Tuesday. Slow, rainy. Writing. Deals.

The title sums up my day so far.

Promoting my second published novel Beach Town: Hope as it hasn’t had as many reviews as the first. Would love some more. Really not sure about the 3rd book. I have a plot, start etc. but haven’t wrote anything more than the first chapter. Focusing on Survivors seems to have taken the lead, Survivors Part II was finished before Christmas, I just need to edit the story and then I can unleash it to you all.

Woke up to yet another rain shower this morning, drilling into my ceiling I might add. I live in a top floor apartment, it’s not super loud or annoying but would rather wake to sunshine. I’m sure you all would.

Dawn Of The Dead (1978) Movie Review from Eye for Film

Writing a new short story on Wattpad again. The Mortuary is focused on Gareth as he conducts as autopsy, but then the deceased start to rise from the grave. I might carry on writing this at some point but for now you have a big chunk to read may be part I, or just the full story. Might writer more, see how I feel about it. Of course you also have The Zombie Lands to check out. A slow start, but I guess the dead are slow. The farmer hasn’t really had much luck getting out of the area yet!

Wattpad fans

https://www.wattpad.com/story/331515323-the-mortuary

https://www.wattpad.com/story/331062717-the-zombie-lands


Removed from Smashwords to make it Kindle exclusive. As such it is now always free on Kindle Unlimited! There will be a 5 day free ebook promotion starting tomorrow to boost sales and hopefully… get more reviews. Reviews are needed so if you could leave one I would really appreciate it.

Free eBook deal starting on Amazon tomorrow. Priced at .80p. Free on Kindle Unlimited.

The Civil Servant – A Zombie Apocalypse Tale (Episode 1)

Dale is twenty five, has short dark hair, a stubble, think body and peaks at five ten. He’s a former Royal Navy recruit come drop out, who determined the best bet for a career lay in the civil service. After background clearances, he made it into the crème da la crème – working as a civil servant in Buckingham Palace.

That was two years ago. Now though the story is very different. He lies in wait for a break in the screaming people outside the palace as they are torn to shred by the undead. A break to run, a break from the barrage of tormented cries. His ears, brain and eyes now beaten by apocalypse. A bloody unwinding, undead that stormed streets, ate people and had revolutionary strength.

He’s in the storage cupboard downstairs in the central hall of the palace; deserted of staff, military or royalty. The royalty replaced with gnawing at the gates, of distant peasants who whimper as they meet their gruesome demise. Dale holds his tongue, his breath and his position, with prayers focused on safe passage for the outsiders. Luckily for him the gates of the Palace are impenetrable, and so are the thick walls and doors of the Palace itself.

He’s burdened with one small grey backpack he carried to work, some days ago before the outbreak began. At first staff seemed unmoved, determined to stand ground with the assurance that the British military could overthrow a new, even more deadly type of threat then before. Behold they left en-mass, shaken and laden with betrayal. Dale thought it akin to treason to abandon London, to leave the pinnacle of British society – the Palace of the King. But they had, and he remained. His heart determined not only to survive, but to attempt to establish some sort of base. Given enough time he was sure he could open the gates to survivors.

Time was short, he had little food; his backpack carried a selection of some crisps, a ham sandwich, a chocolate bar and refillable water bottle, stuff he’d brought to work before being forced to ration it. So far he’d had half a bite of the sandwich but soon it would go stale, molded even. The Palace was well equipped though, and his ability to navigate the place were peak condition. He knew where the pantry was, the storage and the emergency storage – somewhere in the basement. The problem was Dale had spent so long in the room, peddled with thoughts of being eaten that he’d not managed to leave it yet. Tonight, or today, that would change. His silver watch on his left wrist showed around five pm, Tuesday, September. British weather being as it was would leave him cold, without heating he’d need some blankets.

The stuffiness of the dim room congested his nose, snot coalesced within his already irritated sinus passage. The smell that of dust and paper. The metal chair uncomfortable, digging into his lower back. He’d try to get out to look around soon, or so he hoped…


Stay tuned for more episodes. This is a story intended to be short, so it won’t be going all adventurous over London. I’ll write about London another time.

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Halloween

Pumpkins and skeletons
black ghoul graveyard foes
bats screech the night down
rising from the ashes
monsters within
cessation of movement

As a trick or treat I’m offering Survivors Part I as a FREE ebook this Halloween. Grab a copy now. 5 day limited time promotional deal!

Saturday Movie Recs

Welcome to this short post on Saturday movie recs. You may recall in the past previous posts on this topic. Of course I will try to add some flavour or variety. All of these are films I like – all of them I recommend – including films in series.

First we have the Mission Impossible series. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 are available and 7 (Dead Reckoning) is coming next year. Wish it was out now!

Resident Evil series – don’t forget the animated series movies too. Don’t forget the newest addition Welcome to Raccoon City!

Inception – I always recommend this movie if you didn’t see it already.

