Pembroke Sinclair's Blog, page 6
June 18, 2019
Healing Takes Time
It hasn’t been a secret that last year was incredibly difficult for me. I went through a lot with anxiety and depression. At the beginning of this year, I was looking for and finding ways to get through and cope. But with anything in life, no plan is fool proof.
One of the things that makes us human is our ability to feel. We have such a huge range of emotions, and they impact how we face our day and what we think about ourselves. Some days we are on top of the world, others we want to hide from it, and on some occasions we want to burn it down.
All of these are normal and okay to feel. We have to have the bad to know when things are good. We have to be angry to know what will make us smile. We have to have sad to know what will make us happy.
The journey I’m on isn’t an easy one. There are a lot of ups and downs, twists and turns, good and bad emotions. Everyone goes through this in life. The true test is how we come out on the other side. Sometimes, it doesn’t feel like there will be another side.
I’ve gotten a lot of coping skills in the past year, and I think I’ve done a great job of figuring out who I am and how to get through challenges. But it’s still a learning process. There are still things that can knock me down, and I have to figure out how to pull myself back up. It’s hard. It takes time.
No one heals in a day, no matter what the injury. Sometimes, it runs so deep, a person may not heal at all, but they learn to live with the scar. I’m still trying to figure out how to live. I’m still working on my sh*t. I show up everyday and do the best I can. Some days are much harder than others.
I hope for all you struggling through your own issues, you continue to show up every day and do the best that you can. Know that I sympathize with you, that I know how challenging each day can be. I see you. I’m right there with you. We’ve got this!
One of the things that makes us human is our ability to feel. We have such a huge range of emotions, and they impact how we face our day and what we think about ourselves. Some days we are on top of the world, others we want to hide from it, and on some occasions we want to burn it down.
All of these are normal and okay to feel. We have to have the bad to know when things are good. We have to be angry to know what will make us smile. We have to have sad to know what will make us happy.
The journey I’m on isn’t an easy one. There are a lot of ups and downs, twists and turns, good and bad emotions. Everyone goes through this in life. The true test is how we come out on the other side. Sometimes, it doesn’t feel like there will be another side.
I’ve gotten a lot of coping skills in the past year, and I think I’ve done a great job of figuring out who I am and how to get through challenges. But it’s still a learning process. There are still things that can knock me down, and I have to figure out how to pull myself back up. It’s hard. It takes time.
No one heals in a day, no matter what the injury. Sometimes, it runs so deep, a person may not heal at all, but they learn to live with the scar. I’m still trying to figure out how to live. I’m still working on my sh*t. I show up everyday and do the best I can. Some days are much harder than others.
I hope for all you struggling through your own issues, you continue to show up every day and do the best that you can. Know that I sympathize with you, that I know how challenging each day can be. I see you. I’m right there with you. We’ve got this!
June 12, 2019
What Took Me So Long?
I don't know why it took me so long, but I have put a couple of my series together in one large collection. It's called an omnibus. Right now, they are only available in ebooks, but you can get the sets for under $5. Go on! Check them out!
The Life After the Undead Series
This omnibus contains both books in the Life After the Undead series: Life After the Undead and Death to the Undead.
After moving to North Platte 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 ever imagined. Seventeen-year-old Krista must quickly figure out how she's going to survive in the zombie-destroyed world.
Join Krista in her quest to survive in these thrilling apocalyptic novels by Pembroke Sinclair.
The Road to Salvation Series
Katie’s world has been turned upside down.
Katie, a senior in high school, is torn between loving the “good” guy and the “bad” guy. She falls for Josh—despite the fact that he’s a demon from Hell. With Josh, Katie is able to find out about her past and discover who she wants to be as a person. But things aren’t always what they seem.
Katie finds herself constantly torn between good and evil and having to pick sides. Will she choose the one that is right for her? How will she know? Find out in this young adult paranormal romance series by Pembroke Sinclair.
The Life After the Undead Series
This omnibus contains both books in the Life After the Undead series: Life After the Undead and Death to the Undead.
After moving to North Platte 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 ever imagined. Seventeen-year-old Krista must quickly figure out how she's going to survive in the zombie-destroyed world.
Join Krista in her quest to survive in these thrilling apocalyptic novels by Pembroke Sinclair.
The Road to Salvation Series
Katie’s world has been turned upside down.
