Misty Zaugg's Blog - Posts Tagged "99c"

Hi friends,

Steph and I are so excited to announce Deadly Lockdown is now available and 99c for a short time to thank our readers for their support. Grab a copy before it goes back up to $2.99.



Deadly Lockdown by Misty Zaugg & Stephanie Mylchreest
$0.99 Special!

A deadly illness. Panicked lockdown. And two sisters who’ll stop at nothing to save each other.

The second wave of the Siberian Flu catches the country completely unprepared. Instead of killing the old and frail, the young and healthy are dropping . . . in hours, not days.

Now it’s a race to survive. Kate, a new doctor, has to fight through a city turning deadlier by the second and traverse a chaotic country to save her younger sister, Alisa.

Back in their small home-town, she’s fighting a conspiracy even deadlier than the pandemic.

As an invisible killer spreads like wildfire, society breaks down with astonishing speed. Refusing to succumb to the chaos, the sisters dig deep for strength, rely on new friends, and overcome deadly obstacles to save each other.

(NOTE: This book was written in 2019 and finished before the current pandemic.)

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Books 2 and 3 are going through final edits and are set to release this summer.

A few kind readers have already posted some awesome reviews. Any of you speedy readers who could spare a minute or two to add your reviews, too, would be much appreciated! You're the best!

We'd love to hear what you think of the new series! :D

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Misty's Writing Update:

Thanks for all the feedback about fantasy races for my new series. The consensus seems to be that the familiar lineup of elves, dwarves, orcs, etc., is something fantasy readers enjoy a lot, but adding a creative twist to them and possibly another race or two would be icing on the cake.

This week, I'll be spreading my papers across the kitchen table and enlisting my teenage boys to help with the brainstorming. I'll try to get a pic to share with you next week of the process. :)

Feel free to chime in with any interesting twist ideas you might have on the traditional fantasy races, and I just might include them! :D

Let me know!

Happy reading this week!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Hi friends,

Big day today!

If you missed out last week, Deadly Lockdown is still 99c right now before we bump it back up to $2.99.

. . . AND Searching for Resistance, Aftermath Book #5 just came out today! :D



Deadly Lockdown by Misty Zaugg & Stephanie Mylchreest
$0.99 Special Today!

Thanks to all of you who posted a review! Keep them coming!

Scott: "Thrilling and suspenseful story! This is a strong series opener, good character development and action mixed with lifelike scenarios make for an exciting read."

Barbara: "An exciting, pulse pounding story you can't put down."

Debbie: "A gripping storyline of survival, of unbelievable atrocities, of nonstop peril and danger, of hope, of friendship and family "

Kindle customer 001: "I read this over a holiday weekend. I couldn't put it down! The characters are well developed and the story will make you think. You really have to read this!"



Searching for Resistance: Aftermath #5
New TODAY! FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

And then only one more book to complete April and Rita's saga of surviving the collapse of society. Searching for Victory comes out August 20th! Thanks for all your support!
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Do you have a shield lying around? Weapon Tip #8

This week's weapon tip is a blend of how to defend against a weapon and improvising with things in your environment.

What household and workplace items can be turned into a defensive shield to be used against an attacker who may or may not have a weapon? (excluding firearms)

Possible scenario:
When the doorbell rings early one morning, you don't answer it because you're busy and not expecting anyone. A few minutes later, you hear the front door open and when you come around the corner are startled to see a man in your entryway rifling through the drawers of the dresser there. He is holding your car keys in his hands. He drops them to quickly pull out a knife and threatens you.

What's your best response?

Obviously to run out a rear or garage door and call for help if you have no one else in the house to protect.

If you can't, how can you protect yourself against a knife to break past the man and get to safety? What 'shields' do you have lying around?

Ideas:
• The barstool from the kitchen behind you. Think 'lion tamer' and use the legs of the stool to keep the attacker at a distance so you can escape unhurt.
• Items with thick material - think small blanket, towel, thick coat, etc. Quickly wrap it around your blocking hand and arm and use that to deflect the incoming knife while using your other arm and legs to kick and strike until you can get free.
• Ranged weapons: Ever hear that the best defense is a good offense? Grab that heavy can of beans, the glass paperweight, the electric pencil sharpener or other fist-sized heavy object and throw them as hard as you can at the intruder.
• Keep the attacker at a distance: A knife or club wielder is most dangerous when you get within range of the weapon. You can strike and jab with long items to keep them at bay. Ideas: Umbrella, broomstick, shovel, mop, etc.

What do you think? What other household or workplace things could you use as shields and defensive items if attacked?

What about right now?

Scan your surroundings. What three items could you use if someone were to break in to attack you?

Send me your list, and I'll put it in next week's newsletter. :D

Stay safe out there, and thank you again for supporting my writing so I can continue to create more stories!!
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Misty's Writing Update:
What's a trope?

I'd barely heard of the word before I started writing. But now, I realize how important the concept is to create stories readers will enjoy.

So, what is it?

It's really just a general concept or idea that we find in fiction. It can reference the plot, character, settings, etc. And tropes can differ considerably depending on the genre of fiction.

A few examples from different genres:
• Orphaned main character at the bottom of society who rises to the top by the end of the book/series/movie.
• Main character has unusual power that attracts the attention of powerful bad guys.
• Bully bad guy who gets his/her just desserts in the end.
• A side character with a secret persona that is revealed over the course of the book/series.
• Friend turned betrayer.
• Best friend turns into love interest.
• The main character solves a problem or wins a battle by thinking creatively outside the box and not using the normal tools to solve the problem.
• A wise mentor provides little nuggets of guidance at just the right time to nudge the main character toward success.
• Main character almost gives up, but succeeds by refusing to quit.

And the list is endless!

Once I understood the concept, I started noticing them in the books I like reading and have been jotting them down ever since.

Now, I'm working on including my favorite tropes in the outline of my newest fantasy, litrpg series.

Question for my fantasy and litrpg readers out there: What are your favorite tropes you like to see in books? Let me know, and I'll add them to my outline! :D

Happy reading this week!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Hi friends,

We have an amazing promotion happening for the next four days, starting tomorrow. Our publisher has put ALL 6 books in the Aftermath series on sale for 99c each! So, cool, huh?

No food. No shelter. No way out but through.
A calamitous pair of storms.
Two women on the run from their past caught in the whirlwind.



83% OFF: $5.99 for all the books instead of $34.94

Aftermath series in US: https://amzn.to/3NGGSEb

Aftermath series in UK: https://books.to/WHQtk

For those of you who've already read the series and enjoyed it, please feel free to share the links above on social media or with a friend who might enjoy the books on sale.

I know I really like getting book recommendations from my friends, so thanks for spreading the word!

Thanks again and enjoy reading this week!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website