Oh wow! King's New IT Movie Trailer!

Oh wow, this looks so incredible! I usually wait to see films, but this one I definitely want to see early!

 I actually never liked the ending of the book and was kind of disappointed when I first read it, but I thought the rest of the story was great, the clown and IT's history being a great device for masking the evil in the town.

Page 56 #Fiction Excerpt - #1LineWed #zombie #horror

Saw something fun I thought I'd share for #1LineWed - 1 Line Wednesday!

Try it with a book you're reading  - feel free to share in the comments!

** Turn to page 56, share the fifth line. The game says not to share the title, but I want to know what the book is! So...

Now, there can be two fifth lines in Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter since it has an excerpt from the trial or other documents at the top of each chapter. So I'll share both:

(New 2nd edition & New cover!)

Chapter Eleven

Q. Or was her hair disturbed?

(Part of Alice Russell testimony, Lizzie Borden trial, June 8, 1893)

Line 5: (And I'm going to finish the paragraph so it makes sense)

To Lizzie's relief, the horse calmed and stopped its pawing and snorting, though the situation still had her just as frantic. "I'm glad you have a way with horses, but can we please leave? I'd rather not stay around too long."

About Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter:

Every family has its secrets…
   One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?
   Thrust into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil forces controlling them.

Welcome Kathleen Kaska, author of Run Dog Run #mystery

Today I welcome author Kathleen Kaska, whose intriguing new mystery, Run Dog Run, centers on the world of greyhound racing and animals rights. It is the first book in the Kate Caraway Animal Rights Mystery Series.

About Run Dog Run:

After five years in Africa, researching the decline of elephant populations, Kate Caraway’s project comes to a screeching halt when she shoots a poacher and is forced to leave the country. Then her friend's daughter becomes entangled in the world of greyhound abuse, and believes Kate is the only one who can uncover the crime and find out who is responsible. With her discovery of a body, Kate's in a race against time to find the killer--before she becomes the next victim…

What inspired the book?
Run Dog Run was my very first attempt at writing fiction. I wanted to write a story that was not only engaging, but made people think about animal rights issues, a cause I am passionate about. I had to rewrite the manuscript several times. My first attempt was too heavy-handed and I realized I preached and editorialize too much.

Why the character's activity?
My protagonist, Kate Caraway, is an advocate for animal rights. The story begins with a major disruption in her life. She was forced to leave her elephant project in Africa and return to the US. She returns to Texas to recover and becomes involved with a prominent, but shady character who raises and trains greyhounds. 

What prompted you to write about animal rights?
I researched greyhound racing and was appalled at what goes on behind the scenes. I wanted people to be aware of the issues involved and to consider adopting one of these beautiful dogs.

Any relation to you in real life?
I have a passion for animals. I used to be a member of Wildlife Rescue, Inc. when I lived in Austin. I rehabbed and raised orphaned wildlife with the goal to release them back into the wild if possible. It was a very rewarding experience.

 Do you have dogs in real life?

I love dogs! My husband and I are dog-less at the moment. We were blessed with two mutts that were part of our lives for almost fifteen years. They've been gone for many years, but I have their photos in a locket I wear everyday. They were both rescue dogs and they changed my life by teaching me about unconditional love.

Upcoming...
My second book in the series is A Two Horse Town, is about saving wild horses in Montana. Book three, Eagle Crossing, is about rehabbing animals on Lopez Island near where I live in Washington State. 

Excerpt:

She’d been foolish and gone off alone, now she might have to pay the ultimate price…

The rocks along the bottom of the creek bed seemed to disappear. Kate felt the ropy, gnarl of tree roots instead.

The cedar break. She was approaching the road and soon the water would pass through the culvert. She knew that she would not make it through the narrow tunnel alive. Her lungs screamed for air. With one final attempt, she grabbed hold of a long cedar root growing along the side of the creek bank and hung on. Miraculously, it held. She wedged her foot under the tangled growth and anchored herself against the current. Inching her way upward, she thrust her head above water and gulped for air. But debris in the current slapped her in the face, and leaves and twigs filled her mouth, choking her. Dizziness overcame her ability to think—exhaustion prevented her from pulling herself higher.