Katie, a senior in high school, is torn between loving the “good” guy and the “bad” guy. She falls for Josh—despite the fact that he’s a demon from Hell. With Josh, Katie is able to find out about her past and discover who she wants to be as a person. But things aren’t always what they seem.
Katie finds herself constantly torn between good and evil and having to pick sides. Will she choose the one that is right for her? How will she know? Find out in this young adult paranormal romance series by Pembroke Sinclair.
June 5, 2019
Back to the Regularly Scheduled Program
The May celebration is over. I want to thank everyone for joining me and for participating in the giveaways.
The final giveaway for signed paperbacks will continue for a few more days. If you haven't signed up yet, you still have a chance.
Next week I will return to my regular blog posts.
The final giveaway for signed paperbacks will continue for a few more days. If you haven't signed up yet, you still have a chance.
Next week I will return to my regular blog posts.
May 28, 2019
Why I Like Horror
I live with anxiety. In a nutshell, that means that randomly my brain decides I need to get anxious about something. It can be the most mundane thing in the world (for example, I’ve had panic attacks while standing in line at Walmart to pay for my groceries), but my brain turns it into a crisis. There are varying degrees of anxiousness, from an electric feeling to nervousness to full-blown panic. And I have no control over when these feelings hit.
Here are some examples of my anxiety:
My family and I used to live in a house on a fairly busy street. The boys’ bedrooms were at the front of the house, and every winter I had visions of someone losing control on the icy streets and slamming into the front of the house while my boys slept.
My friend and I had the opportunity to go to the AWP conference a few years ago when it was in Seattle. We were sharing a hotel room, and it was on the 27th floor. When we entered, my friend went to look out the window, and I told her to get away from it. I had visions of the glass falling out and her being sucked to her death. (For some reason, in my anxiety-induced fantasy, there was a pressure difference between the hotel room and outside.)
I never go into any building without knowing where the exits and bathrooms are—you just never know when you’re going to need one or the other.
I also have anxiety dreams.
One time, I had a dream that my youngest son had been bitten by a zombie. Before he turned, we decided to give him the best day ever—whatever he wanted to do, he could do. When his time was up, I had to take him out into the yard to deal with him. I’m sure you can imagine the anguish I was going through.
When the boys were still babies, I had a dream that I had taken them to Walmart. I set the carrier on the ground next to my car while I loaded the groceries in the back, and my oldest decided he was going to take that moment to run around the parking lot. I chased after him, and while I was trying to catch him, a monster truck pulled into the parking space next to my car and ran over my other son.
These few examples just scratch the surface of what my brain comes up with. Sure, I can tell myself that everything is going to be all right and that it’s only in my brain, but when my body releases the adrenaline and other chemicals, all I can do is ride the wave until they subside.
Anxiety isn’t logical, and I spend a lot of my day having a horror movie play inside my head. It’s stressful to think that I have little control over what my own brain does. So, with all of this happening, why in the world would I want to be a horror author or watch horror movies? You’d think I got enough scary stuff on my own.
The answer to that is actually quite simple: control.
While I can’t control my brain going to the worst-case scenario in most situations, I can control what I watch. I know that a horror movie is supposed to be scary. I know that there are going to be jumps and scary creatures. I know that what I see on the screen is fake.
When it comes to horror, I get to pick what I watch. I’m a huge fan of creature features, slasher films, and zombie flicks, so they’re top on my list. There’s a comfort in knowing that these movies are predictable. Even though they still might cause me to jump, I know it’s coming. I can’t say the same about my anxiety. I have no idea when it’s going to strike.
Horror movies help me deal with my emotions. They don’t stop the anxiety from happening, but if I’m going to be anxious, I at least want to have some control over it. That’s also why I write horror. It gives me a chance to project my unnatural and illogical fears onto the page and have someone overcome the ordeal.
Anxiety is hard to live with. It can be debilitating. It can make me feel out of control—especially of my own mind. But when I get the chance, I like to take that control back and be anxious, panicky, and afraid on my terms.
Here are some examples of my anxiety:
My family and I used to live in a house on a fairly busy street. The boys’ bedrooms were at the front of the house, and every winter I had visions of someone losing control on the icy streets and slamming into the front of the house while my boys slept.
My friend and I had the opportunity to go to the AWP conference a few years ago when it was in Seattle. We were sharing a hotel room, and it was on the 27th floor. When we entered, my friend went to look out the window, and I told her to get away from it. I had visions of the glass falling out and her being sucked to her death. (For some reason, in my anxiety-induced fantasy, there was a pressure difference between the hotel room and outside.)