The Wolf of Wall Street

James Bond

2001: A Space Odyssey

Prometheus / Alien / Alien v Predator

Indiana Jones / Back to the Future / Jurassic Park

Avatar

Ready Player One

Doctor Sleep

Pirates of the Caribbean

The Dark Knight Trilogy / Batman movies – either animated or not.

My Short Story is available this coming week 🔞

Out 29th July. **not for under 18** https://www.amazon.co.uk/Our-Home-Thomas-Maxwell-Harrison-ebook/dp/B0B7GVW5XF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3SKRGT2HF3PHI&keywords=in+our+home&qid=1658760167&s=digital-text&sprefix=in+our+home%2Cdigital-text%2C67&sr=1-1

I have a short story coming out this coming Friday on Amazon Kindle. Please go and pre-order, or bookmark and buy on the day of release. Not a typical horror, nor is it something I usually write.

A home invasion suspense / horror short story. Where did the idea come from? Well simple, the home is our safe place and to break that is to ruin someone’s life. Granted that in this story the main characters are in a holiday cottage. This doesn’t mean it isn’t their home though. Okay blurb time:

In Our Home… where we breathe ice.

It’s been six months since prosecuting barrister Kerrie successfully put away Dean Carter for murder. However, as she lives her daily life with her husband Frank and children Daisy and Tilly, she is unaware that Dean is out, and he’s hungry for revenge.

What we witness is a very quick and brutal home invasion. Which I stress is not nice and certainly a form of horror. I put on the description that it’s a horror thriller, because I have no idea how else to describe it. Suspense, well I hope so although the actual invasion is quick and more about what happens inside.

A short story attempt. I initially planned to release under a pen name but decided against it because I’d have to put my real name in the book copyright section.

Warning 🔞

I stress to you all that if you consider reading this that you should be over 18 years old, or the adult equivalent for your country. This is so important. You do not want to read something that might cause you alarm, distress or even trigger flashbacks or bad memories for you. It is simple not suitable for under 18s due to the violent nature and bad language. I also want to add that home invasion movies tend to get a 15 rating, something I strongly disagree with. Due to the psychological impact of such events, whether in fiction or real, these should really be 18. I’ve seen horrific home invasion movies with rape, murder and violence and attacks toward adults and children at 15 age rating, to be left disturbed. Do not read this story. If you are desperate to read a home invasion horror by me then please have some patience because I will likely write another which is intended for a wider audience.


Don’t forget that Beach Town: Survivors is out tomorrow 25th July – with positive feedback from beta readers so far. Please go check that out and keep an eye on the page because I will run a free price promotion soon after launch.

Survivors – Will you Survive?

Have you got what it takes to survive?

Go Pre order for Kindle now. I am releasing on Amazon next week sooner than expected!

“I never thought the apocalypse would be so fucking boring, did you?”

Rose

The zombie apocalypse wiped out most of the population of Beach Town…

… now small pockets of survivors lay scattered throughout, each waiting for salvation, each struggling to make it another day…

… it started with a hit and run incident, quickly it was discovered to be far worse, but the authorities in the town could never have known, it was as bad as this…

… the disease spread over various corners of the globe, devastating the UK, Europe and yet Beach Town, being isolated had in fact been damned without knowing it…

… the bridge to the city was blown, and what remained of the police soon took a dark, supernatural turn when they ran low on food…

… a battle for survival, eventually the escape never proved successful, and now what remains are nothing but hopeful, dying and lonely…

SURVIVORS

Weekly Roundup!

  1. Introduction
  2. Fist Fighting the Undead Continues on Medium!
  3. Pre-Order/add to library – Beach Town: Survivors now!
  4. Beach Town: Survivors coming to Kindle 29th August! Pre-order!
  5. Beach Town: Hope – Now Free on Smashwords!

Introduction

It’s been a hot summer week. Lots has happened and I’ve been writing tons, editing a lot and preparing for an exciting release. It peaked at 30c here today so a far cry from all the heat warnings. Might I add, England could do with a heatwave, but instead the media has instilled more fear upon the masses! Just let us enjoy ourselves!

As you know I’m writing a novella called Dead Reckoning. A completely different kind of horror story than the usual zombocalypse stuff. To aim for a summer release is ambitious but doable at the rate I’m writing it. Of course I need to take account of editing which takes the longest time. Any alpha or beta readers here, then comment below if you’re interested!

I spent a few hours yesterday reading at a cafe in the sun, which was lovely. I went last Saturday too, and might just make my Saturday the day to do that! How did you spend the day?

I wish I could keep up with all your incredible writings and events but life is hectic sometimes you know? How’s things for you?


Fist Fighting the Undead Continues on Medium!

Pre-Order/add to library – Beach Town: Survivors now!

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Beach Town: Survivors coming to Kindle 29th August! Pre-order!

Beach Town: Hope – Now Free on Smashwords!

