Category: Author Feature (page 2 of 2)

AUTHOR FEATURE: Brea Behn (w/ Video)

Author Feature Brea Behn

A Message from Brea

Brea’s Story

PFD Story Title: Proof Falls Down
PFD Chapter: Twelve
Main Character: Amy Savino, a sassy New York reporter bent on getting the truth out

 

Teaser

She had never gotten over the virus in Africa. She’d gone there and seen what this virus did in person, making it personal for her. In between her assigned work, she had been digging into this previously unknown strain of a virus. Something about the whole thing felt off. The fact that it came out of nowhere and then was somehow miraculously stopped with no vaccine or cure had her naturally suspicious side tingling.

 

Mini-Interview

What is your favorite thing about this project? 

My favorite thing about this project is the unique experience not only to write a story in it, but to read it. I have never read a book that was from so many perspectives around the same event (some that even relate/interact with each others)! It is an awesome experience!

What was it like working with the other authors to create such an integrated anthology?

This group is amazing! The combined effort, work, humor and fun while working together and behind the scenes has been an experience I will never forget. Despite our different writing styles and voice, we managed to all come together to write on a genre we all enjoy. The amazing editing team then organized and rearranged to ensure all our stories fit together in a way that makes the whole anthology feel like a perfectly intertwined collection. Which is truly evident in the finished product!

Has being a part of Prep For Doom changed your outlook on disaster preparation and/or apocalyptic scenarios? 

I have always had a healthy respect for the “what-ifs” of natural disaster preparation. However, being a part of this project did lead to a family discussion of where and how we would meet pending a disaster of this proportion. It also led to some survival type purchases I might not have made otherwise.

Tell us a little about your Prep For Doom character(s) and story.

My story is titled, Proof Falls Down. My main character is New York city reporter Amy Savino. Amy finds herself pulled into the story of the virus before it even hits home. Her intuitive and suspicious nature leads her to pull all kinds of theories and conspiracies together as her place in the story unfolds. She follows leads, answers questions and in a lot of ways leaves you asking more. I hope you enjoy! Thanks for reading!

AUTHOR FEATURE: Caroline A. Gill

Author Feature Caroline Gill

Caroline’s Story

PFD Story TitleThe Gift
PFD Chapter: Prologue
Main Character: Dede Afi John, an African girl in the earliest known outbreak of AVHF

 

Teaser

Dede wanted to refuse and spit in his face. She wished she had been one of the girls who had jumped out the window and ran. A classmate behind her started crying. Two men moved through the crowd. Within seconds they reached the howling girl, throwing her onto the floor, forcing her mouth shut. Harsh hands wound thick tape around the girl’s bleeding lips. Then the two men hauled the bound girl upright like prey ready to be gutted. Dede had a choice to make.

 

Mini-Interview

How did you prepare for writing your PFD story? Any particular research or personal experience?

I spent three days researching the Akan people of Ghana, Africa and the people of Nigeria. Really looking at the culture, the exports, the western and eastern influences. Learning about name meanings, rites of passage, significant sayings, and the meanings of color within a totally different world than my own. It was an incredible glimpse into an entirely different world view. I hope I did the complex world there justice.

What was it like working with the other authors to create such an integrated anthology? 

Meeting so many wonderful, giving, and kind authors and fans. Seriously, Band of Dystopian Authors and Fans offers such support and enthusiasm for writers to explore the earth turned upside down in a million possible ways. There is goodness in the world, even in the darkest of times, there is always hope and friendship.

Have you ever experienced a major disaster that made you think about end of the world scenarios? 

The alarm blared at 3 a.m., waking the whole town of Crescent City, CA. I stumbled out of bed, my husband snatched up the baby and I woke the other children. We grabbed our important papers, some water, snacks, and the diaper bag. There wasn’t much time before the tsunami hit our coast. We had to get to high ground which was a half a mile behind us. There was already a line of cars, snaking up into the redwood forest. We made it up the ridge to safety. That was incredibly hard, watching the wave of ocean coming from Japan’s earthquake, not sure if our home would be standing when everything was over. I spent a lot of time in the dark, parked in my van with everything precious in the world right there with me. I realized I could let the house, the money, all of it go as long as our family was safe. I think of the end of the world scenarios in much the same way – what would we do to save our families? What price is too high?