I never go into any building without knowing where the exits and bathrooms are—you just never know when you’re going to need one or the other.
I also have anxiety dreams.
One time, I had a dream that my youngest son had been bitten by a zombie. Before he turned, we decided to give him the best day ever—whatever he wanted to do, he could do. When his time was up, I had to take him out into the yard to deal with him. I’m sure you can imagine the anguish I was going through.
When the boys were still babies, I had a dream that I had taken them to Walmart. I set the carrier on the ground next to my car while I loaded the groceries in the back, and my oldest decided he was going to take that moment to run around the parking lot. I chased after him, and while I was trying to catch him, a monster truck pulled into the parking space next to my car and ran over my other son.
These few examples just scratch the surface of what my brain comes up with. Sure, I can tell myself that everything is going to be all right and that it’s only in my brain, but when my body releases the adrenaline and other chemicals, all I can do is ride the wave until they subside.
Anxiety isn’t logical, and I spend a lot of my day having a horror movie play inside my head. It’s stressful to think that I have little control over what my own brain does. So, with all of this happening, why in the world would I want to be a horror author or watch horror movies? You’d think I got enough scary stuff on my own.
The answer to that is actually quite simple: control.
While I can’t control my brain going to the worst-case scenario in most situations, I can control what I watch. I know that a horror movie is supposed to be scary. I know that there are going to be jumps and scary creatures. I know that what I see on the screen is fake.
When it comes to horror, I get to pick what I watch. I’m a huge fan of creature features, slasher films, and zombie flicks, so they’re top on my list. There’s a comfort in knowing that these movies are predictable. Even though they still might cause me to jump, I know it’s coming. I can’t say the same about my anxiety. I have no idea when it’s going to strike.
Horror movies help me deal with my emotions. They don’t stop the anxiety from happening, but if I’m going to be anxious, I at least want to have some control over it. That’s also why I write horror. It gives me a chance to project my unnatural and illogical fears onto the page and have someone overcome the ordeal.
Anxiety is hard to live with. It can be debilitating. It can make me feel out of control—especially of my own mind. But when I get the chance, I like to take that control back and be anxious, panicky, and afraid on my terms.
May 22, 2019
This Week's Books
This week, I will be focusing on my demon books. This series is called The Road to Salvation, and there are three total. Check them out! Don't forget to register for a chance to win these books and more!
Book 1
Katie wants to invest her heart and soul in love, but she may lose both to Hell.
Katie, a senior in high school, is torn between loving the "good" guy, her childhood friend Wes who makes promises he doesn't keep and abandons her when she needs him the most, and the "bad" guy, the new kid at school Josh who is also a real demon from Hell. Katie wants someone who pays attention to her and puts her first, but what is she willing to give up to find him?
Find out in book one of this thrilling young adult paranormal romance by Pembroke Sinclair.
Book 2
Dating a demon has its advantages, like helping deliver souls to Hell. Wait...what?
Katie's world has been turned upside down. She's fallen for Josh--despite the fact that he's a demon from Hell. Wes is finally out of her system and her life. Convinced she can change Josh, she sets out to make him a better person, only to find out things aren't as simple as she'd originally thought. For one thing, Josh has Katie help him deliver souls to Hell, and she kind of likes it. And to top it off, other more powerful demons are battling for her soul, and revelations from the past could change the course of her life forever.
This is book two of the thrilling young adult paranormal romance by Pembroke Sinclair.
Book 3
Katie has been through Hell—literally—and discovered that it wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be.
In fact, she kind of enjoyed it. She got to be with Josh, found out about her past, and discovered who she wanted to be as a person. Katie didn’t care that her actions went against social norms. She was happy.
But things are changing—again. Wes has come back into her life, and that can only mean trouble. His presence threatens to unravel her new-found happiness. She can’t allow that. She won’t let him back in. Yet, Katie can’t push him away.
Thrown back into a state of confusion and uncertainty, Katie is once again forced to pick sides, and in the process, she may lose herself.
Book 1
Katie wants to invest her heart and soul in love, but she may lose both to Hell.
Katie, a senior in high school, is torn between loving the "good" guy, her childhood friend Wes who makes promises he doesn't keep and abandons her when she needs him the most, and the "bad" guy, the new kid at school Josh who is also a real demon from Hell. Katie wants someone who pays attention to her and puts her first, but what is she willing to give up to find him?