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Pre-order Beach Town: Survivors! Now!

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1156040

Wow! The day is now here when you can go ahead and pre-order my new upcoming horror, zombie apocalypse tale of survival – Beach Town: Survivors.

What an emotional journey to write this haunting and horrific tale. You will not be disappointed because it is just stuffed full of drama, undead skull crushing and heart ache, fighting and survival that will honestly scare you. Hopefully.

I am so grateful to all of you for your support on this platform. I may not publish on Amazon as they are causing many issues. By pre-ordering you support me, and of course when the time comes if you review then you will also support me!

Lots of love to you all. Honestly, writing this novella was the best thing to happen this year to me. It made me realise that actually yes, I can write a shorter story and still have all the elements I want. Granted the cover is a lot different than one would expect from a zombie apocalypse tale, but the contrast with the serene water and coloured skies to the undead and fighting on the island is lovely.

As mentioned in some previous posts, I do intend to carry this ‘mini series’ on after this novella, having already started the second. Then there is the Dead Reckoning novella. It’s a lot of fun, and I hope you will join me and my stories.

Another Story I’m Hoping to Unleash Over Summer

Welcome to a very sudden and exhilarating post! For me at least. I’ve been slacking on editing Beach Town: Survivors and should have edited it last month in full. But no, still cracking on. Anyway I usually have more than 1 work in progress so I started writing another story. I tend to create a cover early now, as opposed to before when I paid for it.* I am enjoying writing this thrilling and somewhat terrifying tale, a novella. Apparently if I get scared writing it that means it is scary. I doubt it, it’s just a sub genre of horror that scares the hair off my back!

*I think I will design my own covers from now on and stick to eBooks. Sure, physical copies have there place but at the end of the day if I am not going to sell many it defeats the point in having it available in print. Not to mention huge savings and the ability to be a bit more free and creative with your cover.

So I hinted at a cover reveal the other day. Maybe I’m being stupid showing you all this cover, or perhaps too rushed. What it reflects is intended to be left up to you as the reader to figure out. You might see divide, you might unification or you might see absolutely nothing. Good, because I enjoyed putting it together.👇

© T.Maxwell-Harrison

It is a dark tale (literally, dark for the most part) and has vampis (vampires). I am not writing those soft, loveable or humorous kind… I am talking about real, frightening vampires which is exactly what they are and have always been. We’re talking stranded people being attacked viscously by these creatures.

Short quiz question: Do you know what ‘dead reckoning’ means? You might be able to figure out something about the story if you know.

Thanks for reading and please like, comment, reblog and share if you liked this post. *All comments, any, are appreciated and respected provided they don’t insult or degrade people.

Ambitious Endeavors

Welcome to this post about my ambitious yet probably under researched future! Should I spill out my internal organs, hope and life goals to you all? No. Should I share some of my goals with you, and my recent works in the hope you will reciprocate this to me and we can then bask in our own solemn glory? Yes.

It’s always a no, yes game until you find out what you really wanted all along. Perhaps it is okay to be that person sat in the café alone, writing notes, reading and thinking about how you can better materialise your dreams of being a star writer. Cafe’s are public places akin to a pub (public house) so no shame in crafting a story here. Same with libraries, never be afraid of sitting in a library to write. We all have those thoughts that keep up back from performing at our best. When we finally face them we realise something, that they cannot harm us.

Waking at 6am to write for a couple hours or to crank out a couple thousand words a day is good. I talk about schedules and dedication but at the end of your day, you should feel satisfied with your work rather than feeling like you’ve not done enough. Taking breaks are good things, like sitting on your butt at midnight to work through a scene which made no sense until now.

Ambitious is my middle name, writing potential garbage is the game.

— Some loose tongued writer

May I take a moment to say this: if you write, you are a writer! Any style, and platform and any genre. Granted I do like to see dedication and quality in writers, like abiding by the rules and such. What I want to achieve is freedom of expression, not to say to everyone who writes; “hey you can be a writer, just write something, anything.” The reality here focuses on creative writing, fiction writing, those writing novellas, full length novel stories.

I also want to share a new story with you. Yeah yeah, you’ve heard about Beach Town: Survivors a bazillion times since the end of May, but I like the story and will be happy to see it available for people to read (free to read btw). But I managed to finally start a story I’ve been wanting to write for some time, sadly though – and I kindly ask you not to laugh at this – I was genuinely too terrified to begin to write it, for multiple reasons.

It’s horror with supernatural elements. It is a horror story and the bad creatures in it are vampires which I do not like because they scare me. Well, I decided to move onto this as the next novella since it needs writing sooner or later. I’ve already made a cover, which of course may change. No idea when it will be available or if I will release but pretty sure I can write it over the next month. It’s slightly more terrifying than my average horror story, the vamps have small wings, they can levitate and have dark robes. A part of me might not write this. I will definitely absorb you all into the process when I can be bothered, not quite ready to drop the cover yet.