Life Is For The Living Title: The Road Ahead Main Pairing: Daryl Dixon x OC

Main Pairing: Tara Chambler x Rosita Espinosa Author: zagirlfriends

Author: crossbowking Title: Way Down We Go Title: My Savior Main Pairing: Negan x OC Author: thedeadwalks

Title: Hide and Seek Main Character: Judith Grimes Author: Hatterized

Title: Jar of Hearts Main Pairing: Negan x OC Author: ne-gans

Title: Behind Closed Doors Main Pairing: Negan x Siddiq Author: StackerPentecost

Title: Daddy’s Girl Main Pairing: Negan x OC Author: daisysouthmoore

Title: Lil’ Drunk One Main Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Rick Grimes Author: Tiofrean

Main Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Beth Greene

Author: LeathernLaces

Title: What Makes a Dixon Main Characters: Daryl and Merle Dixon Author: Lucifers_Trash_Stash

Title: Fables of the Reconstruction Main Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Jesus

Author: Mugatu

Title: The Most Dangerous Game Main Pairing: Rick Grimes x Negan x OC Author: ScarlettMae

Title: Hold On to Me as We Go Main Pairing: Glenn Rhee x Maggie Rhee Author: rosydoze

Title: How It Could Have Gone Down Main Pairing: Aaron x Jesus Author: D_J_Marlowe

author spotlight

crossbowking ith The Road Ahead, she has

jokingly) to just turn it into a full-blown

both something that is no easy task.Do you find it hard to keep those two in character?

gifted us a wonderful retelling

series. At first I was like “lol, yeah

of the journey of our favorite

right”, but then all of the sudden, I saw

survivors. This is not crossbowking's

it. I saw where the story could go. And

first foray into the Daryl Dixon

from there, the series and the

Daryl’s character is probably the

fanfiction world either. She has

characters and the storyline just kind

easiest for me to channel, actually. I’ve

stirred our imaginations and helped

of spilled out of me and has turned

written him for almost a year now so

us remember just why we love that

into what it is now. I’m really proud of

it’s almost second nature in a way.

particular crossbow-wielding

my work for this series and what I have

Merle is a bit more difficult, though,

redneck.

planned for it. Honestly, it’s just been

simply because I don’t write him often

such an honor to share it with so many

and he’s a super complex character. I

amazingly kind and supportive

think what I was having the most

readers.

trouble with was not [so much]

Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us today. You were one of those authors that kept coming up again and again when we were deciding who to spotlight in the TWD universe and it absolutely makes sense. Your stories are so great! What inspired you to take the big plunge into a full-fledged series?

Anna is such a compelling and wellrounded OC. It’s very obvious that you’ve put a lot of time and effort into developing this character. What were some of the inspirations you drew on when creating her?

keeping them in character, but making sure there was a clear differentiation between their characters. I think it’d be pretty easy to just morph them into similar versions of the same person — they’re both brash, temperamental, rednecks with a lot of shit brewing beneath the surface so I had to be

Thank you! This is probably going to

super conscientious that I was creating

Thank you so much! I really

come across super self-centered, but I

two unique personas. They’re brothers,

appreciate that! There’s something

actually based a lot of Anna’s

they share the same rough past and do

really intriguing to me regarding one-

character on myself. Since my blog is

have similar personality traits, but to

shots. I think I like how their purpose

for stories pairing Daryl x Reader, I

merge them together as the same

is to simply capture a moment in

generally keep the reader’s

person would be an injustice to their

time. I find a lot of comfort in the

physicality/personality very general, so

characters. So I’m so happy you feel

noncommittal aspect of it. But I’ve

whoever is reading my story can easily

I’ve written them accurately! Thank

always wanted to write a series. I’ve

insert themselves into the role. But

you!

just never been able to come up with

with Anna, I had an opportunity to

the right idea or storyline or original

insert myself into the story, which I,

characters that would sustain the

somewhat selfishly, found really

length that’s required or felt right,

appealing. It also made creating the

you know? The Road Ahead is

character an easier task because I

I remember reading this book called

actually based off a one-shot I wrote

simply had to draw from my own

Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg

with the same title. I’d had this idea

circumstances — like, what would I do

Kehret over and over when I was a kid.

of the reader’s car breaking down

in this situation, how would I react,

It was about this family who goes on

while heading towards Atlanta and

what reaction would this situation

vacation and the parents are on this

then bumping into Merle, who kind of

draw from me. I feel like it helped me

boat for some special awards dinner,

starts to mess with her before Daryl

morph Anna into a more honest and

leaving their two kids alone at the

shows up and saves the day. So, I

real character because she’s based

hotel for the day. While the parents are

wrote the one-shot, posted it, and

off a real person. (Hi. That person is

gone, an earthquake strikes, causing a

the feedback I received was

me. I feel like a pretentious little

tsunami to occur. I loved the intensity

incredible. I had several people

asshole right now and I don’t mean to

and drama of the story and how these

asking for either a part two or some

come off that way if I am and I’m

two siblings are forced to band

kind of continuation of the story,

sorry. Hahahah.)

together to survive the disaster. It was

wanting to see what happens next. Then, someone asked (probably

Your Daryl and Merle are spot on,

And last question, what is your favorite childhood book?

a really captivating piece of work and I still think about it to this day.

CROSSBOWKING | JANUARY 2019

THIS OR THAT? THEME PARK OR WATER PARK? THEME PARK ANTIQUE OR BRAND NEW? ANTIQUE TOILET PAPER: OVER OR UNDER? UNDER TRUTH OR DARE? TRUTH CALL OR TEXT? CALL CAR OR TRUCK? TRUCK

FAREWELL TO PAUL "JESUS" ROVIA a eulogy in the form of a letter

Dear Jesus, It’s hard for me to type this up, I’ll be honest. There was something so refreshing about the diplomatic nature of your character. Yes, you understood the world you now lived in was different, but you also demanded more of the people around you. Not less. Which was the case with most leaders. You saw what could be, not what was, and that’s what I’ll probably miss the most. It was never blind optimism either (looking at you, aaron!), but it was so needed around more dangerous characters like Negan and more rugged ones like Rick and Daryl. You were soft when you needed to be, kind always, and a special blend of reason and strength when the situation called for it. To sum it up, this sucks, bro. When I started writing down all my ideas for your letter, I found myself thinking about the ways the universe would be changed without your presence. And the list was staggering. If you hadn’t shown up at that same gas station, Rick and Daryl wouldn’t have known about Hilltop for a long time, if at all. Gregory enjoyed his peace, which the group ruined the instant they stepped foot there, per their usual. They also wouldn’t have found The Kingdom, or Ezekiel, or even Carol again. Their world was small, which you pointed out from day one, and would have stayed that way without you literally crashing into it. Oh, and let’s not forget Rick wouldn’t have defeated Negan and The Saviors because how would he have rallied everyone if he didn’t know they existed? Granted, he might have gotten a lot more time with Glenn and Abraham, but Negan would have found them eventually. Let’s be real. So, what’s it mean that you’re gone? Ugh, I didn’t want to deal with this part especially. Mainly because feelings are gross, but also because the ramifications are so intense it hurts my brain. You were the elected leader of Hilltop and now who’s in charge? Will Aaron and Gracie move? Does Tara take over? Will Maggie have to come back? You were the best fighter left, too. Sure, you and Aaron were rolling around in the dirt occasionally, but he’s not on your level yet and now he won’t ever be. Not unless he uses this as fuel to learn to kick some ass. I hope he does, but I also see him needing some time to move past your death. Like a lot of time. I know I do. The dust has settled, but it’s hard to move on. You were one of my favorites. Your snarky, sweet, sarcastic self is what I lived for during those episodes when it got a little too heavy. The mood will change significantly, and not really for the better. You were so much more than a comedic relief and now that you’re gone, there’s nothing to break up the monotony of the angst and drama. Well, Negan’s out of his cage. Maybe that’ll help. Love, galaxycollector P.S. To the show’s creators, you can blow me. If you kill one more queer person, I will boycott the whole damn thing.

