Tag Archive: holidays



My apologies for not posting much lately.  The day after I made the Thanksgiving post a very dear friend who’d been fighting cancer for over a year took a bad turn and we lost her a few days later.  She’d been a part of mine and Helen’s lives for over 25+ years and had been like a sister to both of us.  We’ve been trying to help her husband who is back up in Sacramento (we’re down in the Monterey Bay area) from a distance as best we can.  We’ve been limited in what we could do because Helen just started working with the county and is on 6 months probation and cannot take time off at will, plus she had to finish final exams for her college courses.  Now she’s fighting Bronchitis as well which has made things more awkward for us.

Needless to say there hasn’t been a lot of writing being done.  However, we are still releasing the anthology “The Vampyre Blogs – One Day At A Time” on January 5th (The Twelfth Night Of Christmas) as planned.  In the meantime, we want to wish each and everyone a very Merry Christmas…

A very Blessed Yule…

A joyous Hannukah…

A memorable Kwanzaa…

And in case I don’t get to post again before the the year is out, we wish you all…

Keep writing dear friends.


I had planned on releasing a special short story on Christmas Day for all my readers.  The original idea had been to release it on Smashwords for free, in order for everyone to take advantage of their new Nooks, Kindles, I-Pads, etc.  However due to all a heavy last minute cram everything into the last few weeks of the semester at my university, I never got to do a cover and several other things needed before the story could go up on Smashwords.

So instead, I’ve been releasing the story in chapters on my other blog “The Vampyre Blogs – Special Edition”.  

What makes this story so special is that it involves not only my vampyre character Nathaniel, but several other familiar faces faces from my first published novel “The Bridge”. I set the story sixteen years in the past so as not to conflict with that took place in “The Bridge”.

I’ll continue to release more chapters each day up until Christmas where the story will reach its climax.   Depending on the response I get, I hope to do the same thing next year with a brand new story.

At the same time, I’ll be releasing the current story in its entirety for Kindle, Nook, and other e-books with but with an original artwork cover, proper editing, and possibly some illustrations (fingers crossed).

In the meantime, let the holiday reading begin.  I’m providing links to Parts I and II just below.  Tomorrow I’ll post the link for part III and so on until Christmas day.  I hope you all take advantage and enjoy the story.  Please leave feedback here or over at “The Vampyre Blogs – Private Edition”.so I know what you all thought of the story and your opinions on my releasing it installments.

“Home For Christmas: A Para-Earth Holiday Tale”

PART I: http://thevampyreblogs.wordpress.com/2014/12/22/home-for-christmas-a-para-earth-holiday-tale-part-one/

PART II: http://thevampyreblogs.wordpress.com/2014/12/22/home-for-christmas-a-para-earth-holiday-tale-part-two/

Holiday Greetings Continued…


For those who didn’t know, today will be the shortest day of the year, as well as the longest night.  It is best known as the Winter Solstice.

It has also been referred to as Yuletide in some places.

A lot of the more well known customs such as the Yule Log, Wassailing, Mistletoe and the Yule (or Christmas) Tree are directly associated with this time of the year.  The basic idea being to help preserve life by keeping green things alive inside your house so the sun will return after the longest and darkest night.

*I know this is a very simplified explanation, but I only have so much room in this blog.  I hope to go into deeper details next year.*

So to all my Pagan and Wiccan friends I wish you both a…

HAPPY SOLSTICE

and a
BLESSED YULE

My Daily Holiday Greetings…


For the next few days my blog will be dedicated to wishing people, from many different faiths, holiday wishes.  I’ll do my best to cover as many as possible, but if I overlook anyone, please let me know.

And now I’d like to kick things off by wishing all my readers who celebrate the miracle of oil and lights…

A Happy and Blessed Hannukkah
to you all.

chanukah-600x420


How about one or even two trade paperbacks signed and personalized by the author?

 

That’s right, you can get signed and personalized copies of books one and two in my 5-Star “Para-Earth” series for just $10.00 each, plus $5.00 shipping and handling anywhere in the United States. (For overseas shipping will be more of course, and will depend on the destination).

*I accept Paypal, checks, or money orders*

Just tell me which title(s) you want and if they’re to be signed and personalized. (Some people prefer just signed, which is why I ask).

