JJ Ritonya

For Cheryl Ritonya-Evans

2011-06-12T14:35:00.001-07:00

Cheryl,
I should have said this more when I had the chance. I love you. This is for you.

Born into the world - a blank canvas ready for paint.
And also born an evil lying patiently in wait.
Baby steps and first words lay in the months ahead.
The first steps down a long dark path are filled with fear and dread.

She's just 10 years old - not a care in the world.
Please leave her alone - she's just a little girl.
The coming years are filled with jumping rope and running footloose.
Then running becomes fleeing and the rope becomes a noose.

Teenage years and high school made harder by the pain.
Many times to hide her tears she'd go walking in the rain.
Weekend parties - boys and clothes - an imagined canopy bed.
The beer and weed her initiation to the life that lay ahead.

Two distant children couldn't know how much she really loved them.
Although she tried she couldn't be the mom she should've been.
She took a surrogate daughter who doubled as a neice.
Her failures as a parent never offering her any peace.

These roles she could have played better - sister, daughter, wife and friend.
The time spent lying and stealing didn't matter in the end.
Grandma loved her without condition - in her eyes she could do no wrong.
Deep down inside I think she knew what you were doing all along.

Just turned 40 - second marriage - worried about the bills.
But nothing really mattered but the bottles and the pills.
A brush with death couldn't derail this train and where it was heading.
It only delayed the inevitable - her nightmare would soon be ending.

So damn tired - lay down your head and dream of being ten.
She shuts her eyes but doesn't know they'll never open again.
Her friends and family gather - their purpose is to grieve.
The life she chose too difficult - and so she chose to leave.

If you have no guilt or could have done things better raise your hand.
Although we tried to keep her safe things rarely go as planned.
I should have been a better man - a better protector and brother.
Too little too late are empty words - we share the blame - no other.

September Book Drawing Complete!

2010-09-29T16:50:00.001-07:00

The September book drawing has taken place and this month's winner of a free, signed copy of Sunset is...Priya!

Priya, please send me an email at jjritonya@jjritonya.com with a shipping address and I will get your novel shipped ASAP.

Other news:
Neck Chop Tees is open for business. Check out the link below.
http/www.cafepress.com/NeckChopTees

JJ Ritonya merchandise is available at the CafePress Shop here. T-shirts, mugs, caps and more.
http/www.jjritonya.com/apps/cafepress_shop/

Also, an excerpt from Sunset: Bloodstained has been released on the Members Only page at http/www.jjritonya.com/WEBPROTECT-membersonlypage.htm
Hope you enjoy it.

-JJ

Dead City by Joe McKinney Review

2010-09-06T12:09:00.000-07:00

Dead City, by Joe McKinney
Reviewed by JJ Ritonya

Dead City is a zombie novel based around events taking place in a hurricane destroyed Texas. Eddie Hudson, a cop in San Antonio finds himself faced with many hard decisions. While he has a duty to his badge, he also has a duty to himself and his family. The moral struggles are only the beginning of his problems as the zombie hordes begin to rise and attack. Making his way through the city with other survivors in tow, Eddie does his best to be true to his badge and himself.
Dead City is another in the long line of zombie novels I've read and has a solid place in the top twenty. The action kept on coming as well as difficult decisions the main character had to make. The motivation for each action and decision was obvious after learning what he had gone through and was currently going through. What kept me turning pages was the constant action, though. Never a dull moment in this one.
I would recommend this novel to anyone loving the horror and zombie genre as well as lovers of action and cop novels. Police procedures take on a whole new meaning in this one as there are no written procedures for dealing with the undead.
Joe McKinney is a homicide detective for the San Antonio Police Department who has been writing professionally since 2006. McKinney has also written other novels in the horror/zombie genre.
I don't believe he has an author web page but you can purchase his books and read his bio on his Amazon author page here. There are also forums dedicated to McKinney and his novels on Permuted Press' website here.

-JJ
www.jjritonya.com

August Book Drawing

2010-08-25T12:07:00.000-07:00

The August book drawing has taken place. This month's drawing is for a signed copy of Hubbert's Peak.
This month's winner is Roberto Cardin! Congrats Roberto!

Other news: JJ Ritonya merchandise is available at the CafePress Shop here. T-shirts, mugs, caps and more.
http://www.jjritonya.com/apps/cafepress_shop/

Also, an excerpt from Sunset: Bloodstained has been released on the Members Only page at http://www.jjritonya.com/WEBPROTECT-membersonlypage.htm
Hope you enjoy it.
-JJ

Merchandise Store!

2010-08-22T20:01:00.000-07:00

T-shirts, mugs, baseball caps. All available at the merchandise store here!
www.jjritonya.com

The Autumn Series, by David Moody Review

2010-08-19T18:53:00.000-07:00

The Autumn Series by David Moody
Reviewed by JJ Ritonya

The first zombie novel I ever read was Autumn, by David Moody. He'd put a free PDF out somewhere on the Internet and I somehow stumbled upon it. When I was done with the Autumn, I was so enamored with it that I immediately began looking for more of his work and was thrilled when I found out he had three other novels which served as sequels to the original Autumn. Two were out already which I purchased and tore through then chomped at the bit until the final novel was released.
After reading the four novel series, I found myself longing to write again. I hadn't done it seriously in years and decided why not now? I even corresponded briefly with Moody, telling him of how he inspired me to write my first novel and asked for any advice he'd offer. He graciously replied with some tips and offered other advice which I found very valuable. To date I've read everything Moody has published and will probably review another of his novels or series at some point.
A quick summary: After a cataclysmic event, most of the population of the world dies. Was it a disease or some other-worldy event? No one knows. The people die in seconds and act as if they can't breathe. Their throats expand and burst inside their necks, churning up blood from their eyes, noses and mouths. After a few days, the dead rise again, hungry for human flesh. The survivors must deal with not only the dead, but the living as well.
Other than inspiring my writing career, I found the Autumn series to be one of the best zombie series I've ever read. Other reviews I found weren't so kind but I found it compelling, believable and had a hard time putting it down. The main character was likeable and I wanted him to pull through the ordeal. But the one thing I take from the books was the feeling of hopelessness Moody conveyed through the images and emotions of the characters. I felt as if I could taste the bitterness they felt in a world they no longer recognized or probably even wanted to live in. They had no choice but to keep on living, so they did.
I'd recommend these books to just about anyone who loves horror, zombies or the apocalypse. They drew me in and kept me there night after night.
The free PDF of Moody's original Autumn is no longer available but I've read it was downloaded by more than half a million people.
David Moody's website is here. You can learn more about him, purchase books and contact him like I did if you wish. Currently he is working on the Hater trilogy, which I've read the first of. But that review is for another time.
-JJ
http://www.djmoody.co.uk/
http://www.jjritonya.com/

Borders, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million

2010-08-18T16:37:00.001-07:00

Sunset and Hubbert's Peak are now available on major book store websites! Use the links below.
Barnes and Noble Sunset Hubbert's Peak
Borders Sunset Hubbert's Peak
Books-A-Million Sunset Hubbert's Peak

Housekeeping!

