A History of Zombies

Zombies have become a popular fixture in movies, TV shows, and video games in recent years. These undead creatures, often depicted as mindless and flesh-eating, have a rich history that goes back centuries.

The word "zombie" comes from Haitian Creole, where it refers to a person who has been reanimated after death. The idea of zombies originated in Haitian folklore, where it was believed that a sorcerer, known as a bokor, could bring a dead person back to life and control them as a slave.

The first known mention of zombies in Western literature is in William Seabrook's book, "The Magic Island," published in 1929. Seabrook, an American journalist, visited Haiti and wrote about his experiences with voodoo practitioners, including witnessing a ceremony in which a woman was supposedly turned into a zombie.

In the 1930s, zombies started to appear in American horror movies, inspired by Seabrook's book and other stories about Haitian voodoo. These movies, such as "White Zombie" (1932) and "Revolt of the Zombies" (1936), depicted zombies as mindless, undead slaves under the control of a master.

In the 1960s, director George A. Romero revolutionized the zombie genre with his classic film "Night of the Living Dead" (1968). Instead of being controlled by a master, Romero's zombies were reanimated corpses who rose from the dead and spread a mysterious virus that turned other people into zombies.

Romero's vision of zombies as cannibalistic, flesh-eating monsters has since become the standard in popular culture. The term "zombie apocalypse" is now widely used to describe a catastrophic event in which the dead rise and the living are forced to fight for survival.

Today, zombies continue to be a popular subject in movies, TV shows, and video games. From "The Walking Dead" to "Resident Evil," the zombie genre shows no signs of slowing down.

Zombies have a long and fascinating history that dates back to Haitian folklore. From their origins as slaves controlled by sorcerers to their modern portrayal as flesh-eating monsters, zombies have evolved over time but remain a fixture in popular culture.

Purchase the new release Forgotten Princess (Complete Duology) at Midnight Ledger

 

Hey all!

Forgotten Princess Releases tomorrow!

Midnight Ledger is the only retailer of my signed Hardcovers and Paperbacks. Nearly all of my current books are listed there. If you prefer ebooks, you can also purchase ebooks from the site. Take a peek.

Midnight Ledger also sells new and used books. Click the image below to shop!

Happy Reading!

Forgotten Princess Complete Duology available 3/22

 

Forgotten Princess is a sweet YA romance set in Europe. The heroine is a gypsy girl who catches the eye of a young prince. If you're looking for a feel-good story, this one is for you. Forgotten Princess Complete Duology eBook is available for preorder on all platforms (Kindle, iBooks, Nook, Borrow Box, Scribd, Vivlio, KOBO) Kindle Pre-order All other platforms Pre-order You can also borrow this book from your local library.

Deep thoughts on sci-fi-friday

 

The Safest City on Earth

 I've been going through my backlist and sending out reminders of all the free ebooks I have listed. The Safest City on Earth is a piece of flash fiction that inspired the full length novel The Man Who Fell to Earth. Both are available on all eReader platforms.

All other platforms

Amazon

Happy New Year.

 

I don't think I sent out any newsletters in 2020 or posted many updates, so hopefully this will cover it all. It was an interesting year filled with panic, deep thought, and preparation for the future. I hope you all stayed healthy and are hanging in there. Writing was hard to do with the tension of the pandemic and political atmosphere. I can't say it didn't affect my writing. I watched a lot of TV and movies in 2020. My mom always said it would rot my brain but I think it just kept my brain from the fast toilet-flush swirling of everything going on around me. Any who, here we are. I am grateful if you are reading this amongst everything that's going on. Two of my short-stories have finally published (see below). I've been hanging on to both for years. One was meant for a collaboration that never came together, the other was written from a writing challenge and then I was never able to find a home for it-although I did garner some nice reviews from horror journals. Yes, I said horror. Nightmare is definitely the darkest prose I've ever written. Just to warn you all. In 2019 we opened a bookstore: Midnightledger.com. It's only online for now, until we find a storefront and better faith in the economy. Check us out if you want a break from the Zon. I've been reading but not nearly as much as I used to. In 2020 I reread The Border Keeper by Kerstin Hall about 7 times. It is just an amazing fantasy and dark lore read. I highly recommend this book if you love fantasy. The Ballard of Songbirds and Snakes was pretty good, it felt like home being back in Panem so many years after reading The Hunger Games Trilogy. Tor.com Short Fiction for each season was good in 2020. They've had stronger compilations but I always find 1-2 shorts in there that are just so creative. Right now I'm reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab, I'm about halfway through and loving it. I hope to keep reading and limit my distractions, especially since my husband loaded me up with lots of books for Christmas, including The Witcher series (woot woot).  If you follow me on Facebook, I'll be posting a lot of pictures of the stars. I'll also be doing my best to finish the novel I've been working on for the past few years.  Stay healthy and happy. I am grateful for you all. Happy Reading! Meredith (M. R. Pritchard)

Kale is a sixth generation Colony settler. While he’s evolved to survive the harsh landscape of his moon, everyone else has perished. Being alone for seventeen years can weigh heavy on the mind, and when strange things start happening, Kale is sure that he’s losing his. Get your copy here   Clark stands on the precipice of reality and dreams. Dragged from his sleep, is this a nightmare or something more? Get your copy here

Book Review: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

It has been so long since we visited Panem in the original Hunger Games trilogy. I wasn't super interested in learning about Snow's background and about the first 50% of the book was hard for me to really get into but once we get back to District 12 I finally felt right at home. It was nice to see some origins and history and connections to Katniss. Overall, if you're a Hunger Games fan you might like this read.

5/5 stars







Blurb:

It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

The odds are against him. He's been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined - every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute . . . and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.