IT'S NOT THAT SERIOUS,FAM

FANDOM DYNAMICS AND HOW THE HIERARCHY RUINS IT

LILITHENALTUM

Peep the scenario. You’re a fresh face in a brand new, sparkling fandom. It’s a wild world, but exciting at the same time, a frontier of endless possibilities. Meta is being written, ships are pulling out of port, and you’re making new friends as you embrace the wonder that is fandom. For a while, it’s a beautiful place to be. And then, it happens. The dynamics of the fandom begin to shift and move as content creators—be it writers, fanartists, or ship captains— accumulate likes and reblogs and fans of their own. Time goes on and some voices are heard, while others are just drops in an ever-expanding bucket. Then the day hits when you wake up and realize you’re stressed about what you say and what you do and who you follow because now this pretty new fandom has a hierarchy, and hey, how did that happen? Fandom dynamics are the flavor, so to speak, of a fandom. How you interact and who you interact with can completely decide how your experience in a fandom is going to go. And, in some cases, who you're friends with or who you follow and chat with determine your placement in a fandom. Are you in with the cool kids? Or on the fringes with the unpopular folks, people who may not get as many comments on their fanfics or likes on their Tumblr posts? It’s a random thing; no one can really tell who is going to be the Big Name Fan of any fandom in the beginning. And no one mentions when you get into fandom that there’s a toss-up of how that kind of popularity is going to affect the entire experience. But what is a Big Name Fan, and why do they hold so much control? A Big Name Fan is someone who gains Internet notoriety and a seemingly infinite credibility about

the fanspace they’re maneuvering in. This could be

who want exclusive control over what everyone else

a super popular fic writer who has a unique handle

in the fandom consumes and creates. People who

on favorite characters, or an extremely talented

may not have much power in their everyday lives

fanartist who can capture the very essence of a

get a thrill from making decisions about what ships

popular ship. It could simply be someone in the

are valid and which are “trash” or who is a good

know, someone whose posts and meta and

writer and who isn’t. And since all of these things

thoughts about how a storyline in a show or the arc

are subjective, especially in transformative fandom,

of a certain character are going to gain traction and

it turns into a bloody, violent, and messy fight

are universally agreed on. Oftentimes, Big Name

between folks who agree with the so-called

Fans can create what’s called fanon, a generally

mouthpieces and those who disagree or have

understood and received idea that fans consider

othering opinions. People feel pushed aside,

true in reference to a piece of media, even if The

unseen, discouraged, and end up dropping out of a

Powers That Be haven’t made it canon officially.

fandom because of harassment or feelings of not

And sometimes, Big Name Fans are the fandom

being wanted.

moms and aunts and dads and uncles and cool older siblings that newer fans look up to when

And the cycle continues as those kicked aside

they’re just now getting the hang of the new

search for another fandom. In a sad twist,

environment.

sometimes the outsiders become the head honchos and do the same dirty deeds done to

But many times, the attention and power that Big

them to unknown fans in their new homes.

Name Fans wield can go straight to their heads and destroy a fandom from the inside out, making it an

So how does a fandom stop this sort of thing from

intolerable and unfriendly place for people to be in.

happening? It seems like a fruitless endeavor to think that human beings who crave validation and

There’s no shortage of examples of this happening,

a sense of belonging would nip their egos in the

and it’s not exclusive to any one fandom or type of

bud in order to not exclude or isolate other people

fandom. Band fandoms, television shows, movies,

around them. But it’s not a hopeless thought; it’s

even fans of specific actors and artists have these

possible to share the joy of being a fan of

types of issues. A handful of folks grasp hold of the

something without trampling on the people around

power that comes from being seen and heard and

you. It’s simply a matter of realizing that in the

run with it, often at the detriment of most of the

grand scheme of things, none of us are better than

others who are considered below them. It’s a

the other and all of us have something to

unique sort of problem, possibly a consequence of

contribute. Even if that contribution is just being a

not having much power and control in the world

devoted fanfic reader or the unofficial fandom

outside of fandom. You see, fandoms are, for the

mom who mentors the younger set, it’s important.

most part, made up of the marginalized - women,

And if all of us are important, then none of us are

people of color, queer folks, and the disabled. In

too important.

transformative fandom especially, you’ll find just about any sort of person who flocks to and basks in

That said, it won’t be easy to change the way

the beauty that is transforming your favorite works

dynamics in fandoms play out. It’s something that’s

so that they feel relatable and represent you. And

been present probably since the beginning and

when you have a serious lack of representation in

expanded because of the Internet. Not everyone

the mainstream, being able to curate and craft that

who calls themselves a fan are decent, kind people,

representation by simply writing, drawing, or even

either, and weeding through the muck is work in

just posting a funny joke feels like winning the

itself. But fandom and all the things that come

lottery. Even better, it’s almost always free.

along with it are worth the work. Fandom is supposed to be fun for everyone, and it really can

But there’s a price to pay for this kind of control.

be a rewarding, wonderful experience. Sometimes,

Fans who otherwise would be welcoming and

all we need is an ego check and a reminder that it’s

friendly can turn into nasty, gatekeeping bullies

really not that serious.

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Skylar Grey

CARYL AND THE CASE OF THE PLATONIC SOULMATES META BY STATUEOFSIRENS PUBLISHED UNEDITED AND IN ITS ENTIRETY

I make a point of steering the fuck clear of my

scene that is so backwards that it makes the

non-ship tags, but seeing a certain scene get

angels cry.

blatantly misread drives me up a wall and makes me want to scream.

For those who want to avoid my on-coming word vomit, I’ll simplify the entire thing right

So. 3x01 “Seed” and infamous ‘Carol flirts with

here: This scene was classic one-sided flirting.

Daryl’ scene. Please keep in mind that while I

Key phrasing here being one-sided.

am not a Caryler-er that I am; A massive Daryl fan and a massive Carol fan. I am not making

For those who haven’t seen that episode in

this argument in an attempt to bolster a

awhile, I’ll remind them that this was the

different ship or attack Caryl shippers. What

season 3 premiere. We’re coming into it

I’m doing is correcting a misconception about a

knowing that about 6-7 months have taken

place off screen, and the changes in

not looking for. But then Carol makes that

relationships and interpersonal dynamics are

totally-joking-unless-you-want-to proposition

being established in this episode.

and you can pretty much see that moment he goes ‘Ah fuck, I was trying to avoid this.’ Still

Fun fact: I left season 2 convinced that

though, he laughs it off and she laughs with

something romantic was going to build between

him. She’s ready to tease him but not push.

Carol ad Daryl. This episode? This exact scene? This was what made me go “Whoops. Nope. That

And she does tease him. He gets exasperated

is not going to be a thing.”

but not angry. Hell, if it had been daylight I’m sure he would have been blushing scarlet. Once

And it all boils down to the fact that Daryl is

again it’s been reduced to a joke. Making it into

blatantly uncomfortable for this entire

a joke makes it easier for Daryl to handle than

exchange.

having to outright tell her that he isn’t interested. And Carol, who I have no doubt was

Read that again. Absorb it. Blatantly

very interested at the time, was willing to

uncomfortable. If you watch this and see him as

concede to that.

flirting, I’m genuinely worried about your understanding of human interaction and by

Note that after that scene? She doesn’t flirt

proxy, your understanding of consent. (Which is

with him anymore. She teases him and is

an admittedly big jump, but still relevant.)

affectionate and every wonderful thing, but she stops directly flirting with him. That scene was

Let it be said that I love both sides of this

a taste of the relationship we didn’t see during

interaction. Carol has finally shed that meek

the missing winter and it was a closure to it.

little bird shell she was stuck in after well over

They were wrapping that part of the

a decade in an abusive relationship, and

relationship up and leaving it behind. Basically

recovering from losing her child. She’s more

Carol gave it one last go, probably because they

open and relaxed and playful than we’ve ever

had genuine safety for the first time, and it was

seen her. There’s a subtle suggestion in this

the last attempt to see if he’d reciprocate her

interaction that this probably isn’t the first

interest. And he didn’t.

time she’s made a pass at Daryl. And hell, who can blame her? She respects and admires him,

Honestly I think that’s why we later saw Axel’s

he’s attractive, and she’s a woman who is

crush on her. Whether or not Carol had any

reclaiming her personal agency for the first

interest in reciprocating we will never know,

time in years. She’s at a point in her life where

but it was obvious she enjoyed the attention. It

she can look at and admire a man without fear

was a direct contrast to her relationship with

of repercussion from her abuser. She’s allowing

Daryl, where we got to see the flip side. Carol

herself to be selfish and pursue something (or

got to feel sexy and interesting and desirable

in this case, someone) she wants and do so

from a man who genuinely was interested in her

freely. So during that missing winter, I get the

even if she might not have felt anything more

impression she’s made suggestions and

than friendship towards him.

flirtations in Daryl’s direction. To the point where it’s almost an in-joke between them, but

So yeah. Please don’t disservice the scene by

with that open invitation for him to

trying to claim it was mutually flirtatious. It

reciprocate.

wasn’t. Even as an at the time wanna-be shipper I recognized that immediately, and if you do

But in this scene we see very clearly that Daryl

think it is, I really think you need to re-watch it

isn’t going to.

without shipper goggles on. Sexualizing and using a character’s discomfort as ship-fodder is

When their eyes meet during the shoulder-rub, there’s two kinds of tension. One from Carol that is suggestive, and one from Daryl that is uncomfortable. He immediately drops his hands and backs away. He tries to diffuse the situation before it can head in a direction he’s

just gross.

