by Chris Pike
“Remember what?”
“That.” Amanda pointed to the ground a few feet away.
Chandler’s eyes tracked to where she was pointing. It was dark and he wasn’t quite sure his eyes weren’t playing tricks on him. He reached for his flashlight.
“What is that?” He shined the flashlight in the direction she pointed. “Is that a…” His words caught in his throat when he remembered. “The python. I remember now.” He looked at Nipper then up at the tree then back to Amanda. “It must have been in the tree. I remember being knocked to the ground. It was so strong. I couldn’t…I called out...nobody came.”
“I came.” Amanda knelt next to him. “Shhh.” She touched his lips, quieting him. “You don’t need to talk. It doesn’t matter.”
“Did you kill it?”
“With one shot from a Colt Python. Luke left it on the dining room table.”
“Poetic justice, don’t you think?” Chandler asked.
“Yes, and for once his messiness came in handy.” Amanda laughed.
“I had this wild dream about you,” Chandler said.
“Oh? What about?”
“You might be embarrassed if I told you.”
“Tell me anyway.”
“First there’s something else I want to tell you. Something I’ve been meaning to say for a long time now.” Chandler patted the ground. “Sit next to me.”
Amanda sat down next to him, tucking her legs under herself.
Chandler flicked the flashlight and shined it in all directions.
“What are you looking for?”
“Luke. I want to make sure he’s not around.”
Amanda looked at him curiously.
“He has bad timing.”
“That he does.”
“Amanda…” Chandler sat up and took her hands in his. “I want you to know I luh—”
Luke came rushing over. Out of breath he asked. “What happened? I heard Nipper barking then a shot. And somebody crying.” His eyes went to the dead python. “What the hell?”
Amanda and Chandler burst out laughing.
“What did I do?” Luke asked.
Amanda and Chandler only looked at him.
“Bad timing?”
“The worst,” Chandler said. “Now get lost.”
“Alright, alright. I’m leaving.” Luke huffed. “Just trying to be a good brother.”
“Take Nipper with you,” Chandler said. “He’s been enough trouble for one night.”
After Luke left with Nipper, Chandler pulled Amanda to him. He leaned into her and pressed his mouth to her and whispered, “I love you.”
She brushed the hair away from his forehead. “Say it again. I’m not sure I heard you the first time.”
“I love you,” he repeated.
“I love you too.”
“Come on,” Chandler said. “I know a secluded place near the river where the grass is soft and where a cypress tree hangs over a cove. We won’t be disturbed.”
“Oh,” Amanda commented. “Sounds tantalizing.”
“Speaking of tantalizing, I want to tell you about the dream I had about you.”
“Was it dirty?” she asked playfully.
Rising, he grinned and invited her to stand. Taking her hand, he pulled her close to him. He leaned into her and whispered, “The dirtiest.”
The End
Behind The Scenes – A Note From the Author
Hi readers, this is Chris.
The inspiration for the EMP Survivor series came to me while traveling across the expansive Atchafalaya Basin Bridge on I-10 on our way to New Orleans. At the time, my youngest daughter was going to Tulane. I wondered what it would be like if a person was lost in the swamp and had to walk out. A simple road trip led to the creation of the series.
When I create characters, it sometimes takes me trying out several names until I finally decide on the right one.
Bad guy Cole Cassel’s name (he’s in Books 1 and 2) was a combination of two players on the Dallas Cowboys team from the 2015 roster. I have had a love/hate relationship with that team ever since I can remember. My parents were huge fans, so I grew up watching them play.
Regarding other character names, I toyed with several names for Dillon Stockdale and Holly Hudson. Their names changed during the writing of the story. Dillon Marshal didn’t sound right (flip it and you’ll understand) and neither did Holly Halliburton. It took me a while to find a name for Cassie, and I tried out several names until the name sounded right.
Since Amanda is twenty-one, I Googled popular baby names in 1995 when she would have been born. The name Amanda immediately struck me as the right name.