She must not give in. Fighting unconsciousness, Kate inched her way up a little farther, and at last was able to take a clear breath. Her right arm hung loosely by her side, the back of the shaft had broken off in the tumble through the current, but the arrow was lodged in her arm. Numb from cold water and exhaustion, she lay on the bank as the water swept over her, and then, as quickly as it had arrived, the flow subsided and the current slowed. If she could hang on a few moments longer, survival looked promising. As thoughts of hope entered her mind, Kate feared that her pursuer might not have given up the chase. Perfect, Kate Caraway, just perfect. You screwed up again, she chided herself as the lights went out.

About the Author:

   Kathleen Kaska is the author of the award-winning Sydney Lockhart Mystery Series set in the 1950s and the Classic Triviography Mystery Series, which includes The Sherlock Holmes Triviography and Quiz Book.

   Her first two Lockhart mysteries, Murder at the Arlington and Murder at the Luther, were selected as bonus-books for the Pulpwood Queen Book Group, the largest book group in the country. Her latest Sydney Lockhart mystery, set in Austin, Texas, is Murder at the Driskill.

    She enjoys birdwatching, and is also author of The Man Who Saved the Whooping Crane: The Robert Porter Allen Story (University Press of Florida).

   

Suspending Disbelief

OK, so if you follow my other blog, you’ll know that this week has been a challenge for me and getting things done on time. In any case, here’s today’s blog.

It’s not really a secret that I’m pretty far behind in watching zombie TV shows. I’m actually pretty far behind watching all my shows. I prefer to DVR them so I can watch them at my leisure, but I’ve been a bit busy lately. I haven’t turned the TV on for the past couple of days.

Anywho, my point is that I just recently started watching the third season of Z Nation. I love Z Nation. It’s such a fun show. In the third season opener, it flashed back to a time when the group was helping protect a doctor from a character called The Man (who, by the way, should always walk around in a vest). The Man and his men attack the compound, and one of the weapons they use are zombies with metal helmets. This, of course, makes it difficult for the undead to be shot in the head.

At first, I was like: Pffffft! They aren’t a threat. Sure, you can’t kill them, but they can’t bite you, either. So, really, they are just a weird weapon that doesn’t pose any threat. But as the episode went on, I realized these zombies were a bigger threat than they originally appeared. They couldn’t bite anyone, but they had strength and could still kill others. Just because those people didn’t turn didn’t mean they weren’t taken out of the fight. These helmeted zombies were a major danger.

The other aspect of those zombies that I found a bit strange was that they were on chains and being driven forward by a man with a whip. This really didn’t make any sense to me because zombies don’t fall prey to threats. They can’t feel pain and they certainly don’t know fear, so it seemed overly dramatic. But I think that was supposed to be the point. I think the theatrics of the zombies and the guy with the whip was to frighten the humans, and it had the intended effect.

Isn’t it amusing that I’m willing to believe zombies can exist and take over the world, but I have issues with them wearing helmets and being driven forward by a whip?

In any show or movie we watch there will be elements that don’t make a lot of sense or seem out of place. I have a tendency to focus on those things and roll them over in my mind, trying to figure out why they would be in there at all. Sometimes I can figure it out, and other times I can’t. But in the end, it boils down to suspending disbelief and just enjoying the ride.

Do you have any movies or shows you’ve watched where something like this has happened?  What was it?

#Zombies, History, #Lizzie Borden and... Cats?

Two great books! We hit the top 50 and top 100 in several categories.  

The Kindle sale's still on!!! 

Two best-sellers - on sale for 99 cents each --  until March 26!

   

  Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter by C.A. Verstraete  

Every family has its secrets…
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?
    Thrust into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil forces controlling them.

Catfunado, Zombies and One Killer Doll 
by Mark Cusco Ailes and Derek Ailes  

 21 brand new chilling tales to take you over the edge. The Ailes Brothers of Terror bring you killer dolls, a real zombie outbreak during a zombie convention, a catfurnado, an alien invasion, misfortune cookies, demons, mega sinkholes, drones, executioners and more. The nightmare doesn't stop when the Ailes Brothers take you on a thrill ride of terror.

CATFURNADO is a collection of horror stories that takes the reader on a new genre high that lingers and tingles long after the lights are out! Penned by authors Derek Ailes and Mark Cusco Ailes, each story is crafted with a literary finesse rarely seen but so appreciated by hungry horror readers.

