Q&A: Jeneva Rose, Author of ‘Dating After the End of the World’

We chat with author Jeneva Rose about Dating After the End of the World, which is an action-packed and apocalyptically romantic genre-shattering where there’s nothing like the undead to bring the living together.

Hi, Jeneva! When did you first discover your love for writing and stories? 

I’ve been in love with the written word for as long as I can remember. As a child, I would leave short stories and half-finished chapters on the kitchen table at night, waiting for my mom to come home from work. In the morning, I’d find her handwritten notes scrawled in the margins, little messages of encouragement telling me how much she loved my words and urging me to keep going. Those quiet exchanges not only nurtured my passion for storytelling but also made writing feel like a shared, sacred space between us. Although she passed before I was ever published, writing still feels like a conversation with her—a way of carrying her love and encouragement forward.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Definitely a Bailey School Kids book
• The one that made you want to become an author: Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The next one I have to write is always the book I can’t get off the brain…always.  

Your latest novel, Dating After the End of the World, is out October 1st! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be? 

Gory, funny, sexy, emotional, unhinged

What can readers expect? 

Readers can expect an unpredictable, adrenaline-fueled adventure that delivers both heart and humor in equal measure. One moment you’ll be laughing or swooning, and the next you’ll be on the edge of your seat, holding that breath you forgot to exhale. Along the way, expect plenty of zombie-fueled chaos, high-stakes twists, and moments that pack an emotional punch, making the journey as heartfelt as it is thrilling.

Where did the inspiration for Dating After the End of the World come from?

Growing up, my dad was a bit of a doomsday prepper and by that, I mean he stockpiled mountains of canned goods that my siblings and I had to lug to the basement, only to be force-fed them before they expired. That less-than-glamorous experience sparked the idea for Dating After the End of the World. I asked myself: What if my dad had actually been a competent prepper? What if the world really did end? And, just to make things truly uncomfortable, what if I had to move back home—only to discover my high school bully had become his trusted right-hand man?

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I especially loved crafting the banter between Blake and Casey as their dynamic struck a balance between playfulness, angst, and genuine emotion. I also really enjoyed developing secondary characters like Greg, Molly, and Tessa, who often provided much-needed moments of levity and comedic relief into the otherwise dire backdrop of an apocalypse. 

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them? 

This book contains several high-intensity action sequences, and one of my biggest challenges was balancing clarity with momentum—ensuring readers could picture what was happening without bogging down the scene with overly technical detail. To achieve this, I actually acted out some of the fight sequences with my husband, testing the choreography for accuracy and logical flow. It gave me a sense of how bodies would realistically move in each situation and helped me translate it onto the page. And for the record: no spouses were harmed in the making of this novel.

What’s next for you? 

I have an untitled horror project releasing Fall of 2026, and then my next thriller, The Real Lives of Serial Killer Wives, will publish in 2027.

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up? 

Some books I’ve enjoyed reading this year are Mary Kubica’s It’s Not Her, Danielle Girard’s Pinky Swear, and Wendy Walker’s Blade. I’m looking forward to reading Gillian McAllister’s Caller Unknown, Chevy Stevens’ The Hitchhikers, and Rachel Harrison’s Play Nice.

Will you be picking up Dating After the End of the World? Tell us in the comments below!