Monday, January 1, 2024

Winter of Zombie Begins! Books-authors



 I joined this event originated by authors Armand Rosamilia and the late Jay Wilburn way back when Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter first came out. So, it's good to go home again!

All kinds of events, videos and such will be going on all this month - AND you'll have a chance to win a whopping stack of 13 books from the participants. Wow, that's some amazing reading!!

You'll need to be in two groups on Facebook for the events. I'm featured on two days, Jan 6th and the 21st.

Here's the schedule of authors and the daily book videos  that'll be in the Facebook group. Also be sure to join the Reader's Group for author posts each day. Be sure to check them all out to play and learn more about their fantastic zombie books! I've included the featured  books below. 

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Jan. 1st Welcome - See Giveaway

** Be sure to check the Reader's Group each day for the featured post! **


 2nd- Courtney Konstantin and 17th

Prepared, Sundown Series Book 1
3rd- Jessica Gomez and 18th
Infected, The Infected Series Book 1







4th- Scott Baker and 19th







5th- Armand Rosamilia and 20th
The Dead Shall Rise: Zombie Zombie Zombie (Dark Tide Horror Novellas Book 10)








6th- C A Christine Verstraete and 21st
Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter and Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter 2: The Axe Will Fall







7th- Cal Brett and 22nd
Worse than Dead: Survival in the Zombie Apocalypse, Book 1 of 2








8th-
Ben Black and 23rd
Death's Aria , The Black Undeath Series









9th- Gillian Zane and 24th
Run, NOLA Series Book 1 of 5

10th- Baileigh Higgins and 25th
Trial by Fire, Heroes of the Apocalypse, Book 1 of 6








11th- A.M. Geever, Author and 26th
Undead Menagerie, Steel City Apocalypse Book 1 of 2








12th- Naomi Ault and 27th
Chew, Season 1 of 2








13th- Alathia Morgan and 28th
Infected Waters: A Titanic Disaster (Infected History Series Book 1 of 3)







14th- Kate L. Mary and 29th
Broken World, A Post-Apocalyptic Zombie Novel









15th- Erin Louis
The Dead Shall Rise: Zombie ZombZombie (Dark Tide Horror Novellas Book 10)

16th- Recap- post about giveaway

31st- Wrap up post- Winner of giveaway

Wow, what a month! Hope you enjoyed all the posts and found some great new zombie reads!!


Sunday, November 19, 2023

New Mystery-Crime Story Coming!

 (Photo: Pixabay.com)

Happy to say my story, "Wildfire," will be in the anthology, (I Just) Died In Your Arms: Crime Fiction Inspired by One-Hit Wonders, Volume I. Should be coming out in December.

Always loved this sad song, so I tried to give it justice. Thrilled about this.

The stories included will be a treat to read and are fun, too! Definitely some memorable choices. (I love It's Raining Men! and The Rapper always makes me think of a certain time period. I like 96 Tears, too.) 

UPDATE: 

Cover  - Pre-order:  Pre-order here! (If any problems, use main link here.) Paperback only $10! (Note: the link may change so I'll indicate if it has.) * Pre-order now available on Kindle and at Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Kobo - UK, Kobo - US 



Included are: 

Christine Verstraete: Wildfire

Song: “Wildfire” by Michael Martin Murphey (1975)

 

Barb Goffman: Teenage Dirtbag

Song: Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus (2000)

 

Leone Ciporin: Life in a Northern Town

Song: Life in a Northern Town by Dream Academy (1985)

 

Adam Gorgoni: Bitch

Song: Bitch by Meredith Brooks (1997)

 

Bev Vincent: Somebody’s Watching

Song: Somebody’s Watching Me by Rockwell (1984)

 

Wendy Harrison: It’s Raining Men

Song: It’s Raining Men by The Weather Girls (1983)

 

Josh Pachter: The Rapper

Song: The Rapper by The Jaggerz (1970)

