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Welcome 2024! 12 Gifts for the 12 Days of Christmas

Zombie Turkeys Laughter 2021 Reviews

Welcome 2024! 12 Gifts for the 12 Days of Christmas. I’m author Andy Zach and I’ve got the latest reviews, free, and discounted books for you! Let’s start with the reviews!

You may be familiar with the 12 days of Christmas song. The actual 12 day festival ran from December 25th to January 6th, also known as Epiphany, when Christians celebrated the appearance of the wise men or magi from the east.

Here’s the song:

12 Days of Christmas

Welcome 2023 – A Partridge in a Pear Tree

What is my writing is like a Partridge in a Pear Tree? How about a turkey in a tree? This excerpt from Zombie Turkeys.

First Draft Complete
Welcome 2024
Zombie Turkeys fly to escape to Zombie Turkey hunters

“Come back for more?  Eat fire and die!”  She sprayed napalm ferociously. It didn’t ignite. The spark ignition failed. Without thinking, she leapt toward the nearest tree, shedding the useless tank with a shrug of her shoulders. In case she needed any additional motivation, the turkeys pecked her butt all the way up.

The turkeys did not give up trying to get her in the tree. They kept flying up and attacking her. She wielded her Bowie knife. That was Rulon’s gift to her. He had it inscribed “To Lashon, from Rulon.” After about ten minutes of fighting them off, her arm was getting tired. She switched to her left arm. She wasn’t particularly dexterous with her left, but she didn’t have to be. Twenty pound turkeys who flew straight at you didn’t require much precision to strike. The most disheartening thing was, she’d stab one through the heart, have it drop fifteen to the ground with a satisfying “Thud!”, and then have it stagger to its feet five minutes later and fly back up fifteen minutes later.

Welcome 2024 – Two Turtledoves

Did you enjoy our free excerpt? Great!

But where can I find two turtledoves in my writing? I don’t have any. But I have two chipmunks from my villain in My Undead Mother-in-law

SciFi Story Fuel My Undead Mother-in-law
Welcome 2024
My Undead Mother-in-law cover.

Hundreds of miles away, Vik Staskas smiled to himself. Nothing like bringing his objects of interest directly into his reach. Vik was not a sentimental man, but he had a fondness for his cyborg chipmunks since they were his first cyborg animals he had created for his Ph.D. A computer chip listened, saw, and transmitted via 4G cell phone network to his cell or the nearest computer screen in his network. While one chipmunk listened above their office, another had chewed a hole in the ceiling and watched them and Lisa’s large computer screen. Vik whimsically named them Alvin and Theodore.

But this free excerpt is not your only gift: Have a free copy of My Undead Mother-in-law! Just click here.

All I ask is that you review the book after you’re done.

And here’s a review for you:
Brad Secrest
 61 reviews

November 21, 2023

Great story! This is a hilarious Superhero Zombie bit of fun. All of the characters are fantastic. You’ll fall in love with at least 10 of them. 🙂 Highly recommended for the humorous sci-fi zombie lover.

Welcome 2024 – Three French Hens

Zombie Detective cover
Zombie Detective cover.

I don’t have three French hens for you either. But I have three detectives in my Zombie Detective novel. And they’re in New York City, so that’s like the ‘French Connection’.

Sorry, that’s the best I can do!

Check out the excerpt:

“I’ll have you meet the detectives on the case.” He pressed his comm. “Tammy? Send in Boxer and Poodles.”

“Your detectives are named Boxer and Poodles?”

“Boxer is his real name. Ted Boxer. ‘Poodles’ is a nickname for Penelope Palmer.”

“I’d think she’d go by ‘Penny.’”

“She hates Penny. Don’t ask her why. Wait till you see her.”

The pair entered. Ted Boxer was a smiling, handsome man in his forties with short blond hair combed back from his forehead. Penelope, or Poodles, was half a head taller than Ted, with long legs and arms and curly hair englobing her head in a sphere of ringlets.

“Boxer, Poodles, this is Sam Melvin. I told you he’d be helping.”

“Pleased to meet you, Sam.” Ted pumped his hand vigorously.

“Likewise.”

Sam looked to Poodles. She had an attractive brown face with a serious, almost stern look.