2010-08-12T11:49:00.000-07:00

On a recent business trip I had an unusual encounter with the staff at a hotel that shall remain unnamed. The morning of the incident, I woke up early to get ready for my day. I hopped into the shower and busied myself with my usual agenda. Soap up head to toe, then rinse. Shampoo hair, then rinse. Condition, then rinse. Repeat. (I actually don't repeat.) Somewhere in the middle of cleansing my filthy body I heard a knock on my room door. I wondered if I had put out the Do Not Disturb sign and was fairly confident that I had. The knock came again, this time followed by a high-pitched voice.
"Housekeeping!" the voice said.
I didn't answer, hoping that she'd see the Do Not Disturb sign or hear the shower and move on to another room. After a minute or so, I didn't hear another knock so I assumed she'd gone on. The next thing I heard was another knocking noise. This time on the bathroom door which I'd thankfully closed when I went into the shower.
"Housekeeping!" the voice said.
This time I couldn’t ignore her.
"Yes, I'm here!" I called.
No response. Again, I assumed she'd gone away, embarrassed that she'd entered the room of a showering guest. I couldn't have been more wrong. Once more, a knock on the bathroom door.
"Housekeeping!" she said.
I could now tell that the maid had some sort of Spanish accent. I wondered if maybe she didn't speak English and couldn't understand what I had said.
"Please come back later!" I shouted in the most polite and clearly enunciated voice I could muster.
At this point I realized I'd been standing perfectly still, listening for the maid for two or three minutes. Soap from my hair began running down my forehead and into my eyes, stinging them badly. I put my head under the running shower to rinse the soap from my eyes when the knock came again. This time the noise from the shower and water raining down on my scalp and face interfered with me hearing what she said.
"Que?" I know a little Spanish.
"You want me wash your back?" she said.
I stood there for a second wondering if I'd heard her correctly.
"You want to wash my back?"
"Si," she said.
Now I was beginning to worry.
"No…Thank you. Come back later!" I screamed nervously.
"You want me towel you dry?" she continued.
I started to panic. Would she ever leave? What if she stood outside the bathroom door asking me questions for the next twenty minutes? I had appointments I needed to get to. Then I had a worse thought. What if she came into the bathroom? What if she stripped naked and climbed into the shower with me? My mind raced, going through different possible scenarios. The worst of them included being forced to physically remove a naked, middle aged Spanish maid from my room. I'm happily married, you know.
"No…I'm good!" I replied, not knowing what else to say.
She must have left because I didn't hear another knock or a voice asking to wash or towel me. I stayed in the bathroom another twenty-five minutes, afraid to come out. When I did, my room was empty and nothing was out of place. I finished dressing and left my room about a half-hour later. On my way to the elevator, I passed one of those maid carts stationed outside an empty room. I glanced inside but could see no one. The sound of a vacuum was the only noise I heard as I briskly walked by.
I never told anyone that story, especially my wife. I now know to pull that safety latch over or use the security chain any time I'm getting in the shower. In the absence of those, I wedge a chair under the door handle. I don't take chances anymore.

-JJ

Kindle Versions of Sunset and Hubbert's Peak Available in the UK!

2010-08-07T08:40:00.001-07:00

Kindle versions of Sunset and Hubbert's Peak are now available in the UK!

Hubbert's Peak Trailer

2010-08-04T19:02:00.001-07:00

New Hubbert's Peak trailer released. Check it out here.

Sunset Video on Amazon

2010-08-03T09:17:00.001-07:00

New video for Sunset on Amazon's Author Cental page.
Check it out here at the bottom right of the page.
The video will also be available on JJ's YouTube channel.
http://www.youtube.com/user/jritonya

July Book Give Away

2010-07-31T07:44:00.000-07:00

The July book drawing has taken place for this month's drawing which is a signed copy of Sunset.

This month's winner is KD!

KD, please send me an email at jjritonya@jjritonya.com with a shipping address and I will get your novel shipped ASAP.

Other news: Sunset: Bloodstained still progresses nicely. As it moves along, I will be posting more sneak peeks of the book.
If you aren't already, sign up to be a site member at www.jjritonya.com and be automatically entered for the monthly book drawing.
Thanks again for your support!

-JJ

www.jjritonya.com

Discounts at Smashwords

2010-07-17T12:53:00.000-07:00

Here are a few discount deals on Sunset and Hubbert's Peak at Smashwords. Follow the links below. Offers are good until the end of July.
Save 75% on Sunset.
Save 25% on Hubbert's Peak.

Sunset: Bloodstained

2009-12-15T18:42:00.000-08:00

Sunset: Bloodstained, the second installment of the apocalyptic zombie series, is underway once again. A teaser has been released here at jjritonya.blogspot.com for your enjoyment...I hope.
Additional content is available to site members only at www.jjritonya.com. A drawing for a free novel takes place every month as well.
Now I know what you're thinking. You're thinking "JJ, how do I get this content you speak of? And how do I get myself entered for chance to win a free novel?"Well, I'll tell you. Go to www.jjritonya.com. Click on the Register link at the top right of the page, then fill out the form. It's that easy!
-JJ

Almost Christmas!

2009-12-13T16:24:00.001-08:00

Hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Christmas. Stay warm and be good to each other.
This month's drawing will be coming up soon so if haven't already, sign up to become a site member at http://www.jjritonya.com/.
Thanks again for your support...and for those of you who are waiting for Sunset 2, here's a small teaser.

