Misty Zaugg's Blog - Posts Tagged "mike-kraus"

Finally! Searching for Shelter is live and 99c today!

Hi friends,

It's finally here! And on sale for 99c, just for you guys!

Searching for Shelter, the first book in our new post-apoc Aftermath series has finally been published.



Here's the blurb (though those of you who've been reading my newsletter probably have a good idea of the plot by this point):
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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.

They'll either stand and fight - or be consumed in the aftermath.

Tired of the same old boring story? Welcome to your new, epically long addiction from #1 best-selling post-apocalyptic author Mike Kraus, Stephanie Mylchreest and Misty Zaugg.

Twin hurricanes obliterate the eastern coast of the United States, bringing with them a blight that devastated America's breadbasket.

As the nation's food supply withers on the vine, the population turns upon itself and millions die from starvation, infighting and disease within days of the storms' passing.

In the midst of the devastation left by the storms, two women in the Gulf Coast must fight against the dangers from their past to survive the aftermath of the storms and find a new order in a broken nation.
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If you grab up a copy, I'd love to hear what you think.

And it would mean a lot if you would post a review on Amazon - even a short one. It really helps browsers pick up a new book if you mention why you enjoyed it.

Update on my kidney stone saga below . . .

Thanks for all your kind well wishes!

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Misty's Writing Update:

We are wrapping up our fourth Aftermath book this week, so if you enjoy the first one, the others will be coming out rapidly, about one a month. There will be six in total.

And I wanted to thank everyone who sent me a kind note last week while I was recovering from surgery. They really cheered me up and made me smile! :D

The good news is that I have been off of all pain meds for most of a week now and all the stones and fragments seem to have passed.

I am reminded once again to be grateful for every pain-free moment and to enjoy when body systems work as expected.

I know a lot of you are also experiencing health issues, acute and chronic, and my heart goes out to you. I hope you are able to find solutions and have loved ones close to support you.

All the best from me!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Hi friends,

Just letting you know that today is the last day Searching for Shelter will be $0.99.

And thank you so much for your reviews already coming in!!

Debra on Amazon: "Awesome characters and plenty of action. The hurricane situation definitely terrifying and the struggles of the survivors is gut wrenching. Can't wait until the next book"

Jeannie on Amazon: "Absolutely a great read. straight to the point. This is my kind of story."

Rosemary on Amazon: "The riveting new survivalist drama . . . Get it now - and be warned, you may need to stock up your safe-room - just in case!



$0.99 Sale on Amazon. FREE on KU!

And if you'd like an intro to the story, grab the FREE prequel:



Free Prequel Ebook Download!

Searching for Redemption: Two mothers caught up in a calamitous pair of storms, fighting and sacrificing for what they love the most. FREE Ebook - and you'll get newsletters from my co-author, Stephanie Mylchreest.

Your support and kind reviews mean a lot to both of us as we are still pretty new authors - so thanks!!
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Misty's Writing Update:

Searching for Resistance: Book Five of Aftermath! We just got started on the next to the last book in the series - mapping out all the conflicts between the various groups in our post-apoc world.

It's a fun mix of power-hungry groups taking control because they think they know what's in everyone's best interest as opposed to those who object to the loss of their freedom.

With Steph's move and my surgery finally done, we're excited to get back into the thick of writing.

How about you? How is the start of 2021 going for you? I hope you're able to feel a bit more stable than last year.

And I'm making a list for upcoming newsletter topics. I'd love to hear which topics most interest you in my various areas on knowledge: self-defense, herbs, medicine, preparedness, mental health and survival skills.

Or feel free to send me an "Ask Misty" question and I'll give a stab at answering.

Enjoy reading this week!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Hi friends,

While researching survival methods for purifying water, I ran across a really fun one.

It doesn't produce a lot of water, but if you happened to run across a recycle bin full of plastic water bottles and soda cans, you could set up an array of these clever little devices in a warm window.

