Blindsided…the IronE autobiography revealed

When IronE Singleton, a man most of you would recognize either as Alton in The Blind Side or as T-Dog from The Walking Dead, asked me to co-write his autobiography I was happy to jump in and help the man I knew—someone I called friend and thought I understood so well.

But then the writing process took me on a journey I didn’t quite anticipate.

From broken down Atlanta neighborhoods to the University of Georgia, from wildly uncomfortable interviews with family members who have embraced the thug life to heart breaking recollections of those who have passed, I learned the whole truth about a remarkable man. He should’ve been a statistic. Instead, despite his horrible early mistakes, he put his faith in God and found a way to rise above. He became an accomplished father, actor and man.

In many ways I think that through this project, with the Singleton family’s openness and love throughout, IronE was ultimately more help to my spirit than I was to his writing.

I’m very excited to announce that IronE’s autobiography …

Blindsided by the Walking Dead:

From surviving the streets to slaying the geeks

Is now available for pre-order!!

You can pick up a copy by clicking on the link above.

Here’s a little bit of what you’ll find inside its’ pages:

On the streets of Atlanta, the fight to survive is a daily battle.

From the drug-infested corners of one of the city’s worst housing projects, to alleyways filled with ravenous zombies– Blindsided by the Walking Dead examines one man’s battle to overcome the violence, drugs, and crime of the ‘hood; starting with a young IronE Singleton determined to succeed despite an abusive mother, an absent father, and the temptations of instant gratification inherent with the thug life.

Football and Faith in God become IronE’s allies in his quest to escape and help him reach for the lights of the University of Georgia’s football field and theater stages.

After years of struggle–failed businesses, small roles, and an ill-fated trip to Los Angeles–IronE snags his major breakthrough role, playing the kind of drug-dealing, gun-toting thug he would have become on the streets, in The Blind Side.

When he is cast as T-Dog on AMC’s international mega-hit “The Walking Dead”, IronE examines through art what humanity is about and what it means to truly survive against all odds. Alongside cast mates Michael Rooker, Norman Reedus, Jeffrey DeMunn, and Andrew Lincoln, IronE fought, gagged, and sweat his way into the hearts and minds of millions around the world.

Undead Uncensored – the Cover Reveal

It’s been a long time coming — but I am delighted to participate in the blog reveal for my latest writing project with the Zombie Survival Crew! It’s a great collection I’m proud to be a part of!

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From the mobile unit of ZSC Commander-in-Chief Juliette Terzieff:

After months of anticipation the day has finally come when we can release the cover art for Undead Uncensored, the second Zombie Survival Crew anthology. This year’s anthology is a vibrant collection of short fiction, poetry and non-fiction pieces designed to help you get your zombie freak on and prepare for what we might all face if the zombipocalypse hits!

Undead Uncensored features the work of yours truly alongside other ZSC Commanders actor Michael Rooker, award winning author LK Gardner-Griffie, and authors Jinxie G, R.C. Murphy and Amy Sundberg. ZSC crew members including Wendy Sparrow, Jessica Capelle, Robin Sellman, Amber Revelt, Stephanie Allen, Christopher De Voss and many others contributed their artistic endeavors to this creeptastic collection!!

Undead Uncensored is already available for pre-order here and orders will begin shipping on December 1, 2012.

Now without further ado… (yes, you can stop holding your breath now)

The cover for Undead Uncensored:


Breaking the Chief: Piggies Under Attack

People often remark I look tired, stressed, overworked…scattered. I try to tell them it isn’t my fault! Yes, I work hard, don’t sleep enough and have waaaay too much to do…but what really gets me? Is the universe’s craptastically odd sense of humor. I submit my evidence for the day.

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In the last year and a half I have been attacked by Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, a duo of grabby-feely aliens who strolled into a Marriot hotel bar, a vampire in a top hat and a group of over-enthusiastic Jedi Knights that were hell-bent on presenting me with a light saber. I’ve even weathered a duct tape attack by Michael Rooker, a katana swipe by Anthony Guajardo and a chokehold by Norman Reedus…but I guess I asked for those. People who spend enough time around me almost always feel compelled to head to the nearest store for duct tape. Don’t ask.

Yes, my life as the Commander in Chief of the Zombie Survival Crew definitely has its’ moments. When the adventures do not include possible threats to my physical well-being I actually quite enjoy them.

And seeing as I’ve survived thus far…they all get filed away in the “funny little stories” department at Zombie Survival Crew Command. Usually to be pulled out by other commanders (*points at LK Gardner-Griffie*) at the precise moment when they’re likely to cause me the most chagrin.

