Meet Louise Daerr, Author of What Falls to Us

Oct 13

Louise Daerr writes character-driven fantasy about ordinary people facing extraordinary danger. Her stories explore resilience, moral complexity, and the bonds that hold people together when the world is falling apart. Rooted in British and Irish folklore, her work blends magic, politics, and atmospheric world-building with slow-burn romance, high-stakes vulnerability, and moments of fierce compassion.

Tell us about your book. What is it about, and what makes it special?

What Falls to Us is a post-apocalyptic novel about survival, grief, found family, and what it takes to rebuild when everything falls apart. When a mysterious infection brings society to its knees, Hale, a former firefighter struggling with his own losses, finds himself helping lead a group of survivors searching for safety. But surviving the Driven is only part of the challenge; they also have to learn how to live together and build something worth protecting. What makes the story special to me is that it's less about the end of the world and more about the people left behind: flawed, grieving, ordinary people trying to do their best in extraordinary circumstances.

What first inspired you to write this story?

What Falls to Us began as a first draft back in 2012, possibly inspired by watching The Walking Dead, although I honestly can't remember! The manuscript sat untouched for years until I returned to it when I decided to take my writing more seriously.

The rewrite brought two major changes. I made Hale a firefighter because I was intrigued by the idea of someone trained to run towards danger finding himself in a world where no one was coming to help. I also moved the setting to Lancaster Castle, inspired by growing up in Lancaster. That led to plenty of research into the castle's history, layout and defences.

So there wasn't one defining spark of inspiration. What Falls to Us grew out of several ideas, influences and a story I couldn't quite leave behind.

Which relationship in your book means the most to you, and why?

Definitely Gareth and Hale's friendship. They've been through so much together as firefighters, and that history has created a bond where they know they can always rely on each other. No matter what happens, they've got each other's backs. I don't think we see enough strong, meaningful male friendships in fiction.

Is there a character who surprised you by becoming more important than you originally planned?

Absolutely! Because of the way I write, building and sculpting the story one layer at a time, quite a few of the ensemble cast started out as little more than placeholder characters. But the one who grew the most was Thomas. I absolutely love his character, and discovering more about him as the story developed was one of my favourite parts of writing the book. There were even a few scenes involving him that I adored but had to cut because they weren't moving the story forward. Sometimes you have to be ruthless, even with your favourites!

If your main characters had theme songs, what would they be?

I actually have a whole Spotify playlist inspired by What Falls to Us!

Hale, our main male character, changes quite a bit throughout the story, so his theme song would probably change with him. At some points, Anywhere Away from Here by Rag'n'Bone Man and P!nk feels like a good fit. At others, it's Arsonist's Lullabye by Hozier (an ironic choice, considering Hale is a firefighter!). And then there are moments when Survive by Lewis Capaldi feels much more appropriate.

What's currently at the top of your TBR?

So many things! The Knave and The Moon by Rachel Gillig, The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri and The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow are three I’m really looking forward to finding time for.

Discover What Falls to Us

The infection stole names and memories, even fear itself. What remained became the Driven.

When a blood-borne disease tore through Northern England, Hale gathered the last people he could not bear to lose. Friends turned family, doing their best for the children who depended on them. Now their sanctuary is compromised and the Driven are closing in.

Forced onto the road, Hale must lead them across a ravaged England where every safe place has already fallen. As the Driven begin to adapt and the journey grows deadlier with each mile, Hale must decide not only how to keep the people he loves alive, but who he is willing to become to do it. What began as a desperate escape becomes a fight they cannot outrun.

What Falls to Us is a tense, character-driven survival story about found family, impossible decisions, and the cost of holding on to your humanity when the world demands anything but.

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