Chrys Fey's Blog, page 59

Dear Mom

Blog Tour Stops:

Yesterday I visited DL Hammons - From Contest Fail to Contract Win

Today I am at Katie O'Sullivan's blog - A Day in the Life of Detective Avrianna Heavenborn

As well as, Beverly Stowe McClure's blog - 10 Pizza Toppings Your Probably Never Considered

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Last year I contributed to a book titled “Dear Mom,”a project dedicated to the mother/daughter relationship, with a letter to my mom. Countless other daughters did the same. These letters were used for a play, which had its premier last 2014 in Philadelphia. Even though they put "Christine Fey" as my name in the contributor's list, and above my letter put "Texas" as my location (I live in Florida), I am still very honored to have had a part in this amazing project.
My mom and I last August at my brother's wedding.
Here’s my letter:
Dear Mom,
As a baby, you nurtured me. When I was born only six pounds and was rapidly losing weight, threatened with being put back into the hospital, you sweetly stuffed me with food to keep me in your arms at home. As a child, you taught me how to read and write; the very two things that have become my passion. You taught me how to smile the same smile that you have, and laugh. And yes, you taught me how to love. Quietly.

As a teenager, you nurtured me again. When I was enveloped in pain from scoliosis, lying with my face buried in my pillow, you would massage my sore back with your arthritis fingers so I could fall asleep. After the surgery to correct my spine, you took care of me every second of every day. I felt a lot of pain, shed tears, and had many bad days, but you were there for it all. 

Moving with a rod screwed into my spine was very difficult at first. Walking to the mailbox would drain my energy, but you walked with me to help me build my strength, gently pushing me to go a few steps farther each time. You slathered ointment onto my sensitive scar and even shaved my prickly legs.

Throughout my teenage years, we moved many times because we didn’t have the money to stay in one place, but you kept a roof over my head no matter what. For awhile, I didn’t have a bed to sleep on, but I always had a room to sleep in, and that is all thanks to you. You did what you had to do to keep me sheltered and to keep food in my belly, even walking to work in the blaze of Florida heat.

As a young lady, you taught me to never give up. When I left high school, you never made me feel like a failure. You helped me to keep my chin up and push for the future that we both knew I could have.

Although I am older now, you still do so much for me. You understand me and the situation I am in that is keeping me locked in place, like a ballerina stuck on a jewelry box. You are content with helping me until my true destiny decides to kick in. Whenever it does, you are happy waiting with me. And you are the best passenger I could ask for!

In a million years, I will never be able to pay you back for all you have done and are still doing for me. If you weren’t you, I would be lost. You are my writing buddy, my healer, and my friend. Someday, I hope to be able to do for you what you have done for me. After all, you raised me into the woman I am today, and for that I am so very thankful.
Love,       Your Quietly Loving Daughter
So many of our baby pictures look the same.

This one was taken on her birthday a few years ago.

QUESTIONS: What would you say to your mom in a letter? What did you do on Mother’s Day?

How to Write an Author Bio

Today I am visiting Alex J. Cavanaugh - I Was That Kid

And Jana Richards - Ghost of Death Character Profiles


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An author bio is a short paragraph or two that highlights your writing/publishing achievements and gives readers a sense of who you are.

TIP #1:Write your bio in the third person.

TIP #2:Don’t list every single one of your accomplishments or publishing credentials Pick the most important ones such as an award or contest you won, and 2-3 of the best publications that featured your work (or your best published books). 

TIP# 3:End your bio with personal information such as where you live and if you have a husband/wife and kids or pets.

If you don’t have publishing credentials yet, don’t sweat it! You can leave that out for now and focus on other things. Are you part of a writing organization? Do you have your Masters in English Literature? Are you the founder of a writer’s group? Are you a teacher, librarian, editor? These are all great things to mention in your bio!
You can also include something unique. For instance, if your character is a soldier, adding that you were in the military for twenty years would be a good idea. Or if your book is a crime novel, briefly saying that you’re also a police officer would be smart.

TIP #4:Your bio will change as time goes on, so don’t forget to update it!

My Bio for Hurricane Crimes:
Chrys Fey is the author of the short stories The Summer Bride and Fallen. She created the blog Write with Fey to offer aspiring writers advice and inspiration. She lives in Florida, where she is ready to battle the next hurricane that comes her way.
FYI: Those short stories were actually flash fiction that I published online.


