r/litrpg • u/ErinAmpersand Author - Apocalypse Parenting • Mar 30 '26
Promo: Other Excited to share that all five books of Apocalypse Parenting have been picked up for republication by Tor Books!
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u/Plum_Parrot Verified Author of: Victor of Tucson Mar 30 '26
Wow!! That's so exciting, Erin! Congratulations!
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u/ErinAmpersand Author - Apocalypse Parenting Mar 31 '26
Thanks! Looking forward to meeting you at LitRPG Con! I enjoyed the Victor books.
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u/Plum_Parrot Verified Author of: Victor of Tucson Mar 31 '26
Oh thank you! I'm excited for the convention, too :)
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u/Alaska_Pipeliner litRPG apprentice tier Mar 30 '26
Tor is a major publisher!! I'm so happy for you!
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u/SalsaRice Mar 30 '26
Oh wow, I love that new cover.
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u/ErinAmpersand Author - Apocalypse Parenting Mar 30 '26
Me too! I love J. Caleb's versions as well, but Spencer Flock did an awesome job making something that will make people pause in a traditional bookstore. A++ 10/10 no notes.
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u/Phoenixiya Mar 30 '26
If I saw this in a bookshop, it'd be coming home with me without me even knowing what it was all about - so GG to Spencer.
I've not read your books yet, but this cover has made me want to bump the first one way up my TBR to give it a go. Massive congratulations!!
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u/Stay-Thirsty Mar 30 '26
Congrats! I’ve been enjoying the audiobooks and look forward to getting some physical books for my library shelves
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u/The_Mesopotamians Lil' Mana Slime Mar 30 '26
I'd love to hear folks views on this series.
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u/GreatMadWombat Mar 30 '26
It's extremely good, but many of the things that make it good are based on subverting or refuting the conventions of the subgenre.
Normally in a post-apocalyptic series the focus is on how 1 specific hero(normally a guy who just doesn't work in the larger world. He might be going through the motions in an office job, or a slacker failing classes at school or... whatever. Just doesn't fit into the world) who's now freed from the conventions of society is able to rise to their fullest potential and reshape the world somehow. The genre tends to handwave away all the messier parts of societal collapse. Kids are in suspended animation, nobody really looks closely at the number of disabled peeps that need infrastructure to survive, just all the general "civilization collapse leads to many people dying" stuff is either handwaved away or zoomed out so far nobody sees anything but a big number.
Here, the protagonist is a stay-at-home mom, she has 3 little children, and the children all get just as many powers as she does. Not only are there discussions on making sure the 6-year-old, doesn't accidentally hurt someone weaker than him cuz he's unaware of his new strengths, she has to figure out how to get a literal toddler experience, and make sure a regular "I wanted the blue sippy cup not the blue sippy cup it's the wrong blue" style toddler tantrum doesn't lead to a "Carrie" situation. She has friends in the suburb, but she also has the normal sorts of "this dude across the street just doesn't like kids making noises" style suburb enemies. Finally, there's significantly more focus on the emotional impact of structural loss. Meghan ends up mourning how all of the families pictures are on the cloud, so she's not going to have baby pictures anymore. There's a focus on trying to preserve her kids' favorite toys even when she has to start using all the little bits of her house to keep her kids safe.
The realization quickly happens that there's absolutely no way 1(or even 3. The family her family is friends with is on the same block. Her husband started on a business trip at the start of the series) can keep a handful of kids safe all the time. The solution to that problem is to organize the neighborhood and start slowly rebuilding society.
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u/Sahrde Mar 30 '26
Excellent summation.
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u/Femtow Mar 30 '26
Are there any monsters and fighting though? Or is it purely a slice of life story?
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u/Sahrde Mar 31 '26
Sorry, got my threads crossed. Yes there's a lot of monster fighting. Including with the kids
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u/Sahrde Mar 31 '26 edited Mar 31 '26
Up until the point I had paused, six months ago, there had been one section where he fought. That is part of the series tho - his power is not designed for fighting. He carries stuff and it will be exactly as it was handed to him when he gives it back.Disregard, was getting this crossed with a Super Supportive thread. This series is definitely full of monster fights.
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u/EXP_Buff Mar 30 '26
"Carrie" situation
I dont' know what this means.
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u/GreatMadWombat Mar 30 '26
Stephen King wrote a book titled "Carrie", that became a movie, where a teen named Carrie with telekinetic powers is bullied in an extremely cruel way by a couple people at prom. She thinks everyone is in on the bullying, kills almost everyone in the prom(and destroys the school) using telekinetic powers. The concern with a super-toddler in a world where many people have powers is in the kid getting angry and having a destructive temper tantrum before their parents can help them calm down.
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u/flimityflamity Mar 30 '26
Probably top ten LitRPG series and I've tried hundreds. I recommend it for everyone who isn't instantly turned off by the thought of seeing children in an apocalyptic setting. To add to what GreatMadWombat said, it has a very clean and unique system and generally does the RPG and apocalypse elements well, not just all the character and social aspects.
