The blog of author Stacy Kingsley - Stacy Kingsley

Book Review - HOW THE WHITE TRASH ZOMBIE GOT HER GROOVE BACK by Diana Rowland

9/15/2018

I might be one of the only people who was seriously disappointed in How The White Trash Zombie Got Her Groove Back, especially since up until this book I've really enjoyed this series. This book fell short for me in so many ways, and I am not happy with how little the characters have changed, except Pietro, he changed a ton in this book.

In this part of the series, Angel finds herself once again doing things she isn't prepared for. She seems to often find herself in situations she isn't prepared for, and often when it does happen her self doubt and self pity is overwhelming and boring. In this novel none of that changed. Angel doesn't listen to those who know more than her, and she ends up saving the day as always, but in stupid, stupid ways.

The relationship between Angel and Marcus is tenuous, and in all honestly it never seemed to be a good one On a side note, there didn't seem to be much steam between the two characters. Angel and Marcus never seemed to meet in a good hot, sexy scene. I don't really read much romance or erotica, but there should have been some chemistry between the two. The end of the book sets Angel up to be in a relationship with a different character in the novel, a character who seems to be an unlikely partner for Angel. In fact the author sets it up so that Angel seems like she is a horny teenager, wanting sex with a lot of men, but always asking herself why she has these sexual feelings.

There was a lot that happened in this novel, and I don't think any of it moved the story along, in fact it seemed to be written for two reasons only. The first was to change Pietro as a character and give the zombies a new power or ability. The second was to change Andrew Saber, and give him a little more depth, but I don't think we needed to read four books to get to this point.

These books are starting to feel, to me, as if they have no idea where they are going, or what story they are trying to tell. I mean, in previous books Angel is seriously worried all of the time about losing her job, and in this one she takes off for days/weeks and gives her job zero thought. This bothered me, because she has been concerned so often, it doesn't seem like her character at all.

Lastly, what bothered me about this book was the title. It in no way had Angel "getting her groove back." In fact, it seemed ass if she was more self-deprecating and whiny in this book were worse than all of the previous books, and in all honesty, I didn't like her very much.

I think this is the last in the series I will read, which is unfortunate because I really enjoyed the idea of the books and the different take on zombies.

Movie Review - PANDEMIC

7/30/2018

Pandemic is a 2016 zombie movie that really wasn’t up to par, even for a zombie movie.

The plot summary from IMDb is: Pandemic is set in the near future, where a virus of epic proportions has overtaken the planet. There are more infected than uninfected, and humanity is losing its grip on survival. Its only hope is finding a cure and keeping the infected contained. Lauren (Rachel Nichols) is a doctor, who, after the fall of New York, comes to Los Angeles to lead a team to hunt for and rescue uninfected survivors.

This movie has a small cast of characters that don’t really get developed enough for one to care about. It starts with a family and short snippets of their life, but then it goes nowhere. The movie wants you to care about the family, but it doesn’t give you enough to actually care about them. The only person, really, that you care about is one of the soldiers, Denise, and a little about the driver, Wheeler (which I thought was a somewhat cliché name for a driver). The main character, Lauren, only seems to be in the movie to make the audience mad and to do all of the things one shouldn’t do during a zombie apocalypse.

After watching this movie I looked it up and it doesn’t have good review on either Rotten Tomatoes or IMDb, which is something I should have looked at before I wasted my time watching it. As a zombie movie it wasn’t even satisfying, as it didn’t at all delve into the reason behind the infection, how people changed during or from the infection, or how life changed in places where people were infected. There were a few scenes of the little bad of soldiers being chased by those who were infected, and one unfortunate scene of one of the soldiers being hit by a car, kidnapped, and then eaten, but it didn’t impact me the way it could have if I had been involved in either the characters or the zombies.

So to say this was a dull movie is really giving it more credibility than it deserves. I was not only bored, but I just didn’t want to continue watching it. If I wasn’t watching it for this review I would have turned it off long ago, instead I wasted my time so that none of you would have to waste yours.

