The apocalypse has begun…

Or perhaps it's really in the middle. I guess that depends on how long it lasts. But either way, it's here, and it's not going anywhere quickly.

Okay, so it's not really the apocalypse in this reality, but in my new book, What Remains: Untainted, it's definitely on. But I guess that's why it's part of the New Reality line at Resplendence Publishing. Stories that look at life here on Earth after some kind of decimating incidence has occurred. For me, there's only one apocalypse—zombies!

To be fair, I'm not fond of the Z word. Zombies makes me think of really cheesy Hollywood movies from the 60's. That was until a few movies set a standard. I think of all the 'older' films, Shawn of the Dead is my favourite…that scene in the bar with the dart. My son and I watched it over and over. What a great take on the genre.

Of course some new variations are out there—28 weeks being one of the creepiest. Mostly because I'm not sure many of us would have a chance. Have you seen how fast those bastards run? Crazy. I also thoroughly enjoyed all the Resident Evil movies…what's not to love about Alice. But of course, the new benchmark has to be Walking Dead.

Now I'm a hardcore Walking Dead fan. Yes, I screamed in vain when they justified taking their only doctor zombie hunting (and with Lorie ready to calf? Seriously?). And I suffered through many a bad plot issue. But all in all, it's an addicting show that you can't help getting caught up in. Thus, when I had an opportunity to write my own Zombie Apocalypse, I knew I couldn't pass it up.

Now my reality is a bit different. The root cause is definitely an infection you have to 'acquire'. Simply dying isn't going to change you. But the extent of the infection—that's where it'll get interesting. I just touch a bit on it in the first book, and plan to slowly evolve the scenario over time. So look for more information on the science behind the zombies in the second. Because for our crew of four, merely surviving is hard enough this go 'round. That's if they can remain, untainted…

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The apocalypse has passed. The dead have risen. But what remains…

Colby, Darcy and Barrett are hardened soldiers with a new war. A deadly disease has decimated the human population, reducing it to small pockets of survivors who fight daily again the raging hordes of undead plaguing the planet. The three men are part of a recon mission, scouting locations where humans have been reported still alive amidst the dead. But after ten months of searching, they're ready to give up.

Abby Brennigan has been surviving on her own for half a year, hiding out in an old abandoned control tower. She hasn't seen anything remotely alive in what feels like forever, until the three men stumble upon her hideout, and into her heart. She'd promised herself she wouldn't get close again…wouldn't put herself through the torture of watching another person she cared about slowly fade until they turn into a monster straight off the pages of a horror novel.

But the boys aren't taking no for an answer and as they face one test after another, the big question is—how long can they all remain untainted.

Excerpt:

Colby swore under his breath as he swung his sub-machine gun across his back and started up the ladder, checking behind him as he crested the first balcony. The zombies still clamored at the fence, the noise from the ladder gaining their attention so that they renewed their efforts to get inside. He pulled up the ladder, then grabbed hold of the rails and took the twisting steps two at a time. The rusty metal clanked beneath his feet, sending out a steady beat of his progress. He shook his head, covering the three flights quickly before stopping at the last level. The edge of the roof hovered several feet above him, while a door graced the side of the building. He took a deep breath and pulled at the handle, swearing loudly when it didn’t budge. If someone had ventured up the fire escape, he had no idea how they’d managed to get through the door, unless they’d never climbed the ladder to begin with.

He pounded his fist against the wall in frustration. He should have broken down the damn door with his fists and gotten to her before she’d had a chance to disappear. Now, they were stuck chasing shadows. He released a weary breath. Too many dead. That was the problem. In the ten months they’d been doing recon missions, they’d never found survivors who weren’t infected and nothing but dead in the past four months. Darcy was right. They’d lost hope. Seeing the woman…it was like something out of a fantasy movie. Hell, he still wasn’t convinced he and the lads hadn’t simply imagined the entire incident. Perhaps, they’d actually been killed and this was Hell.

The thought sobered him, and he glanced up, calculating the distance as he climbed onto the rail, praying he didn’t fall to his death. He reached out his arms, moving them to maintain his balance before launching his body upward, grunting as his hands closed around the lip of the brick. He kicked at the rough stone, using the uneven surface for traction as he slowly pulled his body over the edge until he could swing one leg up to straddle the wall. His breath puffed in small clouds about his face as he worked to get the rest of his body over the barrier, finally swinging his feet onto the asphalt surface. He paused to catch his breath when a gun cocked off to his right.

“You so much as twitch, and I’ll put a bullet through that thick skull of yours. Now, I suggest you keep your hands where I can see them and turn around real slow.”

He tried not to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. Here they were, surrounded by zombies, stuck on a rooftop, and the woman was worried what he might do to her. Just his luck he’d probably stumbled upon the one person left alive who wasn’t looking to get saved.

Colby turned, his gaze clashing with a set of green eyes. They stared back at him, fear flashing in and out of the bright orbs as she shifted restlessly on her feet. But it was the intelligence in her expression that held his attention. A look he hadn’t seen outside of the compound in nearly a year.

She nodded at him, her hands white-knuckled around the gun. “I’ve never seen one of the Gray climb a ladder…not like that. Sometimes they get over the fences, but never a ladder. Not enough coordination, I think. So that leaves only a few possibilities. Either you’re not your typical Gray, only infected or…”

Her voice trailed off, as if speaking the alternative might somehow change the outcome. She tilted her head, scanning the length of his body as she held the rifle against her shoulder. It was impressive, though not the gun he would have chosen for fighting his way through hordes of undead. The M16 was a good long-range weapon, but didn’t have the versatility he liked for close combat. His gaze dropped to her waist, drawing a smile. Twin Berettas graced her hips, the handles within easy reach. The girl was well equipped, he’d give her that much.

