R.S. Merritt's Blog, page 4
September 23, 2020
Crawlerz : Slow Rolling the Apocalypse
What if the apocalypse started on a bright sunny morning a hundred thousand miles away in a country most Americans only know exists because of the pyramids? You're enjoying your daily bowl of cheerios with some Fruit Loops dumped on top for color and make the mistake of turning on the news just in time to see a bunch of badness in a sand covered city on the other side of the planet.
Over the coming weeks it spreads out over Europe and Africa. The majority of people in the USA are only mildly concerned it'll make it over here. Only mildly concerned until the government starts taking action and supplies start running low. Riots and death before the demonic looking infected even make it over the pond.
It changes a lot of the dynamic for this type of story. The stores are picked clean before anyone has seen a zombie anyplace besides YouTube. State lines are secured by the national guard and the government seemingly has it under control. Until they don't. How does that beginning play out?
Join up with a diverse trio of adoptees as they experience firsthand what happens when the crawlerz finally scurry across the border.
Paperback out any day now and on Kindle starting Oct 1st!
https://www.amazon.com/Crawlerz-Book-...
Enjoy!
Red Sky in the Morning
R.S. Merritt
Over the coming weeks it spreads out over Europe and Africa. The majority of people in the USA are only mildly concerned it'll make it over here. Only mildly concerned until the government starts taking action and supplies start running low. Riots and death before the demonic looking infected even make it over the pond.
It changes a lot of the dynamic for this type of story. The stores are picked clean before anyone has seen a zombie anyplace besides YouTube. State lines are secured by the national guard and the government seemingly has it under control. Until they don't. How does that beginning play out?
Join up with a diverse trio of adoptees as they experience firsthand what happens when the crawlerz finally scurry across the border.
Paperback out any day now and on Kindle starting Oct 1st!
https://www.amazon.com/Crawlerz-Book-...
Enjoy!
Red Sky in the Morning
R.S. Merritt
May 8, 2020
Zombies! Book 6 Is Live on Amazon!
Book 6 of the Zombies series is LIVE on Amazon. What an amazing journey it's been getting this one over the finish line. Thank you so much for all the positive feedback I've received on the previous books. I'm really looking forward to hearing what you think of this new one! It kind of started going in a different direction on me. I went with it like always but those twisting paths can lead to some serious weirdness.
I hope you enjoy!
https://www.amazon.com/Zombies-Book-6...
I'm also a huge fan of the new cover by Harry Lamb!
I hope you enjoy!
https://www.amazon.com/Zombies-Book-6...
I'm also a huge fan of the new cover by Harry Lamb!
January 25, 2020
Zombies! Book 5 Is Available Now on Pre-Order!
Available now for Pre Order!
Kyler orbits more closely around Randy and Kelly's world as the chase heats up to find the fugitives and bring them to the senator for vengeance. New territories are opened and the world continues to expand. Loyalties are built and destroyed as everyone struggles to beat their way through this new normal. Climb in and buckle up while we keep hydro-sliding backwards at a hundred miles per hour through the Zombie apocalypse.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0845RNWV2/...
Enjoy!!!
Kyler orbits more closely around Randy and Kelly's world as the chase heats up to find the fugitives and bring them to the senator for vengeance. New territories are opened and the world continues to expand. Loyalties are built and destroyed as everyone struggles to beat their way through this new normal. Climb in and buckle up while we keep hydro-sliding backwards at a hundred miles per hour through the Zombie apocalypse.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0845RNWV2/...
Enjoy!!!
December 10, 2019
Zombies! Book 4 Release Date December 14th
The newest addition to the Zombies! series is on sale now:
https://www.amazon.com/Zombies-Book-4...
Check out the first 3 if you're new:
Available on Audible as well!
https://www.amazon.com/Zombies-Book-4...
Check out the first 3 if you're new:
Available on Audible as well!