 

Sandra Murphy: Pigeon Talk

Song: 867-5309/Jenny) by Tommy Tutone

 

Joseph S. Walker: Come On Eileen

Song: Come On Eileen by Dexys Midnight Runners (1982)

 

Jeanne DuBois: Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye

Song: Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye by Steam

 

Vinnie Hansen: 96 Tears

Song: 96 Tears by Question Mark and the Mysterians (1966)

 

J. M. Taylor: It’s Hard to Die

Song: Seasons in the Sun by Terry Jacks (1974)

Sunday, November 5, 2023

Stephen King's Holly: Review

 Yes, I'm a Stephen King fan, let's say a "Constant Reader," since way back when. The Stand is still a long-time favorite, both in book and the first mini-series/film. 

I loved The Shining, too, so I was happy when the sequel novel, Dr. Sleep came out, which was so much fun to revisit. I have tended to lean more toward his horror novels, but his foray in recent years to mystery/crime, often with tinges of horror, has been equally satisfying.

Now I admit I didn't finish the whole Mr. Mercedes trilogy as I still have one or two I think yet to read. I loved his last book, Fairy Tale, too, though, it was more a strange fantasy but with a gripping storyline. But I couldn't resist this latest book, Holly. With good reason.

Wow. Marvelous. Grisly, yes, but no one like Stephen King can plumb the evils of man in such a fascinating way that makes perfect, if awful, sense. He has really gotten better and better. His last few books, I think maybe since Billy Summers (I'd have to look at the order again) have been superb, with no extra padding/filler as in the past. Even the author's note at the end had some interesting tidbits. I sure hope Holly takes on another case, too.

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Post Apocalyptic Scavenger Hunt!

 


Read for a chance to win great prizes!

POST-APOC BOOK SCAVENGER HUNT 🔥
With 20 different authors, 20 of their hand-picked titles, and a bunch of great prizes to be won!
🤘
Here's how it'll work - each author has a question about their book that only somebody who has read it will be able to answer
---The first 10 readers to answer all 20 questions correctly will each win a prize! 🔥🔥
As a bonus, we're also giving away a brand new Kindle Paperwhite for the grand prize winner!
We want this to be as accessible as possible, so all of the books will be available in KU, and we have prizes available for international readers as well 😁
And don't worry if you haven't read ALL the books yet - we'll start accepting everybody's answers in the first week of March so that everyone has a chance to win!

** Join the Written Apocalypse group on Facebook for info.
To make things easy, I've put together the list with book links for all of our participants, plus the list of questions so that you can play along as you go:
So let's get some new books on our TBR piles and start celebrating the end of the world (on paper) 🥳🥳
LET THE HUNT BEGIN!! ⚔️⚔️

Friday, October 20, 2023

Sweet Dreams on Creepy Podcast -Live!

 
UPDATE: My story, "Sweet Dreams," is now up on the episodes page for the Creepy Podcast.  I think it's the second story. Cool, huh? I can't wait to listen, too! (** It's story 2 at about the 39 minute mark.)

Other Links: 

 Google podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/yqpeye65

 IHeartRadio:   https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-creepy-28544353/episode/day-23-im-trapped-in-126373438/







 I saw the mention on Creepy Podcast's Patreon page, which you can hear now if you're subscribed: My story, Sweet Dreams is the bonus episode, so I'm guessing it's the second story.

I'm guessing it should be up on the episodes page at the Creepy website soon or perhaps tomorrow. I'll update when I know.

31 Days of Horror 2023: Day 21 - I'm Trapped in the Last Hour of Halloween 1993 & Sweet Dreams



Thursday, October 12, 2023

October Frights: Lizzie Borden & Zombies? Excerpt.

WELCOME to another day of OCTOBER FRIGHTS!

And what better day to share zombies, and horror, oh my! Than FRIDAY THE 13TH!!! 

