Misty Zaugg's Blog, page 5
March 14, 2022
Who's seen a possum up close before? Any wild critters in your neighborhood?
Feb. 11, 2022
Hi friends,
We live in Michigan in a typical American suburb, though there are some more native areas nearby, so we'll see the occasional wild critter go by, though usually just a rabbit or two and a host of birds.
So, yesterday, I was in the laundry room and my daughter squeals out that there's a racoon on the back porch, which I thought was cool, even though we've never seen one here before.
Instead, with his head buried into the bowl of burnt popcorn we set outside to cool off, is this guy (his body is about the length of my lower leg or the size of a large pregnant cat, for reference):
An opossum! Though no one pronounces the first "O".
A few friends informed me that they can eat their weight in ticks, so I'm more than happy to have this guy around here considering how many ticks we had the last two summers. They were bad!
Plus, I learned they are marsupials, which is kind of cool, though they have some rat-like features. He's got the cutest little hands full of popcorn, and we all gathered on the other side of the glass door to watch him chowing down. He didn't seem to mind and even tried to take the metal bowl with him at the end.
Overall, it was like our own personal zoo, perfectly safe behind the glass but with a front row seat to check out this native of our local environment. We really enjoyed it!
How about you? What kind of interesting critters do you have native to your area? Do any of them come up close for a visit? I'd love a pic or two!
Enjoy the world out there!
______________________
Misty's Writing Update:
Just passed the 110k word mark in my current book and am working on squeezing in an animal companion before ending the book.
These are always fun and since it's fantasy, I can make up whatever I want. I was thinking about something along the lines of The Ugly Duckling. You know, a creature that is lowly and maybe even ugly, like a rat, that at some point, through magic will reach the true potential of something like a dragon.
Instead of duck to swan, I'm thinking rat to dragon. LOL.
He'll also develop mentally, eventually forming a true bond with the main character.
Any ideas to throw at me? What would be a fun starting point and how would this animal companion evolve into something truly awesome by the end of the series?
This is the fun part of writing fantasy. Whatever you can imagine, you can create.
Enjoy reading this week!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
Hi friends,
We live in Michigan in a typical American suburb, though there are some more native areas nearby, so we'll see the occasional wild critter go by, though usually just a rabbit or two and a host of birds.
So, yesterday, I was in the laundry room and my daughter squeals out that there's a racoon on the back porch, which I thought was cool, even though we've never seen one here before.
Instead, with his head buried into the bowl of burnt popcorn we set outside to cool off, is this guy (his body is about the length of my lower leg or the size of a large pregnant cat, for reference):
An opossum! Though no one pronounces the first "O".
A few friends informed me that they can eat their weight in ticks, so I'm more than happy to have this guy around here considering how many ticks we had the last two summers. They were bad!
Plus, I learned they are marsupials, which is kind of cool, though they have some rat-like features. He's got the cutest little hands full of popcorn, and we all gathered on the other side of the glass door to watch him chowing down. He didn't seem to mind and even tried to take the metal bowl with him at the end.
Overall, it was like our own personal zoo, perfectly safe behind the glass but with a front row seat to check out this native of our local environment. We really enjoyed it!
How about you? What kind of interesting critters do you have native to your area? Do any of them come up close for a visit? I'd love a pic or two!
Enjoy the world out there!
______________________
Misty's Writing Update:
Just passed the 110k word mark in my current book and am working on squeezing in an animal companion before ending the book.
These are always fun and since it's fantasy, I can make up whatever I want. I was thinking about something along the lines of The Ugly Duckling. You know, a creature that is lowly and maybe even ugly, like a rat, that at some point, through magic will reach the true potential of something like a dragon.
Instead of duck to swan, I'm thinking rat to dragon. LOL.
He'll also develop mentally, eventually forming a true bond with the main character.
Any ideas to throw at me? What would be a fun starting point and how would this animal companion evolve into something truly awesome by the end of the series?