Find out in book one of this thrilling young adult paranormal romance by Pembroke Sinclair.
Book 2
Dating a demon has its advantages, like helping deliver souls to Hell. Wait...what?
Katie's world has been turned upside down. She's fallen for Josh--despite the fact that he's a demon from Hell. Wes is finally out of her system and her life. Convinced she can change Josh, she sets out to make him a better person, only to find out things aren't as simple as she'd originally thought. For one thing, Josh has Katie help him deliver souls to Hell, and she kind of likes it. And to top it off, other more powerful demons are battling for her soul, and revelations from the past could change the course of her life forever.
This is book two of the thrilling young adult paranormal romance by Pembroke Sinclair.
Book 3
Katie has been through Hell—literally—and discovered that it wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be.
In fact, she kind of enjoyed it. She got to be with Josh, found out about her past, and discovered who she wanted to be as a person. Katie didn’t care that her actions went against social norms. She was happy.
But things are changing—again. Wes has come back into her life, and that can only mean trouble. His presence threatens to unravel her new-found happiness. She can’t allow that. She won’t let him back in. Yet, Katie can’t push him away.
Thrown back into a state of confusion and uncertainty, Katie is once again forced to pick sides, and in the process, she may lose herself.
May 20, 2019
How I Started Writing Young Adult
When I first started writing, I didn't have intentions of being a young adult writer. I just wanted to write. However, as time progressed and I got some feedback on stories, it became clear that writing young adult stories could be thrilling and fun. Below is the story of how I starting writing young adult.
I am fascinated with zombies—obsessed, if you will—and I have been since the first time I watched Night of the Living Dead many, many years ago. When I get really stressed out, I often dream of the undead and have to find ways to fight against them. That is where the inspiration for Life After the Undead came from.
I don’t remember the exact details, but I recall that my spouse and I were hiding in a small town while all of the zombies were migrating through. They were heading West so the humidity didn’t cause them to deteriorate faster. I woke up and thought, “Hey, that’s a great idea!” So I fleshed out the story.
It started out as a short story focusing on one small snippet in time. That story was published somewhere (I can’t remember and it’s no longer linked on my blog), and then I decided to expand it into a novel.
The first attempt was an adult novel. I’m fairly certain there were some cuss words in it and a bit more carnage. I decided to send out queries for the story to agents. For the first round, I sent it to 31 agents, all of which rejected it, except one who suggested I turn it into a young adult novel and then resubmit.
So I did. This required me to clean up the language a bit, take out some of the gore (although it still has its fair share), and make my main character a bit more naïve. I believe I also changed it from third person to first person. I sent it back in, feeling pretty good, and then she rejected it. But that didn’t discourage me. I sent it out again as a young adult novel.
For the second round, I queried 28 agents, all of whom rejected it. After that, I sent it to a few indie publishers, and one of them picked it up. I met a book cover designer online who painted (honest to goodness painted!) covers, so I commissioned him to create the cover.
The way the deal worked was that he would send the cover idea, then it was up to the publishing company to put on the title and my byline, which they did. The artist was then free to sell the original painting, which he did. However, I decided that I liked it so much I wanted one for my collection, so I asked him to create me another with my title and byline on it. It wasn’t something he normally did, but he did it for me.
Life After the Undead is one of my favorite stories. One of the things I like so much about zombies is that they allow me to explore the question of what it means to be human. That’s a theme that runs through a lot of my books.
In addition to Life After the Undead, I also have my young adult demon series, The Road to Salvation . There are three books in this series, including The Appeal of Evil, Dealing with Devils, and Good Intentions.
My latest book series, Saving Humanity, also has a young adult main character. Currently, there are two books in this series, Humanity's Hope and Edge of Humanity. The third book, Finding Humanity, has been written, and I am almost done with a rough draft of the fourth book, Saving Humanity.
Writing young adult is lot of fun. It allows me to create characters that don't have a lot of life experience and put them in situations that they have to learn and grow from or be destroyed by. They don't always come out of the experience as well-adapted humans, but they learn lessons along the way.
