Book Launch . . . TUNNEL is up on Amazon!

Hazzah!!!

It's up! It's published! TUNNEL is available on Amazon for kindle and print. It's very exciting. Below is the cover and the blurb.

Check it out HERE :)

Oh and almost forgot to say, as from tomorrow and the next 5 days, it's totally FREE so grab a copy while you can...

TUNNEL

The London Underground, a convenient way to commute, with miles of tunnels weaving their way beneath the city – but with many of these tunnels now unused and abandoned, a whole new world unknown to the people above has evolved below the streets.

Mike travels the Underground every day for work, battling rush hour crowds all taking the same journey day in day out. He follows the unspoken underground etiquette every time, with his music playing in his ears and the avoidance of eye contact, and no one says a word as they routinely travel the tedious path life has given them.

An evening of working late means Mike misses these rush hour crowds. The platform at nine o clock in the evening is sparse of people, and the train car he boards offers plenty of seats. He settles down, listening to his music and preparing to travel the same journey taken hundreds of times before, only this time the journey offers something different, and as the train stops, trapping everyone beneath the streets, he realises they are not alone.

Something else, something terrifying, is lingering in the shadows of the Tunnel…

Zombie Evacuation Race . . .

http://zombieevacuation.com/

I had such a fun weekend.

Saturday 25th October meant Zombie Evacuation Race for us.  It was a 5k obstacle fun run with a twist to raise money for charity.  I didn't run (have you seen me run?  I'd probably frighten the zombies away) but I did join the 200 odd zombie volunteers that plagued the route, leaping out and scaring the terrified runners trying desperately to keep hold of their life tags.  They each got five on a belt and we had to steal them.  If you had at least one left by the time you crossed the finish line then you survived.  Those with none were infected.

The whole atmosphere of the day was brilliant.  Even the people working there were in army gear and protective lab suits.  Everyone was friendly and we all got goody bags at the end of the day.  Everyone loves a freebie :)  There were four in our party in total; one runner (running by herself as her boyfriend hurt his back and so had to pull out last minute.  She was terrified) and the rest of us zombies.

There were different zombie levels you could choose from.  The LIMPERS such as those from the Walking Dead who limp around certain areas in order to make you jump, or the CHASERS from the likes of 28 Days Later and WWZ who sprint after you in the Fast Zones.  And then there were zombies in between.  I was a Gorger who mingled with the Limpers, and I claimed a place between a narrow section in the path.  I crouched beside a log and hung between a V-shaped tree in my blood stained PJs, reaching out for passer-bys, and because it was a narrow section they had no choice but to squeeze past me whilst giving off high-pitched squeals (and that was mainly the men).

Make up artists were available to give you the full effect and some people looked utterly terrifying.  It was a non-contact event but we were warned that occasionally runners get so involved and so terrified that their natural reaction may take over and they may hit out.  My arm was slapped out the way a good few times, but nothing major.  However, I managed to witness this fear first hand when a women saw me, screamed, and in an attempt to get out of my reach ran head-first into the tree opposite.  She collapsed in a heap in front of me and I had no idea what to do.  Luckily the person she was running with stopped and helped her, and I managed to find her in the medical tent after the event to ask if she was okay.  She was.  She had a slight concussion though.  However, one person obviously didn't think I was scary and patted me on the head as he run past.  I had to laugh.

The day was brilliant though.  I don't know about the US or around the world, but these events run a couple of times every year in the UK, and so if you're interested, keep an eye out on their website or like them on facebook for updates on when the next event is and then register.  I'm definitely signing up again for the next one.

Zombie me in my tree nick-named
'the happiest zombie on the course'...grrrrr...)

Zombie friend looking suitably horrific...

'The lonesome runner'...and our driver so we couldn't eat her 

I'm still scouting for photos but if you want to see more of the day, check out the Zombie Evacuation gallery here.

Zombie Apocalypse Survival Kit and Crew Blogfest . . .