You can contact me by leaving a message below or by e-mailing me at:

allan.krummenacker@gmail.com

Please note: Normal mailing time is 5-9 days, so order soon to get it in time for Christmas. If there’s a rush, let me know and the shipping price will be adjusted accordingly.  Also, with the holiday approaching the sooner you order the better, so I can get it to you in time.  Or if you like, I can mail the book(s) fully gift-wrapped to the recipient if you wish.

You can take a sneak peak inside both “The Bridge” and “The Ship” at:

http://www.amazon.com/Allan-Krummenacker/e/B00B1W8TEU/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1417970696&sr=8-1

Just click on each title and you can read the first 20 pages for free.

Hoping you’re all enjoying the holiday season, take care and keep writing.


“Okay, so where do I go next?”

That’s the question I’ve been asking myself a lot during the week-long break I had from my studies at CSUMB.  I managed to finally put the 2nd draft of “The Vampyre Blogs – Coming Home” (the new official title of my 1st vampyre novel) and am currently reading it aloud to my wife Helen.  I’m already seeing areas that definitely need more work and rewriting, but her reactions to most of the scenes have been very positive.  Plus she’s also providing me with some feedback on one of the characters who she actually created.  There will be a third and possibly a fourth draft before I unleash anything on my beta-readers.  Luckily I’ve got time since the book isn’t going to be released until next fall at the earliest.

In the meantime I really want to get back to “The Door” which is the third book of mine that will feature Alex, Veronica, Cassie and Julie.  This book will wrap up most of the unanswered questions from “The Bridge” and “The Ship”.  We’ll see the final showdown with the mysterious white-haired man who tried to defend the creature inside the bridge and then followed Cassie and Julie all the way to Santa Cruz.  I will also reveal the ghostly Brandon’s secret and why he has watched over Cassie all her life.  The mysterious return of Rachel’s baby will also be explained, considering she was dying when we last saw her.  But I will also be sowing seeds for future books as well, so expect some new characters and mysteries to be unveiled.

However, for now I must think mainly about my studies at school.  I’ve been taking four classes this semester and three of them do NOT have finals, thank God.  However, my Statistics class has a cumulative final which more than makes up for the others not having final exams.  I must get a 65 or better on the final to pass the class even though I’ve already got a “A” grade in it for all my other work.  I hate classes that have that rule.  It puts so much more pressure on a person.

Anyway the exam is scheduled for December 15th, so less than two weeks away.  So I’ll be doing a lot of reviewing and studying, as well as wrapping up the other classes which also have assignments due before the next two weeks are done.  So as you can see I’ve got quite a lot on my plate already.

I still hope to put out a Christmas short story involving Nathaniel (my vampyre), Jason Cloudfoot (yes this story is being set in the past so he’s still alive), Police Chief Roy Peterson, his new second-in-command Veronica Ross, and a very young Julie.  Expect ghosts (perfect for a Christmas story), mystery, and some touching moments.

Until then, I’ll be posting when I can and probably running holiday sale or two.  So stay tuned.  In the meantime, enjoy the season and keep writing everyone.


 In case you hadn’t heard, I started attending the California State University at Monterey Bay in August and the workload had been fairly manageable, until recently.  Things are heating up and I have less and less time to work on my novels, including “The Vampyre Blogs”.  I had planned on getting the latest draft finished, edited, beta-read, etc. so I could have it out in time for Christmas.

Unfortunately, that is not going to happen.  I’ve said before I will not release a book until it’s had all those things done to it.  Currently, I’m still trying to finish the 2nd draft and I’m still not entirely happy with the piece.  Plus I haven’t even started on a cover for the book.  I have one that I made with the computer.

