The end of the world doesn’t have to mean the end of humanity. The virus is now spreading on Amazon.

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“Nine days before the first wave of infections, NASA had released images of the largest ice shelf — three times the size of Texas — to ever break off Antarctica. The fracture itself should have been enough to occupy newsrooms from around the world for many cycles. The media and the science community, however, were more baffled by the now exposed black hole estimated to be dozens of miles long and up to three hundred feet high. Infrared stills captured via satellites showed vapors, a gas of some sort perhaps, pouring out of the seemingly hollow strip in massive quantities.

At the onset of the pandemic, Jonathan Foster seeks refuge in a warehouse his boss Mr. Dean has recently purchased a few miles south of the City's downtown core. The old man joins Jonathan and, while the two men mourn those they have lost, they transform the warehouse into a home in anticipation of what they believe will be a long stay.

Anna Cobb, a patient at a rehabilitation center located seventy miles east of the City, is nearing the conclusion of a painful rehabilitation following a devastating car crash that robbed her of the use of her legs. After the initial strike of the virus, the few survivors among patients and staff are left with little resources and no news from the outside world. When the center is attacked by thugs, and after a second wave of infections, Anna is forced to flee. On her own, she undertakes a long and dangerous journey to the City in her wheelchair. Upon her arrival there, her path crosses Jonathan's and the two join forces in their attempt to survive in the new world.

In the months that will follow, the escalation in what Jonathan and Anna will be forced to do to ensure their survival will become the source of a powerful bond and change them for as long as they live.Humanity has been lost. Anna and Jonathan will pay a high price to preserve theirs.

Life by the Red Oak offers a random story in the apocalypse in which the end of the world serves as the backdrop of a play starring two involuntary and reluctant heroes.

He never knew he had this much courage. She had no clue she was this strong.”

Readers reviews:

“I have read many post-apocalyptic novels and this story sits right alongside those I have enjoyed most. The characters (two and four-legged) are so rich and relatable that for me the story was utterly compelling. If you like the 'non-zombie gore fest' type dystopian story eg. A Boy And His Dog At The end Of The World or say, The Dog Stars, then I whole-heartedly recommend Life By The Red Oak.”

“It's been a long time since a book made me cry, the end of the world genre is my favourite and I've read so many its unusual to find something different. You care about the characters, all of them deeply and that makes the way the story unfolds so gut wrenching! Off to find more books by the author but, hoping they don't make me cry people are looking at me!”

“I read a lot, and maybe because of the times we live in, I Read a lot of dystopian novels. They have the same theme, inhumanity. This story is different, it shows humanity, love and heart. Best thing I've read in a while.”

“I immensely enjoyed this book. I read countless apocalypse books and with the exception of a few I don't recall being as invested in characters as I was with the ones in this story. I cheered and I cried.”

“Excellent prose, character development and likeability. A sad tale set at the end of humanity as we know it, but beautifully to!d. Thank you Steve, added to my list of authors to follow.”

“This book moved me more than any book in a very long time. I became so involved with the characters, who were very well developed by the author, that I felt as if I knew them. I would give this book ten stars if it were possible. If you get the chance to read this book and don't do so you will have suffered a loss you didn't realize. Mr. Marchard, you have a fan for life. Please write many more books. You are an awesome story teller.”

“Not your typical post-apocalyptic survival book but a good heartfelt story. One of hope and persistence. Probably somewhat realistic for most people if they are going to survive an apocalyptic event. Some people will survive because of preparedness but Jonathan survived on true grit.”

“I liked the story from start to finish. Great characters with believable plot and well written. I shall check out this author's other work.”

“This is a lovely story about Anna and Jonathan. A virus is sweeping the world and this is a tale of their survival. It’s well written and has all the range of emotions, fear, horror, but most of all hope. Read this book and you won’t be disappointed.”

“Such a unique take on the apocalyptic genre. The characters were so well developed and so genuine that you couldn't help but feel every emotion they went through. I admit, I shed a few tears in places. A genuinely good read.”

Find Life by the Red Oak on Amazon here

Good news!

Citizen of Happy Town available in print worldwide on Amazon.

Please click here to purchase it on Amazon Canada

Please click here to purchase it on Amazon USA

Please click here to purchase it on Amazon UK

Welcome to Steve Marchand's website, author of Citizen of Happy Town: An orphan remembers, an ebook available in all major online ebook stores such as Apple iBooks, Amazon, Kobo, Chapters Indigo, Barnes & Noble, etc.