“I don’t do glad-handing. I don’t like people in general.”

“Uh, OK. So I should call you Poodles?”

“That’s my name.” She looked reproachfully at Sam, like he should know better.

Your other two gifts? Get two discounted books for .99 Zombie Turkeys and Secret Supers

Welcome 2024 – Four Calling Birds

I’ve got four calling birds for you–and a lot more.

In Paranormal Privateers, my zombie turkeys have been weaponized by the undead mother-in-law and used–well, you’ll see in the following excerpt.

SciFi Fuel Paranormal Privateers
The cover of my third novel Paranormal Privateers. Click to get yours.

Looking at Lulu and Sharon, I said, “I’ll take half the animals and go to the left around the main base. You go the other way. Try not to kill anyone unless it’s absolutely necessary. You know how pro-life we are.”

The zombie animals all obeyed human zombies, but not much else. They could follow simple commands: “This way,” “Stop,” “Left,” “Right.” The corgis were the most obedient, the turkeys the least. They knew not to eat people without permission—barely. The bulls followed heel and leg direction like horses—eventually.

The corgis and bulls raced around the compound with us. The zombie turkeys milled outside the walls, eating anyone who sought to flee. As we caught people, I directed them to lay down on the ground and I tied them up with the zip ties I had picked up in the garage. I encountered steady gunfire, but after it proved completely ineffective against us zombies, people just started running. I pursued.

What else do I have for you? How about free audiobooks. Click to get any or all of Zombie Detective, My Undead Mother-in-law, Paranormal Privateers. The offer is good until I run out of free codes for you.

Welcome 2024 – Five Gold Rings!

Do I have five gold rings for you? No, but I have several billion dollars stolen by my criminals in Secret Supers in Space.

Read a little about it in this excerpt:

Welcome 2023

We arrived at the top. “Time to ship out the Supers.” Papa Smith hauled out Aubrey and Jeremy. I unloaded Kayla and Dan. We lined them up on the floor.

“It’d be so easy to eliminate them here.”

“Yes, Loretta, but the consequences will follow us. And there’s no money in it. Think of each of them as a billion dollars.”

“Nice idea, Papa.”

There’s four more gifts with this one!

You can get your free review copy by clicking here.

Get your discounted signed copy by clicking here. Free shipping from the author.

How about a free audiobook or two? Get your Secret Supers in Space by clicking here!! You might as well pick up your free Villain’s Vacation while you’re at it.

Welcome 2024 – Six Geese a-laying!

You might guess that I don’t have geese a-laying, any number. But I do have zombie turkeys laying eggs. In fact, I have a whole sub-plot devoted to it–int two different books.

Let’s give you the Zombie Turkeys excerpt:

“Approximately one hundred fifty thousand domestic turkeys have gone zombie, and approximately one hundred thousand wild turkeys. The National Turkey Institute has bred zombie turkeys and discovered their growth cycle is vastly accelerated. The eggs hatch faster, the poults grow faster and are dangerous within three weeks. There are an estimated one hundred thousand new zombie turkeys added to the flocks ravaging Illinois since the plague began at the beginning of November.

“Furthermore, not only are the zombie turkeys resistant to damage, and not only do they regenerate quickly, but once regenerated, they are two to three times stronger than normal turkeys.

“Citizens are advised to stay within their homes.  Those with bunkers or air raid shelters should stay in them until further notice. Those on the road to Illinois are advised to stop and return home. The Federal government has stopped all road, sea, and air traffic to Illinois. The US Army, Marines and Air Force are currently conducting operations against the zombie turkeys and expect to eliminate them within a week.

Four more gifts Below

Aside from the free excerpt, you can listen to Zombie Turkeys, Zombie Detective, My Undead Mother-in-law, Paranormal Privateers, and Oops! on Audible for free. Be sure to check out my great voice actors, Phil Blechman and others. There’s a link to Audible by each book cover.


Your Thirteenth Literary Gift Andy Zach Newsletter Zombie Detective Audiobook
Audiobook cover – click to listen.

