H.A.L.F. The Deep Beneath Blog Tour: Interview with Natalie Wright PLUS Giveaway

Happy Tuesday! Today, we are joined by Natalie Write, author of H.A.L.F. Let's get to know all about Natalie and her book, and be sure to enter the rafflecopter at the end of the post for your chance at winning a cool prize.

Hi, Natalie! Welcome to We Do Write. Tell us a bit about yourself.  

My day-to-day life in the “real” world is like vanilla ice cream. It’s delicious and easily palatable but not exactly exciting!

I’ve been happily married to the same man for twenty-seven years, we have a tween daughter (seventh grade), and two cats. I live in the suburbs, take my daughter to school, help her with homework, cook dinner and do laundry. I run errands on the weekend and go to the movies for entertainment. It’s completely ordinary.

But that only describes my “outer” life in the “real” world. In fact, I spend most of my days living in a world where a teenage girl with magical abilities can kick the ass of a black hole (Emily’s House); where an alien-human hybrid walks the Arizona desert; and where the shadow government is very real. I spend most of my waking hours creating worlds that I hope seem so real to readers that they begin to question if I know something they don’t!

Tell our readers a bit about H.A.L.F.

H.A.L.F.: The Deep Beneath is a young adult/adult science fiction story. H.A.L.F. 9 is seventeen and he’s lived his whole life in a secret, underground lab but he has just escaped into the Arizona desert. Coincidentally, Erika Holt and two of her friends are in the desert that night as well. When they cross paths, they all begin a journey that will change their lives forever.

The H.A.L.F. series will appeal to people who enjoy shows like The X-Files, Roswell, Ancient Aliens or anything with an alien theme. Government conspiracies and black ops. Alien-human hybrids and genetic engineering. It’s at times eerie, other times humorous, always adventurous.

How did the idea of the story come to you?

I first conceived of the idea back in 2010. I was driving around my hometown (Tucson, AZ), running errands. It was summer. A very hot day (like in the 100’s hot!). I was driving home and this song, “Cowboys & Aliens” by Gram Rabbit came on. I had a view down across the desert valley, out to the mountains to the south near Mexico. And the big picture storyline came to my mind. I got home and wrote pages and pages of an outline of the story that would become, five years later (!!), H.A.L.F.: The Deep Beneath.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Both. I use the “Snowflake” method to help me plan the plot and use various tools to develop characters before I begin the first draft. This process of planning/researching/interviewing characters, etc. may take a month or more. I try to think out the major scenes of the book and write them down on scene cards. The book I’m working on right now, The Makers (Book 2 of H.A.L.F.), is told in multiple POVs so the cards help me see what’s going on in each storyline and where they’ll all coalesce into one through line.

The pantsing comes in while actually writing. I’ve done all this planning and thinking, but when it comes down to it and I’m in the zone, anything can happen! I go with it. The end result is always so much better than I’d originally planned.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Starting. I’m now writing my fifth novel and it is every bit as hard to begin as each one prior. Maybe even more difficult because I now have higher expectations for myself.

The blank screen never gets less intimidating. Each time I write a first draft, I have to summon my courage and talk myself out of giving up.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

A cat. :-) And coffee. Lots of coffee. Oh, and music. I absolutely have to have my headphones on and I listen to ambient, electronic, meditation or brainwave stuff.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

To be able to fly. I would love to be able to defy gravity. I envy birds that ability.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Oh, I’ve googled lots of weird things! Probably the strangest one so far was when I researched what drug someone might use to put a pregnant woman to sleep during childbirth. This was necessary for the Prologue to H.A.L.F.: The Deep Beneath. And since doctors don’t do that anymore, I had to dig a bit to find something that would work.

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ... 

reading about alien conspiracy theories. ;-)

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

Thank you for the opportunity to give thanks. I’m very grateful to the ladies at Red Adept editing for their content editing services. Great work at a reasonable price. I love them! And thank you to Pauline Nolet for eagle-eyed line editing; to Jason Anderson for perfection in digital formatting; and to Dane at eBook Launch for great cover work on H.A.L.F.