THE WALKING DEAD ISSUE

HOLIDAY BLUES AFFECTING YOUR MUSE? BY JEWELSWRITES-ISH

‘Tis the season to be jolly… and we all know the rest of the song. If you are like the tens of thousands of millennials suffering through the holidays, you are going through a wave of stress, irritation, and maybe even depression. The joy of the holidays has long been ripped from our hands, and we relate more to Jim Carrey’s Grinch than ever before. Because of the holiday burdens, it seems writers lose their muse to create, forcing them to become more frustrated at life. If this sounds like you, do not fret. The following are suggestions to spark the flame again. Fighting writer’s block with writing? Unheard of! However, participating in a writing challenge may bring back the faded muse. If you have never participated in a writing challenge, you may find one being hosted by a Tumblr user who is more than likely celebrating a follower milestone. Once you find one, always read the rules first, pick a prompt, and a character of your choice. The beauty of a writing challenge is the ability to have a prompt or a trope so you can work off it to create a one-shot — in other words, a short story. If a writing challenge doesn’t tickle your fancy, another option is to submerge yourself in music. Whether your prefer YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Music, each music application provides playlists for writing inspiration; simply search for a playlist and allow the music to whisk you away. “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut.” — Stephen King Stephen King has always been an inspiration for many writers with his countless bestsellers. King has also used his platform to encourage writers to continue their craft; it is he who reminds us reading is one of the best ways to gain inspiration to write. If nothing else helps, pick up a book, a magazine, a journal, or even re-read your own writing as a perfect way to reel in that muse. Whether or not these tips help in translating your muse to scribbling across a page, always remember the beautiful quote from Vladimir Nabokov: “The pages are still blank, but there is a miraculous feeling of the words being there, written in invisible ink and clamoring to become visible”.

TEN TIPS FOR WRITING IN AN APOCALYPTIC SETTING BY SEXYLIBRARIAN1 Whether you’re inspired by The Hunger Games, Divergent, or The Walking Dead, writing a dystopian setting is extremely difficult. It’s a lot more than figuring out who the hero or heroine is and what they're up against, or picking a year in which to set your story. There are a lot of details to consider when you write dystopian, and I’m here to give you ten tips on how to start.

PICK A YEAR. Whether it’s 3049 or 2020, the year you pick will be the first start to setting up your surroundings. You might have a few ideas, but deciding on exactly when you’re looking at will help you organize the details to come.

PICK A CENTRAL CONFLICT. In Equilibrium, the world was a futuristic one devoid of emotion. In The Handmaid’s Tale, the problem was religion gone horribly wrong. The central conflict in a dystopian novel will drive the characters all the way throughout, in a more direct way than problems do in a regular fiction novel. So make sure you pick a conflict that can help you tell a compelling story.

WRITE YOUR EXPOSITION. Know how and why your world got to where it is now. Even if you don’t include every detail of your exposition in your actual novel or fanfic, write it down for yourself. Knowing where you’ve been helps you know where you are, and where you’re going.

WRITE AN OUTLINE.

THE WALKING DEAD ISSUE January 2019

This helps with any novel or fanfic, but will help especially if you’re working in an era that’s not expressly yours. Each event you plan will be affected by the surroundings you’ve chosen, and if you’re working in futuristic parameters, having an outline will help you know what you’re writing and how you’re writing it.

LOOK AT THE DETAILS. If you’re writing a situation like the one in The Hunger Games or Planet of the Apes, you’re going to need to know things like where your characters sleep, what the water situation is like (Is it scarce? From a river? Gathered at wells?), and what they miss when they don’t have electricity (a lot of stuff).

MAKE SURE YOUR CHARACTERS FIT. In Fahrenheit 451, we saw someone right in the middle of the dystopia itself take the whole system down. In The Hunger Games, we saw someone at the bottom take the system down almost by accident. Whether you write one, the other, or something in between, make sure that the characters fit the situations you put them in.

PROVIDE MORE CONFLICT. Like Katniss, your character should question what they’re going up against, or why they’re going up against it. It makes for a more compelling story if your characters are questioning themselves every step of the way.

DON’T PLAGIARIZE. Be aware there are elements of your story that have already been written. And probably more of them than you think. If you’re writing a dystopian novel and something in it sounds like The Walking Dead or Brave New World, there's probably a reason why.

THERE SHOULD BE FUNNY PARTS. Yes, every dystopian novel ultimately has something serious to say about the world, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be some comedic relief every so often.

KNOW YOUR ENDGAME. They do say “no surprise for the reader, no surprise for the writer,” but ultimately, especially in a future that you make up, you should know where you and your characters will end up.

THE WALKING DEAD ISSUE January 2019

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ASK THE LORE NERD BY

DEATHVALLEYQUEEN

Who are The Whisperers?

So, why are they called The Whisperers? They are called The Whisperers because

With the new big bad of The Walking Dead

they live among the dead, and while they

looming over our shoulders, let’s break

are with the herd and wearing their

down some facts that the comics gave us

“armor,” they whisper among themselves

about this group and why they’re unlike

to communicate. The comics only alluded

any we have seen before.

to this, but I have a feeling that this will be a big plot device on the show as

Please note that since we are talking

isn’t that just the creepiest thing to

about the main villains of season nine,

think about? Walkers that talk. They are

so there will be spoilers and potential

also called the Talking Dead during the

spoilers for all of season nine of The

early stages of their comic

Walking Dead.

introduction. You said something about armor? You mean

Alpha? Beta? Are we getting A/B/O as

Walker skins, right? Yes. Which, when

canon in TWD? No, sorry. Alpha and Beta

you think about it, is pretty ingenious.

are characters. Alpha is the first comic

Though I doubt we will see the gory

canon female villain, in this universe,

details, especially on cable television.

and her oversized brute bodyguard is

The Whisperers have developed a unique

named Beta. As their names imply, Alpha

method of skinning and tanning the skins

is the leader, and Beta is basically her

of the Walkers. It’s an advanced version

muscle. We never learn their actual

of the guts trick, basically. With the

names, and the titles of Alpha and Beta

TV canon now including that Walker guts

are strictly hierarchy-based. Anyone in

have the potential to make people sick,

the group can end up having them if they

I feel like this aspect will be

take either position. The reason we

discussed at length in the back half of

don’t really get names for most of The

this season, or even in season ten.

Whisperers is because they, as part of their societal constructs, shun all

It has been hinted that The Whisperers

connection to their past lives,

are some of the most brutal villains in

including names, to be more like the

the TWD universe. Can you give us some

animals they believe humans were meant

non-spoilery insight into why this

to be.

could be true? Well, in my humble

physical acting that not a lot of actors

opinion, they are at the very least the

can pull off. Now, I am not saying that

most violent and classic horror-type

there isn’t great talent in the WWE, but

villains that we have seen in the

you need a very talented person to do a

comics. There are several events that

whole role without showing his face, and

are likely to play out through seasons

pulling from the WWE for that wouldn’t

nine and ten that are iconic comic

have been the right choice, in my

panels that really help cement this

opinion. So, hands down, I think yet

status. I can’t really speak too much

again they cast the right person for the

about them specifically without being

job and for that role.

spoilery, because I think they are going to be huge moments in the next season to

Samantha Morton, who is our TV Alpha, is

season and a half. We have already seen

an incredible actress as well. Like our

that they have no qualms about killing

beloved former leader, Andrew Lincoln,

humans with the death of Jesus during

she is also a British import. I am a fan

the mid-season finale. I think the fact

of her other show, Harlots, which you

that they wear tanned Walker skins

can find on Hulu, though it’s a far cry

should speak to the lines that this

from the world of TWD. I am curious to

group will push. They really are the

see how she is going to take on such a

stuff of nightmares, and a call back to

vicious and brutal character like Alpha.

the true horror origins of the show. But

She normally doesn’t play such hard

if you want to know in detail just how

characters, so it will be interesting. I

brutal these guys are, go pick up

am also very curious if she is going to

Volumes 26-29 of the TWD comics and read

go full shaved head or not! We recently

for yourself!

got our first look at her, and honestly, the look they have given her is haunting

With The Whisperers being an official

and just a stunning example of the

part of the show now, and the main

special effects work on the show.

players cast, how do you feel about the casting? Do you think the actors chosen

As far as the young woman they have

will do the characters justice? Well, I

playing Lydia, I am not really aware of

am a huge Ryan Hurst fan, and since I

her, but I have never been displeased

read the comics, he was who I pictured

with the casting of the young actors and

in my mind for Beta since he first

actresses on the show. They always seem

appeared. Now a lot of people in the

to find the best talent.

