LHS alum publishes GameLit novel

By Shari Harris, Publisher

David Mares, a member of the Licking High School Class of 2005, has announced the release of his novel, “San Diego or Die.”

Classified as game literature, “San Diego or Die” follows Markus, whose world has been plunged into chaos by a global apocalypse. He journeys through a dangerous world of monstrous predators to find his wife, who is in San Diego. He’s armed only with a game-like interface that grants him extraordinary abilities, and an ironclad determination.

Game literature, or Literary Role Playing Game (LitRPG) books blend fantasy and science fiction, and revolve around game mechanics. “San Diego or Die” fits into the System Apocalypse subgenre, where the world is suddenly transformed into a game-like, dangerous environment.

David Mares grew up in Licking, and is the son of Ellen Mares, and Bill and Beth Mares. After graduating from Licking High School, he spent six years in the U.S. Army as an MP. Now Mares works in the security field, and he and his wife, Darcy, live in St. Charles, Mo.

The print edition of “San Diego or Die” currently sells as a paperback for $20.00 on Amazon. The e-edition is available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership, or can be purchased for $12.99. The novel has 17 reviews thus far, and a 4.7/5 rating, with one reviewer commenting that the only downside to the book was that he would have to wait for the next one to come out.