Misty Zaugg's Blog, page 6

My six-year-old is grateful for . . . Stuffing? :) The science of Gratitude.

Hi friends,

First of all - thank you for all of you who wrote me about how you use a TENS unit for chronic pain. Many of you suffer a lot more than me, and I admire how much you keep on keeping on. Hats off to you!

For those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you had a beautiful one with your family!

For everyone else, did you know that actively looking for positive things and being grateful can influence all kinds of things in your life?

Like what?
• helps with stress
• diminishes depression
• strengthens relationships
• increases sense of well-being (ie. you're happier!)
• improves resilience - difficult things don't throw you as much.
• and lots more

Pretty impressive, isn't?

Since I know all this, you might wonder if I've tried a gratitude journal or other experiment.

Well, I'm the kind of person who often knows what's best for me to do, but ends up with lots of good intentions I don't always follow through on. I usually need a push.

Sound familiar?

So, here's a little push. Would any of you like to join me in writing down three things a day for three weeks that you're grateful for?

I really just need one or two of you to join me . . . it's always more fun to work on a task with friends.

I'm challenging my kids to participate, too.

Starting today, here is my 6-year-old daughter's list:
1. Stuffing (as in the Thanksgiving dish)
2. Felix - the dog we're watching this week.
3. Gum . . . ice cube artic grape flavor, in case you were wondering which specific flavor. :)

And mine (in no particular order):
1. Dark chocolate
2. God
3. A husband who hugs me

Another rule for this challenge is you can't write the same thing twice. I hear that around the end of the first week, you run out of everyday ideas and begin to search the world around you for things you've never noticed before.

That is the mind shift that I'm shooting for. To train my brain to go through life looking for the good, instead of the tendency we often have to latch onto difficulties and disappointments and worry at them over and over in our minds.

Send me a quick note if you want to join me. I'd love to put together a newsletter down the road about your experiences if you'd like to share.

I hope you and your family are enjoying the holiday season!
______________________

Misty's Writing Update:

I just finished writing my post-apoc Christmas story this morning.

I don't want to spoil it, but it's loosely based on an amazing WW1 story that I've always loved since I first heard it as a kid.

Did you know that during the first Christmas of WW1, some of the world powers pushed for a Christmas cease-fire, but couldn't get everyone to agree?

However, across the no-man's land between trenches up and down the line, soldiers began to spontaneously sing Christmas carols, the same songs, but different languages.

One side finally took the leap and climbed up out of their trench, hands raised to show they were unarmed.

The other side was rightfully suspicious of the soldiers that had just been killing them the day before, but they didn't shoot. When the peace continued to hold, they took the risk themselves and climbed up into the no-man's land that still held the cooling bodies of their comrades.

For a single day, they put aside their enmity, sang carols, shared treats and are rumored to even have played a friendly game of soccer.

It still touches me to imagine the amazing event.

I consider myself both a realist and an optimist. While I like to be prepared and plan for the worst, I hope for the best from the world and the people around me.

I'll let you know when our Christmas project is live and send you the link for your free copy.

Then, you'll have to let me know how you like my version of the WW1 Christmas ceasefire.

Enjoy your reading this week!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Electricity Zaps Pain? Try a TENS unit: Health Tip #3

Hi friends,

Pain is a touchy subject. Kidney stone pain and labor pain are two I'm very familiar with.

And just this week I had this 5mm sucker followed by a bunch of baby stones stuck inside me:



As many of you know, I always try alternative health ideas before going the medication and/or surgery route.

Let me introduce the awesome TENS unit! I love mine!

Basically, you attach little gel pads to either side of the painful area, click some buttons, and then electrical impulses get sent between the pads. These impulses help interfere with the pain signals, kind of like rubbing an area or putting a hot pad on it . . . only better.

To me, it feels like a pleasant buzzing sensation that drowns out a significant chunk of the pain - though results vary by person.

What does it help with? From personal experience . . .

1. Kidney stones!!!

Kidney stone pain is brutally intense and even on ibuprofen, acetaminophen and/or the strong codeine stuff, it can still hurt like crazy during an attack.

