Pembroke Sinclair's Blog, page 28
March 31, 2016
Back to Blogging
Phew! March was a crazy busy month, which is why I opted to not attempt to blog during the insanity. I will be coming back in April, but I wanted to let you know it will be with a new schedule.
Starting next week (April 4th), I will be blogging on the J.D. Pooker blog on Mondays, this blog on Wednesdays, and the Girl Zombie Author blog on Fridays.
I hope you will join me! I have some fantastically fun stories to tell!
Starting next week (April 4th), I will be blogging on the J.D. Pooker blog on Mondays, this blog on Wednesdays, and the Girl Zombie Author blog on Fridays.
I hope you will join me! I have some fantastically fun stories to tell!
March 20, 2016
Humble Bundle
Hey, friends! I hope you're having an amazing March so far. I'm not quite ready to come back to blog, but it will be soon. I promise. Instead, I wanted to explain to you a little bit about Humble Bundle.
First of all, I want to say that I am truly honored and humbled to have been chosen to take part in such a fabulous program. The other authors involved are amazing and wonderful, and I'm thrilled to be with them!
How it works:
There are three tiers of books to choose from. You pick how much you want to pay, and depending on that amount, it gives you access to the various tiers. If you only pay a little, you get access to the first tier. However, if you decide to pay $15 or more, you get access to all three tiers. And there are a lot of amazing books to read!
The best part about the whole thing is that it gives you the opportunity to support charity. You can either support Freedom of the Press Foundation, Prevent Cancer, or choose your own. You can't lose! Not only do you get some amazing books, you get to make an impact on the world!
These bundles only last for a limited time. I hope you take a moment to see what's there and maybe purchase a tier. We all thank you from the bottom of our heart. YOU ROCK!
You can find the Emerging Sci Fi and Thriller Authors bundle here.
First of all, I want to say that I am truly honored and humbled to have been chosen to take part in such a fabulous program. The other authors involved are amazing and wonderful, and I'm thrilled to be with them!
How it works:
There are three tiers of books to choose from. You pick how much you want to pay, and depending on that amount, it gives you access to the various tiers. If you only pay a little, you get access to the first tier. However, if you decide to pay $15 or more, you get access to all three tiers. And there are a lot of amazing books to read!
The best part about the whole thing is that it gives you the opportunity to support charity. You can either support Freedom of the Press Foundation, Prevent Cancer, or choose your own. You can't lose! Not only do you get some amazing books, you get to make an impact on the world!
These bundles only last for a limited time. I hope you take a moment to see what's there and maybe purchase a tier. We all thank you from the bottom of our heart. YOU ROCK!
You can find the Emerging Sci Fi and Thriller Authors bundle here.
February 28, 2016
Zombie T-shirts
Hey, friends! I hope all of you are doing fantastically. I was cleaning out my office this weekend and came across some extra Like a Zombie Slayer t-shirts. If you're interested, I am offering them at a discounted price.
They are $7 for kid shirts and $10 for adult shirts (that includes shipping, U.S. only). The order form is on the sidebar. ---------------------------------->
Here is what I have:
Youth sizes:
Small (6/8) - 1
Medium (10/12) - 4
Large (14/16) - 2
Adult sizes:
Small - 1
Medium - 2
Large - 2
Once you place your order and it brings you to the Paypal screen, you'll need to fill in the correct price for your shirt. Sorry to make it a pain, but the order form has its limits.
Thanks! You're the best!
They are $7 for kid shirts and $10 for adult shirts (that includes shipping, U.S. only). The order form is on the sidebar. ---------------------------------->
Here is what I have:
Youth sizes:
Small (6/8) - 1
Medium (10/12) - 4
Large (14/16) - 2
Adult sizes:
Small - 1
Medium - 2
Large - 2
Once you place your order and it brings you to the Paypal screen, you'll need to fill in the correct price for your shirt. Sorry to make it a pain, but the order form has its limits.
Thanks! You're the best!
February 22, 2016
Taking a Little Break
Hey, friends! I hope you had a fantastic weekend and are gearing up for a great week. I am going to be taking a little break from blogging. It shouldn't be long. Until I'm back, this will give you the perfect opportunity to get caught up on my past blogs or do some reading. :)
Talk to you soon!
Talk to you soon!
February 17, 2016
Death to the Undead is HERE!
The original release date for the sequel to
Life After the Undead
was February 16 (yesterday), but it actually came out early. Still, it's worth celebrating that it's out in the world. Here's what it's about:
Seventeen-year-old Krista has already proven she can survive the zombie hordes.
