Showing posts with label Dystopian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dystopian. Show all posts

1/26/2014

Get Lost with Author Joelle Charbonneau



Get Lost in a Story Readers, I am pleased to present New York Times best selling author Joelle Charbonneau  ~ Donnell

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say?

But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?  

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it.  But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.
Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies – trust no one.

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose:  love without truth or life without trust.
Praise for The Testing

The Testing is a chilling and devious dystopian thriller that all fans of The Hunger Games will simply devour. Joelle Charbonneau writes with guts and nerve but also great compassion and heart. Highly recommended.” – Jonathan Maberry, New York Times best-selling author of Rot & Ruin and Flesh & Bone

“Trained to rely on her wits, Cia must survive on her courage and trust her instincts, even when it means following her heart ever deeper into danger. A surefire favorite for dystopian fans, The Testing crackles with suspense, passion and betrayal set against a scarred and brutal world.” –Sophie Littlefield, author of Unforsaken and Hanging By A Thread.
 
DONNELL:  Joelle, welcome back to Get Lost in a Story.  It's been a long time!  Congratulations on hitting the list of the New York Times for book one in the Testing trilogy.  What went through your head when you hit #8 on such a prestigious list?

JOELLE:  Ha!  I value your friendship far more than any NY Times best selling label, although I have to admit the label is pretty darn cool.  But strange.  I admit that I haven’t a clue what went through my head when I got the news that we hit the list the first time.  All I really remember was shedding a bunch of tears.  The emotions – shock, thrill, joy, terror (don’t ask…but it’s in there) –were really overwhelming.

DONNELL:  You write other series as well as your YA trilogy.  Your Skating series published by St. Martins and your Choir for Hire series published by Berkley.  Do you walk into walls and spend a lot of time talking to yourself because I sure would?

JOELLE:  Is that how I got those bruises?  Huh…who knew?  I guess I should pay more attention to where I walk.  Or just sit down more!

DONNELL:  In addition to writing, you have a small child, and you just returned from a book tour.  I’m a little concerned that you’re not applying yourself.  Seriously, are you meticulously organized?  Should we be concerned you’re taking too much on?

JOELLE:  The kid is tons of fun and the book tour was a wild experience.  I’m glad I’ve gotten to do so many things that I’d never dreamed of doing since I started writing.  And while I try to stay organized, I admit that lots of things fall through the cracks.  At the top of the list is sleepJ

DONNELL:  Dumb, dumb question:  Do you have any hobbies?

JOELLE:  Deep sea diving….kidding!  I love to cook, which is great bonding time with the small person in my life since he loves cooking, too.  I’m also a big fan of all sports (are the Olympics here, yet?) and reading.  The last is probably a given, but hey – I needed something else to make me sound well-rounded.

DONNELL:  You visit a lot of schools as a result of the book, The Testing.  I assume your fans ask you lots of questions.  What is a question you were asked that surprised you?

JOELLE:  School visits are the unexpected and possibly the best part of my job as a young adult author.  The question that surprised me the most was when a student asked how I stayed motivated through all the rejection and if I had advice for them on how to survive rejection as well.  I was so impressed that the student (whom I’m told by a teacher has incredibly high grades and great test scores) was already thinking ahead and accumulating tools to face any difficulties she might face in achieving the future she is dreaming of. 

DONNELL:  I heard a rumor you can carry a tune.  True/false?

JOELLE:   My masters degree claims this to be true!

DONNELL:  What’s in your refrigerator right now?

JOELLE:  You do realize that I’ve been out of town for 2 weeks right?  Milk and chocolate milk (just bought yesterday), some cheese and eggs.  Oh – there was a bottle of prosecco, but we opened that to celebrate INDEPENDENT STUDY’s appearance on the Times List.  I would have offered you a glass, but you live too far away.  The bubbles would have fizzled by the time you got it.

DONNELL:  It's the thought that counts.  Thanks.  Joelle, it’s your turn to ask the readers a questions.

JOELLE'S QUESTION FOR READERS:  Okay – here’s one I’m dying to ask – have you ever tried to figure out how many licks it really takes to get to the center of a Toosie Pop?  If so – how many?  I’ve never been patient enough to figure out the answer.