Sunset: Bloodstained by JJ Ritonya

An explosion rocked the “TAP” sending the survivors scurrying for cover. The building shook as if it were going to collapse and drop them eighteen stories to their death. Luckily, the building the group now called home stood in downtown San Francisco and had been engineered to withstand a 7 in the Richter scale. The blast that just occurred barely registered above a 1. The “TAP” was short for Trans American Pyramid, the structure resembling a towering pyramid.
Brandi, the newest member of the group peered out from under the table she had crawled under. She arrived just a few days earlier with her companion and newly found lover, Stanley, who was currently on a recon mission with another member of the group, Green.
Lipman, the mechanic of the group sat up from where he snoozed on the couch and looked around frantically for Joan.
“What the hell was that?” Joan cried as she picked herself up from the floor.
Gunney, a former tow truck driver and reservist in the United States Army stood at the western facing windows and looked down toward the street. He stood on his tip-toes in an attempt to get a better view.
“I can’t see anything from here. Just some smoke. Whatever it was…”
Another explosion rocked the building. Gunney ran toward the north side of the building, where the report from the blast seemed to originate. The rest of the group followed in his path just as McCaffery came out of the rest room.
“What the hell is goin’ on?” he cried as he finished pulling up his trousers.
“Don’t know,” Joan answered hurriedly on her way past.
The group reached the north end of the building, each pushing their noses to the glass, desperate for a glimpse of what had caused the commotion. Black smoke drifted up past the windows toward the morning sky making it difficult to see the street below.
Gunney was the first to spot them. “I see a black SUV down there. All four doors are open but I can’t see anyone.”
Brandi stood at the end of the line of survivors, furthest to the east. “I see someone,” she said. “He’s carrying a pipe or something on his shoulder.”
McCaffery had finished adjusting his fly and now joined the group. He peered over Brandi’s shoulder toward the street below.
“That’s not a pipe, it’s a rocket launcher,” he said.
Just as he finished his sentence, the man below was joined by another man. An assault rifle was slung over one shoulder and he carried a grey metal box by a handle on the top. He stopped next to the man with rocket launcher and opened the box, pulling out an object that at first no one recognized. He opened the rear port of the rocket launcher and put the object inside then closed the blast door and patted his partner on the top of the head.
Dropping to place one knee on the pavement for stability, the man aimed the rocket launcher upwards. To Brandi, it appeared he was aiming straight for her. A white flash accompanied by a trail of white smoke whisked upward toward the group at an amazing speed.
“DOWN!” McCaffery screamed as he grabbed Brandi from behind and pulled her to the floor.
A blast much louder and closer than the previous two rocked the building as the missile exploded into the windows just a few floors below them. Glass and metal shards burst from the building. Iron beams and supports groaned against the force of the blast.
“We’ve got to get out of here!” Joan screamed as she tried to quickly formulate an escape plan. The noise of the explosion had subsided but no one noticed as Joan continued to scream.
“Gunney, you and McCaffery grab your rifles and head to the lobby! No one gets in! We’ll meet in the garage in ten minutes! And while you’re down there, see if you can pick that bastard off before he brings the whole building down!”
Gunney nodded and he and McCaffery sprinted off to their rooms to retrieve their weapons and ammo.
“You two are with me,” Joan told Brandi and Lipman. “Grab as many supplies as you can. Weapons, ammo, food and water. Nothing else. We’re out of here in five. GO!”
Brandi struggled to her feet and ran off to her room. She had only shared it with Stan for a couple nights before they had been separated. She was so mad at him. He had actually volunteered for the mission in an attempt to prove his worth to the group, but goddamnit, she needed him.
They met only a few weeks earlier in Las Vegas. Stan had found her just hours after her escape from a gang of thugs in the city. She had actually mistaken him for one of their kind momentarily and scared him off when she showed her rough side. When he backed off, she realized her mistake and followed him to a strip mall on the outskirts of the city. After saving his life from a horde of the undead, the two traveled west toward San Francisco for no other reason to than to stand on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Gunney found them on the beach and invited them to join up with the group at the “TAP”.
Now she scurried around her and Stan’s apartment looking for her pistol and any other items that might prove valuable later. After a quick scan of the rooms, she decided there was nothing else she needed. She ran back to the hallway just as the elevator doors closed on Gunney and McCaffery who were just heading to the lobby. Lipman was a wiz mechanic and had the generator in the basement running like a top. Power was supplied to the first floor, the elevator and the eighteenth floor where the group kept their apartments. The rest of the power to the building had been cut off to conserve what little energy there was.
Brandi arrived at Joan’s room just as she was coming out. She held an automatic rifle in one hand and had a brown backpack slung over her shoulder. She looked down at Brandi’s mostly empty hands.
“That’s it?” she asked, nodding at the pistol.
Brandi nodded. She and Stanley had only been with the groups a few days and hadn’t had the time to accumulate any worthy possessions.
“Good,” Joan said. “Traveling light means we can most fast. Lipman!”
Lipman emerged from his room across the hall, his arms full of items. Joan walked over and began taking objects from him and throwing them to the floor.
“Don’t need this, this or this,” she said as the removed a pillow, a book and screwdriver from his inventory. She left him with his hunting rifle and backpack.
“Let’s go she said,” and headed off toward the elevator.
After several tense minutes of waiting for the elevator to rise from the ground floor, Joan grew impatient. “Must be out of service. Looks like it’s the stairs.”
The group backtracked down the hallway, past their rooms and entered the stairwell at the far end of the building. Security lights lit their way but were slightly darkened from the smoke and soot that drifted up the stairwell The group could smell burning paper and charred metal as they quickly made their way down flight after flight. As they grew near street level, they could hear gunfire coming from below. Some shots sounded very close while other seemed to come from outside on the street.
Slapping feet on concrete risers sounded and the group halted. Joan’s eyes grew wide as she moved her rifle from her shoulder and pointed it toward the stairwell below. She put her finger to her lips to signal Brandi and Lipman to be quiet as the group waited. After a few tense moments, a figure rounded the corner. Brandi immediately recognized Gunney.
She grabbed Joan by the arm. “Don’t shoot,” she screamed.
Gunney hadn’t seen them as he looked up, startled by their appearance in the stairwell. Then he smiled. “Thank God,” he gasped, trying to suck in air. “I was hoping you were heading down. I didn’t want to have to go all the way back up.”
The group now stood on the landing in between the third and fourth floor of the skyscraper. Gunfire and small explosions continued to drift up from the ground floor.
“What’s going on down there?” Joan asked.
“I’ll tell you while we move. Right now we have to go,” Gunney wheezed.
The group continued their descent as Gunney explained their situation.
“There’s four or five of them out front of the lobby,” he began. “I think they’re out of rockets but they seem to have plenty of grenades. They keep chucking them through the front windows. It’s a good thing none of them have a good arm otherwise me and McCaffery would be goners.”
Joan’s eyes grew wide. “What do they want?” she asked.
“Fuck if I know,” Gunney said. “But if I had to guess, I’d say they want us dead.”
The group finally reached ground level and stopped at the security door which led to the rear hall and eventually the lobby. Gunney had just reached out to grasp the handle when the door burst inward. McCaffery shot into the stairwell running face first into Gunney, knocking them both to the floor. The two men picked themselves up off the floor, both glad to see the other.
“Here’s the deal,” McCaffery told the group as he tried to catch his breath. “You all head down to the garage, load up in the van and get the hell out of here. I’ll stay behind and keep them distracted. Head to Santa Cruz and hole up in the City Hall building. I’ll meet up with you in a couple days.”
“No,” Joan said. She had a stern look on her face. “We stay together.”
McCaffery was about to protest when Brandi spoke up.
“What about Stanley and Green?” she cried.
“That’s why I’m staying behind. Someone will have to let them know where we went and we sure as hell can’t stay here,” McCaffery argued.
Joan opened her mouth to reply when a blast, closer than any so far shook the walls. Their attackers were becoming more accurate with their grenade tosses.
“There’s no time!” McCaffery screamed. “GO!” He disappeared back through the security door and ran toward the lobby.
Joan sighed in resignation. “Let’s go!” she yelled.
The group descended the final flight of stairs to the parking garage. A white delivery van sat at the far end of the garage. Blue letters ran across the side which read “Ming Cleaners: We Deliver!”
The group quickly piled into the van. Gunney in the driver’s seat, Joan rode shotgun and Brandi sat on the floor in the back. Lipman ran over to the metal security gate which was lowered and locked in place. He released the lock and hit the button to raise the door to the overhead position, then sprinted back toward the van and jumped in the side door.
“Hang on!” Gunney screamed as he put the van in gear and stomped on the gas.
The van lurched forward and picked up speed as they neared the garage door. Joan rolled her window down and set the muzzle of her weapon on the window sill, ready to fire at the attackers. As the van shot out of the garage and onto the street she opened fire on the surprised group of men. Gunney saw the look of shock on their faces as he quickly pulled the wheel to the left and accelerated down the empty road away from the “TAP”. Joan screamed as she sprayed bullets at the men, surprised when she saw one go down with a hole in his chest. The men scrambled for cover then returned fire as the van sped away, the rear window of the van shattering when a bullet struck the glass.
“Get down!” Joan shouted as Brandi and Lipman flattened themselves on the floorboards. Shards of glass sprinkled down on their backs.
The attackers sprinted toward their vehicles to give chase. Two men ran toward the black SUV they spotted earlier and the other two ran toward red pickup truck leaving their fallen comrade behind.
The survivors sped east out of downtown San Francisco and across the Bay Bridge hoping to outrun or somehow lose their pursuers. Santa Cruz was their goal and destination, although no one knew if things would be any better there.
Brandi held herself and shivered with fear, hoping that her farewell just a few days earlier would not be the last time she would see her precious Stanley. She continued to tell herself that it couldn’t be the end. They had only been together a few weeks now, but she loved him more than she had loved any man. In the short time they had been together he had showed her an unconditional love and kindness that she had never known.
“It wouldn’t be the end,” she told herself as a tear ran down her cheek. Lying to yourself was easy. Believing the lie was the hard part.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-29T15:12:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful and food filled Thankgiving. This month's give away has been completed with the winner being notified by blast email to all members of www.jjritonya.com. Rememeber, you can't win a free novel unless you are a site member, so sign up today.
Thanks again for your continued support and have a happy holiday season!
-JJ

