Misty Zaugg's Blog - Posts Tagged "writing-update"

Thanks for answering my question last time about book lengths. The consensus is that interesting characters and a good story trumps word count.

Sweet, because I'm pretty much the same way. :)

Also, readers sent in a few more fun facts about plantain: Bruce mentioned plantain helps with nettle stings, and RobinBeth said the seeds are edible before they flower and have a wonderful nutty flavor. Thanks, guys!

I also had some great emails in response to using a cane or walking stick for self-defense.

Brian, who uses one for his bad back, was able to deter an attack just by threatening to use his.

And Matthew gave some great tips on how he practices ahead of time with his walking stick made by Cold Steel and out of solid polyurethane (which means it doesn't set off metal detectors): "As a test I used it to shatter heavy half-inch thick flower pots and slash open a gallon water jug and I have been very happy with it thus far."

Great tips all around!

So, on to today's topic: What common household items can you use to defend yourself?

Let's start with the awesome tips sent in by readers:

From Barrie: "A tip from my Army days, try rolling up a fairly substantial magazine secure both ends with elastic bands. Give it a try you'll be surprised how much damage you can do especially to the stomach and groin areas. Other weapons I have carried to good effect have been a length of light chain . . . cheap to obtain, and is effective at a decent range if used properly."

From Jeanette who uses a wheelchair: A large Maglight with 4D cell batteries which doubles for illumination and defense.

From Adam: keys between fingers and large umbrella - standard military black one.

From Cherie - hair spray works just as well and comes in small sizes. (as an alternative when you don't have pepper spray)

From Robin - Consider a utility knife (box cutter). It's razor sharp. And since the blade only actually extends an inch beyond the body, it isn't illegal to carry one anywhere except a courthouse.

So, how do you defend yourself with something just lying around?

Remember, the #1 rule about weapons: Practice before you actually need it!!

How to use items around you for self-defense:

1. Take a few minutes in various settings to get up, walk around and look at all the objects within reach. Evaluate them for how useful they would be against an attacker.
2. Practice. Visualize an attack, in say, your office, and practice grabbing items fast enough to use effectively. Enlist a friend or family member to be the "bad guy".
3. Repeat in different settings: work, home, the gym, out for a walk, etc.

Ideas for improvised weapons:

• 'Stabby' things: kitchen knives, screw drivers, letter openers,
• Large solid objects with heft for throwing or blocking: stools, backpacks, textbooks, trashcans.
• Small solid objects for throwing or striking: canned food, hammer, fire extinguisher (can also spray with this), lamp, glass bottle, pots and pans.
• Club-like items: baseball bats, golf clubs, piece of wood in the door track, broom, mop.
• Garage items: rakes, shovels, hoses, tools, etc.
• Debris: spices, dirt, sand or other small particles can be thrown to disrupt vision or distract while you escape.
• Even your phone: to call for help or start recording while you yell about it uploading instantly to the cloud in the chance it will scare them away. :)

And the best weapon of all? Your mind!

The more you learn to look around you, evaluate dangerous people and situations, recognize escape paths and possible weapons, the better your chances of defending yourselves and your loved ones successfully.

I'm considering adding a final discussion on this topic about pets helping defend their owners.
I'd love to hear your ideas and experiences!

Stay safe out there!

Misty's Writing Update:

Steph and I continue writing about a post-apocalyptic landscape in our books about devastating storms, we're a bit stunned by how crazy the storm season is this year.

We send our best wishes to any of you hit by these disasters.

It also makes us consider an interesting question:

If you're a fan of post-apocalyptic fiction, have you kept reading during the Covid crisis? During the storms, fires and other disasters? Or has the fear and worry of shortages and shutdowns been a bit too close to the stories you liked? Did you switch to reading happier storylines?

I'm just curious if the current crises have changed your reading.

I appreciate anyone who takes the time to respond! :)

Happy reading this week,

-- Misty :)

Quick note: If you want a notification from Amazon when I release a new book, click on my Author Profile and then on the orange "+ Follow" button underneath . . . and tell me what you think of my pic I chose :)

My Author Page

Wow! I got so many responses to last week's article about using improvised weapons. Thank you to everyone who took the time to write to me. You sent me so many new ideas that I'm compiling them into a part 2 episode on improvised weapons. If you have an idea and didn't send it in, you still have time!