IT’S MY BIRTHDAY is a spellbinding tale of the birthday Teddy bear with a gruesome but oh-so welcomed gift for his new owner. Thank goodness Mr. T. Bear is one of a kind! Then there’s JUDGMENT NIGHT, the story of a drunk driver who gets the ultimate lesson in sobriety is riddled with shocking irony. But it’s CLAWS, a riveting short about a kitty whose deadly Mama gives a whole new meaning to “If Mama ain’t happy, nobody’s happy!” These are just a sampling of the delicious chills lurking inside CATFURNADO!

March Reading List! #horror #apocalyptic #zombie

Spring's here! A great time for some great reads!

Get ready to load up that Kindle!

* My book, Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter is on sale, too!

(On Sale, 99 cents -  March 20-26)

Catfurnado, Zombies and One Killer Doll, Mark Cusco Ailes & Derek Ailes - 

21 chilling horror tales by The Ailes Brothers of Terror featuring killer dolls, a real zombie outbreak during a zombie convention, a catfurnado, an alien invasion, misfortune cookies, demons, mega sinkholes, drones, executioners and more. The nightmare doesn't stop when the Ailes Brothers take you on a thrill ride of terror.

    Stories include: IT’S MY BIRTHDAY, a spellbinding tale of the birthday Teddy bear with a gruesome but oh-so welcomed gift for his new owner. In JUDGMENT NIGHT, a drunk driver gets the ultimate lesson in sobriety riddled with shocking irony. In CLAWS, a kitty’s deadly Mama gives a whole new meaning to “If Mama ain’t happy, nobody’s happy!”

(On Sale, 99 cents - March 20-26)

Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter, C.A. Verstraete

2017 marks the 125th anniversary
of the Borden murders!

New 2nd edition & New Cover!

Every family has its secrets...

   One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become… zombies?

    Thrust into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil forces controlling them.

New release! 

The Girl Who Shot First: The Death Fields, 

A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller,  Angel Lawson 

(On Sale 99 cents to March 31)

    Dr. Ramsey has spent months studying the virus spreading across the south that turns the healthy into raging, cannibalistic versions of their former selves. Before he disappears, he gives his daughter Alexandra what may be the most valuable information in existence—information that more than one powerful group will do anything to posses.

    With her father gone, she and her mother must locate her sister, who is under quarantine over 300 miles away. Alexandra vows to keep the promise she made to her father, no matter how many lives are lost, and assuming she survives… (Forrmerly published under the title Zocopalypse.)

New!

Beautiful Creatures: Women of Horror Anthology -  Lily Luchesi, Kinda Sowder,  assorted authors - (Pre-order, releases March 15)

   Twisted tales of the macabre from 12 horror authors. Demons, vampires, darkness, unspeakable horrors, ghosts, and more. 

(Pre-order! Releases July 11)

Nights of the Living Dead: An Anthology, Jonathan Maberry and George Romero 

 Collection of stories based on 48 hours of the outbreak in Romero's landmark 1968 movie!

     Includes stories by: Brian Keene, Carrie Ryan, Chuck Wendig, Craig Engler, David J. Schow, David Wellington, Issac Marion, Jay Bonansinga, Joe R. Lansdale, John Russo, John Skipp, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Max Brallier, Mike Carey, Mira Grant, Neal Shusterman & Brandon Shusterman, and Ryan Brown. Plus original stories by Romero and Maberry!

NEW!

 Skitters: Archaelogy vs. Supernatural - Bloodscreams #7, Robert W. Walker  (Wow, this is Rob's 68th book at age 68!) - Spiders consume 400 million tons of prey every year, so when Abraham Stroud, archaeologist and vampire slayer, who has had run-ins with werewolves, zombies, and other fantastic creatures uncovers a coven of ancient spider men, a race that has visited Earth before, found in Northwest Georgia living in caves and tunnels, he must act.

    The predatory race first seen in ancient Japan and Japan, were wiped out, but persistent as any arachnid, they have returned, and Stroud, who knows no fear, goes after this horrid race that mimics mankind and is working toward fitting in with us while they feed on us. Stroud goes in with mercenaries and powerful weapons, but the Tsuchimugo, as the Japanese called them, are a vicious and evil lot, clever and cunning, and their webs are powerful.