During an episode, I place one or two pairs of pads on either side of the area(s) that is hurting and turn the buzzing up high. It drowns out a few notches of the pain, which helps me stay in control and stop shaking.

2. Labor!

Just last month, I helped my daughter-in-law during the birth of my first grandbaby. She used hypnosis to relax, but at times found the contractions too intense.

I had my TENS unit with me, just in case of a kidney stone episode and suddenly wondered if it would help her. I quickly looked it up and found that in Europe, they often use TENS as a safe and non-invasive labor aid.

I quickly affixed the pads to her lower back in two sets about six inches apart from each other and on either side of her spine. We fiddled with the controls until we found a level you liked.

Within a minute, she relaxed and gave me this surprised look that it actually worked. LOL. Me and my crazy ideas. :)

3. Preparedness and first aid supply?

Yes, it requires electricity, but one charge will keep it going for days (I still haven't charged it from the 22-hour labor and using it a bunch this week for kidney stones)

So, I'm thinking a solar charger and the TENS unit might be a godsend to help with injuries during a natural disaster or when pain medications are not available.

What do you think?

Have any of you used a TENS unit successfully? I'd love to hear what you've used it for.

As for the future, I've got another kidney stone surgery coming up the beginning of December, so I plan on pulling it out again during what I hope is a speedy recovery.

I hope you and your families are all doing well!

______________________

Misty's Writing Update:

I am back from Vegas and desperately trying to catch up on the NaNoWriMo challenge.

Have you heard of it?

It's a fun challenge a bunch of people do every November: write a 50k word novel in a single month.

When I first started a participating a few years ago, it was a big deal for me to write fast and complete a big project like that. With a bunch of books under my belt now, I still enjoy the challenge of staying focused on writing words when the business aspects of being an author seem to distract me a lot more.

So, I'm just shy of 40k words on my new mage academy book and enjoying how well it's flowing.

I also took some time today to write a post-apoc Christmas-themed short story for this fun joint venture with a few other amazing authors.

We're all adding a bio about ourselves, a short story or article, some freebies prizes and a bunch of other fun ideas.

And the entire project will be free to download - a gift to our amazing readers this Christmas season.

Want to find out how a simple Christmas carol can defuse a post-apoc standoff? I hope you'll enjoy reading my short story when the project is done! I'm thinking of including an informative prepper article, too. We'll see how much time I have.

I hope you're all enjoying the holiday season and able to spend time with friends and family.

Stay safe!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Guess which Authors I met this week? Fan-girling here! :)

Hi friends,

I'm in Vegas at a huge conference of independent authors and totally loving it!

There were so many presentations and workshops to go to that I'm overloaded on information with tons of new business ideas, not to mention the tips on how to improve my stories!

But the most fun part of the whole experience was meeting other authors! Some, I instantly clicked with and others, I've been enjoying their stories for quite a while, so I'm a bit of a fan-girl asking for a picture.

Here are just a few of the amazing people I met:



Left to right: Me :) , Kyla Stone, Boyd Craven, Franklin Horton, JJ Pike, and Jay Falconer.

An awesome line-up of post-apoc authors spoke to us about their careers, advice for writing and where they see the future of the genre going.

Apparently it's going to continue to grow as more people explore what it would be like and how characters could react to hard times ahead. :)

Here are: Dakota Krout, Ramon Meija, Michael Chatfield, Eric Ugland, Matt Dinniman, & James Hunter



I was so excited to meet a bunch of incredible litrpg authors as I begin writing in the genre. Dakota ran this panel of top authors like a game show, points and all. The winner? Eric Ugland! :)



And I finally met my FB post-apoc author friend, Barbara Gilbert, in real life. She was kind enough to always save me a seat and made me feel welcome!

I think authors are such a fun bunch of people, even if we occasionally get all geeky about things like story structure and Amazon ads.

And now . . . after over a month of being away from home, I'm really excited to get back and see the family!!!