YouTube world of TWD suggested going the route of tapping some talent from the WWE for Beta just because of his size in the comics, but actors can wear lifts, and Ryan Hurst isn’t a tiny guy to start with. With Beta, you need a solid actor because the character wears a mask all the time, and that takes a level of

author spotlight

ne-gans eing one of the authorities for

all things smut in this fandom isn't a title she takes lightly. She's done that genre of fanfic very proud and made us, at least here at

What’s your writing routine look like? Do you sit down with the intent to write and then mess around on Spotify for 2 hours first? Or do you get down to business?

Lemon, very happy every time we see

the show, my ties to the fandom kinda dwindled away. It wasn’t until Negan came into it and I ended up having some pretty explicit dreams about him that I began to write again

her name pop up on our

Oh god, I don’t even think I could call

notifications. So, turn out the lights,

it a “routine”! The only time I really

snuggle under the covers, and make

have any semblance of a plan is

sure you're alone as we get to know

when I’m working late the following

the infamous ne-gans a little bit

day or have a day off. Once my

better.

boyfriend goes to bed, I sit down with my laptop. The intention is to write

Thank you so much for sitting down with us today. We're all huge fans! And your hair is so cool! How'd you decide on those colors?

Walsh, but then after he died in

and sometimes a miracle happens and I can whack out a couple of

and then the rest is history!

A lot of your stuff is deliciously smutty. How do you get in the writing mode for that? I know, for a lot of our writers, it can be hard to get into those scenes. Is there a playlist? Do you watch a lot of porn? (just kidding! well, kinda.)

drabbles in a night. Other times, I end up editing my blog, reading other

I’m a very sexual person and I find it

people’s fics, or if I’m really not

quite easy to get into that mindset

Thank you! As for deciding on colors, I

feeling it, I put on Netflix and binge

most of the time, but I do struggle

used to have a full head of blue hair.

something. Basically, if my mind isn’t

when I’m really not feeling it. So, then

I changed it last year to orange, but

completely set on writing, I tend not

I do watch porn! There’s not a

the blue didn’t completely come out

to force it any more.

definitive playlist, but there are

so it kinda was a complete mess of colors so I went back to blue. It wasn’t until I saw inspiration on Instagram that I thought I’d put some

certainly songs that I listen to more

Was it Supernatural first or The Walking Dead? And how’d you find the fandom?

neon green in there too to break up the blue and there’s the aspect of

Actually, it was Supernatural first

looking like a mermaid which is never

back in 2010, but I had a separate

a bad thing.

blog back then and didn’t write. Well,

when I write smut.

Do you happen to remember the first smutty fic you read? If so, what was it about or who were the characters?

I wrote, but I never shared it with

I don’t remember titles or authors, but

anyone except my best friend. I still

I really loved this UK band called

watched the show and followed it

Busted back when I was like 15 or 16

but never got involved in the fandom

and I remember there was this

again until a few months ago when

website where you could put your

someone recommended I read a

name in and it’d generate a fic for

particular taboo series and it kinda

you. At the time, I thought it was the

It honestly all depends on a plethora

spiraled from there. Supernatural

naughtiest thing I’d ever read!

of things. Like how much time I have

definitely found me both times. The

to spare between work shifts, how

first in 2010, I was in a very bad place

invested I am within an idea and if my

with my health and the show helped

muse is cooperating or not (more

pull me through and then it wasn’t

often than not she isn’t). If it’s a good

until I read that fic that my world

Cat. I like to eat and sleep a lot and

day, then it can vary as I tend to write

turned back upside down!

am usually grumpy. My boyfriend’s

So cool! I guess we should get back to writing questions, since that's what the people came for. How many hours a day do you write?

bits and pieces on the notes on my

And just one more. What would you say your mascot is?

parent's cat is literally me in cat form,

phone, but I don’t have time

With TWD, it was similar in a sense. I

purposely set aside to write.

used to be a huge fan of Shane

I swear!

NE-GANS | JANUARY 2019

THIS OR THAT? BAGELS OR TOAST? TOAST SWEET OR SALTY? SWEET ALASKA OR HAWAII? ALASKA FACEBOOK OR TWITTER? FACEBOOK SNOW WHITE OR CINDERELLA? CINDERELLA PASTA OR PIZZA? PIZZA

48 | THE WALKING DEAD ISSUE

THE WALKING DEAD HANGOVER BY SUPERPRINCESSPEA

In 2010, I read an article

When the show premiered

dedicated to not only

promoting a new TV show,

in the UK, I was hyped and

laying the groundwork of

and I remember thinking,

it didn’t disappoint. I still

the story, but building up

this is it. This was the show

remember the moment of

the characters who were

I’d been waiting for. That

horror when Rick Grimes

taking us on the journey. I

show was The Walking

found a horde of walkers

enjoyed them all, and when

Dead, and after I’d watched

waiting in a deserted

they were finished, I

countless hours of zombie

Atlanta high street. That

wanted more. So did

movies such as Dawn of the

first episode will always be

everyone.

Dead and 28 Days Later, I

my favorite and it's what

was looking for something

kept me going back, again

Season two was more than

that went beyond the first

and again. Until now.

double the length of its

few days and really delved

predecessor at thirteen

into the struggle that came

Season one was a mere six

episodes and it

after the end of the world.

episodes, each one

showed. First it gave us

49 | THE WALKING DEAD HANGOVER

the excitement we’d all

Nowadays The Walking

The past two seasons

arrived for, but what

Dead faces tough

have seen a steady decline

followed was filler, and

competition. Shows

in viewers, myself

when you tune in on a

like Stranger Things and

included. I used to tune in

weekly basis, filler feels

The Haunting of Hill

weekly, but now I let the

like a long slog. The

House might not give me

recordings stack up on

ending was good, a reveal

the zombies I love, but

my DVR and get round to

which told us nobody was

they give me horror, great

them only when I’m out of

safe, but more than

characters, and an

other things to watch. I

anything, it finally

exciting story all rolled

currently

brought closure to the

into ten episodes or less.

have season nine waiting,

long weeks of watching

Plus I can binge-watch

but with shows like Sinner

and waiting.

the entire series in one or

and Vikings releasing

two big chunks.

their latest series, I’m

After season two, I almost

going to be busy for a

considered not returning

From season three

while. I think most people

for the third, but then I

onwards, The Walking

are.

recalled all the reasons I

Dead has always had

fell in love with the show

sixteen episodes. There

In a way, we’re spoiled.

and the nostalgia was

have been amazing ones

With so many networks

enough to make me

and there have been

competing to bring us the

ignore the pacing. You

terrible ones, but more

latest blockbuster TV

have to remember that at

than anything, there’s

shows, we find ourselves

this time shows like The

been filler. The Walking

inundated with options.

Walking Dead weren’t

Dead franchise makes

We no longer have to

competing with Netflix or

AMC the big bucks, so it's

settle, we no longer have

Amazon Prime. We

hardly surprising that

to return for the next

watched our TV live and

when it comes to how

series if the previous one

box sets were something

many episodes they

was only okay.

you had to go out and buy

commission, they choose

the physical copy of for

quantity over quality

And don’t be mistaken

more money than you

every time. I mean, what

into thinking I hate the

probably wanted to pay.

does it matter? We all

show, because I don’t.

come back. Or do we?

I love The Walking Dead.

50 | THE WALKING DEAD HANGOVER

I truly do. The concept is

as it is to say goodbye,

what drew me to it in the

sometimes the greatest

first place, and that has

moment of a show is how

never changed. The

it ends. Sometimes what

Walking Dead is a world I

we really need is to see

will always be fascinated

the final culmination of

with. The themes of

everything the characters

survival against all odds

have gone through.

and the determination of

Because without this, why

ordinary people are

watch?

interesting, and when written well, I would

A great show shouldn’t

watch them all day.

feel like a marathon, nor should it feel like a sprint.