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T08:15:00.001-07:00

My daughter and I stuffed this dummy to scare off the trick or treaters...which means more candy for me! Mwuaahhhaaa!
Happy Halloween
-JJ

October Give Away

2009-10-28T10:09:00.000-07:00

The give away for October will be held this weekend. If you haven't already, sign up at www.jjritonya.com to become a site member and be automatically entered for a chance to win a free copy of a novel by JJ Ritonya.

Things that go bump...

2009-10-16T14:46:00.001-07:00

Halloween is almost upon us, which brings thoughts of scary nights and unexplained noises.
Have you ever been lying in bed late at night, unable to sleep when an odd noise grabs your attention? Maybe it sounds like a door closing or the floor creaking. You're not quite sure what it was but whatever it might be has your mind racing. You begin to question if you locked the door or closed the garage when you came in. It plays on your mind so furiously that you have to lay on your back and face the door, just in case. Finally, you can take it no more as it tugs at your brain and you have to get up and check on it.
Even after you realize that all the doors and windows are secure, something in the back of your mind insists that it's not your imagination.
At some point you tire of being scared and eventually doze off, hoping you don't wake up dead.
When you wake up in the morning, things are normal again. With the lights on, noises which rendered us paralyzed have no power over us. It's the law of night, and it does not discriminate against race, sex or even age.
Have a happy Halloween and don't be afraid to sleep with your lights on!

September Book Giveaway Almost Here!

2009-09-19T09:37:00.000-07:00

Last chance to sign up for this month's giveaway which is a signed copy of Sunset. Sign up today at www.jjritonya.com and be automatically entered. Thanks again for your support!
-JJ

September Book Giveaway

2009-09-03T08:37:00.000-07:00

Reminder:
This month's giveaway is a signed copy of Sunset. If you haven't signed up yet, do so now at www.jjritonya.com to be automatically entered in the drawing.
-JJ

August Giveaway

2009-08-19T10:11:00.000-07:00

The drawing for this month's giveaway will take place this weekend. Tell your friends and family members to sign up at www.jjritonya.com to be automatically entered. This month's giveaway is for a signed copy of Hubbert's Peak.
Again, thanks for your support.
-JJ

Hatchet House

2009-08-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

I'm looking for anyone who has information, stories, links to websites or any memories of the Hatchet House. In case you don't remember, it was an old, boarded up school house in west Omaha where a school teacher supposedly murdered her students with a hatchet. Feel free to comment here or email me at jjritonya@jjritonya.com.

New Content on www.jjritonya.com

2009-08-07T07:01:00.001-07:00

Check out the new Articles and Short Stories page here.
http://www.jjritonya.com/articlesshortstories.htm

Zombie Food

2009-08-06T09:12:00.001-07:00

Zombie Food, an article by JJ Ritonya has been posted at The Zombies Are Coming website. Check it out here.
http://www.zombiesarecoming.com/2009/08/05/zombie-food/

Short story posting

2009-07-28T06:23:00.000-07:00

A short story by JJ has been posted here.
http://www.hollychristineonline.com/id33.html

The Zombies Are Coming!

