Apocalyptic Empire: Eradication is in the final phases!

Just wanted to give everyone a quick update to the status of Eradication. Abigail and I have gone through line by line and performed our initial edits. Now we have one more read through and we are set for launch. I am anticipating that we will be done within the next week or two and I can have an official release date as I get a little bit closer.

I have had some readers taking a look at Eradication and I have heard many good things about it so far. I can't wait to get it out there and see what all my readers think!

Here's a link to my book page for a quick synopsis and the cover for Eradication if you haven't seen it yet! Apocalyptic Empire Series

Conflicted the prepper's card game!

Today I wanted to take some time and tell you guys about the Conflicted card game. It's a game that I stumbled upon that is right up our alley!

The idea of the game is to dream up an apocalyptic scenario. It doesn't have to be zombies. It could be anything! I tried explaining this to my wife last night...it went over better than zombies... After your group decides on an event that would change the world as we know it, the first player picks a card. Each card has a scenario on it that the player must make a decision about.

One card that comes to mind is about a plane ride in which you and your friends are flying a plane that has been stolen. Mid-flight it is determined that the plane is overloaded and will not be able to make it to the destination. The decision is who will be thrown from the plane mid-flight to make the plane light enough to continue. Now if you're sitting around playing this game with your family and friends, this may not be an easy decision! My wife said, well better to lose friends than family, and shoved them out the door!

Once you have made up your mind, you explain to the group what your decision is, and why. The other members of the group then give you an evaluation score between 0 and 3. Five being that they agree with your decision and would likely do the same thing, one being, no way!

The object of the game is to be the one with the most points at the end of the game. The interesting part of the game is that the person that makes the best decisions, or gets the group to agree would typically be your leader or the person that people would follow. The person with the least amount of points is going to be the person with off the wall decisions and probably that person you want to kick out the door of the plane!

The game really challenges your mind, your survival skills, and also the ideology of who you will be bringing when the SHTF. In my novel I bring along my family members and no friends, but after playing this game with them I wonder if it would be wise to bring them along? Sometimes it's the hard decisions that have to be made for the survival of the group or your family.

Can you make those hard decisions or will your own moral compass put your family in harms way.

Find out now by ordering a copy of Conflicted the card game!

You can also follow them on Twitter and Like them on Facebook.

Apocalyptic Empire Update!

Just wanted to give everyone a quick update of the state of affairs inside the Apocalyptic Empire! I have completed my preliminary revisions and am now waiting on the updates from Abigail my editor to get Eradication all wrapped up. I plan on having it out as soon as she is done and I go through it one more time.

I have also started writing book three which I have tentatively named Apocalyptic Empire: Reclamation. I can't go into too much detail about why I picked that title without spoiler alerting Eradication. Not really too far into it yet, still working on the prologue. If I can stick to my semi regular schedule I should have it done by the end of the year. We will see!

On a different note, I have partnered up with a game making company who makes a game called the Conflicted Card Game. I can't really go into too much detail about that because it isn't really on the market yet, but I am sure it is going to be really cool. I will be partnering up with them to make some pretty awesome material going forward. Check back later on for details about that.

Well that's about all I can think of this time around. Hope everyone is having a good summer. Hopefully I can get Eradication out there soon, and look forward to the feedback!

Stay safe out there,

Chris Blake

10 Awesome Survival Edged Weapons

Since I had a pretty decent response on my last "10 items" post, I figured I would try it again. This time I have found some really cool edges weapons. Some of these knives have more uses than just a blade and can go a long way toward saving your butt in a survival situation.

Check out this list of knives:

