🧟‍♂️ New Episodes & Captivating Tales | Author Diary – May 3, 2024 – Writing & Reading Adventures 📚📺

Join me in this week’s Author Diary as I share updates on my latest writing projects and delve into some enthralling book and TV series experiences.

📝 “Punks Versus Zombies” Updates:

This week, I’ve added two new episodes to the “Punks Versus Zombies” series. Continuing this saga is always an exciting challenge, and I’m eager to see how the story will evolve as it unfolds further.

đź“– New Short Story Release:

I’m thrilled to announce another addition to the Ravenglass Legends series—a prequel short story titled “The Beast Hunt.” It’s now available on Ream (Visit: joncronshawauthor.com) and adds depth to the backstory of the world I’ve been crafting.

📚 Reading Journey:

Recently Finished: “Forest Mage” by Robin Hobb, which was a fantastic read, full of intricate developments and compelling character arcs.

Currently Reading: “Renegade Mage,” the third book in the series. This continuation promises more intrigue and magical challenges, and I’m thoroughly enjoying the journey so far.

🎥 Entertainment Wrap-Up:

I’ve just finished watching the Fallout TV show on Amazon Prime. The series did an excellent job of capturing the essence of the game, and I thoroughly enjoyed the depth and twists of the storyline.

Feel free to discuss your own writing endeavors, your thoughts on the Fallout TV series, or your current reading list. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for weekly insights into my author’s life and explorations in storytelling!

🧟‍♂️ New Episodes & Exciting Reads | Author Diary – April 26, 2024 📚🎬

Welcome to this week’s Author Diary! It’s been a busy week full of writing, reading, and engaging entertainment.

🧟‍♂️ “Punks Versus Zombies” Updates

I’ve added two new episodes to the “Punks Versus Zombies” series. To make it even more accessible, I’ve uploaded a compilation of the audio versions of episodes 17-24 on YouTube. This format brings a new dimension to the storytelling experience, and I hope you enjoy it!

đź“– New Short Story Release

I’m excited to share a new short story, “Siren’s Song,” a prequel to the Ravenglass Legends series. It’s available for free on my Ream page at joncronshawauthor.com. Dive into this enchanting tale and explore more of the Ravenglass universe.

📚 Reading Journey

Recently Read: “Shaman’s Crossing” by Robin Hobb, which I found to be an excellent start to her series.

Currently Reading: “Forest Mage,” the second book in the series. It continues to captivate with its rich storytelling and compelling character development.

🎥 Entertainment

Finished Watching: Guy Ritchie’s “The Gentlemen.” This series wrapped up nicely, providing a satisfying conclusion to its cleverly woven plot.

Currently Watching: Halfway through the Fallout TV series on Amazon Prime. It’s been a thrilling ride, perfectly capturing the essence of the game while delivering a strong narrative.

As I continue to create and consume stories, whether through writing or media, I look forward to sharing more about my journey with you.

Feel free to share your thoughts on any of the series I’ve mentioned, your own creative projects, or what you’re currently reading or watching. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for weekly insights into my author’s life and creative processes!

Why Do We Love Post-Apocalyptic Stories More After the Pandemic?

Explore why post-apocalyptic fiction is thriving in a post-pandemic world. Discover the deep connections between global crises and the rise of dystopian narratives in popular media, including TV shows like “The Last of Us” and “Fallout.”

In a world where the Covid-19 pandemic has left us all feeling like extras in a low-budget zombie flick, it’s no surprise that post-apocalyptic fiction is making a comeback.

You’d think that after living through a real-life apocalypse, people would want to steer clear of stories featuring death, disease, and the collapse of civilisation.

But no, it seems we just can’t get enough of watching the world burn from the comfort of our own homes.

Shows like “The Last of Us,” “Wool,” and the “Fallout” TV series are drawing viewers like scavengers to an abandonded vault, proving that our appetite for dystopian tales is as insatiable as a horde of hungry zombies.

It’s almost as if we’re collectively saying, “Sure, the pandemic sucked, but at least we didn’t have to fight off mutated fungi or live in underground silos.”

Why Post-Apocalyptic Fiction is Making a Come-Back

This resurgence of post-apocalyptic fiction is reminiscent of the countless war movies that emerged after the Second World War.

Or, indeed, how the genre itself grew in the growing paranoia of the Cold War – where the very real threat of nuclear annihilation was a real and present thing.

Perhaps it’s our way of processing the collective trauma we’ve experienced, or maybe it’s just our twisted way of feeling grateful that things could have been much, much worse.

Yes, both events saw great losses that will affect us for generations, but that’s the power of fiction.

It allows us to stare our trauma in the face, give it a cheeky wink, and then blow its brains out with a shotgun.

Returning to Post-apocalyptic Fiction

When Covid first reared its ugly head, I never imagined myself writing any post-apocalyptic fiction again – it was all too real, too raw.

The thought of revisiting a world ravaged by disease seemed about as appealing as licking a petri dish.

