Guest Post on World Building +International Giveaway: Earth Girl by Janet Edwards

Hi guys! Today I'm featuring an author from UK who wrote one of my most favorite science fiction novels in the history of history: Earth Girl. Her story world is stunning, vibrant, and easy to fall inlove with. If you're an aspiring writer, take this chance to learn from Janet about world building:

World Building - Welcome to 28th Century Earth

Janet Edwards lives in England. As a child, she read everything she could get her hands on, including a huge amount of science fiction and fantasy. She studied Maths at Oxford, and went on to suffer years of writing unbearably complicated technical documents before deciding to write something that was fun for a change. She has a husband, a son, a lot of books, and an aversion to housework.

Follow Janet: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Book Description:

Paperback, 358 pages
August 16, 2012, Harper Voyager

A sensational YA science fiction debut from an exciting new British author. Jarra is stuck on Earth while the rest of humanity portals around the universe. But can she prove to the norms that she’s more than just an Earth Girl?

2788. Only the handicapped live on Earth. While everyone else portals between worlds, 18-year-old Jarra is among the one in a thousand people born with an immune system that cannot survive on other planets. Sent to Earth at birth to save her life, she has been abandoned by her parents. She can’t travel to other worlds, but she can watch their vids, and she knows all the jokes they make. She’s an ‘ape’, a ‘throwback’, but this is one ape girl who won’t give in.

Jarra invents a fake background for herself – as a normal child of Military parents – and joins a class of norms that is on Earth to excavate the ruins of the old cities. When an ancient skyscraper collapses, burying another research team, Jarra’s role in their rescue puts her in the spotlight. No hiding at back of class now. To make life more complicated, she finds herself falling in love with one of her classmates – a norm from another planet. Somehow, she has to keep the deception going.

A freak solar storm strikes the atmosphere, and the class is ordered to portal off-world for safety – no problem for a real child of military parents, but fatal for Jarra. The storm is so bad that the crews of the orbiting solar arrays have to escape to planet below: the first landing from space in 600 years. And one is on collision course with their shelter.

Book Description:

Paperback, 374 pages
August 17, 2013, Harper Voyager

Sequel to Earth Girl.

18-year-old Jarra has a lot to prove. After being awarded one of the military’s highest honours for her role in a daring rescue attempt, Jarra finds herself – and her Ape status – in the spotlight. Jarra is one of the unlucky few born with an immune system that cannot survive on other planets. Derided as an ‘ape’ – a ‘throwback’ – by the rest of the universe, Jarra is on a mission to prove that Earth Girls are just as good as anyone else.

Except now the planet she loves is under threat by what could be humanity’s first ever alien contact. Jarra’s bravery – and specialist knowledge – will once again be at the centre of the maelstrom, but will the rest of the universe consider Earth worth fighting for?

What's up for grabs? A paperback of Earth Girl. I know it's hard to get your hands on this one since it's only available in the UK for now - it will be released in US soon - so this is your chance. :) Correction: Earth Girl is now out in the US, since March.

Open internationally!
You should be at least 13 years old.

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Author Interview with Lydia Kang + Giveaway: $15 Amazon Gift Card + Control Swag

Hi guys! Today I will be interviewing Lydia Kang, the author of one of my most anticipated YA debuts for this year - Control. The giveaway later is for swag lovers.

How would you describe your writing style?
No one's ever asked me this before! It's kind of hard to answer. I guess I see similarities between my writing and Suzanne Collins, Marie Lu, and Veronica Rossi.

If you could write a novel from another genre, what would it be?
Historical. Well, I did once but it's shelved. :) I'd love to write a story that takes place in the Jazz era of Manhattan.

My favorite question: What or who inspired Control?
A very unusual medical illness called Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome, also sometimes referred to as Ondine's Curse. I imagined how difficult it would be to live with a disease that could make you could die in your sleep from not being able to breathe enough, or make you think about every single breath. My main character has this problem.

Tell us about the story world of Control.
It takes place in 2150, and what's different now is all the States have banded together according to ideology. So there are combo states, like Nebraska and Iowa = Neia (I often used the state abbreviations to make the new State names). Some are extremely conservative, others not. But more importantly, the federal government has decided that human DNA cannot be manipulated within humans. Only pure DNA is allowed. You can guess the rest!

Since it's a century and a half into the future, can you tell us of the latest technology and developments?
Things like driving cars are a thing of the past, only done by a few rare hobbyists. Food is loaded up into machines called "efferents" that do all the cooking and prep for you. Punch in some buttered toast, coq au vin and creme brûlée and it's done. Wish I had one of these...

How do you balance the romantic and scientific elements in Control?
No balance needed. They were separate things, really, that interwove when needed. I was serious about the science, but not so heavy handed that it reads like a lecture. The romance is delicate and fractured and new. It was so fun to write.

If you could bring Zel to the present, what would you give her?
OMG, I would give her a hug! And tell her how awesome she is. And then I'd lend her my clothes, because she dresses like a recluse. And then I'd give her my favorite book of poetry.

When it comes to character development, do you have a strategy?
Make them change, but don't make them perfect.

What is next for Lydia Kang?
The sequel! It's going to be out Winter 2015. It's title is tentatively called Catalyst, but will likely change. After that, who knows? I've got a handful of ideas waiting in the wings. :)

Lydia Kang is an author of young adut fiction, poetry, and narrative non-fiction. She graduated from Columbia University and New York University School of Medicine and completed her residency and chief residency at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. She is a practicing physician who has gained a reputation for helping fellow writers achieve medical accuracy in fiction. Her poetry and fiction have been published in JAMA, The Annals of Internal Medicine, Canadian Medical Association Journal, and Hektoen International. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three children and a terrarium full of stick bugs. She believes in science and knocking on wood, and is an unapologetic salt addict.