Colby motioned to the horde. “I’m not one of them. What did you call them? The Gray?”

She twisted slightly, glancing from the mass back to him. “The Gray…on account of their skin.” She furrowed her brow. “Where the hell have you been? It’s what we all call them.”

“All?” His heart skipped. “There are more? Humans?”

The edges of her mouth tightened before she gave him the slightest shake of her head. “Used to be, but…”

She didn’t finish. She didn’t need to. He knew how the story ended.

She nodded at him again. “Just because you’re not one of them, doesn’t mean you’re not a threat. At least they kill for a reason. I can’t say the same about all humans. Where did you come from?”

“We were kind of hoping you’d tell us the same thing.”

The woman gasped as the voice sounded behind her, and she dropped the rifle, unholstering the two pistols quicker than Colby thought possible before aiming one at him and the other at Darcy. The rifle swayed back and forth at her waist, secured by a strap across her shoulder. She didn’t flinch, just held one hand out toward each of them, her fingers already compressing the triggers.

Darcy spared him a quick glance, one gun pointed toward them. “Easy, now. I’m not going to hurt you.”

She lifted half of her mouth into a mocking smile. “Your gun suggests differently.”

Darcy shrugged. “I’m not the only pointing a pistol, darling.”

She gave them both a wry grin. “I didn’t survive for four-hundred days by being careless, not when it’s two against one.”

“Neither did we.” He glanced at Colby again, then lowered his weapon. “But I’m willing to take the risk if you are.”

She drew a sharp breath, her hands wavering slightly when a shot sounded in the distance followed by shouting. She looked off to her right. “There are more of you?”

Colby pushed to his feet, swinging his rifle off his back. “Damn, that’s Barrett. And if he’s making that much noise, it can’t be good.”

Darcy took off running. The woman stared at Colby for a moment, then cursed, following the other man across the roof. Their footsteps fell in sync as they raced to the other side, stopping at the edge. Colby skidded in behind them, drawn to the man limping down the narrow corridor between the fence and the building. A mass of pale flesh moved behind him in a nauseating line.

Darcy growled, holstering his gun as he reached for his rifle. “Fuck. We gotta move. Now, Colby!” The report echoed off the side of the walls as the closest zombie fell in a pool of blood.

The woman jumped, hitting Darcy across the shoulder. “Are you insane? You’ll only draw more of them.”

“You didn’t seem to have any issues firing off a few rounds over by the fence.”

“I didn’t think I had any backup, and besides, the noise doesn’t echo down there like it does up here. A few more pops from this rooftop, and we’ll be surrounded.”

He spared her a quick glance before dropping another one. “We’ll deal with that later. Right now, Barrett’s safety is all that matters.”

She looked skyward as if searching for divine help before shaking her head. “I agree, but there’s more than one way to help your friend.”

Darcy killed a third, then stared at her. “One more effective than plastering their brains all over the sidewalk?”

“And when fifty more show up, then another fifty?” She looked at Colby. “Come on. There’s another way down. We can cut your man off and head for the tower before they reach us.”

Colby grabbed her as she tried to dart past him. “Tower? What tower?”

“Move now, ask questions later.” She pulled her arm free and took off, her boots clicking on the asphalt.

“Fuck! Darcy, cover Barrett’s ass but don’t fall behind.”

Darcy nodded, unleashing another bullet. Colby ran, catching sight of the woman as she ducked behind an old air-conditioning unit. He picked up his pace, rounding the unit only to stop as the girl jumped, clearing a small gap and landing on an adjacent roof.

“Jesus Christ! Where the hell are you going?”

She didn’t stop, just raced off again, heading for the other end of the roof. He slapped his hand against his leg, then ran, clearing the gap and landing on the other side. He heard Darcy’s footsteps behind him as he took off again, nearly bowling her over when he dashed around the side of another large air vent.

He grabbed her shoulders to prevent taking them both to the ground as he stared at the rope strung around her waist and down her leg. “What the fuck is this?”

She inhaled roughly, one hand fisting around his shirt as she fought to steady herself. The tips of her fingers brushed across his skin, sending a jolt through his chest and straight to his cock, stiffening the damn thing against his pants. He clenched his jaw, knowing she could feel his dick harden against her leg as he held her close. Her eyes widened in surprise as he released her, taking a step back.

He took a steadying breath. “I know what you’re thinking but…” He shook his head. “It’s common for men—”

“We can talk about your erectile issues later. Now are you with me or not?”

“Guess that depends on whether this will save Barrett’s ass or get yours killed.”

She flashed him a smile as she backed up to the edge. “I’m hoping for yes to the first and no to the second. Wait until I reach the ground. It’s not safe for more than one on the rope at a time.”

“Wait…”

He lunged at her, but she jumped off the side, repelling smoothly down the rope.

“Fuck! That girl has more balls than sense.”

A chuckle sounded behind him, and he glanced over his shoulder at Darcy.

Darcy nodded after her. “Sounds like the woman of our dreams. You go next. I’ll cover you.”

Colby grunted, then wrapped the rope around him, following the path down. He landed next to her on the pavement, the sound of groans and thunderous footsteps deadening the impact of his feet on the cement. He untangled the line and moved back, joined by Darcy a few moments later.

The man swung his rifle against his shoulder, motioning to the far bend. “We can grab Barrett at that end of the corridor, but god only knows where we’ll go after that. The Hummer’s in the other direction, and I have no idea if the path’s clear or not.”

“We’ll worry about that once Barrett’s safe.” Colby grabbed the woman’s arm as she tried to dart past him again. “Would you stop running for one bloody second? Now I realize you’ve survived here—without us—for a long time, but so help me god, we did not fight our way in here searching for survivors only to watch the first one we’ve found in months get herself killed. Now either you stay behind me or I swear I’ll toss you over my shoulder and carry you.” He hardened his stare. “Barrett first, then you can tell us about this tower.”