Tell us one thing people don’t know about you or might be surprised to find out?

I was born with a congenital cataract in my right eye. My parents raised me to do anything, to trust my body, and to accomplish what I put my mind to. As I have grown older, I have realized that I am flawed and broken, just by being human. We all are in some way. It is my belief that we are only unbroken when we stand together, when our weaknesses are cancelled out by the strength of our friends and family. Together, we have the power to change the world. Humans are fragile, weak, and wild creatures but we persevere. It’s what we do. That simple truth affects everything I write.

AUTHOR FEATURE: DelSheree Gladden

Author Feature DelSheree G

DelSheree’s Story

PFD Story TitleAs The Pieces Fell
PFD Chapter: Fourteen
Main Character: Sidney and Vivi, young sisters trapped in a relentless cycle of lab tests

 

Teaser

Sidney and Vivi had cleared as non-infected and been shoved into a containment room for further testing. Neither of them had a clue what was going on. When the doctor who had examined them gave them the news that they were naturally immune to the virus, it had sounded like a good thing. It wasn’t. 

 

Mini-Interview

How does Prep For Doom compare to other things you’ve written?

While I’ve written dystopian in several projects, published and unpublished, I’d never incorporated viruses or medical aspects into any of my books before. It was interesting to work with elements that I wasn’t in control of. The details of the virus and what damage it did were decided upon before the project began, and then we all used that information in our stories. I really enjoyed trying something new. I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, but at the end I was actually really pleased with not only my chapter, but the whole project!

What was it like working with the other authors to create such an integrated anthology?

Collaborating with others authors was a fairly new thing for me. I’ve been working on a co-writing project with a friend recently, but even that was very different from working with 20 different authors! It was interesting to read someone else’s chapters and then try to incorporate their characters into my chapter, even in a small way. It’s trickier than it seems! Also, just trying to keep the details consistent with what everyone else was writing was only possible thanks to the lovely ladies in charge of keeping track of everything and straightening out the inconsistencies! I would have been lost early on without our talented editors.

What do you think would be the scariest kind of apocalypse?

While zombies comes to mind first, because I love zombie movies, I think something cataclysmic would be scarier. It wouldn’t just be the event itself, but the quick degrading of society that would likely happen. People do crazy and terrible things when they’re scared, and I think the possibility of seeing the people around you act out in fear and see the damage that would cause would be scarier than zombies.

AUTHOR FEATURE: Kelsey D. Garmendia (w/ Video)

Author Feature Kelsey Garmendia

A Message from Kelsey

Kelsey’s Story

PFD Story TitleRoland
PFD Chapter: Seven
Main Character: Roland, a desperate man who slips into a dark role after losing a loved one. Roland is based on a character from Cameo Renae’s story, Existing.

 

Teaser

He wanted no more fear of the Fever.

But the anger he had for the man that infected her was what he needed. He needed vengeance. Something that gave him purpose.

 

Mini-Interview

What was it like working with the other authors to create such an integrated anthology?

Being the youngest writer in the group, I knew I had big shoes to fill. The authors, along with some jokes, have been nothing but encouraging and enthusiastic. I’m truly honored to be featured with so many great writers.

Tell us one thing people don’t know about you or might be surprised to find out?

I post covers of songs on my YouTube channel. I hope that one day, I can write some originals with my best friend who lives in California.

Tell us a little about your Prep For Doom character(s) and story.

Roland takes a look at the darker and grittier side of this apocalypse through the eyes of a smaller, and perhaps more sinister, character in Cameo Renae’s story, Existing. Roland’s story is one with heartache, anger, as well as the worst trait to have during the apocalypse—hopelessness.

