A Fantastic Thanksgiving

First of all, I can’t believe that November is almost over. That means that Christmas is next, and then the New Year. Where did all the time go?

Secondly, I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving. We did. We had a wonderful time with family and friends and ate until we were silly. What’s better than a holiday that’s centered around food? Mmmmmmm.

Now, on to business. I have the winners of the Thankful for You Blog Hop that I participated in.

The ebook winners are: 
Caryolyn
Elizabeth
Kathy

The print book winners are: 
Ashley 
Katherine
Judy

Thank you to everyone who participated! Again, it’s you wonderful readers that make it possible for me to do what I do.

Apparently, Amazon is taking 30% off print books, but the sale ends today. You can find the pertinent information here. The code can only be applied to one book, but if you need some ideas of which one to get, I will happily recommend any of mine.  Or I can tell you some of my favorites from other authors.

At the end of last week, I had the opportunity to participate in a craft fair where I attempted to sell my books. I have some copies left over, so if you’re interested in signed paperbacks for gifts (for yourself or someone special), let me know. I’m more than happy to sign them and send them (open to U.S. shipping only).

The books I have available are:

The Appeal of Evil - $13.95
Dealing with Devils - $12.95
Good Intentions - 13.95
(you can get all three of these books for $20)

The Ifs - $9.95
The Ifs Return - $9.95
(you can get this set for $15)

Life After the Undead (bestseller in the Dystopian category on Amazon) - $15.95

Undead Obsessed (nonfiction zombies) - $13.95

Finding Eden (zombie novella) - $8.50

Coming from Nowhere - $9.95

Mr. Chocolate and the Magic Js (children’s book) - $9.50

There’s a Monster in Mommy’s Tummy (children’s book) – this one comes with a free plush monster - $9.50

All prices are set by the publisher, but I’m not charging shipping. If you’re interested, please let me know (you can either email me or use the contact from on the side of this blog). I can take payments through Paypal.

I don’t know about you, but I feel like it’s going to be a long week. Working 5 whole days? What’s up with that? However, I believe it’s going to be amazing. I hope your week is amazing too.

There's So Much to be Thankful For!

Thanksgiving is almost upon us, and I can’t wait! I love spending time with friends and family and eating ridiculous amounts of food.

While you’re recovery from your food hangover, why not relax with a good book…or several! The special pricing from Booktrope is still going on, so get some great reads now!


And don’t forget that the Thankful for You Blog Hop is also still going on, so try for your chances to win some amazing prizes! Including some from me!


I hope you all have a wonderful day filled with happiness and laughter and tons of turkey.

I Can’t Help Myself!

Normally, I’m not the type of person to check my Amazon book pages. Sure, every so often I head over there and see if there’s a new review or where I’m at in the rankings, but it’s not something I’d do religiously or with any type of frequency.

But ever since Life After the Undead has been ranking in the top 100 in certain categories, I’m obsessed!

Seriously, I check it multiple times a day and I hold my breath as I scroll down to the numbers, afraid that I may have fallen off the charts. It’s exhilarating and scary all at the same time. It’s even more fantastic to find myself still ranking in the top 100.

As of 8:30 MST on November 23, 2015, these were my rankings:

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,898 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
#29 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Children's eBooks > Science Fiction, Fantasy & Scary Stories > Scary Stories

When I first started ranking, I also took photos of where I was on the list, just so no one could say it was a fluke (and to prove to myself it wasn't a fluke).  These are older pictures, but they are still amazing.



Then, over the weekend, my book manager (hi, Pam!) found this page. I didn’t even know it existed! How freaking cool is this?

This photo shows me ranking as #6 in Hot New Releases in Children's Dystopian Sci-Fi Books on Amazon.  I have since fallen off this chart, but it was cool while it lasted.

I’ve had to limit myself to how many times I check my page. Otherwise, I would be there all day just hitting refresh. I seriously can’t help myself. I’ve never been in this position before, and it’s amazing!

I’m well aware that this probably won’t last forever, and I know one day I will scroll down and find myself off the charts, but until then, I’m going to ride the wave!

Thank you to all you wonderful readers who made this happen. YOU’RE THE BEST!

Thankful for You Blog Hop


This week we're letting everyone know just what we're thankful for. And that includes...YOU! There's a new giveaway at every single stop, so be sure to hop around and visit your favorite blogs and find a few new ones to follow too!

Without you wonderful and amazing readers, there's no point in writing.  You're the ones who make it worthwhile, and you're the ones who encourage me to keep creating.  I love that you enjoy reading my work, and I enjoy creating it for you.  Thank you.

Now let's give away some books!  Leave a comment on this post, along with your email address so I can contact you and which book you want (you can find them in the tabs above), and I will pick three random winners to receive ebook copies and three random winners to win print copies (open to U.S. shipping only).

I moderate my comments, so they won't pop up immediately, but be rest assured that I will get them up.

Thanks for playing!


Let's Play a Zombie Survival Game

It’ll be easy, don’t worry—and there are no right or wrong answers. Using the list of supplies on the left, decide which three are the most important for surviving the situation on the right. Post your choices and why you picked those three things in the comments, and I’ll enter you for a chance to win an ebook copy of Life After the Undead.