And if you are getting what I thought of this movie, I thought I would have watched almost anything else but this sad farce of a zombie/infected/let’s save people film.

NaNoWriMo

11/24/2017

I've done it. Yesterday I finished the contest for the month for NaNoWriMo at 50,334, but this doesn't mean I am done writing. I feel both good and bad about it. Why? Let me tell you.

I have been working on a new project this month. It has been wonderful since it has also been a while since I've written, really written. This idea came to me in the form of a book title, and then the first chapter, and then it kept going. I've gotten a little sidetracked in it and it will need some major work, but at least it is something, and it might even, eventually, be something good. It feels good to have written, and most days I actually got 2,000 words, which means it isn't impossible. The problem, or at least what I tell myself is a problem, is that I am also an English Professor, and I often have 2-4 classes of papers I have to grade, and I have to do it in a timely manner. Do you know how hard it is to write and grade papers at the same time? Well, for me it isn't easy because I get so stuck in the editing of everything and making sure my grammar is correct that I don't know what to do.

But, I can do it, if I space things out properly and don't have to grade all of the papers from all of the classes in one week, which I have planned for better this next semester. So I am planning, after this weekend because I need a break from thinking so I can read for a minute, to write every day like I have been, and my continued goal is to write at least 2,000 words, which is not impossible.

I feel bad because I shouldn't have been working on something new when I have the last installment of my zombie series to complete. I know, sometimes as a write you can't help but get sidetracked by an idea, but I have been, and it hurts because I really do want to get this zombie novel out of me, and round out the series. I know where it is going, but I've been having problems getting there, partly because one of my characters is refusing to die, and I need them dead. Now, there is a flip side and a good part! I know I can keep writing, so next week I will be working on both books, it might be one thousand words in one and on thousand in the other, but I can do it. I look forward to doing it.

My new novel might be crap now, and honestly it probably is, I mean no one writes a great novel in the first draft, no matter what they say. There is always editing, and cutting and refurbishing, and if they tell you any different they are entirely full of themselves. Even the greats don't have a perfect first draft, and they are honest about it. I'll keep plugging away, and we will see where it gets me, and we will see if you out there in internet land even likes it, or me!

New Stuff!

11/15/2017

First I want to apologize for not blogging for a while. Life has been very busy and of course I will talk a little about that in a minute.

I want to post about a book signing event I will be doing in December. I will be at the Downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia library from 1-3pm. The address is 1201 Caroline St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 and I hope to see some people there. I am very excited to introduce myself to the people of Virginia. I am currently working on the final book for my zombie series, and another project for NaNoWriMo. I decided not to work on my zombie novel for NaNoWriMo because I didn't want to rush myself. Yes, I know some of you are asking why not, since I do need to get it out and you are waiting anxiously to see how things end.

Besides the books I have been teaching several English classes, which means lots and lots of grading papers. So I haven't been as vigilant with my blog, or updates, or even watching movies. In fact the last thing I watched was the entire SAW series since it is currently on Netflix.

I also received some bad news about one of my kittens. Well, she isn't really a kitten since she is seventeen years old. She is sick and was given less than a year to live, which has been very upsetting. I am trying to make sure that she has a good quality of life, and am giving her anything she wants to eat. In the last three months she has lost 2 1/2 pounds, which is not good at all for an already thin cat.

I do promise to try harder, and I will hopefully have some things to blog about in the next coming weeks.

So please, if you have a chance try to come to the book signing!!! It will be a blast and hey, you can get to know a little more about how a horror writer thinks.

Coming Up!

5/17/2017

In ten days, just one day before the day of my birth, on the 27th day of this month I will be participating in a literary event.

ALCPL- Catfish Literary Festival
Date: Saturday, May 27, 2017
Description: The Athens-Limestone Public Library presents its 3rd Annual Catfish Literary Festival. You can catch a good story through author talks, book signings and panel discussions on Saturday, May 27 from 10 AM to 3 PM. This celebration of books and authors is open to the public. Information at http://www.alcpl.org/

Come visit me! Come visit other awesome authors! Get lots and lots and lots of books! And maybe discover a brand new author!

