Quick Blurb:

Five years after a zombie plague changed the world, an elderly survivalist lives off the land in rural British Columbia and struggles to maintain her independent streak as other survivors intrude on her life. This is a quieter story that reframes zombies as an ecological hazard and foregrounds character & bushcraft survival.

Opening Excerpt:

Lydia kneels on a smooth stone at the edge of the crystalline water with one hand on her back, another shimmying down her backpack, past sacks of rice, cans of beans, and bags of hand-picked mushrooms. She feels along the pot and first aid kit nestled at the bottom, lips pursed and staring out at the rushing creek — at the long stick jutting out from the water. She shakes her head. Paring knife. Flashlight. Box of bullets. Bear banger. No lure. 

Did she really bring a fishing rod and no lure? She couldn’t have. She pulls her arm out and blows a silver hair out of her face with a groan. “You’re losing it, Lydia.” She opens the second compartment, but no amount of rummaging makes the lure materialize. Her hand wanders back to the paring knife.

Content Warnings:

• Violence
• Death

Feedback Wanted:

What I am looking for in terms of feedback:

• Balancing of genre elements (bushcraft survival, zombies)
• Pacing
• Characterization
• The opening chapter's ability to hook readers.
• General reader reactions are also appreciated.

This is the first chapter of a novella, and I need to know what is or isn't working here in order to keep readers engaged with the story.

Bonus points if you're an older person yourself. I am younger than Lydia and would love to know if Lydia reads convincingly as an older character + what could be improved in terms of character voice.

Critique Timeline

Extremely open-ended; I'm still working through the second and third act of the story so there's no rush. Please contact me if interested and I'll send you over the chapter.