After moving to North Platte with her distant cousin General Liet to help build a wall that will keep the zombies in the West, it becomes apparent that the zombies aren’t the biggest threat—some survivors are far more dangerous than Krista had ever imagined.
With the help of Quinn, a survivor and fighter from the zombie-infested wildlands of the West, they free the garrison at North Platte from the power-hungry Liet. But there is a bigger battle to fight.
The Families who rule Florida and use intimidation and the threat of the zombie horde to coerce their territory want Krista and Quinn captured, the zombies want to devour them, and other survivors want them dead. Caught between powerful forces, will they survive long enough to devise a new plan and put it into action? Or will they self-destruct?
Find out in book two of this thrilling apocalyptic series by author Pembroke Sinclair.
You can find it on Amazon.
Does anyone want to celebrate with me? Maybe play a game for a chance to win a signed paperback copy of both books? (Open to U.S. shipping only.)
If so, to be entered into the drawing, all you have to do is comment and tell me the following: What weapon would be your ideal choice to fight against the zombie hordes?
I will leave the chance to win open until midnight on Sunday (February 21) and announce the winner Monday morning. Don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you if you win!
Seventeen-year-old Krista has already proven she can survive the zombie hordes.
After moving to North Platte with her distant cousin General Liet to help build a wall that will keep the zombies in the West, it becomes apparent that the zombies aren’t the biggest threat—some survivors are far more dangerous than Krista had ever imagined.
With the help of Quinn, a survivor and fighter from the zombie-infested wildlands of the West, they free the garrison at North Platte from the power-hungry Liet. But there is a bigger battle to fight.
The Families who rule Florida and use intimidation and the threat of the zombie horde to coerce their territory want Krista and Quinn captured, the zombies want to devour them, and other survivors want them dead. Caught between powerful forces, will they survive long enough to devise a new plan and put it into action? Or will they self-destruct?
Find out in book two of this thrilling apocalyptic series by author Pembroke Sinclair.
You can find it on Amazon.
Does anyone want to celebrate with me? Maybe play a game for a chance to win a signed paperback copy of both books? (Open to U.S. shipping only.)
If so, to be entered into the drawing, all you have to do is comment and tell me the following: What weapon would be your ideal choice to fight against the zombie hordes?
I will leave the chance to win open until midnight on Sunday (February 21) and announce the winner Monday morning. Don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you if you win!
February 15, 2016
The Joy and Agony of Writing a Series
Last week, I finished writing my next young adult zombie novel. It still needs to be typed (I handwrite the first draft), then it will needs lots and lots of edits. It’s the first in a series, which is both exciting and not so exciting. I found this blog post, which I did for a blog tour a while ago, and I feel like it totally applies.
I enjoy book series. As an author, I appreciate and enjoy that readers get lost in my series. I love that they are invested in my characters and can’t get enough of their adventures. It makes me happy that they anxiously await the next book.
Writing a series can be a magical and wonderful experience. I enjoy that the world is already set up and that the characters are already established. I don’t have to strain my brain coming up with new ideas, I can expand on ones that already exist.
The thing that (I hope) makes my series so wonderful is that I have fun writing it. I enjoy being in that world just like you do, but at times, it gets tedious. Sometimes it isn’t fun anymore. When this happens, I have to walk away. I have to work on something else. I have to take a break.
Writing a series can get incredibly exhausting. I have to spend a lot of time in this world and with these characters. I’m there for months or years, and I know waaaaay more about what happens than what is on the page. My brain is full of elaborate back stories. I know minute details about the characters’ lives and the history of the world. Sometimes these details are written down so they aren’t forgotten, but they aren’t ever part of the final story.
Keeping track of all this gets tough. And sometimes the characters don’t cooperate. Some days they don’t want to tell me their stories, or I get bored listening to them. Spending too much time with characters is like spending too much time with real people. We get tired of each other. There is some truth to the phrase “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” even with fictional people.
There’s also the added pressure of making sure the next book lives up to readers’ expectations. I want to make sure the details are just right, that I’m staying true to what was written before, and sometimes that means going back and rereading the previous books in the series.
There’s a need to get the book out in a timely fashion so that interest isn’t lost. Nerves get frazzled when I feel like I’m falling behind—even when I don’t have a deadline. When this happens, it makes it hard to continue to write. It becomes difficult to overcome the fear that I’m going to fail, that people are going to be angry with the book.
There’s a moment when I just want to scream and tear my hair out, but then I take a deep breath and step back. I remind myself that this is supposed to be fun. And if I’m not having fun, then it’s not worth doing.