My Bio for 30 Seconds:         
Chrys Fey is a lover of rock music just like Dani Hart in 30 Seconds. Whenever she's writing at her desk, headphones are always emitting the sounds of her musical muses -especially that of her favorite band, 30 Seconds to Mars, the inspiration behind the title.
30 Secondsis her second eBook with The Wild Rose Press. Her debut, Hurricane Crimes, is also available on Amazon.


My New Bio:
Chrys Fey is the author of Hurricane Crimes and 30 Seconds. She is currently working on the sequel to Hurricane Crimes that’ll serve as book two in the Disaster Crimes series.
When Fey was six years old, she realized she wanted to be a writer by watching her mother pursue publication. At the age of twelve, she started writing her first novel, which flourished into a series she later rewrote at seventeen. Fey lives in Florida where she is waiting for the next hurricane to come her way.
Available NOW!!! Coming May 20th!!!


FYI: I keep the same bio on my blog and website, but I change it for each of my eBooks just for fun. :) You don't have to, though. 

SHARE: Your author bio.


QUESTIONS: Do you read author bios? If so, what do you like and what do you not like?

Character Interview with Cera / This World Bites by Loni Townsend

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In case you're interested, I am at three blogs today for my tour:
Kelly Hashway - Interview with a GhostMedeia Sharif - Why I Love Strong HeroinesMarlow Kelly - Ghost of Death Scene Spotlight
And yesterday I was at Christine Rains' blog with 7 Signs You're a Ghost.
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Today I am accompanied by one of my favorite heroines, Cera from This World Bites by Loni Townsend. I asked her a few questions about herself and her story. She’s witty, feisty, and fun. Let’s begin!

Hi, Cera! What is This World Bites about?
It’s my first day on a new world and I’ve already found trouble. Michael, my guardian, has been bitten by a zombie and will soon join the undead ranks.
Everyone tells me there’s no cure, but I’m not one to be deterred. I’ll face off with zombie hordes, demon slavers, and black market informants if it means I’ll find a cure for Michael. But I’m not the only one hunting for something.
Something is hunting me.
Title: This Word BitesAuthor: Loni TownsendSeries: Cera Chronicles (Book 1)Genre: Fantasy/ParanormalLength: 80 pages/eBookPublisher: Stoneword PressRelease Date: January 19, 2015

Books Links:Goodreads/ Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

1. First, who would play you in a movie?
Movie? I think Michael has mentioned those before. That’s the visual illusion of people appearing on a big wall thingy, right? He said something about it being filmy or something. I wasn’t paying attention. He didn’t think the movie would be able to help my dad, so I ignored it. But what’s this play part you’re talking about? Am I supposed to be an instrument?
2. Lets discuss movies another time. What is your job?
That depends on the world, really. Since I’m the one who has to earn money for my group, I’ll take any job I can get, short of prostitution. I’d really have to like the guy…or girl…in order to sleep with them. I’m an excellent cook—I was trained by the best—so kitchen work is pretty safe. My elemental strength also makes manual labor a good choice. But hey, if you just want to pay me to have the joy of my company, I would totally be fine by that.
3. Okay, so what do you do for fun?
*looks at Chrys* What are you doing tonight? *bats eyelashes*
4. *takes a step back* What is your biggest pet peeve?      
People calling me darling. Do not call me darling. I will not be held responsible if I break your jaw afterward, if you do.
5. Good thing I wasn’t going to call you darling. I met Duke, your love interest in this story a few minutes ago. For the people who don’t know...How did you meet Duke?
He was our waiter at the restaurant we stopped at. He also the only one who didn’t run away scared when we announced Michael had been bitten by a zombie.
6. What was your first impression of him?
He was sexy, I was looking for a job, and we just hit it off from there. Plus he knew someone who might be able to help Michael. How could I turn him down?
7. You couldn’t, but what kind of trouble do the two of you get into?
Oh, you know. I got drunk,  killed a few slavers, and then we went back to his place. I left him there because Michael had started eating people. I’ve got my priorities, you know. Plus I couldn’t find a pulse after I hit him with that frying pan…
9. YIKES! What moment of This World Bites was your favorite?
I loved the glowing sparks popping from the electrical cable I was holding onto. They were so pretty. Too bad I was dangling 15 stories from the ground. It didn’t give me much time to appreciate them.
10. That’s too bad. Is there anything you did in This World Bites that you would change if you could?
I’d totally get a second drink before the slavers crashed my date.

