Megan Hart's inspiration to write was an expansion on which earlier short story ?
Megan Hart:  She was inspired to write professionally after reading Stephen King's "The Stand". The Stand:  It expands upon the scenario of his earlier short story "Night Surf" and outlines the total breakdown of society after the accidental release of a strain of influenza that had been modified for biological warfare causes an apocalyptic pandemic which kills off the majority of the world's human population.
Night Surf