Follow Lydia: Website | Blog | Twitter

Book Description:

Hardcover, 400 pages
December 26th 2013, Dial Books for Young Readers

An un-putdownable thriller for fans of Uglies

When a crash kills their father and leaves them orphaned, Zel knows she needs to protect her sister, Dyl. But before Zel has a plan, Dyl is taken by strangers using bizarre sensory weapons, and Zel finds herself in a safe house for teens who aren’t like any she’s ever seen before—teens who shouldn't even exist. Using broken-down technology, her new friends’ peculiar gifts, and her own grit, Zel must find a way to get her sister back from the kidnappers who think a powerful secret is encoded in Dyl’s DNA.

A spiraling, intense, romantic story set in 2150—in a world of automatic cars, nightclubs with auditory ecstasy drugs, and guys with four arms—this is about the human genetic “mistakes” that society wants to forget, and the way that outcasts can turn out to be heroes.

“Control blew me away.”—James Dashner, New York Times bestselling author of The Maze Runner trilogy

What's up for grabs?

Open internationally!

You should be at least 13 years old.

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Author Interview with Mary Gray + Giveaway: ARC of The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray

Hi guys!For today, I have Mary Gray, the author of The Dollhouse Asylum. We will be doing something a little bit different - a fun, quick interview.

Describe THE DOLLHOUSE ASYLUM in five words:
1. Melancholy
2. Romantic
3. Suspenseful
4. Fragile
5. Sobering

In one sentence, what is THE DOLLHOUSE ASYLUM about?
It's a story about a group of teenagers who are granted asylum from the apocalypse and then are forced to re-enact tragic, literary couples... or die.

Tragic literary couples, you say? Can you tell us who?
Nope! That's why you need to read this book! Then you can see which couples my villain felt needed to be in his "perfect" world.

Where does the story take place?
In an eerily pristine subdivision in the middle of nowhere outside Austin, TX.

When can we read THE DOLLHOUSE ASYLUM?
It's released October 22nd! Just three short months away!

Is there kissing in this book?
YES. All the best books involve kissing.

Where does the best kissing take place?
Why, in the rain, naturally, with someone our hero should not be kissing at all.

Mary Gray has a fascination with all things creepy. That's why all her favorite stories usually involve panic attacks and hyperventilating. In real life, she prefers to type away on her computer, ogle over her favorite TV shows, and savor fiction. When she's not immersed in other worlds, she and her husband get their exercise by chasing after their three children. The Dollhouse Asylum is her first novel.

Follow Mary: Website | Twitter

Book Description:

Paperback, 296 pages
October 22nd 2013, Spencer Hill Press

A virus that had once been contained has returned, and soon no place will be left untouched by its destruction. But when Cheyenne wakes up in Elysian Fields--a subdivision cut off from the world and its monster-creating virus--she is thrilled to have a chance at survival.

At first, Elysian Fields,with its beautiful houses and manicured lawns, is perfect. Teo Richardson, the older man who stole Cheyenne's heart, built it so they could be together. But when Teo tells Cheyenne there are tests that she and seven other couples must pass to be worthy of salvation, Cheyenne begins to question the perfection of his world.

The people they were before are gone. Cheyenne is now "Persephone," and each couple has been re-named to reflect the most tragic romances ever told. Everyone is fighting to pass the test, to remain in Elysian Fields. Teo dresses them up, tells them when to move and how to act, and in order to pass the test, they must play along.

If they play it right, then they'll be safe.

But if they play it wrong, they'll die.

What's up for grabs? An ARC of The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray.

Open to US residents (if you have a US address you can send to, you can also join)
You should be at least 13 years old.
Be a follower. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview with Jay Kristoff + Giveaway: ARC of Kinslayer

Hi guys!I'm really, really, REALLY excited for today's post. I'm a big fan of this author. He writes the most kickass scenes ever. He's Jay Kristoff and he's here for an interview! *Stick around to win an ARC of Kinslayer.*

How would you describe your writing style?
“Visual” is the word that springs to mind second (right after “clueless”). I see the movie of the book playing in my head, try to write down what I see. I come from a visual arts/design background, and I think that informs my style a lot. I’m a comic book kid. I like painting pretty pictures with words. Even if the places I paint sometimes aren’t so pretty.

Did you have a specific song or playlist that you listened to when you were writing Kinslayer?
I have very obnoxious taste in music. I know some authors dig writing playlists and whatnot, but if I did that, it would terrify the children. And I don’t really listen to music when I write because it’s so obnoxious, it breaks my concentration. But that’s a boring answer! STOP BEING BORING, JAY!

I take a lot of inspiration from song lyrics. Stuff like Dark Days from Parkway Drive is where my head is at when I write Shima. (be warned - obnoxious)

What kind of research did you do for Stormdancer and Kinslayer?
Just reading. Lots of reading. Which is a really boring answer, I know (STOP BEING BORING, JAY). Taiko by Eiji Yoshikawa was a great resource (very dry, but still great in a factual sense). Musashi. The Otori books by Lian Hearne. But I took inspiration from old cinema, manga, old roleplaying games I used to run. And drinking sake. Lots of sake.

Yummy sake.

To evade the typical second-book-isis aka the halt in action and dropping of interest in the second book of this series, what did you do?</>
Rewrote it about five times! Lol.

There are a lot of loose ends in STORMDANCER, and I really only gave readers a hint of the overall metaplot that’ll drive the series. KINSLAYER gives you get a broader look at the clans of the Imperium and the enemies they’re at war with. There are a couple of very important characters introduced, who’ll play a big role in book 3. Bigger action. Bigger stakes. Bigger betrayals. But I also had to be careful keep Yukiko and Buruu front and centre, since readers seem to like them so much (which is one of those good problems).

