Author Spotlight: Monroe Goodall
I’ve wanted to write since I was a kid. For me it wasn’t just about putting words on a page, it was about building worlds and characters. My debut novel, The Day The World Went Dark, actually started much closer to home than the title suggests.
The book is loosely based on the relationship I had with my dad growing up. He’s always been the person I could count on no matter what happened. We share a deep love for the outdoors and spent years talking about survival, constantly diving into "what if" scenarios and wondering what we’d do if the world as we know it just stopped. We have places that we would meet if the phones or satellites had gone down and one of us was away with work or holiday. For me it was a bit of fun, imagining these scenarios, but as I’ve grown I’ve realized for him it was a contingency. Something to keep the family together and safe, because at the end of the world, that’s all we really have, and I think this book reflects that.
I wanted to write a book that I actually wanted to read, something new, meaningful, and grounded in that bond. I tend to get carried away with the details, but I think that’s what makes the world feel real. It’s a survival story, sure but at its heart it’s about that one person you can always turn to, even when every single light goes out.
Excerpt from The Day The World Went Dark :
"Everyone just stay calm! Please, back to your desks!"
The voice boomed across the floor. It was Miller, the Floor Director, standing
on a swivel chair so he could be seen over the partitions. He was adjusting his
tie, his face flushed a bright, nervous red, but he was wearing his 'management'
smile—the one that usually meant a round of layoffs was coming.
"It’s just a localised surge," Miller shouted, waving his hands downward as if he
could physically push the rising volume of the room back down. "The
building’s safety protocols have engaged. The backup generators will kick in
any second. Just a momentary interruption, folks. Use this time to... to catch
up on your paper filing." A few people actually sat back down, comforted by
the authority in his voice. But the generators didn't kick in. The familiar, deep-
throated roar of the diesel engines that usually vibrated through the
floorboards during a test remained silent. The air remained dead.
"He's lying," a woman near the printers whispered, her voice cracking. "My
phone is hot. It’s actually burning my leg through my pocket."
The panic started as a low ripple and then broke like a wave. Suddenly, thirty
people were talking at once, the sound bouncing off the glass walls. Someone
tried the break-room door, but the electronic lock wouldn't budge. Someone
else was frantically hitting the 'open' button on the lift bank, the hollow thud-
thud-thud sounding like a drumbeat of desperation.
"Miller!" Greg yelled, his voice climbing an octave. "The lifts are dead! How are
we supposed to get out if the generators don't start?"
"They will start!" Miller snapped, though I could see the sweat beads popping
out on his forehead. "Standard lead time is sixty seconds. Just wait for the
cycle!"
You can find The Day The World Went Dark on Amazon
A Note from the Author
I’ve often felt there was a gap in the genre for authentic, English-based "end of the world" stories, so I decided to write the book I wanted to read. I strive to make my writing as accurate and grounded as possible, bringing the apocalypse to a setting I know and love. I truly hope you enjoy the journey. If the bond in this story resonates with you, leaving a rating or a few words as a review would mean the world to me and help other readers find this journey.
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