December 27, 2018
Zombies! A Small World
It's off! The newest book in my newest series is now edited and ready to be released into the wild on Jan 1st. I'm excited to get it out there and share the story. I loved how the characters in this book developed. They've all become super-real to me now to the point where I'm really getting nervous about how they're going to cope in Book 2 (Due out in Late March!)
The first book revolves around three main groups of people trying to make it through the first weeks of a Zombie apocalypse. A grandmother who suddenly has to care for four young kids and try to keep them alive, a young boy scout and his dead dads alcoholic friend and a couple off for a romantic getaway on a remote New England island.
What do do when your iPhone stops working? Who takes over when the government is gone? Who gets to define right and wrong in the new normal? I love wrestling with those kinds of questions and think that's why I'm so drawn to this genre. If you get a chance to check it out I hope you enjoy it! It's scheduled for pre-release on Amazon in Kindle format on Jan 1st and can be purchased now. Soft cover to follow shortly.
https://www.amazon.com/Zombies-Small-...
If you're looking for more to read now check out my other Zombie Survival Series :
The Zournal!
The first book revolves around three main groups of people trying to make it through the first weeks of a Zombie apocalypse. A grandmother who suddenly has to care for four young kids and try to keep them alive, a young boy scout and his dead dads alcoholic friend and a couple off for a romantic getaway on a remote New England island.
What do do when your iPhone stops working? Who takes over when the government is gone? Who gets to define right and wrong in the new normal? I love wrestling with those kinds of questions and think that's why I'm so drawn to this genre. If you get a chance to check it out I hope you enjoy it! It's scheduled for pre-release on Amazon in Kindle format on Jan 1st and can be purchased now. Soft cover to follow shortly.
https://www.amazon.com/Zombies-Small-...
If you're looking for more to read now check out my other Zombie Survival Series :
The Zournal!
December 4, 2018
How is it Christmas Again Already?
We have two large trees in our house. This time they're both fake. We had an incident with bugs in the tree we drove down from the North Carolina mountains to our home in Florida one year. I think that one was about 10 feet tall. It turned out our roof was about 9 foot tall. Good thing we drove that monster that far. Every time I went to turn it felt like the whole truck was about to go over. Between the bugs and the constant fear of death while driving and almost putting a hole in our ceiling we've gone fake.
My littlest girl is wanting make-up now. The oldest girl can drive her to get it if she wants. My youngest son has gone from diapers and play mats to being completely fascinated by the avengers. "Cap'n Merica!"
It's funny and sad to look back over the years. To see how they've grown. The challenges your children have faced and overcome. The challenges you've faced and overcome yourself. Watching your wife bolt upright in bed because she forgot to 'Move the Elf'. Being dragged around the house to find the Elf in the morning by excited children.
I don't really remember the presents everyone got so much. As a dad I rightfully end up with a tie and a coffee mug. I've gone from being that kid to being the dad. My presents are the looks on their faces. My presents are being dragged out of bed to look for the elf. I take pictures all the time now. I love the picture apps that show you what happened on that day multiple years back. I check out every day. I try to close my eyes and remember what it felt like to kiss my wife the first time outside of Applebees.
The first time my son walked or daughter talked. All those memories. All that love and excitement and youth and vigor. All that hope for the future. Everyone looks to the future when they're young. The older you get the more you look towards the past and realize you shouldn't have rushed so much. You should've slowed down a bit and enjoyed it. What I wouldn't give to go back now and have my grandfather teach me how to drive again.
Merry Christmas to all! Enjoy the hell out of it and don't let a precious second slip by!
And now for a little self-promotion after that random blog outburst!
or if you're more into YA Fantasy / Sci Fi Check out this trilogy:
My littlest girl is wanting make-up now. The oldest girl can drive her to get it if she wants. My youngest son has gone from diapers and play mats to being completely fascinated by the avengers. "Cap'n Merica!"