She clenched her jaw but nodded, pointing at the far corner. Colby rushed ahead, slowing as he neared the edge. He pressed his back against the wall, swearing when Goldilocks popped out into the lane, signaling Barrett to hurry.

Colby grabbed her arm and pulled her back, checking Barrett’s progress before turning to her. “Do you have a death wish?”

“We need to know what we’re dealing with. Hiding won’t help your friend.”

“And getting yourself mauled in front of him will kill him just a quickly as the fucking zombies. I said stay behind me, and I meant it.”

Something flashed in her eyes, but he couldn’t tell if it was irritation or gratitude. He turned toward Barrett, dropping two more zombies behind him.

She tugged at his arm. “You’re going to draw the entire horde if you keep shooting that gun.”

“He needs more time.”

“No, he needs not to have to face a hundred of those things once he joins us.”

Colby stared down at her. “A hundred?”

“That’s just a small group. The main horde’s on the other side of the building…the same direction we need to go. We won’t make it to the tower if they block us off.”

“Then we’ll try for the Hummer.”

“Maybe—”

“Fuck!” Darcy joined them at the corner. “Bad news, bro. There’s another group coming in from the other end of this corridor. We need to move, or they’ll block us in.”

Barrett closed in on them, grabbing the arm Colby stretched out toward him. The man all but fell against Colby’s side, blood streaming down his leg. The sight stopped Colby’s heart. God, if Barrett had been bitten…

“Don’t look at me like that.” Barrett punched Colby in the chest. “I cut it jumping through a damn window when they cornered me in one of the other rooms.”

“Can you run?”

“What the fuck do you think I’ve been doing, Colb?”

Colby smiled. Barrett couldn’t be too far gone if he could still joke. “We’ll head for the Hummer. Try to get out and around them at the other end.”

They took off, Colby shouldering most of Barrett’s weight as they ran in the other direction.

Darcy darted ahead, peeking out before waving them back. “There’s too many, too close.”

Colby looked back over his shoulder. The other group stood at the junction, looking around before staring at them. He clenched his jaw, not sure which mass to fight through when the woman shouted at them. He turned in time to see her slamming her shoulder against a door. There was a loud screech then the slab gave way, swinging inward. Shadows filled the view beyond, and he sighed in relief when Darcy caught her before she could step through.

She tugged against his hold. “It’s fine. I have the key.” She held up a small ring with several keys dangling together. “Hurry, before they get here.”

The men charged the doorway and ran inside. Darcy grasped the handle, closing it as the first group reached the threshold. Scarred fingers tried to wrap around the frame, only to land in a heap on the floor as Darcy shoved the door closed, cutting them off. Small wedges of light scattered across the floor from the occasional window, filling the room with a dull glow. Colby looked at the girl, not sure whether to thank her or put her over his lap.

She pointed across the room. “Through here. There’s another door on the same side as the tower. But we’ll have to be quick. With all that racket, they’re sure to keep moving…keep hunting.”

Colby caught her arm. “Can’t we just wait here until they’re gone?”

“And chance a group of them hasn’t broken a window and found another way inside? Trust me, the only safe place is up where they can’t follow.”

“I thought you said it was fine.”

She shrugged. “It’s better than outside. Besides, I have the feeling you wouldn’t have risked it if I’d suggested otherwise.”

“You are something else, sweetheart.” He pointed forward, following her through a maze of hallways until they reached another door. He stopped beside her, motioning for Darcy to check the window off to their left.

“There’s a mass off in the distance, past some kind of structure.”

The woman nodded. “That’s the tower. There used to be an airstrip here, and the old control tower is still standing. Our group barricaded the doors and stacked a bunch of vehicles along one side for when we need to get out undetected. There’s a ladder on this end that provides entry to the cab on top when we’re in a hurry. So far, the Gray haven’t been able to breech the building.”

Colby laughed in absurdity. “You expect me and my men to trap ourselves in a tower in the middle of a god damn open airstrip? Why on earth would anyone with any kind of sanity do that? It’s got to be the worst idea I’ve ever heard of?”

She crossed her arms on her chest, jutting one hip out slightly. “Would you rather go back and face your fans?” She sighed her impatience. “Look. We tried making a go of it in the buildings, but sooner or later a group of the bastards always found a way in. This is the safest place. I’m the one who’s been living here. You’re just going to have to trust me.”

“Trust is a luxury, sweetheart. One we don’t have much of these days.” Colby released a ragged breath. “Fine. We can’t stay here. We’ll head for this tower, but mark my words…as soon as it’s safe enough to leave, we’re out of here. Period.”

Her mouth twitched ever so slightly, but she nodded, looking over at Darcy. The man gave her the ‘all clear,’ and she unlocked the door, yanking it open. A loud metal hiss filled the air, and she cringed as she cleared both sides, then took off, running swiftly across the open pavement. Colby followed after her, carrying Barrett as much as he could while Darcy pulled up the rear, his attention focused behind them. They’d covered half the distance when Darcy jogged up beside him.

“There’s a huge group on our tail. We need to move faster.”

Colby grunted and picked up the pace, feeling Barrett’s bad leg drag slightly. The man moaned but tried to help, limping faster. The girl had raced ahead and now stood waiting at the side of the tower.

She looked in both directions, her fear clearly written across her face. “I thought you guys were Marines or something. Get the lead out!”

Barrett mumbled something under his breath, making Colby smile. Their new member certainly had a way about her. Shots rang out behind him as Darcy started dropping the creatures closest to them.