1. Gerber 22-01400 LMF II This is a survival knife with a few extras. The butt-cap on the grip can be used to pierce glass, and in the sheath is a blade sharpener, so it won't go dull in a survival situation. It's a 10 inch partially serrated blade, and definitely a keeper.
2. Amazon Jungle Survival Knife This blade is especially cool because in the grip there is an assortment of cool survival gear. There are matches, a compass, striking paper and fishing gear. The blade itself is 13 inches long and is straight on one side and serrated on the other.
3. Elite Forces Survival Bowie Knife This blade is 12 inches in overall length, and is straight on one side and saw like on the flip side. Looks like it could make short work of a tree!
4. Big Bohica Kukhri Machete With 19 inches of overall length, this machete is a must if you plan on getting stranded in the jungle somewhere. This thing looks awesome and can cut through some vines!
5. Secret Agent Tactical Ninja Sword OK, the name alone screams badass. How can you NOT want a "Secret Agent Tactical Ninja Sword"! I mean technically you could call it a long knife right? Even at 27 inches in total length, it's just a big knife... OH and it's awesome! It's serrated in the middle, and razor sharp on the pointy end. Make sure the pointy end goes toward the zombies.
6. United Cutlery Tomahawk Throwing Knife Set To go along with your Secret Agent Tactical Ninja Sword, here's a set of three throwing knives. You know, so you can take out a few at range before busting out your sword. I'm pretty sure that's how ninjas would take out zombies...
7. Black Ronin Tomahawk I may be going off the grid a little bit on this one, but come on. Look at this thing. It's almost as cool as a sword. It has multiple zombie puncturing aspects to it, and would go great with the secret ninja sword and throwing knives.
8. Military Warrior Tanto Point Stealth Trench Knife It wouldn't be zombie knives day without a trench knife. This knife is 9 1/4 inches long and features knuckle slots so you can punch the zombie, and then put him down. Wow that sounded really brutal...
9. Dark Assassin Dagger Just incase you don't want to be a secret ninja, and want to be a "Dark Assassin" instead. This thing looks straight out of Assassin's Creed. Whether it would be amazing against zombies, just depends how good you are at hiding to the shadows and striking out in the night. Which...the zombies are probably better at...so you better just stick to your Glock.
10. Longclaw If you don't know what Game of Thrones is, this sword won't have the same meaning to you. If you do know what it is, then you know this sword can mess up some white walkers. Which also are kind of like zombies. Plus it looks amazing, and nothing says "I'm a badass survivalist" like wielding a legitimate sword.

So there you have it, I started with some very practical survival knives with fishing kits, and ended with amazing swords! That's like going from BB guns to Desert Eagles. Sometimes you have to go big or go home, and today we are going big!

If you have any cool ideas for more lists like this one, please shoot me a comment and let me know.

Thanks for checking in.

Stay safe out there,

Chris Blake

10 survival items under $10

This time I have found some pretty cool survival gadgets, gizmos, and gear all priced under $10. For these prices, these items are definitely must haves for any bug out bag. Of course all of these items can be found on the awesome internet retailer Amazon. If you haven't noticed yet, I have a thing for Amazon...

Anyway, on to the list!

1. Essential 5 in 1 Survival Tool ($5.99) - It's a compass, matchbox with waterproof matches, whistle, flint fire starter, and signal mirror. The best part is, it's the size of a keychain, and it only costs $6!
2. Emergency Mylar Blankets ($6.50) - OK so these aren't super cool or anything, but there's ten of them for 6 bucks and they can keep you warm in a pinch. Plus they are super thin when folded up and super lightweight. Definitely a must have for your bag.
3. P-51 Can Opener ($1.80) - These are the old military style P-51 can openers. Small enough to store anywhere, rugged enough for the military, and a must have for any survivor. When you get down to eating canned food, trust me you will want one of these. Just ask a certain Captain in my next book, and he will tell you!
4. Potable Aqua Water Treatment ($6.49) - I know I had these on another post, but they fit the category, and nothing is more important that clean water. These tablets make water drinkable in 30 minutes. There's 50 tablets for under 10 bucks!
5. CKRT Eat'n Tool ($5.95) - This thing is so simplistic it's silly. It's a spork, on a carabiner. Oh and it has three hex wrenches! But seriously, everyone can use a spork...
6. Emergency Tent ($9.99) - Some of you might say, Chris, why not just use one of your emergency blankets as a tent! To which I would reply... Because this is a tent already?
7. Paracord Bracelet ($5.50) - These bracelets are pretty cool for two reasons. The obvious: it's fashionable? The less obvious: it is up to 9 feet of paracord wrapped around your wrist. Paracord holds a ridiculous amount of weight, and even 9 feet of it is enough to get some hardcore jobs done.
8. Snaplight 10 pack ($9.01) - These are industrial grade glow sticks, I'm not going to sugar coat it, but when it's dark and all your batteries are gone because the zombies took them all? You'll be glad you have your glow sticks.
9. Military Style Sewing Kit ($8.24) - OK listen, you might think, who's going to be sewing during the zombie apocalypse! Think about it, you can only fit so much clothing in your bug out bag. It's going to get torn up and ripped, and when you can't run to Walmart and grab a new shirt, you're going to go man...Glad I had that sewing kit.
10. Swiss+Tech 19 in 1 Tool ($8.49) - It's got 19 doodads and fits on your keychain. Need I say more?