Sour Candy, novella - Kealan Patrick Burke

   At first glance, Phil and Adam look like an ordinary father and son-- except no one knows that Phil is a prisoner, and up until a few weeks ago and a chance encounter at the grocery store, he'd never seen the child before in his life. 

(Pre-order print. Releases June 20)

 The Best Horror of the Year, volume 9 - Editor Ellen Datlow

Includes:

Nesters, Siobhan Carroll  - The Oestridae, Robert Levy 
The Process is a Process All its Own, Peter Straub  - The Bad Hour, Christopher Golden 
Red Rabbi, Steve Rasnic Tem  - It’s All the Same Road in the End, Brian Hodge 
 Fury, DB Waters  - Grave Goods, Gemma Files 
 Between Dry Ribs, Gregory Norman Bossert  - The Days of Our Lives, Adam LG Nevill 
 House of Wonders, C.E Ward - The Numbers, Christopher Burns 
 Bright Crown of Joy, Livia Llewellyn  - The Beautiful Thing We Will Become, Kristi DeMeester 
 Wish You Were Here, Nadia Bulkin - Ragman, Rebecca Lloyd 
What’s Out There?, Gary McMahon - No Matter Which Way We Turned, Brian Evenson 
The Castellmarch Man, Ray Cluley - The Ice Beneath Us, Steve Duffy 
 On These Blackened Shores of Time, Brian Hodge

#Zombie Books Special!

Want something a bit different? 

Two best-sellers - on sale for 99 cents each --  March 20-26!

   

  Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter by C.A. Verstraete  - Just hit the top 50 in Historical Fantasy Fiction - next to Diana Gabaldon's Plague of Zombies!

Every family has its secrets…
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?
    Thrust into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil forces controlling them.

Catfunado, Zombies and One Killer Doll by Mark Cusco Ailes and Derek Ailes  - Top 50 short stories!!

 21 brand new chilling tales to take you over the edge. The Ailes Brothers of Terror bring you killer dolls, a real zombie outbreak during a zombie convention, a catfurnado, an alien invasion, misfortune cookies, demons, mega sinkholes, drones, executioners and more. The nightmare doesn't stop when the Ailes Brothers take you on a thrill ride of terror.

CATFURNADO is a collection of horror stories that takes the reader on a new genre high that lingers and tingles long after the lights are out! Penned by authors Derek Ailes and Mark Cusco Ailes, each story is crafted with a literary finesse rarely seen but so appreciated by hungry horror readers.

IT’S MY BIRTHDAY is a spellbinding tale of the birthday Teddy bear with a gruesome but oh-so welcomed gift for his new owner. Thank goodness Mr. T. Bear is one of a kind! Then there’s JUDGMENT NIGHT, the story of a drunk driver who gets the ultimate lesson in sobriety is riddled with shocking irony. But it’s CLAWS, a riveting short about a kitty whose deadly Mama gives a whole new meaning to “If Mama ain’t happy, nobody’s happy!” These are just a sampling of the delicious chills lurking inside CATFURNADO!

Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter Sale & Radio!

KINDLE Sale, 99 cents!  - March 20-26!

(Click book title below to buy)

This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Borden murders...

What if Lizzie Borden did it... because she had no other choice?

Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter, C.A. Verstraete

Every family has its secrets...

   One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become… zombies?

    
Thrust into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil forces controlling them.

** Don't forget!

Come listen to some talk on Lizzie Borden and the book!
Tomorrow - Tuesday, March 21, 7 pm Central/8 pm Eastern - 
Haunt Jaunts show - Paramania Radio
* See show page 

** Check out the promo video for Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter! **

Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter - Haunt Jaunts Show Video!

Check it out!!!!

Fun, short video for my appearance on Courtney Mroch's Haunt Jaunts show on ParaMania Radio! Tuesday, March 21, 7 pm Central/8 pm Eastern! (See HJ show link)

Radio show coming up!

Reminder: I'll be on the radio -

***** I'll be a guest talking for the first time about Lizzie Borden and Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter at 7 p.m. Central - 8 p.m. Eastern, Tuesday, March 21! 

My friend Courtney Mroch, who runs the always interesting Haunt Jaunts site, is starting her own radio-podcast program on ParaMania Radio.