But I’d never have a manuscript to edit without the love and support of my husband, daughter and my oldest sister. The three of them provide such encouragement and at times tough love (if that’s what’s necessary to get me back into keyboard monkey mode). And thank you to my writer pal Bridget Magee. She is a great cheerleader and the one in my life that totally gets the issues I deal with in my life as a writer and mom. And I’m very grateful for my Writer’s Table group. We get together every Tuesday and write for two hours. That’s it. Just writing. But the synergy of the creative energy of these women always ends up being the most productive two hours of my week. And they are gracious, lovely women.

Thanks so much for chatting with us, Natalie. And thanks for stopping by the blog!

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Book Blitz: Silverwood by Betsy Streeter

Today we are happy to take part in the Silverwood Book Blitz. Silverwood is a YA Science Fiction novel by Betsy Streeter. Check it out!

Silverwood by Betsy Streeter
(Silverwood #1)
Publication date: March 15th 2015
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

A story of finding where you belong, even if it involves time travel, shape shifting, and hacking.

Helen Silverwood, fourteen, is sick of life on the run with her mom and her younger brother. Nothing makes sense. She doesn’t understand why she has recurring dreams of shape-shifting creatures, why her mother is always disappearing, and how her brother can draw things that haven’t happened yet. Most of all, Helen longs to know what happened to her dad—is he imprisoned, a fugitive, or gone forever?

When someone blows up the apartment where Helen lives, the stories of the ancient Silverwood clan—and her role in it—begin to unravel. All Helen wants is to feel like there’s someplace she belongs—but getting there will prove very, very complicated.

Book trailer: https://youtu.be/p2fWEyjCAok

           

EXCERPT

(This is the opening of the book)

Helen Silverwood, fourteen, sits dangling her legs from the roof of a twenty-story brick apartment building. Her boot heels bounce off the wall in rhythm as she swings her feet.

The noise of the city echoes from below. Helen’s straight black hair flies across her face in the wind. She peels it off and pulls it back behind her ear with one hand.

With her other hand, Helen carves a symbol into the brick with a folding knife. It’s a circle, with a square in the middle, and a spiral that goes from one corner of the square out to the edge of the circle.  Once it’s done, Helen admires her work.

She folds the knife’s blade into its handle. The knife was a gift from Helen’s father, Gabriel. It’s really much than a knife; the handle sports a variety of buttons and a tiny screen. One of the buttons, when pressed, lights up red and blinks on and off. This is the button that Helen uses to record her journal.

Helen recorded her latest journal entry a few minutes ago on this roof:

RECORDING

Hi Dad, It’s Helen.

Sorry it’s been a while, we were moving. Again. And I didn’t have a roof to get some privacy so we could talk.

Currently, I'm sitting on top of our lovely apartment building in this, our latest greatest home. It's grimy and wet up here, and you have to avoid the puddles. I'm going to do the customary carving of my little symbol up here somewhere, like I do everyplace we stay. I like the way it says: Helen was here. Helen was somewhere. Since I’m sure I’ll be gone again soon. I’m not from anywhere.

When I woke up this morning, I thought the bio reader in the handle of my knife was lit up and I almost fell out of bed. You know, the reader that’s supposed to go on when you come near. Well, the light from the window hit it, I think, and for a split second it looked lit up. But it wasn’t. It’s never lit up. 

Mom has been gone every night this week, every night since we moved here. She seems really edgy. The kid brother Henry says so too. 

I wish I knew what mom was doing at night. All she ever says is, she has to go to work. And that her job is to keep us safe, and that’s why she does what she does. When she comes home in the morning she looks pretty rough, like she’s been fighting. I’m sure you know all about it, but since this is strictly a one-way conversation, I don’t suppose you’re going to tell me much. Mom is going to have to tell us herself. That is, if we don’t figure it out first.

I have my theories. Theory one: She’s a bodyguard for some mob boss or musician and they tour around and we have to follow. Theory two, which is better: She’s a repo-woman. You know, a person who goes out and takes people’s cars back when they haven’t paid for them and if they fight she kicks their butts and takes the car anyway. Whatever she does, it involves combat skills I’m pretty sure.

