tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68363439059452249802024-03-14T02:36:45.786-05:00Bug-Out SurvivalScott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.comBlogger210125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-56284931600355658422018-05-30T19:53:00.000-05:002018-05-30T19:53:41.212-05:00Feral Nation Series Book ThreeThe latest installment in my newest post-apocalyptic fiction series has been released and is now available in paperback and in the Kindle ebook edition. This series has been well-received by my regular readers and there will be much more to come as the story unfolds in an America torn by civil unrest, terror attacks and insurrection.<br />
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<i>Feral Nation - Tribulation</i> picks right up where Book Two left off in the swamps of south Lousiana, with Eric Branson making preparations for his overland journey to Colorado in search of his daughter.<br />
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Find out more and grab your copy at the links below:</div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2sg59Jl">Kindle Edition</a></div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2LKEZGS">Paperback Edition</a></div>
Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-84626329153435116272017-12-12T17:49:00.000-06:002017-12-12T17:49:05.241-06:00Book Two of the Feral Nation Series Has Been Released!Thanks to reader interest in my latest post-apocalyptic series, I have been able to complete and publish the first two books of the series this year as planned. <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2z3URzC" target="_blank">Feral Nation - Insurrection: Book Two of the Feral Nation Series</a></i> was released today in both the Kindle edition and paperback.<br />
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The second book picks right up where Book One left off, with Eric Branson and his new sidekick, Jonathan, getting ready to set sail from south Florida to cross the Gulf of Mexico to Louisiana, where Eric's brother is a deputy sheriff in a rural parish bordering the Atchafalaya River. This second installment of the series gets into a little more of the overall situation in the country, which is a state of chaos due to anarchist riots and terror attacks. Unlike my Pulse and Darkness After series, the problems that arise in this series are human-caused, and not too far removed from reality considering some of the recent happenings in that have been in the news.<br />
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These first two installments are just the beginning of a bigger storyline that I will be exploring in the upcoming books in the series. If you like survival action and adventure, be sure to check out <i>Feral Nation - Insurrection </i>at the links below the cover image:<br />
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Get <i>Feral Nation - Insurrection </i>on Amazon here:</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2z3URzC" target="_blank">Kindle edition</a></div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2iY37Z8" target="_blank">Paperback edition</a></div>
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Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-14184898794906786492017-07-13T14:23:00.000-05:002017-07-13T14:23:10.171-05:00Feral Nation Series: A New Post-Apocalyptic Survival ThrillerI am in the process of finishing up the first book in a new survival fiction series that I think readers of this blog and my other novels will relate to. Set in America in the near future, this series of stories will deal with a collapse scenario caused by coordinated terror attacks, riots and widespread civil unrest. Considering the situation that is unfolding in Europe now and potentially spreading, I think this type of SHTF scenario is more likely than the solar EMP collapse I have written about in my previous novels.<br />
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Regardless of the premise though, these books will be full of action and adventure as the main character navigates the dangers of a country torn by anarchy in an attempt to find his ex-wife and daughter he left behind while fighting the wars in Europe. Here is the cover for the first book: <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2tNKNbi" target="_blank">Feral Nation - Infiltration</a></i>, with the description below. It is available for preorder on Amazon now, and will be released in the Kindle edition and paperback early next month:<br />
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<i style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">INFILTRATION: FERAL NATION SERIES BOOK ONE</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">: POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS, TERROR ATTACKS, MASSIVE RIOTS...</span><br />
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<br />In the near future, a nation is in peril as anarchy spreads in the wake of coordinated attacks by foreign and domestic terrorists. The growing civil unrest and insurrection in the aftermath forces those in power to enact harsh countermeasures in an effort to maintain order and security. Battles between dissident factions rage in the streets from coast-to-coast as many cities and towns become war zones. Travel and communications are severely restricted, food and fuel supplies disappear, and the economy teeters on the brink of collapse...<br /><br />Professional security contractor, Eric Branson, has been plying his trade overseas, fighting the ongoing insurgencies raging across Europe, when he realizes America faces the same fate. Before he can make his way home to south Florida, a powerful hurricane deals the final blow to an infrastructure already ravaged by burning and looting, leaving survivors cut off and on their own. It is here amid the death and destruction that Eric begins his search for those he left behind, and here that his warrior skills will be tested as never before.</div>
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<b><a href="http://amzn.to/2tNKNbi" target="_blank">Preorder <i>Feral Nation - Infiltration</i> on Amazon</a></b></div>
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Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-55046585932440629232017-06-11T18:43:00.001-05:002017-06-11T18:47:48.599-05:00Guest Post: Lightweight EDC Pocket Knives by Matt Keyes<i>Note: The following is a comparison of lightweight folding EDC knives by Matt Keyes, <a href="http://thepocketknifeguy.com/" target="_blank">The Pocket Knife Guy</a>. There are lots of good options in this category of blades, depending on your primary use and price range.</i><br />
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When the SHTF and we need to bug out fast, we can't have EDC items weighing us down. It's important to streamline the gear you decide to carry with you.<br />
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One important aspect to consider is weight. Every ounce you can cut adds up and reduces the total weight you have to carry in your pocket, or even a gear bag.</div>
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<b>Is a lightweight EDC pocket knife durable?</b></div>
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Durability in a lightweight pocket knife is always going to be a concern. We're trained to think that if a product is lightweight then it's going to be cheap or even unsafe.</div>
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I'm here to tell you this isn't the case. Like everything else knife manufacturers have made great advancements over the years. Not only in design elements and features but also with the materials used in constructing knives.</div>
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There are many ways to reduce weight on knives without sacrificing durability. Handle materials like Titanium, Carbon fiber and G10 are known for their lightweight qualities. These materials are light, but still very durable and give the knife a good solid feel.</div>
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To find a good lightweight EDC knife you need to consider the blade length to weight ratio. From my experiences, a blade length of 3 to 4 inches, and a weight under 4 ounces is the perfect blend for a quality EDC pocket knife.<br />
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<b>Top 5 Lightweight EDC Pocket Knives</b></div>
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With the above parameters set there are still way too many choices, let's see if we can narrow this down a bit.</div>
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The knives listed below have many great features, and being lightweight is just one of them!</div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/2scfFlC" target="_blank">Ontario RAT Model 2</a></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ontario-Knife-Sp-Black-Folding-7Inches/dp/B00BBPAOCW/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1497215325&sr=8-1&keywords=ontario+rat+model+2&linkCode=li2&tag=tikishop-20&linkId=ef78ef7ed9fad4935ce23a4222699dba" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00BBPAOCW&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=tikishop-20" width="200" /></a></div>
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The Ontario RAT model 2 only weighs in at only 2.75 ounces. And for what you get with the RAT 2, I suspect this will be one of your favorite EDC pocket knives.<br />
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The RAT 2 has a 3" AUS-8 blade that you can get with either a black finish or a satin finish. The black is a cool option, but over time it will begin to show wear and can chip.<br />
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The handle is Zytel, which is cheap to make and explains the low price tag on the RAT 2. But this material is tough and can resist impacts so it's a popular handle material. It's light, durable, and comes is many color choices.<br />
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The RAT 2 is ambidextrous, with a 4 position pocket clip and dual thumb studs you can carry this knife how you prefer.<br />
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<b><a href="http://amzn.to/2r8sDxk" target="_blank">Spyderco Paramilitary 3</a></b><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=tikishop-20&l=li2&o=1&a=B01NBRLS5S" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-C223GP-Plain-Folding-Knives/dp/B01NBRLS5S/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1497215920&sr=8-1&keywords=Spyderco+Paramilitary+3&linkCode=li3&tag=tikishop-20&linkId=a279a8c65585018a248e8ca668189ee0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01NBRLS5S&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=tikishop-20" /></a></div>
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If you're familiar with the Paramilitary 2, then you've no doubt heard the Paramilitary 3 is now available.</div>
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Quick comparisons of the two models:</div>
