What was your motivation for writing this story?

I wanted to tell a different type of horror/survival story. I wanted the story to have a lot of heart. I wanted a character who understood the gravity of what was happening and didn’t panic. Don’t get me wrong, Charis is terrified. Who in their right mind wouldn’t be? While she tries to keep it all together, some moments chip away at that calm exterior, and, little by little, those moments cause cracks and fissures that she would have to carry with her.

There was a moment in the story when Charis, while looking for a place to hide, encountered an infected person, albeit from behind a closed door, but when she continued down the stairwell, her foot slipped, and she stumbled. That momentary jolt shook her confidence and made her less sure about whether she can carry on, and yet she mustered the courage to carry on. I wanted to explore that constant juxtaposition, push-and-pull, between fear and courage – the physiological journey that someone goes through when hurled into a state of emotional and life-threatening turmoil.

What do i love most about Charis?

Her quick wit and sharp personality even in the face of dire circumstances. She’s not a heroine, but she’s fierce and isn’t the type to wait for someone to rescue her. In the story, she comes across another survivor, Jessie, and that is where we see a compassionate side to her character. But, as the journey unfolds, Charis understands the quality that makes her human also puts her in a dangerous position for people to hurt her; she will have to decide how best to walk that fine line between upholding that standard of humanity and protecting herself.

Which character was a surprise to write?

Morrison. She started as a one-dimensional character and only served a particular purpose in Charis’ character arc. Later on, I realized there was more she can bring to the overall theme of this story, which is the immense struggle that one faces while hoping to lay claim to their future.

What types of research was done to write a story like this?

I consulted with my wife (a lot) about what she would do in certain situations. She leans toward accepting things that are beyond her control; it’s not about giving up or approval. Instead, it’s about understanding the context to make an appropriate response. I wanted to know how one would channel that way of finding peace and that fear of leading to a quarrel into making choices and engaging with others without necessarily changing the emotional impact of the here and now.

I also had the pleasure of being a member of The Creative Writers of Morris County in Parsippany, New Jersey. Having other authors critique the character’s dialogue, mannerisms, and interactions is the best thing ever! There’s nothing better than being told, “As a mother, I wouldn’t have done that,” or seeing how differently a male reader and female reader responded to an event.

Speaking of the writing group, there’s a pivotal moment in the story where the city’s power goes out. Stuart, from the writing group, rightfully pointed out that running water in most apartment buildings would cease without a motorized pump, let alone drinkable without proper filtration. I got caught with my pants down. It seemed like a minor detail, but taking away something we take for granted, drinkable water, further reinforced the disruption in Charis’ sense of control.

As a male author, did you have any difficulty writing a story with a female protagonist?

If we are taking about something as dire as, say, a zombie apocalypse… I think the basic need for food, water, sleep, and perhaps medication are as far as the similarities goes between writing a male or female protagonist. When it comes to how one would internalize or respond to certain events, I think it has less to do with gender but more about how one grew up and their life experiences. A handful of people could view the same situation differently; with compassion, cynicism, or as an opportunity to enrich themselves. It really depends on our personal views in life which are molded from specific moments in our lives.

In the book, the three main characters are female – Charis, Jessie, and Morrison – and all of them have different circumstances and to a certain extent different life experiences. Charis had parents that taught her how to conduct herself while Morrison lost her parents and had to assume responsibility for her younger sister at a young age.

Here’s a real story that I think epitomizes why it was important for me to speak to and get early drafts of my book into the hands of as many women as possible. There was a scene where Charis meets Jessie for the first time and in an early draft I had the daughter Brie hide behind Jessie’s legs. Someone read that and said, as a mother I would never have let my child be exposed like that. I would have hidden her in a closet or behind the couch until I knew it was safe to come out. It’s such a small detail, but so real. There were many similar details in the way these female characters behaved, thought, and spoke that was different from how I had initially portrayed them, as a guy, and so I really do have to give credit to the many women who gave me honest, constructive feedback.

What do you want your readers to take away from this story?

First, I hope it’s an enjoyable read. What’s the point in storytelling if the story itself is not compelling?

I am intrigued by social dynamics – the behavior among groups and the individual members within a group – and studying how high-pressured, volatile conditions and circumstances influence or enhance a person’s values and attitudes. I would be curious to know how the reader felt about the characters, their motivations, and whether or not their actions and choices were justified or lacked moral conviction.

One distinct choice I made while writing this story was avoiding labels like “zombies.” That’s not what they are, and I feel a label of any kind would strip away their humanity. By referring to an infected person as a nurse, motorcyclist, barista, hotel concierge, bride, etc… I am reminding us that these were everyday people doing everyday activities and making the most of their lives before getting cut short.

If an infection were to take over the world tomorrow - essentially wiping out the human race - how would you spend your last day?

I asked my wife this question, and she said:

I would lock myself inside, cook a ribeye steak, break open a bottle of wine, and watch all my favorite shows and movies. I’ve accepted it’s the end of the world, and if it’s my time, then it’s my time.

That’s her position. I wish I can be as chill. Knowing myself, the first thing I’d do is cry and throw up. Once I got that out of my system, assuming everyone else had the same notice, I can imagine the chaos in the streets, at Walmart, and the gun shops. My priority would be to get to high ground and far away from the highly populated areas. I’m thinking of High Point State Park. It’s about a day’s journey on foot. Hopefully, along the way, I’ll have a chance to duck into a grocery store and grab some boxes of Mallomars.

Hello readers, there are hidden messages, a little something extra, sprinkled throughout my novel. It can relate to a character, a place, an object, or a bit of dialogue. Happy hunting!