Hyper Round:
Food: Yes please!
Drink: Those foofoo drinks are pretty good.
Movie: If I watch one, I’ll tell you
Band: My mom has a wooden wedding band that my dad made. Is that what you’re talking about?
Book: Books are still hand-scribed back on my home world, but I had a history tome called the Thanmir War that my guardian gave me. I read that front to back a few times.
Color: Red, the same shade as my hair, please.


BIO:
Loni Townsend
Wife. Mother. Writer. Ninja. Squirrel.
By day, she writes code. By predawn darkness, she writes fantasies. All other times, she writes in her head.
People call her peculiar with a twisted sense of fashion, but don't let those understatements fool you. Her behavior is perfectly normal for a squirrel disguised as a human. That's part of being a ninja—blending in.
She makes her home in Idaho with her sadistically clever—yet often thwarted—husband, two frighteningly brilliant children, and three sneaky little shibas.
Find her on her blog or social media.

Author Links:Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Google + / Goodreads

Thank you, Loni, for letting me talk to your character. And thank you Cera for giving an entertaining interview. I hope to chat with both of you again soon. J
Please leave a comment for Cera and Loni!

A to Z Reflection + IWSG

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is a safe place for insecure writers of all kinds.Sign up here: Alex J. Cavanaugh’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group


Blog Tour: Today I am over at Julie Flanders’ blog with a character interview for the detective from Ghost of Death. Check it out: Interview with Detective Avrianna Heavenborn

For anyone who is insecure I am sharing one of my favorite movie quotes from A League of Their Own:
“It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.” –Jimmy Dougan (Tom Hanks)
Remember that whenever you struggle with writing, editing, publishing, marketing, or whenever you consider quitting, that not everyone is cut out to be a writer, but I believe you ARE! It may be hard, but it’s worth it!
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2015 A to Z Reflection:
My theme for this year's A to Z was...DISASTERS!
A: AvalancheB: Blizzard and BlackoutC: CycloneD: Drought and Dust Storm
E: Earthquake
F: FloodG: Gas Explosion
H: Hailstorm
I: Ice Storm and Iceberg
J. Judgment DayK: Killings
L: Limnic Eruption and Lightning Storm
M: Mudslide
N: Nuclear Meltdown
O: Oil SpillP: Plague
Q: Quasar Explosion
R: Rockfall
S: Solar Flare and Sinkhole
T: Tornado and Tsunami
U: Ultraviolet Radiation
V: Volcanic EruptionW: Wildfire
X: eXtinction
Y: Ypres Battle and All WarsZ: Zombie Apocalypse
I had a blast writing these posts and reading the comments because I learned so much. Many people shared their own personal stories and revealed what disasters scared them, which is why at the end of my “Z” post I asked my visitors to vote on the disaster they thought was the worst.
Ready for the answer?
*drum roll* 
WAR
Second Place: Nuclear MeltdownThird Place: *Tie* Extinction and PlagueFourth Place: Tsunami
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There were a ton of blogs and themes I enjoyed this year, but I picked ten of my favorites to highlight here.
 A to Z Blogs of Note:
1. J.H. Moncrieff shared spooky tales about all things that go bump in the night.

2. A Tarkabarka Holgy at Mopdog posted 26 ways to die in Medieval Hungary.

3. Melissa Sugar at Fiction Tool Box had an ongoing murder mystery.

4. Sharon Marie Himsl's theme was women inventors. 
5. David P. King revealed profiles and illustrations for his characters in Woven.

6. Elizabeth Mueller shared My Little Pony fan art.
7. S.L. Hennessey did movie smackdowns. We could vote between two movies.

8. AJ Lauer had an ongoing story that continued with the help of her commenters.
9. Natasha Duncan-Drake’s theme was deities and demons in fiction.
10. Patricia Lynne wrote flash fiction with odd words for each letter.