In Citizen of Happy Town: An orphan remembers, the author tells us the story of his childhood, in the present tense, as he saw it during the long reflexion in which he plunged himself in order to complete his book. Steve Marchand was six years old, in 1975, when he was taken from his family and driven to an orphanage called Ville-Joie, or Happy Town. That's where the difficult quest to find him an adoption family began. He describes the daily life at the orphanage but also his experiences, at times good but at times shocking, with the different families who welcomed him "on a trial basis."

Citizen of Happy Town is a tribute to the kindness of people and the proof we can keep pushing forward on the road destiny has decided for us, even when it's obscured by a thick fog.

Here's an excerpt from Chapter 6

" October. Danielle comes to see me to announce that another family will come and take me with them in a few days.

For any other orphan, this news would normally be worthy of a celebration but, even if long months have passed since my stay with the D family, its memory is still present in my mind as is my knowledge of how fast a dream can turn into a painful nightmare. I also know, however, that I have no say in these matters and that if a family is coming to pick me up then I have no other choice but to surrender the safety of the orphanage and trade it instead for the unknown.

Of course, I don’t say any of this out loud but Danielle, who must see a look of apprehension on my face, promptly tells me that this family is made of a caring couple with two happy daughters. She insists that all of them are very excited at the prospect of having me in their lives.

And so, two or three mornings later, I reluctantly pack up my suitcase again, put on my suit which is still too big and still comes with that damn clip-on tie that is so long, I could almost pass it around my waist and use it at the same time as a belt. I then march to the visitors’ lounge where I sit and wait for another group of strangers to arrive and become my family.

The anxiety suffocates me and the clip of my tie, digging into my throat, isn’t helping. Despite Danielle’s reassuring words, I still worry about what might happen to me. The images of my previous family are still as vivid as the fear itself and the memory of the pain takes hold of my mind to remind me of how vulnerable I will be once the orphanage’s door closes behind me.

As I wait with my suitcase by my feet, Alain stops by the lounge to say goodbye, along with a few other friends. The Educators allow this sometimes, whenever the schedule cooperates. I have been on their side a few times, on the side of those saying goodbye and wishing the best to another orphan who is about to leave with a new family. Each time, I could see the same thing in that orphan’s eyes. There is a spark there that can only come from the pride of an identity on the verge of revealing itself as well as from the chance, now within grasp, of a shot at a better life.

It’s quite something to see and experience: an orphan who, right there in front of the others, turns into a child. A child with a father and a mother. A child who found his family. A child, no more but certainly no less. For those of us who live here, these words are usually whispered late at night as part of the stories we tell each other in the darkness of the dormitory before we fall sleep. But for that lucky orphan, the stories are about to become real and what could only be said in whispers the night before, can now be said with no holding back. It really is a grand moment, not only for the orphan in the middle of it, but also for those who have the chance to witness it.

Now that my turn has come however, I don’t feel the spark in my eyes anymore than I feel the pride inside of me. The D family deprived me of that moment by replacing joy with fear and pride with shame during my short visit with them. I can see how Alain and the others are happy for me so, to reward them, I act out the scenario that has been played in that room by many others before me with all the talking, the smiling and the laughing it calls for. Deep down, there is so much fear inside of me that all I want to do is run as far away as possible and hide.

When the P family shows up, their obvious kindness lights up the room, which allows me to relax a little. Danielle was right; they do seem like a very happy bunch. Mr. and Mrs. P are all smiles and their two daughters rush to stand next to me, one on each side, as soon as they enter the room.

We spend a few more minutes with Alain and my other friends, and it’s time to say goodbye.

As I leave with my new family and the car begins to move forward, I look over my shoulder to see the orphanage disappear behind me once again. I can’t believe this is happening. It’s as though this war raging inside of me, the one between my desire to stay at the orphanage and the one I have for a family, has just intensified. My desire to stay at the orphanage rises to show its intention of waging a fierce battle.

There are images that are so difficult to look at, it’s impossible to stop our body from expressing what our inside feels. Seeing Happy Town disappear in the background is for me one of those images and I can’t control my reaction.

I close my eyes and I shake my head in disbelief...."

You may purchase Citizen of Happy Town for $3.99 directly from the author here

Copyright Steve Marchand 2021