And I’m happy to give away a signed copy of either THE TESTING, INDEPENDENT STUDY or A CHORUS LINEUP.  Reader’s choice!


Facebook - www.facebook.com/AuthorJoelleCharbonneau

Twitter – @jcharbonneau

Joelle Charbonneau has performed in opera and musical theatre productions across Chicagoland.  She now teaches private voice lessons and is the author of two mystery series:  The Rebecca Robbins mysteries (Minotaur Books) and the Glee Club mysteries (Berkley).  Joelle’s also the author of New York Times Best Selling THE TESTING trilogy.   Learn more at www.joellecharbonneau.com, www.facebook.com/AuthorJoelleCharbonneau, or find her on twitter at @jcharbonneau. 

10/31/2012

Maureen McGowan's Release Week of Deviants!

   Get Lost in a Story Readers, I'm very pleased to share my 2007 and 2010 Golden Heart Sister's Release Date with her.  Maureen McGowan is a storyteller extraordinaire and Today, we're going to learn all about this new series!  But first.... Let them eat cake!  





ABOUT DEVIANTS: 

In a post-apocalyptic world, where the earth is buried by asteroid dust that’s mutated the DNA of some humans, orphaned, sixteen-year-old Glory must hide and protect her younger brother. If their Deviant abilities are discovered, they’ll be expunged—kicked out of the dome to be tortured and killed by the Shredders.

Glory would give anything to get rid of her unique ability to kill with her emotions, especially when Cal, the boy she’s always liked, becomes a spy for the authorities. But when her brother is discovered, and she learns their father, who was expunged for killing their mother, is still alive, she must escape the domed city that’s been her entire world.

Outside in the ruins, they’re pursued by the authorities and by sadistic, scab-covered Shredders who are addicted to the lethal-to-humans dust now covering the planet. Glory’s quests to transport herself and her brother to safety make up the thrilling and fascinating first volume of The Dust Chronicles.


A deliciously dark, harrowing world, brightened by dazzling characters and sparkling prose." -- #1 NYT bestselling author, Kelley Armstrong

"A tense thriller with a strong, beating heart at its center. Glory and her impossible choices will keep you glued to the page. I'm still trying to catch my breath!" Diana Peterfreund, author of For Darkness Shows the Stars

“Exciting... McGowan keeps the suspense throbbing...” Kirkus Reviews
"McGowan launches the Dust Chronicles with a bang, painting her post-apocalyptic world with a dark brush and featuring a strong-willed and determined protagonist. Readers will be immediately transported to this world where businessmen rule the job-based class system." -- RT Book Reviews, 4 stars


Donnell:  Congratulations, friend, Deviants is getting rave reviews.  And is that the most amazing cover?  The characterization comes through even in your blurb.  Shredders.  Are these zombie-like people?

Maureen:  Thanks, Donnell! The Shredders are like a cross between zombies and the reavers from the short-lived TV show Firefly. They have bulging eyes and skin that looks scab-covered—mostly because they like to coat their bodies with the blood of their victims. They are pretty terrifying, and they definitely add an element of horror to Deviants, but there’s more to them than meets the eye.
 
Donnell:  I see a pattern here.  Glory your main character is tempted to turn on her boyfriend who spies for the authorities.  Glory’s father killed her mother.  Am I reading something into this that isn’t there, or have you got some kind of major plotting going on in this series.

Maureen: Betrayal and its effect on the heroine’s ability to trust is a major theme in Deviants. There are also layers of deceptions in these stories—even more in the series’ second book Compliance, which releases May 21, 2013. Not everything is as it seems.

Donnell:  Love the concept of this post-apocalyptic series.  Tell us about the dome that protects the survivors of the asteroid that buried the human race.  And what’s on the outside that makes them want to stay put.

Maureen:  Deviants is set three generations after several asteroids hit the earth. The asteroids caused major destruction, and also triggered multiple earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. None of the asteroids struck near where the story is set, but huge clouds of dust moved through the world’s atmosphere and fell to cover everything. The dust is lethal to most humans and has changed the DNA of others. It gave some affected humans special abilities or powers, and turned others into sadistic Shredders.

