Stacy Claflin's Blog, page 18
April 8, 2020
Deals and Steals – free and discounted books
In these stressful and trying times, we’re all looking for an escape. Stories are a wonderful way to escape thoughts of a certain virus. (I’ve been reading more than ever lately. Are you with me?)
I’ve teamed up with some other authors to bring you some free and highly discounted books to meet this need!
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Just click the promo images below to visit the promos that interest you.
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March 25, 2020
Beauty (A Time Traveling Romance)
Will changing the past fix everything … or destroy all they’ve built?
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Chase Williams is desperate to find Penelope Jackson, and the only shot he has is by locating a specific mirror. Even then, his chances are slim. He can’t operate it, so she’d have to tumble through it to his exact time.
Penelope has been traveling through various years in her history in search of her parents’ killers. She’d been with the agency so long, she can hardly remember life before. She relies on her trusty mirror to take her to the times and places she needs to go.
Then one day, she stumbles out into a strange new place… and meets a man who clearly knows who she is. But she’s never seen him before—of that much, she’s sure. Unless her future self has? The possibilities are too numerous to count, and the implications could be disastrous. Is this man trustworthy or out to get her?
Giving her heart over could be the only way to find out for sure. Or it could lead to her ultimate demise. And maybe the destruction of time as we know it.
Excerpt
Chase Williams set down the leather suitcase and glanced over at some people huddled around something he couldn’t see. Turning his back, he raked his fingers through his scraggly hair, which purposefully covered his eyes, then picked up a smaller piece of luggage. He pretended to study it while looking around the large parlor filled with elegant and expensive items.
The crowd lusted after object upon object, greedy for any good deal. Chase, however, knew exactly what he wanted—and he would pay any price for it.
He replaced the bag then meandered to a shelf of expensive knickknacks. Soft murmurs caught his attention. Picking up a watch and feigning interest, he focused on the hushed conversation while glancing over from the corner of his eye, using his wavy hair to curtain his attention.
Two girls, probably teenagers, huddled together and whispered. Kept glancing his way.
Chase’s stomach knotted. Did they recognize him? He hardly looked like himself with the long hair and beard. But true fans and serious haters alike could always pick him out no matter how he disguised himself.
He held up the watch at different angles, still focused on the two girls.
“You think that’s really him?” asked the blonde with too much makeup.
The curly-haired brunette glanced his way. “It’s Chase Williams! It’s really him.”
“He looks like a lumberjack.” The blonde’s mouth curled in disgust.
“Still hot as ever. That’s definitely him.” The brunette sighed dramatically.
“You should go over there and say something.”
The brunette’s mouth fell open. “No way! Just go over and talk to Chase Williams? What would I say?”
The blonde pulled out a mirror and puckered her lips. “Anything. It’s better than staring like a fool. At least ask for a selfie with him or something. People say he’s always nice to fans. Although, who knows now? Like I said, total lumberjack. He hasn’t been the same since—”
“He doesn’t look like a lumberjack! I can’t talk to him.”
Chase took a deep breath and turned away, setting the watch back on the shelf. In days gone by, he would’ve happily gone up to the girl, gotten selfies, and said something nice to her. But those were no longer the days he was living in. Everything had changed, including him. If he got the selfie, the picture could spread like wildfire on social media. He had his new look for a reason, and that was to stay out of the limelight. So far, he had managed to keep his new look from getting online.
And he intended to keep it that way.
The girls were still whispering. He took another long deep breath and considered bolting, but he hadn’t come to the estate sale for nothing. After he’d checked out all the furniture, he would leave. And once again, enjoy anonymity.
He picked up something else from the shelf and pretended to look at it, but his mind was too far away to even notice what he held. The girls’ whispers seemed to grow louder, grating on his nerves.
People were finally walking away from the furniture, so Chase sauntered over, pretending he didn’t hear their discussion.
It did no good. The blonde grabbed his arm.
Chase’s pulse raced and anger boiled in his chest. Didn’t the girl know better than to grab someone? He yanked his arm away. “What do you want?”
She stared at him, unblinking. “Are you Chase Williams?”
He grated his teeth. “It’s none of your business. Excuse me.”
“What a beast!” She glared at him. “You look like a wild animal.”
A series of insults raced through his mind, but Chase wasn’t about to talk like that to teenage girls. As much as being recognized annoyed him, they hadn’t done anything wrong. Even grabbing his arm wasn’t that bad. He’d experienced worse. Much worse. He stepped aside. “Excuse me.”