In all seriousness, some of these items are a little bit less awesome than others...but I was shopping with ten bucks, cut me some slack! Some of these items are really cool and I own a few of them myself, so if you're into glowsticks like I know I am, check some of these things out, especially the paracord bracelet. You know you want to be one of the cool kids...

Thanks for checking in again! Until next time!

Stay safe out there,

Chris Blake

Apocalyptic Empire: The Hatchery Compound 100% FREE on Smashwords!

Today and tomorrow only on Smashwords you can score a copy of Apocalyptic Empire: The Hatchery Compound for FREE. Use the coupon code SH54Z when checking out. 

Grab your FREE copy today!

Awesome survival firearms!

I am going to go out on a limb again and talk about some awesome firearms that can be used for survival situations. Looking at some other survival blogs, some of these guys get torn to pieces for providing intel one way or another about how good a particular caliber is, etc. So...I'm not going to do that! I am just going to show you some really cool guns, and leave the conjecture out of the equation.

First up, and probably the coolest is the Springfield Armory M6 Scout. I saw this weapon on a show called Ultimate Survival: Alaska on Discovery Channel, and I instantly thought must have one. The cool thing about the M6 Scout is that it fires both a .22 Long Rifle or .22 Hornet round out of one barrel, and a .410 shotgun shell out of the second barrel. It can store both types of ammo in the butt-stock, and weighs only 4.7 pounds. This thing is definitely a survival weapon. Originally it was made as a survival weapon for pilots in the U.S.A.F from 1950-1970. It has been in and out of production and is currently out of production since 2008, so if you can find one, all the power to you! Definitely worth it though if you can find one.

I can't even begin to explain how cool the Henry Arms AR-7 is. It is a rifle that literally breaks down and fits inside its own butt-stock. The entire gun can be broken down, stored nicely in the butt-stock, and sheltered from the elements. When stored away it measures only 16.5 inches long and weighs 3.5 pounds. It also comes with two 8 round magazines that fit inside the stock as well. The best part is, it's widely available and costs less than $300.



Now, this is where it starts to get dicey...A survival handgun. This topic alone can be debated for hours on end about various makes, models, calibers, etc. I am not going to go into all of that! I will throw out a couple good handguns that I have personally used, and leave it at that! I mentioned my Taurus firearms in previous posts and I obviously stake my life on them on a daily basis so I won't reiterate them here. Check out my previous post for more info on those.

This particular handgun pictured below is a Springfield Armory 1911, which is one model that I have fired. I also have owned a High Standard Crusader Compact 1911, which is also pictured below. Both of these handguns, and any 1911 will never steer you wrong. They have proven themselves time and time again for over one hundred years and gun manufacturers are still making them. In my opinion a 1911 is as badass as it gets and as simple as it gets. Anyone can learn to shoot, clean, and carry a 1911.

Next up is a Beretta 92FS. The Beretta 92FS is the civilian model of the well known military standard issued Beretta M9. It is a 9mm handgun and carries 15 rounds. The reason I picked it, is mainly because of its ease of use, familiarity with most people who have fired a gun at all, and because it is so reliable. I would definitely recommend any 92FS model, not just Beretta's. Taurus also makes an excellent 92 model. As you can see from the pictures below, it's hard to even tell the difference.











That's all I have for you this time. Let me know in the comments of any other cool survival guns I left out. Until next time!

Stay safe out there,

Chris Blake

Apocalyptic Empire Series Update

For all of you anxious Apocalyptic Empire fans, I just wanted to do a quick Blog post about the status of the series.