The story begins inside a domed city called Haven. It was built, soon after the asteroids struck, by a consortium of corporations, to protect its inhabitants from the dust. The executives who led the charge to build Haven wanted to save themselves from the dust. They took what they wanted and tossed aside anything they didn’t need—including people.

Three generations later, buildings are in disrepair, there’s massive overcrowding, and a clear separation between the haves “Management” and the have-nots—everyone else.

Donnell:  Glory has the ability to kill with her emotions.  That’s an intriguing and scary power.  She’s 16 years old.  I can’t even imagine the struggle she must face.  Can you share a bit of where you got the idea of this series?  Then tell us what we can expect from The Dust Chronicles in future work!

 Maureen:  I’d originally been working on a developing a story idea for a sexy urban fantasy series with a strong female heroine who never showed her emotions. When I was brainstorming with my critique partners and told them why my heroine was so closed off emotionally, they immediately thought I should write about her backstory and write it as a YA, rather than the adult story I was planning. I can’t explain more without giving up major spoilers. J  But yes, it would be terrifying to know that your emotions can kill, especially at a time in your life when emotions run high! Imagine falling in love for the first time and not being able to look into the boy’s eyes for fear you’d hurt or kill him?

The next book in The Dust Chronicles is called Compliance and it will be out on May 21, 2013. I don’t want to say too much more, except that it will continue Glory’s story and she’ll be put in even more danger than she was in Deviants and face even bigger challenges.

Donnell:  Quite different from your kick-ass fairy tale young adults wouldn’t you say?  How fun/different was it to transition into young adult dystopian. 

Maureen: Deviants is similar to the Twisted Tales books in that they all have a lot of action, a lot of worldbuilding and strong heroines. But because the publisher for the Twisted Tales books wanted them to appeal to younger readers as well as a YA audience, I couldn’t make them as dark as I would have liked to. My editor kept giving me notes like—remember the nine-year-olds! (I had some great ideas for Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer that were too dark for younger teen readers.)

Deviants was written for more of a true YA audience—which these days doesn’t just mean teens. More than half of YA readers are actually adults.

It was great to let loose and tell the story I wanted to tell. Today’s YA reader is sophisticated and the books are anything but juvenile. I actually think there’s more freedom in YA for authors to tell bolder, more “out there” stories than in the adult market. Plus, it’s easier to blend genres.

Deviants has elements of sci-fi, thriller, horror and romance. I call it a post-apocalyptic thriller, with a dystopian setting, and dollops of horror and romance.


Donnell: Congratulations, Maureen!

Maureen: Thank you Donnell!




MAUREEN ASKS READERS

According to a recent study, 55% of all YA books were purchased by adults intending to read the books themselves. If you’re an adult, do you read YA? If not, why not?

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FIND MAUREEN ONLINE:


BUY DEVIANTS

Where can I buy DEVIANTS, you ask?

Why, right here or at your favorite bookseller:






10/30/2012

Maureen interviews Maureen

It’s finally here: the release day for DEVIANTS!

**cue the fireworks**

It’s hard to describe how much this day means to me. Yes, I do have two previous books out, but to risk delving into boring publishing business jargon, my first two books were done on a write-for-hire basis and had a rather difficult route to publication, so I wasn’t really that invested in them by the time they came out. Certainly nowhere near as invested as I am in DEVIANTS. In fact, I was completely wrapped up in DEVIANTS by the time the Twisted Tales books hit the shelves.

That’s a long way of saying that, to me, DEVIANTS is my debut.

I’ve enjoyed being part of this blog and reading our guests’ answers to our questionnaire—even seeing which questions each author chooses to answer—so today, I’ve decided that I want to take my own crack at our author interview. So, today my guest is... ME!

So..... Welcome, Maureen!

Thanks, Maureen.

ABOUT MAUREEN MCGOWAN

You can read my official bio on my page on this blog. But for the inside scoop, suffice it to say that I’ve been working a long time for this day. It’s no secret that publishing is a difficult business and that every writer’s journey toward publication is different, but my road, at times, has seemed excessively rocky. I had so many times when my fingers brushed the brass ring, only to have it snatched out of reach. I know I’m not unique in this, but it does add to the sweetness of today!