Steps:

1. Cut the bottom off a standard water bottle.
2. Bend about an inch of the ragged bottom of the water bottle up inside itself, creating an inner lip that will catch water as it condenses and drips down the inside of the bottle.
3. Cut the top off a soda can or other tall container that is skinny enough to fit inside the water bottle.
4. Fill the soda can with dirty water.
5. Place the water bottle (lid still on) over the soda can and put in a sunny location.
6. Wait . . .
7. When you see water condensing on the inside of the water bottle, you can give it a few bangs to knock all the water down into the bottom lip. Take off the lid and pour the water out into a cup.
8. Sip on the teaspoon or two of distilled water . . . I warned you it didn't make much!

This is a fun project to do with the kids - great for a homeschooling lesson on the states of matter and how they change: solids, liquids, water vapor, evaporation and condensation.

Plus, a great topic on how important clean drinking water is during a disaster or emergency.

If you have any other fun tips on clean water in a disaster, I'd love to hear them!

All the best,

P.S. Our publisher kept our new book on sale for an extra week if you didn't get a chance to grab it last week:

link: $0.99 Sale on Amazon. FREE on KU!

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Misty's Writing Update:

Steph and I have been writing at a breakneck speed since last August, and are already about 30k into Book 5 of our Aftermath series.

It's getting pretty tense as our characters are faced with larger conflicts, up from the group level to the city level.

The new government in charge is doing what they think is right to save the most people, but at the expense of individual freedoms.

It makes me think about the best way to weather a disaster. You obviously need to have a core group of people, but how many people is the perfect number?

And how far away would you need to be from larger cities to be safe from unconstitutional orders or someone demanding you contribute your hard-won supplies for the greater good?

It does provide a lot of tension and fun situations to write as Rita and April struggle their way into leadership roles in the mountains of Colorado.

Enjoy reading this week!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Hi friends,

Quick question: Did you leave a review on Amazon for our new book, Searching for Shelter!?

If so, THANK YOU!! It's up to 24 ratings which makes a huge difference for new readers trying to decide if they'll like it. :D

Here's the link if you meant to leave a review and haven't had a chance:
Leave a Quick Review: Searching for Shelter

On to a quick and effective self-defense tip, since I haven't done one of these in a while:

Pretend to submit, then don't! (Tip #11)

This tip takes advantage of an attacker's natural tendency to underestimate someone smaller and maybe weaker than him . . . especially if she suddenly acts really afraid and pretends to submit to his demands.

Example scenario:
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You had to park at the far end of the parking lot because it was full when you arrived at the movies (back when we could go to the movies). When you leave, it's pretty dark and deserted back there.

You fumble your keys out of your purse and just as you get them in the lock, someone grabs you from behind, one arm pinning your arms to your front and the other arm wrapped around your throat.

"Don't make a sound, or I'll hurt you," a voice hisses in your ear. "Come with me."

The man pulls you backwards, in a direction toward the even emptier side of the large movie theater, both of his arms tight and pulling hard enough to hurt.

"Don't hurt me," you say in a pleading voice as you go along with the man, putting up no resistance at all. "I'll do whatever you say." You try to relax all your muscles and not fight.

After a few more steps, he relaxes, thinking you're afraid and compliant. The arm around your body and the one around your throat sag just a bit.

It's what you've been waiting for.

You push with your legs, straightening suddenly in an upward lunge as you simultaneously smash your head up and back right into the man's face, making the back of your scalp suddenly sting. At the same time, you stomp back a rapidly until you get one of his feet.

The man howls in pain, both hands loosening as he reaches for his injured face and hops on one foot.

Wasting no time, you pull free and run at full speed back toward the movie theater's lobby yelling for help.

Next time, you vow to pay more attention and either ask for an employee to accompany you to your car, bring a friend or find a closer parking spot.
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Hopefully, you'll never be grabbed in a parking lot, but this simple idea can help you create the perfect opportunity to break free from a stronger opponent.

Good luck out there - and thanks again for posting reviews for us!

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Misty's Writing Update:

We're halfway through writing the first draft of Searching for Resistance, Book 5 of our Aftermath series. Steph and I are throwing our characters into all kinds of trouble. :D

The big question is how much the conflict will spiral out of control as Rita is in trouble and April and company are racing to help.