Henry has theories too, but his approach is to interrogate mom which doesn’t get very far. He’s only nine, so you have to excuse him, but he’s as smart as any grownup. I think that bothers the grownups.

I’ve got to talk to mom about Henry. He’s having a really hard time. I mean he’s always had a tough time with all this moving around, and he cries every time we pack up and leave. It makes my stomach hurt when I hear him cry.

At his last school Henry got in a lot of fights. And now he’s really quiet. I don’t know, something gives me the feeling he might try and run away. I’m worried about him. And he’s making more drawings of stuff that looks… bad. That’s all I can think of to say.

I say to Henry, someday we’re going to stop moving around, and we’ll have a real home, and dad will come live with us. And we’ll have friends. And a real bed, not just some stuff on the floor. Someday, we will be from somewhere.

I don’t want to be too dreary, so I’ll end on a positive note. Mom always tells me, say something positive. She says she got that from you.

So here it is: At least when we move, I get a break from the dream I always have about the big ugly Tromindox creatures. You know, the ones with the black scales and the tentacles. They look like if I could smell in my dreams, they would smell really bad.

The Tromindox dreams don’t show up for a few days after we move to a new place. Not that it’s all that bad. The dream is the same every time – this slimy thing shows up, and I turn it into a person, and they say thank you about a thousand times and then they leave. That’s it. It’s not a terrible dream, it just happens over and over. I get tired of it, even though the people are different. It’s nice to have a break when we move.

That’s my positive thought for today. No dreams. Maybe instead I can dream about flying for once. Until the Tromindox catch up with me again.

That’s it from the roof, and Dad if you ever get this, I hope I see you soon. We miss you.”

END RECORDING

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Betsy Streeter grew up on a steady diet of Star Trek, The Muppet Show, Atari, and musical rehearsals in her family's living room. Her habits of making up stories and drawing and painting on everything within reach eventually led to degrees in art and communication from Stanford University. She has worked in film and video production, design, and video games, and has served as president of a community theatre. She and her family are voracious consumers of books, music, movies, art, action figures, and musical instruments, resulting in inadequate storage space. Betsy has published single-panel cartoons, comics, art, and short fiction in paper, digital, graffiti, and tattoo form. She lives in Northern California with her husband, son, daughter, two peculiar and disruptive cats, and a mellow but hungry tarantula.

                 

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Book Blitz: The Ark by Laura Liddell Nolen

Welcome to the book blitz for The Ark, a YA science fiction novel by Laura Liddell Nolen. This one sounds really good, guys. Check it out!

The Ark by Laura Liddell Nolen
Published by: HarperVoyager
Publication date: March 26th 2015
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

There’s a meteor headed for Earth, and there is only one way to survive.With her criminal record, sixteen-year-old Char is never going to get a place on an Ark, one of the five massive bioships designed to protect Earth’s survivors. The Arks are reserved for the real goody-goodies, like Char’s mom, dad, and brother, all of whom have long since turned their backs on her.

With Earth on the brink of destruction, Char must use all her tricks of the trade to swindle her way into outer space, where she hopes to reunite with her family, regardless of whether they want to see her or not.

Once she arrives on the North American Ark, Char discovers that the remnants of humanity haven’t achieved the egalitarian utopia they’d planned for. For starters, the “Officers of the Peace” are anything but peaceful, especially since stealing a spot on an Ark is a crime punishable by death…

           

EXCERPT

On the last day of Earth, I couldn’t find my hairbrush. That probably seems like a silly thing to worry about, what with the imminent destruction of, well, everything, but my mom was always after me about my usual ratty ponytail. Normally, I’d ignore her. Or, if I were having a really bad day, I’d tell her what she could do with her hairbrush. But like I said, it was the last day of Earth. And I figured, since it was the last time she’d ever see me, I wanted it to go smoothly. I wanted her to remember me, if not fondly, then at least without anger.

A girl can dream.