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Blade - 3.44"<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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Overall - 8.28"<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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Weight - 3.75 oz.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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Blade - 3.0"<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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Overall - 7.27"<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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Weight - 3.00 oz.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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Now with that out of the way, the PM3 is a condensed version of the PM2. Over an inch shorter and 3/4" oz. lighter.</div>
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Everything else about the knife remains the same. The premium S30V blade steel is a popular choice for many reasons. The edge retention on this steel is exceptional and it's easy to sharpen.</div>
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The compression lock is super strong, I would be so bold to say fail proof in conventional EDC tasks. This <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmeZt8EceTs">video</a> dissects the compression lock and shows you exactly how it works.</div>
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If you’re in the market for a lightweight pocket knife and were already a fan of the PM2, then I have no doubts you’ll love the Spyderco Paramilitary 3.</div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/2sruIZi" target="_blank">Benchmade Pardue 530</a></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Benchmade-530-Pardue-Design-Knife/dp/B001CZHTKG/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1497216737&sr=8-2&keywords=Benchmade+Pardue+530&linkCode=li3&tag=tikishop-20&linkId=46810bdf746015561507db6b76d9a528" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B001CZHTKG&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=tikishop-20" /></a></div>
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The Benchmade Pardue 530 is the ultimate lightweight pocket knife. This knife only weighs 1.8 ounces!</div>
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To put that in perspective, 5 US quarters weigh 1 ounce. Add a few more and you can match the weight of this knife for less than $2 in quarters. That would be sweet if that was the actual price tag of this knife.</div>
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How is it so light? The answer lies in the handle material, it's a polymer called Noryl GTX. To be honest I can't tell a difference between it and other handles like Zytel and FRN. They look and feel the same to me. But they all perform well and provide a safe and secure grip.</div>
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The handle is also very thin, if you put a premium on pocket real estate, the 530 could be the knife for you.</div>
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The blade steel is 154CM, which is a harder steel. It'll measure 60-61 on the Rockwell scale. Harder steels are generally a little more difficult to get razor sharp. But, if you can get it sharp, the edge retention is much better on this steel than say the cheaper AUS-8 steel.</div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/2sRI9yO" target="_blank">Benchmade 940-2 Osborne</a></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Benchmade-940-2-Osborne-Knife-Handle/dp/B01HC2YSJ2/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1497216959&sr=8-1&keywords=Benchmade+940-2+Osborne&linkCode=li3&tag=tikishop-20&linkId=0b34c0f20f6ea1e341555eef5173ae08" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01HC2YSJ2&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=tikishop-20" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sticking with Benchmade, the 940-2 is not only a lightweight
knife, but it's a classic Benchmade design by the late Warren Osborne.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The 940-2 is an updated version to the original 940, which had an
anodized green aluminum handle. The 940-2 has G10 scales on stainless steel
liners with barrel spacers.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The blade style is reverse tanto and the steel is </span><a href="https://www.knifecenter.com/info/knife-blade-materials"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CPM-S30V</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.
As mentioned earlier on the PM3 this steel is has great edge retention and is
easy to sharpen.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The locking mechanism is Benchmade's AXIS lock. To unlock
the blade you pull back on the lock stud and release the tension against the
tang of the blade. It's a simple locking system, yet it’s highly effective.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The weight of this knife is only 2.65 ounces, and it's very slim
in the pocket. The pocket clip allows right or left hand carry with the tip up.
It's a perfect choice for a lightweight EDC pocket knife.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/2scykxO" target="_blank">Spyderco Delica 4</a></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Delica-Ground-Plain-Knife/dp/B0089DFGIG/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1497217146&sr=8-2&keywords=Spyderco+Delica+4&linkCode=li3&tag=tikishop-20&linkId=6a4133cfe33dbeec8f8720f3f78edec3" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0089DFGIG&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=tikishop-20" /></a></div>
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The Spyderco Delica 4 is one of the best-selling knives that Spyderco makes. It’s the perfect size for an EDC knife and its super light. The Delica only weighs 2.5 ounces, so it’s easy to carry in your pocket tucked out of the way until needed.</div>
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The blade steel used for the Delica is VG-10, one of my preferred blade steels. I like the VG-10 for its versatility, it has a good mix of qualities. It easy to sharpen, has good edge retention and resists corrosion well.</div>
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The handle on the Delica is made from FRN, a lightweight material that is offered in many colors. FRN is a popular choice for knife handles because it so light, and it can easily be molded to the desired shape.</div>
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To top it off the Delica 4 has a quad mount pocket clip, allowing you to carry left or right handed with tip up or down.</div>
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<b>Closing Thoughts</b></div>
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Due to the many available options, it can be difficult to make a confident decision on which lightweight pocket knife to buy. Not only are the knives listed above super light, they are also super popular.</div>
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They are popular for many reasons, because all 5 are solid pocket knives. They are well crafted works of art and you absolutely can’t go wrong with any one of them.</div>
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<i>Matt Keyes is a writer, blogger, and an avid outdoorsman. In his spare time, he loves to spend time in the woods with his family and friends camping and hunting. Matt has collected knives for many years and blogs about them over at <a href="http://thepocketknifeguy.com/" target="_blank">The Pocket Knife Guy</a>. If you're looking for a certain pocket knife, there is a good chance you'll find a review for it at his site.</i></div>
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Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-1568319173836866652017-06-10T19:58:00.001-05:002017-06-10T19:58:14.463-05:00What does your EDC consist of?I mentioned in my last post that I had some upcoming product reviews to share with you. Most of these are EDC (everyday carry) items essential for day-to-day tasks and the unexpected dangers you may encounter as you go about your business.<br />
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Being prepared to deal with direct threats is one of the things I want to focus on in future posts, and with that in mind some of the topics I will cover will include self defense and personal weapons and the carry and concealment systems to support them.<br />
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I have been testing an excellent gun belt from <a href="https://www.daltechforce.com/" target="_blank">DaltechForce</a> for the past couple of months and for at least a couple of years I've carried my Glock 19 in a <a href="https://suarezinternational.com/suarez-npe-2-holster/" target="_blank">Suarez NPE</a> holster. The combination of a waterproof, no stretch, sturdy belt and the minimalist Kydex NPE holster is perfect for the heat and humidity here in the Deep South, where in the summer shorts and T-shirts are often everyday attire.<br />
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Reviews on both of those items are coming soon, as well as some of my favorite EDC blades.<br />
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Tomorrow, I will be publishing a guest post from Matt Keyes of <a href="http://thepocketknifeguy.com/">thepocketknifeguy.com</a>, who shares his thoughts on small, ultralight folding EDC blades.<br />
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What is your EDC knife? You do have one, right? What about your favorite CCW? How do you carry it?Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-25964478108747161082017-06-01T16:53:00.000-05:002017-06-01T16:53:42.753-05:00Update and A New DirectionThose of you still checking in here from time to time have probably given up on seeing any new material posted, and I can't blame you. Writing books has certainly taken my time away from blogging and updating websites, but if there is still interest here, I plan to start posting again. I have a few products I've been testing that I would like to review as well as new upcoming projects. I'd also like to begin posting some thoughts on current events and possible scenarios that we all need to be aware of in order to stay prepared and ready as situations change.<br />
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Many of you are readers of my two fiction series, The Pulse and The Darkness After. If you have been keeping up via my mailing list, Amazon or my author website, you know there are now five books in The Pulse Series and four in The Darkness After (plus a prequel novel you can grab for free at the top left of this page). Reader interest and ever-evolving storylines have kept these two series going, and there will be more sequels to follow at some point, but first I'm launching a new fiction series with a different premise that is quite relevant to the world we now live in. I'll be back here soon to fill you in on that one, and I'll look forward to reconnecting with those of you still following the site.Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-8380254290366777272016-06-10T15:27:00.000-05:002016-06-18T13:36:54.928-05:00About those New Releases...<br />