But The Walking Dead, it

Good pacing is crucial

seems, has reached a

and when it isn’t good, it

point of no return. Failing

doesn’t matter how

ratings have led to a

interesting the story

string of major characters

could be. All that matters

bleeding from the show

is how interesting it is.

along with the fans, and what’s left is mishmashed

The Walking Dead used to

stories with no clear goal

make me excited to see

in sight.

the next episode. Now they’re lucky if I even

I started my journey

remember it’s on. And

wanting to see a show

perhaps you’re reading

which would go beyond

this screaming at me;

the first few days and

perhaps season nine is

weeks of the apocalypse,

the greatest season the

but there comes a point

show has ever seen. But

when, after all the filler,

sometimes it really is too

what you really need is an

little too late.

ending. Because, as hard

N I T

2 3 4 5

M A N

C A R L

Are we hearing the tale of Rick Grimes as told by Carl as an old man?

B R E A K I N G

B A D

Is Break i n g B ad a pr eq uel t o Th e Walking Dead?

C O M A

D R E A M

Is the entire show a dream and Rick Grimes is still in a coma? F E A R

T H E

W A L K I N G

D E A D

Is Fear the Walking Dead the Whisperers' beginnings? T H E

S C A R S

O R I G I N

What are those X scars that Daryl and Michonne share?

HAT BRIGADE

L I O F

O L D

LEMON MAGAZINE

O L D

M A N

C A R L

This is a very popular comic and (once upon a time) TV show theory that we are in fact hearing the tale of Rick Grimes as told by Rick’s son Carl as an old man. This is a fun theory that was first brought to my attention by the YouTube channel MOVIEidol. His video breaking down his version of this theory has almost two million views. The basics of this theory are that Carl is an old man telling a group of people, perhaps even his grandchildren, the story of his father. The main story is Carl regaling these listeners with this amazing story of his father and what it was like to be one of the first kids to grow up in the new world. There is some evidence to back this up. In the comics, and at various points in the show, scenes with Carl were far more detailed than ones without him. This could mean he is remembering something in greater detail. While this theory is not completely debunked as far as comic canon goes, we won’t be getting Old Man Carl on the show (thanks, AMC), but don’t worry. Old Lady Judith is a whole different theory now.

B R E A K I N G

B A D

I S

P R E Q U E L

Th is is a r gua bly the mo st we ll-kno wn TW D t h e o r y. Th is wa s spurre d o n b y t he appea r a nc e o f t h e no t o rio us Blue Sky me th in se a so n two o f TW D. N o w mo s t peo ple wo uld h a ve le ft it as a fun E a ste r E gg fro m t he eq ually as p o p u l a r AM C sh o w, but ma ny fans have t a ke n t h is a step furt her to imply that bo th t h e s e s h o ws take pla c e in t h e same unive rse . Severa l sea so ns a fter this brief a pp e a r a n c e o f W alter W h ite’ s meth, D a ryl g ive s us a lit tle info a bo ut M erle's o ld de a l e r i n t h e epis o d e “S till”. D uring a c o nve rsa t io n wit h Bet h Gree ne, D a ryl de sc rib e s M e r l e ’ s o ld d ea ler , c a lling him, “a ja nky lit tle white guy,” but never gives us a n a me . H e later q uo te s t h is unname d dea le r as sa ying, “I a m go nna kill yo u, bit c h ! ” W h i c h i s c lass ic Jess e Pinkman. Being a fan o f b o th sho ws, the ide a o f Je sse P i n k ma n slaying W a lker s o r even having so me vague c o nnec t io n to the D ixo n b r o t h e r s g i v e s me th e wa r m fuz zies.

There is also the similarity to the Dodge that Glenn drove in season one. That particular car looks a lot like the one that Walt got Walt Jr. during season four of Breaking Bad. The guy at the dealership who Walt dealt with was conveniently named Glenn. I can suspend disbelief to this point in the theory. Where I need my tin foil hat is for those who claim that there was a bad batch of Blue Sky made and that was the cause of, or at least a factor in, the creation of the Walker virus. They use a particular episode of Breaking Bad to bolster their support for this theory, using Gus Fring’s Two-Face moment as their “proof” of this connection, saying that Gus was patient zero in this crazy new world. It would make for great crossover potential, but Robert Kirkman has confirmed this is nothing more than fan theory and a fun Easter Egg. This is such a popular theory that if you are ever looking to lose about five hours on Sunday afternoon, put in “Breaking Bad The Walking Dead” in the search on YouTube and start watching.

C O M A

D R E A M

Many people have long held the belief that the whole story we have seen play out is nothing more than Rick Grimes’ coma dream. Now, this gets really out there really quick. Basically the version of this theory I hear the most is none of the events of the comics or the show are real. The apocalypse never happened and this is all a dream. The various characters we meet throughout Rick’s journey would be people at the hospital. For example, I've seen Carol being referenced as a nurse in a few different versions of this theory. All the events are triggered by things going on around Rick and this story is the way his brain is coping with the outside world.

F T W D

I S

T H E

W H I S P E R E R S '

B E G I N N I N G

Now this is completely debunked, but this was a theory I subscribed to and held onto all the way up to season four of Fear the Walking Dead. I really think that this could have been a real possibility during season two and season three. There were many hints, particularly with Nick going and walking among the dead and enjoying it to the level The Whisperers do, that made us all think, yup, this is them. We will finally know how it all happened. Now it had Madison becoming Alpha, which I personally could have seen happening given the right set of circumstances. It gave several different thoughts on Beta, but my favorite was Walker becoming the Beta to her Alpha. My guess is that Alicia would have served as a slightly older version of Lydia. Sadly, I personally think Nick would have died regardless. There was going to have to be something to push Madison to become Alpha, and we all know that it wouldn’t have been Alicia’s death. I really think this was actually the purpose of the show until the shift in showrunners and direction. We will never know, but this is one theory that was really fun while it lasted. This is another one that you can lose a few hours on at YouTube.

T H E

S C A R S

O R I G I N

We had to include a new theory that is out there about something that we are all wondering about. Now, there are a lot of theories for the new X scars on both Daryl and Michonne, but we have waded through them all to highlight two. One is that they are almost a crude tattoo to remember Rick. Now, this is a very sweet notion. But in this setting it would not make much sense to inflict that level of wound on yourself and risk an infection that could easily kill you. Michonne and Daryl, even in their grief, wouldn’t be stupid enough to take such a risk. The second theory is that this could be a brand of some kind, and the event that caused the rift in the communities is directly tied to these scars. This seems to be the most likely case. Michonne and Daryl could have been captured by some group and branded either as a means of torture or perhaps to identify them in some prison system, similar to the letter ranking system Negan had. This is a hot theory right now and there are dozens of different plausible ideas since we know so little about the six-year time jump. We will likely get an answer in the back half of season nine, so unlike some of these other theories, we won’t have to wait too long.

author spotlight

daisysouthmoore rom Daddy's Girl to Little Bird,

Daisy writes all the things that get us in the mood and make us swoon. Somehow, we were lucky enough to have a chance to chat

Oh my God. Yes, definitely all of us are horny little weirdos. Probably why we like your blog so much. Do any of your friends or family know about your blog?

with her for a while about what revs

Do you think could co-author a story? Why or not? It depends. I’d have to have a solid connection with the co-author, I think. I’d also have to enjoy and be

her engine (spoiler alert: it's Negan!).

No, not really. My blog is my ‘guilty

inspired by their style of writing. I’m

So, buckle up because it's

pleasure’ but my husband knows

actually co-writing with my husband

guaranteed to get a little crazy with

about it. He’s my beta actually.

soon. It’s not related to the fandom,

fangirls afoot.

Thank you for taking time out of your day to sit down with us. We so appreciate it and you for writing all the wonderful words. So, let's jump right in. How long does it take for you to finish a story?

but it’ll be interesting to see how that

What? Really? I would be mortified. Haha, well hell yeah! He inspires most

pans out.

Is it an original? Cause either way that sounds fun!

of it! I also gauge how well it’s written by his... response.

It is! He actually doesn’t consider himself a writer. He never thought he

nearly a year to write I believe.

You are a brave, brave woman. Speaking of being horrified, have you met anyone you write about? Or rather, their actor counterparts?

What was your first fandom?

No, but that’s probably for the best. I

a way with words. It’s like poetry, I

would be too ashamed to face them!

swear. I’ve been nagging him to keep

But kudos to all those who have!

going ever since.

Do you believe in Writer's Block?

That'll be so great for you guys. You should let us know when you publish so we can let our readers know. I'm sure they'd all be interested too!

