Top Ten Reasons Zombies Make Great Friends

It's been a while since I've done a Top Ten List, but here's one I've been hanging onto for Halloween. Though it's advisable not to kiss these friends, even on the cheek, here are the Top Ten Reasons Zombies Make Great Friends:

10. No pesky appointments getting in the way of hanging out. They're always available.
9. Not worried about outward appearances.
8. Other than a few interrupting grunts, they make great listeners.
7. And they never bore you with their problems (remember this is about them being good friends, not you).
6. They don't expect presents during the holidays.
5. Matter of fact, they have no expenses. Talk about never having to pick up a tab.
4. You can always blame bad smells on them.
3. You no longer need a security system.
2. They're not usually name droppers even though they've more than likely starred in some horror movies and possibly have been highlighted on The Walking Dead.
1. They'll never send you annoying memes on social networks.

There you go! Ten reasons why zombies make great friends and an annoying meme to...well...annoy your friends on social media with.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Get Your Hands on Darlings of Sci-Fi for a Satisfying Read and Discover Fantastic New-to-You Authors

A new release you must get your hands on! 

Eight gripping young adult stories by eight best selling authors. A star-studded anthology of thrilling and action-packed books from eight different Sci-Fi series by your favorite women authors. 

*Amazon currently shows the book as $.99. The book is in the process of going free. If you'd like to support us by purchasing the book for $.99, the proceeds will go towards spreading the news about these amazing authors. Otherwise, Smashwords will allow you to download a Kindle Format and Nook Format of the book for FREE. Amazon should have this book listed free within 2 weeks. 

What Kind of Sci-Fi Goodness Can You Find Inside This Book?

The Eslites Prequel by CM Doporto

Sixteen year old, Miranda Mays, discovers she is a superior donor for the alien race known as the Eslites, who have come to earth demanding humans help save their race from extinction. Will she be the one to help them or will their quest continue? 

Project ELE by Rebecca Gober and Courtney Nuckels

Is it possible to fall in love when the world is crashing down around you? The world could very well be ending and Willow Mosby's life, as she knows it, is about to change forever. After being forced to take refuge in a F.E.M.A. shelter, Willow has to quickly adapt to the new challenges that shelter life demands. The least of which includes making new friends, working a full time job, experiencing her first relationship and trying to find out why she's exhibiting some strange new abilities.

Tempest by Holly Hook 

Sixteen-year-old Janelle never thought the gray spiral birthmark on her arm meant anything

special. But when gorgeous Gary materializes out of a hurricane right in front of her, that all

changes, because he shares a marking exactly like hers. When Gary shows her the truth about the curse they share, it's only the start of their nightmare.

Gone by Christine Kersey

Sixteen-year-old Morgan Campbell runs away from home and when she returns the next day her world is turned upside-down. Not only is her family missing, but another family is living in her house and claims to have lived there for weeks. 

Mercy by C.C. Marks

Charlie’s true identity is a secret, but her presence places those around her in danger. She must protect her baby sister and herself from grotesque monsters outside the community as well as human ones inside. Will the truth she discovers about her protectors save her or ultimately doom her to a fate worse than death?

Agartha's Castaway by Chrissy Peebles

Seventeen-year-old Casey Smith can't wait to embark on her summer vacation, not least because she's finally shed her tomboy image, and now heartthrob Mike seems interested. What starts out great, with lots of flirting, taking her a step closer to winning her crush's heart, soon turns into her worst nightmare. Tossed out to sea during a freak storm, Casey is washed up on what she presumes to be a mysterious tropical island that's on no map she's ever seen.

Smacking Back by Laura Bradley Rede

In a future where everyone wears an avatar and the internet connects to your brain, cyber bullying has reached a whole new level – and one victim has reached her breaking point. This thought-provoking short story by Writers of the Future award winner Laura Bradley Rede includes discussion questions and links to bullying-prevention resources for use in book groups and in the classroom. 

Qeya A Heaven’s Edge Novella by Jennifer Silverwood  

Qeya has spent her life set to drift on heaven's edge. Being Royal means more than being groomed to rule her home planet. She may only be fifteen, but she knows how to wield a scythe blade and suck the life out of her enemy, literally. Forced to lead before she is ready, Qeya must find a way to put aside ancient prejudices so they can all survive. For no one knows the secrets of the new world and only a few can survive the living nightmares at heavens edge.