For this week's giveaway, one lucky winner has the chance to win ecopies of my books. Unfortunately, Humanity's Hope, Edge of Humanity, and Life Lessons from Slasher Films aren't included, but there are plenty of other books to check out. Enter now for a chance to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I am fascinated with zombies—obsessed, if you will—and I have been since the first time I watched Night of the Living Dead many, many years ago. When I get really stressed out, I often dream of the undead and have to find ways to fight against them. That is where the inspiration for Life After the Undead came from.
I don’t remember the exact details, but I recall that my spouse and I were hiding in a small town while all of the zombies were migrating through. They were heading West so the humidity didn’t cause them to deteriorate faster. I woke up and thought, “Hey, that’s a great idea!” So I fleshed out the story.
It started out as a short story focusing on one small snippet in time. That story was published somewhere (I can’t remember and it’s no longer linked on my blog), and then I decided to expand it into a novel.
The first attempt was an adult novel. I’m fairly certain there were some cuss words in it and a bit more carnage. I decided to send out queries for the story to agents. For the first round, I sent it to 31 agents, all of which rejected it, except one who suggested I turn it into a young adult novel and then resubmit.
So I did. This required me to clean up the language a bit, take out some of the gore (although it still has its fair share), and make my main character a bit more naïve. I believe I also changed it from third person to first person. I sent it back in, feeling pretty good, and then she rejected it. But that didn’t discourage me. I sent it out again as a young adult novel.
For the second round, I queried 28 agents, all of whom rejected it. After that, I sent it to a few indie publishers, and one of them picked it up. I met a book cover designer online who painted (honest to goodness painted!) covers, so I commissioned him to create the cover.
The way the deal worked was that he would send the cover idea, then it was up to the publishing company to put on the title and my byline, which they did. The artist was then free to sell the original painting, which he did. However, I decided that I liked it so much I wanted one for my collection, so I asked him to create me another with my title and byline on it. It wasn’t something he normally did, but he did it for me.
Life After the Undead is one of my favorite stories. One of the things I like so much about zombies is that they allow me to explore the question of what it means to be human. That’s a theme that runs through a lot of my books.
In addition to Life After the Undead, I also have my young adult demon series, The Road to Salvation . There are three books in this series, including The Appeal of Evil, Dealing with Devils, and Good Intentions.
My latest book series, Saving Humanity, also has a young adult main character. Currently, there are two books in this series, Humanity's Hope and Edge of Humanity. The third book, Finding Humanity, has been written, and I am almost done with a rough draft of the fourth book, Saving Humanity.
Writing young adult is lot of fun. It allows me to create characters that don't have a lot of life experience and put them in situations that they have to learn and grow from or be destroyed by. They don't always come out of the experience as well-adapted humans, but they learn lessons along the way.
For this week's giveaway, one lucky winner has the chance to win ecopies of my books. Unfortunately, Humanity's Hope, Edge of Humanity, and Life Lessons from Slasher Films aren't included, but there are plenty of other books to check out. Enter now for a chance to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
May 16, 2019
This Week's Featured Books
ZOMBIES!
This week, I am going to feature my zombie books. As you can see, this is one genre that I really enjoy writing in. There's a little bit of something for everyone in here, including a novella and a nonfiction.
Enjoy!
Seventeen-year-old Krista must quickly figure out how she's going to survive in the zombie-destroyed world.
The one advantage humans have is that the zombies hate humid environments, so they're migrating west to escape its deteriorating effects. The survivors plan to construct a wall at North Platte to keep the undead out, and Krista has come to Nebraska to start a new life.
Zombies aren’t the only creatures she has to be cautious of—the other survivors have a dark side. Krista must fight not only to live but also to defend everything she holds dear—her country, her freedom, and ultimately, those she loves.
Join Krista in her quest to survive in this thrilling apocalyptic novel by Pembroke Sinclair.
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.
What happens when humanity's hope rests on the shoulders of a teenager?
Caleb didn’t come out of the zombie uprising unscathed. He’s been scarred—both mentally and physically. The rest of humanity is trying to rebuild, to make the world normal again. Caleb is trying to return to a normal life also, but after all he’s seen, after the loss of his family and friends, the transition is difficult. The darkness that led him down a path of self-doubt and self-harm has never left his mind.
Things only become worse when he discovers he’s immune to whatever makes a zombie a zombie. Fighting zombies was predictable. He knew what to expect. Fighting humans is volatile. They are malicious and treacherous. They won’t stop to get what they want, and Caleb has to figure out exactly what that is.
Does being immune to becoming a zombie still make a person human?
