Have you seen this yet?
I can’t believe how fast they are!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcwTxRuq-uk]
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I can’t believe how fast they are! I can’t imagine that swarm coming at me! Aaaaahhh!!!
Not crazy about Brad Pitt but I wasn’t crazy about Tom Cruise in War of the Worlds and it turned out to be a good movie. If nothing else, the zombies will make it worth the watch!
With Halloween coming soon I decided to have a little fun!
Top Ten Scary Clown Pictures!
Let’s begin the countdown. I’m sure you will recognize some of these clowns! No pun intended.
10)
9)
8) 
7)
6)
5)
4)
3)
2)
1) 
I love it, a vampire clown. And what about the baby? Too creepy!
Ronald has never looked deader, I mean better.
Of course, I had to have IT and Jigsaw. They are so famous.
But number one had to go to the zombie clown!
Are you afraid of clowns?
Which one is your favorite scary clown?
Taking on the Dead, The Famished Trilogy, Book One
I really wanted to hurry and get this read for release day, but I forced myself to take my time. I did not want to miss one tiny bit of it!
I love the grainy image of the cover. It sets the tone for the story and this girl is perfect for the protagonist, Kansas. I am loving her dreadlocks and she knows how to use that machete, as you will see when you read Taking on the Dead!
Let’s get to the book shall we?
So here you are at the carnival, walking hand in hand with your boyfriend, anticipating a night of rides and games, taking in all of the sights, sounds and smells. Suddenly, zombies are everywhere, and you are in for the fight of your life. 
That’s what happened to Kansas. She survived that night, but paid a heavy price.
Fast forward to four years later. Kansas City Sunshine Moore, also known as Kansas or Kan for short, has been surviving, hiding out in her family’s underground bunk all alone. A betrayal by a group of people she offered shelter to forces her to leave her home and search for a new one. She quickly discovers there is much she doesn’t know about the zombies. There are the fresh ones, the Famished, and they are very fast and strong. What else doesn’t she know? She has been secluded for four years and now it looks like that wasn’t the smartest thing to do.
The first time Kansas meets Rudy, they don’t actually meet. With the long reach of his compound bow, 
he helps clear zombies from her path, but Kan is still wary of strangers and jumps in her car and races away. It’s a good thing Rudy decides to follow her, because the next time they meet he saves her life.
Kan comes to in the back of Rudy’s van. Well actually, it is an armored truck, the kind used to transport money, and it’s perfect for keeping out the pesky zombies. It can also mow them down easily. After a brief scuffle, Rudy convinces her he means no harm. Through conversation, Kan learns about the Famished, the dangerously fast zombies, and how different they are from the others. She learns a lot about what’s been happening while she was isolated in her bunker the first four years. Staying with Rudy, at least for now, is her best bet.
My thoughts and Ramblins
I’m going to warn you, I feel this story is for the older reading audience. There are no graphic sexual scenes but there is some mature content.
I love my zombies and I sure did get plenty of them in Taking on the Dead. I also got one heck of a great story about survival and humanity, and the lack of it. Not everyone that survives is nice, just like before the apocalypse. The characters are diverse and all too human.
Of course, there is some romance in the story. It is subtle, creeping up on you, just like it does to Kansas. It is not the focal point, but it definitely makes the story better. Wouldn’t you want someone to have and to hold when your world is overrun with zombies? I know I wouldn’t mind having someone to care about, otherwise, what’s the point of surviving?
Kansas is strong-willed and independent, but not necessarily a loner. Enter Rudy and her life gets complicated. Who could resist a man like him. Strong and gentle, with a large dose of sexiness and endearing humbleness. They are a good fit.
Here are some of my favorite scenes:
I almost elbow Rudy to wake him until I see how he looks when sleeping…Despite all the fighting, his nose is straight. Small scars from past fights etch his skin. A small, wide one dresses his lower lip. One much longer goes from his lower jaw to underneath the chin, his stubble efficiently covering it up. A chipped tooth adorns his bottom row of teeth. The scar on his right eyebrow no longer allows hair to grow, splitting the eyebrow in half. He might get another scar on his left eyebrow, the cut is scabbed over now, and it’s wider then the scar on his left side. Very small imperfections, not even noticeable unless you look closely. It doesn’t take away from his handsome face. It enhances his masculinity, as if he needs it. The small flaws have history and give him character. Flaws I want to know about, and could grow quite fond of if I’m not careful.