But here I am, writing “Punks Versus Zombies” as a fun side project, releasing it as a weekly audio serial for all the morbidly curious readers out there.

It’s funny how life imitates art, or in this case, how art helps us make sense of the absurdity of life.

We may have survived the pandemic, but we’ll always have the lingering fear that the next global catastrophe is just around the corner.

So why not indulge in a bit of post-apocalyptic escapism?

After all, it’s better to be prepared for the worst than to be caught with your pants down when the zombies come knocking.

Final Thoughts…

So, the resurgence of post-apocalyptic fiction is a testament to our resilience and our twisted sense of humour.

We’ve lived through a real-life apocalypse, and now we’re ready to face our fears head-on, one binge-watch at a time.

So grab your popcorn, settle in, and enjoy the end of the world from the safety of your sofa.

And if you’re feeling particularly masochistic, why not give “Punks Versus Zombies” a listen?

It’s the perfect way to remind yourself that no matter how bad things get, at least you’re not being chased by a horde of the undead.

You can find the audio version of “Punks Versus Zombies” on Spotify, or where you listen to podcasts. You can also listen on my YouTube channel @joncronshawauthor.  

Escape to New Wastelands: Books to Read Post-Fallout Viewing

Explore our top picks for books to dive into after watching Amazon Prime’s Fallout series. From classic dystopian narratives to new tales of apocalyptic survival, these reads will keep the thrill of the wasteland alive.

Just finished the Fallout series on Amazon Prime and feeling like the world outside is a bit too bright and cheery?

Fear not, because I’ve compiled a list of ten books that will keep you safely ensconced in the comforting glow of dystopian despair.

From nuclear wastelands to societal meltdowns, these reads will make the end of the world seem like just another day in paradise.

“A Canticle for Leibowitz” by Walter M. Miller Jr.

Kick off your post-apocalyptic journey with this classic.

Watch as a group of monks attempt to salvage the remnants of human knowledge after a nuclear catastrophe.

It’s like trying to rebuild civilisation with nothing but a screwdriver and good intentions.

“The Road” by Cormac McCarthy

If you thought the Wasteland was grim, wait until you walk down “The Road”.

McCarthy’s stripped-back prose and haunting narrative will make your latest jaunt through the Fallout universe seem like a holiday in the sun.

“Oryx and Crake” by Margaret Atwood

Dive into a world of genetic engineering gone wild with Atwood’s sharp wit slicing through the narrative like a Ripper through raider armour.

It’s a tale of friendship and betrayal with the bonus of a world attempting to reboot itself.

“Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” by Philip K. Dick

If synthetic humans and moral conundrums are your thing, then Philip K. Dick’s classic will not disappoint.

It’s a world where the line between human and android is as blurry as your vision after a night in the Third Rail.

“Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel

For those who prefer their post-apocalyptic settings with a side of Shakespeare, “Station Eleven” takes you on a journey with a travelling symphony, proving that culture can survive anything, even a flu pandemic that wipes out most of humanity.

“The Postman” by David Brin

Rediscover the importance of snail mail in a world where all the servers are permanently down.

This novel redefines the mail carrier as a hero, journeying through a fallen America to deliver hope, one letter at a time.

“Alas, Babylon” by Pat Frank

This 1959 novel about a small Florida town surviving after a nuclear war will have you stocking up on canned goods and fortifying your basement.

It’s survivalist fantasy at its best, complete with fish-out-of-water antics and community spirit.

“Parable of the Sower” by Octavia E. Butler

Travel with Lauren Olamina as she navigates a society falling apart at the seams and attempts to plant the seeds of a new community.

It’s full of the kind of hope you need when everything else looks bleak.

“Blindness” by JosĂ© Saramago

If societal collapse via inexplicable epidemic is what keeps you up at night, “Blindness” will be your bedtime story.

It’s a profound exploration of humanity’s breakdown and the fragile threads that hold society together.

“Metro 2033” by Dmitry Glukhovsky

Finish off your reading list with a trip to the Moscow metro, where the last remnants of humanity cling to existence beneath a radioactive wasteland.

It’s like the Tube during rush hour, only with more mutants and less hope.

So there you have it, a reading list to keep you in the apocalyptic mindset long after the credits roll on Amazon’s Fallout.

Remember, when life gives you radiation, make radaway.

Happy reading, and remember to keep that Geiger counter handy!

Also available: “The Wasteland series” by Jon Cronshaw

“The Wasteland” series by Jon Cronshaw takes readers into a bleak, post-apocalyptic world where Abel, the protagonist, struggles with addiction amidst the ruins.

Surviving the end of the world was just the beginning; now he must battle his own demons while scraping a living in the desolate wastelands with his loyal dog.

As Abel stumbles upon a group of enslaved children, his quest for redemption pushes him to the limits.

Will he conquer his addiction?

Can he provide a glimmer of hope in a seemingly hopeless world?

This compelling series, comprising all four novels, masterfully blends the harsh realities of survival with the redemptive arc of a flawed hero fighting against evil.

It’s a must-read for fans of intense, character-driven post-apocalyptic narratives.


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