ABOUT DEVIANTS

In a post-apocalyptic world, where the earth is buried by asteroid dust that’s mutated the DNA of some humans, orphaned, sixteen-year-old Glory must hide and protect her younger brother. If their Deviant abilities are discovered, they’ll be expunged—kicked out of the dome to be tortured and killed by the Shredders. 

Glory would give anything to get rid of her unique ability to kill with her emotions, especially when Cal, the boy she’s always liked, becomes a spy for the authorities. But when her brother is discovered, and she learns their father, who was expunged for killing their mother, is still alive, she must escape the domed city that’s been her entire world. 

Outside in the ruins, they’re pursued by the authorities and by sadistic, scab-covered Shredders who are addicted to the lethal-to-humans dust now covering the planet. Glory’s quests to transport herself and her brother to safety make up the thrilling and fascinating first volume of The Dust Chronicles.

A deliciously dark, harrowing world, brightened by dazzling characters and sparkling prose." -- #1 NYT bestselling author, Kelley Armstrong

"A tense thriller with a strong, beating heart at its center. Glory and her impossible choices will keep you glued to the page. I'm still trying to catch my breath!" Diana Peterfreund, author of For Darkness Shows the Stars

“Exciting... McGowan keeps the suspense throbbing...” Kirkus Reviews 

"McGowan launches the Dust Chronicles with a bang, painting her post-apocalyptic world with a dark brush and featuring a strong-willed and determined protagonist. Readers will be immediately transported to this world where businessmen rule the job-based class system." -- RT Book Reviews, 4 stars

GET TO KNOW MAUREEN MCGOWAN

MAUREEN:  Where do you most like to read and how often?

MAUREEN:  Traditionally, I’ve most often read in bed. But since I bought my kindle, I actually now read a lot on subways and streetcars, also waiting in lines, and in movie theatres before the movie starts. Basically any second of down time. I’m too disorganized to pack my “bed” book with me every day, and if I don’t get a seat on the subway it’s hard to hold a book anyway, but it’s easy to always carry and hold my kindle and so now I usually have at least two books going: a bed book and a purse book.

MAUREEN:  What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?

MAUREEN:  These last couple of years, it’s been young adult fiction. When I was a teen, most YA fiction was decidedly juvenile. Either heavy-handed “message” books or genre fiction minus the elements that makes readers love genre fiction—thrillers with no violence or thrills, mysteries with no murders, romances with no sexual tension, horror with nothing gory or scary. Boring.

But today’s YA is not like that at all and most are decidedly un-juvenile. The books are fast-paced, tackle big subjects, and are highly entertaining for readers of all ages. I also love how YA novels blur genre lines.

MAUREEN:  Cats or dogs?

MAUREEN:  Dogs.

MAUREEN:  What hidden talents do you have?

MAUREEN:  I’m actually a good knitter. I love doing complicated patterns where the color changes with nearly every stitch. I haven’t knit as much since I started writing, though. Partly due to time availability, but it’s probably more because I’ve got an outlet for my creative side now that had been sorely lacking in my previous career.

MAUREEN:  What turns you off like nothing else?

MAUREEN:  Arrogance. I have zero patience for arrogance and this got me into trouble more than once in the corporate world which has more than it’s fair share of men (in particular) with this flaw.

MAUREEN:  Would you rather sky dive or scuba dive?

MAUREEN:  Ha! I’ve done both. (This a question I added to our questionnaire.)

I did a tandem sky dive and it was amazing. I like to joke that I jumped out of a plane at 13,500 feet without a parachute. And that’s true. Technically. But the burly dude who was strapped to my back had a parachute strapped to his back.

The cool thing about tandem dives is that you can experience a free-fall on your first jump—and with very little instruction
.
The hardest part was standing up and walking forward in the plane while strapped, very tightly, to the instructor. Once we jumped (fell), it took about a minute to go the first 10,000 feet, and then about ten minutes to go the final 3,000 or so, once the chute was open.