How do you think main characters should get out of trouble in a story?
1. Save themselves by digging deep for the strength, cleverness or skills?
2. Be rescued by family, best friend, love interest, group of friends, etc.?
3. A combo of both - get themselves most of the way free, but leave a bit of the rescuing to their friends to help with.

I'm sure there's a case for all three in different stories with different main characters, but I'm curious which scenario you enjoy the most. Send me a quick note. :)

Enjoy reading this week!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Hi friends,

We're really excited that our second book in the Aftermath series just came out!

Hop over to Amazon and grab a copy if you'd like to join Rita and April in their battle to survive as the world falls apart around them.

Searching for Escape: Aftermath Book 2

It's also FREE to read if you have Kindle Unlimited.

Also, I wanted to say thanks for your two new 5-star reviews on our first book in the series, Searching for Shelter. They helped out our book a lot this week:

Barb G: "Great book. Well written and characters are very realistic. Worth the read. Nonstop action and good storyline."

and

Poet: "Another excellent read by Misty Zaugg!!! Buy it....yo will like it!!"

We really need those 5-star reviews to counter a few sour readers who gave us 2-stars for things like "Sorry, not my cup of tea." - smh, sigh.

So, if you enjoyed the story and want your positive opinion heard: Leave a Quick Review: Searching for Shelter

And I'd love to hear what you think of book #2 in the series - from those of you who read fast like me. :)

Thanks again for all your amazing support!
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Misty's Writing Update:

With our second book releasing today, we're working hard to get the rest of the series done so all the editing and other work can be done in time to bring you the rest of the books quickly.

Our goal is to release about one a month and wrap up the adventure in six books. Since we're over halfway done with #5, we are right on track to doing that.

We've also consciously chosen to write these books close to twice as long as many other books in the post-apoc genre.

I'm curious what length books you like?
1. On the shorter side (200 pages/45k words) - I like to read fast and finish fast.
2. Medium (300 pages/85K) - Just enough but doesn't go on for too long.
3. Long (400+ pages/110k+) - The longer the better. More story for my $ (and only takes up one slot if I have KU)

Well, lots of writing tasks calling me to finish them . . .

Enjoy reading this week!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Hi friends,

We had a sunny 65F (18.3C) day this week and everyone was so excited to get out into the sunshine for the brief anomaly. I hope you're able to enjoy some time out of doors wherever you are in the world!

And if you missed last week's email, Searching for Escape: Aftermath Book 2 in our Aftermath series just came out!

A handful of great reviews have come in and we are so excited!
Rosemary says, "A fascinating, scary and inspiring what if...? near future possibility that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout."

And Patrick says, "Action Packed: The storyline kept me on the edge of my seat. I felt like I knew the characters."

I keep grinning when I read your reviews - you're the best!

Searching for Escape: Aftermath Book 2



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Why is his help dangerous? Warning Sign #4

Here's the fourth in my series about behaviors that can warn you an attack is attack from the amazing book "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin deBecker.

I think all women should read it at least once. (There is some scary/realistic content, so screen it before giving it to your daughters.)

Mr. deBecker's premise is that a potential attacker will behave in certain ways to influence a victim before attacking. No single one of these seven behaviors predicts that an attack will come, but if you see multiple ones, be warned.

Here's the list of the ones I've discussed so far:
1. Discounting the word "No"
2. Too many details
3. Charm and Niceness

And for today:

#4 Loan Sharking

An attacker can offer unsolicited help before an attack to make the victim feel obligated to reciprocate, or at least let down her defenses more than she normally would. Like borrowing from a loan shark, you'll be asked to pay back much more than you received.

Scenario #1:

A young good-looking man (Charm and Niceness) sees you struggling to unload a heavy box from your car parked on the street in front of your house.

"Hi, there. Let me help you with that," he says as he hurries to grab one side of the box without permission.

"It's ok," you reply to the stranger. "I've got it."

"No, really," he insists (Discounting No). "Let me just help you get it to your porch at least. I know what it's like to have to move heavy things like this. I had trouble with my back a few years back and could hardly even lift a backpack (Too many details). I'm happy to help."

It's easier to just let him help, so you stop arguing. When you both get the box to your porch, you try to set it down so you can open your door.