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But being the Chief also has its perks, or so I thought as I surveyed the gathering at IronE Singleton’s house this past weekend for the Season 3 premiere of AMC’s mega-hit The Walking Dead. I mean, T-Dog was in the house!!!!! Literally! And they had red, black and gray-colored M&Ms in a serving bowl with skeleton-hand handles—it doesn’t get any better than that! Although the deviled eggs covered in paprika and some funky onion thing I couldn’t identify were so flippin’ tasty I did hang just a tad too close, for too long, to the serving area to be decent. Right. Not creepy at all. Anyway…

The best part was watching the premiere with a group of people who obviously love the show as much as I do. It made a very nice change from my normal routine—which involves me, in my bed, under the blankets, cringing, shouting like a maniac at the TV at regular intervals…and hoping the neighbors don’t decide to call the police. The assembly screamed encouragement as T-Dog put a fire poker through a walker’s face, cringed as the survivor group fought its’ way into the prison, gagged and choked as Hershel underwent an impromptu operation and roared with approval when the final scene ended.

The Walking Dead not only delivered, the show hit it so far out of the park it’ll be well into 2013 before anyone can even think of recovering that ball!

And that’s when it all went south…

You see they had this cool photo shoot area set up where people were taking pictures with IronE and Michael Rooker, who had shown up to turn the party on its ear with his fantastic running commentary during the premiere. I figured this was my chance to get a nice professional-type photo with two men I admire as actors and adore as people.

But Michael decided he wasn’t happy with our outfits and proceeded to make some changes. During the melee that ensued, IronE got to keep his shoes, but I lost mine and my carefully coiffed hairdo went the way of the dodo. My picture ended up being comprised of one giggling thespian, a bad ass and someone who looks like she fell off the back of a potato truck! You know? If you sing that refrain to the tune of the 12 Days of Christmas, it kind of works. Just sayin’….

Until next time…carry anti-bacterial hand soap, avoid sidewalk creatures and never get near a video camera if I’m in the vicinity.

Breaking the Chief: How I peed on my McNuggets

People often remark I look tired, stressed, overworked…scattered. I try to tell them it isn’t my fault! Yes, I work hard, don’t sleep enough and have waaaay too much to do…but what really gets me? Is the universe’s craptastically odd sense of humor. I submit my evidence for the day.

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All I wanted to do was leave a voicemail. About a picture. I swear. And somehow, thanks to my beloved Twitter friends, I apparently ended up peeing on my McNuggets today.

Allow me to explain.

I was attempting to go through my local McDonald’s drive-thru when my cell rang and it was a Rooker. Yah know, that badass Merle. So, being the smart cookie that I am, I peeled out of the drive thru lane, cut off a couple pedestrians and sped into a parking spot so I could give him my undivided attention. Note: You always want to give Rooker your undivided attention or you risk walking head first into his quirky sense of humor and getting a zinger tossed at your ear.

A few minutes later –mission accomplished (sort of), I resumed my effort to grab a quick lunch. Being the multi-tasking fool that I am, I figured while I was waiting in line I’d call The Magician and ask her to dig up this image we need.

After a couple of rings, her voicemail picked up, and my message went a little something like this (cue Devil Went Down to Georgia devil fiddling solo):

“Hey, I don’t know if you can do it, but if you have a chance sometime before tomorrow morning can you dig up a picture of….Good afternoon! I’ll have a Big Mac extra value meal with an unsweetened iced tea….McNuggets? …No. A, Big, Mac, value, meal…of him with the pistol. I’ve got other images but this one would work better to anchor the banner at…Yes, that’s correct. Iced, Tea. …What was I saying? Right. The image. God this is the weirdest voicemail ever. I hope you know what I’m talking about, and at least there’s monopoly pieces involved.”

Thankfully The Magician was able to decipher my babbling voicemail and proceeded to work her skills.

In the meantime, I commented on Twitter that she’d likely slap me silly the next time we met.

This amused some of my followers and led to the following exchange:

@jterzieff HAHA! “I’ll have a Big Mac Extra Value Meal…” “Should I be writing this down?”

LOL!!! Definitely! and no nuggets RT @MickMuise: @jterzieff HAHA! “I’ll have a Big Mac Extra Value Meal…” “Should I be writing this down?”

@jterzieff @MickMuise Video, please. 😉

Only if you’re interested in seeing my practically pee with laughter …ewwww RT @JadeSun12: @jterzieff @MickMuise Video, please. 😉

*spits iced tea all over computer* RT @JadeSun12: @jterzieff @MickMuise Not at all. I think I peed. #regretnothing

@mountaingirlvt @jterzieff @JadeSun12 @MickMuise no idea what’s going on but certain this is one of those “the less u know the happier you’ll be situations”

@mountaingirlvt @jterzieff @MickMuise I’m not sure myself. Something about Mick slapping Juliette until she peed on her McNuggets… ?

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At this point, to be honest, if I HAD any McNuggets I probably would have peed on them.

Instead I chortled and snorted just a little, and proceeded to resume sending a text to another Walking Dead actor about a different set of pictures. I intended to type “this week is kicking my butt” …autocorrect saw fit to change kicking to “licking”

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is pretty much an average hour in my life…..

Until next time…carry anti-bacterial hand soap, avoid sidewalk creatures and never, ever get near a video camera if I’m in the vicinity.