Caleb tried to live a normal life after the uprising. He moved into the city, found a home, and worked a job. He yearned for days full of tedium and schedules. Instead, he discovered he was immune to becoming a zombie, and his life was turned upside down.
Fear and uncertainty have replaced normalcy. Caleb no longer knows if his immunity makes him human or something else … something monstrous. He knows who is after him, but to find out what his captors want and what he is he'll have to play their game and give up his freedom. His sacrifice may or may not lead to the answers he desperately craves.
Drunk womanizer Duke, spends his life selfishly taking care of himself and screw the rest of the world. After one particular black-out alcoholic binge, he wakes to find the world changed the dead are rising from their graves.
Lonely, guilt-ridden Hank is someone who minds his own business, and sympathetic but strong-willed Lana is on the receiving end of harassment by other students. Forced together for survival, the three misfits must confront their world gone strange. God said the people of Earth would be punished for their sins, and so the end has come.
Duke, Hank, and Lana must walk their own paths to salvation, but they also must depend on each other. Will their salvation lie in Finding Eden?
A zombie story with inspirational elements .
Jessica Robinson's obsession with zombie films started when she was in junior high. Horror films are a great lens to examine concerns society has about modern science. Let’s face it, when it comes to horror movies, science has a bad reputation. Blind ambition, experimental serums, and genetic experiments are often blamed for the giant monster terrorizing the city or the reason aliens are taking human prisoners or the cause of the dead rising from the grave to consume living flesh.
Using film, literature, and interviews with experts, Robinson examines how zombies portray real-world fears such as epidemics, mind control, what may or may not exist in space, the repercussions of playing God, and the science behind the fears. Robinson's goal is to explore how zombies become a metaphor for our fears of science and what could happen if science gets out of hand .
This week, I am going to feature my zombie books. As you can see, this is one genre that I really enjoy writing in. There's a little bit of something for everyone in here, including a novella and a nonfiction.
Enjoy!
Seventeen-year-old Krista must quickly figure out how she's going to survive in the zombie-destroyed world.
The one advantage humans have is that the zombies hate humid environments, so they're migrating west to escape its deteriorating effects. The survivors plan to construct a wall at North Platte to keep the undead out, and Krista has come to Nebraska to start a new life.
Zombies aren’t the only creatures she has to be cautious of—the other survivors have a dark side. Krista must fight not only to live but also to defend everything she holds dear—her country, her freedom, and ultimately, those she loves.
Join Krista in her quest to survive in this thrilling apocalyptic novel by Pembroke Sinclair.
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.
What happens when humanity's hope rests on the shoulders of a teenager?
Caleb didn’t come out of the zombie uprising unscathed. He’s been scarred—both mentally and physically. The rest of humanity is trying to rebuild, to make the world normal again. Caleb is trying to return to a normal life also, but after all he’s seen, after the loss of his family and friends, the transition is difficult. The darkness that led him down a path of self-doubt and self-harm has never left his mind.
Things only become worse when he discovers he’s immune to whatever makes a zombie a zombie. Fighting zombies was predictable. He knew what to expect. Fighting humans is volatile. They are malicious and treacherous. They won’t stop to get what they want, and Caleb has to figure out exactly what that is.
Does being immune to becoming a zombie still make a person human?
Caleb tried to live a normal life after the uprising. He moved into the city, found a home, and worked a job. He yearned for days full of tedium and schedules. Instead, he discovered he was immune to becoming a zombie, and his life was turned upside down.
Fear and uncertainty have replaced normalcy. Caleb no longer knows if his immunity makes him human or something else … something monstrous. He knows who is after him, but to find out what his captors want and what he is he'll have to play their game and give up his freedom. His sacrifice may or may not lead to the answers he desperately craves.
Drunk womanizer Duke, spends his life selfishly taking care of himself and screw the rest of the world. After one particular black-out alcoholic binge, he wakes to find the world changed the dead are rising from their graves.
Lonely, guilt-ridden Hank is someone who minds his own business, and sympathetic but strong-willed Lana is on the receiving end of harassment by other students. Forced together for survival, the three misfits must confront their world gone strange. God said the people of Earth would be punished for their sins, and so the end has come.
Duke, Hank, and Lana must walk their own paths to salvation, but they also must depend on each other. Will their salvation lie in Finding Eden?
A zombie story with inspirational elements .