This is the fun part of writing fantasy. Whatever you can imagine, you can create.
Enjoy reading this week!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
Check out our snow! Plus, stay warm when the power's out! - Be prepared Tip #9
Feb. 4, 2022
Hi friends,
If you're on the northeastern side of the United States, it's likely you got a bit of snow this week.
Here's the start of our big, scary snow storm. We had winter warnings and expected 10 - 14 inches overnight.
I found it kind of funny that schools had all shut down in anticipation, dance classes were cancelled, the grocery stores were flooded with last minute buyers only to wake up in the morning to this . . .
Needless to say, we were less than impressed.
However, here's a pic of what we ended up with by the following morning:
In the end, we had to shovel three times, the roads were indeed a bit of a pain, but our awesome road crews had them in decent shape in no time.
But, it's always good to be prepared for the worst.
So, I had a simple tip I've always remembered about how to stay warm indoors during a power outage where you have no heat.
Stay warm when the power's out! - Be prepared Tip #9
Think small!
Instead of trying to keep your whole house warm, pick a single room everyone can fit in, preferably a small one with a door that closes.
Dress in layers, spend your time together in the closed room, sharing heat and snuggling up together.
The fun tip that always stuck in my mind was to make an even smaller space to keep warm by setting up a tent in this room and spending your time staying cozy in there.
I'm sure the idea of camping indoors was what appealed to me when I heard that tip as a kid, but it's an easy idea to keep in mind should you ever find yourself needing to stay warm for a bit until the power comes back on.
What about you? Any other good tips for staying warm inside when the heat is out?
Stay warm out there! <3
— Misty :)
______________________
Misty's Writing Update:
Wow! Thanks for all the answers to my questions about what length of book you enjoy reading.
What do you think the majority of you voted for?
. . . more, more story! Just like me, most people voted for #4, full-length novels or #5, series or long books.
A few mentioned that they like a mix of lengths, depending on what they're in the mood for, or if they like a particular author, and I'd have to agree on that, too.
Mostly though, if I get to like a character and a story, I'm disappointed when it ends too soon.
And, for all of you long book readers, you'll be pleased to hear I just crossed the 100k mark in the book I'm writing right now, and I'm not even close to the final climactic moment, so it'll likely be my longest book ever.
Woohoo!
Thanks for your support and especially to Pvt Rym who took the time to leave a review of the first book in our pandemic series: Deadly Lockdown:
"I couldn't stop reading once I started this series. So much going on, it held my interest all the way to the end!"
And thanks to another reader who wrote:
"Very good pandemic series. This book is well written, interesting and tough to put down. Thank you for a good book."
Your reviews are so helpful to the series and even just clicking the "Helpful" button on the nice reviews makes a difference.
Thanks for your support and happy reading this week!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
Hi friends,
If you're on the northeastern side of the United States, it's likely you got a bit of snow this week.
Here's the start of our big, scary snow storm. We had winter warnings and expected 10 - 14 inches overnight.
I found it kind of funny that schools had all shut down in anticipation, dance classes were cancelled, the grocery stores were flooded with last minute buyers only to wake up in the morning to this . . .
Needless to say, we were less than impressed.
However, here's a pic of what we ended up with by the following morning:
In the end, we had to shovel three times, the roads were indeed a bit of a pain, but our awesome road crews had them in decent shape in no time.
But, it's always good to be prepared for the worst.
So, I had a simple tip I've always remembered about how to stay warm indoors during a power outage where you have no heat.
Stay warm when the power's out! - Be prepared Tip #9
Think small!
Instead of trying to keep your whole house warm, pick a single room everyone can fit in, preferably a small one with a door that closes.
Dress in layers, spend your time together in the closed room, sharing heat and snuggling up together.
The fun tip that always stuck in my mind was to make an even smaller space to keep warm by setting up a tent in this room and spending your time staying cozy in there.