Then we have:

My Undead Mother-in-law


July Joy My Undead Mother-in-law
Click to listen to My Undead Mother-in-law


Welcome 2023
More Good Things

Welcome 2023
Andy Zach Newsletter
Oops! audiobook cover Click to listen now.

Next is Paranormal Privateers Click to listen

After that, you’ve got Oops! Tales of the Zombie Turkey Apocalypse

Six More Days of Gifts to Come

I’ll make another post for the last twelve days of Christmas by Sunday, January 7th, 2024. I have a lot more gifts and discounts for you!

If you have any questions or comments for me, leaven them here.

Buy any of my books directly from me at my store. Click here.

Or buy them from my Square site. Click here.

Finally, you can go to Amazon and get them.

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Best 5 Books I’ve Read This Year – of 158

Best 5 Books

Best 5 Books I’ve Read This Year – of 158. Yup, I read 158 books this year. Go to my Goodreads page to see them. Click here.

I won’t put them in any order, other than chronological. My absolute favorite book I’ll save for last.

Best 5 Books I’ve Read This Year – The First

Let’s start with a fabulous fantasy novel. I have included my review for you.

Best 5 Books

January 11, 2023

Patricia McKillip practices her craft of writing fantasy at the highest level in this atmospheric depiction of a city, Ombria, rocked by the death of its regent, Royce. The mysterious and manipulative Black Dominia immediately orders his mistress, Lydea, out on the streets, presumably to die. Lydia, a beautiful former tavern wench, makes her way across the dangerous city at night to her father’s tavern. A mysterious girl, Mag, helps her.

Mag was raised by a sorceress, Faye. Faye stays in the shadows of Ombria, content to sell her spells to the highest bidders–including the Black Dominia.

Ms. McKillip introduces more colorful characters, without explaining the magic they exercise at all. The complex political and magical mystery continues until the end when the mystery pops like a bubble.

This is a must-read for any fan of fantasy with vivid characters.

Best 5 Books I’ve Read This Year – The Second

We move from fabulous fantasy to funny fantasy. Or maybe, a fabulously funny fantasy that’s famous?

Best 5 Books


Andy Zach

Author 10 books93 followers

February 20, 2023

I re-read this book for the fourth time, the second time since I became an author, and I love it even more!

This is the first book in Terry Pratchett’s Disk World series, so he sets up his magical system (magic is a color of light), his fantasy world (a flat world on the back of four elephants, standing on the back of a space turtle) and his characters (Rincewind, a magician with only one spell he can’t use. Cowardly and good at running away) (Twoflower, a classic tourist, with limitless chest of gold, no fear, and endless curiosity), (The Luggage, a suitcase with legs, mage of sapient pearwood, invulnerable and clever). And those three are merely the protagonists.

I won’t spoil any of the insane plot, but suffice it to say, that Pratchett satirizes nearly every fantasy trope and many conventions of our current culture.

This fourth time around, I was writing my own fantasy novel/series and I looked at how Pratchett started out his series. It was a ripping good start, with unending action and interesting characters from the beginning. Who doesn’t like Death as an animated skeleton and a lugubrious voice?

Best 5 Books I’ve Read This Year – The Third

We come to my first favorite SciFi novel and it’s a goody.

Best 5 Books
Review of On Basilisk Station

Andy Zach

Author 10 books

93 followers

July 20, 2023

It’s been six years since I last read this book. This is the third time I’ve read it and I enjoyed it just as much as ever.

Honor Harrington just got her first command of the light cruiser Fearless. She’s 5 years younger than her executive officer Allistair McKeon and he hates her for it. But he’s just the start of her problems.

The admiral in charge of new weapons has halved her missiles in exchange for a grav lance. It’s a deadly weapon, but it only works at close range. Too bad the lightly armored cruiser is unlikely to survive any close-range encounters. Basically, the light cruiser is crippled, with only half of its offensive power.

Honor manages to use the grav lance once to destroy a superdreadnought in fleet practice maneuvers, but everyone then is out to destroy her. So the ship gets destroyed endlessly in fleet practice, depressing the crew.

Then the ship is assigned to the backwater of Basilisk Station. There the commanding officer, Pavel Young, was beaten up by Honor while they were in the Space Academy together because he tried to rape her. He had to apologize for sexual innuendo, but no one knew the full reason for his beating. He hates her guts.