Jessica Robinson's obsession with zombie films started when she was in junior high. Horror films are a great lens to examine concerns society has about modern science. Let’s face it, when it comes to horror movies, science has a bad reputation. Blind ambition, experimental serums, and genetic experiments are often blamed for the giant monster terrorizing the city or the reason aliens are taking human prisoners or the cause of the dead rising from the grave to consume living flesh.
Using film, literature, and interviews with experts, Robinson examines how zombies portray real-world fears such as epidemics, mind control, what may or may not exist in space, the repercussions of playing God, and the science behind the fears. Robinson's goal is to explore how zombies become a metaphor for our fears of science and what could happen if science gets out of hand .
May 13, 2019
The First Book I Had Published
The first book I had published, the one that has spurred this month-long celebration, was
Coming from Nowhere
.
Originally, I started writing this book in high school. As a member of the swim team, a few of the other girls and I decided we would have a contest. We would write a story, and then the other members on the team would read it and vote on it.
Unfortunately, I never finished the story when I was in high school--and neither did the others. But I never gave up on it. I kept coming back to it over the years and looking for ways to make it better. After college, when my confidence in my ability to write was completely shaken, I put it away for a long time.
After graduating with my master's, I took a job as a document production specialist at an environmental consulting firm. One of my classmates, who also received her master's when I did, also worked there. I had given completely up on writing at this point in time, but she did her best to suck me back in.
It was a slow process. It started with some short stories, and when I got those published, I slowly regained my confidence. Eventually, I had the courage to work on my novel again, and I finally finished it and readied it to send out to publishers.
The road was rocky. I received rejection after rejection. It was tough. It almost made me give up once again, but I knew if I stuck it out, I would eventually find someone who liked the story and wanted to put it into the world.
I did eventually find that publisher. At first, however, I received a rejection from them. Apparently, this one came from the submissions reader, and she was kind enough to send along some notes. I looked them over and found ways to incorporate her suggestions into the story to make it better.
A few weeks later, I received an email from the publisher, and it was an acceptance. Confused, I asked why there was a change of heart, and she explained that the submissions reader shouldn't have sent me an email at all. She didn't have the authority to make those calls.
As you can imagine, I was thrilled. It was my first opportunity to get published, and I was more than happy--and more than willing--to take it.
Since that moment, I have had a roller coaster ride of publishing. I have been with indie publishers that have closed their doors. I have been with publishers who have done very little to promote and sell their/my books. I have been taken advantage of by unscrupulous publishers. I have gotten rights back to my books and self-published them.
There is a rule in the writing world that you aren't supposed to publish the first novel you write. I (obviously) didn't listen to this rule. I think that you probably shouldn't try to get the first draft of the first novel you've written published, but if you take the time to revise, rewrite, and edit the story, you can do whatever the hell you want with your work.
If I had listened to the rule of not getting the first novel I wrote published, I don't know that I would be published. It gave me the courage to put myself out there. It opened the doors to a whole new world. Has it been challenging? Absolutely. After 10 years and 14 books do I know everything? Absolutely not.
Every day I learn something new. Every day the publishing world changes. In the past 10 years, there have been major changes in the world of publishing. However, I'm glad to be on the ride. It has been full of ups and downs, tears and smiles, trials and tribulations, but it's been worth it.
In celebration of the first book I had published and all the ones that came after, this week you have a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card. Take the chance to win by entering below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Originally, I started writing this book in high school. As a member of the swim team, a few of the other girls and I decided we would have a contest. We would write a story, and then the other members on the team would read it and vote on it.
Unfortunately, I never finished the story when I was in high school--and neither did the others. But I never gave up on it. I kept coming back to it over the years and looking for ways to make it better. After college, when my confidence in my ability to write was completely shaken, I put it away for a long time.
After graduating with my master's, I took a job as a document production specialist at an environmental consulting firm. One of my classmates, who also received her master's when I did, also worked there. I had given completely up on writing at this point in time, but she did her best to suck me back in.
It was a slow process. It started with some short stories, and when I got those published, I slowly regained my confidence. Eventually, I had the courage to work on my novel again, and I finally finished it and readied it to send out to publishers.
The road was rocky. I received rejection after rejection. It was tough. It almost made me give up once again, but I knew if I stuck it out, I would eventually find someone who liked the story and wanted to put it into the world.