When I started writing about Chandler, the name popped into my head so I decided to use it. Then I thought: is that his last name or first name? I decided it was his last name, so I came up with an easy to remember first name…Chris. But it didn’t sound right to call him Chris since I had been writing Chandler. So I decided to keep using his last name.
Regarding the UT Tower scene, I took a tour of the Tower to make sure the descriptions were right. It’s actually quite humbling to stand there in the same place where the real tragedy unfolded in 1966. And yes, several bullet holes are still there.
The neighborhood on Big View where the Chandler family lives is an actual neighborhood on the Colorado River in west Austin, although the Big View Ranch and history is fictional. The Panther Hollow story is real and I stumbled across it while researching the area.
* * *
I have received emails asking me to write faster. I take that as a compliment and a challenge, because with a fulltime job, it’s difficult to put a novel together during spare time. Yet, as empty nesters there is now time to do that.
When the words seem effortlessly put together, when you find yourself reading as fast as you can to see what happens next, then I’ve done my job. If only I could write as fast as y’all can read, everyone would be happy.
During 2016, I wrote and published Books 1 and 2 of the EMP Survivor series, and finished Book 3 that was published in early 2017. Three novels in one year is a lot. Believe me.
Many of you have written asking me how to write. Writing is a skill that can be learned, just like learning math or English, but it takes practice and dedication. The best thing to do is to join a local writers group and connect with writers. Go to a conference and listen to people who have experience.
Above all, you must write.
We all have a story to tell. Somewhere I read this: “Someone out there needs your story.” That is so true. It doesn’t matter what your style is, or how good your vocabulary is, or how many other good writers there are. This is a quote by Henry Van Dyke I keep on my desk whenever I think my writing isn’t as good as any other author: “Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.”
How true is that?
Several years ago I entered my first story in a local writing contest, thinking I had written the next best American novel.
I was wrong. Big time.
Try an F minus wrong, with emphasis on the minus.
When I received my grading sheet I was mad at first, then I read and re-read the judge’s comments. They were right, the story was poor and so was the writing. I was determined to turn it around, so I worked really hard, learning how to write, learning about white space, dialogue tags, pacing, you name it, I tried to learn it. My next entry garnered an honorable mention.
It’s also important to read and to study bestselling authors. How is the story started? How are characters introduced? What about length of paragraphs and sentences? What’s the right balance between dialogue and narration? How is action written? (Short, tight sentences…that’s how).
I’ve found it best to mix things up since too much of anything fatigues the readers, like long paragraphs or chapters that seem to never end. Have you ever opened your Kindle to be greeted by one whole screen of never-ending words? Groan.
That’s what I mean by fatigue.
White space is important because our eyes naturally gravitate to the empty spaces on the page.
Shorter is better in our fast paced life where information is available at the touch of a button. A four hundred page novel by an unknown author is too daunting a challenge for most people, including me. I’d rather buy two books that are two hundred pages each at $3.99 than one gigantic novel at $5.99.
Don’t try to impress people with linguistic gymnastics, just tell the story. They won’t be impressed, and you’ll end up looking like a fool.
Our time is important, so as authors we must write the best first sentence possible. We have to give the reader a clue as to what the story is about, and to end the first scene in a way it alludes to what will happen in the story. Or a plot question needs to be introduced. If none of that is conveyed, readers will go on to another novel, and that’s bad.
I pay attention to reviews because I learn a lot from my readers: what you liked, what you didn’t like, and so for the next book I try to add more of what you want, and less of what you don’t. For example, there are no F-bombs in this book since that is what you asked for. I listened.
So reviews are important.
Please take a moment to post a review.
Emails are important too. If I’ve made a mistake, let me know, especially a fact-based mistake like turning on a kerosene lantern. It’s lit with a match, not turned on as I learned from one of my readers.
I try to write every day, sometimes it’s only a couple of paragraphs, other times it’s four or five pages. So after several months of writing, a novel takes shape.
Some authors outline their story. I don’t. I have an idea then start writing, and the more I write, the more the story takes shape. I get to know the characters, their motivations, problems, anything that makes them who they are.