The woman moved aside, granting him access as she swung her gun to her chest, joining Darcy in the assault. She nodded for him to climb, and he growled in frustration. This wasn’t going at all along the lines he’d envisioned. He muttered obscenities under his breath as he shuffled Barrett over his shoulder and began climbing, willing his feet to move against the added weight. More shots echoed across the open space, and he knew the rest of the horde was on their way.

He moved faster, watching as Darcy shoved her toward the ladder. It looked as if she muttered something to him but started climbing, catching them quickly. Darcy kept firing as he inched up the ladder backward, trying to keep the mass at bay. Colby heard the woman curse before she reached into her jacket pocket.

“Flashbang!”

Her voice sounded above the howling wind and growling voices, and Colby had just enough time to wrap one arm around a rung before the world erupted in a flurry of bright light and deafening sound. His head throbbed from the noise as the flashbang exploded, burning the zombies closest to it and knocking the others down. Darcy groaned but started climbing again, shaking his head when their gazes clashed. Colby sighed and resumed his ascent, cresting the tower’s ledge a few moments later. He placed Barrett on his feet just over the rail, watching as the man tried to steady himself against the side only to slide down the wall and onto his ass. More blood pooled at his feet, drawing Colby’s attention. He vaulted over the railing and knelt at Barrett’s side. The man attempted to push Colby back when he reached for the wound, but Barrett only succeeded in making his breath hiss out through his clenched teeth.

The girl stopped beside them, tapping Colby on the shoulder. “Let’s get your friend inside.” She opened a door and disappeared.

He glanced at Darcy. “Give me a hand.”

Darcy double checked the ladder, then swung his rifle out of the way and took Barrett’s other arm, wrapping it around his shoulder. The two men shuffled through, easing Barrett down against the inside wall. The man grimaced but managed to push himself back a bit. Colby smiled and turned, his smile fading as he stared into the barrel of a rifle. His gaze met hers as her lips curled slightly at the corners.

She nodded at them. “Now, where were we?”

It's here…Zaggora Viva Hot Pants and top!

So...a few weeks ago I admitted I'd done something I don't usually do—I bought clothes for myself. I know...the nerve. But I hate spending money on myself and I hate shopping in general. But, I workout every day and it was time for a change. Now, I didn't buy just any workout clothes, I 'invested' in the Zaggora product line. I know what you're thinking. If you know the product at all, you're probably wondering why I fell for it, but as discussed in another post, I found ways to justify it. And after pricing out other workout stuff, it really wasn't any more expensive. Especially if I wanted a good quality warm/water repelling jacket. Those can easily be 200.00. But when you wear it all the time, you get what you pay for.

Anyway, too late to worry about whether I should have splurged or not...cause much to my surprise, I got my order today! Only ten days after they shipped and a big two weeks after ordering.  Since they came from the UK, that's incredible. I hadn't thought I'd get them for another two weeks, but they're here!

So I did the only thing I could...I tried them on. And with great apprehension I assure you. Mostly because, you have to order these babies sight unseen. You go strictly on measurements, and well, I had this fear that I'd measured all wrong, or that maybe I'd ballooned overnight or something equally odd. But, everything fit perfectly. 

To recap, I ordered the Viva Hot Pants in Yellow...yes YELLOW. I know. But they actually look pretty cute on. I'll post pics of me wearing them later, right now here's them out of the bag. Now do remember if you order these, the sizing is DIFFERENT to the other hot pants. There's no XS so the sizes move up one...so the XS is really a S here, the S a Med... etc. I ordered the medium, wondering if I could really fit what would be a small, lol. But they do stretch and honestly, anything bigger would have been too big. They are snug...you have to pull them up like pantyhose, or at least at first. But by no means are the 'restrictive'. And you want them snug so they work, lol. But man, did they look small out of the bag.

This is the Hot Top 2.0. It's a racer style, which is the only kind I like to wear because it's the best style for holding your parts where they need to be. I did get a bra top by them as well, and wow...it's the nicest workout bra I've ever tried on. It's in yellow too. Not sure if I'll need to wear the bra under the top or if the top will be supportive enough, but good to have it. I did order a small and was really worried it wouldn't fit, as I was close to the upper range, but the panels on the side have lots of give and a medium would have swam on me.

This is their hoodie. And it is, hands down, my favourite piece. I will definitely be running in this all fall and winter. It's so comfy on and with the waterproof hoodie and extended thumb bits...it's awesome. Now, I did jump up a size and get a medium, mostly because I thought wearing this over another shirt and the like (the other Hot Top) I might want extra room. The medium still fits nice. We'll see how it goes over the next little bit.

I'll post on Monday starting measurements (maybe, lol)... or at least update on how it's going. I may chicken out to post exact numbers...but at least I can let folks know if I lost any inches and how many if so. 

Also, I've been eating super clean for the past two weeks, so it's not as if I'll be changing my eating habits. And I'll be working out the same amount, so it'll be a real test to see if the inches come off quicker with this new scientific sportswear. 

The only constant is change…

For those who don't know me, I'm an Apple girl. iMacs, laptops, iPods, iPads, iPhones and a couple of Apple TV's tossed in for good measure...our house is strictly apple. And it wasn't because of the invent of all their cool stuff, either. I was an Apple girl way back when you could 'make' your own computer by them. I still remember helping my brother assemble his first one. You know, back when the Internet was just a series of obscure BBC sites...okay, I'm dating myself.

Anyway, right around the time I received my first contract from Total-e-Bound Publishing, Apple had devised a new web building program. Now I'm not sure exactly how long iWeb had been out, but it was fairly new and something I embraced when said new contract was accompanied by a...oh and you need a website, a blog, a...you get it. For a person who knew nothing about html or CSS or anything else, it was intimidating to think I'd have to create a website...but in true Apple fashion, iWeb turned out to be as easy to use as any of their other products, and before I knew it, I'd made mine, and a few friends' as well. Sure, it had it's limitations, but many of its shortcomings could be overcome with the prowess of Google. Folks far more savvy than I found ways around most issues, and honestly, I thought iWeb was the best thing since chocolate.

