When democracy dies, the dead rise. Founding DEAD turns the Zombie Genre upside down.

Founding DEAD -When democracy dies, the dead rise, is one of those rare books that will open your eyes to new possibilities for hope and compassion. And yes, I’m talking to every liberal, conservative, and MAGA voter in the USA. Everyone should read this book. It's a new perspective.

The book is like the grandchild of The Wizard of Oz and It Can't Happen Here.

Author Diane Lilli said she was feeling lost in the reality of a divided America, plus the violent tactics of ICE and ongoing violations of the Constitution over the past year. So she did the only thing she knew how to do: she wrote a book.

“In March 2025, I actually stood over Benjamin Franklin’s grave in Philadelphia, which is cracked on the surface, and had tears in my eyes. That’s when my idea for Founding DEAD came to me, instantly,” she said. “I knew I had to write this book, and tell a new kind of story, since fiction can make people from every walk of life, including politics, have a powerful aha moment. So, I brought back three American founding fathers from the dead. And I set them loose!”



Lilli’s writing is sharp and darkly imaginative. Her Zombie tale is a new take on the genre, one that resurrects the myths of American history. There’s plenty of action, and some of the scenes are hilarious, as the Zombies deal with their undead bodies, what their body parts can and cannot do, and more. The founders often speak from their own historic words, and it's uncanny how they address the political reality of America in 2026.

Blending political satire, speculative fiction, and the real-time division in the US, Founding DEAD asks a provocative question: What if the architects of the American experiment refused to stay buried? In this audacious reanimation of the nation’s past, the Founding Fathers return not as marble icons, but as flesh-and-blood figures forced to confront the country their ideals helped shape.

The plot is fast, irreverent, and agile. It’s filled with all the nooks, crannies, and beloved characters of Philly. Lilli balances biting humor and social media with pointed cultural commentary, examining power, legacy, democracy, and the distortions of hero worship.

By pulling revered figures out of textbooks, using many of their own quotes, and pitting them against today's most divisive political events and chaos, Founding DEAD explores how narratives are often weaponized, and what it really means to protect a Republic/Democracy.

Best of all, the Zombie story is nothing like any other you’ve read. It put a giant smile on my face. Be forewarned, just like our current reality, there are some dark chapters.

There are some great social media storylines here, like the Zomance (zombie-inspired love) and the Undead dance on TikTok.

Founding Dead is available in paperback wherever books are sold, and in eBook format on Apple, Amazon Kindle, etc.

Click here to purchase on Amazon.