I'm sure the idea of camping indoors was what appealed to me when I heard that tip as a kid, but it's an easy idea to keep in mind should you ever find yourself needing to stay warm for a bit until the power comes back on.
What about you? Any other good tips for staying warm inside when the heat is out?
Stay warm out there! <3
— Misty :)
______________________
Misty's Writing Update:
Wow! Thanks for all the answers to my questions about what length of book you enjoy reading.
What do you think the majority of you voted for?
. . . more, more story! Just like me, most people voted for #4, full-length novels or #5, series or long books.
A few mentioned that they like a mix of lengths, depending on what they're in the mood for, or if they like a particular author, and I'd have to agree on that, too.
Mostly though, if I get to like a character and a story, I'm disappointed when it ends too soon.
And, for all of you long book readers, you'll be pleased to hear I just crossed the 100k mark in the book I'm writing right now, and I'm not even close to the final climactic moment, so it'll likely be my longest book ever.
Woohoo!
Thanks for your support and especially to Pvt Rym who took the time to leave a review of the first book in our pandemic series: Deadly Lockdown:
"I couldn't stop reading once I started this series. So much going on, it held my interest all the way to the end!"
And thanks to another reader who wrote:
"Very good pandemic series. This book is well written, interesting and tough to put down. Thank you for a good book."
Your reviews are so helpful to the series and even just clicking the "Helpful" button on the nice reviews makes a difference.
Thanks for your support and happy reading this week!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
January 21, 2022
Thoughts on women using violence to fight back: Self-defense Tip #19
Hi friends,
I love hearing from you and enjoy your feedback on my newsletters. Please keep writing.
In response to my self-defense tips, a reader mentioned how empathy might help turn an enemy into an ally - and I agree!
Many times, showing a bit of kindness or understanding can help defuse a volatile situation. Recognizing cues and body language can also aid in recognizing early warning signs when discussion can still be effective.
I hope I've always made it clear that deciding to use violence to defend oneself is a very personal choice, and I support wherever anyone on the spectrum someone chooses to stand.
Personally, I consider hurting someone else as the very last resort, only to be used after doing my best to recognize and avoid dangerous situations, talking my way out or just leaving an escalating confrontation.
Would you be surprised to hear that I've never used my martial art skills "in real life" to fight off an attacker?
And yet, they have kept me safe on many specific occasions. Both my knowledge, confidence and negotiating skills have enabled me to avoid and/or exit situations that could have turned dangerous.
My heart hurts to know that 1 in 6 women in America is a victim of a completed or attempted rape, and I plan to always use the bit of influence I have to teach women and girls how to protect themselves from that horrific experience.
I'm curious what you think? How can we both be safe and also try to exemplify the decent values we try to pattern our lives after?
Food for thought.
And on a more practical note, it is valuable to decide your personal comfort level with violence and fighting back before you find yourself in a dangerous situation where hesitation might make the decision for you.
Please be safe! <3
______________________
Misty's Writing Update:
So, what would you think of a magic academy class that mixed meditation with a study of anatomy? Plus, a medical torso model named Freddy? LOL
Well, if mage students want to use their elements to heal their bodies during battles, they'd better know what exactly is under their skin. No cheater healing spells in my books!
How else would I get to slip some fun medicine and anatomy into my stories?
Oh, and are you curious about the inspiration for Freddy?
He is based on the medical torso I bought to teach my kids anatomy while homeschooling. He's made of painted plastic and full of realistic organs all fitted together like a 3D puzzle under the skin and rib cage front piece.
Too bad none of my kids were medically inclined and mostly endured my lessons with grimaces and wincing.
I wonder if they'll be appalled or think it's funny that Freddy has made an appearance in one of my books. :D
What do you think?
Happy reading this week!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
I love hearing from you and enjoy your feedback on my newsletters. Please keep writing.