Events and Stuff

4/11/2017

And so the fun begins. Actually I love Author events and markets. I love meeting new and old fans. And honestly I love talking horror and zombies, and well, writing with anyone and everyone. So this month and next month I have booked myself for two events. Come see me! I will be running a special since I don't currently have any copies of book 1, ZOMBIES ARE PEOPLE TOO. If you buy book 2, ZOMBIES BITE, or even book 3, ZOMBIE WASTELAND, I will give you a free eBook of ZOMBIES ARE PEOPLE TOO. This is a great deal because I don't often give things out for free, why? Because this is my job, and only one of them, so I, like everyone else, need to make some money so I can continue!

On April 22 I will be at the downtown Huntsville library from 12-4. The address is 915 Monroe St SW, Huntsville, AL 35801. Here is a link if you want to look up the event or add it to your calendar.
https://hmcpl.org/node/133640

Another event I will be at is in May, just one day before my awesome birthday! The date for the event? May 27th. I will be at the 3rd Annual Catfish Literary Festival in the Athens library from 10-4, selling books and meeting all of the awesome people! The address for that is 603 S Jefferson St, Athens, AL 35611. And here is the link for that if you want to look it up or add it to your calendar.
www.alcpl.org/event/3rd-annual-catfish-literary-festival/

There will be several excellent and interesting authors at both events, so hopefully there will be something for everyone's taste!

Lastly, I just watched a movie, THE ATTICUS INSTITUTE, and it really doesn't deserve an entire review post. It was a derisive and cliched movie, attempting to explore paranormal powers and possession. It was dull, and did not keep my interest. I do not recommend this as it tries to explain itself through a documentary style that doesn't quite work or explain what is going on. And really, the movie sets itself up for a sequel to be made when there isn't one needed because I just didn't care enough about the characters to want to watch more.

Spam and Junk mail

3/9/2017

It is inevitable. If you have a website with a contact me section you will get some sort of spam or junk mail. I find it funny to get viagra suggestions in my inbox. I mean, sure I am a writer and I like to research all things possible, but I don't need spam coming in from my blog. I also don't need pervy pictures of male genitalia, or hints of what someone would like to do to me.

Being a somewhat public figure, I understand I have to deal with some of these things, but I always wonder why people feel the need to send some of these things. Unless I ask, and some day I might because you never know what I will be researching, I don't really think your dick pic is anything special. Nor do I need viarga (I'm a lady) or suggestions for other male enhancement. If you are suggesting it as something zombie related, hey no problem, but unless your dick literally has a mind of its own and walks off (think the song "Detachable Penis") I am just not interested.

I, by no means, claim to have any sort of celebrity status, I do know that celebrities deal with this on an almost daily basis. In this day and age though, it is probably better you don't send your dick pic to anyone, unless they ask and actually want it. First, I just don't find the penis attractive on its own, I prefer the whole package. Second, if you're not careful your picture will be all over the internet along with your name and the shame that often comes with being exposed, and laughed at.

I also am not looking for any services, be it of an adult variety, or someone stating that they can expand my readership. If my blog booms, it will because it is a good blog and people enjoy reading it, not because I've paid some stranger to promote me and expand my readership. While marketing is always a good idea, I would love to market my books, and have more readers for those. This blog is just another way of exposing myself (pun intended) and to get my thoughts out there. As a writer I constantly have thoughts running through my brain. Some are good and some are bad, but all beg to be formed, so I blog. I write about movies I've seen, because I like them and movies often inspire me to write visually. I write about hard times I am having because life is full of ups and downs and upside-downs. I write about my day and I write about my cats. I try to keep some things private, but I understand I am putting myself out there, and if someone wants to confront me about something I've done or something I've written that is fine. I just don't want the spam and junk that comes along with the expansive needs of the internet.