For today, I'm starting a series on one of my favorite topics I teach in self-defense seminars: How to recognize behavior that might warn you of an attack.

I learned these from the amazing book "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin de Becker, which I recommend all women read at least once. (There is some scary/realistic content, so screen it before giving it to your daughters.)

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

Here's the first one, illustrated in story form . . . because I love telling stories. :)

***

Discounting the word "No"

"How about I give you a ride home," Anthony said with a smile, waving a hand toward the dimly-lit parking lot as he and Julie walked out of the art building on the first day of their evening class.

"No thanks," Julie said with a polite smile. She shifted her backpack and turned to walk toward the bus stop a block further along the busy road.

"Really," Anthony said, hurrying after her. "I don't mind. And it'll be much faster than taking the bus."

Julie stopped and looked at Anthony, his charming smile and handsome features making her reconsider. But, no. She didn't really know him and would rather wait until they'd been in class together for a while before going with him.

"I actually like the bus," she said. "But thanks for the offer."

"Oh, I've spent many hours on buses," Anthony said, walking beside her instead of heading to his car. "The people you meet are so fascinating, aren't they? They'll probably give you some great ideas for our art class, don't you think?"

Julie nodded, but something was feeling off about this guy. Why did she suddenly feel uneasy?

"Hey, it's pretty late," he said, turning as he moved a bit ahead of her. "I can drive you home a lot faster than the bus and I'll drop you off, safe and sound. I promise. What do you say?" He spread his arms, his charming smile still in place.

But all Julie wanted was to get away from this guy.

***

Analysis:

Was Julie right about Anthony? What warning signs was she picking up on?

-There is a possibility that Anthony was just attracted to Julie and determined to pursue her. But, his refusal to accept her "No" doesn't bode well for a future relationship.

-When Julie refused a ride the second time and said, "Thanks for the offer," this would be when a person without ulterior motives would give her a friendly wave and move to his car. Everything after that was suspect.

What warning signs did you see in the story? What should Julie do in this situation?

There are no right answers. Just the process of thinking it through will help you recognize this behavior in the future. And hopefully help you feel more prepared with what actions to take.

Check out the next Warning Signs article for a few of my ideas.

Stay safe out there!

All the best,

— Misty :)

Hi friends,

Quick question for any US military or ex-military: If our bad guys steal a military truck, do they have license plates (regular or special military ones) or painted identifying markings on the truck? How could the bad guys change those to make it through a checkpoint that had been warned to watch for the stolen vehicle? . . . Google wasn't much help this time around, so thanks!

I love your emails and thanks to everyone who answered my question about whether you like seeing books come out close together or are willing to wait.

The consensus? Regular and fast publication! Though one reader enjoys the anticipation of not knowing when the next book will come out, like an unexpected gift. :)

Improvised Weapons for Self-Defense: Part 2
Reader Edition!

So, I gathered up the suggestions from all your awesome emails. Thanks for sending them in! I love them!

Reader ideas for common items you can use to defend yourself in an emergency:

From Sarah - One tip that probably not a lot of people would think of is a plain old ink pen. Probably more people than not carry a pen in their pocket, their purse or have one right handy. An ink pen jammed into someone's eyeball will do it every time.

From Viet - A spray bottle filled with ammonia will deter almost any animal. Never tried it on a bear. When I was young we used it to stop dogs chasing our bikes and car wheels. Will not harm the animal.

From Anna - I have always had a large wooden rolling pin on my desk as a pretend weapon in case of home invasions, which are now common.

From Lynne - My late husband told me about a woman who ended a serial rapist/killer's streak when he broke into her apartment when she was styling her hair - she turned her can of hairspray into an instant flamethrower with her lighter (she was a smoker) and torched the attacker's face, rendering him too injured to escape before the police arrived. Admittedly, doing something like that has the potential for the aerosol can to literally backfire and explode in the user's hand so it's not a tip to be considered unless in a dire emergency.

(Note from Misty: A handful of other readers mentioned the flaming hairspray too. And while I found this fascinating, I consider it very dangerous and would probably never attempt it!)