I've never been away this long, which makes me think of all the sacrifices those in our armed services make. May God bless them and their families!

How about you? What's the longest you've been away from your family? Hopefully you'll be together for the holidays.

All the best!

_____________________

Misty's Writing Update:

Want to guess if I got any writing done while at the author conference in Vegas . . . ?

LOL.

Of course, not!

Some authors here did, but I figured this was an amazing chance to learn more about the business, and even better, get to meet other authors like me.

If you've ever had a hobby that isn't super common, you know what I'm talking about. You explain details to friends or family, and their eyes sort of glaze over as they make small nods, obviously being polite until you finish.

But when you find a fellow enthusiast, you both practically gush fountains of words, because you've finally found someone enthusiastic, who understands.

That's what it's like at this conference. "KDP Countdown deals, how to get a Bookbub, click-through rates, best blurb practices, pantsing vs. outlining" . . . we talk and talk about all kinds of author terms because we've finally found our 'tribe'.

Hopefully, this will help me become a better writer and business woman, so I can bring you even more awesome stories!

And without all of you, none of this would be possible, so thanks again for supporting me in this still new-feeling venture of being an author.

You're the best!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Got Cold Sores? Grab Vodka and Lemon Balm. Herbal Tip #3

Hi friends,

So Covid finally hit us, but thankfully only a mild version!

While I was in Utah, my teenage son had two friends over for his birthday, only to find out that one boy's father felt bad that evening and eventually both the father, the son and then one of my sons tested positive.

Thankfully, my 13-year-old only had a mild fever, cough, sore throat and a few sniffles. So, if we hadn't know it was covid, we'd have thought it was a mild cold.

And since I'm planning on going to this awesome author's conference: 20Books Vegas next week, I decided to cancel my flight home and go directly to Vegas on Monday.

I'm pretty bummed not to get a few days with my family, since this is the longest I've ever been away from them - 4 1/2 weeks by the time I get home, but I definitely wouldn't want to take a chance with covid before going to a large conference like that.

So, I'm at my brother's house for a couple of days instead, catching up on my sleep and missing my little granddaughter resting on my chest.
***
Herbal Tip #3
Lemon Balm heals Cold Sores!

Cold sores aren't a major illness, but for anyone who's had them, they can be a big annoyance - painful, unsightly and slow to heal.

The good news is that there is an effective herb that can speed that process up: lemon balm.

Lemon balm is in the mint family, which means it is super easy to grow, so much so that it will spread out into your yard and garden if you let it. But it gives off a fresh lemony scent when mowed down, so it's all good. :)

How to use it? Don't worry, it's super easy.

This is a fresh herb extract, since making lemon balm tincture from dried herb isn't as effective. (With the extra water being pulled out of the fresh herb, stronger alcohol is better)

1. Cut fresh lemon balm, rinse and let air dry before chopping coarsely - just enough to make it easy to put into a jar.
2. Pack it tightly to fill an 8 oz. or pint glass jar, depending on how much you have.
3. Buy the cheapest 100 proof Vodka (50% alcohol) or if you want stronger but pricier, Everclear is 190 proof (95% alcohol).
4. Pour alcohol over the fresh cut herb. Fill right up to the top and put on a lid, trying to leave as little air in the jar as possible.
5. Put in a dark cupboard and shake as often as you remember for the next six weeks - daily is awesome, but don't worry if you forget. (You can use it earlier if needed)
6. Dab a little on your cold sore throughout the day, starting as soon as you feel it emerging and it can heal in half the time.

That's it! Not much harder than making a cup of tea. :)

I like to keep some in a glass, brown dropper bottle in the bathroom or any container with some Q-tips will also work. Seeing it in the bathroom helps me remember to place a drop or two on my finger and then dab on the cold sore throughout the day. (fyi - it works for all types of herpes sores).

Here's the jar of tincture I just helped my sister-in-law make (it's missing a bit at the top, because we poured some off today):



I'd love to hear how it goes if you try making some. :)
***
I hope all of you and your families are safe and doing well!
______________________

Misty's Writing Update:

I finally had to make some decisions on the game mechanics in my new litrpg book.