Firstly, if you haven't heard The Hatchery Compound has been completely edited for about the sixth time. It includes new content, and fixes a lot of the issues that I had with it from day one. It has been an uphill battle trying to gain back the momentum I first had when I released it. That being said, going forward it will be a much cleaner product and everyone should be pretty happy with it. If you have yet to read a copy of The Hatchery Compound shoot me an email and I will gladly send you a free copy. Also, if you have read an earlier version and had problems reading it due to the editing, I would love to send you a new copy. I will send you a coupon for a free download through Smashwords. If you are interested shoot me an email at chris@apocalypticempireseries.com

Next, up is news on Eradication. For those of you who don't know, Eradication is book two in the series. It will be continuing the story from the first book, but is much more action oriented with many more plot twists and turns. I have taken the advice of a lot of readers and I think everyone will really enjoy Eradication. As it stands the book is about 315 pages in length, and I am 215 pages into the editing process. My editor Abigail is 75 pages into her edit. I was originally trying to get the book out in July, but with my busy schedule and the desire for a much cleaner product, I am pushing it back to September. This time around I want to make sure the book is ready to go out of the gate, to ensure everyone who reads it an enjoyable read.

On a side note, I have started a few partnerships that will definitely be benefitting my readers in the near future. I will be hosting a couple raffles, and some book giveaways as well, so keep checking in on the Blog for updates about that.

I have yet to hear any feedback on my blog, so if you have any comments or suggestions on how to improve it, please let me know.

Thanks for reading.

Stay safe out there,

Chris Blake

Must have survival gear for fishing!

Fishing at the Hatchery Compound is like fishing out of a barrel. There are so many fish in the pond there that they don't even have to try. That being said, some people will not have it as easy as Vintago and his community members.

Some people may not have any fishing gear, but for the prepared survivor, these items may help out.

This item is an absolute must have Rothco Survival Knife. This knife has a fishing kit with line and sinkers, bandages, signal mirror, saw, a harpoon, and more. It's a whole survival kit inside a knife!

This Lifeline 29 piece survival kit includes just about every survival item you might need. Seriously though, look at it...

This Pocket Fisherman Kit is pretty cool. It folds up and is small enough to fit in a backpack, but extends out into a fishing pole. It beats fishing line and a stick for sure!

Lastly, if you really want to be a bad ass, check out this AMS Bowfishing Kit. This thing looks awesome. I don't know the first thing about bow fishing, but I think with this kit you can get it done!

Electronics in the Apocalypse?

I got to thinking today as I was typing on my MacBook and simultaneously checking my iPhone; What would I do without those devices!

Lots of people write about zombies and apocalyptic events, and usually it's all about guns, food, and water, but what about electronics! Don't get me wrong it's not like there would be a charging station on ever corner, but some people would have power right? The Hatchery Compound has a generator running all the time, so why stop using your iPads, MacBooks, and what not just because the world as we know it has come to an end!

I for one would be jamming to tunes on my iPod, apocalypse or not. There's no reason why you can't listen to music stored on a device while you are driving your favorite zombie wagon.

I think that electronics get overlooked in most apocalyptic fiction, and we need to get it back! It's time to dial in a solar charger, generator, or car charger and get those devices back. If anything, wouldn't you just feel better listening to your favorite band while you're shooting at zombies? I know I would...

Anyway, enough of that, here are some items to help out our feeble electronics!

Check out this Instapark 10 watt solar panel. It can charge just about any portable electronic device, pending there isn't to much cloud coverage. If you live in a cloudy zombie apocalypse, then you're just SOL.

Now this thing is the absolutely awesome Ambient Weather WR-334-U. It's an emergency radio, solar charged, battery powered, and even hand crankable! Plus it has all kinds of stuff like flashlights, sirens, you name it. Oh and it charges your electronics! It looks like it would be a very good tool to have on hand for any survival situation, zombies or not.

Lastly, just incase you give up on your electronics and want to read a book in the gloomy darkness that is your post-apocalypse life, here's a Zombie Response Team Zippo.

Hopefully you have a plan in place for your electronics when the world comes to an end, I know I do. Let me know what kind of devices you would cherish, even without power.

Stay safe out there, watch your back.

Chris Blake