Author of adventure/thriller and horror fiction

THE RETREAT #4: ALAMO Now Available for Kindle!

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THE RETREAT by Craig DiLouie-002Big announcement today–THE RETREAT #4: ALAMO is now available for Kindle!

During the long retreat out of Philadelphia, First Battalion arrives at High Point Special Facility, the Alamo of the U.S. government. Lt. Colonel Lee secures the fort built around the facility but learns of an outbreak in the underground bunker, where the U.S. government is hiding. The President has been infected.

While thousands of laughing infected lay siege to the facility, Sergeant Muldoon, Corporal Rawlings, and a platoon of lightfighters go deep into the bowels of the earth on a deadly mission: terminate the President of the United States.

The President is waiting.

THE RETREAT is a military apocalyptic thriller series I’m writing with the great Stephen Knight and Joe McKinney. After writing the first episode, I was happy to come back for #4: ALAMO.

In ALAMO, First Battalion faces one of its biggest challenges yet–I hope you enjoy the story and the action!

Get it here for Kindle. Thanks for reading!

What Science Says About Reading Fiction

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readingIt’s Science Thursday! This week’s topic: Studies show that reading is good for your brain.

Specifically, they show that reading produces powerful mental imagery and emotions. It’s a form of experience.

Even more, they show that by exposing readers to different people and situations, reading can cultivate empathy, which affects how people see others and relate to them.

One study, for example, showed that children who read HARRY POTTER books and identify with Potter as a character respond to his sympathy for people who are marginalized (e.g., “mudbloods”), leading to them becoming more sympathetic towards corresponding groups in society, such as immigrants and LGBT individuals.

One conclusion is that while reading is good for you, picking more sophisticated reads with more sophisticated characters is even better due to this effect.

Learn more here.

Romanian Cave Reveals Insect Kingdom

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A lost world for Science Tuesday!

About five million years ago, while humans were evolving in Africa, Movile Cave in Romania became cut off from the surface world, leading to a dramatic turn in evolution for its insect populations.

In the late 1980s, the cave was discovered and opened, and now offers scientists a look at a different world, though only some scientists have been allowed in out of fear of destroying the ecosystem’s balance.

With only half the oxygen as the surface atmosphere, the cave’s atmosphere is poisonous, rank with carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. The air temperature is very warm. These conditions are very similar to what the surface on Earth was like billions of years ago. The ecosystem is based on bacteria that pull carbon from the air without the use of light. The bacteria form slime on water and walls that is eaten by small creatures that are in turn eaten by larger ones, everything in competition.

The cave’s denizens include spiders, water scorpions, centipedes, leeches and more. Most insects evolved to adapt to the darkness by losing their eyes while developing longer legs and antennae.

Learn more at Geek.com here, including some photos of the creatures.

THE SMILING MAN, a Creepy Horror Short

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It’s Horror Monday! And today that means a super creepy horror short, THE SMILING MAN.

A little girl is watching TV when she is drawn downstairs by balloons left on the stairs like breadcrumbs.

Into the kitchen, where the smiling creature reveals itself and a special surprise …

Often, in these short horror films, the creature element is lacking, and the actors have to carry the weight of creating a sense of fear. Some hit the mark, others don’t.

I loved the “smiling man.” One of the creepiest things I’ve seen in a horror short in a long while.

THE RETREAT #4: ALAMO Coming End of June

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THE RETREAT by Craig DiLouie-002Coming the end of June! THE RETREAT, Episode #4: ALAMO, the apocalyptic/zombie thriller series I’m writing with Stephen Knight and Joe McKinney. I’m happy to return to this series as the author of #4; I also wrote #1. The series was inspired by THE ANABASIS.

During the long retreat out of Philadelphia, First Battalion arrives at High Point Special Facility, the Alamo of the U.S. government. Lt. Colonel Lee secures the fort built around the facility but learns of an outbreak in the underground bunker, where the U.S. government is hiding. The President has been infected.

While thousands of laughing infected lay siege to the base, Sergeant Muldoon, Corporal Rawlings, and a platoon of lightfighters go deep into the bowels of the earth on a deadly mission: terminate the President of the United States.

The President is waiting.

Get ready for another action-packed adventure as First Battalion makes its way to Florida through an apocalyptic America overrun with genocidal maniacs.