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Discovering Her Courage
Flee follows a Marine Reserve and librarian-in-training, who, while on a bus journey to a family reunion, ends up in a desperate fight for survival after a nuclear catastrophe devastates Washington State. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
In Escape, the first book in the Haven series, survivors make their way to Haven in waves—some travel alone, some in groups, some are injured, and some barely hold on. As I wrote the story, I realized that not everyone could reach safety at the same time. Some characters are close, while others are far away, trapped in the chaos when the world ended. This opened the door for individual stories of struggle, loss, and survival to unfold simultaneously.
While I worked through book one, Sadie’s absence lingered as a question—for me and, eventually, for readers. Flee grew out of my need to answer it. I wanted to explore the survival of someone without immediate shelter, someone caught in transit when everything collapsed, and someone forced to fight—both physically and emotionally—to make it home.
Sadie is a woman with strength and incredible intellect. What do you think makes her a valuable and worthy heroine?
In Escape, I introduced the “five musketeers.” Three of the women are entering adulthood, and Sadie has always been the instigator. While Beth is quieter and still discovering her courage, Sadie knows her own strength and intellect—and isn’t afraid to use them. She may possess the drive to take what she wants out of life, but she falters with love and vulnerability. Sadie challenges the control men in her life exert upon her, pushing her to rebel. Her journey is about finding balance—between strength and trust—and that evolution truly defines her as a heroine.
I felt that the action scenes were expertly crafted. I find that this is an area that can be overdone in novels. How did you approach this subject to make sure it flowed evenly?
I’m a visual person, so to write action scenes with weapon elements, I needed to first understand fighting techniques and the moves involved. Watching my son earn his junior black belt in Taekwondo taught me a lot in real time—especially about defending yourself in various positions and how hard it is to fight for your life. Understanding the difference between weight classes and genders was also crucial. You can be small and still cause damage, but at what cost? Then there’s the added layer of weapons and the types that may be involved. As Sadie says, “Knife trumps stick.” She knew there would be a cost, though.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
Even though the women are my protagonists, my two secondary characters, Donovan and Hoss, stayed at the forefront of my mind during these two books. Donovan is an open book to my readers. He craves control to maintain stability in his life and demands it from his children and everyone around him. Hoss, on the other hand, is a laid-back, “you do you” kind of man. My readers know little about him—something I intentionally kept vague—but there are breadcrumbs scattered throughout if they look closely enough.
After doing their family trees, I realized I gave Donovan more daughters and Hoss more sons. I researched which gender was easier to raise, and the results were interesting, so I played on that. (Sons are easier, it appears.)
Beth isn’t blood-related, so I started with her story first in Escape. The found-family trope is strong throughout my stories. In Flee, we circle back to follow Donovan’s oldest, Sadie, as she battles to reach Haven. Donovan’s second oldest, Gina, appears in Beth’s story and continues her journey in the second book. In the third and fourth books, Hoss’s family becomes my focus, revealing more about Hoss’s background. Though he might sport funny sayings on his t-shirts and love recon, Hoss has many layers to peel back.
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Facing the collapse of civilization, a feisty and independent young woman embarks on a perilous adventure that pushes her to her limits and challenges her long-held goals.
The missile marked the beginning of Sadie’s nightmare. The demands of a crumbling society, dangerous terrain, and her own weakening, feverish body will test her courage.
Sadie wants to flee to the safety of her family’s compound, where Liam waits, and the ache in her chest is a constant reminder of her feelings for him.
Despite his calm exterior, Liam anxiously awaits Sadie’s arrival. More questions than answers remain: Where is Sadie? Why hasn’t she made it to Haven like the fortunate few?
Hunter has his own plans. Escaping the taint of his family’s criminal past puts him in Sadie’s path. She struggles to trust him. Forced together, their connection deepens, placing her family and all of Haven in extraordinary danger.
Survival depends on Sadie taking control of her own life and deciding whom to trust and whom to love. Her decision could set her free…or destroy her and everyone she loves.
Embark on an unforgettable adventure to Haven with these memorable characters, experiencing twists and turns you look for in a fast-paced, gripping read.