Chase made his way over to the furniture then looked around. Disappointment washed through him, as it always did. He was never going to find what he was looking for. He searched all the estate sales, garage sales, and secondhand stores in the area. It would do no good. Heck, he could check every single one in the nation and it wouldn’t matter. Looking for it was a lost cause.
Yet he couldn’t stop.
Other than time, he had nothing, anyway.
He ran his fingers along the back of a sofa, wandered over to a computer chair, then studied a framed painting. It looked like it was worth something, and it might fit into one of his rooms, but it wasn’t what he came for.
He didn’t see anything like that anywhere.
Gasps, giggles, and whispers sounded behind him. Chase spun around. Those two girls were snapping pictures of him with their phones.
Rage ran through him. The temptation to grab their phones and smash them was real. Everything took on a red hue. He clenched his fists, counted to ten, and considered his wording before he spoke. “Don’t post those, or you’ll find yourself with a lawsuit!”
“It’s a free world!” The blonde scowled at him.
He gritted his teeth. “You’ll be singing a different tune when my lawyer is done with you!”
She giggled and took more pictures, but the brunette put her phone away.
Chase’s fury was going to come to a boiling point with that snarky blonde. If he didn’t get outside soon, he would do something he would later regret. Especially given the fact that they were taking pictures of him.
He stepped closer, aware that all the attention in the room was now focused on him. “I’m asking you politely not to post those pictures. I’m staying out of the spotlight for a reason. I don’t want my current image online. If I get a selfie with you, will you promise to keep the photos offline?”
“Are you joking?” The blonde laughed.
“You’d really get a selfie with us?” The brunette played with a curl and sucked in her lower lip, bouncing from one foot to the other.
Chase nodded. “As long as you promise to keep the pictures to yourself until I go public again.”
“When will that be?” The blonde put her hands on her hips.
Chase frowned, took a deep breath, and raked his fingers through his beard. “I’m not really sure yet.”
“Not sure? When can we post these? You’re Chase Williams! Our friends will never believe us.”
He drew in an exaggerated breath. “It won’t be much longer. If you know anything about me, I’m sure you know I’m dealing with some things right now.”
She arched a brow. “So, what you’re saying is that we might never be able to post these?”
He shook his head. “Not never. I just don’t have a date yet. I’d appreciate you waiting. You can show your friends in person, just not on social media or email or anything like that.”
The girl squared her shoulders. “Give us a date.”
Why was she tempting him to lash out? He jammed his hands in his pockets. “I just need a little time. Grief doesn’t go away based on the calendar.”
The other girl stepped closer to him. “I promise I won’t put this on social media, not until you’re back online, I swear. I’d really appreciate the selfie. I can’t tell you how exciting this is to meet you.” She hesitated, like she wanted to say more.
Chase nodded. “I’d appreciate that. There’s something else you wanted to ask?”
She opened her mouth, then closed it and open it again, then looked away.
“Ask whatever you want.”
She smiled. “Well I just wanted to say I’m sorry about what happened with—”
Shrieking and exclamations sounded near the door. A group of five girls were running his way. He took the brunette’s phone, held it up, and put his arm around her. “Say cheese!”
Their image appeared on the phone’s screen. The girl smiled, and Chase tried to match her enthusiasm. Grinning, he snapped a few pictures before handing it back to her. “Pleasure meeting you. I have to go!”
He handed her back the phone, ducked behind a large armoire, and made his way outside, managing to avoid everyone.
Free: Beauty (A Time Traveling Romance) #FreeBook
Will changing the past fix everything … or destroy all they’ve built?
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Chase Williams is desperate to find Penelope Jackson, and the only shot he has is by locating a specific mirror. Even then, his chances are slim. He can’t operate it, so she’d have to tumble through it to his exact time.
Penelope has been traveling through various years in her history in search of her parents’ killers. She’d been with the agency so long, she can hardly remember life before. She relies on her trusty mirror to take her to the times and places she needs to go.
Then one day, she stumbles out into a strange new place… and meets a man who clearly knows who she is. But she’s never seen him before—of that much, she’s sure. Unless her future self has? The possibilities are too numerous to count, and the implications could be disastrous. Is this man trustworthy or out to get her?
