Why I Love Writing the End of the World (And Why Readers Love Surviving It)

There’s something oddly comforting about writing the end of the world.

That probably sounds a little twisted, right? But for me, apocalyptic fiction isn’t really about doom and destruction—it’s about what comes after. It’s about people. Choices. Survival. And most of all, it’s about resilience.

When I first started writing The Sundown Series, I wasn’t trying to shock anyone with chaos and gore (okay, maybe a little chaos). I wanted to explore what happens when everyday people—mothers, kids, teenagers, neighbors—are forced to become heroes. What happens when the structure of society falls apart and you have no one left to rely on but yourself… and maybe the people you didn’t expect to trust?

That’s where the magic happens.

The End Is Just the Beginning

For me, writing the end of the world is a way to strip everything else away. No distractions. No fluff. Just raw human emotion, instinct, and the need to protect the people you love. It forces characters to grow or crumble. It pushes them to face fears, make impossible choices, and sometimes find unexpected hope in the middle of absolute devastation.

• As a writer, I get to ask the big questions:

  
  

  ✨ What would you do if everything you knew was gone tomorrow?

  
  

  ✨ Who would you protect?

  
  

  ✨ What would you sacrifice to stay human in an inhumane world?

  
  

  And that’s where the heart of the story lives.

  
  

Image of person reading in an apocalyptic woods

Why Readers Keep Coming Back

I’ve learned something beautiful from my readers over the years, they don’t just love survival stories for the adrenaline or the action (though, yes, that helps). They love the people. They love the strength that comes from grief. The found families that form in the darkest places. The courage it takes to keep going when the world says give up.

Apocalyptic fiction lets us test our limits in the safety of a book. It allows us to ask, “Could I survive this?” and maybe, quietly, feel a little stronger after reading the last page.

It also lets us see the good in people... even when everything else has fallen apart.

Image of woman in the apocalypse, standing on a deserted road with smoke in the background

The Bottom Line?

I love writing the end of the world because it's never really about the end.It's about the ones who refuse to give up.It's about love, grit, sacrifice, and hope.

And deep down, I think that’s why readers love surviving it with me.

So if you're reading my books, cheering for my characters, and holding your breath at every twist. Thank you. You're surviving right alongside them.

And honestly? I wouldn’t want to face the apocalypse without you.

💛Courtney