I did scuba in a slightly “cheater” way too. I did a “resort” dive when I was at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. For resort dives, you don’t need much training and you can’t go below 10 feet (or so) which was plenty deep enough for me! And plenty deep on the reef. I think we had three of us to an instructor and he constantly monitored our equipment so that we didn’t need to know that much about the gauges or how anything worked. I always thought I’d find scuba diving claustrophobic, but I loved it. Some day, I’d love to get certified and try it again.

MAUREEN:  What sound or noise do you love?

MAUREEN:  Toddlers giggling. When my niece was little we used to spend hours doing very silly things that made us both giggle. I wish I’d had a tape recorder running the entire time.

MAUREEN:  What’s your favorite kind of cheese?

MAUREEN:  I could eat goat cheese at every meal. On special occasions I love yummy cheeses from France or QuĆ©bec. The stinkier the better.

MAUREEN:  Vanilla or chocolate?

MAUREEN:  I’m in camp vanilla. Heresy, I know.

MAUREEN:  What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?

MAUREEN: Collapse. Sometimes cry. If she’s around, I go for a drink with my critique partner, the fabulously talented Molly O’Keefe.

MAUREEN:  What’s your favorite dessert?

MAUREEN: Lemon meringue pie.

MAUREEN:  Strawberry daiquiri or a beer?

MAUREEN: Beer. No question. If I want a cocktail, I’ll usually choose a dry gin martini, with a twist. Or a margarita or mojito in the summer--if--it’s a place that uses real lime juice.

MAUREEN:  Do you remember your grade one teacher’s name?

MAUREEN: Miss Chevalier.

MAUREEN:  Who was your first best friend? Are you still in touch?

MAUREEN: My family moved—a lot—when I was a little kid. I’m sure I had BFFs before this, but the first name that popped into my mind was Shelley Martin, who was my best friend from kindergarten through grade two. Sadly, we’re not in touch anymore. Shelley, if you see this, e-mail me.

MAUREEN:  Did you belong to a clique in high school? Which one of the standard high school stereotypes did you best fit in to?

MAUREEN: I feel like I kind of defied the stereotypes. I’d be interested in asking some people I went to high school with this question to see how I was perceived. 

I was a “brain”, but I was also an athlete and was also in the musicals and the “folk club” and several nerdy and/or artsy things like that.
Believe it or not, I played Oliver in my high school musical when I was in grade 12. Yes, a seventeen-year-old girl playing a nine-year-old boy... Elastic bandages were involved.

MAUREEN:  Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

MAUREEN: I do read them... Although I try not to. The ones on Goodreads and Amazon can be harsh! But one good thing about having two books already out there, and taking part in the Amazon Breakout Novel competition a few years before that, is that I became used to seeing reviews and accepting that no book is ever going to please every reader. But for DEVIANTS it’s going to be harder. I’m really proud of this book and it’ll be hard to hear when people don’t like it.

MAUREEN:  Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?

MAUREEN: Coffee. Black. And keep it coming.

MAUREEN ASKS READERS

According to a recent study, 55% of all YA books were purchased by adults intending to read the books themselves. If you’re an adult, do you read YA? If not, why not?

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FIND MAUREEN ONLINE:


 BUY DEVIANTS

Where can I buy DEVIANTS, you ask? 
 
Why, right here or at your favorite bookseller:
IndieBound      B&N     Chapters Indigo

10/29/2012

DEVIANTS Halloween Costumes

In honor of Halloween, I thought I’d give you some Deviants-inspired costume ideas for parties or trick-or-treating. Just in case you're a last minute person--like me.

Background and context:  Deviants is set in a post-apocalyptic world, where much of the earth has been destroyed by asteroids and is covered by a strange coarse dust that’s lethal to most humans and has changed the DNA of others—giving some “Deviant” abilities, and turning others into sadistic monsters called Shredders.

My heroine, Glory, and her friends live in a domed city called Haven, which protects them from the dust and Shredders, and is run as a tightly controlled corporation. Generations have passed since the asteroids struck and life inside Haven is bleak. No one even remembers holidays like Halloween existed, and even if they did, there certainly wouldn’t be any candy to hand out. More likely they'd be handing out scraps of rat meat. But even rat meat is rationed.