Giving her heart over could be the only way to find out for sure. Or it could lead to her ultimate demise. And maybe the destruction of time as we know it.
Excerpt
Chase Williams set down the leather suitcase and glanced over at some people huddled around something he couldn’t see. Turning his back, he raked his fingers through his scraggly hair, which purposefully covered his eyes, then picked up a smaller piece of luggage. He pretended to study it while looking around the large parlor filled with elegant and expensive items.
The crowd lusted after object upon object, greedy for any good deal. Chase, however, knew exactly what he wanted—and he would pay any price for it.
He replaced the bag then meandered to a shelf of expensive knickknacks. Soft murmurs caught his attention. Picking up a watch and feigning interest, he focused on the hushed conversation while glancing over from the corner of his eye, using his wavy hair to curtain his attention.
Two girls, probably teenagers, huddled together and whispered. Kept glancing his way.
Chase’s stomach knotted. Did they recognize him? He hardly looked like himself with the long hair and beard. But true fans and serious haters alike could always pick him out no matter how he disguised himself.
He held up the watch at different angles, still focused on the two girls.
“You think that’s really him?” asked the blonde with too much makeup.
The curly-haired brunette glanced his way. “It’s Chase Williams! It’s really him.”
“He looks like a lumberjack.” The blonde’s mouth curled in disgust.
“Still hot as ever. That’s definitely him.” The brunette sighed dramatically.
“You should go over there and say something.”
The brunette’s mouth fell open. “No way! Just go over and talk to Chase Williams? What would I say?”
The blonde pulled out a mirror and puckered her lips. “Anything. It’s better than staring like a fool. At least ask for a selfie with him or something. People say he’s always nice to fans. Although, who knows now? Like I said, total lumberjack. He hasn’t been the same since—”
“He doesn’t look like a lumberjack! I can’t talk to him.”
Chase took a deep breath and turned away, setting the watch back on the shelf. In days gone by, he would’ve happily gone up to the girl, gotten selfies, and said something nice to her. But those were no longer the days he was living in. Everything had changed, including him. If he got the selfie, the picture could spread like wildfire on social media. He had his new look for a reason, and that was to stay out of the limelight. So far, he had managed to keep his new look from getting online.
And he intended to keep it that way.
The girls were still whispering. He took another long deep breath and considered bolting, but he hadn’t come to the estate sale for nothing. After he’d checked out all the furniture, he would leave. And once again, enjoy anonymity.
He picked up something else from the shelf and pretended to look at it, but his mind was too far away to even notice what he held. The girls’ whispers seemed to grow louder, grating on his nerves.
People were finally walking away from the furniture, so Chase sauntered over, pretending he didn’t hear their discussion.
It did no good. The blonde grabbed his arm.
Chase’s pulse raced and anger boiled in his chest. Didn’t the girl know better than to grab someone? He yanked his arm away. “What do you want?”
She stared at him, unblinking. “Are you Chase Williams?”
He grated his teeth. “It’s none of your business. Excuse me.”
“What a beast!” She glared at him. “You look like a wild animal.”
A series of insults raced through his mind, but Chase wasn’t about to talk like that to teenage girls. As much as being recognized annoyed him, they hadn’t done anything wrong. Even grabbing his arm wasn’t that bad. He’d experienced worse. Much worse. He stepped aside. “Excuse me.”
Chase made his way over to the furniture then looked around. Disappointment washed through him, as it always did. He was never going to find what he was looking for. He searched all the estate sales, garage sales, and secondhand stores in the area. It would do no good. Heck, he could check every single one in the nation and it wouldn’t matter. Looking for it was a lost cause.
Yet he couldn’t stop.
Other than time, he had nothing, anyway.
He ran his fingers along the back of a sofa, wandered over to a computer chair, then studied a framed painting. It looked like it was worth something, and it might fit into one of his rooms, but it wasn’t what he came for.
He didn’t see anything like that anywhere.
Gasps, giggles, and whispers sounded behind him. Chase spun around. Those two girls were snapping pictures of him with their phones.
Rage ran through him. The temptation to grab their phones and smash them was real. Everything took on a red hue. He clenched his fists, counted to ten, and considered his wording before he spoke. “Don’t post those, or you’ll find yourself with a lawsuit!”
“It’s a free world!” The blonde scowled at him.
He gritted his teeth. “You’ll be singing a different tune when my lawyer is done with you!”