Range of Mercy is Out! Finally, Thomas's Voice is Heard

Thomas speaks finally! And I loooove him!  He's a guy after my own heart.

"If you've read the tower scene in "Mercy" or Edge of Mercy, you get Charlie's side of the story, but with "Range of Mercy" you get to hear Thomas's viewpoint. This was so great to write because it satisfied so much of my own curiosity, and I hope it will do the same for you.

Here's the blurb:

Thomas's side of the story. 

Saving the world on a daily basis didn’t make you a hero. Thomas Morgan knew that much from experience. The hard decisions he was forced to make weren’t pretty and not all that heroic. He was the one who did whatever it took to maintain security. Each day he climbed into the guard tower and kept the microcosm that was the community safe from Draghoul, the once-human monsters that attacked every night. More importantly, he watched out for the vulnerable, especially Charlie and her sister Star. 

Charlie disguised herself as a boy, but Thomas knew the truth, and though she wasn’t aware and though it put them all in danger, he kept her secret from the others. Reality was harsh in this unmerciful world, and if Jonas Bannon ever figured out the truth, Charlie didn’t stand a chance against the schemes of the self-appointed leader. Doing the right thing didn’t make Thomas a hero. But it did keep him human, and it did put him in range of mercy. 

Around 9400 words and 30 pages.

Now, let me be honest. The lowest Amazon will let me set the price is .99 (which is too much for something so short).  However, Smashwords has it FREE, and it will be distributed FREE through all other places.  And once it shows up on those other channels, I'll work on a price-match campaign to get it perma-free at the 'Zon as well.

Also, once I get Zeke's story out, I'll bundle all three short stories and offer them for FREE. I'm having so much fun with this!

I hope you'll check out Thomas's story.  Click on your preferred link to download it to your e-reader today.

Happy Reading and Writing!

C. C.

Why Am I Not Following Ryan Seacrest on Instagram and Other Great Mysteries of Life

So, my phone is one useful smart tool.  I use it to call people, text people, check my e-mail, check Facebook, check Twitter, check Goodreads, check Instagram, pin stuff on Pinterest, oh, and read on my Kindle, Nook, or Kobo platforms.

It's a handy-dandy little device that I couldn't live without at this point.  That was proven this past year when I had to change phones and, AAACCKK, my appointments I'd saved to my calendar didn't transfer.  You see, one way I've learned to battle ADD is to put reminders in my phone and to set alerts with alarm bells so that I don't forget appointments or items on the old To-Do list.

I even schedule my own deadlines for my writing, and trust me, that's an important way for me to keep up with making progress.  And let me tell you, if I didn't have my phone, I wouldn't remember half of what I manage to remember.  Does that make sense?  It is a key to managing my life and paying attention to the details my brain just can't seem to hold on to.

Oh, and I'm under the impression that if you don't have time to keep up with all the celebs on Instagram, you know because you have appointments to keep, the one celebrity you should follow just happens to post pics of himself with all the current A-list peeps--none other than--Ryan Seacrest.  So the question is...now that I'm following RC, how do I set my reminders to alert me when he posts a pic with shirtless Ryan Reynolds.  Ryan squared, anyone?



Happy Reading and Writing!

C. C.

Everyone Needs a To-Do List, Oh, and a Pin-up of the Magic Mike Version of Channing Tatum

When you're ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), you're often very talented at a little-known sport called "Dropping the Ball."  As I said last week, it's not for lack of motivation that I forget to take out the trash on trash day or forget to fold the laundry before it wrinkles, or forget to pick up my sister after her high school band performance at 11:00 at night and only remember when my mom calls me at my cousin's later that night.  Yeah, that last one was bad. Usually, the attention problem starts when I have multiple things going on at once.  My brain can't seem to focus on everything.

But, over the years I've developed a few tricks to at least make multiple tasks manageable when they all come at the same time.  Unfortunately, it took me a long time to realize taking the extra time to write out a To-Do List is worth the effort.  It probably wouldn't have helped me with my sister (she forgave me, btw), but it does help with several areas of my life, including writing.

If I take the time to make a list of the major story events I have coming up, I fly through my writing session.  However, if I'm short on time and just sit down and begin writing, I often get stuck and frustrated, or just simply don't get too many words onto the page.