 Get some great horror freebies, read some scary fiction, and all kinds of spooky fun! 

* 10/11:  Spooky reading list and a  bonus giveaway. 


 * Don't forget to check out the 31 Days of Horror on the Creepy Podcast. I'll update when my story, "Sweet Dreams" is scheduled. See website for latest episodes.

* 10/12: Who doesn't like skeletons? See the Skellie Mystery Reading List!

  ** Stop by the participating OCTOBER FRIGHTS blogs and see what they have going on:

Participant List

Today here's an excerpt perfect for Friday the 13th.

Excerpt, Chapter One - Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter by C.A. Verstraete

Q. You saw his face covered with blood?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Did you see his eyeball hanging out?

A. No, sir.

Q. Did you see the gashes where his face was laid open?

A. No, sir.

—Lizzie Borden at inquest, August 9-11, 1892

 

August 4, 1892

   Lizzie Borden drained the rest of her tea, set down her cup, and listened to the sound of furniture moving upstairs. My, my, for only ten o’clock in the morning my stepmother is certainly energetic. Housecleaning, already?

   THUMP.

   For a moment, Lizzie forgot her plans to go shopping downtown. THUMP. There it went again. It sounded like her stepmother was rearranging the whole room. She paused at the bottom stair, her concern growing, when she heard another thump and then, the oddest of sounds—a moan. Uh-oh. What was that? Did she hurt herself?

   “Mrs. Borden?” Lizzie called. “Are you all right?”

   No answer.

   She wondered if her stepmother had taken ill, yet the shuffling, moving, and other unusual noises continued. Lizzie hurried up the stairs and paused outside the partially opened door. The strange moans coming from the room sent a shiver up her back.

   When she pushed the door open wider, all she could do was stare. Mrs. Abby Durfee Borden stood in front of the bureau mirror clawing at her reflected image. And what a horrid image it was! The sixty-seven-year-old woman’s hair looked like it had never been combed and stuck out like porcupine quills. Her usually spotless housedress appeared wrinkled and torn. Yet, that wasn’t the worst. Dark red spots—blood, Lizzie’s mind whispered—dotted the floor and streaked the sides, of the older woman’s dress and sleeves.

   Lizzie gazed about the room in alarm. The tips of Father’s slippers peeking out from beneath the bed also glistened with the same viscous red liquid. All that blood! What happened here? What happened?

   She gasped, which got the attention of Mrs. Borden, who jerked her head and growled. Lizzie choked back a cry of alarm. Abby’s square, plain face now appeared twisted and ashen gray. Her eyes, once bright with interest, stared from under a milky covering as if she had cataracts. She resembled a female version of The Portrait of Dorian Gray. Another growl and a moan, and the older woman lunged, arms rigid, her stubby hands held out like claws.

   “Mrs. Borden, Abby!” Lizzie yelled and stumbled backward as fast as she could. “Abby, do you hear me?”

   Her stepmother shuffled forward, her steps slow but steady. She showed no emotion or sense of recognition. The only utterances she made were those strange low moans.

   Lizzie moved back even further, trying to keep out of reach of Mrs. Borden’s grasping fingers. Then her foot hit something. Lizzie quickly glanced down at the silver hairbrush that had fallen to the floor. Too late, she realized her error.

   “No!” Lizzie shivered at the feel of her stepmother’s clammy, cold hand around her wrist. “Abby, what happened? What’s wrong with you?”

 * Get more details at https://www.cverstraete.com/lizzie-borden-zombie-hunter.html

 💀******* BONUS: Limited Time Halloween Sale! *********💀

Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter & Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter 2: The Axe Will Fall.

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Check out these sites also:

October Frights Book Fair: https://afstewart.ca/october-frights-book-fair/

October Frights Giveaway: https://storyoriginapp.com/to/fPAZCcZ

* Thanks for stopping by this week! Stay tuned for more posts and Halloween fun! *