2009-07-27T09:26:00.001-07:00

Check out an article on The Zombies Are Coming by JJ Ritonya.
http://www.zombiesarecoming.com/2009/07/26/the-outbreak-where-to-go/

Createspace self-publishing guide

2009-07-22T14:21:00.001-07:00

Fiction author JJ Ritonya releases an in-depth how-to article on self-publishing specific to online self-publishing company, Createspace. The step-by-step article includes how to format and upload interior and cover files as well as tips and tricks on converting your files into standard PDF files.
Get it in the articles section at http://www.jjritonya.com

F-You Friday is here!

2009-07-17T18:02:00.001-07:00

Some juvenile humor from the golf course. You can add the reply, "That's what your mom said" after each.
Get in the hole!
You want it in or out?
You’re going to have to hit it harder than that!
It’s short…
Not long enough…
You’re up…
Nice poke…
We need one more to round out the foursome…
That's what your mom said!

Last chance to enter this month's book giveaway

2009-07-17T10:05:00.000-07:00

The drawing for a signed copy of Sunset will take place this weekend. Sign up now or lose your chance to win!
http://www.jjritonya.com

Fiction author JJ Ritonya releases an in-depth how-to article on self-publishing.

2009-07-15T09:40:00.001-07:00

Fiction author JJ Ritonya releases an in-depth how-to article on self-publishing.

Shared via AddThis

Free Book Giveaway

2009-07-13T06:29:00.000-07:00

This months giveaway will be held this weekend. The winner will receive a free copy of Sunset, an apocalyptic zombie tale. If you haven't done so already, sign up to become a site member at www.jjritonya.com to be automatically entered.

F-You Friday

2009-07-10T10:19:00.000-07:00

I am going to start posting every Friday with a new way to screw with people or a funny (I hope) anecdote of a situation where someone got F'd with. Hopefully it will make you laugh or brighten your day if only slightly.
This week's F-You Friday features:
Facebook!
Man, that's a lot of F's. So anyways, a few weeks ago we were at a friend's just hanging out and drinking. They have a computer at a desk in their kitchen and my friend's wife left her Facebook account logged in. So, being a little buzzed, I sat down and began to type as if I were her.
"Hey everybody! Good news. I'm pregnant!"
Then the comments started rolling in.
"Congratulations!" "Good for you!"
She had to spend the next few days telling her friends and family that she was not pregnant, but I sure thought it was funny.
Next time you're at a friend's house, keep an eye out for this. There are many posts that will draw a huge response.
"Just found out I have cancer."
"My wife/husband has been cheating on me. We're getting divorced."
"My alcoholism has left me alone and without anyone to turn to. Seriously considering suicide."
"The test results just came back. Apparently I have Herpes."
You get the idea. Enjoy.
-JJ

Las Vegas

2009-07-09T13:34:00.000-07:00

I am taking a trip to Las Vegas later this month, which got me thinking. In my first book, Sunset, one of the characters starts his journey there after most of the population is killed. I think I chose that location because of how creepy it would be if you were the only one left. All those lights and sounds going on around you but void of human life. I would proably freak out. Vegas has to be one of the most vibrant and alive places I have ever been and to think of it as "dead" takes alot of processing.
Hope I can create the same type of imagery in the sequel.
-JJ

Smashwords

2009-07-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

Dear friends and family,Just wanted to let you know that my book, Sunset, was published today in ebook form on Smashwords. As many of you know, the book is an apocalyptic zombie tale. I hope you'll take time to check it out at Smashwords, where you can sample the first 25% of the book for free.
Here's the link to my Smashwords author profile: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jjritonya
Here's the link to my book page, where you can sample or purchase the book: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/2756
Please help me spread the word. Won't you take a moment to forward this email to everyone you know, and ask them to do the same?Thank you so much for your support!
Sincerely,
JJ

Things at the bottom of the lake

2009-07-01T14:37:00.000-07:00

So I was at a lake this past weekend with friends. We stayed at their condo and boated and swam and did things you do at a lake. While in the water, things went through my mind. Such as, what could possibly be at the bottom of the lake. It has most likely been there hundreds of years.
How many cars, boats, bicycles, beer cans or bodies could be just a few hundred feet, if even that far, below your dangling feet? I know some people who won't get in lakes because of that specific reason. They don't know what's in there. I say, ignorance is bliss, but it still got me wondering. What would we find if we were able to drain the lake? How many mysteries would be solved by examining the objects found at the bottom of the dark and murky waters?
If you think about it too much, you could really creep yourself out. I choose not too while I'm there, but can't stop myself when my mind reverts to "creative mode" while I'm thinking of storylines or scary situations. Lakes always seem to be in some of the best horror stories such as Friday the 13th. It's because you can't go down there and see what's there, I think.
-JJ

Father's Day Weekend

2009-06-22T09:47:00.001-07:00

Had a great weekend. Not much writing was done but that's how it goes in the summer. Sunset: Bloodstained is still being hashed out. No release date as of yet but hopefully it will be finished sometime in early 2010. I will post a teaser chapter at some point also but no firm dates on that yet either.
Thanks again for your support.
-JJ

June Book Giveaway Complete!

2009-06-20T09:10:00.001-07:00

This month's winner of the free book giveaway is Puppie! Puppie has won a signed copy of Sunset. Congratulations!
July's contest winner will win a free signed copy of Hubbert's Peak. Tell your friends and family to register on www.jjritonya.com to be automatically entered for the monthly contest.
Thanks for your support!
-JJ

Last chance to register for the free novel drawing!

2009-06-19T18:17:00.000-07:00

The drawing for a signed copy of Sunset will be held this weekend. Time is running out so register to become a site member on www.jjritonya.com and be automatically entered. Thanks for your support!
-JJ

Update: Sunset II

2009-06-15T09:56:00.000-07:00

The sequel to Sunset is still in the works. Nothing official yet, but I think I may subtitile it. Something like, Sunset: Bloodstained. Sounds scary and cool at the same time.
Also, this months drawing for a signed copy of Sunset will be coming up in the next week or so. If you haven't already signed up to be a site member, do it today. It's the only way to have a chance to win.
Sign up here.
http://www.jjritonya.com
-JJ

Sunset now only $13.95

2009-06-15T09:35:00.000-07:00

After uploading a reformatted interior file of Sunset, I am now able to make it available for only $13.95 on Amazon.
Get it here.
http://www.amazon.com/Sunset-J-Ritonya/dp/144043171X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245083819&sr=8-1

Sunset once again available!

