Celebrating the Strong Women of “When The Trees All Burned” on International Women’s Day
In my upcoming novel When The Trees All Burned, the women aren’t just surviving the apocalypse—they’re defining it through their strength, resilience, and humanity. On this International Women’s Day, I want to celebrate these characters who embody different facets of feminine power and reflect on why writing multidimensional women matters now more than ever.
The Power of Writing Strong Women
When I began crafting the women in WTTAB, I wanted them to be more than survivors or victims. Aiya, Jude, Maxine, Rochelle, Moriah, Bonnie, and others all face the end of the world differently, bringing their unique perspectives and strengths to their circumstances.
In dystopian fiction particularly, women’s stories often become secondary or are defined by their relationships to men. I wanted to flip this narrative. What happens when women face the apocalypse on their own terms? How do their unique experiences shape not just their survival but the very fabric of what comes after?
Strong female characters aren’t just about physical strength or defiance—they’re about depth, agency, and authenticity. Aiya’s journey from domestic abuse victim to someone who might help shape a new world shows that strength often comes from unexpected places. Jude’s determination to document truth even as she faces her own mortality speaks to the power of bearing witness. Moriah’s intellectual rigour challenges the very foundations of her father’s new world order.
Why Representation Matters
Research shows that the characters we read about shape our understanding of what’s possible. When young women read stories featuring complex, powerful female characters, they expand their sense of their own potential. For readers of all genders, diverse representation helps build empathy and challenges stereotypes.
In a world facing climate crisis, political division, and technological transformation, we need stories that show women leading, creating, and reimagining what’s possible. The women in WTTAB aren’t perfect—they're human, with flaws and contradictions that make them real. Their strength comes not from superhuman abilities but from their capacity to face impossible choices with courage and integrity.
Books That Get It Right
WTTAB will be joining a rich tradition of speculative fiction featuring compelling women characters. If you’re looking for more reading in this vein, consider:
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, where Kirsten's journey through a post-pandemic world explores art's power to sustain humanity
Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, featuring Lauren Olamina, whose hyperempathy becomes both burden and gift in a collapsing society
The Power by Naomi Alderman, which imagines what happens when women suddenly develop the ability to release electrical jolts from their fingers
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin, where Essun navigates a world of environmental catastrophe with both vulnerability and formidable power
These books, like WTTAB, recognize that women's stories aren't monolithic—they’re as varied and complex as women themselves.
Why Strong Women Characters Sell Books
Beyond the moral and artistic reasons for writing complex women, there’s a practical consideration: readers want these stories. The success of books like The Hunger Games, Circe, and Where the Crawdads Sing demonstrates the market’s appetite for narratives centred on women’s experiences.
In WTTAB, the women’s stories aren’t just compelling on their own—they interweave to create a tapestry that examines power, survival, and what it means to be human when humanity itself is threatened. These characters appeal to readers who crave stories that reflect the complexity of their own lives and dreams.
Which WTTAB Woman Are You?
Are you an artist finding your voice like Aiya? A truth-teller like Jude? A passionate performer like Rochelle? A loyal partner like Maxine? A principled challenger like Moriah?
To celebrate International Women’s Day, I’ve created a personality quiz that will match you with one of the women from When The Trees All Burned. Take the quiz to discover which character shares your strengths, and perhaps gain some insight into how you might face your own challenges.
TAKE THE QUIZ: Which Woman from When The Trees All Burned Are You?
Share your results on social media with #WTTABWomen and tag me (@alannarusnak)—I’d love to see which character resonates with you!
Happy International Women’s Day to all the strong, complex, and resilient women out there. May your stories be told with the depth and respect they deserve.
*Jude was absolutely inspired by a Saved by the Bell character… not so much in personality, but definitely in her physical appearance. A little gift for all you kids who grew up in the 80s and 90s. 😉