I am particularly fascinated with Buruu. He was part of the mythical-legend world and he lived up to his role as an Arashitora. However, Buruu also had a soft side. How did you balance these two sides of Buruu?
Buruu is a lot like me, in a lot of ways. He’s surly and aggressive and kinda scary looking, but underneath he’s something of a softie. I think his sarcasm and sense of humor do a lot to take the edge off him, along with his singular devotion to Yukiko. I think that’s what people love about him the most – that there’s nothing in the world that could come between those two.

Or is there? (dun dun dunnnnn…)

Yukiko is one of the best heroines I've ever encountered in YA. What were the challenges (if any) you encountered in writing and bringing Yukiko to life? How did you deal with it?

Aw, thanks, that’s awesome of you to say :)

I think the biggest challenge for me was keeping her real and flawed, but still likeable. When you’re writing a hero, it’s very tempting to make them perfect, for fear the reader will stop liking them if they do something stupid or make mistakes. But Yukiko makes horrible mistakes (and keeps making them in KINSLAYER). And when you’re writing those mistakes, you wonder if readers will forgive her.

But then I remember she’s only just discovering who she is, and where she stands. She’s sixteen years old. When I was sixteen, I didn’t know my ass from my elbow.

Pro tip: ass is the thing you sit on.

What is next for Jay Kristoff?
Book 3 of the Lotus War has been handed in to my editor, which means I get to work on some new stuff while I wait for edits. Very exciting!

I’m currently doodling on three books - one fantasy, one post-apocalyptic and one sci fi. They’re all feeling pretty good at the moment, so I’m not sure which one will win out in the end. I’m proposing a 100 pages death match between the lot of them. Three books enter, one book leaves. I plan to have decided by the time KINSLAYER hits shelves.

Wish me luck!

Jay Kristoff is the author of of THE LOTUS WAR trilogy, a Japanese-inspired steampunk fantasy published by Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press & Tor UK. The first installment, STORMDANCER, is out now. Part 2, entitled KINSLAYER, will be released in September 2013.

Jay is 6’7 and has approximately 13870 days to live. He abides in Melbourne with his secret agent kung-fu assassin wife, and the world’s laziest Jack Russell.

He does not believe in happy endings.


Follow Jay: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Book Description:

Hardcover, 464 pages
September 17th 2013, Thomas Dunne Books

A SHATTERED EMPIRE
The mad Shōgun Yoritomo has been assassinated by the Stormdancer Yukiko, and the threat of civil war looms over the Shima Imperium. The Lotus Guild conspires to renew the nation’s broken dynasty and crush the growing rebellion simultaneously – by endorsing a new Shōgun who desires nothing more than to see Yukiko dead.

A DARK LEGACY
Yukiko and the mighty thunder tiger Buruu have been cast in the role of heroes by the Kagé rebellion. But Yukiko herself is blinded by rage over her father’s death, and her ability to hear the thoughts of beasts is swelling beyond her power to control. Along with Buruu, Yukiko’s anchor is Kin, the rebel Guildsman who helped her escape from Yoritomo’s clutches. But Kin has his own secrets, and is haunted by visions of a future he’d rather die than see realized.

A GATHERING STORM
Kagé assassins lurk within the Shōgun’s palace, plotting to end the new dynasty before it begins. A waif from Kigen’s gutters begins a friendship that could undo the entire empire. A new enemy gathers its strength, readying to push the fracturing Shima imperium into a war it cannot hope to survive. And across raging oceans, amongst islands of black glass, Yukiko and Buruu will face foes no katana or talon can defeat.

The ghosts of a blood-stained past.

What's up for grabs? An ARC of Kinslayer by Jay Kristoff.

Open internationally.
You should be at least 13 years old.
Be a follower. :)

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Character Interview with Gray + Giveaway: Ebook + Swag of Taken by Erin Bowman

Hi guys! Sorry for the delay. Work has been keeping me busy when I'm there and sleepy when I'm home. On to the agenda, I have a treat from debut author Erin Bowman! Fans of Taken, I'd like to present my semi-awkward but totally interesting character interview with Gray.

First of all, could you tell us something about yourself?
I spend a lot of time keeping to myself for a reason. *sighs as interviewer repeats the question* Fine. I'm a good hunter, I guess. I can set a snare twice as fast as Blaine--he's my brother--even though he's got a year of extra practice at it. That might be the only thing I'm better at though. He's nicer, and patient, and more considerate. Ma always said the only person she ever knew more stubborn than me was my father. *frowns as interviewer raises an eyebrow* This is exactly why I keep to the woods most days.

How would you describe your world? The history, the culture, the society?
Um...Depressing? Hopeless? I used to think life in Claysoot would be more bearable as a girl--you've got years beyond eighteen and eventually end up calling the shots, maybe even running the Council if you're lucky enough--but I'm not sure anymore. I honestly can't decide what's worse: knowing the Heist will take you; or losing every father, uncle, brother, son you've ever known and having to keep on living anyway.

What is the Heist?
It takes every boy the night they turn eighteen--blinding light, howling wind, and they're gone. It's a constant. The sun rises in the morning, and the moon cycles each month, and the Heist takes every last boy.

If you could change one thing about your life or your world, what would it be?
I'd love it if the Heist didn't exist, but that's like saying I wish there was no winter, or I'd like to fly. Honestly, at this point I'd settle for a good day of hunting. I haven't brought in anything but fowl the past few weeks, and I'm starting to worry large game is scarce this season.