Jesus. This chivalrous barbarian is beautiful. What am I getting myself into?
And of course some humor
“I’m thinking of naming your truck. I must be out of it.” I prop my head on the pillow against the window.
There’s slight amusement across his features. “What did you have in mind?”
“I don’t know. Something domineering and associated with a big ass.” I motion with my hands.
He surprises me by saying, “Agatha. I had a teacher in the sixth grade, and that was her first name. She liked her power over us weaklings and she had a gigantic ass.” He starts laughing and shaking his head as if to clear the thought.
“Yeah, that fits. Agatha.” I say, trying it out.
“She was scary. I was glad when sixth grade was over.” We both laugh at this. I can’t picture him afraid of anything. It feels good to be laughing about something completely stupid. I can see he needed to laugh too.
The humor is well placed throughout the story, lightening the mood and giving you a break from the stress of survival, just as it would in real life. You know the scenes, where the cop makes a joke in poor taste about a victim? That is a coping mechanism, and everyone needs one. The humor makes this story believable.
In one part Kansas poses an interesting question about zombies. One I am now curious about as well.
Do the souls get stuck to watch and feel their bodies decompose, all the while having an uncontrolled, insatiable craving? I guess that’s why I like killing them, just in case. No one deserves that fate.
There are some colorful characters you’ll be meeting. There are the good, the bad, and the ugly. They all play their part, keeping you entertained and engaged.
This is my stopping point. I don’t like to tell much about the story past the one-third point. I like to draw you in and get you interested, much the way Annie Walls did to me.
I loved every second I was in it, and yes, it felt like I was a part of it. Fantastic job Annie!
Just one more thing and then you can go get Taking on the Dead.
About the ending!
I was talking to Mandy over on Goodreads. She is right about the ending! That’s all I’m saying.
Still loving it and feeling it!!
~~~~~
More good news! There are two more books in this series coming out.
Controlling the Dead, Book Two
Living with the Dead, Book Three
About Annie Walls
Author of dark fantasy and sub-genres of horror. Voracious Reader and Googler. Lover of dark humor. Horror Buff. Zombie Apocalypse Enthusiast. Loyal Cracked follower. Pinterest Addict. Wife of adoring husband. Mother of a five year old Bruce Wayne. Cook. Maid. Kisser of boo-boos. Ultimate Time Waster. Perfect Procrastinator. Lolly Gagger. Trubie. Cake Decorator. Tea Drinker. Sculpey Sculptor. Girl Gamer. Perfectionist in the art of Facebook stalking. And now, God help me, a blogger. Oh yeah, and a twitter, twatter, tweeter. Well yeah, I’m one crafty bitch
You can find Annie here:
https://www.facebook.com/annie.walls
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5777960.Annie_Walls
http://www.twitter.com/TheAnnieWalls
You can purchase Taking on the Dead by clicking on the cover image below.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8chir-Iwbew]
Enough Said!
I have winners! I want to thank everyone who entered and visited my blog.
I also want to thank Kevin for being so generous and for sitting down to chat with me.
Okay, I’m getting to it!
Just had to take a detour around these zombies. I don’t think they can catch a horse and buggy!
The Winner of the signed paperback is: Alene 
The Winners of the two e-books are:
Carrie and Jujuwiz! 
Congratulations!
I will be emailing each of you and will send your contact information to Kevin. He will get in touch with you about your prize.
Have you met Emma Audsley? She is my go to gal over at HHHB . I don’t know how she does it, but her blog always has such cool scary stuff on it. Like the trailer below. You are in for a treat!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVnfyradCPY]
The Horrifically Horrifying Horror Blog Is all about Horror. I’m sure the name gives it away.
Go on over and check it out. Emma and the gang are always cooking up new scary goodies.
Hey Emma! Can’t wait to see what you have for us on Halloween. Are we in for a trick or a treat?
I’ll be keepin an eye out!
Recently, the author contacted me about doing a review of his book latter-day of the dead. The funny thing is, I had won this book a while ago in a giveaway from Kriss at http://cabingoddess.com, and when I took a little hiatus to my sister’s house, I grabbed this book for a quick read by the pool. The request for the review and my taking this book with me before I had heard from the author is just so weird.
When I visited Kriss’s blog to enter her very first giveaway, the cover art caught my eye.