I've been running through the world-building in my mind for a while, but I finally got to a chapter where Pax is involved in a battle with a huge lava lizard that he helps kill.

Now what?

For those of you who like playing fantasy-based games, you know that killing monsters is a big part of advancing in levels, acquiring loot and increasing your skills and abilities.

I had to decide what kind of rewards Pax and the other characters in my new world would get from killing a monster.

I decided to go with a more natural game logic - the skills, spells and attributes like strength and intelligence increase when they are used, with increased gains from extra practice or using them in new and more difficult situations.

And my characters will get 'loot' from killing monsters, but more in the form of valuable parts that can be harvested/butchered from the monsters themselves, instead of a fancy new sword suddenly appearing above the corpse.

For example, skin from a lava monster can be crafted into fire-resistant leather armor, or feathers from an air-based monster can add a speed or decreased weight bonus to a crafted item. And the biggest form of loot is the monster's core containing elemental magic that can be used to power magical devices in the fantasy world.

It's definitely a fun exercise that is stretching both my creativity and logic - because it still has to make sense, right? :)

If you're an avid gamer, feel free to offer suggestions!

And enjoy your reading this week.

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Defend yourself by being rude? Self-defense Tip #17

Hi friends,

Wow! I'm loving being a grandma, but I kind of forgot how tiring the interrupted sleep thing is. LOL. Turns out sleep math is strange. 2 hours of sleep plus 3 hours of sleep plus another 3 hours is NOT the same as 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep in a row!

But when tiny, adorable eyes are staring up at me at 3 in the morning . . . it's heart-melting!

Hopefully my little granddaughter will figure out the day/night thing pretty soon so all of us can be a little more well-rested.

***
Self-defense Tip #17
Being rude can be safer!

Women are often trained to be polite and accommodating in social situations, but that can backfire when being targeted by a predator.

In those cases, learning to say 'No' forcefully, holding up a hand to stop someone, or simply leaving a dangerous situation - all somewhat 'rude' behaviors - can be life-saving.

I'll give you a few ideas to mull over and let me know what you think:

1. Your date asks, "Can I come in for a few minutes?" You've been feeling uncomfortable with him all evening. The polite thing would be to acquiesce . . . but not the safest. Instead, give him a confident 'No' followed by moving into your house and locking the door. No explanation necessary. Trust your instincts!
2. "Excuse me, miss?" asks a man in a polite voice while approaching you in a dark parking lot as you walk to your car. Politeness would dictate that you stop and see what he wants. It would be safer to ignore the man or shake your head as you continue on your way without stopping. You are under no obligation to stop and talk.
3. A co-worker at a party leans in for a hug you don't want. Do you suffer through it with long-suffering politeness? No! Instead try one of these: side-step, use a humorous 'Not happening' if you're having a hard time with being too abrupt, or even a quick heel palm to the chest, just solid enough to interrupt his motion will work wonders.

Many women have been drilled on polite manners throughout their lives until it is second nature, and the confident but abrupt actions listed above will sound difficult and even wrong.

If you've felt that way before, take some time to run through a few example scenarios and find ways that you can stand up for yourself and stay safe.

If you have a scenario you need suggestions about, just ask! I'd love give you a few ideas or see what our readers can come up with collectively . . . maybe a new "Ask Misty" feature. :)

Or if you've been in a situation where being forceful and strong (sometimes called rude) has helped protect you and get you out of a bad situation, please share with all of us. Success stories are encouraging!

It's not rude to stay safe!

I hope this concept is helpful to mentally prepare ahead of time to stop a dangerous situation from escalating. Be safe first, and polite second. :)

***

Well, new mom and I are trading off during the night so we're both a bit sleep deprived, but smiling all the time at the new cutie.

I hope you're having a happy week!

______________________

Misty's Writing Update:

Baby is off to her first doctor's visit. I've turned on some music and am enjoying pounding out another chapter in my book. I find that upbeat music seems to help the words flow better and the story grow faster.

