The story of "Cradle" was written for two reasons. Reason number one: I'm a HUGE fan of Jurassic Park (and to a lesser extent, its sequels), and so I've always longed for my chance to write a similarly-themed sci-fi adventure. You know the drill: a small group of researchers enter a mysterious, unexplored tract of land looking for scientific discoveries... but find something terrifying instead. The opportunity came along after I began to read more about the wildlife in the Exclusion Zone of Chernobyl. That brings us to reason number two: the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster is a really interesting topic, as well! Combine the two, and you've got "Cradle"...
Here is the synopsis:
In the future... the fallout zone from a devastating nuclear meltdown has been sealed off from mankind, allowing the life within to recover unchecked. 60 years later, a small group of explorers - including a former nuclear scientist, a wildlife photographer, and a wealthy couple - is allowed 12 hours in the Zone to document as much as they can. The deeper the team travels, however, the stranger the life forms get - until they realize that this "Cradle" isn't a bringer of life... but death.
"Cradle" is currently submitted for publication - wish me luck!