**There were so many I enjoyed visiting everyday and could mention a ton more, but I decided to keep it at ten.

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A to Z Tips:
1. Put a growing list with links at the end of each of your posts (like the one I included above) so interested readers can visit your older posts.
2. When you leave a comment at a blog of someone who isn’t familiar with you, add an embedded link to your blog. How? It’s easy. Here’s mine:
<a href="http://www.writewithfey.blogspot.com&... with Fey</a>
All you have to do is replace my link and blog title with yours. Then copy and paste into the comment box.
3. Check your spam settings. A blog I was assigned to visit as co-co-host kept telling me my comments were going to the blogger’s spam. This was aggravating!

4. Share your new post on Google +. I went to countless Google + pages and couldn’t find that day's post.
5. Better yet, revert to a Blogger profile if you’re using Google +, so people who click on your avatar will be sent to your Blogger profile with your blog link in easy access. For more info on how to do this go HERE.

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During the Challenge, Betty at A Bench With A View mentioned to me how every time she went to a new blog, she’d see that I had already been there and asked me if I slept at all. Haha! I did sleep, but I’ll tell you how I did it:
1. I’d check my new post for the day and returned visits to everyone who commented before I dragged my butt out of bed.
2. Then I’d go to my previous day’s post and return visits to the people who commented while I was a sleep. (I always checked out their newest post.)
3. After that, I’d do my co-co-host duty and visit my five assigned blogs. 

4. Finally, I’d visit the blogs of those I follow. After the first few days of the Challenge, I quickly found the people who returned visits/comments and only visited those blogs for the rest of the Challenge. 

TIP: Always visit the people who visit you and leave a comment! Blogging is suppose to be interactive. 

5. All of this would take the whole morning. I’d check back in around 2:00pm or 3:00pm. If I got a comment from someone I hadn’t already visited, I hopped on over to their blog. I did this again around 7:00pm before I shut off the computer for the night.
6. Every day I’d repeat this process. 

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I found out Witch of Death is being published later than Ghost of Death, so I'm looking for June spots to help promote this story. 

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QUESTIONS: Have you ever seen A League of Their Own? Are you surprised over the worst voted disasters? (Do you think another disaster should be in the top 5?) What did you like/dislike about the A to Z Challenge?

Writing About: Spring

I am starting my blog tour for Ghost of Death on the blogs of Stephanie Faris and C Lee McKenzie. 

Check out my fun post: 
And my musical post: 10 Songs


A few months ago, I shared a post about winter with tips for writers who are writing (or want to write a story set in winter. Now it’s time for SPRING!
Here are 10 things to keep in mind for a story set in the spring:
1.    Nature
Everyone knows spring as the season where the earth reawakens and flowers bloom. Gardeners flock outdoors with bags of soil and packets of seeds. Describing the fresh green grass, the new buds on trees, and the flowers bursting from rich soil would set the atmosphere for spring beautifully. You could also write about a character who is a gardener.
·         Flowers- Easter lily, pansy, daffodil, tulip, lilac, peony.
Image from Wikipedia2.    Warming Temperatures
In the spring, the snow melts and the sun starts to grow stronger, warmer. Your characters will be able to open their windows, take the thick blankets off their beds, and turn off their furnaces. Whenever your hero/heroine is outside, take the opportunity to describe the blue skies, the cool breeze, and yellow sunlight.
1.    Clothes
Now that winter is over, you can let your characters wear shorter sleeves, brighter colors (purple, blue, yellow) and fancy church clothes. Mentioning what your characters are wearing is a nice touch that you could do with just a sentence or two. Describe your heroine in a pretty dress with a light cardigan, or your hero in tan slacks and a white shirt.
2.    April Showers
April brings an abundance of rain showers to many states in the United States. Writing about a rain shower could add a romantic element to a romance story.
Imagine: kissing in the rain, cuddling in bed to the pitter-patter of rain on the roof.
Image from geography.org.uk1.    Picnics
Spring wouldn’t be spring without picnics: family picnics, church picnics, and intimate picnics between your hero and heroine, which make lovely scenes for romances! They could pack a basket with cheese, grapes, finger sandwiches, cold chicken, hummus and veggies, wine or sparkling water.
2.    Outdoor Fun
With no snow and warmer temps, people enjoy spending more time outdoors. Let your characters take walks together, go on bike rides, or visit the park. All of these are wonderful activities for two characters who are falling in love.
1.    Holidays
There are many lovely holidays in the spring like Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, Mardi Gras, and Mother’s Day. You could write about one or two that would make the most sense to your plot and story.
·         Easter- church, dying eggs with kids and orchestrating egg hunts.·         St. Patrick’s Day: Irish pubs, beer, Irish food (cabbage, corned beef, potatoes)·         Mardi Gras- New Orleans, parades, beads and masks·         Mother’s Day- Mothers, gifts/cards/flowers
The White House
Image from Wikipedia1.    Daylight Savings
In the spring, we turn our clocks one hour ahead. (Spring forward, fall back.) As a result, we have longer days and more sunlight, but we also lose an hour of sleep that first night and struggle to get our inner clocks in sync with the time change. You could show how your MC is affected by the time change by sleeping in and being late to work. Readers would be able to identify with that.
2.    Spring Cleaning
We all know spring is the time to clear out the dust, go through the clutter that accumulated during the winter, and fix the house for the warmer seasons. You could let a single mother/woman go through her closet/desk/kitchen while obsessing over her latest breakup or problem.
1.    Food/Drinks
Springtime is perfect for fruits and vegetables and lighter meals. If your characters eat out together or have a quiet dinner at home you could have them enjoy these:
·         Food- strawberries, peaches, asparagus, light tomato and basil salad, pasta primavera, and herb chicken.
·         Drinks- iced mint tea, strawberry lemonade, fruit smoothies, and sangria.
Iced Mint Tea
Image from Flickr
QUESTIONS: When you think of spring, what comes to mind? What do you like most about spring? What do you like least?