I enjoy book series. As an author, I appreciate and enjoy that readers get lost in my series. I love that they are invested in my characters and can’t get enough of their adventures. It makes me happy that they anxiously await the next book.
Writing a series can be a magical and wonderful experience. I enjoy that the world is already set up and that the characters are already established. I don’t have to strain my brain coming up with new ideas, I can expand on ones that already exist.
The thing that (I hope) makes my series so wonderful is that I have fun writing it. I enjoy being in that world just like you do, but at times, it gets tedious. Sometimes it isn’t fun anymore. When this happens, I have to walk away. I have to work on something else. I have to take a break.
Writing a series can get incredibly exhausting. I have to spend a lot of time in this world and with these characters. I’m there for months or years, and I know waaaaay more about what happens than what is on the page. My brain is full of elaborate back stories. I know minute details about the characters’ lives and the history of the world. Sometimes these details are written down so they aren’t forgotten, but they aren’t ever part of the final story.
Keeping track of all this gets tough. And sometimes the characters don’t cooperate. Some days they don’t want to tell me their stories, or I get bored listening to them. Spending too much time with characters is like spending too much time with real people. We get tired of each other. There is some truth to the phrase “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” even with fictional people.
There’s also the added pressure of making sure the next book lives up to readers’ expectations. I want to make sure the details are just right, that I’m staying true to what was written before, and sometimes that means going back and rereading the previous books in the series.
There’s a need to get the book out in a timely fashion so that interest isn’t lost. Nerves get frazzled when I feel like I’m falling behind—even when I don’t have a deadline. When this happens, it makes it hard to continue to write. It becomes difficult to overcome the fear that I’m going to fail, that people are going to be angry with the book.
There’s a moment when I just want to scream and tear my hair out, but then I take a deep breath and step back. I remind myself that this is supposed to be fun. And if I’m not having fun, then it’s not worth doing.
February 9, 2016
There Are Advantages to Living in Wyoming
Especially when it comes to the zombie apocalypse. Here are a few things that make me grateful to live in Wyoming.
Low population
As of 2014, the state of Wyoming had a population of 584,153 people. That’s the entire state. That just means there are fewer people who can turn into zombies.
Variable Landscapes
Not only does Wyoming have a low population, it also has lots of open space. Lots of it. From deserts to mountains to grasslands, the terrain is difficult for some people to traverse, it would be nearly impossible for a zombie. There are also long stretches of road, meaning we can see the undead coming from a long way off. And a lot of the terrain is separated by fences because of the agricultural industry. If there are zombies roaming free, they have a long way to roam to find a meal.
Lots of Guns
According to a Wyoming Tribune Eagle article, “Wyoming has the highest rate of gun ownership in the United States. Estimates suggest anywhere from 57.9 to 62.9 percent of households in Wyoming possess at least one gun, putting the Cowboy State ahead of states like Alaska, Montana and Idaho.”
But don’t let that freak you out, there’s also this fact: “Yet despite being awash in guns, Wyoming’s gun homicide rate is extremely low.
According to FBI crime statistics, in 2010 there were only eight murders in the state, five of which were committed with guns. That works out to fewer than one gun murder per 100,000 people.”
So, should the undead rise around here, there’s plenty of fire power to take them down.
Cold Winters
Depending on where you are in the state, the temperature in winter varies; however, every part of the state gets snow, and at some point, it probably dips into negative temperatures. This means that zombies will freeze, probably literally in place. Unable to move, they will be easy to pick off with our vast amount of guns.
Despite these advantages, it’s always good to have a plan in place should the worst-case scenario occur—and you’d better believe my family and I have a plan and are ready.
Do you have any advantages where you live?
Low population
As of 2014, the state of Wyoming had a population of 584,153 people. That’s the entire state. That just means there are fewer people who can turn into zombies.
Variable Landscapes
Not only does Wyoming have a low population, it also has lots of open space. Lots of it. From deserts to mountains to grasslands, the terrain is difficult for some people to traverse, it would be nearly impossible for a zombie. There are also long stretches of road, meaning we can see the undead coming from a long way off. And a lot of the terrain is separated by fences because of the agricultural industry. If there are zombies roaming free, they have a long way to roam to find a meal.
Lots of Guns
According to a Wyoming Tribune Eagle article, “Wyoming has the highest rate of gun ownership in the United States. Estimates suggest anywhere from 57.9 to 62.9 percent of households in Wyoming possess at least one gun, putting the Cowboy State ahead of states like Alaska, Montana and Idaho.”
But don’t let that freak you out, there’s also this fact: “Yet despite being awash in guns, Wyoming’s gun homicide rate is extremely low.