If you could rule over your world, what are the things that you would do?
Get rid of the slatings. The Council pairs kids ups every month or so and it's the most forced, awkward process ever. I get it. I do. They're concerned about our numbers, about our future. Understandable when all the guys up and vanish at eighteen. But people can make their own decisions. I can make my own decisions.

Now, could you tell us about Emma?
Emma works at the Clinic. What? She does. Why are you smirking at me? *rolls eyes* Emma works at the Clinic and is a very good healer.

Any last words? :)
This has been as enjoyable as the lecture Blaine gave me yesterday about being less impulsive. So no. None at all.

Erin grew up in rural Connecticut, where she spent most of her childhood telling stories. It is rumored that her first words were not “Mama” or “Dada,” but “Once upon a time.” In middle school, when kids were going off to sleep-away camp for the summer, Erin was attending writing camp and penning short stories.

At the Rochester Institute of Technology in upstate New York, Erin studied web design (and minored in Creative Writing because she couldn’t stay away from stories). After several years working in advertising and designing websites for various brands, she has moved on to writing full-time. When not writing, she can often be found hiking, commenting on good typography, and obsessing over all things Harry Potter.

Erin is represented by Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger. Her debut novel TAKEN will be published by HarperTeen April 16th, 2013. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband.


Follow Erin: Website | Twitter

Book Description:

April 16th 2013, Harper Teen

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

What's up for grabs? An ebook and swag of Taken by Erin Bowman.

Open internationally.
You should be at least 13 years old.
Be a follower. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview with Angie Smibert + Giveaway: Pre-order of The Meme Plague

Hello! Today a loyal and three-time participant of Dystopian Domination is here. I present to you, Angie Smibert, the author of the Memento Nora series.

First and foremost, what or who inspired this series? Was it a memory, a dream or an idea?
The first book, Memento Nora, was inspired by an idea--as well as some real life experiences of friends and family. The idea came from reading about current research in memory and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Some scientists are trying to find a drug that will lessen the grip of traumatic memories on the brains of PTSD sufferers. So I took it to the next step. What if the pill completely erased a particular memory and was available at a Starbucks-like shop on the corner? What kind of world might that be?

What was Memento Nora like when you first wrote it? To what extent is it different to the present version?
The very first version of Memento Nora was a short story, which appeared in the May 2008 edition of Odyssey. The theme of that issue was memory. You can read the short story here (http://www.angiesmibert.com/blog/?page_id=6) on my website--along with a few of the other short stories I've written. The short story is about Nora's decision of whether or not to take the pill. The novel is about the consequences of that action.

Actually, I didn't start writing the book until after the short story came out. I reread the story, smacked my forehead, and said "duh, I need to write about what happens next." The first draft or so of the story was all from Nora's point of view. Then I realized she didn't know the whole story. That's when I wrote the other two points of view (Micah and Winter).

When it came down to character development, how did you mold Nora and Micah?
I built the world first, at least to some extent, and then I molded Nora to be an unlikely hero in that world. She starts off as a very happy consumer, oblivious to what's going on, and with a lot to lose. Micah is the opposite--and also the least likely guy the old Nora might fall for. A homeless skateboarder artist.

How will you describe your writing style?
Someone once told me I pack a lot into a few words. So, yeah, I might say my style is lean and voice-y.

One of the things I like about your books is that they tend to be short. So how do you manage to fit in and finish an entire story in such few pages?
Good question. In addition to the style thing (see above), I tend to jump right into the action and not rely on a lot of exposition--unless it really serves the story or character's voice well. I figure the reader is smart enough to get the world building clues from the story itself (dialogue, action, description, etc.) without being spoonfed huge chunks of exposition.

Any plans for future novels?
Yes, I'm planning future novels, but they won't necessarily be in the Memento Nora series.

Thanks for the interview!

Angie Smibert was born in Blacksburg, a once sleepy college town in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. She grew up thinking she wanted to be a veterinarian; organic chemistry had other ideas. But she always had stories in my head. Eventually, after a few degrees and few cool jobs—including a 10-year stint at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center—she wrote some of those stories down.

She has published many short stories, for both adults and teens.

Follow Angie: Website | Twitter

Book Description:

Hardcover
August 13 2013, Marshall Cavendish

It begins with the name JONAS W. on the side of a cardboard coffin—right before the funeral procession blows up. Then it’s the whisper in the back of Micah’s head: Your father betrayed his country. You can’t always trust your own brain. Not when you have one of the mayor’s mandatory chips in your skull. Micah knows that the chip developed by TFC (the corporation that runs the Therapeutic Forgetting Clinics) does more than just erase unpleasant memories—it implants new ones. The MemeCast warns citizens to “fight the hack.”

Micah and his friends have each lost something—a parent, a relationship, a home, maybe even their own identities as they remembered them to be. But together, they can make sure some things are never forgotten.

Election Day is coming, and Mayor Mignon is set to be elected to Congress. It’s time to build a new electronic frontier, one that’s not controlled by the mayor and his cronies. It’s time to get out the vote and shake up the system. It’s time to finally say enough.

What's up for grabs? Pre-order of The Meme Plague by Angie Smibert.

Open internationally.
You should be at least 13 years old.
Be a follower. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview with J.L. Spelbring + Giveaway: Signed Copy of Perfection

Hi guys! Today I have J.L. Spelbring for an author interview about Perfection, her YA dystopian debut novel.

What or who inspired Perfection?

There really wasn't anything that I would consider an inspiration. It was more like a desire. I wanted to write about a girl who could read minds, then bits and pieces fell into place, a bit of idea pong with my daughter, and PERFECTION was born.

What was Perfection like when you first wrote it? Is it too different from the current version?

Needless to say, the first draft did not live up to it's title. LOL! There are bits and pieces different as Perfection took shape during edits, but the overall concept, storyline and such is the same.