Then he leaves her in charge of the entire station while he takes his ship to be repaired. It’s too much for one light cruiser to fulfill all the responsibilities, so she’s sure to fail and get a black mark on her record.

Only no one tells Honor that. This is where the story gets good.

Don’t miss this book or the series.

Best 5 Books I’ve Read This Year – The Fourth

Now onto another genre: detective mystery!

Best 5 Books

Andy Zach

Author 10 books

93 followers

September 24, 2023

Truly a 5-star mystery book! First, you have Lord Peter Wimsy, well-dressed, polite, knowledgable, with a wide streak of mischief and irreverance.

But he goes incognito, as Death Bredon, an aspiring copywriter for Pym’s Advertising. Why? A man died falling down their iron spiral staircase. It’s steep, with narrow, slippery stairs, so why is it a murder?

Death investigates not just the murder, but the whole office of gossipy ad writers, typists, and helpers. There are dozens of delicious characters for the reader to explore.

This mystery is still selling after 90 years should tell you it’s really, really good. It’s also a time capsule looking at England in between the wars.


Best 5 Books I’ve Read This Year – The Fifth

My fifth book is in yet another genre. And I’m cheating: it’s not really a single book, but a collection of sixty-six books I’ve read all my life: The Bible.

Now, you may dislike or may be apathetic about the Bible, but I predict you may be entertained by my reviews. I treat each book in the Bible as a separate book and review them as I would a novel. Let me give you a few:

Book Cover

January 19, 2023

‘Genesis’ is Greek for beginning. It’s translated from the first word of the Bible, bereshit in Hebrew, which means ‘in the beginning’.

Genesis covers the beginning of time and the universe, of mankind, of marriage, and of good and evil. And that’s just the first three chapters.

After Adam and Eve sinned, their story continues as mankind grows more and more evil, until the flood comes and God starts again with Noah’s family, the ark, and the flood.

After the fresh start, guess what? Man sins again. This time God confuses their language at Babel, creating the multiplicity of languages we have today.

Is there any hope in all this evil? Yes, God promises to bless all mankind through Abraham and his family. Through him will come the Messiah Who will solve the problem of sin and evil and crush the devil’s head.

But that’s the rest of the Bible.

Another Favorite Book Within My Favorite

Psalms is one of my favorite books in the Bible. Read how I rave about it in my review:

Andy Zach

December 31, 2023

Amazing. The Bible’s books of psalms encompasses one hundred and fifty of the finest Hebrew poetry from 3,400 years ago to about 2,400 years. What’s so great about Hebrew poetry? Imagery.

When I look unto the heavens, which thine Own fingers framed,
Unto the moon and to the stars, which were by thee ordained,
Then say I, “What is man that Thou, should be mindful of him?
Or what the Son of Man that Thou, so kind to Him should be?”
Psalm 8, from a hymn.

The book of Psalms is full of images and phrases that are part of the fabric of our society.
Consider the world-famous 23rd Psalm

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.

My Favorite Continued

But beautiful imagery is not all. The Psalms are full of fulfilled prophecies, like Psalm 22 where you find six fulfilled prophecies in 18 verses:

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Jesus’ words while on the cross)
Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?
2 My God, I cry in the daytime, but you don’t answer;
in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But you are holy,
you who inhabit the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in you.
They trusted, and you delivered them.
5 They cried to you, and were delivered.
They trusted in you, and were not disappointed.
6 But I am a worm, and no man;
a reproach of men, and despised by the people.

More Fulfilled Prophecy Below


7 All those who see me mock me. (Verses 7-8 were fulfilled by those mocking Jesus on the cross)
They insult me with their lips. They shake their heads, saying,
8 “He trusts in Yahweh;
let him deliver him.
Let him rescue him, since he delights in him.”
9 But you brought me out of the womb. (Jesus being conceived and born of a virgin by a miracle)
You made me trust at my mother’s breasts.
10 I was thrown on you from my mother’s womb.
You are my God since my mother bore me.
11 Don’t be far from me, for trouble is near.
For there is no one to help.
12 Many bulls have surrounded me.
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
13 They open their mouths wide against me,
lions tearing prey and roaring.
14 I am poured out like water.
All my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax;
it is melted within me.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd.
My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. (Jesus’ words on the cross ‘I thirst’ prophesied)
You have brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded me.
A company of evildoers have enclosed me.
They have pierced my hands and feet. (A prophecy of Jesus’ crucifixion, before it was invented)
17 I can count all of my bones.
They look and stare at me.
18 They divide my garments among them. (A prophecy of Roman soldiers gambling over Jesus’ clothing)
They cast lots for my clothing.