On Wednesday, I'll be posting my A to Z Reflection post with my Insecure Writer's Support Group post.

Z is for Zombie Apocalypse

My theme for my 2015 A to Z Challenge came from my Disaster Crimes series. Disasters are a theme in each story, so it got me thinking about all the disasters that occur from natural disasters to manmade disasters.
Today’s disaster is...ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE
Zombie apocalypse is the end of the world when the undead (mindless creatures that are starving for human flesh) take over the world. A virus outbreak is the root cause for the zombie apocalypse that rapidly spreads from coast to coast and county to country. This virus is passed when a zombie bites a human. Soon after the bite, the human dies and transforms into a zombie. This person no longer has any sense, just the hunger for flesh, and it doesn’t matter where they get it from, whether it’s from loved ones, babies, or the elderly. All are fair game.


ZOMBIE CHRYS!Survivors of the apocalypse seek safety while killing any zombies they come across, which can be done by inflicting damage to the spinal cord or brain, such as a bullet to the forehead or snapped a zombie’s neck. These survivors have to scrounge for food in hostile environments with depleting resources.
The chances of surviving forever in these conditions are slim, as it’s impossible to kill every zombie with their numbers greatly outweighing that of humankind, and with no place completely zombie-free.
Image from Flickr
QUESTIONS: Are you a zombie fan? Do you believe the zombie apocalypse will happen? What are your favorite zombie movies/TV shows/books? I‘m a huge fan of the Resident Evil movies.


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Now that you've read all (or most) of my disaster posts, it's time to vote for the worst disaster of all! 

I found it interesting reading the comments and finding out which of these disasters you feared. Many of you felt earthquakes were the most devastating natural disaster, and that war was the worst manmade disaster. Several revealed their fears over gas explosions, plagues, and tsunamis as well as their anger over oil spills that hurt the environment. Of course, this all depends on your personal thoughts and experiences. 

So I'm curious... 

What disaster do you think is the worst?

A: AvalancheB: Blizzard and BlackoutC: CycloneD: Drought and Dust Storm
E: Earthquake
F: FloodG: Gas Explosion
H: Hailstorm
I: Ice Storm and Iceberg
J. Judgment DayK: Killings
L: Limnic Eruption and Lightning Storm
M: Mudslide
N: Nuclear Meltdown
O: Oil SpillP: Plague
Q: Quasar Explosion
R: Rockfall
S: Solar Flare and Sinkhole
T: Tornado and Tsunami
U: Ultraviolet Radiation
V: Volcanic EruptionW: Wildfire
X: eXtinction
Y: Ypres Battle and All WarsZ: Zombie Apocalypse
I'll reveal the worst disaster voted by you in my A to Z Recap post which I'll post on IWSG Day (5/6). Thank you for sticking with me throughout this awesome A to Z Challenge! :)

I'm a member of Tremp's Troops!