"I've got it. No problem," he says easily, taking the box so your hands are free to get out your keys.

A worried feeling twists inside you, but you don't like causing a fuss, so you ignore it.

Once you've got the door open, he smiles. "Let me just set this inside for you," he says.

Before you can stop him, he walks inside, box and all, and sets it on the coffee table in your front room.

Now what do you do?
***
This illustrates how unsolicited help (loan sharking), niceness and discounting 'No' can lead to a situation she would have never imagined possible - she let a stranger walk into her house and didn't stop him.

What should she have done differently?
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Remember, though, this doesn't mean everyone offering to help is dangerous.

However, this pattern of manipulating you to do something you normally wouldn't is definitely a warning sign - especially if a handful of these techniques are being used.

Stay safe out there and I hope you're enjoying some nice weather wherever you live!
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Misty's Writing Update:

One more week!

We'll finish writing https://amzn.to/38R067y Searching for Resistance, Book #5 in our Aftermath series this week! And then we'll send it off to editing, formatting and all the processing that happens to a book before it finally makes it to your e-reader.

We'll probably hop right into outlining https://amzn.to/38Q0e76 Searching for Victory - the finale of the series, since we have some great ideas about how all the characters come together in the climactic battle for survival, freedom and family. So fun! :D

Once we're done with that, we'll dust off our Post-Apoc Virus series that we set aside to do this project with Mike Kraus.

The first two books are written, and after we tidy them up a bit, we'll write the third book to wrap up a nice trilogy. Hopefully, a virus themed post-apoc will go over decently now that our real-life Covid virus is on its way out!

My six-year-old demanded yesterday, "Dad! When will Covid finally be over?!?"

Hopefully soon!

What do you think about virus-themed post-apoc stories right now?
1. Love them! Makes me feel more positive to read about heroes overcoming a virus-devastated world.
2. As long as the story and characters are well done, I don't really care what the world-ending event is.
3. Hate them - they hit too close to home right now. Maybe later.

Thanks for your feedback! We want to write the books you want to read, so your input is very valuable.

Happy reading out there!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Hi friends,

A quick pic for you, since I thought you might get a laugh about the slightly different look to our entry way.



No, that's not the same dryer from last week.

We finally installed the new one, spent the weekend catching up on laundry . . . and have a broken dryer in the entry way now - LOL!

At least the 6-year-old's pink cowboy hat is there to dress it up a bit. :D

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I've got a water preparedness tip for you today. Clean water is crucial in the aftermath of a disaster.

First, a story . . . because I love stories:

My parents lived near the epicenter of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake that killed a lot of people and left my family with no power, water or gas for weeks. (I was away at college)

They used a broken-handled shovel to dig a latrine in a corner of their back yard. There was a small stream in the area that was quickly swarmed by thirsty people and they thankfully had some food storage because of long-standing council to be prepared from church leaders.

So, what did my mom consider most important after that traumatic experience?

Well, years later, she flew out to visit me for the birth of my fourth child. One day, the power in our whole area went out suddenly. She burst into action, ordering the kids to go find as many empty 5-gallon buckets as possible. Minutes later, she'd organized an assembly line on the lawn of grandma and the kids washing out buckets, filling clean ones and then putting on tight lids. When the lids ran out, she used aluminum foil.

About an hour later, when we had a row of 15 buckets or so, full of water, she relaxed, let out a breath, and then said, "All right. Now we can relax."

Moral of the story?

Water. Water. Water.

From someone who lived through an earthquake with no utilities or help for weeks, my mother considered clean water to be the most precious resource.

So, my first water tip is advice on where to find clean water than many people may not have considered.

1. The toilet tanks in your house or business contain about 2 - 4 gallons of water each.

Yes, the tanks contain clean water as long as they've been maintained. Though, if you get desperate, you can use the bowl water if you have a way to purify it. So in a disaster, don't let anyone flush and lose those gallons of valuable water.

2. Your water heater can contain between 40 and over 100 gallons.

There is usually a valve on the bottom and then some way to allow air in the top so the water can drain. Take the time now to check out how yours works, and you'll have another valuable source of drinkable water in an emergency.