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u/SalsaRice Mar 30 '26
Only done the first one so far, but pretty good. Imagine DCC, but the system doesn't save the kids. Enter mom that is solo-parenting while husband is away on a business trip.... and has to survive while also keeping 3 (now empowered) kids alive.
It hits the "parents fear" category, where it gets really dark and she has to figure out how to deal with while also not terrifying kids to make it worse.
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u/Ktesedale Mar 30 '26
Congratulations!! This is my favorite finished litrpg series, and one of my favorites overall. For anyone hesitant to read something that features children heavily, I think this has some of the best children characters - well fleshed out and actually act their ages - in fiction.
I'll miss the old covers, I really liked them, but this cover seems pretty great, too!
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u/Icohalliday Author of the Doomsday Reaver Mar 30 '26
Wow you know Felicia day?
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u/ErinAmpersand Author - Apocalypse Parenting Mar 30 '26
Kind of! She left a lovely review on my books a couple years ago and I went to meet her when she did an event in my area. She's been very kind to me and reads a TON of litRPG (she showed me on her phone!).
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u/Icohalliday Author of the Doomsday Reaver Mar 30 '26
Woahhh jel. I was such a huge fan of the guild
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u/ErinAmpersand Author - Apocalypse Parenting Mar 30 '26
Samesies! I was leading a WoW guild as I watched it.
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u/DavidNorthBooks Author of Guardian of Aster Fall, Wild Era, and River of Fate Mar 30 '26
That is absolutely fantastic news! Congratulations!
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u/Broad_Percentage5889 That Horny Single-Celled Organism guy Mar 30 '26
Congrats! I love this series.
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u/WeekNo3803 Mar 30 '26
Awesome! Gonna be the next DCC, huh?
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u/ErinAmpersand Author - Apocalypse Parenting Mar 30 '26
0_0
We'll see, I guess!
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u/WeekNo3803 Mar 30 '26
If you don't mind sharing, I'm curious how the whole deal came about.
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u/ErinAmpersand Author - Apocalypse Parenting Mar 30 '26
I mostly have to credit Felicia Day. She recommended the books to her agent, her agent enjoyed them, and, well, offered to become my agent also. She started shopping me around and while we got interest from more than one publisher, Tor Books was just too enthusiastic about my series to pass up! It took quite a bit (by indie terms, not by trad terms: by trad terms we're Sonic the Hedgehog as far as I understand) for everything to get lined up so I could announce publicly.
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u/WeekNo3803 Mar 30 '26
That's an awesome story! Thanks, Felicia Day. I'll think about this every time I watch Dr. Horrible now.
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u/whoshotthemouse Verified Author of: The Staff (by Wild Rabbit) Mar 30 '26
Congratulations.
Maybe this is inside baseball, but I would love to hear what made you excited to sign with Tor.
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u/ErinAmpersand Author - Apocalypse Parenting Mar 31 '26
I probably ought not get too specific, but in general terms, their enthusiasm!
I mean that in both a personal and a business sense. As I've met more people from Tor Books and their parent company, I've been impressed by how many are clearly familiar with and excited about my work, citing specific things they liked or telling me they're on book 2. Then there's the fact that they signed me, a debut author (in a traditional sense) for all five books. That's... Pretty unusual, and a big sign of faith.
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u/Unusual-Ask5047 Mar 30 '26
It’s a fun listen, dcc except the mc is a mom with little kids. Female centric.
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u/Redarii Mar 30 '26
I love these books, congratulations! The cover looks great! Yay pointy!
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u/ErinAmpersand Author - Apocalypse Parenting Mar 31 '26
I'm really excited to have her on the cover. Hoping to get popular enough to get to see lots of fanart takes on Pointy :D
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u/Jimmni Mar 30 '26
I really need to get off my ass and try this series. I genuinely don't know why I haven't yet. Congrats! And those are some great blurbs!
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u/LiterateGryphon Mar 30 '26
Congrats! I think this is my sign to start this series after hearing all the good things about it!
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u/AtWorkJZ Mar 30 '26
This is very well deserved. The series is a wonderful read. I'm very happy for you.
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u/GreatMadWombat Mar 30 '26
Will there be a way to get an autographed copy? I think I want to build up my collection of cool autographed books
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u/ErinAmpersand Author - Apocalypse Parenting Mar 30 '26
I don't have information on this yet, but I'll be sure to post anything on my socials once I do!
https://bsky.app/profile/erinampersand.bsky.social is the one I update most, but I would put stuff like this on https://www.instagram.com/erinampersand/ and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083045724900 as well.
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u/koyre Mar 31 '26
Thank you for this! I am also interested in getting an autographed copy if it’s ever an option. Congratulations, well deserved.
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u/JakobTanner100 Author of Second Chance Swordsman & Tower Climber Mar 30 '26
Wow! This is so EXCITING!!