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T.B. Markinson is hosting a special eBook giveaway every month. Today kicks off the first giveaway. 
Prizes:
The Great Time Lock Disaster by C. Lee McKenzieHurricane Crimes by Chrys Fey (That's me!) :)The Six Train to Wisconsin by Kourtney HeintzBroken Branch Falls by Tara Tyler52 Likes by Medeia Sharif
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Y is for Ypres Battle (And All Wars)

My theme for my 2015 A to Z Challenge came from my Disaster Crimes series. Disasters are a theme in each story, so it got me thinking about all the disasters that occur from natural disasters to manmade disasters.
Today’s disaster is...YPRES BATTLE AND ALL WARS
During WW1 there were five Battles of Ypres.
On October 19th 1914, British troops entered Ypres unaware of the size of advancing German forces. Although the German troops were larger, most of the soldiers were young and not trained well. Some claims state they only had six weeks of training. 1,500 Germans were killed and 600 more were taken as prisoners. Despite that, neither side could control the area, so a fierce fight ensued. After that first battle, four more occurred. When America entered the war, the Germans were defeated and the fighting at Ypres ended on October 14th 1918, four years after the first battle.
Second Battle of Ypres
Image from Wikipedia
Top Ten Biggest Wars in History:
10. American Civil War (1861 – 1865 )
A war centered on slavery fought between the North and South of America. More than 800,000 people were killed.
9. Soviet War in Afghanistan (1979 – 1989)
A decade-long war fought between the Soviet-led Afghan and the multi-national insurgent groups called the Mujahedeen. The death toll rose to over a million.
8. Vietnam War (1955 – 1975)
A war fought between North Vietnam (supported by the Soviet Union, China, and other communist allies) and South Vietnam (supported by the United States and other non-communist allies).
7. Thirty Years War (1618 – 1648)
This was one of the bloodiest wars centered on religion. It was also the longest conflict in European history.
6. Napoleonic Wars (1803 – 1815)
A war sparked by the French revolution. Over 6.5 million people died.
Iraqi War
Image from Wikipedia
5. Russian Civil War (1917 – 1922)
A war fought between the Bolshevik Red Army and the anti-Bolshevik White Army. Seven million people died.
4. Conquests by the Empire of Japan (1894 – 1945)
During this time period the Empire of Japan caused over 20 million deaths.
3. World War 1 (1914 – 1918)
This is one of the bloodiest global wars in history that was centered in Europe. On one side was the Allies (the United Kingdom, France and Russia), and on the other side was the Central Powers (German and Austria-Hungary). Later, Italy, Japan and the United States joined the Allies and the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria joined the Central Powers. The totally number of casualties was over 37 million.
2. Mongol Conquests (1206 – 1368)
The Mongols brought terror to Europe that resulted in more than 60 million killings.
1. World War 11 (1939 – 1945)
This war resulted in the Holocaust and the use of nuclear weapons. Over 70 million deaths marks this as the deadliest war in world history.
World War 11 Memorial in Malaysia
Image from Flickr

RIP to ALL the souls lost due to these wars and all the wars not listed here.


Disasters:A: AvalancheB: Blizzard and BlackoutC: CycloneD: Drought and Dust Storm
E: Earthquake
F: FloodG: Gas Explosion
H: Hailstorm
I: Ice Storm and Iceberg
J. Judgment DayK: Killings
L: Limnic Eruption and Lightning Storm
M: Mudslide
N: Nuclear Meltdown
O: Oil SpillP: Plague
Q: Quasar Explosion
R: Rockfall
S: Solar Flare and Sinkhole
T: Tornado and Tsunami
U: Ultraviolet Radiation
V: Volcanic EruptionW: Wildfire
X: eXtinction
Y: Ypres Battle and All Wars



I'm a member of Tremp's Troops!

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Ghost of Death just came out on the 22nd, so I'm adding a little promo for it. I hope you don't mind. :) 

Logline: Dead men may not talk, but dead girls do.
Supernatural-suspense short story of 41 pages.