Glory Costume Ideas

Glory is the sixteen-year-old heroine of Deviants. She always wears practical, simple clothes that let her climb ropes, navigate narrow ledges, and jump between run-down buildings inside Haven—not to mention run from the Compliance Officers (Comps) who would kill her if they learned she has Deviant abilities. Glory’s dark hair is usually tied up in a ponytail. As an added bonus, carrying a few dead rats and a wind-up flashlight would add to your Glory costume.

But the key if you were to dress up as Glory would be the eyes. Glory can kill with her eyes, so I’m thinking freaky contact lenses would get the point across. Check out the artist’s interpretation on my cover.

On the cover, she looks a lot like Oliva Wilde, but in my imagination, Glory’s got more of a Hispanic vibe.

Burn Costume Ideas

Burn is one of Glory’s romantic interests in Deviants. He’s tall and broad and hunky, with dark chin-length hair. Think of a cross between younger versions of Joe Manganiello and Taylor Kitsch. Burn is dangerous and mysterious and almost always wears a long heavy coat that’s big—even on his large frame—and perfect for hiding a plethora of handmade weapons.



And if you can go out for Halloween as Burn without a costume--call me.

Shredder Costume Ideas

Dressing up as a Shredder would be an awesome costume choice. Shredders are scab covered, with bulging eyes and often have places where their bones protrude from beneath torn off skin. (So pretty!) Their patchy hair is most often matted and might have human bones or teeth woven in. For a visual, think of a cross between a zombie and the reavers from the short-lived TV show Firefly.



Comp Costume Ideas

The Compliance Officers are the defacto police force and army inside and outside Haven. They wear heavy armor not unlike a storm trooper, and if they are assigned outside the dome, they’d definitely be sporting a serious gas mask. Another inspiration for your Comp costume might be the poster for the recent movie Dredd 3D.





Mr. Belando Costume Ideas

Mr. Belando is the Vice President of Compliance. If you want to go out for Halloween as Mr. Belando, I’d suggest a sharp looking man’s suit, preferably with some sheen, and a silver tie. Your hair should be well groomed and slicked down, so not a hair can move out of place. The more plastic and perfect you can look, the better. Maybe go for something like a wax statue of Alec Baldwin, circa 1990.

Photo from Esquire.com
I hope that gives you some great costume ideas! Happy Halloween!

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In case you've been trying to figure out how to cyber-stalk me, here are some ideas:

Website: www.maureenmcgowan.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/MaureenMcGowanBooks
Twitter: @MaureenMcGowan


QUESTION FOR COMMENTS:

Are you dressing up for Halloween this year? As what? If not, when is the last time you dressed up for Halloween?

Me? I don't think I'm dressing up this year, but if I were, I'd be covering myself in grey paint chips and going as fifty shades of grey. I have to give credit to the fabulous Eileen Cook for this idea!


 

10/27/2012

DEVIANTS LAUNCH PARTY BEGINS

The release date for DEVIANTS is almost here, so it's time to party!!

Over the next four days I'll be posting fresh content daily. There will be prizes, so come back often to increase your chances of winning! (And to help me celebrate, of course.)

Speaking of celebrating, help yourself to a cupcake!



ABOUT DEVIANTS

In a nutshell... DEVIANTS is a post-apocalyptic supernatural thriller, set in a dystopian future, with dollops of horror and romance.

Scab-covered monsters! Hot hunky guys! Special powers! Kissing!

(I love how you can blend genres in YA!)

Here's the official blurb:

In a post-apocalyptic world, where the earth is buried by asteroid dust that’s mutated the DNA of some humans, orphaned, sixteen-year-old Glory must hide and protect her younger brother. If their Deviant abilities are discovered, they’ll be expunged—kicked out of the dome to be tortured and killed by the Shredders. Glory would give anything to get rid of her unique ability to kill with her emotions, especially when Cal, the boy she’s always liked, becomes a spy for the authorities. But when her brother is discovered, and she learns their father, who was expunged for killing their mother, is still alive, she must escape the domed city that’s been her entire world.

Outside in the ruins, they’re pursued by the authorities and by sadistic, scab-covered Shredders who are addicted to the lethal-to-humans dust now covering the planet. Glory’s quests to transport herself and her brother to safety make up the thrilling and fascinating first volume of The Dust Chronicles.