It's funny and sad to look back over the years. To see how they've grown. The challenges your children have faced and overcome. The challenges you've faced and overcome yourself. Watching your wife bolt upright in bed because she forgot to 'Move the Elf'. Being dragged around the house to find the Elf in the morning by excited children.
I don't really remember the presents everyone got so much. As a dad I rightfully end up with a tie and a coffee mug. I've gone from being that kid to being the dad. My presents are the looks on their faces. My presents are being dragged out of bed to look for the elf. I take pictures all the time now. I love the picture apps that show you what happened on that day multiple years back. I check out every day. I try to close my eyes and remember what it felt like to kiss my wife the first time outside of Applebees.
The first time my son walked or daughter talked. All those memories. All that love and excitement and youth and vigor. All that hope for the future. Everyone looks to the future when they're young. The older you get the more you look towards the past and realize you shouldn't have rushed so much. You should've slowed down a bit and enjoyed it. What I wouldn't give to go back now and have my grandfather teach me how to drive again.
Merry Christmas to all! Enjoy the hell out of it and don't let a precious second slip by!
And now for a little self-promotion after that random blog outburst!
or if you're more into YA Fantasy / Sci Fi Check out this trilogy:
October 28, 2018
StarShip Troopers
Starship Troopers by Robert A. HeinleinMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Love this book. I was talking about it with my brother last night because he brought up an organization he's doing work for that looks to fund candidates who are community service oriented. One of their goals is to have half the House and Senate be veterans by 2020. I said i thought that was a great idea and that I thought we should go even further and demand all public servants have some sort of military service to achieve a high office. He disagreed and said it takes all types to be a leader and some fit in different ways and bring different things to the table. Keep in mind that we're both veterans with him having been an officer in the USMC and myself in the Navy from a long line of men and women who have served. He's never read the book so he's downloading it and then we can talk about it again after he's gone through it. I really love books that are written as a fun adventure story but have all these deep nuances when you dig into them. I like this one and the Empire by Orson Scott for the same kind of writing although it's a lot more overt in that novel.
View all my reviews
August 18, 2018
Ever Seen a Ghost?
I started a thread in another group to discuss this as well. I'm curious if anyone else has seen a ghost because I know I have. Please leave comments if you have!
Here's my story.
When I was a kid in the third grade I lived on an island off the coast of Rhode Island. The island is called Block Island for those of you who may be familiar with that area. The island sits about 13 miles off the coast of Rhode Island and is accessible by either ferry or plane. I've taken both in rough weather and they can make the staunchest atheist pray right along with everyone else.
Back to when I was a kid. I lived in the lighthouse for awhile then we moved into the home that is on the same property as the lighthouse. The lighthouse is actually made up of two living areas so that two families can live there with the actual tower being attached as well. All of this sits on bluffs that erode more every year. They actually had house movers take it and move it back a hundred yards about ten years ago. The lighthouse was built in 1867 or so.
As a kid fresh fruit was a pretty big deal. We drank powdered milk all the time because there wasn't a bunch of cows wandering around the island waiting to be milked so mile was pricey. My dad was in the USCG which is how we ended up living there in the first place. Our neighbors in the lighthouse had gone to the mainland the day before and brought back a bunch of plums. I loved plums but rarely had them since we took the ferry for groceries only about once a month.
My mom let me know the neighbors had said I should go over and have some if I wanted them. The plums were stored in the attic in a big refrigerator that'd been put up there to keep overflow food fresh. Again, you didn't get much fresh food out there so you wanted to be able to keep as much of it fresh as you could. I went over and they pointed me up to the attic and I started walking up the stairs. There were a few levels to trudge up first.
At the bottom of the stairs leading up into the attic I remember hesitating for a second because something felt off. My desire for a fresh plum overrode the tingling sensation of fear though and I started walking up the stairs. The stairs were a straight shot up to the attic. About halfway up the stairs my body turned to ice. I was freezing inside and out. Like I'd been thrown into outer space without a suit. Frozen with fear and physically frozen. I knew something was looking down at me. I didn't wan to look up and see it but I couldn't just stand in the middle of the stairs indefinitely. Plus, whatever it was I felt like it was moving towards me.