Book Links:Amazon US / Amazon UK /  NOOK / KOBO

X is for eXtinction

My theme for my 2015 A to Z Challenge came from my Disaster Crimes series. Disasters are a theme in each story, so it got me thinking about all the disasters that occur from natural disasters to manmade disasters.
Today’s disaster is...EXTINCTION
Sixty-five million years ago all dinosaur life on Earth became extinct. More than half of the world’s species obliterated. How? Well, that answer hasn’t exactly been answered. Most scientists lean toward an asteroid or comet hitting the Earth. This theory is supported by a layer of rock dated to the extinction event that is rich in the metal Iridium and is found all over the world. Scientists believe this Iridium was scattered by the collision of an asteroid or comet.
Extinction Event
Image from Wikipedia
FACT: A 110-mile-wide crater in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula has since been dated to 65 million years ago. Many scientists believe it is this impact that caused the dinosaur extinction.
Another theory is that volcano eruptions are responsible since Iridium can be found in magma. Some scientists even believe both theories could’ve been the cause. In either case, they all agree that dense clouds of dust and toxins blocked out the sun’s rays, darkening and chilling the Earth. When the dust settled, greenhouse gases caused the climate to skyrocket. The freezing then boiling of the world is the ultimate cause of the death of 70% of all plant and animal life on Earth.
T-Rex
Image from Wikipedia
QUESTION: Do you think it was an asteroid/comet or volcanic eruptions that caused the extinction of dinosaurs?


Disasters:A: AvalancheB: Blizzard and BlackoutC: CycloneD: Drought and Dust Storm
E: Earthquake
F: FloodG: Gas Explosion
H: Hailstorm
I: Ice Storm and Iceberg
J. Judgment DayK: Killings
L: Limnic Eruption and Lightning Storm
M: Mudslide
N: Nuclear Meltdown
O: Oil SpillP: Plague
Q: Quasar Explosion
R: Rockfall
S: Solar Flare and Sinkhole
T: Tornado and Tsunami
U: Ultraviolet Radiation
V: Volcanic EruptionW: Wildfire
X: eXtinction



I'm a member of Tremp's Troops!

****

Ghost of Death just came out on the 22nd, so I'm adding a little promo for it. I hope you don't mind. :) 

Logline: Dead men may not talk, but dead girls do.
Supernatural-suspense short story of 41 pages.


Book Links:Amazon US / Amazon UK /  NOOK / KOBO

W is for Wildfire

My theme for my 2015 A to Z Challenge came from my Disaster Crimes series. Disasters are a theme in each story, so it got me thinking about all the disasters that occur from natural disasters to manmade disasters.
Today’s disaster is...WILDFIRE
Wildfires are uncontrolled fires that destroy countryside and wilderness areas. They are also called brush fires and forest fires. These fires can change directions spontaneously and even jump over roads and rivers. I have seen this, and it is the most frightening and fascinating thing to witness.
Image from WikipediaMy Story: When I was twelve, a series of arson fires erupted in my city (in Florida). I remember going home and seeing the black plumes of smoke rising in the sky and feeling the worst fear I’ve ever experienced before. My best friend’s dad said, “It looks like it’s right next to your house!” Sure enough, it was. I was dropped off at my driveway to see flames consuming the brush and trees a mere foot from my home.
Later, I stood in the middle of the road, helplessly looking on as my family scrambled to save our pets, and firefighters moved into action to save our house. I watched flames eat their way to the edge of the road then skip over the asphalt and blaze to life on the other side.

My home survived, but one of my cats didn’t. Her name was Angel. SHe ran out the door, toward the fire. She returned late that night badly burned. She died a few days later...on my thirteenth birthday. 

Those fires are still the worst fires to hit my city. And they deeply rooted a fear in me that'll never go away.
2007 California Smoke from NASA Satellite
Image from Wikipedia
FACT:Wildfires can burn for days or weeks, and can consume 100 to 100,000 acres.
While arson is a big cause of wildfires, heat waves and droughts are the leading causes, especially in warm climates with a lot of dry growth. Lightning is another factor.
To prevent wildfires you can:1.Never throw a cigarette out your car window!2. Never leave a campfire unattended. 3. Be careful when burning backyard waste. Don’t burn anything in windy conditions, and have a shovel for dirt and a hose or bucket of water on hand.
Image from Wikipedia

QUESTION:Have you ever experienced a wildfire? Tell me your story! 
P.S. I'm co-hosting over at Unicorn Bell today. My post is Dear Withdrawn Writer. If you put your writing first, you could probably relate to this.