She giggled and took more pictures, but the brunette put her phone away.
Chase’s fury was going to come to a boiling point with that snarky blonde. If he didn’t get outside soon, he would do something he would later regret. Especially given the fact that they were taking pictures of him.
He stepped closer, aware that all the attention in the room was now focused on him. “I’m asking you politely not to post those pictures. I’m staying out of the spotlight for a reason. I don’t want my current image online. If I get a selfie with you, will you promise to keep the photos offline?”
“Are you joking?” The blonde laughed.
“You’d really get a selfie with us?” The brunette played with a curl and sucked in her lower lip, bouncing from one foot to the other.
Chase nodded. “As long as you promise to keep the pictures to yourself until I go public again.”
“When will that be?” The blonde put her hands on her hips.
Chase frowned, took a deep breath, and raked his fingers through his beard. “I’m not really sure yet.”
“Not sure? When can we post these? You’re Chase Williams! Our friends will never believe us.”
He drew in an exaggerated breath. “It won’t be much longer. If you know anything about me, I’m sure you know I’m dealing with some things right now.”
She arched a brow. “So, what you’re saying is that we might never be able to post these?”
He shook his head. “Not never. I just don’t have a date yet. I’d appreciate you waiting. You can show your friends in person, just not on social media or email or anything like that.”
The girl squared her shoulders. “Give us a date.”
Why was she tempting him to lash out? He jammed his hands in his pockets. “I just need a little time. Grief doesn’t go away based on the calendar.”
The other girl stepped closer to him. “I promise I won’t put this on social media, not until you’re back online, I swear. I’d really appreciate the selfie. I can’t tell you how exciting this is to meet you.” She hesitated, like she wanted to say more.
Chase nodded. “I’d appreciate that. There’s something else you wanted to ask?”
She opened her mouth, then closed it and open it again, then looked away.
“Ask whatever you want.”
She smiled. “Well I just wanted to say I’m sorry about what happened with—”
Shrieking and exclamations sounded near the door. A group of five girls were running his way. He took the brunette’s phone, held it up, and put his arm around her. “Say cheese!”
Their image appeared on the phone’s screen. The girl smiled, and Chase tried to match her enthusiasm. Grinning, he snapped a few pictures before handing it back to her. “Pleasure meeting you. I have to go!”
He handed her back the phone, ducked behind a large armoire, and made his way outside, managing to avoid everyone.
March 22, 2020
Self Care During Uncertain Times
Right now so many people are stressed out, and it’s totally understandable! How many of us have been through something like this before?
In many ways, this reminds me of 9/11 because I knew everything would change, but I didn’t know how. Or when things would return to normal again, at least as close as possible.
Back when the Twin Towers went down, I was glued to the TV eagerly awaiting the newest update. I bought magazines and checked newspaper headlines. My husband was busy recording news updates on VHS tapes. We were all dealing with in it their own ways.
It’s basically the same now, except that most of us are glued to Facebook or Twitter and refreshing local news sites for updates. And given that I’ve been sick for a few weeks and I’m in one of the US’s hardest hit areas, the whole virus thing strikes especially close to home.
I know about worry! And about the importance of self care.
We all need to step back and take care of ourselves.
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10 Simple ideas for self care
Step away from the computer
… or your phone or tablet or the TV or whatever device you’re constantly refreshing for the latest news. (We’re all guilty of it!)
Chances are, things aren’t going to change much in the next hour or two. Or even day. Give your mind a chance to calm and reset.
Really, it’s going to be okay. Things may be different when all of this is said and done, but we’ll be able to make the most of whatever happens. And one thing is certain — worrying about it now won’t do us a bit of good. We’ll be in a better spot if we’re refreshed and not stressed.
Drink water
When we’re frazzled, we tend to forget the basics. Staying hydrated is huge! It keeps your body running like it should and will help promote a good immune system.
If you’re not a huge fan of plain water, add a lemon — or any fruit!
Along the same line, eat healthy. Our bodies need healthy foods to function well. Cut back on sugars and add an extra serving of vegetables — that’s a great starting point.
Write it out
Journaling your thoughts can be a great way to get rid of the stress you’re holding onto. Many times, just getting our feelings out releases us from their hold.
No, it doesn’t change the situation … but it can change the way we see it. Grab a stray piece of paper, find a journaling app, or even buy a journal just for your thoughts. One of my favorite brands is Erin Condren.