From Wendy - In "Death Wish" (1974), the title character uses $20 of quarters in an old sock to drive off a bad guy.

From Karl (who sent in a whole bunch) - Frying pan. Especially cast iron. Car keys in a fight. My belt with a heavy buckle. A sock with a rock or keys inside
A computer power cord. About 6' long and heavy on both ends. Metal coat hanger opened up is like 4'. We have this wooden tray with handles to serve mom breakfast in bed. Great shield. My shop has tons of stuff.

From Robin (a sample of her suggestions) - I took martial arts with my kids for several years. One of the things I learned was how to turn almost anything into a weapon. Broken things work even better than intact things. The arms of your sunglasses can be used for stabbing or slashing. Bic Stick pens or sharp pencils are great stabbing tools. Wire coat hangers make handy catching tools to divert hands or trip up attackers, sewing tools (rotary cutters, seam rippers and scissors as well as pins and needles) are as efficient at ripping skin as they are at cutting thread and fabric. There are a multitude of household chemicals which are also extremely effective. If you want to blind someone, vinegar is very useful...but it can be permanent, so make damn sure that's what you want to do! . . . And an excellent bludgeon is a frozen stick of hamburger.

Amazing ideas all around! Thanks for sending them in and I apologize if I missed anyone.

And on that hilarious last image of an angry homeowner beating an attacker over the head with a stick of frozen hamburger, I'll leave you with a bit of homework. :)

Homework

• Look around you right now and identify three things you could use to defend yourself if you were attacked.
• Try to do the same this week when you're in other locations: the car, home, work, the garage, the backyard, a friend's house, etc.

And I'd love to read any stories you have if you ever used an improvised weapon to defend yourself.

Stay safe out there!
______________________

Misty's Writing Update:
We did it! Typed the last words in the second book of our storm series, though there is a touch of editing still to finish.

So, we use the internet and especially Google maps streetview ability to research the details for our story. Did you know you can go all over the world on Google maps and drop down to street level to look around, just like you're standing there.

So cool, isn't it? It doesn't make up for being quarantined, but is a pretty cool way to do a little virtual traveling . . . and location research for post-apoc novels! :)

But we were stumped by searching to figure out if US military trucks would have regular license plates or something else. So if any of you military people out there could chime in, we'd love to make that part of our story accurate.

Next week we'll move on to outlining Book 3 and hope to get it finished by Christmas.

We can't wait until the new year when we can start sharing these books with you, one every month!

Happy reading this week,

— Misty :)

Hi friends,

First of all, thanks to everyone who sent me so many great tips on improvised weapons that can be used for self-defense.

I've got this exciting scene planned where I'm going to use as many of your ideas as I can to help a group of women and children escape from the group of post-apoc baddies who have picked them up.

I'm rubbing my hands with a grin on how many things the supposedly "defenseless" ladies can do to break themselves and their kids free . . . stabbing ball point pens, strangling with extension cords and belts, rocks or cans of food in socks to use as saps, and on and on. I hope it will be an epic scene - so thanks for all the ideas!

So, as Steph and I start plotting book 3 in our post-apoc series, we're about ten days after the 'event', and I'm wondering about all the things we take for granted, the unmentionable stuff lots of books skip over: toilet paper, showers, bathroom facilities, body odor, laundry, women's cycles, etc.

Maybe we can ignore them in stories, but they will come up during a real-life disaster, so I thought I'd share occasional tips on the subject.

Today's tip: Laundry without electricity.

Equipment needed:
• Five gallon plastic bucket with a lid
• Simple toilet plunger
• Saw or drill to cut a circular hole in the bucket's lid and small holes in the rubber of the plunger.

Anyone see where this is going?

Directions
• Cut a hole in the lid, just big enough for the plunger handle to fit.
• Drill 5 - 8 small holes in the plunger itself to allow water to flow better and agitate the clothes.
• Add dirty clothes, water and detergent to the bucket.
• Put plunger in.
• Place the lid over the plunger handle and fasten lid.
• Start manual wash cycle . . . ie. pump the plunger up and down and in circles for five minutes or so.
• Dump out dirty water. Add clean water and repeat for as many rinse cycles as you need.
• Hang clothes on a clothes line and dry (wring out clothes or manually spin them in the air to speed up drying process)

Pretty simple and neat idea, isn't it?