But you have to find out for yourself. Read the book of Psalms looking for imagery and prophecy, fulfilled and to be fulfilled. It’ll transform your experience.

What Can Top The Best 5 Books?

Free gifts! I gave away literary gifts from December 1 to December 25 to celebrate Advent 2023. These include free books and free excerpts. Enjoy them below. Don’t forget to get free audiobooks from me by clicking here.

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Get Your Free Excepts from Secret Supers in Space – Advent 3

Produce Your Audiobook Secret Supers in Space

Get Your Free Excerpts from Secret Supers in Space. I’ve got four excerpts for you as my Advent Day 3 gift to you.

Get Your Free Excepts – Meet Jeremy and Dan

Meet My Heroes 
Get Your Free Excepts
Jeremy using his telekinesis

“What are you doing, Jeremy?”

Startled, I looked up from my computer and turned around in my wheelchair. My best friend, Dan, had slipped silently into my lab. I still thought of it that way, but we’d made it into the Secret Supers clubhouse almost a year ago. Dan’s round, brown face smiled down at me while his tall, wide frame loomed behind me. His dark glasses hid his blind eyes.

“I didn’t hear you come down the elevator.”

“I took the stairs. Your mom made cookies, so I came over. I could smell them from my house.”

“You mean, you could smell them from my mom’s thoughts?”

“And your’s and your dad’s. You were all excited, so I couldn’t help myself from taking a sniff from your mom’s nose. I didn’t snoop any further than that.”

“I know you respect everyone’s privacy with your mindreading power.”

Meet My Heroes
Get Your Free Excepts

“Except maybe yours. You did permit me to read yours anytime. But I haven’t read your mind about what you’re concentrating on. C’mon, tell your old friend Dan.”

“Don’t tell anyone. I want to surprise the Secret Supers.”

“Of course not. Now I’m dying to know!”

“I’m applying to Space Camp.”

“What’s Space Camp? I can hear the capital letters in your voice.”

I spun my wheelchair around to face him. “What’s Space Camp? It’s the greatest camp there is! We’re all bored out of our minds now that August has started and we want to do something. Space Camp teaches you all about our space program. You learn about astronauts and rockets. You go on a centrifuge and experience zero-g and moon gravity.

Get Your Free Excepts – Meet Kayla

Meet My Heroes
Get Your Free Excepts

“Now I know, so we might as well let Kayla and Aubrey know.”

I glanced at my screen clock. “Ten thirty. I can call Kayla, but Aubrey’s at her summer baseball practice.” I speed-dialed Kayla.

“You don’t have to put her on speakerphone. I can read her mind,” said Dan.

I laughed. “You read my mind. I was ready to do that.”

Hello, Jeremy. Kayla’s voice sounded in my mind. Kayla had spinal meningitis and could no longer talk or walk without a walker. I felt sad when I heard her high mental voice, sounding just as she used to talk before losing it.

“Hi, Kayla. I’ve got big news for you and Aubrey: the Secret Supers are going to Space Camp!”

Sounds like fun. I assume it’s all paid for and our parents are on board?

 “Right. I researched it, then my parents contacted yours, Dan’s, and Aubrey’s, and everyone agreed. Just now, I applied and got approval. We’ll be gone for a week.”

When?

“The last week in August, just before Labor Day.”

Now I have something to look forward to, instead of another sweltering day. How long does it last?

“A week. We arrive on the last Sunday of the month and leave on Friday.”


Get Your Free Excepts – Kayla – Part 2

Meet My Heroes
Get Your Free Excepts

I suppose you want me to tell Aubrey. I’ll give her the message to come over to our Secret Supers room, and we’ll all surprise her when she comes in.