I broke out of the trance and stared straight up. There was a translucent apparition in the shape of a human staring at me. The eyes were cold and there was no soul. I saw it was coming towards me. I ran down the stairs, skipping 3 or 4 at a time. The door slammed shut at the bottom. I hit the door full force with my hands outstretched and knocked it off the hinges.
Myself and the door went flying into the hallway at the bottom. As soon as I'd gone through the door the fear had started slipping away. By the time the neighbors had come up to see what was going on the fear had dissipated completely. It had felt like it was literally melting out of me. I don't remember much more than that except I never went back in the attic.
The neighbors were freaked out about the attic for awhile as well after I told them what I'd seen. They were eventually able to move and the new people never had any issues.
You can check out the lighthouse here at this webpage:
http://www.blockislandinfo.com/island...
R.S. Merritt is the author of the Zournal Series and the Son of the Keeper Series. Both are available now on Amazon.
The Zournal
The Son of the Keeper
Here's my story.
When I was a kid in the third grade I lived on an island off the coast of Rhode Island. The island is called Block Island for those of you who may be familiar with that area. The island sits about 13 miles off the coast of Rhode Island and is accessible by either ferry or plane. I've taken both in rough weather and they can make the staunchest atheist pray right along with everyone else.
Back to when I was a kid. I lived in the lighthouse for awhile then we moved into the home that is on the same property as the lighthouse. The lighthouse is actually made up of two living areas so that two families can live there with the actual tower being attached as well. All of this sits on bluffs that erode more every year. They actually had house movers take it and move it back a hundred yards about ten years ago. The lighthouse was built in 1867 or so.
As a kid fresh fruit was a pretty big deal. We drank powdered milk all the time because there wasn't a bunch of cows wandering around the island waiting to be milked so mile was pricey. My dad was in the USCG which is how we ended up living there in the first place. Our neighbors in the lighthouse had gone to the mainland the day before and brought back a bunch of plums. I loved plums but rarely had them since we took the ferry for groceries only about once a month.
My mom let me know the neighbors had said I should go over and have some if I wanted them. The plums were stored in the attic in a big refrigerator that'd been put up there to keep overflow food fresh. Again, you didn't get much fresh food out there so you wanted to be able to keep as much of it fresh as you could. I went over and they pointed me up to the attic and I started walking up the stairs. There were a few levels to trudge up first.
At the bottom of the stairs leading up into the attic I remember hesitating for a second because something felt off. My desire for a fresh plum overrode the tingling sensation of fear though and I started walking up the stairs. The stairs were a straight shot up to the attic. About halfway up the stairs my body turned to ice. I was freezing inside and out. Like I'd been thrown into outer space without a suit. Frozen with fear and physically frozen. I knew something was looking down at me. I didn't wan to look up and see it but I couldn't just stand in the middle of the stairs indefinitely. Plus, whatever it was I felt like it was moving towards me.
I broke out of the trance and stared straight up. There was a translucent apparition in the shape of a human staring at me. The eyes were cold and there was no soul. I saw it was coming towards me. I ran down the stairs, skipping 3 or 4 at a time. The door slammed shut at the bottom. I hit the door full force with my hands outstretched and knocked it off the hinges.
Myself and the door went flying into the hallway at the bottom. As soon as I'd gone through the door the fear had started slipping away. By the time the neighbors had come up to see what was going on the fear had dissipated completely. It had felt like it was literally melting out of me. I don't remember much more than that except I never went back in the attic.
The neighbors were freaked out about the attic for awhile as well after I told them what I'd seen. They were eventually able to move and the new people never had any issues.