I've been so busy writing books that I've gotten behind on updating all my various sites, especially this one. If you've been a long-time reader here at Bug Out Survival, you know that most of the articles posted here are from the recent years past when I was writing my non-fiction books on the topic, beginning with <a href="http://amzn.to/25Sqqor" target="_blank">Bug Out: The Complete Plan for Escaping a Catastrophic Disaster Before it's too Late.</a><br />
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While I enjoyed writing those books and sharing the information I've posted here over the years, my long-term goal as a writer was to write fiction, and now with seven novels published and more coming this year, I have become a full-time novelist. <br />
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As many of you know, my main two fiction series: The Pulse Series and The Darkness After Series both deal with the topic of survival in the aftermath of a catastrophic solar flare, so my current work is not really so far removed from the topics covered here at Bug Out Survival. I have left this site intact for those who might refer back to it or find it in the future, and I may get back to posting here after completing more of my novels. <br />
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Someone commented just this morning on my last post here that they were not even aware that <a href="http://amzn.to/1thI5Yc" target="_blank">The Forge of Darkness (Book III of The Darkness After Series)</a> was released, and I apologize for not posting about it here sooner. The forth book in The Pulse Series is also on preorder at Amazon and will be coming in August.<br />
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The best way to stay up to date regarding my upcoming books, if you're interested, is to join my mailing list. You'll get advance notice when a new book is on preorder so you can grab it at the reduced preorder price before release, and I'll let you know about other discounts and deals from time to time. I've also got a completely new series in the works that I think readers of this site will really like, and I'll be sending my subscribers the details soon.<br />
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<b><a href="http://eepurl.com/1lvdj">Click to Learn More</a></b></div>
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And for those of you interested in The Forge of Darkness and Landfall: Islands in the Aftermath, clicking on the covers below will take you to the Amazon pages where you can read the descriptions and either Look Inside or download a free sample.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Forge-Darkness-After-Book-ebook/dp/B01CGYZGLU/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=51-rUnv6GaL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v3%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-44_OU01_AC_UL160_SR102%2C160_&refRID=STS663KVS2G9JT69FYSX&linkCode=li3&tag=tikishop-20&linkId=d55ef520b9ebe1ea4ec99d168acf9298" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01CGYZGLU&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=tikishop-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=tikishop-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B01CGYZGLU" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Landfall-Islands-Aftermath-Pulse-Book-ebook/dp/B01G3XSUO0/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&dpID=51k5coYuxqL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_UX300_PJku-sticker-v3%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-44_OU01_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&refRID=J2QX66MXYWM1FZGDX2GZ&linkCode=li3&tag=tikishop-20&linkId=e21a22786c999f631e097e32f951eb9f" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01G3XSUO0&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=tikishop-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=tikishop-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B01G3XSUO0" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-83274574947356261722015-12-05T11:09:00.000-06:002016-06-10T15:18:08.755-05:00Voyage After the Collapse Released this WeekVoyage After the Collapse, (Book III of The Pulse Series) was released this week in both the Kindle Edition and in paperback. The Pulse Series will continue with a forth book early in 2016, after the release of the third book in The Darkness After Series.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DBvBUNoplzE/V1sgcsUd8HI/AAAAAAAAJDw/CTcUrajqZqkeDzFk5tK_VSjUa8TqgGMLQCLcB/s1600/VOYAGE_ebook-cover-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DBvBUNoplzE/V1sgcsUd8HI/AAAAAAAAJDw/CTcUrajqZqkeDzFk5tK_VSjUa8TqgGMLQCLcB/s320/VOYAGE_ebook-cover-02.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Here are the links to both editions of Voyage on Amazon:<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015FZ58JM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B015FZ58JM&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=ATK4N3JIVDQL7BWT" target="_blank">Kindle Edition</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1519583303/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1519583303&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=VJ5FC5YEPVIMZUKZ" target="_blank">Paperback Edition</a><br />
<br />Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-55203566842448528912015-09-23T02:56:00.000-05:002015-09-23T02:56:23.054-05:00Kindle Daily Deal for The Darkness AfterJust a heads up to let you know about a special deal good today only on one of my older novels from 2013.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B6U16N8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00B6U16N8&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=MWODMGYCIYPBKR7A" target="_blank">The Darkness After</a></i> (Book I of The Darkness After Series) has been chosen by Amazon to be featured among today's Kindle Daily Deals. This means that the book will be discounted from the publisher's list price of $6.99 to the low price of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B6U16N8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00B6U16N8&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=MWODMGYCIYPBKR7A" target="_blank">$1.99 for the entire day (September 23, 2015)</a> until approximately midnight PDT. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HFVP4TJf1Wg/VgHGjxrONVI/AAAAAAAAI9M/vFJ--EAaehM/s1600/Darkness%2BAfter%2BCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HFVP4TJf1Wg/VgHGjxrONVI/AAAAAAAAI9M/vFJ--EAaehM/s400/Darkness%2BAfter%2BCover.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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If you've read my nonfiction survival books or my novels in <i>The Pulse Series</i> but have missed this parallel series set in the same scenario, today is a great time to pick up Book I cheap. <i>The Darkness After</i> and Book II of this series, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UM7R12Q/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00UM7R12Q&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=MWQ6ODQGYFRDWABM" target="_blank">Into the River Lands</a></i> have gotten great reviews and many of my readers are asking for the third book. There <i>will</i> be a third and maybe more in this series. I'm working on Book III along with Book III of the The Pulse Series and hope to have it available by the end of year as well. <br />
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B6U16N8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00B6U16N8&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=MWODMGYCIYPBKR7A" target="_blank">Don't miss today's Kindle Daily Deal on <i>The Darkness After</i> for $1.99!</a></b></div>
Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-61695033831850841842015-09-17T14:22:00.000-05:002016-06-10T15:19:46.475-05:00Voyage After the Collapse (Book III of The Pulse Series)This is a quick note to let all my readers of <i>Bug Out Survival</i> know that the third installment of the ongoing series that began with <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0088NCM84/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0088NCM84&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=Y76QVFX6R6DM3JNO" target="_blank">The Pulse</a></i> is my next book coming down the pipeline. <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015FZ58JM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B015FZ58JM&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=CUB7R6AGD3R5COIF" target="_blank">Voyage After the Collapse</a></i> is available for preorder on Amazon now (Kindle Edition only, at this point). There will be a paperback edition as well, of course, and it will probably be available sometime in November or early December when the ebook is actually released.<br />
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BOOK III OF THE PULSE SERIES—A STORY OF SURVIVAL IN THE AFTERMATH OF MASSIVE SOLAR FLARES THAT DESTROY THE POWER, COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION GRIDS, BRINGING ABOUT A DESCENT INTO LAWLESS CHAOS AND UNBRIDLED SAVAGERY.</div>
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The crew of the sailing vessel, <em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">Casey Nicole</em> has endured a harrowing ordeal on the dark waterways of the coastal swamps near New Orleans, but Artie Drager has escaped with what he came for—his only daughter, Casey.</div>
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They are free of the mainland but still too close for comfort. Now the crew of six aboard the big catamaran must plot a course and set sail into the unknown, hoping to find a place where the impact of the electromagnetic pulse was not so severe. Where that will be, they have no way of knowing. Did the solar flares impact the whole planet, or just the parts of the Western Hemisphere they have seen?</div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015FZ58JM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B015FZ58JM&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=CUB7R6AGD3R5COIF" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015FZ58JM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B015FZ58JM&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=CUB7R6AGD3R5COIF" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank"><em style="border: none; color: #444444; line-height: 1.5;">Voyage After the Collapse</em></a> is a passage of hope into an uncertain future, leaving the terror of the U.S. mainland astern in the wake.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DBvBUNoplzE/V1sgcsUd8HI/AAAAAAAAJDw/_pHsDdP-uw4FoE4SjvBX5ge5dIi6VQQbwCKgB/s1600/VOYAGE_ebook-cover-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DBvBUNoplzE/V1sgcsUd8HI/AAAAAAAAJDw/_pHsDdP-uw4FoE4SjvBX5ge5dIi6VQQbwCKgB/s320/VOYAGE_ebook-cover-02.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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You can reserve your Kindle copy by preordering at the Amazon link below, where it is listed for $3.99 from now until release. You won't be charged until the release date when the book is delivered to your reading device. (Good know in case a <i>real</i> pulse hits first, rendering your ereaders useless!)<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015FZ58JM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B015FZ58JM&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=CUB7R6AGD3R5COIF" target="_blank">Preorder <i>Voyage After the Collapse</i> (Book III of The Pulse Series)</a></b></div>