Then the unthinkable happened. Apple decided not to continue developing iWeb and for the last few years, it's been by sheer luck that all the system upgrades haven't rendered the program unusable. As it stands, you can still create and publish with it...but the logical part of me knows that I'm living on borrowed time. That at some point, I'll upgrade my system software and bang, I'll be without a web building program. Oh, the site as it stands would be fine...it would still continue to work as it's already loaded on the server, but what happens when I have a new book release? Or needed to make some other kind of change? I'd be stuck.

So, for the past few months (well, years really but there's been nothing I could really get a handle on, lol) I've been searching for a new program. One that allows me to create sites from scratch and doesn't limit me to themes or building blocks or only pages in the colour blue. I tried Sandvox, but it was limiting. I tried Flux, but damn, it didn't make any sense to me and while I managed to build a site on it for a friend, I'd be hard pressed to make any changes now.  I can't remember anything.

There's another issue as well. Since iWeb was released, the marvel known as the iPhone was become a reality. Which presents a new set of problems...now websites need to be responsive—change with different screen sizes and be optimized for mobile devices. iWeb and other web programs don't achieve this. They merely shrink the page to fit the situation. And if you have anything with flash on it, forget it Those slideshows won't show up on any iPhone like device.

Then my brother sent me links for a couple of promising programs—Easyweb and Webflow. At first I thought they were basically the same type of web program, but I've discovered they are vastly different. Easyweb is the best recreation of iWeb I've ever seen, only it's better. All those tricks I had to implement are mostly built in to Easyweb. It really is a drag and drop web builder with the ability to use code if you want to. One minor flaw...it's only in the Beta form today. But it's definitely promising. The only thing I see limiting with this program is that it's not currently mobile responsive. I believe (and I could be wrong) that it's like iWeb in the way it only shrinks the site...you can't alter it specifically for a mobile device. That's where Webflow is unique.

Webflow is still essentially drag and drop but it builds responsive sites in CSS code (but you don't need to know any). And what's fantastic about it...you can optimize your layout for each device. So you design the laptop view, then when you click to the tablet view, you can change font size and layout so it looks how you want on the tablet size. Then again for the phone. So you can remove parts that don't make sense on a certain layout or shift them around. It's really quite spectacular.

Now the one downfall...it's just newly released and at present, doesn't support multiple pages. And well, I need more than a single page, lol. But the next big update promises to correct this issue. The hard part—waiting.

Anyway, here is a sneak peak at the design of my new website...I really with I could make it all now! 

This first image is the laptop view... you can't see all of it, sorry...

This is the tablet view...

And this is the phone, landscaped view. You can also adjust for portrait...

I'd love to hear any thoughts, or what program you use to build your site.

Deadly Deception—I think I finally finished a series…

Okay, so this book has been available for…well, a while. I know. Again, I've sucked at the whole blogging thing. I have great intentions, but alas, they go in the crapper once I sit down to my laptop. Actually, my motivation has pretty much disappeared, other than to watch endless old movies and TV shows. But I digress…

So, for those of you who don't know me that well, I have a few series going. Actually, I have quite a few. Didn't start out that way, and I honestly didn't really plan on having any. I tend to get quite tied to my characters, so the thought of writing a book that involves a brother, friend, whatever, was hard for me to fathom. But somewhere along the line, I ended up with more than a couple. There's just one tiny thing…I'VE NEVER FINISHED ONE!

Now, for my own defence, not all of it is because I'm lazy or don't want to. I've discovered that while series are great, you can't just pop out one book after another. It tends to stagnate you as a writer, and pinholes you to that single genre. So, I've tried to write one or two, then take a break and write something else. Of course, if that 'something else' is another series, well you end up having an endless amount of almost finished series on the go.

Well, sound the horns, folks. Grab that confetti and get those angels singing because after a couple of years, I've finally finished the 'Til Death series. Now, this series is different to my others, as in it's really only tied together by theme. Other than some reoccurring secondary characters, the main heroes and heroines aren't related. This is probably because it was also the first series I ever tried, lol. The others I have, like Between the Veils (my ghost series) or Dark Horizon (my sci-fi one) have characters that play roles in more than one book and/or are related. 'Til Death breaks these rules.

Nevertheless, I'm thrilled at having actually completed a series. And each book in this one is a super novel. So they aren't short, quick reads. You'd best grab a coffee and settle in because these babies will take a while to read. But they are in one of my favourite genres—thriller/suspense.

The other two books in the series are Deadly Vision ~ book 1, and Deadly Obsession ~ book 2. They all involve couples whose romance is either on the brink of disaster or long since dead and buried. But like the series name suggests, some things go beyond the words spoken in the heat of the moment, and refuse to go quietly into that dark night. So without further ado, here's both the series blurb and the book blurb as well as a quick excerpt.

Series Theme:

‘Til Death do us part…

Who knew one small vow could hold so much power—or be so hard to keep. Bound by duty, it’ll take more than just fancy words to bring our couples back together, let alone keep them alive. And when the hunters become the hunted, will love be enough to guarantee they live happily ever after? Or will death break more than a promise… 

Book Blurb:

Special Agent Mallory Reeves knows there must be a logical explanation for the body uncovered in a back alley of Seattle’s urban district. The markings, the pose, the evidence—it all points to one man—John Davies. But seeing as Davies was just executed for his crimes, the new case appears to be the work of a ghost. Unfortunately, Davies isn’t the only invisible man in Mallory’s life. Just her luck, the Bureau wants another agent added to the team, one who worked the original case. And it’s no coincidence it’s Sawyer Kent—her estranged husband.

