Don’t forget – The Scourge, Book 1 is free on Amazon today and tomorrow. Please spread the word!
Category: Writing
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The Scourge will be FREE for Two Days – Starting Tomorrow!
The Scourge, Book 1, will be free for two days on Amazon, starting tomorrow! Spread the word and get it while it’s hot!
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The Next Big Thing
I’m it! (Um, not it as in the Next Big Thing, but as in a game of tag.)
Author Adriana Ryan tagged me in a game of blog hop. According to author Shel Delisle, the idea is “about a lot of authors getting together to share their readers and to help them to find other great authors to read.” We are supposed to answer ten questions about one of our books, or a work in progress, so I’ll talk about both – The Scourge, Book 1 and my WIP, Book 2.
What is the working title of your book?
Okay, is it bad that I’m stumped by the first question? I obviously named the first book The Scourge. When it was published, I wasn’t really sure if I would write a sequel to it. Now that I am, I need at least some subtitles for books 1 and 2. So here goes – let me know what you think of them.
The Water-Bearer (The Scourge series, Book 1)
The Air Between (The Scourge series, Book 2)
I have outlines for possible books 3 and 4, which would also have elemental titles.
Where did the idea come from for the book?
I cover this in my bio section in my blog, so I’ll bring my answer over from there:
I got the initial idea for The Scourge while traveling through the bayous of Louisiana. I wondered what would happen if, after an apocalyptic event, people had to live in those swamps without access to basic necessities. I figured they would move up in the trees. But what if only some of them were allowed to move up while others were left on the ground below? And there were horrible zombie-type creatures roaming around?
What genre does your book fall under?
YA Fantasy (or dystopia . . . or post-apocalyptic . . .)
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
I did a blog post on this one a while ago. I’m terrible at this because I don’t know that many actors. But when I searched for actors that fit how I see Fenn and Peree in my head, here is what I came up with:
Fennel – this picture of Isabelle Fuhrman, who plays Clove in The Hunger Games movie, is close. And she’s used to playing characters named after a plant product, so that’s a bonus.
Peree – grow his hair out to shoulder-length and Lachlan Buchanan is perfect. Dana, one of my readers, suggested Jake Abel. Can’t argue with her.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
The Water Bearer: Fennel, a Sightless girl living in a post-apocalyptic world terrorized by the Scourge, has just inherited the duty of collecting fresh water for her people. She should be one of the few who are protected from the creatures, but she hasn’t been tested. Until now. (Yeah, I know that’s three sentences. I cheat.)
The Air Between: Unable to tell friend from foe, and with the Scourge pushing the fragile truce between the Groundlings and Lofties to the breaking point, Fennel must once again decide exactly how much she is willing to sacrifice to ensure a future for the people of the forest. (Hey, I made it in one!)
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
Book 1 was self-published in January 2012. Book 2 will be released in 2013.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
One year for book 1. Ten months for book 2.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I think it’s very similar to Veronica Rossi’s Under the Never Sky. In fact, I was weirded out by all the similarities:
Dystopian? Check.
Romeo and Juliet type romance? Check.
Epic journey plot? Check.
Male protagonist is blond and his weapon of choice is a bow? Check.
Our male protags are even named the same thing! (Peree in mine, Perry in hers, but both short for Peregrine.) Several minor characters also have the same names, including Bear and Sable, and there were other similarities that I can’t mention because they would be spoilers. Like I said, weird.
Who or What inspired you to write this book?
I had just read The Giver by Lois Lowry (see my recent post about that one) and The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan, which is a beautifully written YA zombie novel. They both inspired me. But I also have to give props to M. Night Shyamalan’s film, The Village. I think Fenn was directly inspired by the main character, Ivy Walker (just realized she’s named for a plant, too!) I loved how brave, sparkling, and genuine she was, and how her blindness was a reality of her life, but never a crutch.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Listen to the song Trees by Marty Casey. It’s the perfect anthem for Fenn and Peree’s relationship!
And now, to tag several more awesome YA authors to join the blog hop – you’re it!
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Skyping Fun with a Middle School Book Club
I had great fun today Skyping with a middle school book club from First Presbyterian Day School in Macon, Georgia. I loved getting a glimpse of the The Scourge through the eyes of a group of bright, teen readers.
Savannah, Susannah, Grace, Erin, and Lauren had super questions about what it’s like to be an author (including if I write in my pajamas. The answer: whenever I can get away with it). They asked how I came up with different ideas in the novel, and they asked me to explain events like the Fall of Civilization and the Exchange in more depth. I think every author that writes about imaginary worlds has more made-up information in their heads about places and events than they can include in their novels. It’s fun to be able to tell more about it.
A few of my favorite questions were how I came up with names for characters, how I came up with the tales that Peree tells Fenn, and if I were a character in my book, which one would I be, and who would be my best friend. I chose Kora, and it reminded me that she will need a best friend. Be on the lookout, girls, for your inspiration in the sequel!
Sincere thanks to Kathleen Gettman, the FPD library media specialist, for choosing to read The Scourge with the book club, and to my mother-in-law, Barbara Henley, for making the connection. It was a blast!
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The Scourge chosen as a Top Pick on Underground Book Reviews
Katie from Underground Book Reviews chose The Scourge as a top pick on her YA Hot Spot. Never thought I would see the word “master” and my writing mentioned in the same sentence, but I sure could get used to it . . .
Here is her spectacular review and here is her interview with me. Check it out, and thanks so much, Katie!
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And the Winner Is …
I randomly selected a name from the sequel notification list to give them a $15 Amazon gift card. And the winner is …
SHARON
Congratulations, Sharon! I’ve sent you an email letting you know how to collect your gift card.
Thank you to everyone on the list. You still have a chance to win, as I’ll give away several more gift cards over the coming months to spread the love!
(The picture was titled Sharon’s By the Sea. I don’t know where it is, I just hope our Sharon lives there. She probably doesn’t, but wouldn’t that be nice? I’d like to live at A.G. by the Sea. It even rhymes.)
UPDATE: I heard from Sharon, and she lives in eastern Washington State, where several wildfires are making life a bit miserable (think smoky post-apocalyptic skies where face masks are necessary to go outside.) So I’m very glad she won. Now she can buy a couple new books to read while having to stay inside. Hope they get control of the fires quickly, Sharon.