AUTHOR FEATURE: John Gregory Hancock (w/ Video)

Author Feature John Hancock

A Message from John

John’s Story

PFD Story TitleTrust
PFD Chapter: Six
Main Characters: Dangerella, a teen who crosses paths with a homeless man named Earl

 

Teaser

“Well, see here, this is how it go. If you don’t make it, I want to know what to call the redheaded baby doll that fell through my roof and died on my floor. I’ve cleaned up too many dead folk already with no names. Or no names that I knew, anyhow.”

“Oh,” she bit her lip. “Dangerella.”

 

Mini-Interview

How does Prep For Doom compare to other things you’ve written? 

It was my first time directly involved with other writers in the project, instead of just writing my own thing.

What is your favorite thing about this project? 

It was an exciting joy ride to blindly collaborate with other very talented writers. I was honored to have had my story chosen. And I’m humbled by their collective talent.

Do you or does anyone you know prep for disasters?

I once knew a guy who did disaster planning for the government. That’s about it.

Have you ever experienced a major disaster that made you think about end of the world scenarios? 

I was in a 7.1 earthquake once, and had to live through a series of aftershocks. It made me fell very helpless.

What do you think would be the scariest kind of apocalypse?

Where people know something is wrong, but they don’t know why, and they can’t communicate with each other.

Tell us one thing people don’t know about you or might be surprised to find out?

I’m a lifelong gamer, and was actually written into a video game.

Tell us a little about your Prep For Doom character(s) and story.

Dangerella is a little slip of a girl, but she’s dangerous. Maybe her emotions make her dangerous, maybe they make her more vulnerable. Earl  looks like a homeless man. Looks are deceiving. Whom do you trust?

AUTHOR FEATURE: Casey L. Bond

Author Feature Casey Bond

Casey’s Story

PFD Story TitleUnsafe Haven
PFD Chapter: Three
Main Character: Lexia, a teenage girl on her own in NYC at the time of the outbreak

 

Teaser

When she did peel herself off the couch for yet another bathroom excursion, she saw that those eyes were bloodshot. It was disturbing as hell.

Lexia touched the tender, swollen skin around her face, her mouth gaped open at herself in the mirror, a strand of drying saliva stretching from lip to lip like an errant spider web.

That was when she collapsed.

 

Mini-Interview

What was it like working with the other authors to create such an integrated anthology?

Hands down, my favorite part of the entire process was the comradery of the individual authors who came together to write an amazing story. We all had the same goal: make this book one that would stick with the reader long after the final page. It has action, drama, and emotion, and we all worked together toward that goal. It was fabulous.

What do you think would be the scariest kind of apocalypse?

I think that a viral pandemic would be terrifying. With natural disasters, some people have time to prepare and they’re awful, so please don’t think I’m brushing them off. But with something viral, it’s the danger of something so small and something that you can’t see or do anything to prevent.

There is spread of the disease. Loved ones will be affected. You might be affected. The side effects might be extreme and unpleasant. If it happened on a global scale, governments and economies might fall. The repercussions are apocalyptic to say the least.

Tell us a little about your Prep For Doom character(s) and story.

Lexia is a teenage girl, posing as an eighteen year old. Her mother is dead and her father is mentally ill and housed in a facility where he could get help. Lexia has learned to depend on herself, so when everything falls apart, she has to learn to depend on other people in order to survive.

AUTHOR FEATURE: Cameo Renae

Author Feature Cameo

 

Cameo’s Story

PFD Story TitleExisting
PFD Chapter: Five
Main Character: Kiana, a teenage girl on her way to a bunker with her dad.

 

Teaser

No one had suspected a fatal pandemic to hit, silently and swiftly spreading. The fear of waking up with a fever, knowing it could be the virus taking hundreds, if not thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of lives, was a reality. A horror. An invisible and violent death with no preference and no cure.

 

Mini-Interview

How does Prep For Doom compare to other things you’ve written?