I have the attention span of a television commercial so it takes me quite a while. ‘Little Bird’ took me

had the knack for it. But one day he wrote this sort of drabble intro and it was so beautifully written I was awestruck. I actually cried reading it because he has no clue how incredibly talented he is. He just has

LOL! Oh fuck. Okay, so I was really into anime in my teens and I was also unaware of the fact that bisexuality was a thing. Let’s just say I really enjoyed Sailor Moon. I learned a lot

I believe Writers Block is going to be

about friendship, heroism, and super

the death of me.

hot, unrealistic body standards.

Uh oh. Care to expand a little? So, a lot of your stuff is pretty smutty. Do you remember the first time you read a smut fic?

Fingers crossed one of us (as in I would but you know... Writer’s Block.

Writing is my way of decompressing Ha ha... yyyyeeeaaahhh. It’s safe to

and when I can’t write I get even

say my blog is a smut blog.

more wound up. It really fucks with

Unfortunately, I can’t remember the

my head.

first smut fic I ever read. I was a hormone ridden teenager when I started writing smut fics myself and I

How many WIPs do you have right now that you haven't published?

sort of stumbled on them from there. I thought I was just a horny little

Five, in this particular fandom. And

weirdo until I realized we’re all horny

countless other original WIPs.

little weirdos.

fandom writer’s everywhere) makes it!

Kidding, but it’s just an ugly cycle.

Last one, what's the first book that made you cry? I think it was The Color Purple.

DAISYSOUTHMOORE | JANUARY 2019

THIS OR THAT? SUPERMAN OR BATMAN? BATMAN T-SHIRTS OR SWEATERS? SWEATERS TEA OR COFFEE? COFFEE COOKIE OR CAKE? YES. (JUST KIDDING. COOKIE.) BURGERS OR TACOS? TACOS LEATHER OR LACE? LEATHER

THE DARYL DIXON PLAYLIST Brought to you by The Lemon Magazine

01 Can’t

Help

Where

But

I’m

Wonder

Bound

Johnny Cash

02 The

River

05 Come

You

Are

Imaginary Future

06 Dark

Times

Blues Saraceno

The Weeknd (ft. Ed Sheeran)

Good

Another

Story

Emily Kinney

The Head and the Heart

Start

War

Klergy (ft. Valerie Broussard)

Trouble

Jailbreakers Ltd

IN DEFENSE OF SHANE WALSH BY ROBINWRITESALLTHETHINGS Author's Note: I am only discussing the television show version of Shane. The comic version is quite a different character, in my opinion.

that Dale thinks Shane belongs in simply drives him off the deep end, and he can hardly be blamed for that.

“This world, what it is now. This is where you belong”. Dale says this to Shane shortly before both of their deaths in The Walking Dead. He sees Shane as a violent, sadistic man who has no remorse. A man who is thriving in a zombie-filled post-apocalyptic landscape. But Dale is absolutely, 100% wrong.

I do believe that Shane is genuinely a good man at the beginning of The Walking Dead. He obviously cares about Rick. He's honestly panicked when Rick is shot, and we know he visits him frequently in the hospital. Even when he thinks Rick is dead, he takes care to make him as safe as possible before he is forced to abandon him. He takes it upon himself to make sure Rick's family is out of harm’s way amidst all the chaos, and even volunteers to help Lori tell Carl that Rick has been shot because he knows it's going to be tough. Once they're all outside of Atlanta, Shane steps up and leads their small group of survivors, which is not an easy task. Essentially, Shane is Rick before Rick is Rick.

Shane is an asshole. There's no question about that. Of course, many fans, such as myself, have a long, sordid history of loving assholes in their favorite media, so the fact that he has ardent defenders should not be a surprise. While Shane undoubtedly takes some questionable actions during his time on The Walking Dead, so has literally every other character in the show. That alone should not be enough to condemn him. Ultimately, the world

When Rick returns, Shane is unceremoniously pushed aside by everyone.

I completely understand why Lori ends her relationship with him, of course, but she also tries to deny him access to Carl, who has come to see him as a surrogate father figure. Rick also supplants Shane's role as leader almost immediately, which has to be hard for Shane to swallow. Sure, Lori and Carl know Rick well, but no one else does, so the fact that they're so willing to suddenly defer to Rick instead must hurt. While not everyone was a fan of Shane's leadership style, he did keep the group together for almost a month before Rick's arrival. This understandably makes Shane angry. But, at least at first, he tries to contain that anger, or direct it at acceptable targets. Shane wailing on Ed is still one of my favorite scenes from the show to this day, and I don't think anyone can argue that Ed didn't deserve every punch. But, as everything falls apart, Shane slips further and further, and has fewer and fewer people to displace the blame onto. Still, he tries. Frustrated, he raises his gun to Rick's back, but he stops. Drunk, he inappropriately propositions Lori at the CDC, but he comes to a standstill after she fights back and he realizes that she really doesn't want him. He tries to distance himself from everyone. He even considers leaving the group for a while. He attempts to bond with Andrea when it’s clear that she’s one of the only others who agrees that they shouldn’t try to humanize the Walkers. He tries to talk to Rick and point out his flaws, but no one will listen. It was inevitable that Shane was going to snap, considering all of this. You can only bend so far before you break. What starts this trajectory is Otis. Shane gets blamed for Otis' death, which he did indeed cause indirectly. But what was his other choice? Die himself and let Carl die? In this scene, Shane is effectively Rick's stand-in. In fact, the only reason Rick didn't go on the trip himself was because he'd given Carl blood and was too weak. Do you seriously think that Rick would have let his son die to save the man who shot him in the first place, whether it was an accident or not? Shane

does exactly what Rick, or any father, would have done. He decides that Otis is an acceptable sacrifice. Despite all of that, Shane still feels guilty. Yes, he shaves his head to hide the evidence, so to speak, but he also does it because he's traumatized. And then that trauma is compounded by Lori, who reveals that she is pregnant. Based on the timeline, that baby has to be Shane's, but Lori denies him any possibility of being able to fill the role of his child's father, and at this point, Shane has to think that this is the only child he's ever going to have. It must sting doubly when he remembers what he just went through to save hers. He self-destructs because he finally has no hope left. He's lost everything, and the only things he can do are try to get it back, which is impossible, or die. So he dies. But he's not forgotten. Before his death, Shane essentially tells Ricks that he can't survive by being the good guy, and Rick takes that lesson to heart. We see hints of Shane in many of Rick's future actions, so much so that Shane returns in a hallucination to congratulate Rick on his more violent exploits, though he doesn't think Rick is quite there just yet. The only reason Rick made it as far as he did was because of Shane, so we at least have to thank him for that. Shane wasn't perfect. Not by a long shot. But he also wasn't a villain. He was just a man driven mad by a world that would make even the best of us doubt what the right thing to do is. While some of his actions may be unforgivable, Shane as a whole is not, and we should remember that when considering his character.

PAGE 58

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TUESDAY

LAST

MONDAY

FIRE

MERCY

GONE

FRIDAY

WEDNESDAY

SATURDAY

TUESDAY

FOOD

BLOOD

DEAD

THURSDAY

SUNDAY

ANGEL

WEDNESDAY

WATER

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THURSDAY

SHELTER

SUNDAY

GUN

MONDAY

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THURSDAY

PREY

SATURDAY

KILLER

SICK

SUFFER

WEDNESDAY

FRIDAY

TUESDAY

ARROW

FRIDAY

LIFE

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SUNDAY

WEDNESDAY

SANCTUARY

MONDAY

TOMORROW

SATURDAY

STRANGERS

TUESDAY

CONQUER

THURSDAY

AFTER

MONDAY

ALONE

ACCIDENT

BAIT

FRIDAY

SUNDAY

DISTANCE

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

MEMORY TRY

30 31

THE WALKING DEAD ISSUE

porn with plot THE COUNTERARGUMENT FOR THE SLOW BURN BY ROBINWRITESALLTHETHINGS

Slow burns are torture. Why wait? I want my

person. There are plenty of ways to add

characters getting down and dirty ASAP,

conflict that don't involve keeping those

and there's nothing wrong with that.

hands to themselves. The build-up can happen along the way. And fluff? You can

The thing is, you can have everything that

have that too! Make those characters start

you love about the slow burn and make some

going on cute dates after they had some

genitals touch before Chapter 118. Angst?

raunchy sex. You could have them living

Throw some relationship obstacles at them.

together after that awkward one-night

Just because they're boning doesn't mean

stand and slowly realizing that they like each

they have to like each other right away.

other, resulting in a bunch of adorable

Maybe they're already in a relationship and

moments. And there are plenty of ways to

don't know if they want out of it, or how to

get that happy ending you love even if

get out of it. Perhaps someone doesn't want

there's banging on the first page. Just put

them with whoever they're with. Or they

your characters through the wringer enough

could always be in love with more than one

that they deserve to walk off into the sunset

LEMON

PORN WITH PLOT

together. Done and done. Why deprive

that might not be the case. Seriously, this

yourself when you can have it all?

happened to me once. I wrote a story that was, for me, at least, a slow burn. The

In addition, you get access to so many more

characters finally went to bed together in

tropes when you forego the slow burn.

