Synopsis Harriette Madyson is the last woman alive. Twenty years ago her world came to an end when a zombie plague engulfed the population of Earth. At the tender age of seven she found herself in a nightmarish situation where the dead literally returned to life. Left with little to use and nowhere to hide Harri now finds herself stalked across the frozen desolate landscape of North America pursued by the former love of her life. All that she has to keep her going is the hope that she can make it home to die in peace. About the book The inspiration for this book came from a dream I had several years ago. The dream came to me in three parts over three nights. It started off from the initial out break of a zombie apocalypse, where I was a survivor and was rescued by several others. I felt hope knowing I was not alone, that I was safe. Together we could face the threat and help each other to survive. The following night the dream moved on several years where I found my self trying to make a fresh start with the other survivors. We had barricaded an abandoned building from the dead and hid quietly hoping it would all pass us by. As supplies slowly began to dwindle we eventually found ourselves over run. It brought to me the sensation that we would always be found, that nowhere was secure or safe. Before me my friends and comrades died one by one reminding me that nothing was for certain, nothing was guaranteed. The following night was the last of the three dreams. I found myself in the abandoned ruins of civilisation. Around me the buildings crumbled as they stood unmaintained and dilapidated. As I ran for my life I found myself truly alone. No one else was with me and I knew they were gone, as dead as the zombies that walked around me. As I ran through the ruins I knew I was being stalked. At every turn I expected something to pounce out on me and bring me down. As I hid in the ruins of an old stone building I could see a very old zombie trying to find me. It knew I was there although the majority of its senses were long disabled through rot and decay. As it approached me I found that my mindset changed. I did not want to run anymore. What was the point in carrying on when there was nothing left to run to? It was futile to try and escape, where ever I went they would find me so I may as well bite the bullet as it were and let it happen. The sooner it was over the less suffering I would have to endure. Luckily before I was eaten I woke up. The fear and loneliness stayed with me for several days afterwards. Although I knew this was a dream it still felt very real. It embodied my fear and loneliness of the time. I felt abandoned in my self and lost amongst ruins. This is what I have tried to embody in this book. It is based on primal fear and the instinct of survival. Although we try our hardest to survive there are some situations where it only drags out suffering and pain. I mean this not in literal sense but more metaphorically. Some things we do as we see that we have to, not by choice. But ultimately we have the choice. At anytime we can stop and say no more, enough is enough. We don’t have to suffer or keep on running. The sooner we face our demons for better or for worse we can stop running and no longer be afraid. I hope you enjoy this work as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Although it may not be cheerful it does embody what a lot of people feel, abandonment, loneliness and the never ending chase as we are slowly hunted down by life itself. I personally learnt a lesson and I hope others can too. Nothing is inevitable and we have the choice, not to merely run and hide but to face it head on. Word 33888 231 English Re-Released December 2012 after full copy editing by Christine Geary