If you have good preparedness tips about clean water in an emergency, be sure to send them to me! I'll make sure to include them in future editions.

Stay safe out there,
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Misty's Writing Update:

It's time to buckle down and write. We wrote the first couple of chapters for Searching for Victory, Book #6 over the weekend, but this was our first full week of writing.

We generally start with an outline of what needs to happen in each chapter, but the fun and magical part happens during the actual writing, when the characters come alive and fun twists and turns pop up unexpectedly.

I think Steph and I have found a great method of combining both planning and spontaneous creativity in the way we write together. It keeps it fun and interesting enough that we still enjoy writing.

Though there are still plenty of tired, burned-out days, as in any endeavor, but we plow through because we're both committed to what we're doing.

For tips on how I handle procrastination - check out last week's NL if you missed it. :D

Happy reading out there!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Hi friends,

We're really excited that our third book in the Aftermath series came out on Friday!

Hop over to Amazon and grab a copy if you'd like to join Rita and April in their battle to survive as the world falls apart around them.


Searching for Sanctuary: Aftermath #3

(It's also FREE to read if you have Kindle Unlimited.)

And, once again, we really appreciate you taking the time to leave new reviews!!

Barbara Gilbert said, "These writers have done an excellent job bringing us the experiences of each of the characters in this story . . . It is a great read and I enjoyed each minute I spent reading the story. I can't wait to read the second book in the series."

and

Donna S. Boatwright said: "Awesome read! - Loved the book! I like the details of survival equipment."

These are reviews of the first book in the series. If you haven't started reading yet, now is a good time to jump in! Searching for Shelter: Aftermath Book 1

And any of you speed readers out there who finish book 3 really fast - if you feel like posting even a short review on Amazon, it really helps a lot when the book is brand new!

Thanks again for all your amazing support! You're the best!
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Misty's Writing Update:

While our third book releases today, we're knee deep in writing the final battles in book 6, the conclusion to the series. It's a bit crazy how far ahead we finish the writing so the rest of the editing and processing can be done to get the books to you.

It's bittersweet wrapping up all the various plot lines, heroes and villains alike, to give a satisfying conclusion to April and Rita's stories, along with all the people who have become like family to them over their adventures.

We're also looking forward to the final set of chapters where we plan on writing what I call the "dessert" content of a book - once all the big danger is over, readers get to share enjoyable moments with the characters they've come to love.

If you make it through the entire series, I guarantee you'll be smiling at the end of it . . . I hope!

What about you? Do you like a few wrapping-up and "fluffy" chapters after all the action has finished? Or are you fine with "The End" coming right after the hero saves the day?

I'm just curious.

Enjoy reading this week!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Hi friends,

Wow! We already have three five-star reviews on Searching for Sanctuary, our book 3 that came out last Friday.

Barb G, L Stratton and Kixfan - You are the best!
Thank you so much!!


Searching for Sanctuary: Aftermath #3

Barb said, "This whole series is a great read. Love the characters and the storyline. Keeps you wanting the next book! Nice character development."

L Stratton: "This is a really good read from start to finish. It is hard to put down.. Perfectly written with great characters."

and Kixfan: "Great book. Very entertaining read."

Your support really encourages us to keep writing more books, so thank you!

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Is Cash King? Be Prepared Tip #4

Quick story: A friend was driving into town to run some errands including a stop at the gas station. Halfway there, the traffic lights flickered. When he got to the gas station, he couldn't buy any gas. Even though a back-up generator had the pumps working, they had no connection to the financial institutions, so his credit card and checks were no good. They were only accepting cash.

In the first hours after an emergency, when electricity is out, credit cards and checks quickly quit working and only cash is accepted. It will suddenly be too late to run to an ATM to withdraw funds.

So it's a good idea to keep a decent amount of cash on hand, including a collection of smaller bills to make change and buy small items.

Also, consider stashing some in your vehicles for emergencies, too.

Recommendations for how much cash to keep on hand varies from an amount equal to three or four days of your normal spending, up to $1k-$2k.

What do you think? How much would be prudent to have enough to last until the power comes back on? Obviously there will be a big difference between a short power outage and a major disaster that requires evacuation.