Here's how to listen in: 

• Directly from ParaMania Radio’s site: http://paramaniaradio.com/
• 
  
• TuneIn Radio: http://tunein.com/ (Either their site, or on your phone via their mobile apps, which are available in Google play or the App Store. Note: If you have a Sonos system, TuneIn is also available there.)

Miss a show? Check it out on the archives: 

• ParaMania Radio On Demand: http://paramaniaradio.com/On-Demand.php

Get more information on the show or guest scheduling etc. on the Haunt Jaunts radio page. on the radio -

Books, #Zombies and Weather!

What do these three things - books, zombies and weather - have to do with each other?

Well....  a lot, if you're me...

I admit I must get cabin fever the same time every year. Proof is in this photo I shared on my Facebook page - yes, last March. One thing FB is good for - you can look back...

I commented last year that it was snowing -  and the daffodils and tulips were coming up. Welllllll, this week they're calling for 6 inches here in Wisc. - and the daffodils and tulips are coming up. haaaa!   That's what happens when you get 60 degree days, and out here, yes, "technically" spring is not here yet. Ugh!!!! Update: Only got a few inches, but enough. 

But, as I like to say - a book warms you up inside!!  How about GIRL Z: My Life as a Teenage Zombie or Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter? 

And zombies, well, when you're running, who's got time to complain about weather, right? haa!

Movies I’m Excited to See

There’s a lot of movies coming out this year that I’m excited to see. Some of them will be watching in the theater, while others will be rented. I’ve listed some of the movies below (no particular order).

Alien: Covenant



This movie is the sequel to Prometheus, which wasn’t exactly a fabulous movie, but I’m willing to give this one a chance. I’m a huge Alien fan, and this movie looks like it taps into the basis that made the other films so amazing. I’ll let you know how that goes.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2





Seriously, how can anyone pass up on Baby Groot? The first film was so amazing and funny, I can’t wait to see what they do with the sequel. And again, Baby Groot!

King Kong: Skull Island



I’m a huge creature feature fan, and Kong is the king of creature features. There have been some questionable remakes in the past, but I think this one is going to be fun. I’m not asking for depth, and I’m pretty sure I’ll get it with this film. Plus, c’mon! Samuel Jackson and King Kong? You know there’s going to be some great (horrible) lines.

Power Rangers



My boys used to watch Power Rangers all the time on TV, but waaaaaaay before they came along, my friend in high school used to watch them. They’ve been around for a while. The TV show is more often than not a little cheesy and the battle sequences get really weird (for example, in every episode, the bad guys grows to gigantic proportions, so the Power Rangers have to combine into whatever they combine in to, but the battle, no matter where it starts [beach, forest] always takes place in a city), but this movie looks a little grittier. I think it’s something both the boys and I will enjoy.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales



I don’t doubt that we could argue about whether or not the Pirates movies have run their course, but I have one word for you: ZOMBIES (or an iteration of them)! I’m sold.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

I still need to see Rogue One, but I’m a huge Star Wars fan, so this is definitely on my list.

Transformers: The Last Knight



I really like the Transformer movies, and I was sold with dinosaur transformers. I’m excited to see where this one goes.

Wonder Woman

Wooooooooot for super hero movies!

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword



I came across this film randomly when I followed someone back on Twitter. I think it looks a-m-a-z-i-n-g and it’s got a lot of eye candy. Fights and eye candy: my criteria for a watchable movie.

There are a lot more great movies coming out this year, but these are on the top of my list. Which ones are you looking forward to seeing?

Upcoming: Lizzie Borden on Haunt Jaunts Radio Show!

Remember that song, "On the Radio?"

Well... my friend Courtney Mroch, who runs the always interesting Haunt Jaunts site, is starting her own radio-podcast program on ParaMania Radio.

 ***** And.... I'll be a guest talking for the first time about Lizzie Borden and Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter at 7 p.m. Central - 8 p.m. Eastern, Tuesday, March 21! 

Here's how to listen in: 

• Directly from ParaMania Radio’s site: http://paramaniaradio.com/
• 
  
• TuneIn Radio: http://tunein.com/ (Either their site, or on your phone via their mobile apps, which are available in Google play or the App Store. Note: If you have a Sonos system, TuneIn is also available there.)

Miss a show? Check it out on the archives: 

• ParaMania Radio On Demand: http://paramaniaradio.com/On-Demand.php

Get more information on the show or guest scheduling etc. on the Haunt Jaunts radio page.