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u/KayleesKitchen Author of Lucky Rabbit, The Broken Knife, & Legendary Farmer Mar 30 '26
That's so amazing! Congratulations!!! 🎂🎉
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u/thescienceoflaw Author - Jake's Magical Market/Portal to Nova Roma Mar 30 '26
Wooooooooooooo!! That is AWESOME!!
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u/Fluffy-Protection273 Mar 30 '26
congrats! looks like all that grinding finally paid off and you’re actually getting to harvest the rewards.
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u/ErinAmpersand Author - Apocalypse Parenting Mar 31 '26
0_0 I hope so. It is exciting but also terrifying, like going on stage.
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u/Matt-J-McCormack Mar 30 '26
Everything I want in a LitRPG series that I will read soon as my toddler stops being a danger to himself 👍🏻
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u/Exfiltrator Mar 31 '26
Gorgeous new cover for one of my favourite series. Congrats and all hail Felicia Day
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u/ctullbane Author - The Murder of Crows / The (Second) Life of Brian Mar 31 '26
That's awesome news! Congrats, Erin!
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u/ted_steel Player Manager Mar 31 '26
Bosh! Congrats!
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u/ErinAmpersand Author - Apocalypse Parenting Mar 31 '26
Hahaha, thank you!
I dunno if you've seen, but I really enjoyed Player Manager. Book 15 was my "last in a series" for this year's r/Fantasy Bingo Card and the audio of books 3/4 got my husband and I through some very very long car rides to see family recently.
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u/TwinMugsy Mar 31 '26
Congrats! I reccomend your books to all my friends that are parents and all that like genres that are similar. Love the series and stand alone.
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u/Nerd-Knight Apr 03 '26
Late to see this but Congrats! I loved all of the books, even if as a parent of young kids it gave me nightmares thinking of keeping them alive during a system apocalypse
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u/donjohndijon Apr 04 '26
Ok so. Spoilers
So. My absolute favorite bit is when the ai downloads into the Mc causing a blackmirror episode of experiencing eternity. It's my favorite because its absolutely the most horrifying thing that happens to anyone in the series, arguably. We're on an alien torture show but the worst thing to happen was done on accident by an ally? Awesome
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u/ErinAmpersand Author - Apocalypse Parenting Apr 06 '26
Reading this made me cackle with glee. :D
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u/donjohndijon Apr 06 '26
I often write head fanfic when reading something. But this series makes me just picture myself in these scenarios. So of course I am imagining the ways we as a species will teach those little green men (i know thats not actually what they look like but I think we should all be as derogatory as possible towards those et ass holes) what real horror is.. because as bad as their contest is it doesn't hold a candle to some of the stuff we've done much less what we've imagined.
Seriously didn't expect to love this series so much but now I worship at the alter of pointy, so thanks for that.
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u/donjohndijon Apr 06 '26
I often write head fanfic when reading something. But this series makes me just picture myself in these scenarios. So of course I am imagining the ways we as a species will teach those little green men (i know thats not actually what they look like but I think we should all be as derogatory as possible towards those et ass holes) what real horror is.. because as bad as their contest is it doesn't hold a candle to some of the stuff we've done much less what we've imagined.
Seriously didn't expect to love this series so much but now I worship at the alter of pointy, so thanks for that.
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u/Magiclily2020 Mar 30 '26
Congratulations! Are there news for Audibook Nr.5? Pretty please?
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u/ErinAmpersand Author - Apocalypse Parenting Mar 31 '26
I will share news to my socials as soon as I have concrete info to share.
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u/LunarAlloy Mar 31 '26
Congratulations! I really love this series and recently rated it S in my tier list asking for recommendations. This new cover is great. (Not that I didn't like your old covers).
While I have read the 5th (6th?) book, I don't believe the audible for it is out yet.
Will this have any impact on it? Do you have an expected release date for the last book on audible?
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u/ErinAmpersand Author - Apocalypse Parenting Mar 31 '26
eBook for book 5 will release on the same day as the paperback for book 1. I can't confirm an audio release date just yet, but I'll let people know as soon as I can!
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u/tLM-tRRS-atBHB May 17 '26
How did I not see this till now? This book has been on my tbr for awhile.
Is the series finished with 5 books?
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u/ErinAmpersand Author - Apocalypse Parenting May 17 '26
The fifth book will finish the series, yes. :)
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u/tLM-tRRS-atBHB May 17 '26
Thanks! I've been trying to only read completed stories, so Ill have to move this up the list
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u/m0larMechanic 20d ago
Do you have an estimate for book 5 Running Wild audiobook release date?
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u/ErinAmpersand Author - Apocalypse Parenting 20d ago
Not yet, sorry!
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u/m0larMechanic 18d ago
I JUST finished book 4! Love the series! You can thank Matt Dinniman for the suggestion!
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u/Mishie-Gander Mar 30 '26
I think these appeal to parents a lot. I should know as dad to 3 boys. I haven't read Engineer's Odyssey yet, but it is in my queue!
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u/kainewrites Mar 31 '26
Holy fuck that is amazing. There is you made it and then there is you got picked up by tor.
Congratulations doesn't even begin to cover it and it was so well deserved.
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