In response to my self-defense tips, a reader mentioned how empathy might help turn an enemy into an ally - and I agree!
Many times, showing a bit of kindness or understanding can help defuse a volatile situation. Recognizing cues and body language can also aid in recognizing early warning signs when discussion can still be effective.
I hope I've always made it clear that deciding to use violence to defend oneself is a very personal choice, and I support wherever anyone on the spectrum someone chooses to stand.
Personally, I consider hurting someone else as the very last resort, only to be used after doing my best to recognize and avoid dangerous situations, talking my way out or just leaving an escalating confrontation.
Would you be surprised to hear that I've never used my martial art skills "in real life" to fight off an attacker?
And yet, they have kept me safe on many specific occasions. Both my knowledge, confidence and negotiating skills have enabled me to avoid and/or exit situations that could have turned dangerous.
My heart hurts to know that 1 in 6 women in America is a victim of a completed or attempted rape, and I plan to always use the bit of influence I have to teach women and girls how to protect themselves from that horrific experience.
I'm curious what you think? How can we both be safe and also try to exemplify the decent values we try to pattern our lives after?
Food for thought.
And on a more practical note, it is valuable to decide your personal comfort level with violence and fighting back before you find yourself in a dangerous situation where hesitation might make the decision for you.
Please be safe! <3
______________________
Misty's Writing Update:
So, what would you think of a magic academy class that mixed meditation with a study of anatomy? Plus, a medical torso model named Freddy? LOL
Well, if mage students want to use their elements to heal their bodies during battles, they'd better know what exactly is under their skin. No cheater healing spells in my books!
How else would I get to slip some fun medicine and anatomy into my stories?
Oh, and are you curious about the inspiration for Freddy?
He is based on the medical torso I bought to teach my kids anatomy while homeschooling. He's made of painted plastic and full of realistic organs all fitted together like a 3D puzzle under the skin and rib cage front piece.
Too bad none of my kids were medically inclined and mostly endured my lessons with grimaces and wincing.
I wonder if they'll be appalled or think it's funny that Freddy has made an appearance in one of my books. :D
What do you think?
Happy reading this week!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
January 14, 2022
Don't put your keys between your fingers! Self-defense Tip #18
Hi friends,
I hope the new year is treating you well and anyone sick or with illness in the family recovers quickly!
And a quick note: if you'd like Amazon to let you know when my new books come out - go here and click the "Follow" button under my name.
Misty Zaugg Amazon Page
Today's self-defense tip is a quick and simple one.
If you're paid much attention to self-defense ideas, chances are you're heard about putting your keys between your fingers and using a "Wolverine" fist to strike out at an attacker.
As I've always recommended with new techniques, please test and practice them for yourself - gently, at first please. If you try striking like this against a rolled-up towel, you'll quickly find that the keys often shift up and down like levers and can hurt or cut the skin between your fingers.
Even worse, the head of the key will dig quite painfully into the inside of your palm, worse the harder you hit.
The third reason this technique is a bad idea? You have to get close enough to punch an attacker to use it.
Instead, the time you spend carefully interlacing the keys between your fingers during a dangerous situation should probably be spent running toward safety.
If you'd really like to use your keys to help you fight back, here are a few more practical ideas:
1. Hold them so one pokes out the back or pinky side of your fist, like an ice pick. Works well when jabbing an attacker who comes from behind to grab you. The sharp pain will hopefully make him let go so you can escape.
2. Hold the keys with a single one held by the thumb against the joint of your closed index finger, like you would hold a knife to stab forward. Similar to a knife, it can be used to jab at face, eyes, hands and other vulnerable places not protected by clothing and muscle.
3. Create a ranged weapon. You know those long lanyards people like to attach to their large bundle of keys. Those are a perfect weapon to sue from a distance. Lash out with the bundle of keys toward the face, head and hands from a distance, giving you a better shot of getting away.