Chapter Eleven and not one, but several

Accidental pregnancy, anyone? It's one of

commenters told me that it was great, but

my favorites, and I may be guilty of using it

that they were sad the story was over. The

one hundred times and reading it one million

rest of the plot hadn't even been remotely

times. Maybe a character desperately needs

resolved and there were still six chapters to

money and becomes a paid companion or

go. So now I just avoid the problem by

sells their virginity to the other character

starting with the smut. What do I promise

and the love comes later. It's the best of

then to keep them hooked, you ask? The

both worlds! Some characters also actually

potential for more smut. It's genius, right?

benefit from diving right into the sexytimes,

No one will ever stop reading. And, still

because they'd never stick around long

speaking as a writer, well, writing smut is

enough to end up in that perfect relationship

hard. Slow burns just add more pressure,

otherwise. Then you get to make them go

because you've waited so long that the

through the delicious process of discovering

moment has to be perfect. If your

that ugh, they have feelings after all.

characters hop into the sack right away, it can be weird. It can be not so great. It can

It's hard to argue with foreplay, isn't it?

be funny. Who needs more pressure

Everybody loves foreplay. But you know

anyway? Not me!

what else we all love? Sexing it up with our favs. And if you leave that pesky slow burn

So, you see, there's nothing wrong with

behind, you know what you get? That's

jumping into the hot and steamy stuff right

right. You get both. There's also a curious

away. It will benefit you and your readers.

tendency among readers to assume that

Don't deny yourself. Have all the sex and all

once the characters in a slow burn have

the feels that you want. Free of waiting.

done the do, the story is over, even though

LEMON

FANDOM COOKING NEGAN'S SPAGHETTI This recipe was developed and tested by @robinwritesallthethings. When Negan makes his famous spaghetti for Carl, it's hard to tell what his recipe actually is. He definitely had fresh tomatoes and basil, some sort of tomato sauce, and dried pasta, so I started there and added a bit of my own flair to it. This recipe is vegetarian since meat would probably be a rare treat in an apocalyptic setting, and it does have a little bit of smoke and spice because, let's face it, we all know Negan has a rather smoky, spicy personality.Â

PAGE 64 |Â LEMON MAGAZINE

This serves six for a hearty dinner. [Ingredients] 28 oz can diced tomatoes 15 oz can tomato sauce 6 oz can whole black olives 1 tsp red wine vinegar 1 Tbsp olive oil 1 Tbsp chopped garlic 2 yellow onions 60 cranks sea salt (divided) 20 cranks black pepper (divided) 1 Tbsp dried parsley ¼ tsp crushed red pepper 1 tsp dried oregano 1 tsp dried basil ¼ tsp smoked paprika 1 lb spaghetti noodles 6 cups sliced mushrooms [Instructions] 1. Add the olive oil to a large stock pot with your burner on low heat. Once the oil is hot, add the crushed red pepper and chopped garlic. If you do not want your spaghetti to be spicy, forego the crushed red pepper. Adding it at this stage infuses the flavor into the olive oil and will add a nice kick to the entire dish, so you won't be able to get away from it once you've added it. This is most definitely a recipe that uses a background spice, so if you want it to be ridiculously spicy, you'll have to add more. I used jarred preserved garlic because I always have some in my fridge, but you can definitely use fresh. You can use garlic powder in a pinch, but be careful. You'll need a lot less of it because the flavor is concentrated. 2. While the crushed red pepper and garlic are cooking, dice the yellow onions. I used two because mine were rather small, so if you have one large one, that should suffice. You can use any kind of onion you have on hand; I prefer yellow because they're a bit sweeter. Add them to the pan with the oil, crushed red pepper, and garlic and turn the heat up to medium. You want the onions to cook down and caramelize so that you don't have any raw flavor left in your sauce.

3. While the onions are cooking, slice your mushrooms. I like mine in large slices, but you can cut yours smaller if you like. Once the onions have cooked for at least five minutes, add the mushrooms to the same pan. Season them with twenty cranks of sea salt and ten cranks of black pepper. I use sea salt and black pepper grinders, hence the crank measurements, but you can use loose if that's what you have. Just add it bit by bit until you think the seasoning is right. Seasoning is very personal, so you want to find the balance that works for you. As the mushrooms cook, they will release some water, so you may have to turn the heat higher to boil it off. You don't want the excess thinning out your sauce! 4. Open and drain the can of olives. Pour them into a bowl and crush them using the back of a spoon. You can use pre-cut olives if you'd like, but I enjoy the texture a rough crush gives to this dish, especially when paired with the mushrooms. Once any excess water is cooked off of the mushrooms, add the olives to the pot. I do recommend sticking with standard black olives for this recipe, as they won't be so strong that they will overpower the delicious sauce you're making. 5. Add the canned tomato products, red wine vinegar, and the rest of the spices, including the last ten cranks of black pepper. You can use fresh tomatoes if you like; like I said above, Negan did have fresh tomatoes. However, they didn't appear to be in his sauce. They were in a separate pot and I didn't see any evidence of them in the sauce he actually tasted. I didn't have any fresh on hand, anyway, so that's why I went with canned. Just note that fresh tomatoes are going to have to be cooked down a lot longer and probably blended to create the final product. You'll also have to deal with removing the skins if you don't want them in your sauce, so fresh tomatoes add a considerable amount of time to the preparation of this recipe. I used all dried spices for this recipe. You can use fresh if you like, but keep in mind that the measurements will be different. You need more if you're using fresh because the flavor of dried spices is concentrated. Be cautious when adding the smoked paprika. Smoked paprika is lovely, but very strong, and if you add too much, it's all you'll taste, which is why I've used a

small amount in this recipe. Turn the sauce down to simmer as you turn your attention to the pasta. 6. Fill another large stock pot with water and the additional forty cranks of sea salt. It's important to salt your pasta water because this flavors the pasta as it cooks. Bring the water to a boil and add the pasta. If you have long pasta noodles, don't break them in half. This damages the structure of the pasta. You want to just let the pasta wilt into the hot water as it cooks. Cook the pasta until it's what is known as al dente. This means that it's cooked, but still firm. When the pasta is al dente, drain it. Do not rinse it! Add it to the pan with the sauce and stir everything together. This will cook the pasta a little further, and the starches from the leftover pasta water that's clinging to the noodles will help thicken the sauce so it nicely coats the pasta. For reference, this sauce is chunky and a little thinner than a sauce you'd get out of a jar, when all is said and done. 7. Now you can finally eat it! Enjoy! [Supplements] The trick to thinking about cooking in an apocalyptic setting is knowing what ingredients you might reasonably have access to. This is going to change depending on available resources and how much time has passed since the apocalypse began. Use this guide to get you started, then come to Lemon's social media to tell us what you would cook while the zombies roam outside! Canned Goods: Canned goods would be a lifesaver at the start of the apocalypse, and we certainly see plenty of canned goods being consumed in The Walking Dead, like Carl's massive pudding. Most canned goods last quite a long time; I have ones in my pantry right now that were bought recently and are good until 2021. When Negan makes Carl spaghetti, roughly a year and a half has passed since the zombie crisis began, so they could still have access to canned goods at that point, which is why I felt okay using them in my sauce. Of course, storage will influence if cans are still good; both extreme heat and cold could be detrimental to their longevity. Once a can starts to bulge out, it's not good to eat what's inside, because the bulging means that whatever's in there is