What about you? Do you work to music? I could use some suggestions for upbeat tunes that would be a good backdrop to writing action scenes.

And I'm also really enjoying this world building after spending so long writing in "the real world" during my post-apoc series. With this one, I can pretty much make it all up - the tech, the transportation, the food, the monsters, the laws, the magic . . . all of it! :)

While it is definitely more time-consuming than writing a story set in a current American city like St. Louis, it's really a burst of creative freedom that makes me smile.

Enjoy your reading this week!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Do you know what an irrigation syringe is? Health Tip #2

Hi friends,

No, no baby yet, as I'm writing this on Monday - the due date!

. . . we are just the teensiest bit impatient, but happy to wait for labor to start naturally, so baby has the best chance.

I'll add a little note here if the baby comes before this newsletter goes out on Friday . . .

And thanks for the awesome grandma name suggestions!! It was so fun to hear from all of you and read some very interesting and fun family stories about grandmothers and their names!

The name with the most votes was . . .

. . . Grandma Misty!

However, followed very closely by a version of Nanna or Nana Misty, too, since it's easy for young grandchildren to say.

I may just see what my granddaughter calls me, because there were a lot of stories of fun names given by the kids themselves including Big Mama, Gee, and even Banana! LOL.

Whatever she calls me, I'm just going to be happy to hold her!

And here's a quick tip for your first aid supplies:

***
Health Tip #2
An irrigation syringe:
A simple, useful addition to your first aid kit!

Speaking of babies, you know the syringes you use to give them liquid medicine?

Or the plastic syringes with a small curved tip you might get to keep a tooth extraction site rinsed out?

Don't throw those away.

Add them to your first aid kit, and they will come in very handy next time you try to rinse out a bleeding cut or dirty wound, especially ones full of dirt or road gravel.

Fill the syringe with clean water (or DIY saline solution by adding a bit of salt - it doesn't sting like plain water) and then repeatedly spray the wound with a gently stream to remove any foreign matter before gooping it up with some antibiotic and/or herbal ointment and applying a bandage.

If you don't have one lying around, a dosing syringe can be found in drug stores, usually near the thermometer and pill boxes. Or go online and search for "irrigation syringe".



They shouldn't cost more than a few dollars and have multiple handy uses in a first aid kit. (I even use a curved tip one while traveling as a manual water pic to keep hard-to-reach crowns clean)

Simple and handy!

***

Well, I'm off for another check that we have everything needed in the baby bag . . . thanks again for all the wonderful Grandma suggestions! I'll keep you updated on the grandbaby!
______________________

Misty's Writing Update:

With all this baby-waiting, you would think I could just kick out the words. LOL.

Somehow there seems to always be something to do even being away from home. But when my daughter-in-law takes a nap, then I pound out a handful of story words.

I got two chapters done this week, so we'll see how the next week goes.

And shhh . . . don't say anything, but I may have stayed up late a few nights in a row, just reading and reading and . . . :D

I hope you find some fun reading to enjoy this week!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

First Grandbaby on the way!! Help me pick a Grandma name. :)

Hi friends,

I'm in the airport jotting down this newsletter while I enjoy all the people watching . . . I'm adding a few interesting characters to my notes for the future.

My exciting news is that my oldest son and his wife are having a baby soon!

I've heard people complain about feeling too young to be a grandparent, but from the moment I heard they were pregnant, I've been super excited . . . and can't wait to see and hold the little one.

Suddenly all the new babies at church or at friends' houses were a chance to practice for my grandaughter on the way. Yes, it's a girl! :)

I'm thinking this grandmother thing is going to be perfect! All the fun of holding and spoiling a baby with hardly any of the work.

My daughter-in-law is hoping for a successful birth without too many interventions, so hopefully my experience using hypnosis and other techniques will be helpful.

I even found out about a cool new tool that has helped a lot of women during labor. It's called a "peanut ball". Basically, similar to a yoga ball, but pinched in the middle to form the shape of a peanut. A laboring mom can lay one leg over it and it helps keep the pelvis open so the birthing can progress much more easily.

