Pride & Prejudice & Zombies

I'm a long time of fan of the Jane Austen original and a more recent fan of the film based on this book, and was curious how true the film was to the book.

Zombies has been on my To Read list a long time and finally my book club picked it, giving me the perfect excuse to move it to the top of the queue. I did the majority of reading in one day.

The film makes a departure in the plot revolving around Wickham. Both the book and film are good in their own rights.

I enjoyed the book from start to finish and wasn't the least bit disgusted by the zombies, heart eating, or vomit, which made appearances in the story.

Lizzy and Jane are the same as ever. I appreciated the improvement of Mary's character. Absolutely loved the proposal scene and Lizzy's fight with Lady Catherine. Wickham's take down at the end in regards to the marrige worked for me. Lydia, is as ever, an idiot. The most interesting liberty was taken in regards to Charlotte's story line. So sad.

I'd be happy to read a continuation of this tale. Or other monster renditions of Ms. Austen's books.

Amazon

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.” 

So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a bold reimagining of Jane Austen’s classic novel. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life. Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. 

What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the bloodsoaked battlefield. Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is an audacious retelling of English literature’s most enduring novel.

Bus Driver Diaries

This is a novella of vingnettes of Mr. Anderson's experiences as a rural bus driver.

It's an enjoyable glimpse into a driver's point of view on kids who ride the bus. The ups, downs, white knuckle moments, and funny moments.

A short fast read. Perhaps he will share a follow up in the future that will bring more tales of bus delight.

Amazon

Some cars, not very many, still have radios that are tuned by a dial. If the dial is turned fast, voices and music quickly resolve and then disappear in fragments. A practiced ear can get a sense of what the fragment of sound was about. Being a bus driver is much like turning the radio dial. Instead of sounds, faces flash past giving a momentary glimpse into a child’s day or life. It isn’t much of a glimpse; it is just enough to make me care. 
“Faces Like Music” from Bus Driver Diaries 


After fifteen years traveling the world in the high tech industry, Tory Anderson found himself driving his first busload of kids. What started as an act of desperation turned into a life changing experience that led to courage he was lacking, and love he didn’t know he had. 

Bus Driver Diaries puts you in the driver’s seat with Tory to experience the world that unfolds on a bus in-between school and home. Amid the noise and frustration you will find a world of beauty, wonder, and humor. After reading this book, every sighting of a school bus will bring a smile to your face.

Vocal Crush WON a RONE!!!

Vocal Crush won a 2016 RONE award for 
Best Contemporary Sweet Romance!!!

I'm super grateful to have my efforts recognized by In D'Tale Magazine and a hefty piece of glass to set on my desk. :)

My trip to Burbank to the In D'Scribe Con was a new experience and education in the various genres of romance authors write. I had the opportunity to attend some excellent classes and meet some wonderful writers. Romance genres don't create boundaries, people do. I roomed with some amazing women, Lindzee Armstrong and Jaclyn Weist. Both are excellent authors. Go get their books!

Lindzee Armstrong

Jaclyn Weist

I wore a fantastic costume to the first ball. I added the wig and mask for pennies. Thank goodness all the stores are stocked with Halloween fare!

And my little black dress to the second. Where I got snagged by Debra Holland to pose with the male models. That is a story all it's own.

These people are serious about their parties. I dressed up every night. The last night was the black tie/red carpet affair: The RONE Gala.

I took a pic with the sweetest writer: Rachel Jones. She is truly a Georgia Peach!

And that's when I became an award winning author. I hope that doesn't give me writer's block!

I had the opportunity to share this moment with my sister whom I hadn't seen in 9 years as we live on opposite coasts. Love this woman! She inspires me.

I loved having 4 days to spend in San Diego with her and her family after the conference. I hope it won't be 9 years before I see them again.


It's time to gear up for National Novel Writing Month aka NaNo in the writing community. Not sure I'm going to succeed this year with so many days unavailable to write for really good reasons: family.

Plus, I'm having trouble deciding what to write about! More contemporary? A series? Regency? A modern twisted fairytale? So many options! Time to pick one and get outlining.

Please submit my latest book, On the Corner of Heartache and Love, for a Whitney Award:

Whitney Nomination

Thanks for all the support!

Magnus Chase

I haven't read all the of the series written by Mr. Riordan, but this book might be my favorite so far.

How can you not like a book when the hero is dead during most of it? The afterlife isn't all it's cracked up to be. Poor Magnus. What a crazy quest he undertakes to learn about himself and his parents. Not to mention save the world.

Expect the usual level of writing by Mr. Riordan, with an extra helping of snarky funny. Love the characters and witicisms.

Add it to your To Read List. Once you start you won't want to put it down.

Amazon

Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother's mysterious death, he's lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers.

One day, he's tracked down by an uncle he barely knows-a man his mother claimed was dangerous. Uncle Randolph tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god.

The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years.

When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision.

Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die . . .

Reversal Zone Blog Tour & Giveaway!

J. Grace Pennington has published four science fiction novels. They each
have a unique bent to them, but this one is very different. Each book
is a standalone, but as with any series, you get more of the story if
you read them all in order. In Reversal Zone, the main character, Andi Lloyd, becomes the only one who can save the ship and crew. Can she do it in time?

About the Book

Nothing is as it should be.

After weeks of boredom, Andi is excited when the Surveyor is called upon
to rescue a freighter that mysteriously vanished in uncharted space.  Excitement quickly turns to unease when the
ship encounters an unknown phenomenon—a cloud that appears not to exist.  But with the freighter's crew in danger, the Surveyor
has no choice but to venture into unknown territory.

As soon as they enter the cloud, its unstable effects wreak havoc on the
ship.  They're flying blind.  Every piece of equipment is
malfunctioning.  And every member of the
crew is unable to think straight or act like themselves—except Andi.