Disasters:A: AvalancheB: Blizzard and BlackoutC: CycloneD: Drought and Dust Storm
E: Earthquake
F: FloodG: Gas Explosion
H: Hailstorm
I: Ice Storm and Iceberg
J. Judgment DayK: Killings
L: Limnic Eruption and Lightning Storm
M: Mudslide
N: Nuclear Meltdown
O: Oil SpillP: Plague
Q: Quasar Explosion
R: Rockfall
S: Solar Flare and Sinkhole
T: Tornado and Tsunami
U: Ultraviolet Radiation
V: Volcanic EruptionW: Wildfire



I'm a member of Tremp's Troops!

****

Ghost of Death just came out on the 22nd, so I'm adding a little promo for it. I hope you don't mind. :) 

Logline: Dead men may not talk, but dead girls do.
Supernatural-suspense short story of 41 pages.


Book Links:Amazon US / Amazon UK /  NOOK / KOBO

V is for Volcanic Eruption

My theme for my 2015 A to Z Challenge came from my Disaster Crimes series. Disasters are a theme in each story, so it got me thinking about all the disasters that occur from natural disasters to manmade disasters.
Today’s disaster is...VOLCANIC ERUPTION
This is a fitting one for today since a volcano erupted in Chile on Wednesday and is still erupting. This is the first time it has erupted in over 42 years.

A volcano is a naturally occurring rupture in the Earth’s crust, generally found near plate tectonics, where lava, volcanic ash, and gases escape from a magma chamber below the surface. Some volcanoes are classified as extinct or dormant. Extinct volcanoes are considered unlikely to erupt again. Dormant volcanoes are quiet but may become active in the future.
Pompeii
Image from Wikipedia
FACT: 90% of the world’s earthquakes are located in the Ring of Fire.
Sometimes volcanoes erupt (either by exploding or releasing slow flows of lava) and cause many dangers to humans, animals, and plants. They can emit steam, high-silica lava, low-silica lava, pyroclastic flows, debris flows (lahars), and carbon dioxide.
FACT:Lava is molten rock. The levels of silica in lava determine how “sticky” and thick the lava is. When lava is underground it is called magma.
Image from Shutterstock
Rocks torn apart by a violent eruption can be shot into the air with lava. These rocks are called pyroclastic rocks. They fall back to earth as ash or bombs. (If you’ve seen the movie Volcano with Tommy Lee Jones, you’ll remember the lava bombs.)
Image from Wikipedia
Pyroclastic flows are fast-moving clouds of hot gas and rock/ash/dust. They can reach speeds up to 450 mph and the gas can reach temperatures as high as 1,830 degrees Fahrenheit. Their volume can be anywhere from a few hundred cubic meters to over a thousand kilometers. These flows destroy everything in its path, buries sites, and burns forests and buildings. The rocks inside the flow can be as big as boulders. People and animals caught inside a pyroclastic flow can die from burns or inhaling hot ash and gas.
Pyroclastic Flow
Image from whybecausescience.com
As of 2013, these are the most active volcanoes on Earth:1. Kīlauea in Hawaii has been in continuous eruption since 1983.2. Mount Etna and Stromboli, in the Mediterranean, have been in "almost continuous eruption" since before the Middle Ages.3. Mount Yasur, in Vanuatu, has been erupting for over 800 years.
1980 Mount St Helens
Image from Wikipedia
QUESTIONS:Have you ever seen a volcano? Even a dormant one? What are your favorite volcano movies? I like Dante’s Peak and Volcano.

Disasters:A: AvalancheB: Blizzard and BlackoutC: CycloneD: Drought and Dust Storm
E: Earthquake
F: FloodG: Gas Explosion
H: Hailstorm
I: Ice Storm and Iceberg
J. Judgment DayK: Killings
L: Limnic Eruption and Lightning Storm
M: Mudslide
N: Nuclear Meltdown
O: Oil SpillP: Plague
Q: Quasar Explosion
R: Rockfall
S: Solar Flare and Sinkhole
T: Tornado and Tsunami
U: Ultraviolet Radiation
V: Volcanic Eruption



I'm a member of Tremp's Troops!

****

Ghost of Death just came out on Wednesday, so I'm adding a little promo for it. I hope you don't mind. :) 

Logline: Dead men may not talk, but dead girls do.
Supernatural-suspense short story of 41 pages.


Book Links:Amazon US / Amazon UK /  NOOK / KOBO