I got her one, so I'll let you know how well it works.

So, while I wait for the baby to come, I need help deciding on my grandma name. Any advice for me?

Traditionally it would be Grandma Zaugg, but of course, that brings my husband's mother to mind, who is still alive and an awesome lady.

Another choice would be Grandma Misty.

Or there are a variety of other names like Oma, Memaw, Baba, Granny, Gram, etc.

What's your vote?
1. Grandma Misty
2. Grandma Zaugg
3. another alternative?

Oh, and thanks again to the latest reviewers of Deadly Lockdown:

Debra says, "Really captivating story: It is building up to a great pressure as a pandemic returns more powerful than the previous. I can't wait to begin the next book."

And JoAnn, "Action Packed! Thank for an awesome read. I know it's fiction, but, so much of what can & does happen in real life!"

We're at 93 reviews and would love to hit the benchmark of 100 - if anyone else would like to hop over to Amazon and give Deadly Lockdown some love.

You're the best - and I'll keep you updated on the grandbaby!

______________________

Misty's Writing Update:

I just passed 23k words in my latest book and am really enjoying it. It's fun to write in a new genre and let my post-apoc creative muscles take a break for a bit.

I'm hoping to get a chunk of writing done in the downtime of my trip for the grandbaby's birth, but we'll see how crazy it gets.

I might catch up on some reading, too. It'll be nice to enjoy a new adventure.

Enjoy reading this week!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

How do you stay warm during an emergency? Be prepared Tip #7

Hi friends,

First, a big thank you to everyone who clicked the "Helpful" button on Deadly Lockdown's positive reviews and both Wynona and Hlsabine who gave the book two really nice reviews:

Wynona: "This book is action packed and hard to pause for sleep 🛌. Can’t wait to start the next book in the series."

and

Hlsabine: "Excellent first book in a series! Strong start, great writing, and hard to put down."

You guys are the best!

(If you meant to post a review or rating and haven't had time, here's the link again:
Review Deadly Lockdown
- Thanks!!

With winter on the horizon, at least in my neck of the woods, I thought a few tips on staying warm during an emergency would come in handy. It's not a comprehensive list, so send me any more ideas that you have, and I'll add them.

***
Staying warm in an Emergency - Be prepared Tip #7

It turns out that maintaining your body temp is an important aspect of survival, just as important as food and water. Hypo- or hyperthermia can kill even faster, ie. too cold or too hot for an extended period of time.

We'll stick with hypothermia today, which is getting so cold that you can't maintain your core temperature.

Keeping your body warm:

Dangers:
• Wet clothing either from wet weather, falling into water, or even working too hard out in the cold and dampening your innermost layer of clothing with sweat.
• Exposure to cold wind and weather

Solutions:
• Get to shelter and out of wet clothing immediately to warm up.
• Keep an extra set of dry clothing, especially socks and your innermost layer so you can change into something dry.
• Work at a slow pace when it's cold outside so you don't start sweating.
• Waterproof your outside gear with a spray or wear a poncho to keep the wet from penetrating when out in bad weather.
• Choose to do outside activities when the weather is milder and shelter inside when it's severe.

Keeping your shelter warm:

Dangers:
• Make sure to ventilate if you're using candles, fire, propane heaters, etc., to warm your living space during an emergency outage. Carbon monoxide kills regularly!
• If building a shelter outside, avoid setting it up in areas that are too exposed and difficult to keep warm and dry.

Solutions:
• Consolidate everyone into a single room you keep warm and shut off the rest of the house.
• Set up a tent inside the room and hang out together there, letting your body heat warm the smaller space (card games come in handy here).
• Use multiple layers of clothing. People can handle pretty low temperatures as long as they have multiple layers of dry clothing. Don't forget a warm hat!
• If you are able to, install a properly-ventilated cast iron stove along with stores of wood to burn. This will help with heating, boiling water and cooking during an emergency outage.
• If sheltering outside, find an area out of the wind, sheltered by thick trees or the side of a hill to set up a tent or other outdoor shelter. In an area with enough snow, learn the details of building an igloo or snow cave to stay warm and dry.