However, I’m not totally sold on this version really.  I’d prefer to try and do a soft pastel piece and then super-impose this image on top of the scene I create with the pastel.
Furthermore, with the holidays getting closer and closer, there’s not way I could expect any of my beta-readers to go over the book and give me their feedback on the eve of major cooking and shopping.
So I’m putting things off until next year.  Mind you, I’m still going to be posting more mini-stories of my vampyre Nathaniel and his friends over at The Vampyre Blogs – Private Edition.  If you haven’t checked them out yet here’s the link:
At this point I want to let you all know you won’t be without anything new from me this holiday season.  I’ll be putting together a short story that I’ll release through Smashwords just in time for Christmas.  Smashwords carries e-books for Nook, Kindle, Sony, Apple, or even PDF for those who don’t have an e-reader so you can enjoy it on your regular computer, laptop, or even your phone.  This will be a holiday tale that will involve a crossover of sorts.  My vampyre Nathaniel will be interacting with several characters from “The Bridge”.  Who will appear, I won’t say at this time.  Just be assured you’ll be seeing some familiar faces within the pages of that story.
Finally, I want to also let you all know that you won’t have to wait until October or December of next year for my next novel.  As soon as I get a break from university, I’ll be getting back to work on “The Door”, which will star Alex, Veronica, Julie and Cassandra.  The story will take up where both “The Bridge” and “The Ship” ended and will answer a number of questions that have been hanging over both novels, including the secret of Brandon and his white-haired nemesis.
Where will I go with my Para-Earth Series after that?  Well here’s a list for the next 2-3 years and what they will involve:

Mid-2015 “The Door”

Alex, Veronica, Julie and Cassandra face a new threat which is connected directly to Cassandra’s family dating back over three hundred and fifty years.

October/December 2015 “The Vampyre Blogs – Homecoming”

  In 1862 Nathaniel Steward was only sixteen years old.  He left home to fight in the Union Army, knowing the experience might change him.  He had no idea how much it would.  Now, 150 years later, he’s finally coming back to what he thinks is an empty manor.  What he doesn’t know is someone has been waiting, and some ‘thing’ is following him, a being that does no belong in this world.

Mid-2016 “In The Shadow Of The Door”

Cassandra’s ghostly protector Brandon has always been an enigma to many.  Now, we get to hear his story which will lead directly up to the events that took place in my third book, “The Door”.

December 2016, “The Vampyre Blogs – Family Ties”

Nathaniel is back and he’s not alone.  A mystery involving a member of his family has arisen, but so has an old enemy.  New dangers arise that threaten not only those he loves, but his entire hometown.  Like any soldier he will fight to protect his place of birth, but it may cost him his very existence.

Mid-2017 – No Title Yet

Brandon’s story continues as he and his uncle continue to struggle with the family curse that everyone believed was over.  The threat has been thwarted but not ended and time is running out.  Soon the door will be reopened and nothing will be able to stop what will come out of it if they don’t seal it for good first.

December 2017, “Harlequin House”

When Alex was only twelve he entered inside the most haunted place on the planet with a team of paranormal investigators.  Most of the team died before his very eyes and he barely got out with his sanity intact.  Now, twenty years later, he’s going back.  Will he be as fortunate this time?

So there you have it folks.  That’s my plans for the next couple of years.  Most of this will depend on how much time I have to write in between my studies of course, but I’m going to do my best to keep to this schedule.  I hope you like what you’ve seen here and look forward to the books as they come out.
That’s all for now.  Thanks for reading and take care of yourselves.  And as always, keep writing.

“HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL”

     No updates on Kickstarters, or discount books today gang.  Just a few thoughts on this holiday season.

 

     This will be our first Christmas without my father-in-law, and I’ll admit a part of me is a bit apprehensive about it.  But not all that much really.  There is still going to be the family gathering this weekend, where I will see a lot of familiar faces and a few new additions.  My wife’s ‘not-so-little cousins’ have been growing their families and I will be meeting some of those children for the first time.  There will also be others I have not seen in a long while whose presence will be very welcome.  

   

     Although a lot has changed, the love and closeness we all share will still be there, a lot of this came from my father-in-law.  So in his own way, he will be there too.  And I’m really looking forward to that.  

 

     I know the holidays can be a rough time for those who’ve lost someone due to their passing, or just because of distance.  But remember, every person who touches your life with love leaves a bit of themselves with you that cannot be taken away.  That part is yours to keep always.  It’s there to help you in good and bad times.  An old joke that still makes you smile, a gift that was given that you still have, or more importantly fond memories.  

 

   Memories are something we make with others that will always be with us.  Nothing take those away.  We may not always be able to think about them on the spot, because of life’s craziness.  But they are there and keep a part of us warm at all times.  

 

    So this holiday season, try to make a lot more memories… really good ones.  Share love, a laugh, a thought, a dream.  These are gifts not only to yourself but others and can be the most treasured thing you could ever give.

 

    I don’t know if I’ll get a chance to do another post before Christmas or not, but there will be more before this year is over.  I’ll probably be talking about writing and some new developments on the horizon at that time.  