Was the way you created Elyssa how you imagine a perfect soldier in real life?

I would say yes. If the circumstances of the what Hitler thought as a "perfect" human came into existence, then I think the natural impulse would be to continually improve on what one would consider to be perfect.

How do you balance the romance and the dystopian elements in your novel?

Everything Ellyssa knows as far as her world (the dystopian side) is thrown off as she discovers how to feel, become part of a family, and learns to love. I think the mixture of what is (to Ellyssa) and what really exists is well balanced.

How will you describe your writing style?

It changes with what I'm writing. The way I wrote for Perfection is different than the way I am writing this current retelling of a fairytale that I'm working on. Different characters, different outlooks, different experiences.

What is next for J.L. Spelbring?

Currently, Flawed (the sequel to Perfection) is on the edit train. Book three is in my brain working out kinks and calling to be typed into the word processor. And, as I said, I'm working on a modern retelling of a fairytale.

Thanks for the interview!

J.L. Spelbring lives in Texas, where she wanders out in the middle of the night to look at the big and bright stars. Besides knocking imaginary bad guys in the head with a keyboard, she enjoys being swept away between the pages of a book, running amuck inside in her own head, pretending she is into running, and hanging out with her kids, who are way too cool for her. Perfection is her debut novel.

Follow Amy: Website | Twitter

Book Description:

Paperback, 320 pages
July 16th 2013, Spencer Hill Press

The personification of Aryan purity, Ellyssa's spent her whole life under her creator's strict training and guidance; her purpose is to eradicate inferior beings. She was genetically engineered to be the perfect soldier: strong, intelligent, unemotional, and telepathic.

Only Ellyssa isn't perfect.

Ellyssa feels emotions--a fact she's spent her life concealing. Until she encounters the epitome of inferiority: a dark-haired boy raised among renegades hiding since the Nazis won the war a century ago. He speaks to her telepathically, pushing thoughts into her mind, despite the impossibility of such a substandard person having psychic abilities.
But he does.

His unspoken words and visions of a place she's never visited make Ellyssa question her creator. Confused and afraid her secret will be discovered, Ellyssa runs away, embarking on a journey where she discovers there is more to her than perfection.

What's up for grabs? Signed Copy of Perfection by JL Spelbring.

Open internationally.
You should be at least 13 years old.
Be a follower. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview with Teri Terry + Giveaway: ARC/Finished Copy of Fractured

Today you're in for a treat. One of the most brilliant dystopian authors is here for an author interview: Teri Terry!

What kind of research did you do for Slated and Fractured?

There are aspects of the Slated trilogy – things like, dreams, memory, and DID (dissociative identity disorder) – that I’ve been fascinated with for a long time. So I’ve been drawn to read about these areas in the past without it being research specifically for what I’m writing. I also did a bunch of courses in psychology, human physiology, and brain structure and function along the way at university, so have some background there already. I did specifically look into DID and memory while I was writing Slated – mostly internet research.

Weaving history into a dystopian world. How do you manage to do this? How do you construct a believable history inside your already believable story world?

Getting details about the history of the world created into the story without it being an information dump is tricky. It was especially so with this series because as a new Slated, Kyla’s understanding of the world around her was limited, so the readers could only learn things when she did. With this trilogy set in 2054, not undefined centuries in the future like many dystopian novels, the world and its history are recognizable, so it is more about showing the differences than having to fill in a complete world. I wanted it to be a time and place readers can relate to, that feels like it could happen.

How do you maintain the level of suspense in your books?

To me, suspense happens between the action, in the quiet places. A book that is non-stop action doesn’t create suspense. It might be thrilling to read, but endless fight scenes aren’t as suspenseful as fearing a fight to come. In this sense I think less is more. Suspense comes from doubt, uncertainty, fear. Seeing the character heading for trouble that they can’t avoid; keeping the stakes high, yes, but also not knowing what all the dangers are. The fear you imagine is worse than the monster you can see.

When it comes to complicated (or as I like to call it my reviews of Slated and Fractured, multi-layered) characters, how do you know when to stop? When will you decide if a certain character's personality is complex and interesting?

That is a really good question – and also really hard to answer, because the process of developing characters is mostly instinctive to me. A good example in Slated is Kyla’s assigned mother. Without wanting to give too much away for anyone who hasn’t read, she isn’t quite how she appears at the beginning. But that wasn’t a plan, more it happened as I wrote it. With rare exception I don’t believe people are all good or all evil in real life, so I want my characters to reflect this. A villain is far more interesting if you can see how they became what they are, if there are things about them that are sympathetic. Likewise a hero is more interesting with flaws they have to overcome to get what they want.

If you were given a chance to write another book that falls under a different genre, what genre would it be and why?

Slated was my first published book, but it was actually the ninth book I’ve written. The others cover many different age groups – from 7+ to adult – and everything from scary stories, realism, fantasy, crime. So I’ve dabbled with different genres in the past, and don’t feel constrained by any particular genre. Overall I love writing for teens, and I love writing thrillers – but I don’t feel found by futuristic thrillers.

Aside from this series, what else are you working on?

A supernatural thriller! I’m really excited about this one. Whether it’ll be my next published thing or not is too soon to tell. I hope so!

Thanks for dropping by!

Teri has lived in France, Canada, Australia and England at more addresses than she can count, acquiring three degrees, a selection of passports and a silly name along the way. Past careers have included scientist, lawyer, optometrist, and, in England, various jobs in schools, libraries and an audiobook charity. The footpaths and canal ways of the Buckinghamshire Chilterns where she now lives inspired much of the setting of Slated. She hates broccoli, likes cats, and has finally worked out what she wants to do when she grows up.