Write fiction. They say everyone has a book inside of them. Do you? If you’ve been wanting to write a book, now could be your time! I shared some practical tips to get started in this post. Writing fiction can be extremely therapeutic!
Read a book
There’s nothing like lounging somewhere comfy with a book to get your mind off life’s happenings. I love kicking back on my couch or in bed, but you can also go outside, make a bath, sit by a window with some tea, or come up with something else.
Books don’t have to cost money. I have 6 free books you can download at your favorite online retailer (Amazon, Nook, Kobo, Apple, etc.) Nearly all of my ebooks and audiobooks are available to borrow at the libraries using apps like Overdrive. If one isn’t available (it depends on your particular library) you can request it!
Get outside
I’m sure you already know the benefits of being outside. It’s even more important in times like this corona virus which has most of homebound. Even if it’s raining, the fresh air does a body good.
Take it even further and go for a walk. Exercise is a great feeling!
Pray or meditate
Another way to get our minds off the craziness in the world is to focus on something positive — not just a passing thought, but actually giving it exclusive mental space.
Listen to music
As long as you don’t pick something depressing, listening to music can do wonders! Whether you pick something relaxing or uplifting or zany, it’ll help put you in a better mood.
Sleep!
Getting enough sleep is crucial for physical and emotional health. If you can, use some of this extra time for catching up on zzz’s.
Hang with friends via video chat
Use Facetime or Zoom to have a face-to-face chat with loved ones who are also stuck at home. Everyone, even introverts, need time with people, so get creative and connect in other ways beyond Facebook and texting.
Create an “escape board”
What’s an escape board? It’s kind of like a vision board, but it has pictures of places you want to go. Gather as many dream destination pictures as you can find and look at them, imagining that you’re there! Need an example? Visit mine.
You can also pick any topic you want — it doesn’t have to be exotic locations. Collect pictures of a dream house, cute animals, inspirational quotes, or whatever suits your fancy.
Bonus tip
Encourage your loved ones to take care of themselves too! Feel free to share this post with them or pick your favorite tip.
I hope this list gives you inspiration to step away from stress and take care of yourself. It’s more now than ever!
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March 20, 2020
New Release: Family Secrets (Brannon House Thriller)
Some questions are better left unasked.
Like whose blood is on the knife upstairs.
Kenzi Brannon’s life was turned completely upside down when she moved into her family’s abandoned home to raise her niece. Problems compound when her aging mother starts to remember things.
And clues the police find regarding the knife don’t match anything Kenzi knows about her family.
Things go from bad to worse when she and her niece discover something horrifying in their house. But not even that compares to the strange ways her mom is acting.
Can they get to the bottom of it all, or will their house—a local legend that goes bump in the night—and the family secrets destroy them all?
Grab it today: Amazon
March 14, 2020
How to Self Publish a Book
As an author with over 70 published books, I get asked about the publishing process a lot.
I’m happy to help aspiring writers, but I don’t always have the time to sit down and have coffee with each one and explain the process. ☕️
Hopefully a short series of blog posts will help. I already wrote quite a bit on the topic around the time I dropped my day job like a baby giraffe and became a full-time author. (February 2015.)
This post is going to be a short overview. If you’re looking for more specific advice, please check out my Writer’s Resources page. You’ll find a lot, including links to my old posts (like how I wrote 150k words in one month) and lists of my favorite writing books, podcasts, Facebook groups, and more.
Steps to publish a book
Plan the book. Even if you’re a pantser (someone who writes by the seat of your pants) you’ll want some idea of what’s going to happen. I’m a natural pantser, but I am SO MUCH more efficient with a plan.
My favorite part of planning is filling out my character sheets. Getting to know my characters brings the story to life! Get to know their histories, wants, needs, desires, flaws, fears, and coping mechanisms and then watch your plot flourish. When characters have opposing desires and destructive flaws, things really start to come together.
And if you’re a plotter, go for it! I love a loose outline. It gives me the structure I need to stay focused but also the freedom and flexibility to let the story takes its course as I write. I like using the 4-act story structure, but you may find something else works better for you.
Write the book. This is self explanatory. Get the words down and don’t worry about how awful they are. Do not edit during this phase. Just finish the story! Most people never finish their first book. Don’t be most people.