Then when I found out what the story line was, I knew I had to review it on my blog. A polygamist compound and zombies. Who would a thunk it? Well, Kevin Krohn did. What an ingenious plot.
Thanks Kriss. It was one of the first giveaways I won.
This book is not real long, took me a couple of hours to read it. But, there is so much in it. You have a secluded polygamist community dealing with a zombie outbreak. Now, where do you think the zombies came from? I can’t tell you how it started, but I will tell you that the victims and the zombies are all from the community. That’s right. Polygamist zombies.
Can you picture the community. These Latter-Day Saints chose to live away from civilization and its influence, raising large families and following their faith. Kevin Krohn writes this story, I want to say, in their language. You feel like one of them, and almost become a part of the community.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jgTZAmrcn4]
Told to you from the perspective of Brother Elias, their community doctor, you begin to understand the provincial lifestyle these people lead. This is the last place you would ever want something like this to happen.
The bravery and fortitude these characters display is inspiring. This story takes a very dark turn, not even the children are spared. The author is able to write these scenes skillfully, which must have been difficult. Horror and children are a delicate balance. Just remember that these children are not children any longer. They are zombies and age doesn’t enter into it anymore. It makes me wonder about the cover. The blank face on the girl, could it be “not putting a face on it?”
A well researched and thoughtfully written book, latter-day of the dead will satisfy all fans of thrillers and zombies. Rich in culture and rife with zombies, I have to say it hits the top of my list for originality. You will not find another story like it.
5 STARS
The story does not end here, as you’ll discover. I also happened to spy the words book one tucked onto the cover. I will definitely be on the look out for the second book.
And now I have Kevin Krohn here for an interview. Get comfortable and enjoy.
Thanks for joining us and doing this interview Kevin. Let’s get started.
L. When I visited your author pages on Amazon and Goodreads, they were somewhat sparse. Would you like to reveal a little bit about yourself with us?
K. Haha, yes. I have kept my information pretty vague, and I am not sure why. I am a Sagittarius, a “Breaking Bad” junkie, and I don’t trust anyone with a Y in their first name when it should clearly be an I.
L. The most obvious question I have is, wherever did you get your idea for Latter-Day of the Dead?
K. I am really intrigued by cults and people completely removing themselves from the rest of civilization. I started writing from that perspective and the viral outbreak was a way to bring a fun aspect to the subject, although I am unsure if a viral outbreak could be considered comedic relief.
L. Your writing expresses the culture and language of latter-day saints as if you lived it. The research must have been extensive. Could you explain the process?
K.. I moved to Utah four years ago, and being a new resident, I wanted to be able to understand the culture and history. The state takes great pride in its history, so there is an abundance of information to get a full understanding of what all is happening out here. The fundamental polygamists are a little harder to research, but that helped allow me to create some uniqueness to the group in the book.
L. I see where you have written two other books in a series, Severed Ties(Volume I and II). I’m curious as to why you went in a very different direction with Latter-Day of the Dead?
K. That is something I hope I can continue to do. I will want the book after the Latter-Day series to go in a completely different direction as well. It may not be the best game plan to establish a readership, but I want to be able to explore many different genres through my writing. I typically let the characters dictate where the story goes.
L. I couldn’t help but notice it says Book One on the cover. When can we expect Book 2 and is there anything you can tell us about it?
K. I don’t think I can announce the release date for Book 2 quite yet, but it will be coming out this fall. Obviously for those who have read Book I they will know there is a lot going on in Book 2 right from the jump. Brother Elias and the rest of the compound are going to have a tough time staying safe, and the future of the group has already been dramatically altered even if they are able to survive.
L. The cover art for your book really caught my eye. Is there a reason why her face is blank and did you do the cover yourself?
K. I chose the photo for the cover. I thought the blank face portrayed a great sense of “unknown” evil. There is also a slight nod to the underlying meaning of the way the many faceless women are treated on these polygamist compounds, but that discussion is probably for a much different interview.
L. What are you reading now and is there a genre you prefer?
K. I am just jumping into Kings of Cool by Don Winslow. It is a prequel to Savages. I saw the Savages movie directed by Oliver Stone, but never read the original book. I tend to lean towards crime thrillers, but will read anything that keeps me entertained page-to-page.
L. Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
K. I just thank everyone that has taken the time to read Latter-Day of the Dead. My only hope when publishing a book is to have people read it, so knowing that is happening brings great satisfaction. And people like you, Laura, helping spread the word about indie books gives us that opportunity, so thank you.
You are most welcome Kevin. The pleasure is all mine and thank you also.
Now for the giveaway. Kevin has generously offered me 1 signed paperback and 2 e-Books to give away.
Entry is easy, as usual. Just leave a comment with your e-mail address and please click on that tweet button:)
Although not required, it would be so appreciated if you followed my blog and visited Kevin at the links provided at the bottom of this post.
So let’s go!! Good Luck!
Contest ends on August 17th.
Other books by Kevin Krohn:
Click on the cover image to purchase a copy.
Author contacts:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1614681.Kevin_Krohn
https://twitter.com/kevinkrohn
http://www.facebook.com/kevinkrohn
I was just informed that it is Utah Author Month. http://utahbooks.blogspot.com/
Thank you Jessica. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss out on this important celebration!
http://the bluestockings.com
It’s no secret that I loved this book!
I was just over visiting Stephen on his blog and discovered some great news!
He is very busy writing Books Two and Three of the ZED Trilogy and would welcome suggestions or ideas for what you would like Mr. ZED (or Chase) to do next.
You never know, he might just add it to the story (and credit you in the book).
In addition, If he loves your idea 100%, you might become a character in his story.
I myself would love to see Stephen add a young boy to the mix. You know the kind, a boy who idolizes Zed and follows him around, pestering him with questions and emulating him(except for the being a zombie part).
So hop on over to Stephen’s blog: http://stephenherfst.blogspot.com and leave him your suggestions!
For my post about reviewing ZED: http://wp.me/p27ipo-68
For my review and interview with ZED: http://wp.me/p27ipo-8G
I have so many books to read. I am reading several right now. There are many more waiting for me. I can hear them calling “Pick Me!”
Here is a list of some of the books up next for me to read and review. I would love it if you would help me pick which two I should start with.
These are just some of the books I need to read or finish reading for reviews. I am currently working on several reviews, interviews and giveaways.
It would be great if you could give me some suggestions on which two I should do next! Let me know!!
I went looking for a good zombie collection in my Kindle and look what I found.
ZERO
Edited by TW Brown
Forward
How did it all begin for you? What was the instant you became a die-hard zombophile? For me, it was my fourteenth birthday when a neighbor took me to see Dawn Of The Dead. The funny thing is, I was actually there to see the other film playing in the double-feature (remember those days?).
S0 … think back to the past dozen or so zombie books you’ve read. How many really delve into how it all begins? It has to start somewhere … right? In these pages , you will find out how it all began.
Seven writers have given you a look at that first person to fall: Patient Zero. This anthology opens the door to the genesis of the zombie apocalypse in detail. Could it really be something as simple as a paper cut? The answer awaits you.
The Morning Show Host by Patrick Shand
Minnie Brown was the catalyst, the one that brought about the beginning of the end for mankind. And to think it all started with a paper cut.
Minnie tells her story in the form of a written apology to be read by a survivor, if there is one. It doesn’t look too good out there.
I loved her sass.
“I died forty times from a paper cut?” I said. “Wow, I’m a bit of a pussy.” “…Hey, you want to take any bets on how many times I’ll croak?”
She is witty and likes to tell jokes, especially dirty jokes, you know, ones about body parts.
Through all of the bloody, bone- gnawing gore she still thought of herself as “Just some crazy lady who told jokes on the radio at the asscrack of dawn”.
Number Two
The Zombie Curse by Bennie L. Newsome
This story takes place over the span of 96 hours.
Justin Burrows, ladies man, cheat.
He slinks home in the wee hours of the morning, trying not to get caught, but wifie is lying in wait for him. When she doesn’t buy his story, he figures, if all else fails, turn the tables on her. He lays a guilt trip on her and lies so well that he actually convinces himself that he has been wronged.
His restless night on the couch was filled with vivid dreams of his sexual escapades with his one night stand. In the middle of their activities, Justin opened his eyes and saw the woman is no woman. Her face has morphed into an evil visage of a demon. He should have run away screaming but…”Justin always thought with his smaller head, and he did not see why he should stop at that point. The man closed his eyes and enjoyed the ride”.