Special Agent Sawyer Kent has a lot of questions and few answers, including if he’s even got a shot at regaining the affections of the woman he loves. It seems a feat more impossible than the case they’re working, especially since it doesn’t look as if Mallory’s in the mood to welcome him back home. But when the killer starts evolving, adding nuances to his crimes that are aimed directly at Mallory, Sawyer’s left with only one course of action. Find the bastard before she becomes his next victim.

Excerpt:

Chapter One

“You know, Mallory, if you don’t stop fussing with your shirt, I won’t be the only person in this room who knows that just being here is making your skin crawl.”

Special Agent Mallory Reeves gritted her teeth as she released the fabric, glaring at her partner over her shoulder. Agent Cole Stevens smiled back at her, giving her a wink. Damn the man. Sometimes he was simply too cocky for his own good.

She turned to face him, allowing her shoulders to rest against the wall behind her. “Are you honestly going to stand there and tell me you enjoy being here?” She waved her hand at the small crowd gathered in the stuffy room. “It’s like a fucking morgue.”

“It’s an execution. It’s supposed to feel like a morgue. It’s also one of the quickest turnarounds in history. I still can’t believe Davies refused to appeal, if for nothing more than to drag this out longer. He could have easily spent the next decade in prison.”

“Davies is sick. Nothing about him surprises me.” She huffed, glancing at the people sitting in the front row. “And justified or not, his death won’t bring them the peace they’re hoping for.”

“Maybe not. But sometimes closure is enough.”

She swung her gaze back to Cole. “Would it be enough for you?”

“If it’d been my daughter that bastard had raped and killed?” He shook his head,

stuffing his hands in his pockets. “I would have found a way to pull the trigger myself. But it wasn’t, and I didn’t let it get personal with this creep.” He tilted his head slightly, letting his focus drop towards her ribcage. “I think the real question is...will it be enough for you?”

Mallory shrugged, trying to ignore the way the scar below her right ribs ached suddenly. “He stabbed me, Cole. He didn’t rape me, or kill anyone I loved.”

Cole gave her another smug smile. “Right. You didn’t lose anything over this case but a litre or two of blood.”

She cursed under her breath as he turned towards the covered window centred on the far wall. He obviously knew better than to mention Sawyer’s name, but there was no mistaking the insinuation, and no denying the sudden flutter in her heart at the thought of her estranged husband.

Husband. How bloody ironic.

A secret wedding followed by an equally secret separation. And she didn’t even remember the first part. But to make matters worse, while they’d been lovers for months, they’d never truly consummated their marriage, not to mention the fact she hadn’t said more than a few heated words to him since he’d jumped ship two years ago, taking his life and her heart with him. And all because of that one night... That one miscalculation that had not only ended the case but had nearly cost Mallory her life.

She released a slow breath but couldn’t stop from searching the crowd again— reassuring herself he wasn’t there. Though she felt certain he’d received the same notice, she’d known from the start he wouldn’t make an appearance. Not here. Not for this.

Cole tapped her shoulder, motioning towards the window again. A low hiss of static sounded over the PA system, followed by the tell-tale scrape of metal on metal as the curtains pulled apart, casting a bright glare into the room. Just her luck that Washington State had finally caved to judicial pressure and allowed full disclosure of the event instead of the usual précised version. She could have handled having the bastard already strapped to the gurney with the IVs hooked up.

A hushed whisper rippled through the crowd as a set of large silver doors opened and a lone prisoner was escorted into the cubicle, his white scrubs nearly florescent in the harsh light. He looked exactly as she remembered him—long black hair slicked back from his face, deep lines around his mouth and across his forehead and the coldest grey eyes she’d ever seen. Every time she’d caught his gaze it’d been like looking at death.

John Davies shuffled to a halt, a cruel smile twisting his lips as he surveyed the gathering of people seated behind the glass. His gaze found hers and his smile flourished, flashing a set of crooked teeth. He didn’t hide his contempt, just stared at her, eyes narrowed, his hands clenched into fists in front of him. She held his stare, vowing he’d be the first to look away. The unspoken challenge lasted several seconds until one of the guards pushed him forward, making him stumble slightly. He glared at the man over his shoulder, pulling his lips into a snarl, but the guard merely shrugged, angling Davies towards the gurney.

A cold fist settled in her stomach as she watched him climb onto the crisp, white sheets, his sadistic smile still firmly in place. Emotions she couldn’t quite understand roiled through her, and she fought the sudden urge to run. She’d promised Cole, and her boss, she’d make an appearance—show Davies he hadn’t beaten her—but as the guards reached for the straps at his wrists, tightening the leather bands around the thin expanse of flesh, she wasn’t sure she could stay.

Mallory held her ground, trying to keep her focus on the event unfolding inside the sterile room, but she could feel a dark weight pressing down on her. She forced in a few quick breaths, not meeting Cole’s gaze when he glanced at her, worry creasing his face. He mumbled something she didn’t hear, turning to face her just as her cell rang. The hard beat of the music echoed through the silent room, drawing several disapproving glares. She winced, muttering an apology to Cole as she pulled the phone free and headed for the double doors just off to her left.

“Reeves.”

“Mallory. Fisher. Sorry to call. I know the timing sucks.”

Mallory inhaled a much-needed breath as the door shut behind her, blocking out the

last of her thoughts about Davies. Some of the tension eased from her shoulders as she leaned against the wall beside the closed door, thankful for the unexpected reprieve. “Actually, your timing is perfect. What’s up?”

A heavy sigh sounded on the other end, followed by an eerie silence.

She pushed off the wall, trying to ignore the rash of goose bumps that prickled down her arm. “Fisher?”