Today I'm taking part in the Zombie Apocalypse Survival Kit and Crew Blogfest hosted by Mina Lobo at Some Dark Romantic, Jackie at Bouquet of Books and Dani at Entertaining Interests.  Go check out their blogs for more fun Survival reading.  I sure will be :)

To create my dream team, I have to choose one for the following categories below, and be as creative as I possibly can.  Oh what fun :)


Crew:

• 1 The Walking Dead character - Michonne 'cause she's cool!
• 1 book character - Kit from Jon Sprunk's 'Shadow Saga'. She's an entity that only one person is able to see.  We can send her forward to scout out places so that we know what we're walking into.
• 1 movie character - the badass T-800 from Terminator.  Just 'cause...
• 1 TV character (other than TWD) - Rick Castle from Castle.  His humor will keep spirits high in dark times.  Also we could talk writing the whole time too and plan how to resurrect the publishing world after the apocalypse.
• 1 loved one - My Significant Other - naturally
• 1 friend - My friend Lucy.  She's a killer at heart and is currently preparing for a charity zombie run so she'll have some good training :)
• 1 freebie - My sister.  We make a pretty good team.

Backpack:

• 1 comfort item - my pillow
• 1 weapon - a sword, I mean come on!  How many thought Michonne was cool with her swords?  Silent but deadly.  Just the thing you need.
• 1 luxury item - my duvet
• 1 food item - Whey Protein.  Mix with water and you have a good few of the nutrients you need.
• 1 medicine/first aid item - Aspirin.  Don't want to survive the Zombie Apocalypse only to fall victim to a measly infection.
• 1 hygiene item - baby wipes.  They're underrated in times of need.
• 1 freebie - Flash Wipes.  Fuelled by a dream I once had where I was running through someone's house and throwing anything I could lay my hands on at the pursuing Zombies.  Then I picked up some flash wipes, threw them and watched in utter surprise as the Zombies recoiled and backed up.  They were too clean, you see.  Too clean.  The Zombies wanted their bacteria to spread.

Background:

• Outpost - A ship half a mile off the coast of the UK.  These Zombies can't swim through fear of becoming clean.
• Outbreak - London
• Cause of it - caused by 'the Bacteria Conspiracy' which unknowingly created a nation of cleanliness enthusiasts. No longer were kids allowed to play in the garden making mud pies and getting dirty.  Household germs had to be destroyed in every corner and on every surface, causing the human immune system to grow weak against the every-day bacteria of the outside world.  Then there became a point when the body's immunity grew too weak and the Bacteria, who had been waiting in the shadows multiplying and creating a race of intelligent super-bacteria with world domination in mind and wanting to prove that after billions of years they were still the master race, made it's leap for power, seeking vengeance for all those times we used bleach - and flash wipes.
• Cure (if applicable) - the discovery of an uber-strong antibacterial soap and then forcing these zombies to take a bath
• 1 item you NEED to find - another sword - it's that Michonne thing again :)
• 1 item you WANT to find - more Zombie Flash Wipes - simply Throw and Go!
• Method of travel - a boat to land followed by a flash wipe coated car...

Zombie Flash Wipes: Throw & Go
48 Emergency wipes for just £1
Complete with that fresh Lemon scent
that they'll hate!

Zombie Binge Time . . .

I'm playing catch up.

We don't have Sky or any major TV channels.  We have Freeview instead which gives you a few extra but nothing special.  I don't watch much TV as a rule so refuse to pay out for something that isn't really going to get used to its full potential.  However, if I get into a TV series, I get into it in a big way, and if it isn't on Netflix (a godsend for filmage) then I buy the DVD and I BINGE!  I've lost days of my life.

Anyway, because of this I'm a little behind on some of the greats.  I'm literally coming to the end of Season 1 of Game of Thrones after a friend lent me the DVD and I've just ordered a show that I know will keep me locked away.

The Walking Dead

I saw the first episode round my sister's one weekend, and its hooked me left, right and centre.  So, if you don't hear from me in a while it's because I have my hermit shell in place and the remote in my hand.  With 3 seasons available to me, I may be a little while :)

It's Zombie Time!!!!