by Colleen Gleason (aka Joss Ware)
Two years ago, I started working on a series of paranormal romances set in a post-apocalyptic world. As I imagined what that world would look like, I did research to see what would happen if the majority of the human race was destroyed during a series of cataclysmic events.
I’d always had the impression that a post-apocalyptic world would be a sort of Mad Max and the Thunderdome environment—stark, dry, barren—but as I delved deeper into my research, I learned that Mother Nature is one heck of a formidable opponent and that she wouldn’t take the apocalypse lying down. An example is in Chernobyl, which has been abandoned for more than twenty years after the nuclear accident there. Lush, albeit radioactive-tinged, trees and grasses have filled in the area. It’s certainly not the barren, burned out area I would have expected.
Since the stories in my post-cataclysmic world take place fifty years after the Change (as my characters call it), that gives Mother Nature plenty of time to regroup and take over. Thus, as I wrote the first three books, I imagined a world that was lush and overgrown, studded with buildings that had been destroyed or partially destroyed during the earthquakes, tornados, tsunamis and other severe events that occurred.
The buildings that did make it through the apocalypse intact are no longer maintained, for there simply aren’t enough people to do so. Most are abandoned, except for little pockets of communities, and the rodents, insects, moss and tenacious weeds and plants have begun to take over. (Think about how quickly your grass would grow if it wasn’t mowed weekly…)
Armed with these thoughts, I tried to imagine what the world would look like. More of a jungle than a desert. More of deep woodland forests than meadows. Cracked and buckling roads and rusted street signs, old overgrown cars and mailboxes. Bushes and grasses growing in any spot where rain and sunlight might leak inside buildings with their broken windows or cracked roofs. Even little vines or grasses sprouting in crevices on the sides of buildings.
The lesson to me was: Mother Nature wins out over Man-made creations.
Imagine my surprise and delight when recently on vacation in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, my family and I drove by an old building that completely epitomized the world I imagined. I made my husband stop the car so I could get out and take picture after picture of what had once been a copper stamping mill…and what is now an overgrown remnant of days gone by.
It’s not often that an author has the pleasure of seeing a world she imagined actually come to life. Writing historically-set novels can take an author to London or Rome, but the cities are not the same now as they were centuries ago. And imagining a futuristic world is even more difficult.
But I was able to find “my world”—or at least a good representation of it—up near Hubbell, Michigan.
These are some of the pictures I took up there, and you can find more on my website http://www.josswarebooks.com/
To learn about Colleen Gleason's Gardella Vampire Chronicles series or her upcoming vampire series please visit http://www.colleengleason.com/
Giveaway Time!
Colleen AKA Joss has kindly offered to give away a copy of
the first book in the Joss Ware series,
BEYOND THE NIGHT.
To enter please leave a comment on this post
Include Your Email Info
US Shipping Only Please
Winner TBA Next Wednesday
30 comments:
I suddenly have an urge to go to Hubbell, Michigan and play around in ruins. That place looks awesome. And your world sounds awesome.
littleredride.nhood[at]yahoo[dot]com
I've read her vampire series but haven't read this one, sounds good! tWarner419@aol.com
this series sounds great but I am very excited about her vamp series!!
aliciahall0605(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
This sounds like a great series.
sgiden AT verizon.net
My son and I watched a special on The History Channel not long ago, about the world without people - and it was fascinating.
Nature reclaimed what had been cemented over - trees were growing in the middle of abandoned houses.
I know it was a simulated look at what could happen - but I amazed.
Michelle
kweenmg@yahoo.com
I loved these books! Colleen/Joss created a brilliant world full of deep, complex characters. Quent and Zoe were my favorite couple followed very closely by Elliot and Jade.
And I am super excited for the historical vampire books to hit shelves.
I have heard some really great things about the Gardella Vampire Chronicals. I might just have to start reading them next. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
yadkny@hotmail.com
Sounds like some great books. Thanks for the chance to read one!
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Sounds like a great series - Thanks for hosting - please enter me!
bsharp88@gmail.com
I love that Mother Nature didn't just die but took over the old buildings. For some reason, seeing the greenery gives me hope for the end of the world!
c4casey[at]comcast[dot]net
This series sounds very interesting. I don't read a lot of post-apocolyptic/dystopian novels, but I'll definitely have to pick these up.
Sara M
sara_UFblog [at] yahoo [dot] com
Wow, I was just looking at a picture of Chernobyl on another blog this morning so this is eerie.
Your story sounds wonderful!
I would love to be entered as well! The setting of the books sound incredible. I too believe mother nature is a force to be reckoned with.
robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com
I absolutely love the idea of this series and have so been wanting to read it. So please count me in.
joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
This sounds awessssooomee! I hope I win this, I will read it THAT DAY!
Email: melissajackson07@gmail.com
I enjoyed your post and your book sounds very interesting.
sstrode@scrtc.com
I read her vampire series and loved it! Can't wait to start this one.
kissinoak at verizon dot net
Great post. I haven't read any post-apocalyptic books like yours. It sounds really good. Great cover and pictures.
Sue B
katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com
I would love to win the first book in the series. Thanks for the chance.
lizzi0915 at aol dot com
Wow some Pic's Nature realy took back her space.
You book sound enteresting can't wait to read it.
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com
Great post,these sound like interesting books.
Gabrielle
meingee@yahoo.com
This certainly sounds like a very interesting read. One I look forward to. Congrats on the release of the first book in this series.
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com
Those are great pictures! I'd love to pick around and photograph a place like that!
meredithfl at gmail dot com
Great pics and this books looks really good. Thanks for the giveaway.
kmichellec87(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for the giveaway, found out about these books about a week ago and they sound really interesting, I love post apocalyptic themes in books.
tdubwow@gmail.com
I have the first Joss Ware book sitting in my TBR pile right now. Can't wait to start it!!
minnchica(dot)bookpusher(at)gmail.com
Don't enter me as I've already read the first three books of the series and let me say--they were awesome. And her Gardella vamp series--another awesome series!
would love to get a copy! I have the first book in your vampire series in my TBR pile. can't wait to start it.
Neat pictures and the books sound great.
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
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