2009-06-13T12:58:00.000-07:00

After uploading a revised version and adding some cover enhancements, Sunset is available once again. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.
-JJ

Sunset Paperback Sales on Hold as of Today

2009-06-08T08:47:00.000-07:00

Sunset paperback sales will be on hold starting today until the new version is released. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
-JJ

Sunset Papersales On Hold Later This Month

2009-06-05T09:29:00.000-07:00

Paperback sales of Sunset will be on hold later this month as I release a better edited version of he novel. It will also be formatted slightly different which will take the page coundt down slightly. This in turn will allow me to bring the price down about a buck also. I apologize for any inconvenience this causes any potential buyer. For now it will continue to be sold as is. The on hold period will hopefully last only a week. Thanks again for your continued support.
-JJ

Win a FREE copy of Sunset!

2009-06-01T10:20:00.001-07:00

Register to become a site member at http://www.jjritonya.com/ and be automatically entered for the chance to win a FREE, signed copy of the horror fiction novel, Sunset, by JJ Ritonya!
http://www.jjritonya.com

Hubbert's Peak Giveaway

2009-05-26T09:39:00.000-07:00

The drawing for JJ Ritonya's new novel, Hubbert's Peak has taken place! The winner is Dave Freemyer.
Next month's giveaway will be for a signed copy of Sunset. Thanks for being a site member and for your continued support.

Hubbert's Peak paperback edition now available!

2009-05-23T08:29:00.000-07:00

Hubbert's Peak is now available in paperback. It can be purchased for $13.95 from Createspace immediately by going here.
It will also be available on Amazon within a day or two.
Thanks to everyone who has shown their support. It is much appreciated.
-JJ

Cover struggle continues...

2009-05-18T12:08:00.000-07:00

I am still struggling with an issue regarding the cover of Hubbert's Peak. I believe I have the issues worked out and am waiting on a proof copy of the book to arrive. I am still planning on doing the free giveaway once it's complete and will most likely do another for the month of June. Thanks for your patience.
-JJ

Hubbert's Peak Now Available!

2009-05-02T20:56:00.001-07:00

Amazon Kindle version is available here!
PDF version is available at Tradebit here!
Paperback version soon to follow!

Win a FREE copy of Hubbert's Peak!

2009-04-30T09:57:00.001-07:00

Register to become a member at www.jjritonya.com and you will automatically be entered for the chance to win a free copy of JJ Ritonya's new novel, Hubbert's Peak.

Hubbert's Peak

2009-04-27T11:54:00.000-07:00

My editor has finished with Hubbert's Peak. Now it's time to apply the changes, send a copy in and approve the final product. I'm hoping to have this done within two weeks.
-JJ

Sunset II Has Begun!

2009-04-14T13:47:00.001-07:00

After much deliberation I have decided to begin work on the sequel to Sunset. At first I wanted to move on to other stories that have been bouncing around in my head, but in the end, I think it will be the right choice. And the more I thought about it, the more cool ideas I came up with for the sequel. I hope it's as good, if not better, than the first.

Still undecided on its name so for now it will be Sunset II. Thanks for your support.
-JJ

Sunset PDF Version Only $5.95!

2009-04-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

Download the PDF version of Sunset for only $5.95 at Tradebit.

Published Short Stories

2009-03-30T14:34:00.000-07:00

Dark Realm Review is publishing a few of my short stories this month and next. Check them out here.
http://www.darkrealmreview.com/article/doc0204.html

Podbram Review of Sunset

2009-03-19T07:43:00.000-07:00

Podbram recently completed a review of Sunset. The article can be found here.

http://podbram.blogspot.com/2009/03/sunset.html

Hubbert's Peak Complete!

2009-03-08T14:08:00.000-07:00

Hubbert's Peak in now complete! The editing process has begun which can take a three to four weeks. Once edited, the layout process can take a week or less. Then, publishing! I am tentatively hoping for a mid April release. Check back for updates.
-JJ

Hater by David Moody

2009-03-04T10:01:00.000-08:00

Finished the novel, Hater by David Moody last week. It was a very quick and easy read. The storyline keeps moving and holds the reader's attention. A twist more than half way through was one I didn't see coming and the ending leaves you wanting more along with the open ended possiblity of a sequel which I believe is already in the works. All in all worth the money spent and I would buy the next installment to find out what happens next.

$2 off discount code for Sunset!

2009-02-14T14:45:00.000-08:00

Use discount code ZG73VSVN and receive $2 off Sunset at Createspace.com

https://www.createspace.com/3355987

Hubbert's Peak

2009-02-12T13:43:00.003-08:00

Nothing new to report on a release date as of yet. I decided I needed to back up and add more story line at the beginning. It's not going to create a new overhaul of the entire book but will require some changes. I still hope to have it released by April at the latest.
-JJ

Hubbert's Peak Sneak Peek

2009-01-18T15:21:00.000-08:00

Check out a sneak peak chapter from the new novel by JJ Ritonya, Hubbert's Peak.
Click here.

Hubbert's Peak

2009-01-11T08:56:00.000-08:00

Hubbert's Peak is coming along...stay tuned for the release of a few teasers from the novel.

$1 OFF Horror Fiction Novel, Sunset by JJ Ritonya

2009-01-06T08:14:00.000-08:00

$1 OFF Horror Fiction Novel, Sunset by JJ Ritonya
Use discount code VKW4SW64 at Createspace to receive $1 off Sunset
Synopsis

Follow the path of three different men in three different cities as they deal with the end of civilization as we know it. In a matter of hours, ninety eight percent of the Earth’s population was exterminated. Forty eight hours later, the dead have disappeared.
For the survivors, existence has become a massive struggle. However, survival becomes much more difficult after…
Sunset
Official author homepage
http://www.jjritonya.com

Review

2008-12-30T12:56:00.001-08:00

Review of the horror fiction novel, Sunset as posted on Amazon.com.

Official homepage http://www.jjritonya.com
By mkwdm (Des Moines, IA USA)

I am not a regular reader of horror fiction and would start by saying this is not what I expected from a horror fiction novel. It is set in a world where 98% of the population has been turned into flesh-craving zombies. I expected the book to focus on the survivor's battle against this enemy like so many other zombie-based books or movies do. But, in fact, the author takes this story in a pleasingly different direction. Although the nightly appearance of the zombies plays a significant role throught the story, the zombies become a much less menacing foe to the survivors as the survivors in the story begrudgingly face the reality that they need to turn their energies to protecting themselves from their true antagonist, other survivors. It becomes a story about the struggle of "good" survivors against the brutal tactics of other non-zombified humans who were also spared by the apocalyptic catastrophe that occurred. The story is written from the persective of 3 different survivors and takes you into their approach to living day-to-day in this new world. The author presents two opposing ideas about survival when facing the aftermath of an apocalyptic event and what living in a world without law and order means to different types of people all of whom are facing an uncertain future. Very descriptive with an astute attention to details. The ending left me hoping that a sequel will soon follow.