Now she's expected to guide them through the predicament with no previous
command experience and no one to turn to for support.  And with each passing hour, it becomes clear
that if they don't escape the cloud soon—they won't escape it at all.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LZV1ILB

About the Author

J. Grace Pennington has been telling stories since she could
talk, and writing them down since age five.
Now she lives in the great state of Texas, where she writes as much as
adult life permits.  When she’s not
writing, she enjoys reading good books, playing movie soundtracks on the piano,
and looking up at the stars.

You can find out more about her writing at www.jgracepennington.com.

Giveaway

Grace is generously offering three prizes. A signed copy of

each of her three previous novels in the series. They are each standalone
stories, but they are also connected. If you would like to read more about
them, you can read about them here: Radialloy, In His Image, Machiavellian.

To enter the giveaway, please fill out this form.

Tour Schedule 

Friday, October 7

Bookish
Orchestrations-Tour Introduction

Fathers
and Sons-Sports and Life-Guest Post

The Destiny of One-Guest
Post

Perpetual
Gardener, Writer, and Mormon-Excerpt

Rebekah Lyn Books-Author
Interview

Saturday, October
8

Shout outs-Guest
Post

Author Franky A Brown-Excerpt

Shire Reviews-Book
Review

Sunday, October 9

Letters
from Annie Douglass Lima-Excerpt

Zerina
Blossom's Books-Excerpt

Monday, October 10

Rachel Rossano's
Words-Excerpt and Guest Post

In the
Bookcase-Excerpt and Book Review

Writings,
Ramblings, and Reflections-Book Review

Tuesday, October
11

The
Abrahamic Adventures-Book Review

The
Overactive Imagination-Excerpt

Morgan Elizabeth
Huneke-Book Review

Lisa Swinton
Queen of Random-Excerpt

Wednesday, October
12

Bookish
Orchestrations-Giveaway Winner

Excerpt #3

When I reached the bridge, the whiteness of the windows startled me.  There wasn't a cloudy quality to it anymore—other than a couple of faint bright spots, it was just pure, milky white.

I was also surprised to find the Captain slouching back in his chair.  I'd never seen him sit like that before, except in total defeat.

“Second medical officer on the bridge.”

The Captain sat up and turned around.  “Need something?”

I stared at him for a moment.  As with Crash, his posture was odd and so was his tone.  But I went on.

“There's something I need to tell you.”

“All right, tell me.”  He sat back again.

I looked around at the other bridge officers, who were all staring at me.

“Do you... want to go to your lounge or something?”

“No, go ahead, tell me.”

I hesitated.  I didn't love the idea of talking about the radialloy in front of people I wasn't close with.  But an order was an order—and they all knew about it, anyway.

“Tell me, tell me,” he insisted, waving his hand as if brushing away a speck of dust.

“Well... you remember the radialloy, sir...”

“You might need to speak up a little.”

I cleared my throat and went on.  “The... the radialloy, sir.  You remember that?”

“The... oh, right.  Yes, of course.”

This wasn't right.  I stared into his eyes and they looked—dull.  Flat.  Not alert and intent as they usually were on a mission.

“I... well, my knee started hurting a little when we entered the cloud.”

“Oh, I'm sorry.”

The silence around us was so thick that every system beep or blip seemed to slice it.  I sucked in a deep breath.  He was sorry?  That was all?

“I thought... the Doctor thought... the cloud might be making it hurt.  I thought you might be able to figure something out about it... I...”  I stopped, feeling a little queasy from the attention and awkwardness.  All seven pairs of eyes were fixed on me.

“Harrison!  Can't you see the girl's trying to help?  Why don't you sit up and pay some attention?”

I froze.  That could not be who it sounded like.

It sounded like Guilders.

Guilders never raised his voice, he never called the Captain “Harrison” on the bridge, and he had never, ever called me “the girl.”

“Mr. Guilders, I realize that Andi is trying to help.  I'm listening to her.  That should satisfy you.”  The words were calm, slow, and casual.

“Captain!”  I took half a step forward, willing him to understand.

He blinked, looked at me, and sat up a bit straighter.  “Hold on... wait...”  He held up both hands, fingers stiffly separated.  “Wait now.  Something's wrong.”

He looked over at Guilders, who lowered his bushy eyebrows and relaxed his shoulders slightly.

“Something... something isn't right.”  He stared at me again.  “Andi.  The cloud is making your knee hurt?”  His eyes were alert now, but confusion furrowed his eyebrows.

“Yes sir.”

“I... I think that...”  He pressed a hand to his forehead.  “Ugh.  I think... that's helpful.  Thank...”  He stood up and stumbled to one side a step.

“Captain?”  Guilders jumped up but he also stumbled.

The Captain kept a hand pressed to his head.  “I... Guilders, what's...”  He shook his head, hard, several times.  “I can't think, I don't...”

The lights dimmed, then brightened, then dimmed again.  I backed towards the door, watching as the Captain blinked and tapped his head with the palm of his hand.

“I... can't... I don't...”

The lights flickered again, and I looked around.  Ralston and Yanendale both had their hands pressed against their heads, and August had gone even paler than usual.  Whales and Mr. Orstin had both slumped back in their chairs and their eyelids were drooping.

“I...” the Captain said one last time, then he wavered and dropped to the floor.

“Captain!” I cried.

Guilders dropped next, falling into his chair and hitting his head on the console in front of him.  I winced, and watched in shock as August collapsed, rolling out of his chair onto the floor.  Yanendale slumped over his console, motionless, Ralston went limp and fell against the wall, and Whales and Orstin's arms dropped and their eyes closed.

The lights dimmed, then flickered off, then red blinking lights illuminated everything, alarms sounded, and I was left on the bridge, alone, with seven unconscious men.