4. The best way to use your keys is to have the correct one ready so you can quickly enter your car or house without needing to pause in a vulnerable position for very long. Make sure to keep an eye on your environment as you're opening the lock. A back kick can be very effective from this position if attacked from behind. But more on that next time! :)
Good luck on preparing and building confidence in defending yourself. Each little step helps!
Enjoy your new year!
______________________
Misty's Writing Update:
I'm back!
I had a very nice 3k day this week where the story kept flowing so well, I just ignored the list of things I needed to do.
Taking my diabetes and kidney stone medication a few hours late is not a good thing, but I'll try to do better next time.
My main character in the story, a teenage street kid, has finally arrived at the mage academy as a conscripted student who has unlocked a secret magic no one has seen for generations.
He's cagey enough to know he needs to hide it, and the chapter I just wrote listed out all the class and training options for the first-year mages. It was pretty fun to brainstorm how you would go about training mages to get strong as quickly as possible in an empire short on mages and being overrun by hordes of beasts.
So, a question for my fantasy academy fans out there. What kind of classes would you love to see in a magic academy?
Shoot me some suggestions and they just might make it into the story!
Happy reading this week!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
I hope the new year is treating you well and anyone sick or with illness in the family recovers quickly!
And a quick note: if you'd like Amazon to let you know when my new books come out - go here and click the "Follow" button under my name.
Misty Zaugg Amazon Page
Today's self-defense tip is a quick and simple one.
If you're paid much attention to self-defense ideas, chances are you're heard about putting your keys between your fingers and using a "Wolverine" fist to strike out at an attacker.
As I've always recommended with new techniques, please test and practice them for yourself - gently, at first please. If you try striking like this against a rolled-up towel, you'll quickly find that the keys often shift up and down like levers and can hurt or cut the skin between your fingers.
Even worse, the head of the key will dig quite painfully into the inside of your palm, worse the harder you hit.
The third reason this technique is a bad idea? You have to get close enough to punch an attacker to use it.
Instead, the time you spend carefully interlacing the keys between your fingers during a dangerous situation should probably be spent running toward safety.
If you'd really like to use your keys to help you fight back, here are a few more practical ideas:
1. Hold them so one pokes out the back or pinky side of your fist, like an ice pick. Works well when jabbing an attacker who comes from behind to grab you. The sharp pain will hopefully make him let go so you can escape.
2. Hold the keys with a single one held by the thumb against the joint of your closed index finger, like you would hold a knife to stab forward. Similar to a knife, it can be used to jab at face, eyes, hands and other vulnerable places not protected by clothing and muscle.
3. Create a ranged weapon. You know those long lanyards people like to attach to their large bundle of keys. Those are a perfect weapon to sue from a distance. Lash out with the bundle of keys toward the face, head and hands from a distance, giving you a better shot of getting away.
4. The best way to use your keys is to have the correct one ready so you can quickly enter your car or house without needing to pause in a vulnerable position for very long. Make sure to keep an eye on your environment as you're opening the lock. A back kick can be very effective from this position if attacked from behind. But more on that next time! :)
Good luck on preparing and building confidence in defending yourself. Each little step helps!
Enjoy your new year!
______________________
Misty's Writing Update:
I'm back!
I had a very nice 3k day this week where the story kept flowing so well, I just ignored the list of things I needed to do.
Taking my diabetes and kidney stone medication a few hours late is not a good thing, but I'll try to do better next time.
My main character in the story, a teenage street kid, has finally arrived at the mage academy as a conscripted student who has unlocked a secret magic no one has seen for generations.
He's cagey enough to know he needs to hide it, and the chapter I just wrote listed out all the class and training options for the first-year mages. It was pretty fun to brainstorm how you would go about training mages to get strong as quickly as possible in an empire short on mages and being overrun by hordes of beasts.
So, a question for my fantasy academy fans out there. What kind of classes would you love to see in a magic academy?
Shoot me some suggestions and they just might make it into the story!