Facebook

2008-12-24T08:14:00.001-08:00

Finally on Facebook.

Head on over to the page and be my friend...please?

Sunset E-Book available in PDF format!

2008-12-17T19:43:00.000-08:00

Sunset E-Book now available in PDF format. Click the link below for more infomation.
Sunset E-Book on Tradebit.

Sunset now available as an E-Book!

2008-12-10T12:16:00.001-08:00

Start reading Sunset on your Kindle in under a minute. Click below for details.

Sunset E-Book

Hubbert's Peak

2008-12-05T09:58:00.001-08:00

Hubbert's Peak Prologue will be out soon with the complete novel to follow. Check back for details.
JJ

Sunset is HERE!

2008-11-13T07:25:00.000-08:00

Sunset the complet novel is available for purchase. Get your copy here!

Sunset is coming!

2008-11-04T08:13:00.001-08:00

You can run but you can't hide. Sunset is inevitable. Stay tuned for release notes and how to buy.

Sunset Chapter 2 now available for download!

2008-09-29T12:29:00.000-07:00

Chapter 2 of Sunset available in PDF format here.

My Mind’s Eye: Memories of the Post Oil War Era

2008-09-02T08:56:00.000-07:00

Carnival

I walk among the rusted machinery of years past and wonder what it meant to be a child. The color long faded and the laughter of children, now ghosts of the past, long forgotten. If I knew no better, the machines could be torture devices used to create terror and fear. My father told stories of days filled with joy; his family spent hours riding and laughing on the antique metal foreign devices.

Silenced forever, the contraptions know no other purpose but that of a museum. What will future generation believe of the carnival? My mind wanders and I imagine a child walking through the midway, eyes open wide in wonder. A corroded, orange rollercoaster rises to the sky in the distance. Rails roll and curve in circles. Faded gray horses sneer and buck against tarnished brass poles of a silent merry go round. Clown faces stare back from a once colorful fun house front, eye full of terror where bliss was danced.

Laughter will never again grace the presence of this place. The sounds of happiness have been replaced by weeping and gunfire. I stand where carnival barkers once stood; they called to the masses in search of contestants to try their luck at games of chance. Their prize a fluffy animal or candy. I stand as guard against the unwanted; their prize is lead and death.

My orders are that no man shall pass lest I be on the receiving end of the rifle. I do my job with no remorse. I have a family to feed and protect and the ones who wish to pass threaten our safety. I have had the opportunity to kill three times and have taken the opportunity on each occasion. One such intruder still lies motionless on the black floor of a covered building. Long ago, riders would steer the small vehicles around the black surface and collide with one another. I fail to see what joy could come from this and know when I look at the dead man that no joy will ever come to the building again.

The cold wind blows against my face. I pull my collar tight around my neck to ward off the chill as I make my rounds. Grass and weeds grow from the cracks in the concrete. I cannot imagine a time when pavement was the norm and not the exception.

My relief arrives and I nod as he resumes my place as sentry. I am given leave for the night and I walk slowly back to camp as I think about the time when I can see my family again. Three months in this cold and desolate place can turn a man’s mind to thoughts not wanted. A fine line separates vigilance and insanity, especially when one is left alone in a place such as this.

I enter my tent and lie down on my bunk. Hopefully sleep will come quickly and be without dreams. The carnival rules my dreams and the ghosts that dwell there terrorize my slumber. Less than thirty days remain until I can return home and shake off the cold embrace of this place. I can only hope that our replacements arrive before I go insane.

My Mind’s Eye: Memories of the Post Oil War Era

2008-08-22T07:38:00.000-07:00

A New Middle Age

I was ten years old and not able to comprehend the situation. During the day I would play with the other children. At night we would have to return to the safety within the city walls. Gunfire and explosions were the soundtrack of my childhood. They were nothing more than fading noises barely heard by someone who was used to them. Like a person who has lived near train tracks for years barely registers the sounds of a passing locomotive.

We lived on the outskirts of Chicago. The useless skyscrapers were the backdrop of many days spent roaming the fields and exploring abandoned towns. Many of the buildings were torn down; the materials used to build the wall that separated us from our enemies beyond.

Prisoners of war would be brought into the city on occasion. I asked my father what would become of them and he would reply that they would be interrogated then hung. I asked him why and he said that ammunition was too valuable to waste on executions. No, I said, why must he die? Because he is starving just like us, he would reply.

I didn’t understand until I grew into manhood but it soon became clear. Food and water was gold. Cities were fighting other cities for crops and fertile land. I grew up knowing nothing else but my father told me tales of cars and planes and concrete highways stretching from coast to coast. It was all because the oil ran out he would say. We thought it would last forever but when it ran out we were like children without their mothers. We were lost and confused without our Sport Utility Vehicles.

I asked him what a Sport Utility Vehicle was but he said it didn’t matter. What mattered was that we learn to live without luxury. He said if we could survive with what we had inside a five mile radius we would be just fine. I didn’t understand at the time but I do now.

My family was one of the lucky ones. My father was a farmer. We were treated like kings. I never went hungry and wanted for nothing in my younger years. Other children would ask me why my face and clothes were clean and why I didn’t have to work. I shrugged my shoulders. I didn’t know.

Other families were starving. Children of six and seven years old had to work in the fields all day harvesting or planting crops. Their pay was a meager meal at the end of their work day, almost always at dusk. To them it was a feast; to me it would have been a snack.

The winters were harsh but my family was warm and fed well to keep us safe for the next growing season. My father taught me the trade as I grew. He taught me how to spot a good field, how to rotate crops for the best return, how to spot disease and insect damage. He showed me the ways of cultivation, plowing and growing until it was time for the harvest. He said this knowledge would ensure my children’s survival. He was right.

Sunset Chapter 1 now available for download!

2008-08-06T11:31:00.001-07:00

Download Chapter 1 of Sunset in pdf format here.

Sunset: Survivors

2008-07-28T15:08:00.000-07:00

Chad Grable Wichita, KS October 5th, 1991
I made up my mind that I would go today before it gets dark. It took awhile to convince myself but I finally found the courage. I went out to the garage and set up the step ladder in the center of the floor. Above the ladder was the opening to the storage in the rafters. I climbed up to the cubby hole in the ceiling and pushed open the plywood that covered the entrance. Dust bunnies and mouse droppings fell down in my hair and on my shoulders. I did the nervous gross me out dance and shook my head and arms to get the filthy things off of me.

