Post-Rapture Reading

Ciara here. So. The world was supposed to end at 6 pm PST on Saturday. Everyone still with me? You? How about you? Anyone get beamed up? See the vampires and demons trolling the streets? From the little I know of what post-Rapture life is supposed to be like, it sounds like a paranormal romance novel. Well, maybe not romance, but with vampires, demons, etc you get the same feeling. Civilization crumbles and the supernatural creatures come out to play. Does that jazz anyone else, or is it just me? ;)

As a writer of apocalyptic paranormal romance, I'm digging the current blitz of post-apocalyptic books. With the tornadoes, tsunamis, earthquakes, erupting volcanoes, and massive political unrest in the news these days, it's easy to imagine the ecological apocalypse premise put forth in some of these books. It's a bleak picture, but in romance we are given the hope that even if the worst happens, things will get better. Cities might crumble; a lawless wild west or repressive totalitarian government might replace collapsed governments; electricity, running water, and food might be rationed or unavailable; all hell might break loose; but we are shown the promise of the genre: Love will save us.

Nothing is too big for love to overcome. With love there is hope, and with hope anything is possible.

Want more? Here are two post-apocalyptic books I'm super excited about:

1. BLOOD OF THE WICKED by Karina Cooper (May 31). Set in a post-apocalyptic Seattle (be still my heart!), 50 years after a geologic apocalypse. The rebuilt government has pinned the blame for the disaster on witches. The new-age Salem witch trials are back on track. I read Ms. Cooper's short pre-release from Avon Impulse, BEFORE THE WITCHES, and loved it. I'm counting down the days until this one comes out!

2. NIGHTFALL by Ellen Connor (aka Carrie Lofty and Ann Aguire) (June 2011). Set in the Pacific Northwest (Do we sense a theme? I should probably start building my bunker). I'm not even sure what this is about other than paranormal post-apocalyptic and the cover is hawt. I'm sure some of you lucky book bloggers are reading the ARC as we speak. I'm green with envy.

3. MAGIC SLAYS by Ilona Andrews (May 31). The Kate Daniels series is Amazing, Awesome, and All-together brilliant. This is the fifth book. I think I need to clear my calendar May 31st, don't you?

What are you excited for? Are there awesome post-apocalyptic romance novels coming out that I've missed?

The 4 Heroes of the Apocalypse

Rumor has it from the Romance Writers of America national conference that Post-Apocalyptic fiction is hot. I am eager to get my hands on the new batch of heroes that announcement will inspire. If you think about it, post-apocalyptic settings are similar to desert islands: no running water; no supplies; just lots of hot, sweaty Alphas working under the hot sun to build cabanas out of palm fronds and break open coconuts.

Why do I like the idea of post-apocalyptic heroes? They have to be brave, rugged, and smart to survive in primitive, violent conditions. I have my eye on a hut full of heroes that I would like with me after the apocalypse:

1. John Connor. What other man could lead a group of under-prepared, weak humans into the lair of maniacal machines and return with every one of his troops alive? Seriously, this is the man for the job if you want to survive in the post-apocalyptic world. Forget about the dangers of being a secondary character. His hero power will save the world.

2. Curran, the Beast Lord. The anti-hero of Ilona Andrew's Kate Daniels series is a self-serving, dangerously sexy lion shifter. He knows how to rule in a post-apocalyptic world where vampires, demons and crazed mythological creatures stalk the night. He's loyal to a fault and takes no prisoners.

3. Wizard. Post-apocalyptic romance is plentiful in the SHOMI line. DRIVEN, by Eve Kenin is one of my favorites. Rough around the edges, but handy with a gun, Wizard is just the guy I'd want at my back in the arctic wasteland of a nuclear winter. I wouldn't mind having Raina on my team too.

4. Rogan. He might not be trained as a fighter, but when the going gets tough, Rogan gets going. The hero of Michelle Maddox's COUNTDOWN not only must contend with a post-apocalyptic world, he's racing for his life in a game show with deadly consequences. He thinks on his feet and rolls with the punches. All that muscle doesn't hurt either!



Who would you bring? Do you like apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic romance and urban fantasy? Recommendations?