I did eventually find that publisher. At first, however, I received a rejection from them. Apparently, this one came from the submissions reader, and she was kind enough to send along some notes. I looked them over and found ways to incorporate her suggestions into the story to make it better.
A few weeks later, I received an email from the publisher, and it was an acceptance. Confused, I asked why there was a change of heart, and she explained that the submissions reader shouldn't have sent me an email at all. She didn't have the authority to make those calls.
As you can imagine, I was thrilled. It was my first opportunity to get published, and I was more than happy--and more than willing--to take it.
Since that moment, I have had a roller coaster ride of publishing. I have been with indie publishers that have closed their doors. I have been with publishers who have done very little to promote and sell their/my books. I have been taken advantage of by unscrupulous publishers. I have gotten rights back to my books and self-published them.
There is a rule in the writing world that you aren't supposed to publish the first novel you write. I (obviously) didn't listen to this rule. I think that you probably shouldn't try to get the first draft of the first novel you've written published, but if you take the time to revise, rewrite, and edit the story, you can do whatever the hell you want with your work.
If I had listened to the rule of not getting the first novel I wrote published, I don't know that I would be published. It gave me the courage to put myself out there. It opened the doors to a whole new world. Has it been challenging? Absolutely. After 10 years and 14 books do I know everything? Absolutely not.
Every day I learn something new. Every day the publishing world changes. In the past 10 years, there have been major changes in the world of publishing. However, I'm glad to be on the ride. It has been full of ups and downs, tears and smiles, trials and tribulations, but it's been worth it.
In celebration of the first book I had published and all the ones that came after, this week you have a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card. Take the chance to win by entering below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
May 8, 2019
This Week's Books
For the celebration this week, I am highlighting my books Wucaii and
Coming from Nowher
e. One of them is fantasy and the other is sci fi, but they both have female characters who are struggling to find their place in a new world. More info can be found below!
It has been 500 years since Aelana has been home, and a lot has changed in that time--including her. As a half-dragon, half-human hybrid, she has been traveling the universe destroying worlds. Both anxious and excited to return, she wonders what she will find. Her memories of home are filled with pain and loss, especially for her first and only love. She knows he won't be there, but will his memory? Will her anguish remain?
JD does not have a past—at least not one that she can remember—and that makes living life on Mars challenging.
With nowhere to go, she is sent to the local military academy where she is trained to become a member of the elite secret police. While there, she becomes a pawn in Roger’s struggle for military dominance and Chris’s rebellion to overthrow the military regime.
She supposedly holds a secret that will change the face of the soldier, but, unfortunately, she doesn’t know what that secret is. Her only desire is to find the truth of her existence, and finds herself thrust into a realm where the truth of her past and present is more horrific than she ever imagined.
It has been 500 years since Aelana has been home, and a lot has changed in that time--including her. As a half-dragon, half-human hybrid, she has been traveling the universe destroying worlds. Both anxious and excited to return, she wonders what she will find. Her memories of home are filled with pain and loss, especially for her first and only love. She knows he won't be there, but will his memory? Will her anguish remain?
JD does not have a past—at least not one that she can remember—and that makes living life on Mars challenging.
With nowhere to go, she is sent to the local military academy where she is trained to become a member of the elite secret police. While there, she becomes a pawn in Roger’s struggle for military dominance and Chris’s rebellion to overthrow the military regime.
She supposedly holds a secret that will change the face of the soldier, but, unfortunately, she doesn’t know what that secret is. Her only desire is to find the truth of her existence, and finds herself thrust into a realm where the truth of her past and present is more horrific than she ever imagined.
May 6, 2019
Celebrate Good Times
Photo by Joseph Chan on UnsplashIt’s hard to believe, but 2009 was the year that my first book was published. I had a few short stories published here and there, but my first novel was made available 10 years ago. Since then, I have written several other stories as well as some nonfiction books, and I have no intention of stopping any time soon.
I hope that you will spend this entire month celebrating with me. This is a huge achievement, and I wouldn’t be where I am without all of you fabulous readers. Thus, I will be highlighting some of my books and doing some giveaways. There will be a new one each week, with the biggest being the chance to win signed copies of all my paperbacks (open to U.S. shipping only).
I hope you’ll celebrate with me this entire month and go for a chance to win some of the prizes I have to offer. I also hope that you will take a moment to check out some of my books.
The first giveaway will be for a chance to win audio codes for all my audiobooks (excluding A Rancher and a Warrior). You can enter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