Happy reading this week!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
January 7, 2022
Cheap or free 5-gallon buckets? Be prepared Tip #8
Hi friends,
If you're setting new goals for the year and want to include food storage on that list, you'll likely need a bunch of 5-gallon buckets. They are an essential part of storage - both food and items.
They are critical if you are storing things in a basement that can flood or areas that might have mice, pantry moths and other critters that will ruin your storage items.
If you only need a few, buying them is probably simpler. You can get generic ones at Walmart and hardware stores in the US for about $4-$6.
So how did I get more than thirty for free when we began storing bulk food?
1. Bakeries: Check local bakeries and even the ones in warehouse stores or grocery outlets. They use food grade buckets for their bulk frosting and will often give them away to you for free or a token amount like $1.
Pros: Food grade. Cheap or free. They smell yummy.
Cons: Frosting is greasy - you'll need a LOT of soap for the initial cleaning. Think - all the kids on the front lawn with the hose, sponges and a couple of bottles of soap. Ask me how I know :)
2. Restaurants: Check with local restaurants. They use them for all sorts of items like sauces, pickles, and other ingredients. Again, often free or cheap.
Pros: Food grade. Cheap or free. May be easier to clean than frosting buckets.
Cons: Smell is hit and miss. It's almost impossible to get the pickle smell out of a bucket. lol.
What about you guys? Any good ideas that have worked for you? Please share. :)
I hope you're having a good new year and good luck if you're working on your food storage!
______________________
Misty's Writing Update:
I'm not immune to the burst of motivation that comes with the holidays being over and a new year starting.
I've still got congestion and a bit of a cough, but it turns out that typing on a keyboard is a low intensity activity. I've been getting words down for the last four days and just reached 50k words in my current book. I'm excited to finally be making significant progress.
Woohoo! Go me! :)
How about you? Do you have a goal you're making progress on?
If you're like me, you have highs and lows with motivation, so be patient with yourself and make sure to give yourself credit for all the things you've been doing but discounting.
We really do accomplish a lot more than we usually give ourselves credit for.
Good luck with everything!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
If you're setting new goals for the year and want to include food storage on that list, you'll likely need a bunch of 5-gallon buckets. They are an essential part of storage - both food and items.
They are critical if you are storing things in a basement that can flood or areas that might have mice, pantry moths and other critters that will ruin your storage items.
If you only need a few, buying them is probably simpler. You can get generic ones at Walmart and hardware stores in the US for about $4-$6.
So how did I get more than thirty for free when we began storing bulk food?
1. Bakeries: Check local bakeries and even the ones in warehouse stores or grocery outlets. They use food grade buckets for their bulk frosting and will often give them away to you for free or a token amount like $1.
Pros: Food grade. Cheap or free. They smell yummy.
Cons: Frosting is greasy - you'll need a LOT of soap for the initial cleaning. Think - all the kids on the front lawn with the hose, sponges and a couple of bottles of soap. Ask me how I know :)
2. Restaurants: Check with local restaurants. They use them for all sorts of items like sauces, pickles, and other ingredients. Again, often free or cheap.
Pros: Food grade. Cheap or free. May be easier to clean than frosting buckets.
Cons: Smell is hit and miss. It's almost impossible to get the pickle smell out of a bucket. lol.
What about you guys? Any good ideas that have worked for you? Please share. :)
I hope you're having a good new year and good luck if you're working on your food storage!
______________________
Misty's Writing Update:
I'm not immune to the burst of motivation that comes with the holidays being over and a new year starting.
I've still got congestion and a bit of a cough, but it turns out that typing on a keyboard is a low intensity activity. I've been getting words down for the last four days and just reached 50k words in my current book. I'm excited to finally be making significant progress.
Woohoo! Go me! :)
How about you? Do you have a goal you're making progress on?