The game will run until Sunday at 12:00 p.m. MST.  Please make sure to post a way for me to contact you in case you’re a winner!

Assumptions:
  • You have the 3 most important things: water, food, and shelter. 
  • The zombies are traditional creatures, meaning they move slowly but are vast in number.

Handgun with ammunition 
(1 box)
Scenario:  You live in a third-floor apartment in the middle of a large city.  You have to leave to find medicine for a sick family member.

What items will you need to find the medicine?

1.                                                                      
2.                                                                      
3.                                                                      



Rifle with ammunition 
(1 box)
Metal match (flint and steel)
Long-sleeved Shirt and Pants
Backpack
Machete
Antibiotics
Running shoes
Steel Toe Boots
Camping Stove
Rope
First Aid kit
GPS
4-Wheel Drive Truck
Container of Fuel
Duct Tape
Pocket Knife

Now THIS Was a Conference!

I had the opportunity to go to the MAPACA conference at the beginning of November. I was giving my Women and Slasher Films presentation on Saturday, so that gave me all day on Friday to attend panels and soak in what people were researching and working on. I wasn’t disappointed.

There were so many different panels I had the opportunity to attend. I went to one where the panelists talked about different things from WWII. One presentation was about some sculptures in Greece that were tributes to the Greek soldiers and the victims of German brutality. That was incredibly fascinating.

Another panelist talked about the accessibility of WWII photos online and how that is both good and bad, while another panelist talked about women’s roles in the war and how they were portrayed by Hollywood. I didn’t get to see the end of that presentation because it ran over and I had to get to my next panel, but the part I saw was incredibly fascinating.

There was also a panelist that talked about journalists during the Civil War and how they impacted and changed reporting during times of war. It was something I had never even thought about previously, so I learned something new.

There were quite a few horror panels that I had the opportunity to attend. The overarching theme of one was how the familiar becomes frightening, so the panelists talked about The X Files and representations of the South; the vampire Lestat in both books and film; and Pet Semetary, the book more than the movie. They were fascinating.

Another horror panel I went to had panelists that talked about Nazi zombie movies, and the presenter pointed out how surprised she was at how many existed and how many of them weren’t very good. The other presenter talked about the color of horror and how films use color or lack thereof to create mood and atmosphere. Both of those were also incredibly interesting.

I’m not diving into too much detail about each presentation because I could go on and on about how fantastic they were—and they really were. I learned a lot listening to all of these presenters, and I was amazed at what people chose to study. I love how passionate they were about their subjects. I get the same way in my research, and it’s always wonderful to hang out with like-minded people and bounce ideas and passions off one another.

This was exactly what I enjoy most about conferences. It’s a group of intellectual people getting together and sharing ideas and inspiring others. Not that Long Beach didn’t have intellectual people, it did, the format was just different.

MAPACA was what I expect conferences to be like. It had a registration table, I got a badge and a schedule, and I decided which talks/presentations sounded interesting and attended them. There were discussions afterward, and the attendees were able to ask questions. There was also networking that occurred, and friendships were formed.

I did this conference on my own; my mom didn’t go with me like she went to Long Beach. It was incredibly nerve-wracking, but it turned out fine. The day I drove to the airport, I was incredibly anxious, and I spent all morning taking deep breaths and convincing myself that I could do it.

My stomach was in knots, and the voice in my head was screaming that I should just stay home. The weather wasn’t cooperating. It had snowed the night before, so part of the highway I had to travel on had black ice and snow pack, and the speed limit was 45 mph.

Still, I trudged on. I knew that once I got there, everything would be fine.

For the most part, it was. I was still nervous when I got to the airport because I hate flying, but I had helpers if I needed them. On the way out, I actually didn’t need them. I was pretty proud of myself. The flight home was a different story. Nothing bad happened, but I was leaving early and my nerves were in overdrive. I couldn’t keep the anxiety down, so I had a little help.

I didn’t do any sightseeing or touristy stuff while in Philly, mainly because I didn’t have a lot of time—I wanted to be at the conference—but also because I’m not an overly adventurous person, especially when I’m by myself. I figured I needed to ease myself into the experience. Maybe next time I’ll do something fun and check out the sights.

All in all, I was really pleased with how the experience turned out. It was more in line with what I thought a conference should be, and I was inspired and excited to be there. I was asked to come back next year and do some more panels, and I’m seriously considering it. It’s in Atlantic City, so that will be a new adventure. I’m also thinking I can convince others to go with me—not to the conference, but to take in the other sights.

Collecting My Thoughts

I'm going to do a post about my most recent conference experience, but I need to get my thoughts together.  I'm still pretty exhausted after getting back, and I'm trying to get caught up.  Thanks for being patient!

In the meantime, I have to tell you how excited I am about the promotion Booktrope is doing.  The response has been amazing and overwhelming, and the exposure has placed my books on the charts.  I can't even believe that.  It is seriously mind blowing.

Thank you, to all you fabulous readers out there.  I hope you enjoy the books!

