I’m so glad to welcome Denise Agnew to the blog today! For the scoop on the exciting genre of post apocalyptic books, and a chance to win one of Denise’s novels, keep reading!

Solar Flares, Haunted Houses and Post Apoc Mayhem!

So what do you think of post apoc novels, movies and television programs?

I’ve read excellent YA post apoc by author Ann Aviles, and I’m totally addicted to that series. Dean Koontz’s The Taking is one of the creepiest, most amazing post apoc type books I’ve ever read. I’ve read it more than once and the first few paragraphs set up a foreboding tone so well that it causes the hair on my arms to stand up every time I read it. But hey, that’s me. I like the creepy/spooky stuff.

I’ve watched some post apoc on TV such as the addicting television series Jericho (which the network canceled dang it.) If you like British shows, definitely look up Survivors on Netflix or rent it. I resisted watching The Walking Dead at first because I was tired of zombies, but I tried the first episode again and got hooked big time.  I sped through watching the first season since the second was already out by that time. Great acting, characters, and wonderful plot.

I consider zombie movies part of that post apoc environment, although there aren’t a lot of zombie movies I like. One of my favorites is 28 Days Later. Superb acting and story! Watching moves and shows like these, which are as much about great characterization as they are anything else, really makes me wanna write, write, write.

When I decide to write about a theme or subject I don’t take the standard advice to read as many stories in that genre as you can. I usually do just the opposite. You could say I have a stubborn streak, but in the end I think it’s more about originality. I don’t want anything about another author’s writing to influence the story I want to write.

So how did I come up with the initial idea for post apoc/romance/paranormal novel?

Well, you and I both know that writers find story ideas in the weirdest ways, right?  One day I was walking my dog down the usual path. Now our neighborhood is a gated, well-maintained place with mostly over fifty-five. Not the place you’d expect a creepy house. On the route I walk there’s a house that has no one in it, and at one point during the summertime the rose bushes always grow up and the weeds get gnarly. It’s a nice house, though, so it doesn’t look like a haunted abode. Someone gets the weeds cleaned up and the roses trimmed every couple of months. Still, no one lives there. It was the overgrown roses that sparked the idea for my sorta post apac story Blackout, which features a solar flare that takes out the grid, a haunted house, and a romance between a federal marshal (former U.S. Marine) and a self-reliant, tough woman looking for her place in life.

So what do you think of post apoc stories, or other stories that are out of the box? Comment and you could win a paperback from my backlist.

Denise A. Agnew is the author of over 57 novels. Romantic Times Book Reviews calls her romantic suspense novels “top-notch,” and she’s received their coveted TOP PICK rating. Denise has written paranormal, romantic comedy, contemporary, historical, erotic romance, and romantic suspense. Archaeology and archery have crept into her work, and travels through England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales have added to a lifetime of story ideas. A paranormal investigator, Denise looks forward to exploring the unknown.  Visit Denise’s website!

Thanks to Denise for coming on the blog! Remember, comment for a chance to win one of her novels!

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