After escaping a stalled elevator into a zombie apocalypse, Emily must learn how to trust people again or risk losing everything in this terrifying world. ***** For Emily, every day of the last two years have been a blur. She keeps her head down, takes her college courses online, and only goes out to work at her mandatory internship. But all that changes on the day the office elevator breaks down, leaving her trapped when the screams begin. And when the doors finally open, revealing a dystopian world ruined by bloody teeth and disease, Emily is launched into a terrifying run for her life, caught between the strangers she's not sure she can trust and the man-eating monsters that hunger for her flesh. Now she must learn not only how to survive in this new and dangerous world, but also how to overcome her own inner demons before they cost her something more precious than her life. [[Wattys' Shortlist]] [[Promoted by AMC]] Content and/or Trigger Warning: The story contains some gore, violence, strong language, and dark themes. [[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]

When the world crumbles around you, how do you keep hope alive? Mallory, escaping a damaging relationship, struggles to navigate a chaotic world...where a viral outbreak turns helpless victims into ruthless zombies. Ty, who's only recently gotten his driver's permit, is abruptly thrust into adulthood as he desperately seeks to save his young sister. He makes a fast friend in a German shepherd yearning for companionship and love in this new, dangerous world. Charlie, restlessly searching for meaning in his life, learns meaning is elusive during an apocalypse. Tremendous obstacles provide him with new self-discoveries. If they can escape the constant peril and find refuge, can they forge a new life from the ruins of the old one? "Race to Refuge" rivets readers with mild thrills in a novel that's not about the zombies...but about the people striving for elusive shelter and a future of hope.

It starts with a simple itch, nothing more. Maybe a few random spasms or the occasional shudder but you'll think nothing of it. Then you'll get blood shot eyes... Not enough sleep? It gets worse, much worse. The itching turns to scratching, clawing at you skin until it bleeds... and bleeds and bleeds. Then comes the anger which tips you over the top making you brake into a full blown seizure. Madness. You still with me? Well you won't be if they catch you, you'll be one of them...infected.