People seem to think that because they can, you want what they deliver. But no, I don't need meds, or male enhancements, or dates, or sexually suggestive pictures and questions, or advertising, or a weird company telling me they can publish my books for only $1000 down with books at cost, I only need readers. People who want to hear what I've got to say. People who enjoy dark humor. People who like the ramblings of a cat lover. People who are still excited about the zombie genre and want to read the dark and sometimes sad things I write.

Christmas Gifts

12/21/2016

Books make excellent gifts! Give your loved ones either an ebook or paperback of my books. You almost can't go wrong with zombies, unless they are into vampires, then you just have bloodsucking zombies!!

A bonus, if you haven't found that perfect gift, ebooks are an immediate gift, available as soon as you buy it!!! Take advantage of this and get some zombie books today!!!

The links are below!

Here is the link to the ebooks on Smashwords (they are also available on kindle and nook but you can also get them all here).

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/zombieauthor

Here is the link to the paperbacks and ebooks if you just want to shop directly on Amazon!

https://www.amazon.com/Stacy-Kingsley/e/B00JEQVR30/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1482352970&sr=8-1

Here is the link if you prefer to buy books and ebooks on Barnes and Noble!

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/stacy+kingsley?_requestid=932142

Not only will you be giving the awesome gift of books and zombies, but you are supporting the arts and it is always a great idea to support the arts!!!

Stupid December

12/8/2016

I haven't been on here a while, and the reason why is not a great one. I'd like to say how much I hate December, as things always seem to go wrong. It isn't Christmas, although it is absolutely not my favorite holiday, it is really the entire month of December.

I have been sick, and have really only been feeling well for the last couple of days, so I started the month sick. It was a sinus infection. I don't know how the rest of you handle sinus infections, but for me, it makes me feel like I can't think in a straight line. So I really haven't done much of anything. Now I am starting to feel better, or so I thought, but today I awoke with a headache and a very stuffy nose so I am hoping it is just the cold weather. Taking meds and drinking hot tea is very helpful so I am very excited to be healthy.

Another issue, and I have been dreading announcing this, is that I have lost a lot of what I have written on book 4, ZOMBIMERICA. Something got on my computer and I lost a lot of the new stuff I had written, and two stories. I have no idea what happened, but something ate through my computer and ate not only these things but several pictures, and one cover I had been working on for a short story I had just finished. I am pretty sure it had something to do with me trying to add iTunes back onto my computer. For some reason iTunes has failed and I cannot put it back on without crashing my computer. This was my third attempt to add iTunes back on my computer, and since I have lost so much I don't think I will be trying again. The bad part isn't the photos, I can scan them again, and it isn't the short stories since I had printed them out to edit them and take them to my writing group for critique, no it was the work on book 4 that has been troubling me. I usually write things longhand then type it up, but lately (in the past few months) I have just been typing things up. I haven't been printing it yet, nor have I been backing anything up because I usually wait until I have so much done before I do any of that.

To say the least this is a setback of epic proportions for an author. Whenever you lose something that you have put your heart and soul into it rips a piece of you out, not only because I am disappointed in myself, but I am also disappointed for my fans who have been waiting for the release of book 4. Hopefully this is just a setback and not a break, and in the next month I plan to work dutifully on book 4, ZOMBIMERICA, so that, if nothing else, I can recoup my losses.

These are not the only things that have made December unplesant for me, but these are the things that affect you, my fans and readers, so I needed to be upfront and let everyone know what was going on.

Now Out!

10/24/2016

Now out, DON'T BURY YOUR DEAD, a short zombie story involving a minor character in book 3 ZOMBIE WASTELAND. It is currently available on Smashwords and Amazon, but will be available soon on all other ebook sites. I enjoyed writing it very much and hope you out there in internetland enjoy reading it just as much. Now I will go back to working on the final book in my series, ZOMBIMERICA. Since NaNoWriMo is next month, it will be the only thing I am working on. I hope to have it written by the end of next month, and hopefully it will be out by the end of the year next year.

On another note, here are some horror movies you can skip watching: STARRY EYES, LET US PREY, ARCHIVO 253, and MOST LIKELY TO DIE. Been watching a ton of bad horror movies, I think it's all that it out there anymore.