These are just some ideas I've gathered on the subject. Let me know if I got anything wrong and for those of you experienced in 'high country' survival, what did I miss?

Brrr. I'm already shivering thinking of our coming winter. Why can't fall weather last just a month or two longer?

Thanks again for your support!
_____________________

Misty's Writing Update:

Scott, a reader, gave me a great idea for Pax, my new main character, when I asked about giving a disability. I was thinking a physical one, but he mentioned agoraphobia, a fear of public spaces, might be something fun to help a street kid overcome.

That got me thinking of non-physical handicaps or even interesting quirks that would help flesh Pax out into a more complex person instead of one that feels like a cookie-cutter orphan boy with a secret power he doesn't understand. :)

So, here are a few of my ideas. Which do you like . . . or do you have even better ones?

Pax: orphaned street kid with parents that were taken by authorities when he was young and his older brother disappeared years later, leaving him on his own.

Possible fears: Agoraphobia, fear of heights, or fear of a creepy crawly like spiders or snakes?

Favorites: the color green since he rarely sees things growing, fluffy berry scones his mother used to make but too expensive to buy now, small kids or animals that have it rough, and maybe some type of medieval-era sport that he's too poor to watch in the official seats - feel free to suggest a sport.

Hates: Eating healthy vegetables, but he puts on a good face when he chokes them down for the younger street rats who are watching. Hates bullies and has a hard time not losing his temper when he sees them in action, which lands him in trouble.

Just some ideas I had swirling around and thought you might enjoy seeing the process or jumping in with some fun additions.

Most of all, I need to settle on one of his weaknesses that he will strengthen during the first book - which will be crucial to his triumph in the final battle at the end. Suggest away!!

Enjoy reading this week!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Did the Sand Castle Kickers multiply or is it just me?

Hi friends,

I could use a little help, and I just have to say hearing from you guys is like a breath of fresh air.

Sam took the time to give me a tip about chewing a chunk of raw ginger for stomach pain and cramps after last weeks tip on the herb.

And Chelsea, an awesome new fan, wrote me a friendly note after what she called "rude people" left mean comments on my Facebook ad.

I'm wondering if you're noticing them being more vocal lately, or is it just me?

I call them "sand castle kickers".

You know, after a kid spends hours of work and creativity building a beautiful sand castle. Many kind passersby comment on how much they like it, or even just walk past without a word if it doesn't appeal to them.

Then comes the kid who kicks and destroys all the work as if it personally offends them and then yells out to warn the world about the "stupid sand castle!"

How do you handle people, adults even, who act like this? I generally ignore them and move on.

However, lately they're attacking my books and ads with nasty words and low reviews that are as destructive as those kicks to ratings and sales.

I'll interject that I'm fine with a well-written critical review. I don't expect everyone to love my writing. But these are not that.

Like this recent one:

Kat2009: "Couldn't finish it. Was stupid. Characters weak. Storyline ridiculous. Waste of time. Don't waste yours. I didn't get past 6th chapter although I tried."

These are generic and mean enough that some authors think they are targeted "review bombs", or attacks to hurt successful books.

Want to help me counter this kind of stuff? Here are two easy ways:

. . . and I understand time is always tight, so no pressure at all! :)

1. Scroll down to the reviews on Deadly Lockdown's page and find a few of the positive reviews that you like. Click the "Helpful" button under them which helps them move to the top of the page ahead of the nasty ones.

2. If you've read Deadly Lockdown or even the opening chapter, post a positive, honest review or rating. It can be just a sentence or two, nothing long or complicated.

That's it. And you can smile knowing you've done a small part countering some of the bitterness out there with a touch of positive.

I just want to thank you in advance for being such supportive fans that encourage me to continue writing even when I run into a handful of angry sand castle kickers. :)

Hopefully you also have more supporters than kickers in your life!

You're the best!

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Misty's Writing Update:

I'm in the groove again!

