I Stand Alone
After so many false predictions of the end of the world, an enormous asteroid has struck the planet and in its wake, it has caused quakes, volcanic eruptions, and massive tidal waves. The devastation from this series of disasters was so epic that it forever changed the landscape of the planet, killing billions of people, in the process. The few scattered remaining survivors have come to remember the culmination of these events as the "Big Apocalyptic Event."
Almost 30 years have gone by since that time. Deadly barbaric "Nomads" now roam the destroyed ruins of the abandoned cities during the daylight. However, when the sun goes down even they hide from the mysterious aerial hunters of the night, who threaten to snatch them up and take them away.
It seems the last civilized person in this post-apocalyptic future is a none other than a teenage girl named Evangelina, but can she survive on her own, while not being fully aware of the dangers that threaten her very existence?
Almost 30 years have gone by since that time. Deadly barbaric "Nomads" now roam the destroyed ruins of the abandoned cities during the daylight. However, when the sun goes down even they hide from the mysterious aerial hunters of the night, who threaten to snatch them up and take them away.
It seems the last civilized person in this post-apocalyptic future is a none other than a teenage girl named Evangelina, but can she survive on her own, while not being fully aware of the dangers that threaten her very existence?
In the photos below, I've actually used photos of my ex-wife, Jo-Ann, walking around at the Kings Park Psychiatric Center power plant area from around 2012. It was used to create a wrap around cover.
As a bit of trivia, I changed Evangelina's name a few times, before the book was completed. Originally her name was Larrah, but I changed it in October of 2013 because I didn't want her to be compared to Lara Croft of the "Tomb Raider" franchise. The new name became Alarra, which I liked better. However, as the story was developed her name was changed once more to the current name. The reason for the final change has to do with the new ending I decided upon.
I actually changed the entire plot back at the beginning of 2024 when I actually sat down to write the book. If I told you the original plot, it would contain too many spoilers. Maybe someday, I will mention it somewhere. Suffice it to say, the new plot was far better than the original, which resulted in a much more profound ending.
Since the story was shorter than my usual long novels, I added 4 short bonus stories that are each about a chapter long. These stories ended up being a great addition because they fill in the blanks and solve mysteries left behind by the main story. Their time spans range from the beginning of the apocalypse to the end of the main story, while also expanding the story as a whole. I even threw in a bunch of Easter eggs that are totally unrelated to the book. I will give you one major hint, "The Fab Four."
As a bit of trivia, I changed Evangelina's name a few times, before the book was completed. Originally her name was Larrah, but I changed it in October of 2013 because I didn't want her to be compared to Lara Croft of the "Tomb Raider" franchise. The new name became Alarra, which I liked better. However, as the story was developed her name was changed once more to the current name. The reason for the final change has to do with the new ending I decided upon.
I actually changed the entire plot back at the beginning of 2024 when I actually sat down to write the book. If I told you the original plot, it would contain too many spoilers. Maybe someday, I will mention it somewhere. Suffice it to say, the new plot was far better than the original, which resulted in a much more profound ending.
Since the story was shorter than my usual long novels, I added 4 short bonus stories that are each about a chapter long. These stories ended up being a great addition because they fill in the blanks and solve mysteries left behind by the main story. Their time spans range from the beginning of the apocalypse to the end of the main story, while also expanding the story as a whole. I even threw in a bunch of Easter eggs that are totally unrelated to the book. I will give you one major hint, "The Fab Four."