It’s a Wednesday morning at the Dundee neighborhood jaunt Blue Line Coffee. David’s smiling and lively demeanor is welcomed at a somewhat early hour. He stands out as awake as the other zombie-like customers brace for their morning brew.
“I’m just determined,” Murphy said, telling the story of his journey from concept to the published Zombies For Zombies: Advice and Etiquette for the Living Dead. “In late December 2007 I turned in a 60-page proposal that outlined marketing and target demographics. It included my bio and sample chapters.
“After the proposal, I just kept writing, started churning out pages. It’s just writing – you gotta do it.”
Zombies For Zombies is a humorous and delightful guide for the living dead. Murphy’s tongue-and-cheek humor and never dull source of everything from a zombie’s diet, wardrobe, sex life, to spiritual growth.
“The government doesn’t handle disaster’s well,” Murphy said. “Like that whole Katrina thing (laughs). Post lifers would still be good consumers – they would still just buy stuff.”
Two Categories of Zombie’s in Pop Culture
“There are two categories,” Murphy said. “The real thing and dumb. I like me some dumb. The first aliens in movies were a thrill ride. The most horrific is the acting and dialogue. Plan 9 From Outer Space is a piece of crap! District 9, I just loved that movie.”
Lives for Making Music
A touring musician for over 25-years, Murphy’s other hat is writing songs and playing the piano. He grew up during the Beatles emergence and “globbed onto” Burt Bacharach, Jimmy Webb and James Taylor. Murphy also named jazz greats Herbie Hancock, Steely Dan, John Coltrane and Keith Jarrett as favorites.
He’s also completed writing a musical. “Talk about big, want to hurt your brain,” Murphy said. “Write a musical.”
The musical, anotherwhere, is also based on the book by Murphy’s friend and agent, Laurie Fox. The show is described as a “contemporary fairy tale for adults—a witty and triste fable about finding, then losing, one’s true love.” Murphy is credited with music and lyrics.
“I’m very goal driven,” Murphy said. “I can be obsessive compulsive. It got to a point where if I had to take a day off I would miss it. Every day I would just immerse myself.”
What's Next for Murphy?
Teaming up with close friend and radio legend, Dave Wingert, the pair will present a cabaret-style show at Rick's Boatyard Cafe. And, Murphy has left the door open to re-visit zombies. "It's apparent at the end of the book that it's already showing that it's not going to work, the virus mutated. It's all coming apart at the seems, leaving the door open for something even more stupid."
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