Misty Zaugg's Blog - Posts Tagged "update"

Hi friends,

First, I'd like to thank all of you who sent prayers and well-wishes for my recovery from kidney stone surgery. Things have improved every day, and it's really uplifting to hear from all of you, so thanks again!

And my second bit of good news — and the reason this newsletter is a little late today — the Christmas "Once Upon an Apocalypse" E-Magazine is live today!

Over twenty of us post-apoc authors have all donated short stories, author bios, free prizes, articles, recipes etc. and the awesome Baileigh Higgins worked like crazy putting this whole 500+ page project together.

And guess what?

It's FREE! This is our Christmas gift back to our readers who are the reason we can afford to spend time creating stories.

So click below and download it. No strings attached. You don't even have to enter your email address (unless you decide to enter the drawings for the collection of prizes since we need a way to contact you if you win.)



Once Upon an Apocalypse FREE Christmas E-Magazine

Also, this is only available until the first of the year. At that time, we'll have the big prize drawing and then take down the magazine, so grab a copy before then.

And feel free to share the download link with any friends who enjoy the genre.

We really hope you get some enjoyment out of the magazine itself and maybe find a new author or two to follow.

Happy holidays to you and your family!

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Misty's Writing Update:

I just passed 43k words in my new book and am experimenting with dictating again. I can obviously speak faster than I can type, but I generally leave behind so many errors that the clean-up afterward kind of ruins the whole 'write faster' goal.

So, I'm investigating new microphones that are supposed to be much more accurate, but they run around $300 - Yikes! If any of you out there do much dictating and have some advice, I'm all ears.

I'm currently using Dragon Naturally Speaking 13 Premier and the included microphone headset to dictate into Microsoft Word. I found that dictating into Google docs introduced too many random punctuation and capitalization errors.

It turns out there is a newer version 15, but again it costs about $340. What's with the $300 price tag for everything?

On the other hand, if I can figure out how to write more in the same amount of time, that would mean more books, and they would hopefully pay back the investment in quality software and equipment.

I'll keep plunking away and improving my author skills and appreciate all of your kind advice.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Hi friends,

I hope you and your family are having a wonderful holiday season.

And for anyone who didn't pick up a free copy of our 20-plus post-apoc author e-magazine last week, it's still available - Our Christmas gift to our readers. Enjoy!



Once Upon an Apocalypse FREE Christmas E-Magazine

Today, I thought I'd also share a few ideas I had as I brainstormed stocking stuffer gifts for the family. Here are some of the items I enjoy because of their small size and practicality:

The Life Straw - usually around $13, this handy item fits in your bug-out bag or car emergency pack, and allows you to drink straight from any water source for up to 1000 gallons of filtered water.

Fire Starter Steel - often combined with a compass, whistle and magnesium stick, these types of rods create a shower of sparks to easily start a fire in an emergency. Great to have one stashed in the car or purse.

A pack of inexpensive mylar thermal blankets - While not the sturdiest item, these simple blankets are small and easy to stick in the glove box or first aid kit and are useful in many situations when someone who is injured or cold needs protection from the elements.

Moldable aluminum foam splints - These are about the size of a large elastic bandage and roll out to be used as a splint when a limb or injury needs to be stabilized. Effective, convenient and great to keep with your portable medical supplies.

How about you? Any small items you would consider useful or essential to add to a glove box or bug-out bag? Please share, and I'll add them to the list and maybe someone's stocking. :)

Happy holidays to you and your family!

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Misty's Writing Update:
Have you or your kids ever read the Junie B Jones books?

Rachel, my youngest, loved them so much, I recorded myself as I read to her at night so she could listen to them later as many times as she wanted.

Then my author mind started transforming all the shenanigans that Rachel got up to into similar funny stories.

Together, she and I came up with the character 'Rascally Rachel' who does things like sets a trap for the tooth fairy (true story!) and asks Alexa how many minutes until her birthday, because she's so impatient.

