The Duke and I

In a list about zombie apocalypse references, this is definitely a quirky entry. But it is important for all writers to read outside of their genre, or they run the risk of becoming generic. 

Far more important than the story’s backdrop is the story’s focus. People predominantly care and read about people.

Whether that means writing about people resisting zombies, as is the case with most zombie stories, or writing about zombies doing their best to become human—as seen in Elantris and The Girl With All The Gifts—writers need to know how to tell stories about people.

I don’t… show more.

I am so glad this book is such a success. I fell in love with the hero right away, when as a child he had trouble speaking and his father rejected him. He grows into a hard man until he meets Daphne Bridgerton and then the story takes off. What fun!