And other trade goods might come in handy, food, ammunition, silver coins, etc. I'd love to hear your ideas.

Be safe out there!

Thanks again for all your amazing support! You're the best!
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Misty's Writing Update:

We finished writing book 6 this week!!

We're pretending there isn't any editing (I call it grumblediting) ahead of us so we can celebrate and grin for a little. :D

After that, we'll finish the editing up with as little grumbling as possible. And then we'll pick up our Virus post-apoc series and see how fast we can finish the trilogy and get it out to you.

If you remember, we had books 1 & 2 done when we got this great opportunity to write with Mike Kraus. So, we'll be finishing them and writing the third in the next month or two. We're hoping to do a fun, free prequel to go with the series, too, so we'll let you readers know first, when it's available.

Also, there should be some awesome promotions around August when the sixth book in the Aftermath series comes out, so watch for those!

Enjoy reading this week!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Hi friends,

Anyone out there having a crazy-weather spring?

After a few beautiful days, we suddenly dropped below freezing again and a shivery dump of snow piled onto the spring blossoms.



Can't shut the heater off quite yet! I hope everyone out there is doing all right whether it's hot or cold where you are. If you have perfect weather . . . well, don't brag. :)

And a quick note: If you want to be notified when my new books come out - hop over to Amazon and click the "Follow" button under my pic on my author page:

https://www.amazon.com/author/mistyzaugg

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Stranger to buddy in an instant? Warning Signs #5

Here's the fifth tip about behaviors that can warn you an attack is imminent from the amazing book "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin deBecker.

Remember, no single one of these seven behaviors predicts that an attack will come, but if you see multiple ones, be warned.

Here's the list of the ones I've discussed so far:
1. Discounting the word "No"
2. Too many details
3. Charm and Niceness
4. Loansharking

And for today:

#5 Forced Teaming (Or Stranger to Instant Buddy)

An attacker will find common ground with you to quickly change from a stranger to someone you can relate to and might drop your guard around. He's trying to force himself onto the same "team" as you.

Example #1:

You're in the grocery store and one of your kids keeps insisting they want candy. Someone nearby chuckles and says, "I can't believe they put all those treats right where the kids can see them, can you? My kids did the same thing when they were young."

See how he changed from a stranger to someone who has also struggled with kids during a shopping trip? When he makes his next move, like offering to help you carry your bags to the car (Loansharking) or asking for a ride somewhere, are you going to refuse?

Example #2:

You're visibly frustrated with your cell phone while waiting at the bus stop. A man, also waiting, holds up his own cell phone and says, "For all the money I spent on this thing, you'd think it be easier to use, wouldn't you?"

When he happens to get off at your stop, and heads in the same direction as you do, will his forced teaming put you more or less at ease?
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These are examples of how someone can move from a stranger you're wary around, to someone you feel the beginnings of a connection with.

The technique doesn't necessarily mean an attack is imminent. Salesmen and charismatic people who seem to make friends easily will also use this technique.

Just make sure to watch for other tactics trying to convince you to do something you wouldn't normally feel comfortable doing.
***
Stay safe out there and I hope you're enjoying some nice weather wherever you live!
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Misty's Writing Update:

Deadly Lockdown is back!



Now that only editing is left to do on our Aftermath series, Steph and I have dug up the computer files for our virus series and we just started rereading the first book.

You would think that since we wrote the book, we would remember the characters and all the storylines . . . but apparently not. :D

Yes, it's all very familiar and comes back quickly, but both of us are rereading the first two books so that we can outline and begin writing the third book.

Hopefully by next week we will be working on new material.

What is very eerie and crazy is that the two of us began writing this in late 2019 before COVID. We based a lot of our research on the Spanish Flu Epidemic which was something many people had never heard of at the time.

Now, though, having lived through the COVID pandemic, it's very strange to read how many pieces of our fiction mirror real life.

Hopefully, it will still be well received, though both of us wish we'd been able to publish it before COVID instead of afterward. LOL

I'm curious what you think. Would you read a pandemic, post-apoc book right now? Or is it too soon?

Happy reading this week!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website