None of my lists are formal.  I don't follow any systems (Save the Cat or Scene and Sequel).  I just write what I know has to happen next in the story for it to get told.  And though Dean Wesley Smith advises never to go back and re-write, I don't really re-write, but I do go back later to tweak and add things and remove stuff to make the scenes better.  Not usually in the same writing session, but I don't always wait until the end either.

If you've read Heart of Mercy, the scene in the back room of the bunker didn't have a television at all the first time I wrote it.  It wasn't until I was over half-way through the manuscript and several scenes past that one that I knew I needed to add that detail to the story.  Of course, I had to tweak other areas along the way to make sure it fit in smoothly, and one of my Beta Readers found a place where I'd "dropped the ball" with the details of that scene.  Yep, that's ADD for you.

So, as painfully tedious as making a To-Do List is, it is SO worth it if I want to accomplish something with all the minute details accounted for.

Oh, and if there were a list of the hottest, hot-bodies ever in a male-stripper movie, Channing Tatum might just be at the top.  What do you think?

Happy Reading and Writing!

C. C. Marks

Post-post addition--Forgot to update current WIP status (shocker, there).  One week later, I've managed to make it to 20,400 words.  Not great progress, but realistic for me with all my other responsibilities.

Justin Timberlake, An Attention Span Longer Than a Gnat's, And Other Things I Can't Have

Attention Deficit Disorder is a very real thing. When I was younger, it was labeled as lazy, unfocused, and not quite all-there.  Trust me, my short attention span is not for a lack of trying to stay focused.  I make lists; I write things on my calendar; I put reminders in my phone.  Things still seem to slip through the holes in my Swiss cheese memory.

Yet, I know I'm not the only one dealing with this and certainly not the only writer.  So, over the next few weeks, I'm going to research techniques and give my two-cents about how an ADD panster like me, and possibly you, can focus enough to get at least one work-in-progress finished. I've got a rather long list of writing to-do's, not the least of which is the third book in The Mercy Series, tentatively titled End of Mercy. It is officially rolling, but a few other projects are taking precedence lately.

Just to get this started though, my current WIP is a paranormal romance, and it is nearly at the half-way mark at 18,784 words.  I'll give updates as to progress made and what techniques help this ADD panster make it to the end of a manuscript.

Happy Reading and Writing!

C. C.

Welcome to the Ch-ch-ch-changes Young Adult Blog Hop

Welcome!  So glad you hopped in for a visit to Dark and Dreamy with C. C. Marks for the Changes YA Blog Hop.  It's all about change today, and what's more of a transition than the aftermath of an apocalypse and the surviving dystopian society?

Charlie Little (AKA Charlotte Baker) copes with the changes the best she can by disguising herself as a boy and protecting her little sister, first in the community (Edge of Mercy), then in the Dead Forest (Heart of Mercy).  If that wasn't trouble enough, human beings are no longer at the top of the food chain.  Now they must protect themselves from Draghoul--once human, now monsters--bent on infecting others.

This is not the typical "zombie" story.  Instead, the story focuses on Charlie's changing, daily journey and the mystery of her world as it develops.

Blurb:
Charlie Little exists in a dangerous world. Her best chance of survival is to disguise herself as a boy and guard her secrets well. Yet just when things can’t possibly get worse, they spin completely out of control.

With Zeke and her sister Star by her side and the fresh memory of Thomas’s kiss still on her lips, she narrowly escapes the horrid plans of Jonas Bannon, a monster of a human being. Forfeiting the safety of the community, they leave and begin the search for the city of Mercy, the one secure place Charlie knows. However, as she struggles to reach her sanctuary, doubts creep in that anywhere is truly safe. If the Draghoul don’t get them, the human scavengers just might, and the assumption Mercy will be a place of protection could be the most dangerous risk of all.

Click for an Excerpt or skip down to the YA mini-book of excerpts to read them all.

Buylink: AMAZON


Now, here's a little more fun.  I found a jigsaw puzzle maker, and with HoM's amazing cover, put together by LFD Designs for Authors, I couldn't help but want to share it with you all as a puzzle.

Also, you'll find a mini-booklet of excerpts from all the hop participants.  Feel free to open it and read all the great offerings.

Finally, I decided to giveaway a $10 gift card to the e-tailer of the winner's choice.  Just enter the Rafflecopter giveaway if you are interested.




YA Mini-Book of Excerpts








a Rafflecopter giveaway


Don't forget to hop on over to the other blogs!

Happy Reading and Writing!