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As I've mentioned before, you can get these book updates faster and before anyone else if you sign up for my newsletter by simply entering your email address here:<br />
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<a href="http://scottbwilliams.com/blog/newslettersignup/">http://scottbwilliams.com/blog/newslettersignup/</a></div>
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<br />Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-28418998518597766942015-08-30T18:40:00.000-05:002015-08-30T18:40:32.332-05:00Ghost Knives Banshee D2<div>
I've recently been carrying a super compact and lightweight fixed blade knife called the Banshee D2, by <a href="http://ghostknives.com/" target="_blank">Ghost Knives</a>. The knife is so small and light that at times I've forgotten I had it on me. If you're looking for a handy, small fixed-blade for everyday carry or to keep in a bug-out bag or daypack, the 6.11-inch over-all length and 1.8oz of the Banshee D2 won't be a burden and will make a fine addition or backup to whatever larger blades you may already carry. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ghost Knives Banshee D2<br /></td></tr>
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While the 2.38-inch blade won't do everything you might need a knife for, having a small, but sharp, high-quality fixed-blade available at all times is certainly not a bad idea. With it's secure Kydex sheath that can be attached to a belt, pack strap or carried in a pocket with a paracord tether to a belt or belt loop for one-handed draw, the Banshee D2 is quick to bring into action when a folder might be too slow or awkward to deploy. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The unwrapped Banshee D2, showing the skeletonized handle.</td></tr>
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The D2 steel blade is flat ground and comes to a drop point. The sample I received from Ghost Knives was shaving sharp right out of the box. The entire blade and skeletonized handle are coated with corrosion-resistent Cerakote. While you can use the Banshee D2 as is if you prefer the feel of of the skeletonized handle, Ghost Knives includes a length of black paracord for handle-wrapping, which gives a secure, more comfortable grip. The paracord wrap is actually fire cord, with a flammable strand inside that along with the included micro-flint, can aid in fire-starting in an emergency. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the Kydex sheath, the Banshee D2 is easy to grab and because the sheath is identical on both sides, lacking clips, it can be worn on either side and in whatever position you prefer.</td></tr>
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My use of the Banshee D2 has so far been mostly limited to slicing open UPS boxes and such, but as small and light as it is, it will be going with me on some upcoming fall camping trips and will likely see plenty of use in the field. I can see carrying it whether hiking, kayaking or canoeing, or riding my motorcycle or bicycle, as there is no reason to leave it at home, really. </div>
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The Banshee D2 is 100% made in the U.S.A. and is reasonably priced at an MSRP of $79.99. You can save a few dollars off list and get it for $74.99 from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZH4AQSK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00ZH4AQSK&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=6S43TQVEEOZPJFOC" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.</div>
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If you're not sure what to do with the included handle-wrap cord, here is a video tutorial featuring this very knife with simple instructions on how to wrap a skeleton knife handle with 550 paracord.</div>
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Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-23224862598952037722015-03-31T20:07:00.000-05:002015-03-31T20:07:20.731-05:00EDC Lights and Knife from James Williams and CRKTI received some fantastic products in the mail today from James Williams, of <a href="http://www.systemofstrategy.com/" target="_blank">System of Strategy</a>. Those of you who are familiar with <a href="http://www.crkt.com/" target="_blank">CRKT Knives</a> have probably seen some of the designs of James Williams, a master of the Japanese samurai fighting arts and the president of <a href="http://bugei.com/" target="_blank">Bugei Trading Company</a>. James Williams has extensive experience teaching close-quarters combat to police and military and his tool and weapon designs are based on the needs of those whose lives depend on them. Finding this site, he thought my readers would be particularly interested in these personal defense and tactical flashlights designed for EDC, as well as his new Shizuka Noh Ken folder. I absolutely agree, and I will be posting a full review of them after spending some time with them. <br />
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Pictured below, from top to bottom, the James Williams-designed CRKT <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Columbia-River-Knife-F1010-Flashlight/dp/B00BBOBD78/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=ZGHUL4DGIYZXKCBI&creativeASIN=B00BBOBD78" target="_blank">Personal Defense Light</a>, the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/James-Williams-Applications-CR123A-Batteries/dp/B00DR0KESS/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=66QCRFW3TFZVWGML&creativeASIN=B00DR0KESS" target="_blank">Tactical Applications Light</a>, and the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U54TWFU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00U54TWFU&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=HD3ZKFZ74T23GWNM" target="_blank">Shizuoka Noh Ken</a> folder. Note the clips for deep pocket carry on each:<br />
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Compact high-intensity flashlights have come a long way since I reviewed some early models here on Bug Out Survival in this 2010 post: <a href="http://www.bugoutsurvival.com/2010/01/gear-review-compact-hi-intensity.html" target="_blank">http://www.bugoutsurvival.com/2010/01/gear-review-compact-hi-intensity.html</a><br />
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I'll have all the details and specs of these new CRKT lights in the upcoming review, but I can tell you already that one or both of these will going wherever I go from now on. <br />
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I was especially excited to get my hands on Williams' new <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U54TWFU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00U54TWFU&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=HD3ZKFZ74T23GWNM" target="_blank">Shizuka Noh Ken</a> folder, as I was looking to replace yet another Cold Steel Voyager with a broken pocket clip. As a master of bladed weapons, Williams designs his knives for self-defense and combat, so this is not a do-it-all utility or bushcraft knife. It is designed to neutralize an attacker as quickly and efficiently as possible; one look at the blade will tell you that. Carry something else to open packages and whittle with and save this for when and if you need it. The Shizuka Noh Ken (Japanese for "Hidden Blade") is a smaller version of his <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBOBEEU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00BBOBEEU&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=WWHZQFHO4TLGDKCL" target="_blank">Otanashi Noh Ken</a> (Sword of Silence) of the same design and it is so light and slim in your pocket you'll barely remember you have it. It's rare to find a blade design that both stabs and slices equally well, but that's exactly what this and Williams' larger Japanese tanto designs excel at. When I post a review I'll show the difference between these traditional tanto blades and the more commonly seen American tanto designs that are much less capable when it comes to stabs and thrusts. For now, note that despite the long curve of the belly of the blade that makes it great for slicing, the needle-like tip is straight in line with the handle, making it effectivly a dagger when it comes to thrusting.<br />
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As already mentioned, James Williams not only designs edged weapons, but is a master of using them and teaching others to do so. In addition to the tactical lights and knife, he included two of his instructional DVDs for my review (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Panteao-Productions-Ready-Williams-Weapon/dp/B00CAM520O/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=WCDSTCLSOLUT3M2Z&creativeASIN=B00CAM520O" target="_blank">The Edged Weapon</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Panteao-Productions-Williams-Continuing-Solutions/dp/B00D2OMLQ2/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=LNR3EPVIF5BG4I7S&creativeASIN=B00D2OMLQ2" target="_blank">Continuing Solutions to Edged Weapons</a>). There are a lot of concepts and ideas in the nearly four hours of instruction here that I have never seen anywhere else, although we worked with knives quite a bit when I studied Ed Parker's system of Kenpo. I'm looking forward to working more with these principles and hope to attend one of James Williams' seminars to see his methods first hand.<br />
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The timing for these items to arrive could not have been better, because I have been planning to begin writing more here about self-defense, both unarmed and with weapons, as well as the importance of physical fitness for survival. I feel these are critical skills and attributes that are far too often overlooked or neglected in the prepping and survival community. Stay tuned for more to come soon. <br />
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<br />Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-17089713879679843812015-03-14T15:09:00.000-05:002015-03-14T15:09:49.817-05:00Into the River Lands: Darkness After Series Book IIMany readers of the <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B6U16N8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00B6U16N8&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=YS5DZQRNK5PRG6TT" target="_blank">The Darkness After</a> </i>have asked if there was going to be sequel, and it has been my intention all along to continue this story as an ongoing series parallel to <i>The Pulse Series</i>, which of course, involves a different set of characters in the same grid-down scenario.<br />