I climbed another rung and stuck my head up into the hole. The attic was dusty and full of cobwebs and it made me want to sneeze constantly. I felt around for the pistol I had hidden up there when we got back from camping last year.

Read more...
http://ithappenedatsunset.blogspot.com/2008/07/sunse-survivors.html

Hubbert's Peak: Prologue

2008-07-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

Prologue

By the year 2020, the United States was able produce 10 million barrels of oil each day in country. To sustain its economy, it had to import an additional 15 million barrels consuming 25 million barrels a day. This means that the United States consumed two thirds of the oil the world was able to produce.

Commuting from suburbia to the city for work and school is commonplace. Fruit and vegetables are trucked from farms hundreds of miles away to local grocery stores. Large sport utility vehicles make up over one third of the new vehicle market in the United States. Not only do sport utility vehicles generate higher volumes of pollution, they also typically get seven miles per gallon less than standard size vehicles.

Read more...
http://hubbertspeakcrisis.blogspot.com/2008/07/hubberts-peak-prologue.html

Sunset: Survivors

2008-07-09T10:39:00.000-07:00

Amir Baghira New York, NY October 4th, 1991

After it happened I walked the streets for hours in a daze. The cold rain continued into the evening. I was frozen and chilled to the bone. Smoke poured from some buildings while others appeared untouched by the disaster. I can’t help but think of it that way, a disaster. If I would have been responsible for the deaths of all these useless sheep it would have been a glorious triumph. Since it was some freak act of nature it is a disaster.

The city lights were still on but nothing moved. The twisted metal of automobile crashes lay in huge dripping heaps. Some smoked, some burned and others sat in silence showered by the rain and streetlights. Of course there were bodies literally everywhere. Thousands of them. I had to weave and jump to avoid them. Occasionally I had to walk on top of parked cars for half a block to avoid stepping on them.

Read more...
http://ithappenedatsunset.blogspot.com/2008/07/sunset-survivors-5.html

Sunset: Survivors

2008-07-02T09:01:00.000-07:00

Stan Howard Las Vegas, NV October 4th, 1991

After Stan made it back to his room, he sat on his bed and stared at the wall for six straight hours. The shock of what he had seen overwhelmed him. Stan drifted in and out of a conscious state for those hours. Occasionally he was aware of where he was. When in a deeper state of shock or denial, Stan’s mind went to his home town of Clear Creek, Wisconsin in the south eastern part of the state.

Clear Creek was a town of about twenty two thousand people. Stan grew up there with his brother and parents in a middle class house in a middle class neighborhood. For the first thirteen years of his life, Stan had a pretty normal childhood. On one cold Saturday in January, normal became the last word Stan would use to describe his childhood.

Read more...
http://ithappenedatsunset.blogspot.com/2008/07/sunset-survivors-4.html

Hubbert's Peak: Synopsis

2008-06-25T13:28:00.000-07:00

Oil

For such a funny and tiny word, it held so much power. It made millionaires out of some people while it starved others. It started and ended wars. It even made some countries rich while it held others hostage. When it was gone, civilization dried up with it.

We thought the oil crisis of the nineteen eighties was bad. Compared to this it was a minor inconvenience. The last two countries on Earth to have derricks producing oil were Iraq and Saudi Arabia. These two countries became the hottest properties on Earth. Millions of people died trying to hold these zones against numerous enemies. All of this occurred so someone could control the market on a gooey, sticky, black substance that took millions of years to create.

Hubbert's Peak

Sunset: Survivors

2008-06-23T06:28:00.000-07:00

Amir Baghira New York, NY October 3rd, 1991

My last day on Earth. Please let my last day on Earth please Allah. I have nothing left to live for. So I give my life for Allah and the al Qaeda. My family perished at the hands of a faceless and godless government. Now I am alone save for my new brothers.

Yesterday I received my final instructions. Drive the van to 26 Federal Plaza. Park as close as you can to the building. Wait for the end of the work day. (This way the streets will be full of cattle unaware of their imminent slaughter.) Detonate the explosives. Get busy with my 72 virgins. Man, they better be right about the virgins.

Read more...
http://ithappenedatsunset.blogspot.com/2008/06/sunset-survivors-3.html

Sunset: Survivors

2008-06-17T07:47:00.000-07:00

Two Days Earlier

Stan Howard Las Vegas, NV October 3rd, 1991

I can’t believe this is happening, Stan thought. I have never been an overly lucky guy but this is ridiculous.

Stanley Eugene Howard was the senior programmer at a prestigious software company located in Northern Phoenix. He had driven up to Las Vegas the night before. It was a long drive but Stan found it very relaxing. He could not relax at work. His boss was an asshole and was always on Stan’s back. Stan could not possibly work any harder or any more hours than he already was. This vacation was a way to blow off some steam before returning to the rat race in a few days.

Now Stan stood at a crap table in one of the biggest casinos in Las Vegas. He had held the dice for almost an hour. Twelve passes in a row. He was up almost $22,000. He could not lose. No matter where he put his money, the number would come up. $50 hard four. Hit it. $100 crap. Hit it. $500 yo. Hit it. $1,500 on the pass line. Needs a six. Rolls a thirty-three. The money was just pouring in.

Read more... http://ithappenedatsunset.blogspot.com/2008/06/sunset-survivors_17.html

Sunset: Survivors

2008-06-12T08:45:00.000-07:00

Chad Grable Wichita, KS October 5th, 1991

I knew this was going to happen. Well, not this exactly but I knew something was going to happen. They all laughed at me and told me to move to Montana with those militia people. Who’s laughing now? Those fucking militia guys are probably running the state up there. They were prepared. They knew something like this was going to happen. So did I. I could have been more prepared but it’s not like I was totally unprepared. I have a gun. No one knew I had a gun but I do. I was afraid to tell anyone. I figured they would rat me out to my parents or someone.

Read more... http://ithappenedatsunset.blogspot.com/2008/06/sunset-survivors.html

Sunset: Synopsis

2008-06-10T12:23:00.000-07:00

Synopsis

Follow the path of three different men in three different cities as they deal with the end of civilization as we know it. In a matter of hours, ninety eight percent of the Earth’s population was exterminated. Forty eight hours later, the dead have disappeared.
For the survivors, existence has become a massive struggle. However, survival becomes much more difficult after……

Sunset