A tangled web of love, shifting loyalties, and explosive conflicts drives the Haven series forward, with the same intensity and passion as Kyla Stone’s Edge of collapse saga.
Literary Titan Gold Award Winner
Flee
Tracy Myhre’s Flee picks up where the first book of the Haven series left off, and it doesn’t waste a single beat. The story follows Sadie Masters, a young Marine Reserve and librarian-in-training, as her bus journey to a family reunion turns into a desperate fight for survival after a nuclear catastrophe devastates Washington State. Interwoven with her storyline are the perspectives of others, family, friends, and strangers, all caught in the chaos that follows society’s collapse. Myhre builds a world where every decision feels like it could be someone’s last, and every relationship is tested by fear, loyalty, and grief. It’s a book about what we hold onto when everything else falls apart.
I found Myhre’s writing raw and alive. She doesn’t dress things up or linger on flowery descriptions. Instead, she cuts straight to the emotion of the moment. The dialogue feels natural, sometimes painfully so, like listening in on real conversations you wish you hadn’t overheard. Sadie’s voice especially stands out. It’s strong yet vulnerable, brave yet messy in all the right ways. The pacing is quick. Chapters snap forward like jolts, each one dragging you into another cliffhanger or gut punch. Some scenes, especially the violent or intimate ones, feel real. They left me breathless and a bit shaken. That’s not a complaint, though, it’s proof that Myhre knows exactly how to get under a reader’s skin.
What impressed me most was how the book handles survival and morality without getting preachy. It’s not about heroes or villains, it’s about people just trying to live through impossible choices. I loved the smaller human moments, like Sadie’s flashbacks to her mother, or the quiet fear in characters who’ve already lost too much. At times, I did wish the story would slow down and let those moments breathe a little longer, but maybe that tension is the point. In Myhre’s world, there’s no time to rest.
I’d recommend Flee to anyone who loves survival stories that make your heart race and your mind spin. It’s perfect for readers who enjoyed The Road or Station Eleven, but want something a bit more grounded in family and personal history. It’s emotional, dark, and real. I finished it feeling wrung out and strangely hopeful, the kind of book that doesn’t just tell a story, it makes you feel like you’ve lived through it too.
Pages: 386 | ASIN : B0FQ1H1WRH
High-Octane Action and Romance
In Escape, a couple makes a connection, but they are prevented from exploring a relationship when a missile strike devastates the country and thrusts them both into dangerous circumstances. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for Escape came from a vivid nightmare. I woke up with my heart racing and scrambled to find something to write on. In the dream, my main character, Beth, was being swept away by a fast-flowing river, desperately fighting to keep her head above water. As Beth struggled, she questioned why she was even trying to survive, leading her to make a profound choice. This moment haunted me, and as I scribbled the thought, ‘Why does she want to die?’ on paper, I realized this scene would become the heart of my story. From there, I built my post-apocalyptic romantic thriller around Beth’s journey of survival and inner turmoil.
What draws you to the adventure fiction genre?
My love for adventure fiction began when I discovered the first Mad Max film at a Blockbuster video store. I was young and impressionable, and the intensity of that world pulled me in. From there, I fell in love with franchises like Indiana Jones and Star Wars, which not only deliver high-octane action but also weave in elements of romance. The blend of danger, exploration, and human connection in these stories has always fascinated me, and it’s what continues to draw me to the genre as both a reader and a writer.
Do you have a favorite scene in this story? One that was especially enjoyable to write?
Yes, one of my favorite scenes is when the reader first sees the compound, Reed, the morning after my main characters arrive. Two characters sit across from each other, locked in a battle of wills, while nearby two others play chess. I had written myself into a corner, needing a way to defuse the tension without violence. I loved the parallel between the battle at the table and the chess game, both strategic and intense. Then, out of nowhere, two more characters—Hoss and Donovan—appeared in the scene. At the time, they were just names on paper with no backstory, but their presence felt right. Hoss, the lighthearted one, and Donovan, the serious, controlled counterpart, formed an instant bond. They mirror each other in fascinating ways, and their friendship unexpectedly became the backbone of the series. Creating their dynamic was a turning point, not just for this scene, but for the direction of the entire series.
Can you give us a glimpse into book 2 in the Haven Series? Where will it take readers?
In book two of the Haven Series, the lingering question of ‘Where is Sadie?’ finally gets explored. While others have made it to Haven, Sadie’s journey has taken a different path. Unlike Beth, Sadie is confident and clear about what she wants in life, but that doesn’t mean her path will be easy. Her journey is full of unexpected challenges, and the theme that emerges is that life rarely unfolds the way you plan. While the journey may feel familiar, it’s Sadie’s strength and determination that set her apart, making her story compelling in its own right.
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At the dawn of the apocalypse, a naïve, but resourceful woman must fight her way through nature, humankind and herself to reunite with her family.
Beth has cocooned herself in routine after a devastating family tragedy upended her world years ago, but a chance encounter with a Marine named Ryker sends ripples through her carefully guarded world. He is smitten. She is unsure.
The city is thrown into chaos when a missile strikes near Spokane, testing Beth’s newfound optimism. As strife escalates, Beth must lead her friends on a perilous journey to her uncle’s farm in Idaho–a place she avoids.
Armed with only a vague location, Ryker embarks on a high-stakes quest, risking everything to find Beth in a world teetering on the edge of turmoil and anarchy.
Amidst the relentless pursuit of survival, Beth and Ryker each navigate landscapes fraught with unpredictability. Will their paths converge again? And will doing so bring them to safety…or closer to danger?
Join Beth on a gripping odyssey through adversity and uncertainty. In the end, will her resilience and indomitable spirit prevail against all odds?
This is the first book in the apocalyptic survival thriller series by Tracy Myhre.
Escape
Escape (Haven Series, Book One), by Tracy Myhre, is a post-apocalyptic romantic thriller set in the not-too-distant future, in 2027. The story unfolds across Washington State and Idaho, where Beth, a diner dishwasher in Spokane, meets Ryker Kensington, a recently discharged Marine looking for work. There’s an immediate connection between them, but before they can explore their relationship, a series of coordinated missile strikes devastate the nation, thrusting them into a chaotic new world. As Beth embarks on a perilous journey to reach her uncle’s doomsday prepper compound, Haven, in Idaho, Ryker must navigate the dangerous landscape to find her in a society on the verge of collapse.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The plot was engaging and maintained my interest from beginning to end. The way Myhre starts the story in the midst of Beth’s ordinary life, from working at the diner to spending time with friends, adds a strong foundation before the chaos hits. The transition from everyday normality to the life-threatening aftermath of the missile strikes felt natural and intense, heightening the stakes as Beth and her friends make a desperate escape from Spokane. I appreciated that the narrative didn’t simply drop readers into a post-apocalyptic world; instead, we experience the dramatic shift alongside the characters. The contrast between Beth’s life before and her fight to survive in the violent new reality was well-executed, and it gave depth to her character. Beth’s mix of strength and vulnerability made her relatable, and watching her adapt to this grim situation kept me invested throughout. One of my favorite aspects of the book is how the tension builds. There’s an urgency in the way the world unravels around Beth, yet the pacing allows space for character development. Her journey from Spokane to Haven isn’t just a race for survival but a gradual transformation as she faces increasingly dangerous situations.
Myhre strikes a good balance between the action and Beth’s emotional growth, making the story compelling beyond just its plot twists. The early chapters introduce a large number of characters, and I felt that keeping track of who was who became difficult at times. The complex web of relationships, especially in a fast-paced survival scenario, was occasionally overwhelming. I feel it would have been helpful if the family trees, which provide clarity on the character connections, had been placed at the beginning of the book rather than at the end. I feel might have made understanding the character dynamics smoother from the start.
Escape is a thrilling and emotional ride through a post-apocalyptic world that feels all too real. If you enjoy fast-paced, high-stakes survival stories with a mix of romance and suspense, this book is for you. The combination of relatable characters, a gripping plot, and the looming threat of a shattered society makes this a strong start to the Haven series. I’m already looking forward to diving into Flee (Haven Series, Book Two), which focuses on two of Beth’s friends, Sadie and Liam, as they navigate their own struggles in this fractured world.
Pages: 432 | ASIN : B0CW19QR5H
LITERARY TITAN 