I couldn't help it and had to jot down some of the ideas. So, as a mental break from my current book, and because she will only be 6-years-old for so long, I wrote the first few chapters of "Rascally Rachel Can't Wait for Her Birthday" this week.

She and her older brother (the antagonist in the story) had a blast reading it. When I went upstairs to grab something for a couple of minutes, she asked me if I'd finished another chapter - lol.

Whether it'll end up as something commercial or not, who knows? But it sure is fun creative a book with my daughter's input.

Her final opinion?

"It's a pretty good story, except for a couple of lies"

LOL.

We had more than one discussion about the difference between fiction and a lie. Hmm. :)

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Hi friends,

Merry Christmas! I already have the best Christmas present: my granddaughter is here visiting! Oh, and both her parents too. :D

I hope you are surrounded by family and friends this holiday season, too.

For a fun treat, I thought I'd share our favorite peppermint fudge recipe. We've already made five double batch pans of this delicious stuff.

We've been bagging it up in colored treat bags and gifting it to teachers, friends, family members and even the whole crew of local men who play pick-up basketball with my husband every week in the church gym.

Enjoy!

Peppermint Fudge Recipe (double recipe)

1. The prep: Get the following ready so they can be dumped in once the cooking is done:
• 2 - 7 oz. jars of marshmallow cream
• 3 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips (you can substitute different ones like milk for milder flavor)
• 1 c. chopped walnuts
• 2 t. vanilla
• 1 1/2 t. peppermint extract
• butter a 9 x 13 glass baking dish
• 6 candy canes. Unwrap, place in a plastic baggie and crush.

2. The cook: Bring the following to a boil over medium to medium-high heat. Boil while continuously stirring for 5-7 minutes until it visibly thickens or to a candy temp of 220-230F.
• 1 1/3 c. condensed milk
• 1/2 c. butter
• 3 c. white sugar
• 1/2 t. salt

3. The stir:
• Add the two jars of marshmallow cream and stir into the hot mixture.
• Next, pour in the chocolate chips and chopped nuts, followed by the vanilla and peppermint extracts. Then stir until fully mixed.

4. The finish:
• Get a helper to hold one side of the pan and dump the fudge into the buttered pan and smooth the surface.
• Sprinkle crushed candy canes over the top and press in.


That's it! Just let it cool for a few hours to finish setting and then enjoy!

(Tip: a pizza cutter works really well to cut the fudge without mangling the pieces too badly)

Happy holidays to you and your family!

______________________


Misty's Writing Update:

Hmm.

Snuggling with my granddaughter.

Making fudge.

Last-minute Christmas shopping.

Helping kids with their homemade gifts for each other.

Buying Christmas dinner groceries.

Oh, and did I mention snuggling with my grandbaby?

So, this newsletter is the extent of the writing I got done this week - lol.

It's a nice change of pace to simply enjoy some family time and celebrate the birth of the Savior.

I hope you're able to enjoy a nice break during the holidays, too.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you! <3

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Last Day! Grab your Huge Post-Apoc Christmas E-Magazine - Free.
Hi friends,

Sometimes there's a bit of a downer after the holidays. For us here, there were a few tears shed as we dropped off my oldest and his small family (including my granddaughter) at the airport so they could return home.

We miss them already!!

And then I spent last night tossing and turning with one of those nasty head colds.

I guess with how isolated we've all been, a resurgence in common illnesses has to be expected as we get out a little more.

So - as a little pick me up . . . make sure to grab your FREE copy of our huge, Christmas post-apoc e-magazine before it gets taken down for good. (no email required either!)

Enjoy the short stories, recipes, survival tips and a lot more.



FREE Christmas E-Magazine

Plus, you can still enter the drawing for a bunch of prizes donated by all of us authors who wanted to give something back to our amazing readers this holiday season.

Check out this list of authors who contributed: (makes me feel privileged to be included!)

