If Darkness Takes Us
by Brenda Marie Smith
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Pub Date Oct 15 2019 | Archive Date Oct 15 2019
Southern Fried Karma | SFK Press
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Description
In suburban Austin, Texas, Bea Crenshaw secretly prepared for apocalypse. But when a solar pulse destroys modern life, she’s left alone with four grandkids whose parents do not return home. She must teach these kids to survive without power, cars, phones, running water, or doctors in a world fraught with increasing danger. If Darkness Takes Us is loaded with resilience, humanity and heart.
Advance Praise
“There is real, identifiable humanity, subtle and sweet and sad, events utterly shattering in their intensity.”
— Pinckney Benedict, 2018 SFK Press Novel Contest Judge
“Bea Crenshaw is one of the most unique characters in modern literature; a kick-ass Grandma who is at once touch and vulnerable, and well-prepared to shepherd her extended family through an EMP disaster, or so she thinks. If Darkness Takes Us is realistic post-apocalyptic fiction with tragedy, humor, and heart.”
— Laura Creedle, author of The Love Letters of Abelard & Lily, winner of the 2017 Writers League of Texas YA Best Novel
“If Darkness Takes Us is a riveting and powerful tale of perseverance in the aftermath of the unthinkable. I was immediately taken by the memorable characters and lyrical writing, and I fell in love with Bea’s wit and courage from the first page. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a gritty but heartfelt literary novel that subverts the usual tropes of the apocalypse.”
— Aden Polydoros, author of the Assassin Fall series
“Bea Crenshaw is the toughest grandma in Texas. But it's the soft, hidden parts of her that will leave readers smitten. Her fight to keep her grandchildren alive—and sane—is more riveting than the chaos exploding beyond their walls. Humanity might be crumbling, but Bea's struggle offers a glimpse into the most human parts of us all.”
— Cate Hogan, editor of Boss with Benefits and How to Capture a Duke
Marketing Plan
• Debut at conferences/festivals/trade shows
• Online and social media networking
• Full-scale blog review tour
• Consumer and trade advertising
• Targeted email marketing
• Book trailer
• Debut at conferences/festivals/trade shows
• Online and social media networking
• Full-scale blog review tour
• Consumer and trade advertising
• Targeted email marketing
• Book trailer
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781970137835 |
| PRICE | $16.99 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
Jennifer J, Reviewer
FINALLY! This book has an older woman protecting her grandkids from forces beyond her control. I loved this book. There are many post apocalyptic books out there, featuring men, young adults, some women. But this book stands apart. This is the point of a 70 year old woman who has desires, dreams, and hopes for the future.
This is stand alone story telling and it was breathtaking in its relationships and the EMP that happened.
I can't stop raving about this book.
So refreshing to get this perspective, I hope that the author does a sequel. I need to know what happens next to the family and with Jack!
Melissa Y, Reviewer
One of the best “end of days” thrillers I have ever read. This genre is my guilty pleasure and it did not disappoint. So good I finished in just a few hours without ever closing the book.
Janice L, Educator
The BEST post-apocalyptic book I have ever read! Grandma Bea is taking care of her four grandchildren while their parents and Bea's husband go to a game in Dallas. A train crash occurs close to Bea's house and they are forced to evacuate. So, Bea treats the kids to a night at the Four Season's Hotel.
The story becomes wilder and wilder as Bea and her four grandchildren return to her neighborhood. No water, cars do not run, cooking is limited, no phones, no internet, no electricity or heat. (Or, in Austin, no air conditioning).
Bea has money and had built quite a super-stocked survival house in secret. Yet, she finds out that USING this house and its' well-stocked contents is not as easy as she thought it would be...
And as the weeks go on... what happened to her husband and daughters in Dallas?
An extremely powerful book that held my attention completely!
HIGHLY recommend.
Many Thanks to Southern Fried Karma Press and NetGalley for a wonderful read!
Betul E, Reviewer
I love post-apocalyptic novels, however, I try not to read a lot of them because there is always heartbreak. The reason I decided to give If Darkness Takes Us a try was because of the main character being an almost 70 year old woman who is left alone with four grandkids. The synopsis of this book sounded very unique and intriguing to me, so I had to read it. Bea was somewhat prepared for a disaster hitting the world. She wasn't taken seriously but she was smart enough to plan ahead. It wasn't easy for her to take care of her four grandkids aging from six to seventeen, but she did the best she could. She can't watch out for them 24/7 but she tried to. However, in a world that is hit by an apocalypse kids grow up much faster and you can't really do much about it.
I enjoyed this book a lot. It had heartwarming and fun moments, but also very emotional and heartbreaking ones. I cried a couple of times. But going into a post-apocalyptic novel you need to be prepared for anything. The author did a great job in telling the story from Bea's POV. It is obvious the author did her research and her writing style is very easy to read. Reading this type of stories makes me afraid of what we as people would do if we were hit with a disaster that would force us to go back to basics. I will definitely try to read more of these type of books in the future because I really like them. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is intrigued by what they read in the synopsis.
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