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Although originally aimed at the young adult market by my publisher, <i>The Darkness After </i>has been well-received by adult readers as well. The only real difference as far as young adult vs. a general adult audience is the age of the characters anyway. In this case, the main protagonists, Mitch Henley and April Gibbs, are both under twenty, but are in a world where survival is up to them and them alone. Readers of the first book will know that Mitch has superb skills as a hunter, despite his age. Those who enjoy survival stories that involve hunting, stalking and tracking will enjoy this one. Unlike <i>The Pulse </i>series, this story is all about living off the land in the woods, and the title, <i>Into the River Lands</i> refers to the deep river bottom swamp lands of Mississippi that Mitch knows so well. <br />
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<i>Into the River Lands </i>will be my next book release for 2015 and it is scheduled for publication on June 11. I'm shooting for bumping that up a bit to sometime in May, but either way, it's not far out and you can preorder your <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UM7R12Q/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00UM7R12Q&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=JDIU62TUKKJWPAUH" target="_blank">Kindle copy for just $2.99 on Amazon</a>, or by clicking on the cover image at the top of the sidebar to the left. There will be a paperback version available as well when the ebook is released.Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-33791283693356659632015-02-20T11:11:00.000-06:002015-02-20T11:11:31.236-06:00Sailing the Apocalypse on Destiny Survival RadioI had another interesting conversation with John Wesley Smith recently, this time discussing my latest novel, <em>Sailing the Apocalypse</em>: <em>A Misadventure at Sea.</em> John has posted his thoughts about the book in a review on his website: Destiny Survival.<br />
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I was pleased to hear that John liked the story a lot, and found it entertaining. My main purpose in writing it was to entertain, but if you take something more from it, that's good too. Here's an excerpt from John's review:<br />
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"I believe Scott has hit upon something much bigger than telling an entertaining tale. It has to do with our attitude toward the world as it is and how we will prepare to face what’s coming. Will we see an instantaneous collapse? Or will it be a slow burn? And, most importantly, how should we respond?"<br />
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You can read the full review here:
<a href="http://destinysurvival.com/2015/02/19/sailing-the-apocalypse-a-different-kind-of-sea-story-for-preppers/" target="_blank">http://destinysurvival.com/2015/02/19/sailing-the-apocalypse-a-different-kind-of-sea-story-for-preppers/</a>
And you can listen to the interview here:<br />
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<a href="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/39273878/191_Williams_Sailing_the_Apocalypse_021915.mp3">https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/39273878/191_Williams_Sailing_the_Apocalypse_021915.mp3</a>
Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-39259823756351278262015-01-15T14:43:00.000-06:002015-01-15T14:43:31.732-06:00Early Review of Sailing the ApocalypseDave Zeiger knows a thing or two about bug out boats. As a designer and liveaboard sailor who makes his home aboard his self-built vessel, <i>Slacktide</i> on the isolated waters of southeast Alaska, he lives a full-time lifestyle many preppers fantasize about. Dave has an interesting take on sailboat design. As his mission statement says on <a href="http://triloboats.com/">TriloBoats.com</a>, his box-barge hull shapes are designed to help amateur builders get on the water in the shortest period of time, with the most bang for the buck. His designs provide maximum accommodations for their size and are stable, seaworthy platforms for living on the water. <br />
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I have linked to one of Dave's articles published in Duckworks Magazine (an online resource for boatbuilders) before. It is an excellent look at the concepts and considerations of bug out boats. You can read it here if you missed that previous link: <a href="http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/12/columns/guest/zeiger/index.html">http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/12/columns/guest/zeiger/index.html</a><br />
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Dave is also a long-time fan of the catamaran designs of James Wharram, so when he saw that my latest novel featured a Wharram Tiki 46 as the bug out vessel chosen by the characters in the story, he said he had to read it. Below is his take on it, and his thoughts on why it may be of interest to preppers, even those who would not themselves choose to bug out by water:<br />
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Sailing the <i>Apocalypse</i></b></span><b><i> </i>by Scott B. Williams -- Review by Dave Zeiger</b></div>
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<i>SETTING:</i> Waterways of SE USA in our present times of impending, but not yet catastrophic Collapse.</div>
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<i>STORY</i>: A newly formed family under the (mis?)guidance of Terry Bailey - Doomer / Prepper - builds APOCALYPSE, a 46ft Wharram Catamaran (great choice, sloppy execution), and bugs out while the buggin' is good. </div>
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Events are told through the eyes of twelve year old Robbie. Along for the ride are his (mostly) 'whatever-he-says' Mother, and otherwise-occupied, teen half-sister. Along the way, they acquire a Mentor, of sorts, in the form of an easy going, aging Hippy.</div>
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<i>STORY ARC (spoiler alert!): </i>Downward spiral.</div>
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*****</div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Sailing the <i>Apocalypse</i></span><i> </i>is a cautionary tale of what I think of as 'dysprepsia'... a syndrome to which we in the Choir are prone.</div>
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Terry Bailey believes much as we do (the Choir, that is... I'm assuming in this review that you're a fellow Doomer / Prepper, familiar with the general outlook and its vocabulary). </div>
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He believes that S is about to HTF. That the time to bug out is before it does. He has made some solid, informed choices and acted upon them, investing himself fully. Each of these identify him (and his family) as increasingly rare birds.</div>
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But things do not go well, and the 'why' is the cautionary aspect.</div>
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Terry lacks humility. He is seething with contempt for others (rather than empathy), which expresses itself in rants, bullying and manipulation. He is the patriarch of his tribe, which alienates his family. This in turn impairs teamwork, and suppresses and disincentivizes their best efforts.</div>
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He can neither recognize nor admit to his mistakes, and therefore cannot learn from them. Nor can he adapt, whether to new information or consequences of mis-information or mis-steps. One has the sense that he has skimmed from excellent resources, but not absorbed their content. He overrates his (presumed) experience, and undervalues training and the steep slope of the learning curve.</div>
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A little knowledge is a dangerous thing...</div>
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I found it to be somewhat queasy reading.</div>
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As a confirmed Doomer who bugged out on a sailboat, years ago, this shoe fits too well. I, too, am prone to rant with a tinge of smug and a supercilious view of 'the sheep'. To regard shoreside society as dismally stuck in ruts that will drag us all over the edge. To see complacency, venality and power plays conspiring to whittle away at whatever small freedoms are left.</div>
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I FEEL Terry's pain!</div>
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But none of us know how our 'best laid plans' will fare... whether they will protect us and ours for another round, or whether they will founder under the thrash of our toppled giant. We must all take our best shot from a position of limited personal and physical resources. I believe we must <i>persuade </i>as many as we can to prepare... if not for Collapse, at least for Trouble. At the <i>very </i>least to step aside and let us prepare ourselves.</div>
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Humility, Williams reminds us, is an adaptive trait.</div>
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Scott B. Williams is one of the best of us.</div>
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He's an expert in the theory and practice of prepper / survival concepts and techniques, and has been walking the walk for decades. In other words, he wrote Terry Bailey from the competent position of knowing exactly where his weaknesses and errors lie. </div>
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This contrasts with other works I've read, where the author unintentionally projects their own ignorance through a protagonist who, by all rights, could never have shouldered his bottomless BugOutBag, much less improvise his Ham Radio from that toaster.</div>
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Terry's bumbling is the conscious artifact of an author who knows much better... a moral tale from an educated pen. </div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Sailing the <i>Apocalypse</i></span> is the opening chapter of an ongoing series. From it's pages, one may learn a great deal - both from example and counter-example - from an author with <i>authority</i>.</div>
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I am hoping that we will see one or both of two main developments in the continuing adventure: </div>
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A) Terry will come around... as extreme as he is, I'm rooting for him.</div>
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B) Robbie will mature, and through him we may watch his opinions firming, learn with him as his skills and knowledge and - most important - approaches expand. I want to ride along as he debriefs his experiences!</div>
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I'd also love to see - through either path - more of the whys and wherefores. How do these decisions link up into suites of skills? How does one start from here to there? This novel is already a good start, but I know that Williams has plenty to add. </div>
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At present, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Sailing the <i>Apocalypse</i></span><i> could </i>be read as an argument against everything Terry believes.</div>