Well, first off… this is the very first anthology I’ve been a part of. Yay!!! When the BOD group announced they were thinking of putting an anthology together, I was super excited and knew I wanted to be a part of it. This anthology is different because my characters had to be in the same world with twenty other authors. The details of this world had to be correct and flow from story to story. But that’s what makes this adventure so unique and a wonderful experience.

What is your favorite thing about this project?

I think my favorite thing was connecting with other writers in this genre. Each one is so gifted, and as a collaboration brought one amazing story to the readers.

How did you prepare for writing your PFD story? Any particular research or personal experience?

I was glad a few of the other authors posted their stories so we could read them and get a feel for the world we were about to be thrown into. BOD was extremely organized and had files for us to go to which kept our information straight. That was a tremendous help! They also offered some awesome advice during the editing portions which made my story even stronger. For my main characters, I did little research. Overall, this was a wonderful experience and I am so lucky to be a part of it.

What was it like working with the other authors to create such an integrated anthology?

It was amazing. Everyone in the group is so much fun and so supportive of each other. For a group of post-apocalyptic, dystopian writers… they really are a happy and great bunch of people to work with.

Tell us one thing people don’t know about you or might be surprised to find out?

I see dead people. / No… I’m just kidding. haha I love seclusion and being alone. I think writing has caused me to become a hermit. Lol – I get nervous when I’m around a crowd, and it takes a lot to pull my inner people-person out. That’s why I love the internet. Virtual hugs are the best. 🙂

AUTHOR FEATURE: Casey Hays (w/ Video)

Casey Hays Author Feature

A Message from Casey

Casey’s Story

PFD Story TitleEdge of a Promise
PFD Chapter: Fifteen
Main Character: Wendy, a teen trying to find safety after losing her family

 

Teaser

Chad was the only one left in this world that she truly cared about. She would cling to her faith that he was alive. She refused to let herself believe anything else. 

 

Mini-Interview

What is your favorite thing about this project?

Writing the story itself was an absolute blast, and what I enjoyed about it most was collaborating my story with Kate Corcino’s. I never thought I would like working so closely with another author. I’m kind of a lone ranger when it comes to writing. But she was so compatible, and very different than me in a lot of ways, which made the project enjoyable and not a bit stressful. We seemed to mesh just right. It was so fun!

How did you prepare for writing your PFD story? Any particular research or personal experience? 

I did a whole lot of thinking in the beginning. I set my story in NM, which is my home state, so minimal research was required as far as landscape, size of population, or weather. I based my character loosely on myself, so that helped. My biggest weakness was not knowing enough about prepping. I’m not a prepper at all and never will be. Neither was my main character, so I did have to rely on the editors and other authors’ familiarity with that culture to bring me up to speed. I guess I didn’t prepare much; I just found my inner “prepper”  along the way. I’m definitely a “follow your characters where they take you” kind of writer. No outlines… ever! So yeah, preparation is pretty minimal in anything I write.

What was it like working with the other authors to create such an integrated anthology? 

It was amazing, really. I have enjoyed getting to know other like-minded people through this project, and I look forward to future working relationships with several. I’ve even been talking to Caroline Gill about cover art for one of my future books. There is a wealth of different kinds of talent in this group from editing to formatting, and everyone was able to utilize their different skill-sets to make this anthology what it has become. I truly believe multiple talents and backgrounds and personalities were necessary to pull this off, and we’ve done it!

What do you think would be the scariest kind of apocalypse? 

Probably exactly what we wrote about. A world-wide sickness seems horrible, especially one so bloody. I am not a fan of puking or diarrhea, either one. Or pain for that matter. So your insides trying to exit your body? Not the best way to end it all.

Tell us one thing people don’t know about you or might be surprised to find out? 