“Great idea, Kayla!” I grinned.

Dan’s head snapped up from the phone and then he leaned back down. “You can tell her now. Her practice was canceled because of a thunderstorm. Boy, is she grumpy!”

“Baseball’s the love of her life,” I said. “A new adventure will cheer her up.”

All right, I told her to meet us there. She’s riding her bike straight from practice.

Dan placed his hand on his head like he does when he’s listening telepathically. “Uh, oh, Kayla, you’d better hurry. She’ll beat you here.”

I didn’t think of that. Mom’s busy at work. I can’t interrupt her, and I can’t bike anymore.

I straightened in my wheelchair. “Let me give you a lift—literally.”

Now you’re reading my mind, Jeremy. I was just about to ask you for help. Are you sending your flying car?

“Nope.  Just put on your Secret Supers outfit and I’ll fly you over.”

“I’ll put on mine. It’s here in my backpack.” Dan slid it off his shoulders.

I hadn’t noticed Dan’s backpack.  I turned to my phone. “We’ll make it a full club meeting. This’ll be the first time we’ve worn the new costumes your mom made for us, Kayla.”

I modeled mine for Mom. They fit a lot better than the store-bought ones we had, and they’re much sturdier. The old ones were pretty scuffed up.

“Something about fighting ten-foot robots does that.” Dan grinned.

Get Your Free Excepts – Meet Aubrey

I yelled from the bathroom as I dressed telekinetically, pulling the tights over my legs twisted by a lifetime of cerebral palsy. It did fit better than the old uniform. Even the boots went on better. I loved the material I selected. It was completely air tight and waterproof. It fit beautifully with the other secret enhancements I’d put in. I wondered when I should tell the others about them.

Of course—

THUMP! THUMPITY! THUMP!

I don’t need to read minds to know that’s Aubrey. No one else pounds as she does down the stairs.

The door to the clubroom burst open. “TA-DA! I’m here. I came here at the speed of light,  on a bicycle.”

Coming out of the bathroom, I saw Aubrey’s tousled blond hair peeking out of her baseball cap. Sweat beaded her broad forehead. Her black mask and red Secret Supers uniform clashed with her green ball cap.  Instead of black boots, her prosthetic legs went to her knees.

I smiled at her. “Aubrey, did you notice how much better these new uniforms fit?”

“Yeah, it doesn’t bind me at all when I run or bike. I could wear it all the time. It’s easy to get on and fits nicely around my stumps. Now tell me what the big news is, Jeremy. Kayla wouldn’t tell me anything!”


Readers Speak About Secret Supers in Space

Great Elementary Super Read

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 21, 2023

4.0 out of 5 stars 

This book could stand on it’s own but in order with the series. Space camp at it’s finest… with an actual space adventure. These are definitely geared for elementary age kids on to about middle school readers. They are a clean fun read with kids with disabilities with powers but being pretty “normal” which I loved. I have a blind daughter and people constantly underestimate her and her abilities or assume she has other disabilities (mental, hearing etc.).

CuteAsADaisy

A Stellar Adventure with a Twist!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 1, 2023

5.0 out of 5 stars 

Andy Zach’s writing takes flight in Secret Supers in Space, propelling disabled teen superheroes Jeremy, Aubrey, Dan, and Kayla into a cosmic summer adventure. Narrator Khai Lannor brings the characters’ energy and determination to life, making this audiobook an intergalactic joyride for fantasy fans of all ages. Buckle up and join the Secret Supers in their gravity-defying mission – this exhilarating journey is one you won’t want to miss!

Nemesis

Click to Meet My Heroes With Your Own Copy!

Produce Your Audiobook
Meet My Heroes
Secret Supers in Space audiobook cover. Click to listen.

Any newsletter subscriber gets free audiobook codes–as long as they last. Click here to get yours. Don’t wait until they’re gone!

Do you want an autographed book? I’ll mail it directly to you with free shipping and I pay the taxes! Click here to get yours. My shipping may not be the same day, but at least it’s free–for you.

What did you think of Get Your Free Excepts? Got questions? Comments? Reach me directly by clicking here. I’ll get back to you as quickly as I can.