“We’ve got a body—Harbor Street—and...you really need to see this.”

Mallory frowned just as the door whooshed open, nearly knocking her over. She looked across her shoulder as Cole stopped and stared at her, his face clearly displaying his concern. He moved to her other side.

“You do realise we’re four hours away, right? Can’t someone else field it?”

“I’m more than aware of where you are, but, the body, it’s... Shit. You gotta see this to believe it. You, not another agent. And bring Cole. You’re gonna need him. I’ll wait for you two.” Fisher breathed heavily into the phone again. “And Mal...this can’t wait. Hell, it might already be too late.”

“Too late? Fisher?” The line went dead. Her frown intensified as she pulled the cell away and shoved it in her pocket. It wasn’t Fisher’s style to be so cryptic, which meant she wasn’t going to like whatever was waiting for her.

Cole motioned to her. “Care to share, or were you unhappy with the company in there?”

Mallory huffed, ignoring his dig. “Fisher wants us down at Harbor Street...something about a body we need to see. He says it’s urgent.”

Cole resisted her nudge, glancing back at the closed door. “We came for a reason, Mallory. Fisher can wait until we’re done here. These things usually don’t take more than half an hour, unless something goes wrong. And despite what he thinks, the body isn’t going anywhere.” He gave her a slow sweep. “Unless there’s another reason you don’t want to go back in?”

She scoffed, taking a few steps away. “As far as I’m concerned, the bastard’s already dead. I don’t need to watch him squirm.”

“No. But those families in there might. Hell, we didn’t come all this way just to back out at the last moment.” His footsteps sounded behind her a moment before his fingers closed around her wrist. “You promised.”

She glanced at his hand then drew her gaze up to his. “And you promised you’d respect my decision.” She sighed, looking over at the door. “You know how I feel about...” She waved at it. “This. About him.”

Cole pulled his lips into a thin line, apparently not missing the way she trembled slightly beneath his touch. “You could just admit you can’t stand to look at him. To remember what happened that night. No one expects you to forget.”

“No. But they expect me to continue to do my job, which becomes strangely difficult where he’s concerned. That... Watching that isn’t my job. Catching his ass was. A new case, however...”

“So you’re not going to admit it?”

She flashed him what she hoped was a stunning smile. “And ruin your badass image of me? Not a chance.”

She pulled her arm free and took two more steps before his voice sounded behind her again, stopping her in her tracks.

“I couldn’t help but notice Sawyer didn’t rearrange his life to be here, either. Are you sure this doesn’t have anything to do with that?”

She cringed inwardly at the tone of Cole’s voice. He wasn’t holding back this time.

She glanced at him. “We both knew he wasn’t coming.”

“Maybe. But I think you hoped he was...for support. Surely he knew how hard this was

going to be for you.”

She laughed, shaking her head as she turned to face Cole. “Not as hard as facing me would have been for him. And even I know this isn’t the place for that kind of reunion. But I figure since he can pull the invisible man routine, so can I.” She motioned at the stairwell off to her right. “Now are you coming, or are you going back in there to watch a dead man die?”

Cole scoffed, nodding at her as they headed for the exit. “Fine. But if anyone asks, I’m blaming Fisher.”

Lightning flickered in the sky as Mallory pulled into the narrow alleyway, parking her black Jeep beside one of the cruisers. Red and blue lights reflected off the rain, bathing the street with a strobe-like glow. Yellow tape blocked the way, enclosing the area in a familiar box she’d seen far too many times. They’d driven straight, the long trip unusually quiet. Cole had muttered a few token words, but it was obvious he wasn’t pleased with her decision to ditch the execution.

She sighed. Just thinking about the creep made her shiver, though she’d never admit that to Cole, or anyone else for that matter. Davies was a weakness she needed to put behind her, and the sooner, the better.

Cole grumbled something under his breath about the weather ruining his leather jacket and the slew of cop cars blocking the road as he opened the door and stepped out, turning his collar up against the chill. Mallory followed, glancing up at the dark sky. April was usually one of her favourite months, but tonight, it had a desolate quality to it that made her feel lonely.

She sighed and followed after Cole, ducking beneath the tape as she made her way over to Fisher. He stood amidst a group of cops, a black sheet at his feet. She gave the covered body a quick glance, knowing just by the size and shape it had to be a woman, or worse, a teenage kid. The police officers turned as she stopped behind them, their faces clearly questioning her presence. She raised her badge and pushed through to Fisher, ignoring the looks the other men gave her.

“What’s so important? While I don’t mind your timing, I’m definitely going to catch shit over leaving the execution early.”

Fisher nodded, murmuring a quick, “Hey,” to Cole when the man rounded the sheet and stopped on Fisher’s other side.

He pointed at the body. “In this particular case, I think the body will speak for itself.” He knelt down and pulled back the cover, revealing bare, pale limbs and patches of pooled blood. “I also think this is going to make ‘catching shit’ seem a little less important.”

Mallory drew a deep breath as she stared at the body—a young woman, no more than twenty-two, with blonde hair and even features. She looked more athletic than most, with firm limbs and a lean torso. But it was the pose that held Mallory’s attention. Legs bent to one side with her arms raised over her head, the victim looked like a cheerleader jumping in the air.

The image hit Mallory hard, and she couldn’t stop from taking a step back. Her gaze skirted over the body, unerringly going to every detail without hesitation—the ligature marks around her neck, the imprint of rope on her wrists and ankles, the trail of blood down her inner thighs. The only new element was a four-inch wound on the woman’s right side, just below her ribcage.

Mallory shook her head. “Dear God.” She circled around to her left, looking for more evidence, certain the one answer screaming in her head couldn’t be correct. “From the look of the body, she’s only been dead eight or nine hours... This... It can’t...”

