With the first book in my new EMP Post-Apocalyptic Survival Series just around the corner, and without giving too much away, I thought it might good to share some insights into what inspired the book, State of Panic.
The initial idea came to me when I came across an article about 84 Russian Suitcase Nuke bombs that were still missing after the Cold War. That’s 84, one kiloton nukes that are housed in ordinary looking suitcases.
The article went on to say, “Would it surprise you to learn that Russia is missing quite a number of nuclear suitcase bombs? Where did those bombs go? Who owns them now?”
Then there was a long piece on how the CIA and FEDS were still trying to find them because they believed they had been smuggled into the U.S.
That immediately got my mind spinning. I started wondering what would happen if they fell into the hands of a group that wanted to reset the United States.
What chain of events might occur that would give them reason to detonate these bombs?
How would this affect the country, the military and ordinary people if they were thrown into darkness?
Next I started looking for a small town to kick off the story. I wanted it to be based in a place that already felt claustrophobic.
Above is an image of a town in Idaho that the book, State of Panic is based on.
When i saw this town nestled high up in the mountains and hedged in by thick forest I knew it would make a great backdrop for what i had in mind.
There is something about the way it looks almost cut off from the rest of the world, with streets that are narrow that gets me thinking that if shit happened in this town, if people took control before you could reach your family members and you were forced to fight to survive, how would you? Where would you hide if you couldn’t get out of the town? How would you fight? Could you kill another? Would you stay to save those you love or run?
This brought me to the characters. Who might be found in a small Idaho town? Who might be the least prepared for such an event to happen? What are their problems? Their issues? Their reputation? How would that work for and against them? What things need to change in them over the course of the entire journey?
In many ways any good PA story comes down to the characters. Whether it’s a nuke, virus or asteroid, or mother nature causing chaos, what brings any story to life is found in the heart of the characters. Characters we can identify with. Characters we can root for. Characters some will despise.
Throw into the mix, a nation around them that has been brought to it’s knees by nuclear fallout, the power grid down, the country thrown into darkness, and a murderous group on the rampage and I am already starting to feel my pulse race.
What about you?
Are you ready to hit the panic button?
State of Panic comes out next week.