Ryan Schow, Baileigh Higgins, Kyla Stone, Jon Cronshaw, Brian King, T.L. Payne, Laura Martone, Sylvester Barzey, Kate L. Mary, Stephanie Mylchreest, Allen Gamboa, Joseph Hansen, Chris Philbrook, Scott Baker, David Simpson, Jaime Hernandez, D.L. Martone, Bethany Stutsman Hagardt, Nic Roads, Rich Restucci, Hadley Thorne, and Christopher Artinian.

Some of your favorites should be in there plus plenty of new ones to discover.

And if any of you have already downloaded and started reading it, I'd love to hear what you think of my included short story: "Christmas Impasse"

Enjoy the New Year!
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Misty's Writing Update:

I've been brainstorming plots lately - inspired by my holiday binge reading.

Yep - I did spend quite a bit of time rocking the baby to sleep and it's the perfect guilt-free reading time! I get to enjoy two of my favorite activities at the same time - nirvana!

What I did notice by devouring so many books in a row, is that it stimulated my creative side again, and I had to keep writing down new ideas to make my current book even better. Adding extra side mysteries, ramping up the small achievements, leveling up the main character's pet and many other fun ideas have me chomping at the bit to get back to the story.

Hopefully this head cold will disappear with the new year, and I can jump back in soon.

I hope your holidays were wonderful and that you're excited about the new year.

All the best! <3

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Hi friends,

This is a weak-ish hello from the nest of pillows I've spent most of this week curled up in.

With multiple friends having covid, I was exposed on Saturday morning. Most everyone had been reported mild-ish symptoms. By Tuesday, my 7-year-old and I, feeling hot and pretty miserable, flopped into bed with our various means of e-entertainment to distract us.

I've often asked my friends with covid for details, because I'm curious about how this crazy virus manifests so differently between people. So, now that it's me on the infected end, I figured it's only fair that I share . . .

For reference: I had two doses of Moderna (I think?) vaccine last year and no known Covid infection prior to this.

Monday, Day 1 (2 days after Sat a.m. exposure): A bit of congestion, itchy nose and eyes in the late afternoon and evening - sort of mild allergy symptoms.

Tue, Day 2: Low grade fever, hot, uncomfortable, everything hurts, but at a 'sore muscle' level, not unbearable. Eyes hurt, arms, legs and back hurt, like I overdid a new sport, plus a major headache. Full dose of 800 mg ibuprofen didn't really ease it much, but I'm guessing it would have been worse without it. Spent the day in bed and very tired after even a few minutes of any type of activity. Mild cough. No breathing issues.

Wed, Day 3: Pain eased some, headache still bad, more congestion with one side of my head filling up, depending on which side I'm lying on. Main symptom is tiredness, not like I need to sleep, but just weak if I get up to do much, though not as bad as the day before. More coughing, but not bad, just the irritating itch that insists you cough.

Thur, Day 4: Most of the pain is gone, just a headache and very faint muscle pain. Just regular cold symptoms of congestion and mild cough. Still tired, but have enough energy to sit up at the computer and type this newsletter. :) Took a three hour nap during the late afternoon.

Fri, Day 5: Mostly feels like a regular cold now, with nasal congestion and a mild/moderate headache. Only extra issue is that physical activity quickly makes my heart race and body feel weak. One flight of stairs feels like ten. So not much pep in my step. :) But I'm up and able to do things . . . slowly.

I expect by next week, I should be all better.

I'm very grateful that my bout with Covid wasn't bad at all. I've had nasty flus that have been worse. I would describe it as half of a bad flu combined with half of a bad cold.

How are you? I hope everyone else out there, dealing with illness, will also recover quickly. <3

All the best!
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Misty's Writing Update:

Having Covid, I didn't get any writing in this week, other than this newsletter. Sigh.

But at least I got in some solid reading time! We'll just call that market research. lol.

I'm hoping I'll head into next week feeling much better and ready to get going again.

Thank for your well wishes!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website