Follow Amy: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Book Description:

Paperback, 432 pages
April 4th 2013, Orchard Books

How do you know where to go when you don't remember where you came from?

Kyla's memory has been erased,
her personality wiped blank,
her memories lost for ever.

Or so she thought.

Kyla shouldn't be able to remember anything. But she can - and she's beginning to realise that there are a lot of dark secrets locked away in her memories. When a mysterious man from her past comes back into her life, she thinks she's on her way to finding the truth. But the more she learns about her history, the more confusing her future becomes...

Set in a disturbing future world, FRACTURED is an engrossing, fast-paced read that establishes Teri Terry as a master thriller writer.

What's up for grabs? If the winner is from US, he/she will get an ARC/Proof of Fractured, the sequel to Slated, and if the winner is from outside US (international), he/she will get a finished copy of Fractured. UK version.

Open internationally.
You should be at least 13 years old.
Be a follower. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview with Amy Christine Parker + Giveaway: Finished Copy and Poster of Gated

Hi guys! Sorry to keep you hanging what with the delay of my post! Just woke up from hibernation and officially in blogging mode. For today, I have Amy Christine Parker for an author interview about her writing and her dystopic contemporary, Gated.

What or who inspired Gated?

I was watching a show about underground shelters and doomsday prepping that got me wondering about the people behind it and what made them so convinced that the end was near. Their fervor and certainty was extreme and fascinating. Add to this my interest in cults, their leaders, and how the they turn deadly and why people might stay in them until the bitter end and the story grew from there.

What was Gated like when you first wrote it? Is it too different from the current version?

The version of GATED that is in bookstores is very similar to the version I wrote originally. I think the only semi-major changes from the original were the order of some of the events and who ended up surviving at the book’s close. I had an idea for a sequel, but I wasn’t sure if I’d get the opportunity to write it, so the original ending was much more definitive and the plot was completely tied up. But the ending it has now is much closer to how I always wanted it to end.

How did you manage or keep the dystopian vibe in your novel?

I think I was able to keep the dystopian vibe because the community in which my character, Lyla, lives is so cut off from the rest of the modern world and it’s governing structure is leader-centric, but unchallenged. The people in it see outsiders maybe a handful of times in a year. Their leader controls every ounce of information about what goes on beyond their walls. The story takes place right now, in our present, but it was important for me to show that dystopian societies really exist now, in our world. It isn’t a future concept at all...you only need to take a closer look at the prison camps in Northern Korea to understand this...or even better—look right in our own back yard. A child growing up inside a cult would have a very similar experience to a child growing up in a dystopian society in the future. What changes isn’t the dynamic of the society I’m writing about, but the setting and time period.

When it comes down to character development, how did you mold Lyla?

Lyla evolved in a very organic way. At first I barely knew who she was. She was there, but blurry even though the beginning scenes that made up her story were crystal clear. It was only after I drafted the bones of the story and went back to revise that I really began to understand who she was. For me, the characters begin as very flat props. They come together after a series of weeks and months where I think about them almost constantly. For every bit of their personality that actually makes it into the finished draft, there’s a whole stack of backstory pages I typed out about them and their pasts that don’t.

Was there a specific song or playlist that you listened to while writing Gated?

Linkin’ Park songs made up my entire playlist for this book and I listened to them constantly—in the car, in bed right before I went to sleep, while I wrote, showered, worked out. The lyrics to so many of their songs were so perfect for how Lyla was feeling throughout the book. “Waiting for the End to Come” is her anthem.

How will you describe your writing style?

My writing style in one word is inefficient. I have to basically write the book wrong before I can make it right. It takes forever. After every book I vow to change that and finally master outlining and daily word count goals...but the truth is, I can never stick to it. The story emerges over time and just will not come if I don’t give it all kinds of room to breathe. I never know exactly where I’m going when I start...or even when I’m halfway to wherever it is that I’m going. I have a general sense of where I think I’ll be ending up, but even that is not set in stone. It makes for really, really slow going. I wish that I could sit down and hash everything out plot-wise at the very beginning and then write based off of that brainstorming session...but I don’t think it’s in the cards for me and maybe that’s for the best. It definitely makes the whole process more exciting.

What is next for Amy Parker?

The sequel to GATED. It comes out next fall with Random House, so I’m busy going through edits right now. I’m also working on another book, but it’s too early to say much about it..except that it is definitely creepy which makes me extremely happy! I do love a dark story.

Thanks for the interview!

Amy was born in Pennsylvania and spent most of her early years there. Many of her best memories are of hiding out in her room where she made up elaborate pretend play scenarios most often involving orphaned baby dolls and Barbies dressed in fashions made out of Kleenex.

Amy was always attracted to writing, but she tried a lot of other jobs on for size first before settling into writing full time. At some point or another, she has been a collectible doll-maker, a fondue waitress, an inner city school teacher, and a stay at home mom. Currently she is writing full time and lives in a suburb of Tampa, Florida with her very supportive husband, their two creative and energetic daughters, one absurdly fat orange cat, and two escape artist mice.

Follow Amy: Website | Blog | Twitter

Book Description:

Hardcover, 384 pages
August 27th 2013, Random House Childrens

Do the gates keep the unchosen out or the chosen in?

In Mandrodage Meadows, life seems perfect. The members of this isolated suburban community have thrived under Pioneer, the charismatic leader who saved them from their sad, damaged lives. Lyla Hamilton and her parents are original members of the flock. They moved here following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, looking to escape the evil in the world. Now seventeen, Lyla knows certain facts are not to be questioned:

Pioneer is her leader.

Will is her Intended.

The end of the world is near.

Like Noah before him, Pioneer has been told of the imminent destruction of humanity. He says his chosen must arm themselves to fight off the unchosen people, who will surely seek refuge in the compound's underground fortress--the Silo.