Beta readers or critique partners. Find some people to read your book and give you tips. Don’t know what to ask them? Use my beta reader questionnaire. No, you don’t have to make every change they suggest, but if several people bring up an issue, pay attention. Because, believe me, reviewers will publicly point out what they did. Why not fix the problems first?
Get an editor. A professional edit is not optional. The early days of indie publishing are long gone. Readers expect a fully professional product. If you’re on a budget, trade services with an editor or find someone trying to build his or her portfolio who can offer a discount.
Pay attention to what your editor tells you!
Proofread! Do not skip this step. I wasn’t aware of this in my early days and my reviews reflect that. My favorite way of proofreading is listening to my Kindle read it to me. You catch extra errors when listening instead of just reading. Some people prefer to read it out loud. That works too.
Get a professional cover. You can do this at any point in the process. Many times, I have my cover before I begin writing. It can be very inspiring! If you’re on a budget, get a premade cover and upgrade later. Don’t make it yourself unless you’re a cover designer! I repeat, the early days of indie publishing are long gone.
Oh, and pick a cover designer who works in YOUR genre. If you write zombie thrillers don’t hire a sweet romance designer.
People do judge a book by its cover.
Write a compelling blurb. Writing a blurb is equally as important as the cover. If your cover has done its work, eager readers are going to look at that next. A blurb is not a summary. It’s a sales pitch. Your job is to get people excited to buy your book.
Try this formula for blurb writing: Hook + Hint + Hang: Hook them in the first sentence. Then hint of the initial conflict and let them know why they should care. Finally leave them on a cliff, needing to read your book!
Decide on Kindle Unlimited or Wide publishing. Many authors opt to join Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited, where subscribers can read any KU book for “free” as part of their membership. The authors then get paid by the page read. This can be a great way to get started, but you can’t publish anywhere else if you do KU. It’ll give you time to get used to Amazon and publishing in general before putting your books on the other retailers.
Uploading the book and cover files. This is where things get a little technical. I write in Scrivener which compiles books into the mobi file that Amazon uses for ebooks. I also use Vellum to produce prettier ebook and paperback files. I’m not going to get into the technicalities of all that. I suggest you read Let’s Get Digital for that.
Marketing. Once your book is live, you need to market it for anyone to see it. That’s a HUGE topic, and I’m definitely not getting into that here. Check out my recommended resources for marketing tips.
You may also like this post: I Finished my Novel, Now What?
Rinse and repeat! Being an author isn’t a one-and-done deal. Keep at it!
Good luck!
March 13, 2020
Dex: A Story of Survival in a Post-Apocalyptic World…
A world of mindless zombies. A lone traveler kills to stay alive. To survive a new threat, his only choices are trust or death…
Dex fears humans more than the hordes of wandering undead. After 11 years in survival mode, he’s learned how to fight the wandering killers. But humans are unpredictable, and in the chaotic ruins of civilization, one unplanned move can get you killed…
After an attack by the zombified version of a beloved family member, Dex resolves to travel back to his hometown. As he searches for surviving friends and family, he encounters a new breed of wanderer… less grotesque, but just as hungry for flesh…
To combat the new enemy, Dex must re-learn how to trust his fellow travelers. If he fails, he has no chance of reaching his hometown alive…
Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Nook | Google
Excerpt
Dex Sheahan held his breath and readied his bow. He stepped back, inching away from the dozen or so insatiable wanderers. They growled, hissed, and reached out, scratching one another but not finding Dex. The rancid odor of rotting flesh and exposed internal organs made his eyes water, but he held still. They would soon forget about him and move on as long as they couldn’t find him.
The zombies were nothing if not predictable. Chase after anything with warm internal organs and fresh brains. Rip them out and eat. Repeat. They were strong, but incapable of intelligence. And that was how Dex had managed to live as long as he had—he used his brain, unlike so many other people he’d run in to over the years. Use it or lose it. That was the law of life in the wild.
How many years had he managed to survive? His guess was close to eleven years, but it was only that. A guess. He’d lost count of how many cold winters and hot summers had passed since escaping the safety of the tiny town he’d grown up in. But if he was right, he’d spent exactly half his life on his own, fighting to live.
The groans and grunts grew quieter. Several of the wanderers stumbled away in the opposite direction. They meandered without direction, which was no doubt how they had earned the name.