During the writing of Unknown World, I wrote an entire scene about Chandler coming home from his tour, borrowing his brother’s truck, driving to East Texas where he walks in and finds his girlfriend and best friend in bed together.
It was a great scene, and I tried to find a place for it in the book, but it only disrupted the flow of the story because it was back story—it happened prior to the EMP. It was still an important scene because it allowed me to get to know Chandler better. He’s not as transparent as other characters. He’s reticent and private, and is devastated by the betrayal, turning the pain inward and it nearly destroyed him. If you want to read the scene, email me and I’ll send you the scene.
So even though it killed me to cut 3,000 words, I had to do it. And I think the story is better. What transpired between him and his girlfriend, and how he got over it is conveyed through action and snippets of dialogue.
So, what’s next?
I’m working on Book 4 which will take place in San Antonio where Kate Chandler works as a bartender at the historic Menger Hotel not far from the Riverwalk. Take a minute and Google the Menger. It’s fascinating.
The Alamo is located in the heart of San Antonio, right next to the Menger. So there’s opportunity for plenty of action.
There is so much that can be done with the characters and the settings in Texas and Louisiana. I still want to write a story about Garrett, a character introduced in Book 2. He’s an interesting guy, someone that would become a natural leader, but I may instead wrap up the series in Book 5. We’ll be heading back to East Texas to see how Holly, Dillon, Ryan, and Cassie are doing, plus the cause of the EMP will be revealed. A lot can change in a year, so stay tuned.
Readers, thank you for continuing this journey. And as several characters have said, remember the three F’s: Faith, family, and firearms.
About the Author
Chris Pike grew up in the woodlands of Central Texas and along the Texas Gulf Coast, fishing, hiking, camping, and dodging hurricanes and tropical storms. Chris has learned that the power of Mother Nature is daunting from sizzling temperatures or icy conditions; from drought to category five hurricanes. Living without electricity for two weeks in the sweltering heat after Hurricane Ike proved to be challenging. It paid to be prepared.
Currently living in Houston, Texas, Chris is married, has two grown daughters, one son-in-law, one dog, and three overweight, demanding cats.
Chris has held a Texas concealed carry permit since 1998, with the Glock being the current gun of choice. Chris is a graduate of the University of Texas and has a BBA in Marketing. By day Chris works as a database manager for a large international company, while by night an Indie author.
Got a question or a comment? Email Chris at [email protected]. Your email will be answered promptly and your address will never be shared with anyone.
Unwanted World
Book 4
Unwanted World will be a standalone book continuing the saga of the Chandler family. Stay tuned for the story of Kate Chandler and new character Niko Andrus as they learn to live in this new world. They too will encounter dangerous people and situations. A mid-2017 publication date is planned.
Before You Go…
One last thing. Thank you, thank you, thank you for downloading this book. Without the support of readers like yourself, Indie publishing would not be possible.
I’ve heard from a lot of my readers, and for those who have written to me, you know I always answer your emails. You have taught me a lot with your expertise in electronics, medicine, and basically how things work which is especially needed for your mechanically challenged author. Your encouragement has inspired me to keep writing. Thank you.
Another way to show your support of an Indie author is to write an honest review on Amazon. It helps other readers make a decision to download the book. A few words or one sentence is all it takes.
So please consider writing a review. I will be forever grateful.
Also, this book has been edited, proofed, and proofed again, but mistakes or typos are bound to happen. If you find a mistake, email me at [email protected] and it will be corrected.
Lastly, a big shout out goes to the people who helped with questions, editing, formatting, audio, cover art, proofing, legal advice, encouragement, and everything else that goes into making a book: Alan, Michelle, Courtney, Cody, Felicia, Kody, Kevin, Hristo, Anne, Mary, Mikki, and Mick B.
For my readers who have written me, y’all are the best! You’ve encouraged me and have allowed me a glimpse into your life. I am truly honored. Thank you.
Until the next time, and as one of my readers wrote: Read, enjoy, learn, and save some more food.
All the best,
Chris
