Character Interview with Zoe + Glitch Trailer + Giveaway: Under the Never Sky!

Hi guys! I’m posting a little early. It’s now 11:37pm here. And tomorrow, I might be gone until the evening to do some serious shopping. *winks* So I’m leaving with this post!

For today, I am interviewing Zoe, the main character of Heather Anastasiu’s debut, Glitch. I invited her from her time and she graciously agreed to go back in time to 2012 and to visit Fragments of Life!

What do you think of the present world?

The world in 2012 looks like its got its problems, but it still seems like a pretty great place.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen here so far? Why?

By far the strangest thing is seeing all the emotions on people’s faces, plain and out there for everyone to see. In my world, showing emotions means you’re malfunctioning, and that can get you killed. But here in 2012, everyone laughs and cries, hugs and yells, and no one worries about who’s watching. It’s beautiful.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve seen here? Why?

So many people walking out under a clear blue sky! Makes me nervous just thinking about it. All that open space, its cracking unnatural. I prefer my buildings underground, where you can always have a nice confined sense of the space around you.

What are the things in the present (our time) and in your time that are the same?

Tech still seems an inseparable part of people’s lives. Cell phones and other devices are already all but attached to people in 2012. In my world, they’ve just taken it one step further and implanted it under our skin.

If you had a chance to choose between living in our time and in yours, which one would you choose? Why?

Well, as great as 2012 is, there are things that need to be taken care of in my time. My new friend here keeps talking about destiny and saving the world. I’m not sure whether I quite believe everything he says, but if there’s even a chance to make my world a little more like 2012, I have to try.

If you were living in our time, could you still imagine this world turning out to be your world? Why?

I see the threads of things to come already present here. Like I mentioned, technology is such an integral part of people’s lives in 2012. Every year it gets smaller, more portable. Already people are implanting tech in their bodies for medical purposes or, more disturbingly, some people are implanting GPS trackers in Alzheimer’s patients. Surveillance techniques and equipment also abound. I don’t think technology is inherently a bad thing. But the question is: if technology becomes ever more invasive, who’s ultimately in control of that tech, and what might they do if they could make that control absolute?

Can you name one thing, event or custom that reminds you of your world?

In spite of how constantly plugged in people are in my world and 2012, I think it’s the small human connections that resonate with me most in both worlds. When I’m glitching and can feel emotion, I watch my brother across the kitchen table and imagine him smiling. I think about what it would feel like if my mother held me close. No matter how much the Community tries to control us, it’s the small touches of humanity that manage to break through here and there that give me hope. It’s what being human is all about, no matter when or where you live.

Thank you, Zoe!

Win Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi!

Since Heather’s book, Glitch won’t be released until later this year…she decided to giveaway a newly published dystopian that I know you all like to win!

This one is for US & Canada residents - but you can join if you have a US/Can addy to send to!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Heather Anastasiu is the author of the young adult sci-fi novel,GLITCH (St. Martin's Press/Spring 2012). She recently moved to Minneapolis with her family, and when she’s not busy getting lost exploring the new city, she spends most days writing at a café.  

Connect with Heather: Facebook | Twitter | Blog

Add Glitch to your TBR pile!