Lyla loves her family and friends, but given the choice, she prefers painting to target practice. And lately she'd rather think about a certain boy outside the compound than plan for married life in the Silo with Will. But with the end of days drawing near, she will have to pick up a gun, take a side, and let everyone know where she stands.

What's up for grabs? Finished Copy of Gated by Amy Christine Parker and a poster of Gated.

Open internationally.
You should be at least 13 years old.
Be a follower. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Character Interview with Cole + Giveaway: The Glimpse and The Fall by Claire Merle

Hi guys! For the seventh day of Dystopian Domination, I have a character interview with Cole from The Glimpse Duet by Claire Merle.

I know this might sound silly but can you imagine a world without Pures? Why?
As far as I’m concerned, the only boundaries between people are the ones we make ourselves. For some reason, people feel more secure with their labels – maybe it’s how we go about defining ourselves. But the whole Pure not Pure thing is dangerous. The world got by without Pures for thousands of years. We don’t need the distinction. It’s arbitrary anyway.

What was it like to live as 'impure'?
It’s really just being discriminated against the whole time. Having fewer horizons. The world’s always been like that though. Just in different ways at different periods in history.

What was the first thing that came to your mind when you saw Ana in the flesh?
I’d spent a couple of nights in prison and had been beaten-up some by the Psych Watch, and I was all over the place. When I walked into the courtroom I was just focused on blocking out the pain. Then everyone stood for the arrival of the judges and I looked over at my defense, hoping I wouldn’t see that idiot Jackson sitting there. I almost had a heart-attack when I saw Ana. All her hair had been cut off. Her eyes were strange. I was too shocked to actually think a coherent thought. I was just like staring at her. You know, you wait a long time for something to happen and when it does, you’re totally unprepared. It was the last place I ever imagined we’d finally meet.

Well, what was the first thing that you thought of after you saw The Glimpse with Ana in it?
What the hell was that?! Seriously. I didn’t know what to think. I never believed in that kind of stuff.

Tell us about Rachel. How did you two come to be this close throughout the years?
Rachel was from one of the families that were made homeless in the global crash. She grew up in The Project. I was ten when I moved there. I was used to being on my own, looking out for myself. I only ended up in The Project because I knew it was the one place the authorities wouldn’t look for a missing kid. To be honest, I didn’t want anything to do with the others. All I wanted was to keep my head down until I was old enough to live in the City, without the authorities trying to put me back in an orphanage. But then Rachel’s father disappeared. She got into a lot of fights. And this one time she was beating up on this boy so hard I had to step in. After that she was always trying to get a rise out of me. And somewhere along the line we became friends. Then more than friends.

Can you describe yourself in 140 characters?
I’m just a guy looking out for the people I care about. And I think the world’s a pretty f’d-up place, but you can never quit trying to make things better. I’m not a quitter.

Any last words?
If you happen to speak to Rachel, tell her… nah. Don’t worry about it. I’m sure I’ll see her around. Cheers for the interview.

Thanks for the interview!

She wrote her first paranormal screenplay at the age of thirteen and named it after a road sign. Convinced it would find its way into the hands of a film director and she and my best friend would be cast in the starring roles, she entrusted it to her school drama teacher. DANGER ALIVE never made it to the big screen, but she continued to write and daydream her way through school and university, graduated with a BA (Hons) in Film Studies and spent the next few years working in the British Film Industry.

She now lives in France with her French husband and two young sons. The Glimpse is her first novel and was released from Faber & Faber in June 2012. The second and final part of The Glimpse Duet, The Fall, will be coming out in June 2013.

Follow Claire: Website | Blog | Twitter

Book Description:

Paperback
June 6th 2013, Faber & Faber (UK)

London, in the not-so-distant future. Society has been divided into Pures and Crazies according to the results of a DNA test.

But seventeen-year-old Ana, whose father invented the Pure test, has uncovered a recording with dangerous evidence that the tests are fake. Ana has escaped her father and made it to the Enlightenment Project - a secluded protest group living on the outskirts of the City.

Back in the arms of Cole nothing is simple. Some in the Project believe her presence jeopardises their safety, others interpret her coming as part of their prophetic Writings. When the recording Ana stole goes viral, the Project comes under attack. Now Ana's father isn't the only one looking for her. She's come to the attention of Evelyn Knight, the Chairman of the Board - a powerful woman with a sinister plan. Ana must take greater risks than ever to unravel the truth and discover the secrets that lie beneath the Pure test. But unlike her father, the Chairman doesn't want her safely home. She wants Ana's spirit crushed, permanently. And she will destroy everyone Ana cares about to do it.

What's up for grabs? Signed Copies of The Glimpse and The Fall by Claire Merle.

Open internationally.
You should be at least 13 years old.
Be a follower. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview with Megan Crewe + Giveaway: Signed Copy of The Lives We Lost

Hi guys! It's the fifth day of Dystopian Domination 4. Hope you're enjoying it as much as we are! :) Today, I have Megan Crewe for an author interview. And I also have something for you later. ;)

What inspired you to write this series?
The initial spark of the idea came after a nightmare--I realized the only two books I've ever read that have given me nightmares both had to do with viruses, so obviously viruses and epidemics scare me more than just about anything in the world! And then it occurred to me that I could probably write a pretty intense story about something I was that scared of. So I started playing with the idea of an epidemic story.

I'd also wanted to write something generally apocalyptic for a while. A lot of the time, when I read a post-apocalyptic or dystopian story, I find myself most curious about what it was like while society was going through the state of change that resulted in this new world. It seemed to me that transition period, between our current world and something different, would be a fascinating time to examine. The virus was just one possible way that could happen.