She looked away, staving off the sudden rush of emotions. She was obviously missing something—something that pointed this murder in a completely logical direction. It simply couldn’t be what it appeared.

A hand settled on her shoulder, drawing her back from her thoughts. She glanced up, looking into Cole’s dark brown eyes. They held the same disbelief she suspected hers did.

She took a deep breath, knowing he was waiting for her to speak but aware there wasn’t anything to say. “It can’t... I mean... Shit!”

Fisher moved over to her. “I had a feeling you might feel that way.” He turned towards the dead girl. “Confusing as hell, really.”

Mallory gave herself a mental shake. “There’s bound to be a rational explanation for this. Obviously, we’re dealing with a copycat here.”

Cole huffed behind her as he knelt beside the body. “This ain’t a fucking copycat and you know it, Mal. Look at the way the sash is tied around her waist. It’s identical to the other twelve victims...same knot, same way he tucked the ends back underneath the fabric. We never released that information to the press.”

“Shit gets out, Cole. You know that as well as I do. Someone could have shared that bit of information without us being any the wiser. Besides, the other victims didn’t have a knife wound below their ribs.”

Cole’s gaze clashed with hers, his expression sending icy chills down her spine.

He motioned towards her. “You mean the same kind of wound you have? In exactly the same place? No, they didn’t. But that just confirms our hunch. The bastard added that to mess with you...end of story.”

Malloy sighed, palming her hands on her hips. “Okay. Let’s say for one minute this isn’t a copycat. Care to tell me how in the hell John Davies murdered this woman when he was fucking killed just hours ago by lethal injection?” She threw up her hands as she stalked around the body, shaking her head. “What the hell, man? How did he pull it off? He’s been on death row for the last eighteen months. Let me guess...wormhole?”

Cole pushed to his feet as she stopped in front of him. “Damn it, Mal. I’m as angry and shocked as you, but you can’t look at this woman and tell me her death isn’t the work of that fucking psychopath.” He held up a hand when she scoffed at him. “I don’t have a goddamn clue how he pulled it off, but I’m certain of one thing. Nothing good is going to come from this investigation.”

Mallory stared at the dead woman, Cole’s words echoing in her head. She could deny it as much as she wanted, but he was right. Somehow John Davies had claimed another victim. 

Shit my kids say part 5...

Okay, so if you know me at all, you'll know I don't tend to take life too seriously. Actually, I'm one of those people that jokes—all the time, and yes, even at times when I probably shouldn't. It's like that line from the Bare Naked Ladies song... I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral...

So I'm certain it's no surprise that sarcasm is huge with me. I know, I should probably have tried harder to shun my kids from one of my few virtues (see, there it is again) but alas, I guess I won't be winning mother of the year again this year. Needless to say, my kids have picked it up nicely. Here is a brief example with my youngest son, Jared...

Background info… I'm laying on my bed, on my stomach reading on my iPad, 'cause yeah, that's comfy, when a weird noise sounds outside. I wonder if the garbage truck is coming or maybe they're sweeping the roads. Jared is sitting in a chair mumbling about me needing to let him have the super nice work chair—right, like I don't know the boys will trash it. And here's the quick conversation…

Me: What's the hell is that noise outside?

Jared: (Looks out the window) It's a truck.

Me: What's it doing?

Jared: (gives me that teenage boy exasperated look) It's moving.

Me: You're an ass.

Jared: Love you, too.

Me: You have learned well, young padawon… my work here is nearly complete.

This is my life. And yes, I was proud:)

Shit my kids say part 4…

Okay. If I've learned anything over the past year or so, it's that teenage boys are the funniest creatures alive. The stuff they say…while often not politically correct is generally pee your pants worthy. And seeing as I tend to have numerous teenage boys at my house, I'm never at a loss for something to laugh at.

Scenario. We driving home from the movies. A friend of the boys came along and his dad was picking him up. Now the kid's old enough I didn't need to babysit him while he was waiting for his lift, being summer it's still light out with lots of families milling around the theatre and his dad was going to be there in five so...we headed off. Yeah, I felt a bit guilty but this kid was all... please go. I'm old enough to sit on a bench for five minutes in daylight. He had a point.

Anyway, we're driving home and stop at a by-pass road for a red light. The traffic light that's currently green turns yellow, but I see this beige truck gun it to make it through the light. I'm thinking... wow, that guy's pushing his luck. And sure enough it's red by the time he enters the intersection. Well I damn near die when I see the kid's dad, Mike, turning left in the same intersection as this truck speeds through. I swear to god they missed hitting each other by mere inches.

I totally gasp and say... oh my god. And here's the conversation from there.

Jared: What's wrong? 

Me: Did you see that? Mike totally just missed getting hit by that truck.

Kyle: Yeah, I saw that. He was pretty lucky. That was really close.

Me: I was just thinking, man that guy is lucky we're stopped or he might get hit and damn, he just about got Mike. He really would have gotten T-boned.

It's quiet for a few seconds before Kyle sighs and turns to me, shaking his head...

Kyle: Now, if we've learned anything from those Final Destination movies it's that in two weeks, that same truck is going to get Mike when the guy misses another turn and drives straight through Mike's living room wall. Poor Mike…

I damn near peed my pants. Yes, that's my boy. But he continues...

Kyle: I think they have too many of those movies. Final Destination 87 really disappointed me. The acting just wasn't there. And it's like they know it's coming for some reason.

I'm still laughing at this point...

Jared: Yeah, it's like the Saw movies. Saw 15…It's going to be like a five minute movie. The scary guy traps all these old people and says "Want to play a game?" They all scream then he breaks out the Chinese Checkers...and it fades to black.

Yes, these are my children. It didn't get any better for the rest of the ride home...