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Mr. Williams, will you save the baby from the bathwater in your next installments?</div>
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*****</div>
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I hate the critical part of a review, constructive though it be. But here goes... a quibble:</div>
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I felt character development could be improved. </div>
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It's a challenge to funnel development through a single character - especially a 12 year old. But each character's reactions should reflect a consistant personality. At times, reactions seemed to reflect internal inconsistencies (which were neither presented nor explored as internal conflict). Vocabulary, <i>voice </i>and depth - especially in Robbie's narration - seemed at times uneven.</div>
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<i>Terry Bailey:</i> He's our guy, but so often lost in contemptuous rant, and so "I can't be told nuffin'" that it derails our natural empathy for him. So far, there's no backstory to explain him or soften his impact. He's a tragic character, at present - hoist by his own petard - but without earning much of the sympathy that would pull us into his plight. I want to see more of his human side, not just arrogance and anger. There are hints that he's not entirely who he seems... </div>
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<i>Robbie (Narrator): </i>Lots of potential, here. Smart boy with a big dose of common sense. Alive to wonders en route. At present, though, he's a mostly blank slate. He often (rightly) wonders whether his step-dad's omniscience is as advertised, but often, his common sense aligns with the herd (<i>if nobody else thinks this way, how bad can it be?</i>). So far, the herd has the edge. Will we see him start to do his own thinking? Form an outlook that can stand up against both his step-father <i>and </i>popular opinion?</div>
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<i>Linda (the Mother):</i> Here's an important character who stays mostly in the background. She only gets to speak for herself a few times, and then it's (almost entirely) in reaction to Terry. We don't get to see much at all of her relationship with the others. Who is she? Why is she so passive (until a certain kind of push comes to a certain kind of shove)? Does she have any hopes or dreams of her own? What does she see in Terry (not to disparage, but why are they drawn to each other)?</div>
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<i>Janie (Linda's daughter):</i> Janie is mostly a facade of teenage boredom and dissatisfaction, as one might expect. But, if you've ever known or been a teenager, you know that there's a lot more going on below the surface. What? Is she as shallow as the Rant would have us believe? What's her vision of her own future, if any?</div>
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<i>Dean (Hippy Mentor):</i> No quibble here. Deftly portrayed in concise strokes. Hoping to read more of him!</div>
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*****</div>
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The beauty of a series is that there's more of it, and Williams has definitely set the hook.</div>
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I feel that more of the same would be too much. I've gotten the picture, now, and the dose is just right.</div>
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I hope - and have reason to expect - that this is an opening movement. That Williams is preparing us for what promises to be a moving exploration of the challenges facing we who sail our lonely - and often beleaguered course.</div>
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If he can pull it off, I'm hoping for our genre's version of Theroux's <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Mosquito Coast</span>. Or even <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Captain Ron</span>.</div>
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I'm on-board to find out!<br />
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<i>Sailing the Apocalypse </i>is available now (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1505997798/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1505997798&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=TDUD6IDVLLMP6GD6" target="_blank">paperback edition</a>) on Amazon. The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QOK1M3O/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00QOK1M3O&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=J7H543TG72UIAEKW" target="_blank">Kindle edition</a> will be released on Saturday, January 17. If you preordered the ebook previously you should receive your copy then. </div>
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Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-35043744872330273442014-12-09T19:33:00.000-06:002014-12-09T19:33:57.638-06:00Sailing the ApocalypseI've posted this on my main website but I'm reposting here for those of you who don't visit <a href="http://www.scottbwilliams.com/">www.scottbwilliams.com</a> all that often. As always, there's a new book in the works and this one is another fiction title that might interest some readers of Bug Out Survival. Part humor, part adventure and part disaster, <i>Sailing the Apocalypse</i> is the story of one man's ultimate bug-out with his family <i>before </i>the collapse he fears has a chance to happen.<br />
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I'm wrapping up the manuscript within a few days and it will be all set to go to the copyeditor shortly thereafter. <em>Sailing the Apocalypse</em> is a novel of about 70,000 words, and is the first novel I've written in the first person point of view. This is a story I've really enjoyed working on and writing it has given me several ideas for other works or possibly sequels to this one. Anyone who has spent as much time on or around the water as I have could not help but run into some of the eccentric characters sailing attracts. The main character of this story is one of those, but like most sailors and boatbuilders, Terry Bailey is resourceful and independent even if he does take a lot of his ideas too far.
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With "apocalypse" in the title, a lot of my readers will assume this book is another "post-apocalyptic" or dystopian survival tale like <em>The Pulse </em>or <em>The Darkness After</em>, but it's actually more "pre-apocalyptic" if anything. The Wharram catamaran featured in the story and on the cover is christened the <em>Apocalypse </em>by Terry and his family after they build and launch it. And it's purpose is to be their new home and escape pod from the doom that Terry is certain will soon befall his country. Readers of my other works will see a bit of the prepper mentality in this character as well, but he's much more off the deep end than I've recommended in my serious nonfiction titles on the subject or here on Bug Out Survival<br />
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<em>Sailing the Apocalypse </em>is available for preorder now in the ebook form for just five bucks from the usual retailers linked below, and the print version will be available about the time the ebook is released. Although the release date posted on Amazon and the other stores is February 15, the book should be available a full month earlier or by the end of January at the latest.<br />
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<b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QOK1M3O/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00QOK1M3O&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=JGXESH7VMUFTV4ER" target="_blank">Amazon Kindle</a></i></b><br />
<b><i><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id949241883" target="_blank">Apple iBooks</a></i></b><br />
<b><i><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sailing-the-apocalypse-scott-b-williams/1120870661?ean=2940151738958&itm=1&usri=2940151738958" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a></i></b><br />
<b><i><a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/sailing-the-apocalypse-a-misadventure-at-sea" target="_blank">Kobo</a></i></b><br />
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<a href="http://scottbwilliams.com/blog/my-books/coming-soon-2/" target="_blank"><img alt="SailingTheApocalypseFinal1web" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-841" src="http://scottbwilliams.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/SailingTheApocalypseFinal1web-193x300.jpg" height="400" width="257" /></a></div>
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<br />Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-31815542482263770492014-10-10T10:25:00.000-05:002014-10-10T10:31:34.876-05:00Revisiting Favorite Wild Places<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I spent a couple of weeks in September wandering around the Southwest by motorcycle, mostly camping in national forests and other public lands, which there is no shortage of in this region. Many of the places I wanted to revisit were favorite areas I've done lots of backpacking and exploring in, such as the San Juan mountains of southern Colorado and the Blue Range Primitive area of southeastern Arizona. These are also areas discussed as bug out locations in my book: <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/156975781X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=156975781X&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=THYYZN6PXFAMABAC" target="_blank">Bug Out: The Complete Plan for Escaping a Catastrophic Disaster Before It's Too Late.</a></i><br />
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Riding the Suzuki Vstrom 650, I was able to leave the pavement for long stretches of exploring unpaved forest service roads. A lighter, more off-road capable bike would be e even better once there, of course, but with all the highway and interstate riding to do the 3700-mile trip out and back from Mississippi, the DL650 was a good compromise. I plan to post a more detailed account of the trip with more photos on my <a href="http://www.scottbwilliams.com/" target="_blank">main website</a> soon, but wanted to share a couple of photos here too. Those of you living out West are fortunate to have access to so much publicly accessible wild land for exploring, camping, hunting and in the worst-case, as potential bug-out locations.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southwestern Colorado near the San Juan Range</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5SEbPj6wKE/VDfzrzKrk5I/AAAAAAAAI2I/6l47WirNzLM/s1600/SBW_6435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5SEbPj6wKE/VDfzrzKrk5I/AAAAAAAAI2I/6l47WirNzLM/s1600/SBW_6435.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Range Primitive Area, Arizona<br />