Also, this is something that comes in handy even during non-disaster times when kids come in covered in mud and you'd like to get most of the muck out of their clothes before putting them in the washing machine.

Do you have any other suggestions for how to handle laundry during a power outage or disaster? Please share!

Good luck preparing - all the best,

---------------

Misty's Writing Update:

On to Book 3 in our storm series! We're outlining it this week and will start writing again soon.

So it's been 10 days since the 'event' and we're playing with how modern society will be devolving by that time.

With an average of three days of food in any given town and large parts of the country in big trouble, how long do you think some semblance of government will hang on?

With intermittent power, floods of displaced refugees, supply trucks not running as people start grabbing what they can for their own, it wouldn't probably take long.

What do you think? How long would it take after a major disaster for things to fall apart into a survival mode?

The best part, though, is exploring how our characters refuse to quit fighting despite all the setbacks. Post-apocalyptic stories are, in the end, stories about triumphing over the most difficult disasters.

Happy reading this week,

— Misty :)

Hi friends,

Covid-19 has made this such a crazy year, and this made for a very interesting Halloween.

I thought I'd just share some fun pics and stories of what our awesome Midwest neighborhood did to ensure that the kids could still participate in their favorite Halloween traditions.


With sanitizer, gloves and a lit chute, this neighbor sent treats pouring down into the children's buckets with a smile (behind the mask)


Mr. Skeleton holding a cookie sheet piled with candy came gliding down the driveway on a skateboard to share his treats. Kids watched with wide-open mouths. :)


A full-sized delivery system send treats rocketing down into bags with extra speed.

How about those of you who celebrate Halloween? Any interesting stories from this year? I hope you had an enjoyable holiday despite the current troubles.

All the best!
______________________

Misty's Writing Update:
Kicking out 20K+ words a week to write book 2 in five weeks was a bit overwhelming for both Steph and I.

I'm sure plenty of you have experience with biting off a bit more than you can chew on a big task.

As you've probably learned to do, we are reassessing and tweaking our schedule. We're writing 6 chapters a week instead of 8 and hope it will be a more manageable fit with the rest of our busy lives.

And if you've always wanted to write a book yourselves, join me and whole host of others around the world by joining NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month! The goal is to write 50k words in the month of November.

This is my third year, and it was just the kick in the pants I needed two years ago to keep up my daily writing schedule.

And my 13-year-old son did it with me two years ago, so it's not impossible - give it a try! :)

If you join, add me as a buddy - I'd love to share writing encouragement! :)

Happy reading this week,

— Misty :)

Hi friends,

I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures of Halloween candy chutes last week. It was a fun celebration in the midst of a lot of 'not-fun' happenings. :)

Today is the second in my series on how to recognize warning behaviors that might come before an attack.

Remember Julie's story, with her classmate Anthony who won't take no for an answer when she refuses his offer of a ride home? We left the story with him following her to the bus stop.

And thanks to those of you who wrote back about what Julie should do, with some great suggestions:
• from Tracey: Julie should TRUST HER GUT! Then, quickly scan her surrounds for a safe place to potentially run.
• from Surekha: One thing that struck me was Julie “suddenly” feeling that something was “off” with Anthony, and feeling “uneasy”. That was her intuition talking.
• from Irene: I think Julie is right, this person is a stranger and, while he may be innocent, someone who doesn't listen to the word "No" is not someone you want to be alone with.

Warning Sign #2
Too Many Details

(When lying a person will often add too many details. They think it makes them sound more believable to their victim - "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin de Becker)

"Well, I'm happy to walk you to your bus stop and wait with you," Anthony said as he matched steps with Julie.

She walked faster, no sure how to shake the persistent guy.

"It's no big deal, I promise. I have a sister who I worry about, and I'd hope someone would watch out for her when it's late like this," he said with an easy shrug. "She's into art too, just like us. In fact, she was the one who suggested I take this art class. I've never really taken a class like this. I didn't think I'd enjoy it, but it's actually a lot of fun, don't you think?"

Julie gave a tense nod as she saw the bus stop up ahead. While the street had plenty of traffic whizzing by, the stop was deserted. It had begun to get dark and the street lamps were on.