If you're like me, you have highs and lows with motivation, so be patient with yourself and make sure to give yourself credit for all the things you've been doing but discounting.
We really do accomplish a lot more than we usually give ourselves credit for.
Good luck with everything!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
December 31, 2021
Last Day! Grab your Huge Post-Apoc Christmas E-Magazine - Free.
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!
______________________
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,
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!
______________________
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
December 24, 2021
Merry Christmas! Plus my easy Peppermint Fudge Recipe :)
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
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
Stocking Stuffer Ideas for your Favorite Prepper!
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!
______________________
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
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!
______________________
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
December 16, 2021
Our Gift to you: Huge Post-Apoc Christmas E-Magazine: Free to enjoy. :)
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!
______________________
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
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!
______________________
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
December 11, 2021
Here's hoping my surgery went well! I'm grateful for good doctors. :)
Hi friends,
Thanks you to everyone who joined me in writing three things a day that you're grateful for.
I'm still planning on doing it for two more weeks, so anyone who'd like to jump aboard, feel free. It's actually a nice few moments each day to sit and contemplate what I'm grateful for that day - and the rule not to duplicate an item on the list during the three weeks is forcing me to stretch a bit. Love it! :)
I'm writing this ahead of time because by the time you read this, I will have had my second kidney stone surgery on Thursday. Eek!
Thankfully, I have an amazing doctor who is a bit of an expert in the field, and I'm praying he'll be able to get all the stones out this time without leaving any behind to bother me in the future.
The healing last time was a bit teeth-clenching - everything is painful and they leave this stent-thing in for a week or two. Fingers crossed it heals up more quickly this time.
In the end, though, I'm extremely grateful for the medical care I have access to and do my best not to take it for granted.
Thanks to all of you who have sent me well wishes - you're such an amazing group of friends!
I'll check back in next week and let you know how things went.
Happy holidays to you and your family!
______________________
Misty's Writing Update:
Well, I got a couple of days of writing done in the first part of the week, but between pre-surgery covid tests, CT scans, etc, things got a bit too busy to write much more.
Hopefully, this is early enough in the month that I'll be all recovered and ready to enjoy the holidays with my family.
Oh, and did I tell you the good news?
My son, his wife and my very beautiful granddaughter will be coming out to visit. I can't wait to hold her again.
How about you? I hope you have nice plans for the holidays and get to spend them with the people you love.
All the best to all of you!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
Thanks you to everyone who joined me in writing three things a day that you're grateful for.
I'm still planning on doing it for two more weeks, so anyone who'd like to jump aboard, feel free. It's actually a nice few moments each day to sit and contemplate what I'm grateful for that day - and the rule not to duplicate an item on the list during the three weeks is forcing me to stretch a bit. Love it! :)
I'm writing this ahead of time because by the time you read this, I will have had my second kidney stone surgery on Thursday. Eek!
Thankfully, I have an amazing doctor who is a bit of an expert in the field, and I'm praying he'll be able to get all the stones out this time without leaving any behind to bother me in the future.
The healing last time was a bit teeth-clenching - everything is painful and they leave this stent-thing in for a week or two. Fingers crossed it heals up more quickly this time.
In the end, though, I'm extremely grateful for the medical care I have access to and do my best not to take it for granted.
Thanks to all of you who have sent me well wishes - you're such an amazing group of friends!
I'll check back in next week and let you know how things went.
Happy holidays to you and your family!
______________________
Misty's Writing Update:
Well, I got a couple of days of writing done in the first part of the week, but between pre-surgery covid tests, CT scans, etc, things got a bit too busy to write much more.
Hopefully, this is early enough in the month that I'll be all recovered and ready to enjoy the holidays with my family.
Oh, and did I tell you the good news?
My son, his wife and my very beautiful granddaughter will be coming out to visit. I can't wait to hold her again.
How about you? I hope you have nice plans for the holidays and get to spend them with the people you love.
All the best to all of you!
— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website
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