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An another note, before I left on the trip I did an interview with Morry Baines, who runs a <a href="http://bestmultitoolkit.com/" target="_blank">multitool review site</a> and has been working on a round-up of interviews with various survival authors and others with questions such as "What is the most useful tool for the outdoors?" You can read the answers including mine and those of some of my fellow survival authors including Jim Cobb, Bernie Carr and others here: <a href="http://bestmultitoolkit.com/expert-roundup/most-useful-tool-outdoors/" target="_blank">http://bestmultitoolkit.com/expert-roundup/most-useful-tool-outdoors/</a> The full interview that I did is here: <a href="http://bestmultitoolkit.com/interviews/scott-williams-bugoutsurvival-com/" target="_blank">http://bestmultitoolkit.com/interviews/scott-williams-bugoutsurvival-com/</a></div>
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Morry also wrote an article on multitools aimed specifically at boaters, and since much of my writing has to do with bugging out by boat, here is the direct link to that: <a href="http://bestmultitoolkit.com/knowledgebase/multi-tool-boat-essential-tips/" target="_blank">http://bestmultitoolkit.com/knowledgebase/multi-tool-boat-essential-tips/</a></div>
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Also, don't forget that I'm giving away a free copy of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612432956/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1612432956&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=CUX5OJFVAEIBSWBS" target="_blank">Refuge After the Collapse</a></i> (Book II of <i>The Pulse </i> Series) every Friday of this month to subscribers to my <a href="http://scottbwilliams.com/blog/newslettersignup/" target="_blank">newsletter</a>. Last Friday's winner was Wayne in Fort Edward, NY. Today's winner will receive notification through the newsletter list, and will be announced to the rest of the list later today or tomorrow. There are three more Fridays in this month, so if you haven't won a copy yet, hang in there, you've still got a chance.</div>
Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-80613867742428499662014-10-01T10:36:00.000-05:002014-10-01T10:36:14.649-05:00Book Giveaway WinnersThis is a repost from my main website:<br />
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Just an update to announce that the winners have been selected for the ten signed copies of <em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612432956/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1612432956&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=6RGPW33JEFZNEGYR" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612432956/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1612432956&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=6RGPW33JEFZNEGYR" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">Refuge</a> </em>that I offered to those signing up for my <a href="http://scottbwilliams.com/blog/newslettersignup/" target="_blank">author newsletter</a>. If your email address was chosen, you should have received a notification through the newsletter. Of the ten winners, I have received a reply back from eight and books have been mailed out to those eight winners. I'm still waiting to hear back from the other two, so check your spam folders and inboxes carefully to make sure you didn't overlook the notification, which should show up as an email from my address: scott (at) scottbwilliams.com</div>
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The eight winners who should receive their books soon are:</div>
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Khris - St. Petersburg, FL, David - Southport, FL, Gary - Mohnton, PA, Beverly - Kosiusko, MS, Kathryn - Canton, MO, Vivian - Mill Creek, WA, Devon - Ludington, MI and John - Kirksville, MO.</div>
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I will send out another direct email to the other two chosen winners soon and if no response after a few days, will select two alternate winners.</div>
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For the rest of you who have signed up for my newsletter, thank you for subscribing, and I want to make sure you have another chance at winning a copy of <em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">Refuge. </em><strong style="color: black; line-height: 1.5;">To that end, I will be giving away one free copy at random every Friday of this month</strong> from among my subscriber list. Stay tuned as well to the newsletter updates for an announcement of my next book, which is in progress now and coming soon.</div>
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<em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612432956/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1612432956&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=6RGPW33JEFZNEGYR" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612432956/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1612432956&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=6RGPW33JEFZNEGYR" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;">Refuge</a> </em>is available on Amazon and in bookstores now and I've gotten great feedback on it, including hearing back from some of the giveaway winners that they've already purchased and read it before learning they had won. Review copies from the publisher are late going out as has happened upon the release of my last two books, so if you're on one of those lists to receive one, I apologize for the delay and have word that they will be shipped out this week if not already.</div>
Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-22761003747239868822014-08-29T16:39:00.000-05:002014-08-29T16:39:09.922-05:00Book Giveaway Signup LinkYesterday I posted an announcement of a book giveaway for ten copies of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612432956/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1612432956&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=WUT6RSNVGM6WBVD2" target="_blank">Refuge After the Collapse</a></i> (the sequel to <i>The Pulse)</i>. Many of you who follow this blog have signed up for the giveaway using the embedded signup form I included at the bottom of <a href="http://www.bugoutsurvival.com/2014/08/book-giveaway-refuge-after-collapse.html" target="_blank">yesterday's post</a>. <br />
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Some other readers brought it to my attention though, that this form did not work for them if they received updates to this blog through an RSS feed or email subscription. If you tried to sign up for the giveaway and didn't get a confirmation notice and an email from my newsletter service verifying that you indeed wanted to be added to the list, you were not added. I apologize for the confusion but the newsletter service (hosted by MailChimp) is new to me and I should have posted a link rather than an embedded from so that those of you who subscribe to the blog rather than visit <i><a href="http://www.bugoutsurvival.com/" target="_blank">Bug Out Survival</a> </i>directly would be able to enter. So if you didn't get a confirmation, here is a link to the signup form: <br />
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<a href="http://eepurl.com/1lvdj" target="_blank">Scott B. Williams Newsletter Signup</a><br />
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You can also enter by visiting the signup page on my main website here:<br />
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<a href="http://scottbwilliams.com/blog/newslettersignup/">http://scottbwilliams.com/blog/newslettersignup/</a><br />
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After you enter your email address and click 'submit', be sure and check you inbox and SPAM folders for the verification email. If you do not respond to it to verify that you wanted to subscribe, you won't be added to the list. This is a good thing as it keeps you from getting unwanted junk mail.<br />
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I also want to point out that this signup is for my newsletter and is not a subscription to updates here at <i>Bug Out Survival. </i>The purpose of the newsletter is to let subscribers be the first to know about the next book giveaways and releases, and will also provide me a way of contacting you directly through email if you are a winner in one of these giveaways. As mentioned in yesterday's post, you will only get an occasional email from me through the newsletter and your email address will never be shared. Remember too that you can unsubscribe at anytime.<br />
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Thanks again for all the interest in my new book and good luck with winning one of those free copies. I look forward to staying in touch with my readers through the newsletter, and will soon have some news to share regarding the next books after <i>Refuge. </i>Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-53775534610844086412014-08-28T20:42:00.000-05:002014-08-30T10:10:22.553-05:00Book Giveaway: Refuge After the CollapseI have word from the publisher that copies of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612432956/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1612432956&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=WUT6RSNVGM6WBVD2" target="_blank">Refuge</a> </i>have shipped from the printer to the warehouse, so the book should be showing up for sale soon, though the official release date is still posted on Amazon and other sites as September 23. <br />
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I should have my author's copies sometime before then, and I want to announce a giveaway of ten (10) signed copies that I will personally mail out to the winners, who will be chosen from the email entrants to the giveaway once I have books in hand. <br />
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To enter for a chance to win a copy in this giveaway, all you have to do is enter your email address and first name in the form below. If you are selected I'll contact you by email to get your mailing address.<br />
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The sign-up will also add you to my newsletter mailing list, so you will be the first to know about my next books (two projects currently in the works) and other giveaways, previews and occasional recommendations of other books I've recently read. This newsletter list is new and will be my go-to method of keeping readers informed in lieu of social networks like Facebook and Twitter with their ever-changing policies and restrictions. You'll only get an occasional newsletter email, certainly less than one a month and most of the time even less, and you can be sure your email address will never be shared and that you can opt out of the list at anytime, including right after this giveaway, if you choose. <br />
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If you chose to enter, thanks for your interest in the sequel to <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0088NCM84/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0088NCM84&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=AOAUYDYCPWIRJUTJ" target="_blank">The Pulse</a></i> and good luck!