Now we know how it started. A romp in the sack with a demon. It was spread by a little love bite he gave his wife while having make-up sex.
Justin isn’t doing so well at work, a severe migraine sends him home. Figuring a quick shower would help, he jumps in and lathers up. A loud smack makes him look down. “The startled man looked between his legs, nothing there. Blood was not even present. His stuff had just … fallen off somehow. He returned his gaze to the bottom of the tub. There it was, the whole set, both the faucet and the two knobs”.
Boy, a lot of women would think that was poetic justice. I couldn’t stop laughing and read the whole story out loud to my mother and my sister. We all laughed our asses off.
Fatal attraction with the ultimate twist. Maybe he should have just went home.
The Third One
Termination papers by Suzanne Robb
The goal of Project Re-Genesis was to alter the internal structures of the human body so when an injury occurred, the body would be able to heal itself within mere seconds.”
“Jerrod knew they meant well, but he didn’t think they had the interests of the soldiers at heart. First, they planned to inoculate the soldiers without telling them. Secondly, the kind of alterations happening would be painful and most likely result in the death of some. What they were asking his company to do would be an alteration of human DNA”.
What? The government is not concerned with our welfare? Big shocker there?
Months into the experiment, Spencer still has no results. It is do or die time, literally. Spencer makes a mistake and one of his test subjects takes a bite out of him. Now he is on the other side of the safety glass, while others observe him and take notes. Life is funny that way.
Fourth In Line
The Scientific Method by Nathaniel Phillips
A mere clerk for the Post, more of a fact finder than anything. Why send him to Russia?
“It seemed like a pretty simple assignment, and in fact, it was, but the repercussions of it all … good Lord, saying that it was merely out of my league would trivialize the whole situation”.
The assignment was to gather documents about one Dr. Fenstermacher, a former Nazi SS officer. The scuttlebutt was that, while not as notorious as Dr. Josef Mengele, he also committed experiments of a most atrocious nature.
What our clerk discovers is Fenstermacher”s journal, containing descriptions of an unknown contagion. Inside the pages, he reads about unimaginable horrors performed on young boys and their ramifications.
Welcome to Nazi Germany 1944.
Fifth In Line-Up
William by A. A. Garrison
A man, a woman, a child and a robotic babysitter.
A jingle from the commercial-
“Do the right thing for your loved one. Get a Swammy Sitter today.”
They seemed too good to be true. You could teach them to do damn near anything. Mow the lawn? Yep. Pressure wash the house? Sure, and you don’t have to worry, they don’t rust.
What you have forgotten is the golden rule. Never believe what you see on television and, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Next Up-6
Escarg-O by Chantal Boudreau
Business is booming at The Crystal Fountain Bistro. Mars Grimm a music icon and new patron, has made the restaurant extremely popular. To keep him coming back, Steve and Ray, cooks at the bistro, have to come up with new and unusual dishes.
You see, mars will not eat the same thing twice, except for snails. That’s what drew him to the restaurant in the first place.
desperate to hang on to their jobs, Steve and Ray go to the black market. Steve finds the ultimate snails – Novisuccinea Ovalis. They are unusual, with eye stalks that ripple and vibrate a glowing, flourescent green.
Truly revolting looking.
“Well, I was thinking of serving them raw.”
“Raw?! Are you crazy?!”
“Well, they serve sushi raw, don’t they? And we have to keep them alive to maintain the special effects. That’s the whole point, isn’t it – a weird novelty food? Mars will love them!”
Eating them raw probably would have been okay if Steve and a friend hadn’t given the snails a concoction of drugs to keep tem from crawling off the plate.
If I didn’t like escargo before, I definitely won’t be eating them now.
7 – The Finale
Quietus by Christopher Beck
One thing you could say about Reed is he is punctual. Every morning, at the same time, he arrives at the small pond to feed goldfish crackers to a pair of ducks. Also waiting for him is a starling. The bird also knows Reed’s feeding schedule and, knowing he is a food source, follows him to the lab where it finds an open window. Knowing people means food, if flies inside. Ever the opportunist, It samples what is left out in a petri dish. Reed enters the lab and spots the starling but is too late to stop its escape.
Now the bird has a new appetite. All it takes is a peck on a tiny hand to spread the contagion.
In the mood for some twisted zombie tales. Give ZERO a go!
For more go to: www.meydecenberpublications.com
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