 

     Until then, enjoy the holiday season and may you all have blast building some great memories of the season to carry with you always.

 

    Your friend,

 

    Allan Krummenacker

Update On My Kickstarter…


SEASONS GREETINGS EVERYONE!


First off, I hope you are all finding many ways of enjoying the holiday season.  I know things get hectic around this time of the year and it can get stressful.  So I hope all you are finding joy an comfort in family, friends, cartoons, music, etc.

 

I know there’s a lot going on for everyone at this time, which means I screwed up.  This was definitely not the right time of year to have started my Kickstarter.  Unfortunately, three’s not turning back because once a Kickstarter’s been stared you can’t hit a pause button and then restart it at a later date.  Once it’s been set in motion you have to let it run its full course regardless of whether or not it looks like it will succeed.

 

In my case, the Kickstarter is not doing well and looks like it might fail.  I set mine to run 45 days, and with a third of that time already gone I’ve gotten only 2 pledges totally $30.  My goal for funding the editing job for the “The Ship” is $600.00.  Again, I’ve only got myself to blame if it fails.  A part of me knew darn well that the holidays are a tough time of year for everyone.  I’m a full believer in families coming first, especially at this time of the year.

 

However, I’m not despairing just yet.  I’ve still got 29 days left in my Kickstarter, which means it does not come to an end until January 11th.  With that in mind, I’m still hopeful that I can reach my goal.

 

I’m just glad that no actual money has changed hands.  That’s the way it works with Kickstarters.  Pledged money is only collected at the end of the time frame, and ONLY if the goal is met.  If there aren’t enough pledges then no one is out of pocket.  No money is collected and the person who created the project has to go back to the drawing board.  I learned this only recently myself, when I pledged $5.00 to a project that failed to make its goal.  Nothing was charged to my card and all I lost out on was a project gift for supporting them.  

 

That’s one of the nice things about Kickstarter gifts, you get at least something for your investment.  In my case, a pledge is basically placing an advanced order for a copy of the book in the format of your choice.

 

In case anyone does wish to donate, even just a little to my project, here’s a list of the gifts I have for you:  

 

$2.00 – an advanced PDF copy of the book, several weeks before it is made available to the general public.  This format is great for people without e-readers, because you can read it on your laptop or desktop computer (just make sure your unit can actually read PDF files first though).

 

$5.00 – 1st edition e-copy of the book in whatever e-reader format you need (Kindle, Sony, Nook, Apple, etc.)

 

$10.00 – first edition Trade Paperback copy of the book.

 

$25.00 – signed first edition Trade Paperback copy of the book, plus an e-copy in the e-reader format of your choice (Kindle, Sony, Nook, Apple, etc.)

 

*There are higher levels of pledges offered which you can find on the Kickstarter page itself if you’re interested, I just wanted to post the simpler easier ones here.

 

I know there will be folks out there who wish to help, but can’t even afford to spare $5 or $2, and I say “God bless you and thanks for thinking of me”.  If you still want to help, then please just spread the word about my Kickstarter to others and that in itself could wind up making a huge difference.  

 

The link to the Kickstarter us just below.  Thank you all for reading and sticking with me, and let me finish by simply saying “HAPPY HOLIDAYS to you and yours!”  Enjoy the season and stay safe.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/975056676/editing-my-2nd-novel-the-ship


****HOLIDAY SPECIAL****

 

From now until Christmas Day

 

 

The e-book version of Book 1 in my Para-Earth Series is available for all e-reader formats at Amazon and Smashwords for just $0.99 CENTS!  Within these pages you’ll ecnounter psychics, spirits and an old stone bridge with a terrifying secret.  Mystery, the paranormal and a sci-fi twist similiar to the old Twilight Zone series await you.

 

You can find a number of 4 and 5 star reviews can be found at both Amazon and Smashwords as well as get a sneak peak at the first few pages.  so take advantage of the opportunity to get to know the characters before book 2 comes out in February 2014.

 

For the Kindle version click on this link: http://www.amazon.com/Bridge-Para-Earth-Allan-Krummenacker-ebook/dp/B00B86DR9G/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1385995458

 

For Nook, Apple, Sony, PDF file, and all other e-readers click on this link to Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/272613

The Bridge Book Cover Blurb (2)

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