Dex released a quiet sigh of relief. The others would soon follow suit. Then he could carry on his way and find a place to sleep for the night. With any luck, it would be better than the tree branch that had been his bed the night before. It hadn’t been his worst night of rest, but there was nothing like finding an old bed or couch to crash onto, no matter how lumpy or stiff.
Growl.
His heart skipped a beat. That hadn’t been one of the monsters. It was his stomach.
Growl-growl.
Several of the wanderers turned his way and reached into the bush that separated them from him.
Crack. A branch broke in two.
Dex swore. Why now? It was surprises like that which would get him killed like so many other before him.
Cracked yellow claws reached for him. Growls and hisses grew louder as the creatures inched closer.
He tightened his grip on the arrow, aimed his bow at the nearest head, and released. It flew the short distance and burst into the monster’s temple. It—Dex never referred to them as he or she, despite what they once had been—cried out and fell to the ground. Three more pushed through the thick bushes, snatching at him.
He reached into his quiver and readied another arrow. Unfortunately, he was running low on ammo. He hadn’t had much time lately to make more or go back for the ones he’d shot. He had four, but five chased him.
Dex backed into a tree, stopping him from going any farther. His heart raced. He would need to either kill two with one shot or run from the last one. His only other option was to pull out one of his knives, but that would be a last resort. Using a blade meant allowing them close enough to bite or scratch him. If that happened, he would soon turn into one of those mindless freaks of nature.
He shot an arrow at the nearest one and again hit it directly in the temple. After an over-dramatic display of hissing and thrashing, it finally fell to the ground. Dex maneuvered around the tree while pulling out the rest of the arrows. He used each one in rapid-fire succession.
The remaining wanderer raced for him, growling and snapping. This one was fast, which meant it was especially hungry. A dirty, torn floral dress hung in tatters off its shoulders. Maybe the garment would impede its reach enough that Dex would stand a fighting chance with a knife.
Dex slung the crossbow over his shoulder and reached for his longest blade. It was seventeen inches from tip to handle and had once belonged to his dad. It would have to be good enough.
Behind the fast zombie, a group of three more headed his way. All the noise from the ones he’d just killed had gotten their attention.
Dex took a deep breath and focused on the one in front of him. It moved faster with each step. Definitely hungry for his organs.
The trees and other plant life were especially thick, making his getaway all the more challenging. He kept his attention on the rapidly-approaching creature while trying to map an escape. It was never easy, but this time would prove extra difficult with the thick trees and poison oak blocking his way.
He stepped back, barely avoiding the itchy plant, and bumped into another tree. All the branches were higher than he could reach, and the bark too smooth for him to scale. His breathing grew labored. The three behind this one closed in.
Dex stumbled over a rock. He reached down, picked it up, and threw it at the monster’s face. It flinched and hissed, clawing at the air. While it was distracted, he ran past it, barely getting by. Then he rushed past the other three, careful to stay out of reach.
Dex came to a new-growth tree. It was too weak to climb, but it had plenty of branches. He ripped a few off. They weren’t arrows or spears, but they would have to do. The group of three was now closer, so he turned to them and dug the pointed end of the longest branch into the nearest temple. The creature flailed about and hissed, but crumbled to the ground.
One of the zombies behind it tripped and face-planted onto a stone. Pieces of flesh and gray matter—though it was yellow and red—splattered out, some landing on Dex’s pants. It wasn’t the first and wouldn’t be the last. The last of the group lumbered toward Dex, staring with hollow eyes and grasping for him with long ragged nails. A torn t-shirt barely hung to its body with the phrase World’s Greatest Dad scrawled across the blood-spattered front.
“Not anymore.” Dex ran at it and aimed another branch into the wanderer’s temple. The thing screeched, spraying something orange onto Dex’s shirt and snapped its few remaining teeth at him. Before Dex could dig the weapon into the skull, the zombie reached out for him. Dex jumped out of the way and missed getting scratched by less than an inch.
His heart jumped into his throat. He hadn’t had a close call like that in some time. Dex raised a foot and pulled his leg close to his body before side-kicking the thing in its stomach and then knees. It reached for Dex, hissing, as it stumbled backward. The thing managed to keep its balance, proving to be more difficult to kill than its now-dead friends.
It hissed, spraying orange into the air, and marched toward Dex. The zombie in the dress had finally figured out where Dex had gone and rushed toward him, twice as fast as the world’s greatest dad approached. In less than thirty seconds, he would have to fight them both off at the same time.
There was only one thing to do. He held both branches in the air, aimed them at the nearest one, and launched them with all his might. One hit the dress-zombie, who crashed into a tree with a loud thud. The world’s greatest dad turned toward the noise, and Dex took advantage of its distraction. He grabbed another branch and threw it. It sailed silently through the air and smashed into the zombie’s temple, shattering the skull upon impact. Dad convulsed before falling only feet from his companions.
No time to catch his breath. The dress-monster raced over, screaming and growling. As it ran toward him, intestines fell out and hung from its middle, but it didn’t slow down. It bared its graying teeth and reached for him with disgusting jaundiced nails.
He aimed his last branch at the monster, but froze before throwing it. A sliver of sunlight shining through the trees reflected off the creature’s necklace.
Dex recognized it. He’d seen it countless times as a boy. It was one of his family’s few heirlooms. His mom never took it off. Ever.
The monster trying to kill him was his mom.
March 9, 2020
Update: When You Start to Miss Me
New Release Date Alert! When You Start to Miss Me will be available on May 3rd.
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This is the third book in my Wildflower series. It was originally set to release next month, but I’ve had a lot of life events recently (a death in the family, personally being sick for over a week, etc.) and as a result, I’m unable to meet the deadline. Technically, I probably could if I had pushed myself while miserably sick, but the story would have suffered. Big time. So I had to make the difficult decision to postpone the release date.
I always plan for “life” when I set a release date but for the first time there were a little too many unforeseen events too close together. When I shared the update with my newsletter, it was so encouraging to receive emails from readers saying they want me healthy rather than pushing to publish a book.
February 17, 2020
Cover Reveal: Brannon House Series #2
The Perfect Death, the first Brannon House book, is a book readers can’t put down! Now the next book in the series is in the works and readers are sure to love this one just as much – maybe even more!
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Start at the beginning…
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Suicide or the perfect cover-up?
Kenzi Brannon loves the single life in California. She hasn’t looked back since the day she walked away from her painful past.
Everything comes crashing down when Kenzi gets a call about her estranged sister’s suicide. If that news isn’t shocking enough, she also learns that she is now guardian to Ember, a niece she doesn’t even know.
Kenzi heads up north and finds herself in her family’s long-abandoned house. Neighbors whisper rumors of hauntings, but Kenzi has a more serious concern—mounting evidence points to her sister’s death not being self-inflicted.
When things in the house move seemingly on their own, Ember thinks it’s ghosts. But Kenzi fears something far more sinister. Could the person who killed her sister now be after the her and her niece?
February 16, 2020
New Release: White Wedding (An Alex Mercer Thriller)
When the son of an infamous kidnapper gets abducted, nobody is safe.
Alex Mercer could use a break. But, as usual, he can’t catch one. He’s overburdened with best man duties, familial changes, and work obligations. The three responsibilities collide when his daughter’s boyfriend is taken, his best friend is targeted, and officers and agents go missing. He knows there must be a link, but he’s the only common denominator—a fact that doesn’t bode well for job security. Or his loved ones’ safety.
On top of all that, another teen is missing, and Alex lands the case. But this time, the kid is a suspect in a double homicide. He’s on the run, and the cops have no leads.
One little town shouldn’t have so many big problems. Alex is in the middle of all of them, and he’s running out of time…
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Excerpt
Damon pushed away from the wall and tried to focus on the pavement. It was blurry. He blinked a few times. Didn’t do any good. Nothing would come into focus. His stomach knotted and twisted, growing more painful by the moment.
Everything spun around him. His knees wobbled. Stomach lurched again. Head pounded.
No way he could drive like this, couldn’t see straight. Needed to get inside. Talk to the manager.
He looked around, trying to remember which way he’d come. The right? Maybe? That seemed to make the most sense.
Pain seared through his skull, shot into his eyes, raced straight down his side.
No way he’d make it around the building.
Damon leaned against the wall then slid to the ground. As he sat there, sweat beaded on his forehead. His breaths grew short. White dots danced before his eyes.
He needed help. Had to get his phone.
Arms felt like jelly. Could barely move his hands.
Footsteps sounded. Conversation.
They could help.
Damon glanced up, ignoring the pain from the sun. “Help … me …”
One of the three—two?—men approached him.
“I … can’t …”
The man had something black in his hands. Stopped closer to Damon. Held out the dark thing.
Pulled it over Damon’s head.
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