I just wrapped up chapter five in my new litRPG novel and Pax, our teenage street kid, has just been rounded up for the annual Awakening, where the powerful mages from the capital use magic to unlock the classes and talents of the youth of the city . . . whether they want to or not.

Pax has some mysterious backstory, including the ever-popular missing parents, along with an unusual spark of power that's been a secret he's kept since childhood.

The question, now, is how that spark will interact with the magic of the Awakening ceremony . . . :)

Yes, I'm having a blast writing this. The whole magic, coming-of-age fantasy story has always been a favorite of mine since I curled up in sun-warmed nooks as a child with Anne McCaffrey's Dragonsong series and Ender's Game.

I was thinking of giving Pax a disability or weakness that sets him apart and that he can later overcome. What do you think? Or is being an orphaned street kid already enough?

Enjoy reading this week and thanks again to anyone who helps me fight the sand castle kickers with positivity!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website

Last chance 99c on Deadly Lockdown! . . . plus, is Ginger more than a spice? Herbal Tip #2

Hi friends,

First thing - you have one more day to grab Deadly Lockdown for 99c if you were excited about the deal, but forgot about it, like I often do:



And second, check out the awesome #1 best-seller tags! Even Deadly Rescue got one, thanks to all of you!

Even better, we got a few great reviews like this one from Scott:

"Fantastic Read! Deadly Rescue was an exciting end to this series. The twists and suspense all built to a thrilling finale; the story being so hard to put down I read it in one day.

From strong character work to action to science, this series is easy to recommend. I can say the same for the authors’ other works as well. Well done!"

And this one from Lanfear - our awesome UK fan:

"A must read! This book has everything from action and adventure to love and loss and much more. Fast paced with a great story line that delves into every facet of what it is too be human from the very worst, to the very best. It has two great female leads who've grown in themselves as the series progressed, facing their past head on. This can be read as a stand alone but far better as part of the series."

Keep them coming! You guys are awesome!

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Ginger isn't just a spice - Herbal Tip #2



If you like spicy, but not the long-lasting burn of cayenne, you might already enjoy the tingling flavor of ginger in recipes.

It also had two really awesome medicinal effects you might not know about:

1. Anti-nausea: Going on a plane or boat ride? Know someone with morning sickness? Ginger is an excellent remedy for mild nausea, and it's tasty too!
2. Anti-inflammatory: Instead of reaching for the ibuprofen, try a cup of ginger tea instead. Studies on osteoarthritis show a reduction in pain and inflammation and you can even use it topically on the swollen joint.

How to use it:
1. Ginger chews or crystallized ginger: These are sugary pieces of ginger candy that are easy to keep in a purse, which makes them great for nausea sufferers.
2. Ginger capsules: To control your dose and try to replicate the amounts used in studies, these are readily available where herbal capsules are sold.
3. Ginger tea: Fresh is always awesome. Grab some ginger root at the store, peel and chop, and then bring to a simmer before putting a lid on it and letting it steep. Yummy! You can also dip a cloth in warm ginger tea and use as a compress to wrap around painful joints. Or simply dunk the hurting finger or toe into a container of tea.

How about you? Do you use ginger medicinally and have a story to share?

I'd love to hear about it.
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Misty's Writing Update:

So my husband, an engineer and avid sci-fi reader, is my best sounding board as I'm designing a story and hammering out the plot.

I had rewritten the first two chapters of this new book multiple times and finally had him give it a read through . . .

. . . and he said I should just cut off the first half of chapter 1 because I'd packed too much info into the start and made it a slow read.

Sure enough, when I looked at it again, I realized that during the rewriting, I'd kept shoving more and more information about the world and the characters into every paragraph . . . over and over again until it was bursting with information and not enough of the fun action. LOL.

So, lesson for me: stick to one draft and one rewrite and then move on. Or force myself to chop out some stuff as I edit instead of keep stuffing more in. :D

Enjoy reading this week and I'd love to hear what you think about Deadly Rescue if you have a chance to read it!

— Misty :)
Misty Zaugg Website