"A deliciously dark, harrowing world, brightened by dazzling characters and sparkling prose." --Kelley Armstrong

"A tense thriller with a strong, beating heart at its center. Glory and her impossible choices will keep you glued to the page. I'm still trying to catch my breath!" --Diana Peterfreund

"McGowan launches The Dust Chronicles with a bang, painting her post-apocalyptic world with a dark brush and featuring a strong-willed and determined protagonist. Readers will be immediately transported to this world where businessmen rule the job-based class system." --RT Book Reviews

"Exciting... McGowan keeps the suspense throbbing..." -- Kirkus Reviews

Read the first chapter!

Deviants by Maureen McGowan - Chapter One


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QUESTION FOR COMMENTS

In my post-apocalyptic world, characters who are "Deviant" have genetic anomalies, some of which give them special powers. For example, Glory, the heroine of Deviants, can kill with her eyes, and the skin on her brother's torso and arms turns armor-hard when he's in danger. 
If you had a Deviance, what would you want yours to be? 

BUY DEVIANTS 

Where can I buy DEVIANTS, you ask? 
Why, right here at your favorite bookseller:

IndieBound      B&N     Chapters Indigo

 


6/25/2012

Post Apocalyptic Jane Austen

Welcome Diana Peterfreund!

I've known Diana almost since I first started writing and couldn't be more excited about her latest release, For Darkness Shows the Stars!

ABOUT DIANA PETERFREUND
 
Diana Peterfreund is the author of eight books for adults and teens, including the four book Secret Society Girl series, and the “killer unicorn” novels Rampant and Ascendant. Her critically acclaimed short stories have appeared on the Locus Best of 2010 list and in The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year, vol. 5. Diana lives in Washington, D.C. with her family. http://dianapeterfreund.com

You can keep in touch with Diana here:
 
http://dianapeterfreund.com
http://twitter.com/dpeterfreund


ABOUT THE BOOK
 
Generations ago,  a genetic experiment gone wrong—the Reduction—decimated humanity, giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.


Balzer + Bray
ISBN: 978-0062006141
Eighteen-year-old Luddite Elliot North has always known her place in this caste system. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. But now the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress and threatening Luddite control; Elliot’s estate is floundering; and she’s forced to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth—an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliott wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she abandoned him.

But Elliot soon discovers her childhood friend carries a secret—one that could change the society in which they live…or bring it to its knees. And again, she’s faced with a choice: cling to what she’s been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she’s ever loved, even if she has lost him forever.

Inspired by Jane Austen’s PERSUASION, FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

Buy the book at your favorite bookseller:
·  Amazon

Read an excerpt here:  Excerpt

A FREE!! prequel is available here:  "Among the Nameless Stars"
 
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
 
“Will be a hit with fans of sci-fi romances… Readers will keep turning the pages right up to the end.”
-School Library Journal (starred review)

“Dystopian, ideological, rebellious-Peterfreund’s fantasy homage to Austen’s Persuasion departs from the original in many respects, and with great success …. a richly envisioned portrait of a society in flux, a steely yet vulnerable heroine, and a young man who does some growing up.”
- Publishers Weekly

“Succeeds in recasting Austen’s characters to bring her themes to a futurist society and provide wry comment on life in the twenty-first century …. will appeal to science fiction and romance fans alike."
- Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

"Don't you love it when a brilliant idea meets with brilliant execution? This book is meltingly good."
- Laini Taylor, National Book Award finalist and author of The Daughter of Smoke and Bone

"A beautiful, epic love story you won't be able to put down!"
-Simone Elkeles, NYT and USA Today bestselling author of Perfect Chemistry

"A smart and sexy tale of star-crossed love that's as thought-provoking as it is heartbreaking."
- Robin Wasserman, author of the Cold Awakening trilogy and The Book of Blood and Shadow

"An impassioned ode to Jane Austen, love, and the hope found in stars."
- Beth Revis, New York Times bestselling author of Across the Universe

GET TO KNOW DIANA PETERFREUND

MAUREEN: What’s your favorite holiday? 
DIANA:  Halloween. I love playing dress-up, though most people don’t know that about me. After eight books. I’ve finally been able to incorporate costuming into my newest WIP, but aside from being frockalicious, that project is otherwise a big fat secret yet. 