You can check out the lighthouse here at this webpage:
http://www.blockislandinfo.com/island...
R.S. Merritt is the author of the Zournal Series and the Son of the Keeper Series. Both are available now on Amazon.
The Zournal
The Son of the Keeper
August 11, 2018
The Trilogy is Complete
Excited to release the third and final book in the Son of the Keeper Trilogy. It's now up and available on Amazon and has imported over to Goodreads as well. All three of the books are available on Kindle Unlimited or for purchase on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
I loved writing this series. It let me explore the definitions of magic and think about where does magic actually come from? I enjoyed learning about it as the adventures unfolded and think that in the end it all wraps up in a very powerful way.
If you get the chance to check it out I hope you enjoy it! I'm off to the next adventure that's been percolating in my head. I can see a scout troop canoeing in Maine unaware that something has happened to the rest of the world while they've been out in the middle of nowhere...
Son of the Keeper Trilogy:
The Zournal Series:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
I loved writing this series. It let me explore the definitions of magic and think about where does magic actually come from? I enjoyed learning about it as the adventures unfolded and think that in the end it all wraps up in a very powerful way.
If you get the chance to check it out I hope you enjoy it! I'm off to the next adventure that's been percolating in my head. I can see a scout troop canoeing in Maine unaware that something has happened to the rest of the world while they've been out in the middle of nowhere...
Son of the Keeper Trilogy:
The Zournal Series:
June 4, 2018
Play With Me
I ran into a question the other day that threw me off the normal course of my day. Time will tell just how life altering this epiphany really was but I hope to keep it close to my heart as long as I can
The question was a common one. "If you could have any superpower what would it be?" For some reason it triggered me to think of my kid asking me to play with him. Clutching a handful of Paw Patrol toys and stumbling around after me.
The superpower I want is to be able to go back and experience times like that again. I know soon enough the toys will be set aside. He has 4 older siblings so I've lived through the heartbreak of their growing up already. It sucks. The day you realize they're not going to ask you to play with them anymore. The day they don't care about going to the park and screaming for you to push them on the swings.
All of a sudden you realize those are the things you'll miss more than anything. You won't miss not doing the chores you had to do. You won't miss not getting a report turned in on time for work. You won't miss a favorite TV show or anything like that. You'll miss that all unconditional love. That adoration you get from the hero worship of a child. You are their everything and the older you get the more you realize they were yours too.
Don't miss a second of it. Sacrifice the stuff that doesn't matter to rack up more playtime. If you do get radiated and struck by kryptonite at the same time and end up with the ability to experience things over and over again I guarantee that anyone who's ever been a parent will spend many an hour simply revisiting pushing their kids on the swings and hearing those beautiful squeals of joy.
I know I would.
Happy Upcoming Fathers Day!
The question was a common one. "If you could have any superpower what would it be?" For some reason it triggered me to think of my kid asking me to play with him. Clutching a handful of Paw Patrol toys and stumbling around after me.
The superpower I want is to be able to go back and experience times like that again. I know soon enough the toys will be set aside. He has 4 older siblings so I've lived through the heartbreak of their growing up already. It sucks. The day you realize they're not going to ask you to play with them anymore. The day they don't care about going to the park and screaming for you to push them on the swings.
All of a sudden you realize those are the things you'll miss more than anything. You won't miss not doing the chores you had to do. You won't miss not getting a report turned in on time for work. You won't miss a favorite TV show or anything like that. You'll miss that all unconditional love. That adoration you get from the hero worship of a child. You are their everything and the older you get the more you realize they were yours too.
Don't miss a second of it. Sacrifice the stuff that doesn't matter to rack up more playtime. If you do get radiated and struck by kryptonite at the same time and end up with the ability to experience things over and over again I guarantee that anyone who's ever been a parent will spend many an hour simply revisiting pushing their kids on the swings and hearing those beautiful squeals of joy.
I know I would.
Happy Upcoming Fathers Day!