"I do the opposite of art all day, boring accounting stuff . . ." Anthony continued to drone on with details about his life. Julie wasn't really interested, but it did make him sound pretty normal, not so sinister.

Analysis:

What is Anthony doing here? And how could it lead to danger for Julie?

• There is still the possibility that Anthony is attracted to Julie and determined to pursue her. But, the flood of details without any meaningful interaction from her doesn't bode well for her safety or his personal skills.
• Julies defenses will naturally go down the more she "knows" about Anthony. This flood of details is critical to his attempt to make the transition from stranger to friend, which will naturally lower her defenses.

Were you warned by anything Anthony did this time? Have you ever noticed someone using this technique to "sell" their story to you?

Hopefully thinking these scenarios through will heighten your ability to recognize this type of behavior and feel more confident in keeping yourself safe.

Stay safe out there!

All the best,

— Misty :)
______________________

Misty's Writing Update:

Steph and I are forging into book 3 - about 25k words so far. This is the part I like, when all the fun stuff starts happening and we're foreshadowing for the big stuff at the climax of the story.

My question this week is a bit macabre. Unlike a disease raging through and killing everyone, in our story, society breaks down after the disaster. But many people make it through alive at the start. So what happens to them all? How do they die?

Imagine for a moment, it's 10 days after a big disaster hit and:
• The power has gone off and on
• Water is not working everywhere
• Food delivery trucks have stopped
• Stores are looted
• Occasional tornado or fires have hit.
• Police and/or National Guard are operating in pockets.

So, how would you envision vast numbers of people dying? And what would it look like? Bodies in the street? Big chunks of war zones with bodies? Technically they wouldn't be actually starving to death yet if they have enough drinking water.

I'd love to hear how you think this would play out!

Happy reading this week,

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Hi friends,

So, I mentioned doing laundry during a disaster or after one of the apocalypses in my stories a few weeks ago.

Here's another "unmentionable" topic I don't see addressed very often -- inspired by the "Great Toilet Paper Shortage" of the early months of Covid-19. :)

What do people do for toilet paper in a disaster once their initial supply is gone?

Maybe some of you hard-core campers can chime in on what you use? Or do you just make sure to pack in enough of the soft stuff to last until you get home?

After a little research, it turns out that even the idea that toilet paper is a necessity might be flawed.

Did you know that in many countries, they don't even use the stuff? They prefer to spray water and clean up with a hand instead - generally the left hand. Many consider cleaning with just paper to be unhygienic compared to a real cleansing with water.

I have to admit, it made me reconsider my preconceptions on the topic.

So, I have two ideas for a post-disaster world with no toilet paper in sight:

Water:
• Simple and commonly available. You'd need to practice the process, the squatting position and getting over any hang-ups, but it definitely won't be the hardest thing you'll face in a disaster situation. (Just google "how to use a squatting toilet" to get an idea of the technique)
• Tip: Add a "peri bottle" or two to your supplies. These inexpensive bottles allow you to spray water upwards to clean with. Often used by women to gently cleanse the area after giving birth.


Reusable cloths:
• Use a pair of pinking shears to cut soft cloth into sections about the size of a standard baby wipe. Ideas: an old t-shirt, bath towel, flannel bed sheet, etc.
• You would need a bag to store the used ones in and schedule a regular cleaning . . . maybe that water method isn't sounding so bad?
• Tip: Purchase a pack of "cloth baby wipes" online, put them in your go-bag, and you're all good. :)

So, what would you rather use in the apocalypse? Water or cloth? Or something else entirely?

I figure I'd like to have a plan for this instead of being stuck with no idea when the kids are looking to me for answers. LOL.

Good luck preparing - all the best,

— Misty :)

______________________
Misty's Writing Update:

We're about a third of the way through Storm book #3 and have just finished up with the edits that came back on Book 1.

It's funny, but I still don't plan for all the non-writing tasks like I should. As you get through more books, you need to do a bunch of extra stuff for the earlier ones.

A glimpse into a bit of the behind-the-scenes work of being an author:
• Chat with the editor about fixes that need to be done on a book you thought was mostly finished.
• Do write-ups for book covers and then engage in back-and-forth discussions until everyone is happy.
• Learn how to do marketing and ads on Facebook and Amazon.
• Fix mistakes found by readers and re-upload your books.
• Find other authors to exchange book mentions with (the images up ^ there)
• Write your newsletter to some amazing readers.
• etc., etc.