MAUREEN: What’s next for you as an author? 
DIANA:  After FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS, I have two short stories out in anthologies this fall. “Burn Bright” will appear in the anthology FORETOLD, edited by Carrie Ryan (Random House). “Stray Magic” will open the anthology UNDER MY HAT: TALES FROM THE CAULDRON, edited by Jonathan Strahan (Random House). 

MAUREEN: Do shapeshifters exist? 
DIANA:  Um, have you seen the mimic octopus? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8oQBYw6xxc) That stuff is crazy and completely real. 

MAUREEN: I've seen that video. It's crazy the things that nature does! What’s the best vacation you’ve ever been on? 
DIANA:  I don’t know if this is really a “vacation,” but in 2003, my boyfriend (now my husband) and I quit our jobs and went to Australia and New Zealand, armed only with some backpacks, a tent, and our hitchhiking thumbs. The things I saw in New Zealand inspired me to set FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS on those beautiful, remote islands. 

MAUREEN: Cats or dogs? 
DIANA:  Dogs. I’m a huge dog lover and used to foster rescue dogs, which inspired the story “Stray Magic”. 

MAUREEN: Hiking boots or high heels? 
DIANA:  Hiking boots! I actually own magical hiking boots. I inherited them from my great aunt, who got them from a hermit in the Alaska bush. True story. 

MAUREEN: I need some magic boots! What’s your favorite cartoon character? 
DIANA:  Toph (Awesomely snarky blind earthbender from Avatar: The Last Airbender). I love Toph so much we used to call my daughter that before she was born (she liked to stomp around inside me). 

MAUREEN: What hidden talents do you have? 
DIANA:  My elbows are double-jointed. According to my husband, it’s not a talent you actually want to witness. 

MAUREEN: What sound or noise do you love? 
DIANA:  These days, it’s the sound of my toddler singing. She’s pretty good for 20 months. 

MAUREEN: What’s the most romantic thing anyone ever did for you? 
DIANA:  My husband’s first big present to me was registration at my first ever RWA conference. He believes in me so hard. 

MAUREEN: That is romantic! What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book? DIANA:  Drink – usually something sparkly. And sleep. I love sleep, and I never get to do enough of it on deadline. 

MAUREEN: What was your favorite subject in school and why? 
DIANA:  In college my two favorite classes were called “Wilderness and the North American Imagination” and “Women and The Rise of the Novel” – which pretty much says everything you ever need to know about me. 

MAUREEN: Who was your first best friend? Are you still in touch? 
DIANA:  My best friend Elizabeth and I met when we were six. After being long distance BFFs for most of our lives, we lived a few blocks from each other in DC for the last six years, but she recently moved to Colorado, which – don’t get me started. I may cry. 

MAUREEN: Aw, sorry. :( What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing? 
DIANA:  All of my dreams. I have a book on shelves that people read. I’ve got a circle of beloved friends who are writers just like me. I’ve met some of my favorite writers and talked to readers who have laughed and cried and loved my books. I have been paid to make up stories. I go to work in my pajamas. The fun thing about dreams though, is we always get to make more. 

MAUREEN: So true! Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? 
DIANA:  Tea: medium strength and otherwise plain. 

GOTTA ASK -- GOTTA ANSWER

MAUREEN: What was your favorite book when you were twelve? Why? 
DIANA:  My favorite books have changed remarkably little since I was twelve, to tell the truth. I still absolutely adore the Narnia series by C.S. Lewis (especially The Voyage of the Dawn Treader) and the “Anne” series by L.M. Montgomery (particularly Anne of the Island). 
 
DIANA ASKS READERS

“Are you a Jane Austen fan? Which of her books are your favorite – or which of the movies do you like best and why?”

BOOK GIVEAWAY

Diana will give away a signed copy of FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS to one lucky commenter!

 Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only unless specifically mentioned in the post. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address. 


Make sure you come back tomorrow when I'm hosting Molly O'Keefe whose new contemporary romance is creating a lot of great buzz. (Insider information. It's awesome.)