To Timothy Baker, survival isn't luck — it's logic: prepare for the worst, anticipate every danger, and above all else stay alive. It's worked for two months as he's fortified himself in his childhood home.
But when a routine supply run collapses into chaos, and the undead close in, Timothy is forced north — toward whispers of safety in the frozen wilds of Canada.
As he documents his descent into isolation through intimate journal entries, half-shattered memories, and fleeting digital connections, Timothy must reconcile the walls he's built with the growing ache for connection.
With winter tightening its grip and humanity slipping further from reach — can he make it through without someone by his side?
Surviving the zombie apocalypse is hard enough… but facing it alone could break you.
THE DEBUT NOVEL
DEBUT NOVEL - OCT 2026
New Short Story Every Month
Bi-Weekly Podcast
New Music & Book Soundtrack
Discover more at Wicked Ink Publishing
OCTOBER 13, 2026
YA - DYSTOPIAN - HORROR
All I Want Is To Not Be
Alone
DANIEL R. FIERST
Wicked Ink Publishing
MONTHLY SHORT STORIES
DEBUT NOVEL - OCT 2026
Stories about isolation, resilience, and the terrifying weight of human connection.
YA Horror - Speculative Fiction
PUBLISHER
Wicked Ink Publishing
RELEASE DATE
October 13, 2026
GENRE
YA Dystopian Horror
FORMAT
Paperback & Ebook
All I Want Is To Not Be Alone is a haunting tale of resilience and humanity’s deepest fear: not the undead, but being truly alone.
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STORIES FROM
THE START
A new short story set in the world of All I Want Is To Not Be Alone — every month, until the book arrives. Free on Substack. You can live the apocalypse before it's published.
All I Want Is To Not Be Alone:
Stories From The Start
#1All I Want Is To Not Be Alone:
Stories From The Start
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#3All I Want Is To Not Be Alone:
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#8All I Want Is To Not Be Alone: Stories From The Start
#9
THE CHECK-IN
Podcast
The Check-In is a short, bi-weekly audio podcast reflecting on work, worth, and how we live without pretending it’s simple. Each episode is a pause to think honestly about creative work, money, ethics, and staying level in unstable times, while trying to build a life that makes room for meaning, community, and care.
Episode 1 (Coming Soon!)
Episode 2 (Coming Soon!)
Episode 3 (Coming Soon!)
Episode 4 (Coming Soon!)
Episode 5 (Coming Soon!)
Episode 6 (Coming Soon!)
THE AUTHOR

Daniel R. Fierst is a lifelong horror enthusiast whose cross-cultural experiences shape his unique storytelling perspective. Originally from the USA and now residing in Germany, Daniel has also spent time in Japan, deepening his understanding of the universal traits that connect people across cultures.
His stories captivate with the thrill of terror while delving into the emotional and formative moments that define who we are, exploring themes of human resilience, connection, and shared fears.
With a BFA in painting and illustration and an MA in psychology, Daniel merges artistic insight with scientific understanding, grounding his narratives in human behavior and learning. His diverse background enriches his work, adding depth to his exploration of the human psyche.
When he's not managing teams as an executive, Daniel rotates between family life and several music projects, being a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter/producer. The sonic landscapes of alt-rock, shoegaze, and Thom Yorke's lyrical reflections are as influential to his writing as the contemplation of Murakami’s characters or Poe’s writing.
Daniel's debut YA Dystopian novel, slated for release in 2026, is a thrilling coming-of-age story set against a zombie apocalypse. It explores themes of alienation, emotional stagnation, and the transformative power of human connection.
THE MUSIC
The sonic textures of alt-rock, shoegaze, and post-punk/new wave don't just shape Daniel's taste - they shape the structural logic of his fiction. The dissonance that makes a guitar feedback loop disturbing is the same mechanism that makes being isolated in a zombie apocalypse feel physical on the page.
Music and writing aren't separate practices — they're two surfaces of the same obsession with emotional frequency.
COMING APRIL 2026
K_Kid
The Second Try
RELEASE DATE COMING SOON!
All I Want Is To Not Be Alone: Transient Music
THE CAT & CANDLE
A gothic creative universe — books, community, handcrafted objects, and an eventual physical space. Built for people who find comfort in candlelight and darkness in equal measure.
WATCH THIS SPACE FOR NEWS!
Daniel R Fierst
YA Horror & Speculative Fiction
Writing at the intersection of fear, connection, and the terrifying beauty of being human.
© 2026 Daniel R. Fierst · All rights reserved.
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