It takes a lot more work to put a series together than I knew when I first started writing.

Good thing creating the stories and the awesome readers like you are part of it all!!

Happy reading this week,

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg's Website

Hi friends,

I'm glad you found the info in the last newsletter useful. Thanks for all of your great responses and suggestions! As part of being prepared, I like to consider all aspects of surviving in a disaster.

And to all of you who celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you're having a wonderful time this week! We are so excited to get to see my son and his new wife - truly something to be grateful for.

Which brings us to the thought I was considering this week - it applies to the stories I write and even to the current troubles the world is facing.

Can you really give thanks in the middle of an apocalypse? A disaster? A pandemic?

And what kind of difference would it make?

For all of us that enjoy apocalyptical and disaster stories, I don't think it's the destruction and mayhem we are reading for - though the action sequences can be pretty intense and heart-pounding - but it's how the characters deal with huge problems and in the end, overcome them.

They fight past their weaknesses, develop their strengths, turn into leaders and unite the people around them . . . all in spite of horrible, apocalyptic events.

The science of the effects of gratitude is expanding as people study how the practice of counting blessing impacts the brain, combats depression, and improves life.

So, maybe we can take a page out of our favorite post-apoc novels and follow the examples of the main characters who . . . in the face of the strongest opposition, find things to be grateful for as they triumph over obstacles.

Just a few thoughts during the week where we celebrate the good . . . and the hard . . . things in life.

A few things on my #GiveThanks list (in no particular order):
• Good health along with exercise and medication that manage my diabetes.
• Dark chocolate (in moderation . . . see above)
• A family to love: marrying my best friend, six children, and unlimited potential for grandchildren.
• So many good books to read
• The internet and ability to learn about anything I'm interested in/
• Opportunity to pursue my dreams of writing.
• A belief in a Heavenly Father who loves me.
• and many more . . .

What about you? Maybe take a little time to share your gratitude with someone this week. :)

May you enjoy your week and the blessings you have in your life,

— Misty :)
p.s. I really enjoyed this encouraging video to #GiveThanks!

______________________

Misty's Writing Update:

I'm just past 30k on my NaNoWriMo goal to write 50k words in a book during the month of November.

But having Thanksgiving right at the end of the month with all it's entertaining distractions, will ensure I'll be scrambling to get the last few words in by the deadline.

However, I've completed NaNoWriMo for the last two years, and I'm a bit of a sucker for maintaining my streaks, so I'll make it somehow.

How about you? Anyone trying to reach their own writing goals this month?

If so, I wish you the best of luck.

One of my favorite jokes from school was:

"What do you call the person who graduates last in medical school?"

"Doctor."

LOL - it applies to writers too. The only way to fail is to stop writing. :)

Happy reading . . . and writing this week,

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg's Website

Hi friends,

Thanks for the Thanksgiving well wishes and stories you sent me. It's nice to take a little time for gratitude, especially when times are tough.

I spent quite a few newsletters discussing the use of weapons for self-defense, so today I thought I'd go back to a self-defense move everyone can use - no special skills or weapons required.

To envision how effective this technique is, think back to a time you dropped a heavy item on the top of your foot.

Instant pain, hopping around, maybe some colorful language, and your ability to walk and run were definitely hindered.

The Stomp: Self-Defense Tip #9

Um . . . so there isn't really a lot to explain here. The title pretty much says it all. :)

• You stomp on an attacker's foot as hard and fast as possible.
• It hurts them a lot.
• They let go.
• You run.
• They can't run after you.

The main point is that you know about the technique and do a little practice, mental or actual, so you'll remember to use your stomp when adrenalize floods you during an unexpected attack.

An attacker will usually concentrate on controlling your arms. They might pin them against your body, or even grab your arms and wrists.

The reason a stomp is so simple and effective is that an attacker can't do much to control your feet during an attack and your stomp can cause a lot more damage to their feet than any can of beans.