decomposing and releasing gases. And, eventually, of course, canned goods would essentially cease to exist since there aren't a bunch of factories making their own anymore. However, you could easily make your own canned goods using some standard preservation techniques. Oils and Vinegars: Oils and vinegars have a long shelf life as long as they're stored correctly and don't need to be refrigerated, so they'd probably still be around for the first few years of the apocalypse, just like canned goods. And, eventually, it would be easy enough to make your own oils and vinegars, depending on what you have on hand. Vinegar would also let you pickle things, which can preserve them, so it's doubly useful! Garlic and Onions: Garlic and onions are the flavor base for a lot of recipes. They'd be available in both dried and powdered forms, but they're also rather simple to grow. Onions can even be grown in cold weather. They'd be an ideal addition to a postapocalypse farm and can be used in almost any cuisine. I used preserved garlic in my recipe because it was what I happened to have. This would probably not be available during the apocalypse because the variety I buy needs to be refrigerated, but it would be simple enough to substitute fresh in its place. Salt, Pepper, and Other Spices: Salt and pepper last practically forever and would probably be fairly easy to find in the apocalypse. Other spices would be widely available in dried forms. Dried spices sadly lose their flavor after a few years of storage, though they would still be safe to eat. Herbs could be planted and used fresh, or dried for later use. Stumbling across an abandoned herb garden during the apocalypse would be quite a treasure trove. You might even be able to find some in the wild. The only issue you might run into with packaged spices is some unfortunate dampness resulting from storage, which could damage the product. Look for plastic containers first, as those are more likely to keep that pesky water out. Pasta and Other Dry Goods: Dried pasta stays good for a long time. Even after its expiration date, it would be safe to eat, albeit a little stale. The only problem would be if it got wet while it was being stored, just like any spices you might be able to find. You can

also easily make fresh pasta using just eggs, flour, oil, and salt, so it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to make your own once the dry supply is exhausted. There are plenty of other dry goods that would be available as well, like rice, barley, and beans. Again, these all have expiration dates, but they may last longer than canned goods, depending on what they are.

Additionally, any fresh meat would have to be consumed quickly because there probably wouldn't be a reliable way to store it, unless someone knows how to make jerky, which is generally not a product you cook with. More popular sources of protein would be beans, eggs, and nuts (remember carol's acorn cookies?), which don't really go well with spaghetti! Of course, neither does squirrel, as far as I know. Sorry, Daryl.

Mushrooms: Mushrooms are technically a fungus, so they grow like crazy in the wild, and could probably be cultivated as a crop if someone had enough experience to do it. Mushrooms are also a good substitute for meat because of their texture and the fact that they have a unique flavor, often referred to as umami, or the mysterious fifth flavor. Just don't eat the poisonous ones. Maybe take Daryl with you the first few times you go out gathering.

Cheese and Other Dairy Products: Cheese is perishable and generally needs to be refrigerated, so it wouldn't last long initially, but it would be possible to make your own cheese if you had access to the right ingredients. However, as we saw in The Walking Dead, it's tricky if you don't know how to do it already. Maybe a former professional cheesemaker will wander into your community.

Meat: One of the reasons I made my spaghetti recipe vegetarian is that meat would probably be scarce after the apocalypse. At first, of course, you would have canned meat, but once that ran out, it would be far wiser to use any farm animals or livestock for the other products they could provide, like eggs, milk, and fur. Hunting would be a possibility, but since we know that zombies nom animals just as much as humans, there might not be a lot of hunting available, especially if you're staying in one place and hunting it clean.

Other Fresh Produce: I've already talked about a few items that could be grown, but obviously, the longer the apocalypse goes on, the more you would have to grow your own food. What you could grow would be dependent on a lot of factors. How much space you have, what kind of equipment you have, and what seeds you can find would be key. Your location and climate would also come into play here. Some things just won't grow in certain places, though that could be rectified with a properly maintained greenhouse.

HOROSCOPE by Iris Kingsley The Capricorn fanfic author enjoys writing stories that make sense. Convoluted storylines aren't their thing, but don't count them out just yet. You've never read a story until you've read one from them. The amount of research that goes into it is baffling, paying off in a big way. The amount

CAPRICORN

of power and resilience their characters display leaves you feeling amazing too.

Dec 22nd - Jan 19th

Something completely rare for the Capricorn writer occurs this month. A

TAURUS

partial solar eclipse lends its

Apr 20th - May 20th

considerable power to new writing opportunities, including the shifting of an outline in an unexpected way. Make sure you lean on those around you and let them be your strength as several personal changes also become clear at the start of the new year. Your main character’s relationship could find a healthy pace under the lunar eclipse on the 21st or finally end, giving someone else who’s been waiting to shoot their shot the confidence to swoop in.

PISCES

Feb 19th - Mar 20th March right into the fandom you’ve been quietly exploring for the last six months with that fic you’ve been hoarding and perfecting. You’ll soon see all that worrying was for nothing as they embrace you, and your take on the characters, with open arms. On the 20th, when your energy level starts to wane, you may need to take some time to mentally escape the confines of whatever story is bogging

AQUARIUS

Jan 22nd - Feb 18th

you down. It’ll rejuvenate you, so no feeling guilty!

Pinterest is going to be your friend as you take a much needed rest through the conclusion of the holiday season. Let your mind relax and find all the inspiration it can through moodboards, playlists, and aesthetics. Just make sure to save everything that catches your eye. The end of January, and the lunar eclipse on the 21st, brings a renewed sense of optimism, which leads to a writing frenzy and new relationships. While you wait, though, enjoy the quiet and research all those topics you’ve put off for so long.

ARIES

Mar 21st - Apr 19th The beginning of 2019 will be chock full of new and exciting changes for you and your writing since Uranus’ eight-year reign in your sign is coming to an end. You’re almost there! Don’t give up yet, especially when there’s plenty more in store for the year. Mars comes back to play from New Year’s to Valentine’s and you reap the benefits of your mystical ruler in the shape of some particularly juicy one-shots.

A number of planets make their way through your house during January and while that may appear chaotic, don’t forget to enjoy it. Bounce from story to story like never before and make sure you pencil in some extra time for getting back to that one you’ve ignored for a while. Venus cruises into your passion zone on the 7th, so talking with another pantser might prove to be just what your writing needs. Don’t worry, though, since you’ll be back to your normal planner ways by the 20th, and that one more popular writer you’ve quietly stalked forever could even reach out.

GEMINI

May 21st - June 21st As shows come back from their winter hiatus, that one ship you’ve counted out might disprove all your assumptions and bestow all the fanfiction fodder you’ve been craving. From the 6th to the 20th, you’ll get lost in that OTP haze, but the characters you’ve been ignoring will start screaming your name again. To avoid destroying your reader count, balance the time appropriately between your new and old loves through March.

HOROSCOPE | JANUARY 2019

CANCER

LIBRA

June 22nd - July 22nd

Sept 23rd - Oct 22nd

A small planetary clique sets up shop

It seems like all the planets are

in your sign, giving you the creative

camped out in your sign until the

juice you need to approach some

20th, but they actually help form

potential projects. Don’t count out

those cozy storylines you think you

anyone who offers their assistance,

missed out on last fall. Embrace the

though. They’re not there to steal your

clichés and tropes. It’ll do you some

thunder and could even thrust your

good to get back to your roots in that

ideas to the next level. The lunar

regard. Just don’t shun what gave you

eclipse hits on the 21st and brings

your loyal readers in the first place

with it less time in front of the

and you’ll be fine.

computer. Download all the writing apps you can so you don’t get behind.

LEO

SCORPIO

Oct 23rd - Nov 21st

July 23rd - Aug 22nd

It took nearly two years, but it looks

Make time to do some yoga this

give you the push you need to finally

month as various planets get you to

type ‘the end’ on that monster of a

your goals in that area. It will also

story. Take the time to celebrate by

benefit your writing enormously,

re-opening your requests to all the

since it allows your brain to explore

readers who’ve stuck by you while you

other areas of creativity and release.

muddled through and found your

From the 7th on, you’ll notice a

voice. They’ll enjoy being involved in

number of celebrity crushes you’ve

your writing process and you may

never thought about before and even

even gain a new fandom you’d never

if you’re not into RPF, you’ll be able to

considered.

like the lunar eclipse on the 21st will

make connections from your daydreams to the stories you’re writing. Go with the flow and get ready for some unexpected attention.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22nd - Dec 21st

VIRGO

You’ve always enjoyed being pretty

Aug 23rd - Sept 22nd

busy, but this year will put that

Your characters force you to write

up for the challenge and the double

them into more formal settings at

shifts at work provide you the peace of

every turn, but instead of bucking the

mind you need to focus on your

idea, try letting them have their way.

writing when you’re home. Let your

It will get you out of your post-holiday

characters take the lead in the

writing slump in a big way. Even if

storylines too, as they know more of

you don’t post them all, one-shots in

what they want right now. On the 21st,

more creative settings might just lend

a lunar eclipse ushers in a sense of

themselves to the development of an

calm you’ve not had since the middle

original story as well.

of last year. Use it wisely!

mentality to the test. Thankfully, you’re

The Walking Dead Issue

Articles inside

The State of the Fandom: TWD

The Rule 34 Podcast

The Walking Dead: A Guide To The Universe