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<!--End mc_embed_signup-->Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-31965986352521199472014-08-19T16:34:00.000-05:002014-08-19T16:34:12.506-05:00Polar Pure is Available Again!Back in January, 2010, I <a href="http://www.bugoutsurvival.com/2010/01/gear-review-polar-pure-water.html" target="_blank">posted a review</a> of one of my favorite water purification methods: <i><b>Polar Pure Water Disinfectant</b>. </i>You can read the article for all the details of why I like this iodine purification method so much, and how I've tested it in a wide variety of environments, including jungle rivers in Central America with no ill effects:<br />
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<a href="http://www.bugoutsurvival.com/2010/01/gear-review-polar-pure-water.html">http://www.bugoutsurvival.com/2010/01/gear-review-polar-pure-water.html</a><br />
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But then, suddenly Polar Pure was <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19385037" target="_blank">taken off the market in 2011</a> by the DEA because of illegal drug manufacturers allegedly using the pure iodine crystals that come in the bottle for making crystal meth. This put a small family business on indefinite hold and took a great product for the bug out bag off the market. <br />
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I still had some older bottles on hand when the ban went into effect, and since Polar Pure has a long shelf life I wasn't too worried, but I could no longer recommend it for others since finding it was a challenge. But just today I was sorting my gear for an upcoming motorcycle trip out West, where I expect to be camping in the backcountry as I explore remote forest service and BLM roads off pavement. Looking at my old bottles of Polar Pure, I decided go online to check on the latest status and was delighted to find that it is back on the market and for sale at Amazon for the same price as before the ban. I'll order a couple of fresh bottles immediately, as this is one of the best water purification options I know of when you have to travel light. Even if you own and prefer filtration systems, it doesn't hurt to have a bottle of Polar Pure in the bug out bag. It's lightweight, can last for years, and only costs $15.<br />
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Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-34770999732991409542014-08-01T13:00:00.000-05:002014-08-01T13:22:28.932-05:00Refuge (Book II of The Pulse Series)Just a quick update on the expected availability of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612432956/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1612432956&linkCode=as2&tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkId=WUT6RSNVGM6WBVD2" target="_blank">Refuge</a> </i>which I finished up in June. My publisher has shipped the finalized files to the printer and I got word yesterday that copies will ship from the printer on August 21, which should put them in the warehouses of Amazon and other distributors and retailers about a week later. So hopefully the book will be available to buy around the 1st of September instead of the 9th as posted on Amazon now. <br />
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Here's a view of the back cover, which I did not have at the time of my last update here:<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bEr61MvDuBA/U9vTlZKOj0I/AAAAAAAAIxg/EdK1DjFH8Sw/s1600/Refuge-backcover.jpeg" height="400" width="257" /></div>
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As with all these books done through my publisher, the printed price on the cover is the list price only. The selling price on Amazon and other online retailers will be significantly lower. It's currently listed on Amazon for $11.26, but I expect that price to go lower upon release, but final selling price is up to Amazon. The Kindle Edition will also be available at the time of the print release and should be under $10.<br />
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I want to thank all the readers of this blog and especially those of you who have purchased and enjoyed <i>The Pulse</i> and <i>The Darkness After</i>, making it possible for me to continue exploring the concepts presented here on <i>Bug Out Survival</i> through works of fiction. I think fiction can in many ways be more thought-provoking than nonfiction when it comes to considering just what one might do in the event of a catastrophic disaster like the solar flare scenario explored in these novels. I try to make the stories as realistic as possible, but at the same time, the goal is to entertain more so than to teach. I look forward to continuing these stories as well as beginning new ones. More to come soon with the announcement of the next project...<br />
<br />Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-56531134907592316152014-07-11T08:06:00.000-05:002014-07-11T08:06:28.415-05:00Discussing The Prepper's Workbook on Destiny Survival RadioOnce again I enjoyed chatting with John Wesley Smith of Destiny Survival Radio about my latest book release, this time <i>The Prepper's Workbook.</i> My co-author, Scott Finazzo joined us as well as we went into the details of the book and why it was intended not just for those who think of themselves as preppers, but any family or individual who wants to be ready for emergencies. <br />
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John has also posted his written review of the book on his Destiny Survival site here: <a href="http://destinysurvival.com/2014/07/10/the-preppers-workbook-gives-checklists-and-guidance-for-prepping-no-matter-what-your-level-of-preparedness/">http://destinysurvival.com/2014/07/10/the-preppers-workbook-gives-checklists-and-guidance-for-prepping-no-matter-what-your-level-of-preparedness/</a><br />
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The link to the interview can be found here: <a href="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/39273878/167_williams_finazzo_the_preppers_workbook_071014.mp3">https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/39273878/167_williams_finazzo_the_preppers_workbook_071014.mp3</a>Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-55028327442844597422014-06-10T16:07:00.000-05:002014-06-10T16:07:03.785-05:00Sequel to THE PULSE Finished<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Refuge-After-Collapse-Pulse-Williams/dp/1612432956/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=&creativeASIN=1612432956" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eG6jZlOrZY4/U5dgOY_RqII/AAAAAAAAIv4/7o1JRmAJf6M/s1600/Refuge+Cover+Option+1.jpg" height="400" width="256" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> Days have turned into weeks with no contact from anyone outside of North America, where the power, communication and transportation grid has been completely destroyed by massive solar flares. In the ensuing chaos, grocery store shelves have been stripped bare and panicked survivors have fled the cities and towns, sweeping across the countryside in a desperate attempt to find sustenance and avoid the violence. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> Artie Drager has risked everything to sail from the West Indies to New Orleans, where his daughter Casey was attending college. Finally catching up with her after discovering she had long since evacuated the city with her friends, Artie’s plan to get her to safe refuge on his brother’s sailboat begins to fall apart. Artie and his daughter must fight to survive, and hard choices must be made when part of their crew fails to return before they must set sail.</span></i><i><br /></i><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> This sequel to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">The Pulse</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> explores the descent into anarchy that occurs when everything familiar in modern life is suddenly stripped away and survivors must adapt to a harsh new reality or die.</span></i><br />
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I have been working hard at wrapping up the manuscript for <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Refuge-After-Collapse-Pulse-Williams/dp/1612432956/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=&creativeASIN=1612432956">Refuge</a></i>, the sequel to my first novel: <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Pulse-Novel-Surviving-Collapse/dp/1612430546/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=&creativeASIN=1612430546" target="_blank">The Pulse</a> </i>and it is now in the hands of the editors and hopefully on track for release later this summer in July or August. <i>Refuge </i>picks up right where <i>The Pulse </i>left off, after a series of strong solar flares has shut down the grid over the southern U.S. and maybe even worldwide, as far as the characters in the story know. <br />
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My intention all along while writing <i>The Pulse </i>in late 2011-early 2012 was that there would be one or more sequels, as there were so many possibilities for this unlikely group of characters thrown into such a life-altering event. I wanted to move forward on the first sequel immediately after the release of <i>The Pulse </i>in the summer of 2012, but at the suggestion of my publisher, I agreed to first write the parallel story for young adults, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Darkness-After-A-Novel/dp/1612431844/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=scottsboatpag-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=&creativeASIN=1612431844" target="_blank">The Darkness After</a></i><i>. </i>Response to that book has been extremely positive as well and I also plan one or more sequels to it, although they will likely be independently published so that I can get them out there sooner. <br />
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Hopefully, readers of <i>The Pulse </i>will not have forgotten too much of the story and will be able to pick up <i>Refuge </i>and move forward with ongoing dilemma that Larry, Artie, Casey, Jessica, Grant and Scully have gotten themselves into. Things certainly get even more complicated for them in Book II, but setbacks and disappointments are to be expected in a major SHTF event like the one in this series. <br />
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I will post updates here as the publishing process moves forward, and there will almost certainly be a GoodReads Giveaway that you can sign up for as well. As with all my books, review copies will be available for other bloggers and writers with related sites who wish to receive one. Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836343905945224980.post-30140140111959581422014-04-02T09:12:00.000-05:002014-04-02T09:12:57.703-05:00Update on Review Copies and GiveawaysI'm reposting this update from my main site, <a href="http://www.scottbwilliams.com/">www.scottbwilliams.com</a> for those of you who only check in here. As many of you know, <i>The Prepper's Workbook </i>has now been shipping from Amazon for about two weeks, and is even available on the shelf in many Barnes & Noble locations. Some of you most likely had your pre-ordered copies before I even saw a copy, though my author's copies finally arrived at the end of last week:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r3arhY_UESU/UzwXnGiwk_I/AAAAAAAAIvI/DAvvH18WegU/s1600/IMG_1580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r3arhY_UESU/UzwXnGiwk_I/AAAAAAAAIvI/DAvvH18WegU/s1600/IMG_1580.jpg" height="318" width="400" /></a></div>
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For those of you who have requested a review copy or are among the ten lucky winners of the Goodreads book giveaway for this book, please be assured that you will be getting your copy from the publisher as soon as they get the shipment they are awaiting. The way the book distribution system works, shipments often go out from the printer directly to the booksellers before even the publishers or the authors get theirs. The book industry is changing so fast anyway that every time I have a new book released it seems there is a surprise of one kind or another. <br />
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For those who have been patiently waiting for this book for so long, my coauthor Scott Finazzo and I again want to thank you for your continued interest despite the delays and setbacks. We have gotten word from our editor at Ulysses Press that sales of this book have been fantastic, no doubt due to the continued interest so many people have in doing all they can to be prepared for the unexpected. We hope you will find it useful in your own preps once you get your hands on a copy, and that you will use it as intended, as a <i>workbook </i>to be written in, marked-up and customized to <i>your </i>needs. Scott B. Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984429607322718345noreply@blogger.com1