Kimberly and her beloved dog Kaya disobey her parents and sneak away from their
underground shelter, intent on exploring a post-apocalyptic world.

Are the teen and her loyal pet ready to face the dangers and horrors of what was left behind?

Bestselling author Scott W. Kimak spins another tale of love, loss, and suspense in this
breathtaking read.

Targeted Age Group:: 12 and up

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
All the authors I've read throughout my life.

How Did You Come up With Your Characters?
They are based on actual people I know.

Book Sample
The axe whisked through the air, removing hair and skin from the hideous creature. Lucky for the fiend, it ducked just in time, absorbing no serious damage. Kimberly sucked in her breath and tried to back-pedal as the little monster lunged forward, digging its teeth into her thigh. She stifled a scream as her chest tightened, pulled in her axe, lifted it high above her head, and brought the handle's butt down on the creature's skull. The crack of bones and a whimpering cry filled the air as the little monster dropped to the ground, lifeless.
Sweat dripping from her brow, Kim darted her eyes to the left and shouted, “Kaya, come here, girl."
The German Shepherd raised and tilted its head, jowls and teeth dripping with blood from the two other monstrosities it had killed. Obedient to its master, the dog left the remains and quickly trotted to Kimberly.
"You poor little baby," the teen replied as she skimmed her fingers through the soft fur on Kaya's head. "Look how nasty those vile beasts made you look. You need a bath."
The eighty-pound Shepherd wagged its tail and started licking the blood from the wound on Kimberly's leg.
"It's okay, baby. It's only a scratch. I'll take care of it."
The brown-haired girl tore the bottom of her already tattered shirt, revealing ripped abdominals that would make any fitness trainer envious. She quickly wrapped the material around her leg, covering the wound, and pulled it into a tight knot.
"See, all better."
Kaya looked at Kim’s face with open eyes and pointed ears, first tilting her head to the right and then back to the left. Then she continued sniffing and licking at the covered area.
"No, Kaya," Kimberly sternly commanded as she picked up her backpack and started to leave the battlefield. "We need to get back to the shelter before it gets dark. — Well, I should say darker. The sky really isn’t light anymore. You know, my parents said before the Last War the sky was clear and blue. The sun was so bright you couldn't look at it, or it would hurt your eyes. Can you imagine that, baby?"
"Woof," Kaya responded in a high-pitched tone.
Reaching down, Kimberly scratched the dog’s mop of short, dark hair. "Oh, I know what you’re thinking. I promised you we would find some other dogs. Yes, I’m sure we’ll find others one day. I know you’re lonely being the only dog at the shelter, but don’t you worry, I’ll find you some friends.”
They continued walking through the dusty landscape, feet, and paws, causing little puffs of brown smoke with every step. The gnarled surface was cracked and wrinkled like an old woman’s face, small lines zigging and zagging in every direction. The sky was covered in dark foreboding clouds, blocking any sunshine and denying nature its right to flourish. A few scarce weeds and bugs seemed to be the only thing Kimberly had seen on her last two adventures. This third trip into the apocalyptic world was no different.
“Is this all that’s left?” Kimberly asked more to herself than her faithful pet. “I don’t know why Mom and Dad are so worried. We haven’t seen anything dangerous. The only thing that has tried to hurt us are those mutated rats, possums, or whatever they were. Besides, they know I can handle myself. Dad trained me in the martial arts ever since I could walk.”
“Woof,” Kaya barked in response as she tilted her head and looked at Kim, ears pulled back.
“See, you agree. They need to stop treating me like a baby. I’m going to be eighteen soon, and then nobody can boss me around.”
“Woof.”
As the sun slowly set, the sky turned off any remaining light, replaced instead by an eerie jet black. Kimberly quickened her pace, her shapely, tan legs began to ache from the workout, and her muscles strained as her feet pounded the uneven ground. Kaya trotted at her side, loyal protector and closest friend.
I shouldn’t have stayed out so late, Kimberly thought. If I’m late for dinner, they’ll know I snuck away.
“You know what, Kaya? — Screw them! I’m almost an adult, and they can’t tell me what to do anymore.”
Just as Kimberly finished her sentence, a shadow appeared in the distance.
The young woman’s lower lip started to tremble.

Author Bio:
Scott Kimak is the bestselling author of the "I call him HIM trilogy. He is also a history teacher and Kung Fu master. He came up with the story “I call him – HIM” when he was a teenager but failed miserably to put pen to paper. It took nearly forty years for him to make a second attempt. This time the words flowed unrestrained. Mr. Kimak lives in Harlingen Texas with the love of his life Diana and their six annoying pets.

Author Home Page Link

Links to Purchase eBooks
Link To Buy After the Apocalypse – The Kim and Kaya Chronicles On Amazon

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In Still Life, bestselling author Louise Penny introduces Monsieur L’Inspecteur Armand Gamache of the Surete du Quebec, a modern Poirot who anchors this beloved traditional mystery series.

Winner of the New Blood Dagger, Arthur Ellis, Barry, Anthony, and Dilys awards.

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surêté du Québec and his team of investigators are called in to the scene of a suspicious death in a rural village south of Montreal. Jane Neal, a local fixture in the tiny hamlet of Three Pines, just north of the U.S. border, has been found dead in the woods. The locals are certain it’s a tragic hunting accident and nothing more, but Gamache smells something foul in these remote woods, and is soon certain that Jane Neal died at the hands of someone much more sinister than a careless bowhunter.

Still Life introduces not only an engaging series hero in Inspector Gamache, who commands his forces—and this series—with integrity and quiet courage, but also a winning and talented new writer of traditional mysteries in the person of Louise Penny.

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