How did you come up with the ‘sickness?’
One of the biggest inspirations for my "friendly flu" was an issue I've had with zombie story lines. Most zombie stories start after most people are already dead and zombies have pretty much taken over, and I always wonder how on earth they managed to. I mean, usually they're very slow and stupid, and so scary and threatening that if you saw one you'd run the other way. So how did they manage to catch and kill so many people when the zombie plague was just getting started? A really smart virus, I thought, would spread itself not by making its host attack other people, but by making its host extra social and friendly, giving it access to as many new hosts to jump to as possible.

So, I think of my virus as sort of anti-zombieism. ;)

For those who are interested, I go into a lot more detail of the decisions I made in designing the virus and the science behind it here.

What kind of research did you do for this series?
I did a lot of reading about viruses and epidemics, of course. Learning how viruses work, so I could make mine as believable as possible; learning how people and societies have responded to outbreaks in the past. I also did a lot of reading and watching of nature documentaries, to supplement my knowledge of animal behavior, since Kaelyn is such a wildlife enthusiast. And I had to do a lot of reading on survival techniques to figure out how to get the group through the long winter.

I spent a lot of time on Google maps, too, charting the characters' course after they left the island, calculating how long a tank of gas would last them, etc.

I really loved how you used the diary format in telling the story of Kaelyn. Why did you decide to use this format?
I wanted the story to be more of a day-by-day record of the gradual decline Kaelyn's world goes through, rather than just focusing on the big events that are usually needed to make a full scene. The journal format worked perfectly for that. I also liked the idea that the reader is following along at exactly the same pace Kaelyn is living through these events. There are never things about the future that Kaelyn knows and just isn't telling yet--the next day is as much a mystery to her as the reader. I think that adds a certain type of suspense that I really enjoy in this type of story.

In terms of character development, how did you mold Kaelyn?
I've tried to give Kaelyn a distinctive character arc in each book in the series--to have her be different by the end than she was in the beginning. In the first, for example, it's mainly about her coming to recognize her value and strengths as a person, even if they aren't what's typically seen as important. The challenges she faces during the epidemic and the relationships she forms all play a role in shaping her growth.

Which part was the most difficult to write in Book 2: beginning, middle or end? Why?
I pretty much always find beginnings and endings harder than middles, and usually beginnings the hardest of all. With the second book in the trilogy, the beginning was especially hard because I had to balance getting the story moving and grabbing the readers' interest with reminding readers who might not have read Book 1 in several months who these people were and what they'd most recently been through. On the other hand, the ending was more difficult than usual because I'd originally intended for this to be a two book series, and it only became a trilogy when I realized the story I'd wanted to tell for the sequel wouldn't fit into just one book. So I had to take the first half of what I'd seen as one story and make it into a story that stood at least somewhat on its own with a reasonably satisfying ending. That was tricky! It changed a lot over time, too. In the first two drafts of the book, the story ended one chapter later, after events that now play out in the first two chapters of Book 3.

To evade the typical second-book-isis aka the halt in action and dropping of interest in the second book of this series, what did you do?
It was important to me not to fall into the trap of repeating myself or having the characters regress as if their grown in the first book hadn't happened. So I went for a big change--I forced them off the island and onto the mainland, which they hadn't seen at all in the first book, and gave them a totally new quest. I also introduced several new characters, and a new set of villains, to add complexity to the conflicts and character development.

Aside from this series, is there anything else you’re working on?
I'm always working on new things! I have my new trilogy that I recently sold, and I'm also working on a yet another new project that I can't say anything about yet, other than it's another YA.

What’s next for Megan Crewe?
After Book 3 in the Fallen World trilogy, THE WORLDS WE MAKE, which is coming out next February, I have a new SF trilogy on the way. This one involves aliens, time travel, and space ships--three of my favorite SF elements! It's about a girl who finds out that aliens have been using Earth as a laboratory, experimenting with changes in the past to see what effects they'll have, and joins up with an alien rebel to try to stop them before their experimentation causes a total catastrophe. At the moment it's called EARTH & SKY, but it's looking as though that will become the series title and we'll come up with a different title for the first book.

Thanks for the interview!

Like many authors, Megan Crewe finds writing about herself much more difficult than making things up. A few definite facts: she lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband and two cats (and does on occasion say "eh"), she tutors children and teens with special needs, and she has yet to make friends with a ghost, though she welcomes the opportunity. Her first novel, GIVE UP THE GHOST, was published by Henry Holt in 2009 and is now out in paperback. THE WAY WE FALL and THE LIVES WE LOST are now available from Disney-Hyperion.

Follow Megan: Website | Blog | Twitter

Book Description:

Hardcover, 288 pages
February 12th 2013, Disney Hyperion

First, the virus took Kaelyn’s friends. Then, her family. Now it’s taken away her home.

But she can't look back—the life she once had is gone forever.

A deadly virus has destroyed Kaelyn’s small island community and spread beyond the quarantine. No one is safe. But when Kaelyn finds samples of a vaccine in her father's abandoned lab, she knows there must be someone, somewhere, who can replicate it. As Kaelyn and her friends head to the mainland, they encounter a world beyond recognition. It’s not only the “friendly flu” that’s a killer—there are people who will stop at nothing to get their hands on the vaccine. How much will Kaelyn risk for an unproven cure, when the search could either destroy those she loves or save the human race?

Megan Crewe's second volume in the Fallen World trilogy is an action-packed journey that explores the resilience of friendship, the ache of lost love, and Kaelyn’s enduring hope in the face of the sacrifices she must make to stay alive.

What's up for grabs? Signed Copy of The Lives We Lost by Megan Crewe.

Open internationally.
You should be at least 13 years old.
Be a follower. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway