SEVEN DAYS

by Sterling Nixon

An unpayable debt. A shrinking economy. A nation divided. What is the price needed to prevent civil war? What if the United States can no longer pay that price? Rick Savage finds himself in the middle of a power struggle that could spell the end of the United States. His extensive research leads him to one grim prediction: civil society will all but cease in seven days. He now has only a week to save who and whatever he can before the world descends into chaos.

Genres: Post Apocalyptic

361 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2014

About the author

Writing is not just a hobby for me, but a life-long passion. Since 1999, I’ve spent countless hours writing, editing, reviewing, and re-writing other author’s books as well as several full-length novels of my own.

I’ll be honest with you; the road has been rough. I’ve almost given up writing for good a few times. But I keep coming back to it, thanks in large part to the support of my readers. In my darkest days, or after some of my biggest setbacks, a quick letter from a fan or two has changed everything. And I am so grateful for your support. Now, I am more committed to writing than ever.

One of my favorite past times is reading the manuscripts or novels by struggling or upcoming authors. There is a fantastic community of writers out there who look to build others up rather than tear them down. And if I can help you along with your journey of being a full-time author, please let me know. I think the more writers we have out there, the better off all of us will be.

I absolutely love the creative process. I get tremendous satisfaction when I create characters who seem so real that a reader expects to be able to meet them one day. Or when I manufacture a landscape so compelling that someone feels tempted to plan a visit to that location during summer vacation. But the real joy for me is constructing situations where the protagonist has hard choices to make, where internal conflicts are so intense, it makes the reader second guess exactly what they would do if they faced those same dilemmas.

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well done!!!! I found this much a very quick-paced, action pack read. Most apocalyptic novels do not spend much time on characters and scene (If at all) and this one takes the time to do the story right.

Plus, the end conflict had my heart pounding in my chest like I was hyped up on Mountain Dew! Loved the conflict at the end. It was truly an amazing clash of good vs evil.

The story centers around two brothers—there is a third but he is not really the focus—and their actions during an end-of-the-world situation. The two could not be any more different: one is cold, calculating the other is a charitable good-doer. The head-to-head conflicts between these two brothers is pretty amusing. There were some moments of pure genius that appeared in the novel—things that I had no idea about.

The main villain is very well done. He is dynamic, well flushed out, and thought provoking. He believes that he is picking up where evolution left off and is strengthening the human race by eliminating those that do not deserve to live. And he does so with surreal efficiency that nothing stands in his way.

Surprisingly, there are some real tender moments too, a little romance—not much, but it is there if you read it just right—and lots of action.

Epic read!

[Lizz Kupfer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book and it had potential, but there were chapters and characters that were very predictable. I wanted some of the characters to be more rounded, but most seem very one sided. And everyone who did anything was either a middle aged man or a teenage boy who had to grow up.
The women in this particular book have either regressed or become a source of sexual tension. Complete turn off for me. Jane stops reading books on history or topics of interest that might help them survive and starts reading YA. Okay. But how the hell does she help Kate if she isn't researching how to build certain things? Did we leave out the tidbit where she's a genius who can build things with no prior experience? And then Kate is both attractive (an unimportant detail that keeps getting brought up) and an engineer who just butts heads with Rick to show tension and conflict in the group. One other guy does this questioning of Rick in the beginning, but then realizes his mistake. No one else. Let's just blindly follow Rick cause he seems to know what he's doing. But really? No one has any questions. And Rosemary, she just checks out. Let's pretend that none of this is happening. And somehow she survives.
There are no fights within the group. None. Out of over 400 survivors, there isn't one fight. Not one squabble. No other tension. How is that even possible? Rick is training these people and not once does anyone question him. All emotion of these people seems to have been removed. Except when there is a particular sermon that Pastor Isaac gives. Then the tears come. And no one tries to leave. No one. Kids are notoriously always getting into trouble, but not one kid does anything stupid. None of them tried to wonder off. We might as well have just said there were no children.
And then there is the Evil Executor and the Good Preacher. Very black and white. Good people believe in God and helping each other. And Evil people believe only in themselves and their all powerful leader. And everyone else is just dead. I'm pretty sure you can still be a good person even if you don't believe in God. A little too preachy for me.
Chase was one interesting character that I wish had more involvement in this book. If I was not told that Rick, Isaac, and Chase were brothers, I would not have guessed it. There is something missing from that angle. Maybe if there was more back story on that. A flashback of some sort. Anything really.
Overall, I just couldn't believe most of this book. Failure to connect the characters with each other and make them feel real. More research really needed to be done on EMPs and their effects.

[Mimi Davis Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH My Another EMP Story Without Zombies

This is a very well written story. I'm so pleased with everything about this story. It's almost the best EMP story (with out zombies) I have had the pleasure and honor of reading. This is a great read. Great work Sterling Nixon, maybe you and Stephen Sayers should get together. I believe the two of you can craft a great masterpiece.

[Achillian Aeneid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic. I read a few reviews on Amazon that were saying that this was too preachy... but honestly, I don't know what they are talking about. One of the main characters is a preacher, and so he preaches...that is what you expect a preacher to do.

I liked the philosophy behind it: together people are stronger. I find the book very uplifting an engaging. Even though there were some violent parts, I felt elevated and even a little inspired. It is rare that I can say that about a book.

I also enjoyed the way the other “showed” us how United States deteriorated instead of rote telling us. The author weaved in and out of the story plausible world events that led to the economic slump of the US. These, I thought, were well researched and thought out. Some people found the beginning a little slow, but I found it a great exercise in the “what if”. The biggest question, of all, I think is what if America can never balance its budget.
Great read. Love it. I would recommend it to anyone above 15.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very well written, easy to imagine what was taking place and had me on the edge of my seat a lot of the time. All of what occurs in the book I could totally see happening with people reacting similarly when faced with the world going crazy and trying to figure out how to survive. I listened to the book on Audible. I felt like the narrator was a bit dry at the beginning, but it gets so much better a few chapters in and he does a fantastic job of going in and out of different characters. The whole time I was listening I kept thinking that I could totally see this being made into a movie. Well done.

[CHRISTINE WORKMAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seven days

this started as a slow read but after the visit from his friend, Rick moved into high gear and so did the story. I do wish there had been a little more interaction between him and Kate. the author did well with the rest of the characters but I felt to light with Kate and Rick, but this was a great read and a very good storyline.

[RJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent tale of survival against a viral apocalypse and a group of (terrorists) that will take advantage of the situation. Good tempo, good narration, kept my interest high. Would have liked to see this expanded into a multi-book series, but it was not to be. I'll look for other novels by this author.

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been interested in the apocalyptic genre for quite some time, and was pleasantly surprised by this book. Intense, and written in a style that I found to be completely fresh and compelling, I'm very much looking forward to further installments from this author.

[Mildred mccraw · Rating 1 out of 5]

Great, reading the story is amazing.

Every character is such a dynamic person.
Conflicts made such intriguing every detail as reading books that reader.
readers be aware. Great reading.
It was good to read that evil did not win.
Great
Great reading

[Gary Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a Fantastic book. This book was very easy to fall into, I'm absolutely amazed at the detail that was put into the book, and one of the few writers that knows the difference between a clip and a magazine!!

[Janet Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best read ever

I have probably read 80 percent of all apocalyptic survival books on amazon...OMG..t his has to be the most interesting and well written book I've read to date...can't wait for his next one..exciting to the very end!!

[Redsilver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great. Fast paced read. Would read more from this author

[Brad Theado · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. A little slow in parts

[Tanya Procknow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I found the story line easily believable. It was very much a good vs. evil kind of story but I thought the inventiveness of it made it original.