Here's a scenario that has you free from your attacker in seconds:

• In a dark, deserted parking garage (not a good place to be), you lean over to unlock your car.
• A hand clamps over your mouth from behind. A strong arm wraps around your waist, jerks you back into the attacker's body and pins both arms to your sides.
• You jerk your heel up into the attacker's shins and then stomp down as fast and hard as possible.
• Shocked by the sudden, unexpected pain, the attacker cries out and lets go of you.
• You sprint toward the exit, looking for other people while yelling out for help.
• He's in too much pain to chase you. Besides, you're drawing a lot of attention to the situation, so he hobbles away as fast as he can.
• You resolve to avoid being alone in deserted places like that again and to keep a better eye on your surroundings.

I hope you enjoy this simple technique and feel free to share it with others who might find it helps with to their ability to defend themselves.

Enjoy your weekend!

______________________

Misty's Writing Update:

Congrats to anyone else who made the 50k writing goal for NaNoWriMo this month. As usual, I crammed in the last few words just under the deadline. It's a fun time every year to join so many other people working to create stories to share with the world.

Our third storm book is coming along nicely at around 80k and both Steph and I can't wait to share these books with you early next year. We've also got an amazing cover artist who is making the series come together and feel a lot more real. It's such a great feeling to see the book covers for the stories that started as a jumble of ideas and words in your head.

Thanks for all of your support and happy reading this week,

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg's Website

Hi friends,

Quick note: If you haven't actually followed me yet here on Goodread, would you mind clicking the follow button? I'd love to make sure you get notified when my new series comes out!

I'm glad you enjoyed last week's tip on using a stomp against an attacker that grabs you from behind. I got a few great ideas back from readers that I'll be adding to future newsletters. Thanks for all your replies!!

Today, I'm sharing the details of another type of behavior that can warn you about an imminent attack from the amazing book "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin de Becker, which I recommend all women read at least once. (There is some scary/realistic content, so screen it before giving it to your daughters.)

Mr. de Becker's premise is that an attacker will behave in certain ways to influence a potential victim before the attack. 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

And for today:

#3 Charm and Niceness

This one is so simple, but can be very dangerous because . . . it can trick you into letting down your guard.

Scenario #1:
A big man in a scruffy tank-top steps out behind you as you're walking to the parking lot where your car is way at the back because of the busy holiday shopping season. He's smoking with a perpetual glare on his face while multiple tattoos snake up both arms and the sides of his neck.
***
Are you a bit worried? On guard? Maybe you turn around and head back into the store to ask a worker to accompany you to your car?

Scenario #2:
A handsome man dressed in a suit steps out of the store behind you carrying a single bag with a few groceries. When you look back, he gives you a charming smile.

"Here," he says as he takes a few quick steps to catch up with you. "Let me help you with some of those."

"No, thanks" you say. "I've got it."

"Are you sure? I really don't mind," he says as he reaches for one of your bags.

"No," you repeat, pulling the bag away. "I'm fine, thanks."

"It's not a big deal," he says, reaching out again with a smile. "I'm just in town for a conference, so I only needed to pick up a few snacks to tide me over before the company meal. So, I don't have much to carry. I'd be happy to help you with these to your car."
***
Well? Worried or not? And did you happen to notice him using the first and second techniques? Discounting your repeated "No" and sharing too many details in an attempt to disarm your worries?

Yep - he could be much more trouble than the first man with his obviously dangerous looks.

Remember, though, this doesn't mean everyone charming and nice is a secret serial killer - lol.

Just that charm can be one of several tools used by an attacker to get you to let down your guard.

Stay safe out there and I hope you're enjoying the holiday season!

All the best!
______________________

Misty's Writing Update:

We are finishing up the third book in our storm series this week and trying to pick a side character to write a fun bonus chapter about for the true fans like you guys.

I really love hearing from you and seeing your reviews go up on Amazon or Goodreads. It means a lot when most of my writing is done in isolation sitting here in front of my keyboard.

Hearing from a reader is the highlight of my day!

If you've read Combat Origin, my first in series and would like to leave a few words about it on Amazon, here is the link - just scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on "Leave a Customer Review":

Review Combat Origin on Amazon

Thanks for taking the time!

And Steph and I are looking forward to finally sharing our storm series with you early next year!

Happy reading this week,

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website