According to FBI crime statistics, in 2010 there were only eight murders in the state, five of which were committed with guns. That works out to fewer than one gun murder per 100,000 people.”
So, should the undead rise around here, there’s plenty of fire power to take them down.
Cold Winters
Depending on where you are in the state, the temperature in winter varies; however, every part of the state gets snow, and at some point, it probably dips into negative temperatures. This means that zombies will freeze, probably literally in place. Unable to move, they will be easy to pick off with our vast amount of guns.
Despite these advantages, it’s always good to have a plan in place should the worst-case scenario occur—and you’d better believe my family and I have a plan and are ready.
Do you have any advantages where you live?
February 8, 2016
The Cool Things I Get to Do
Ugh! Sorry for the late post today. It’s been crazy. I hope this isn’t how the rest of the week is going to be…
Anyway, let me tell you about something fun/cool/inspiring I did last Monday.
A while ago, I joined the site Nepris. You can read about exactly what they do on their site, but in a nutshell, the connect experts with classrooms through technology. I don’t get paid for participating, but I don’t have to pay either. And so far, it has been a lot of fun.
Last Monday, I had the opportunity to speak to a class of third graders about how important it is to have a good beginning and ending in their writing. Since I have experience in both fiction and nonfiction, I talked about the differences between the two. I spoke for half an hour, with time devoted to introducing myself and answering questions.
I’m going to be honest: I didn’t feel overly confident with my subject matter, only because I’m not sure I write effective beginnings and endings. Endings especially. I’m never sure if I’m done writing a story, so I always try to leave it open for more. And if I’m writing a series, I want to make sure each book ends with a cliff hanger so the reader is interested in finding out what happens next.
Either way, it was a good exercise to talk about what works and what doesn’t works and to get ideas on how to improve my own writing. In essence, we figured that a good beginning means that the reader wants to continue reading. We talked about how important it is for the character to have a problem and the promise of adventure. We also talked about how important it is to incorporate all five senses so that the reader can experience the world the way the characters do.
It was so much fun. When I asked questions, the students shot their hands into the air and were more than happy to be involved in the conversation. At one point during the question and answer section, one student raised her hand and had a very concerned look on her face. I had mentioned earlier in the discussion that I wrote zombie novels, and she wanted to know how I incorporated taste in those books. I laughed. I told her that I didn’t tell the story from the zombie’s perspective, so I didn’t describe the taste of eating a human. Although, the question did inspire me to think about that for future stories…
I’ve signed up for another presentation in March. This class is older and I will be talking about my process for writing a book, but I think it will still be just as fun. Even though it doesn’t pay, it’s still a good way to get out there and to talk about what I really love: writing.
Anyway, let me tell you about something fun/cool/inspiring I did last Monday.
A while ago, I joined the site Nepris. You can read about exactly what they do on their site, but in a nutshell, the connect experts with classrooms through technology. I don’t get paid for participating, but I don’t have to pay either. And so far, it has been a lot of fun.
Last Monday, I had the opportunity to speak to a class of third graders about how important it is to have a good beginning and ending in their writing. Since I have experience in both fiction and nonfiction, I talked about the differences between the two. I spoke for half an hour, with time devoted to introducing myself and answering questions.
I’m going to be honest: I didn’t feel overly confident with my subject matter, only because I’m not sure I write effective beginnings and endings. Endings especially. I’m never sure if I’m done writing a story, so I always try to leave it open for more. And if I’m writing a series, I want to make sure each book ends with a cliff hanger so the reader is interested in finding out what happens next.
Either way, it was a good exercise to talk about what works and what doesn’t works and to get ideas on how to improve my own writing. In essence, we figured that a good beginning means that the reader wants to continue reading. We talked about how important it is for the character to have a problem and the promise of adventure. We also talked about how important it is to incorporate all five senses so that the reader can experience the world the way the characters do.
It was so much fun. When I asked questions, the students shot their hands into the air and were more than happy to be involved in the conversation. At one point during the question and answer section, one student raised her hand and had a very concerned look on her face. I had mentioned earlier in the discussion that I wrote zombie novels, and she wanted to know how I incorporated taste in those books. I laughed. I told her that I didn’t tell the story from the zombie’s perspective, so I didn’t describe the taste of eating a human. Although, the question did inspire me to think about that for future stories…
I’ve signed up for another presentation in March. This class is older and I will be talking about my process for writing a book, but I think it will still be just as fun. Even though it doesn’t pay, it’s still a good way to get out there and to talk about what I really love: writing.