Well, I’m actually a pretty good singer. I tried out for a show in Nashville in 1991 called “Be a Star” and made it to the top four. It was one of the first “American Idol” type shows, only country music. I was supposed to go back for the live filming, but the show didn’t get picked up for the next season, so I was out of luck. After that, I wanted to go to college, so I never pursued my singing career again. Sometimes, I wish I had.

AUTHOR FEATURE: Yvonne Ventresca (w/ Video)

Yvonne V Author Feature

 

A Message from Yvonne

Yvonne’s Story

PFD Story Title: Escape to Orange Blossom
PFD Chapter: Thirteen
Main Character: Bailey, a teen with an autistic younger brother

 

Teaser

Taking a deep breath, she knelt next to Bas one last time, driving the tailspin of emotion in the other direction. Bas would tell her to keep moving: the chemicals would run out soon. She’d lost people before. She’d make it through this. Find new people.

Humanity was just one big lost and found now.

Mini-Interview

How does Prep For Doom compare to other things you’ve written?
My debut YA novel, Pandemic, is about a teen girl separated from her family and struggling to survive a deadly bird flu outbreak on her own. Prep for Doom is similar in that it features a deadly infectious disease and its consequences, but the collection of stories has more of a dystopian element than Pandemic.

What is your favorite thing about this project?
Creating a short story for the Prep for Doom anthology was a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with other authors who enjoy the same type of fiction. Writing can be an isolated endeavor, but Prep for Doom has allowed a group of us to come together and discuss the creative and business aspects of books—things like character development, marketing ideas, and why making promotional videos is so painful. 🙂 The integrated nature of the stories made this truly feel like a team effort.

Tell us one thing people don’t know about you or might be surprised to find out.
I’m a Nidan (second degree) Black Belt in Isshinryu Karate.

Tell us a little about your Prep For Doom characters and story.
“Escape to Orange Blossom” features a teen girl, Bailey, traveling from Pennsylvania to New York with her cheating ex-boyfriend and her autistic younger brother, Nate. There is lots of talk about diversity in YA literature, and I think learning differences (like autism) are an important part of that conversation. Special thanks to my brother for helping with Nate’s dialogue–his son (who is on the autism spectrum) inspired Nate’s character. Bailey represents an ordinary girl trying to make sense of a completely disrupted world while bravely trying to protect the ones she loves.


Learn more about Yvonne on her dedicated author page here on PrepForDoom.com.

AUTHOR FEATURE: Megan White

Today we are thrilled to introduce one of Prep For Doom’s amazing authors, Megan White. Over the days and weeks to come we will be introducing you to all twenty authors, one by one. Today, let’s get to know a little about Megan!

Megan White Feature

 

Megan’s Story

PFD Story Title: Siren
PFD Chapter: Two
Main Character: Claire, an ER doctor at the time of the outbreak

 

Teaser from Siren in Prep For Doom

Claire walked back into the room where her angel rested, sat in a chair, and waited for the results that would either brighten her little world or crash it into eternal darkness. It was the waiting that was agonizing. To her, it seemed like hours passed before another knock came, but when it did, Cindy didn’t have to say a word. “No.” Claire shook her head in denial.

“I’m so sorry,” Cindy whispered as she handed Claire the labs.

 

Mini-Interview with Megan White

What is your favorite thing about this project?

Having the opportunity to work with so many talented authors was beyond thrilling for me. There’s 20 of us! 20 different outlooks on life and this craft that we have all fallen in love with, but somehow it all worked and blended beautifully together.

Have you ever experienced a major disaster that made you think about end of the world scenarios?

I have! In 2007 Tornadoes ripped through my state and devastated my town. We were without power for 2 weeks and had mandatory curfews until power was restored. It was a real wake-up call for all of us.

Do you or does anyone you know prep for disasters? 

Thanks to those tornadoes back in ’07, my family and I have become crazy preppers. Batteries and water and canned peaches, oh my!

What do you think would be the scariest kind of apocalypse?

I’d definitely have to say some sort of new, unknown viral outbreak. You can find a way clean up after a natural disaster, but you can’t fight against something that you cannot see.

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