It’s Bigger and More Exciting!

Remember last week when I told you Booktrope was having a special and 200+ Kindle books were on sale for $2.99? Well, it gets even better. From November 9 to 14, they are FREE! Can you even believe it? Now is absolutely the time to load up on some books.

For a list of the free books that are available from Booktrope, check out their link here.

Life after the Undead and The Appeal of Evil are part of this amazing giveaway. If you’ve ever wanted to check out my books, do it now! All you have to do is invest a little time.


Katie wants to invest her heart and soul in love, but she may lose both to Hell. Katie, a senior in high school, is torn between loving the “good” guy, her childhood friend Wes who makes promises he doesn't keep and abandons her when she needs him the most, and the “bad” guy, the new kid at school Josh who is also a real demon from Hell. Katie wants someone who pays attention to her and puts her first, but what is she willing to give up to find him?


Seventeen-year-old Krista must quickly figure out how she's going to survive in the zombie-destroyed world. The one advantage humans have is that the zombies hate humid environments, so they're migrating west to escape its deteriorating effects. The survivors plan to construct a wall at North Platte to keep the undead out, and Krista has come to Nebraska to start a new life.

Zombies aren’t the only creatures she has to be cautious of—the other survivors have a dark side. Krista must fight not only to live but also to defend everything she holds dear—her country, her freedom, and ultimately, those she loves.

Join Krista in her quest to survive in this thrilling apocalyptic novel by Pembroke Sinclair.

Something Big is Going Down

Authors and publishers are always looking for ways to promote themselves and get their works in front of readers. Oftentimes, that means offering them at a discounted. Next week, Booktrope will be offering several of their titles for $2.99. They’re calling it the PreFunk Holiday Promotion.

I’m so excited to be part of this event. Life After the Undead and The Appeal of Evil both have this special pricing. So, if you’ve been wanting to check out some of my books but hesitant because of the price, now is the time! And if you’re a member of Kindle Unlimited, you can already get both ebooks for free.

I’ve perused the list of books, and they are amazing! Something for everyone. Check it out! See if you can find a book. I’m confident you’ll find something you’ll like.




One More to Go

Holy crap, folks! October has been a ridiculously busy month. I was traveling so much to promote myself and my works, I didn’t have a free weekend—until Halloween!

I love getting out and doing presentations and workshops and meeting new people, but it’s also incredibly exhausting. If you’ve read my blog before, you know that I get incredibly anxious when I travel, so this entire month has threatened to push me into panic mode. I’ve overcome, though, and had some amazing adventures.





I have one more conference to go to this year, and I’ll be in Philadelphia at the end of this week for the Mid-Atlantic Popular & American Culture Association conference. I will be speaking about Women and Slasher films and also doing a 5-minute presentation about being undead obsessed and finding meaning in zombies.

I’m excited and nervous all at the same time. I think I’m handling this trip better than the Long Beach trip—I had nightmares for 2 weeks before that trip. I had a nightmare a few weeks ago and one last night, so maybe? I’ll let you know how it goes.

In addition to this exciting adventure that’s coming up, I also had an outstanding weekend.

Because our sleds are new, we had to take them out for a break-in ride. There wasn’t a ton of snow, but we found enough to ride in. I hadn’t realized how much I missed riding until I got out. There’s something so magical about not having anything to worry about except cruising through the snow. It was incredibly therapeutic.



Zed (my sled; zombie + sled = Zed; plus, it pays homage to so many zombie films) did awesome! I’m looking forward to more snow so I can see exactly what she can do.

While we’re in the hills, we don’t have any cell service, so I turned off my phone for a while. When I got back into town, I turned it back on and saw that I had an email from my amazing book manager (hi, Pam!).

Apparently, Life After the Undead was in the top 100 for certain categories. According to the email, here was the breakdown:

#73,634 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

#94 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Children's eBooks > Science Fiction, Fantasy & Scary Stories > Science Fiction > Dystopian

#95 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Children's eBooks > Action & Adventure > Survival Stories

#143 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Children's eBooks > Science Fiction, Fantasy & Scary Stories > Scary Stories

What?! It was freaking insane! I wanted to scream and cry and happy dance all at the same time. None of my books have ever ranked that high, so it was incredibly exciting. I’m still floating on air from the experience.

There’s a lot of really exciting things happening. I’m giddy. I’m going to ride this wave of amazement for as long as I can. I hope that you all are having a fabulous time as well.
Pembroke Sinclair's books on Goodreads
Life After the Undead Life After the Undead
reviews: 55
ratings: 100 (avg rating 3.64)

The Appeal of Evil The Appeal of Evil (The Road to Salvation, #1)
reviews: 38
ratings: 63 (avg rating 3.54)

Wucaii Wucaii
reviews: 32
ratings: 35 (avg rating 4.11)

Death to the Undead Death to the Undead (Sequel to Life After the Undead)
reviews: 20
ratings: 39 (avg rating 4.23)

Dealing with Devils Dealing with Devils (The Road to Salvation, #2)
reviews: 22
ratings: 32 (avg rating 4.00)