I slipped out of my cell as soon as the door swung open. I’d done the same every day for the past month, and my family had yet to show up. Their OPT—Off-Planet Transport—took off in eighteen hours, so they still had time. Barely. I couldn’t blame them if they didn’t come. It wasn’t hard to imagine that they’d rather escape to the stars without so much as a backward glance at me, their big disappointment. Even my father’s influence couldn’t persuade the government to give me a spot on an OPT.

Turns out, when humankind is deciding which of its children to save, the last place it looks is in prison.

But I was pretty sure they’d come. West had said as much in his last transmission. The thought of my younger brother actually halted me mid-step, like one of those punches in the gut where you can’t breathe for a few seconds.

“Looking for something?” The lazy drawl floated out of the nearest cell.

Against my better instincts, I turned to see Cassa lying on her bunk, her arm draped across Kip. My Kip. Or at least, my ex-Kip. Whatever. In twenty-two hours, I wouldn’t have to think about him anymore.

See? Silver lining. And they called me a perpetual pessimist at my last psych workup.

They barely fit next to each other on the flimsy mattress, but that wasn’t the weird part. The guys’ ward was separated by a substantial metal wall. We were kept apart during evening hours, for obvious reasons. Not that anyone cared anymore. The med staff had been the first to go, followed by the cleaning crew, followed by the kitchen crew. To show you where girls like me fell on the government’s list of priorities, there was still a skeleton crew of guards lurking around, despite the fact that I hadn’t had a real meal for going on a week. The guards would be gone soon, too, and then there’d be no one in here but us chickens.

I figured either Kip had a key, or the guards had left already. A key could be useful. My curiosity got the best of me. “How’d he get in here before the first bell?”

He cocked an eyebrow. “I got some tricks you ain’t seen, babe. Why don’t you join us? End of the world and all.”

The guards were gone, then. I felt a small trill of anxiety deep in my chest. If the guards were gone, my family was even less likely to show. But it was never smart to show fear. “The Pinball could be headed straight for this building, and I still wouldn’t be desperate enough to touch you. Oh, wait. Guess you don’t have to take my word for it.”

I turned to leave, but he continued. “Now is that any way to treat your dear ole partners? Be nice or I won’t give you back your stuff.”

“Ugh, you were in my room?” I flexed my shoulder blades, making sure my gun was still tightly secured between them.

“Don’t worry, Char. I didn’t handle the merchandise. Didn’t want to wake you up. Just lifted me a few keepsakes.” He pronounced my name the way I like: Char, as in charred. Something that got burned.

I wasn’t sure what Kip and Cassa were planning, but I knew I wouldn’t like it. They were thieves and liars. I would know. I used to be one of them. That was before the last job, when Cassa had attacked an elderly man in the home we were robbing. She’d kicked him until he stopped fighting back. Kip had called her off after a few licks, but I just stood there, staring. The old man looked at me, like right at me, while we made our getaway, and my stomach twisted into a knot so tight that I tasted bile. That was the moment I knew I wanted out.

But by then, no one believed me. Or, if they did, no one cared. Except for Kip and Cassa, of course. They’d taken the news pretty hard, to put it lightly.

If I lunged for the box, I could probably grab my hairbrush and get out of there. I wouldn’t have time for more than that. Then again, I’d be doing exactly what they expected, and I didn’t have time for delays. My family could be in the commissary any second now.

“Ahem. Seeing as it’s your last day of life, I might let you have one thing back,” said Kip.

“In exchange for what?”

“I’m hurt. All our time together, and you still don’t believe in my inherent generosity. But now that you mention it, I’ve got a hankering for some peanut butter crackers.”

“Sorry, Kip. I’m fresh out of food. Kinda like everyone else.”

“Nice try, Charrr.” He drew my name out, as though tasting it. “I saw them yesterday. Figured you were hiding them under your pillow when I couldn’t find them last night.”

“You figured wrong.”

All I could think about was my brother’s face. And how I had this one last chance to apologize to my parents, for everything. I shrugged and turned to leave.

That was probably a mistake.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Laura grew up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where she spent an excellent childhood playing make-believe with her two younger brothers. The Ark is the direct result of those stories and a lifelong devotion to space-themed television. It received a Work in Progress Grant from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Laura has a degree in French and a license to practice law, but both are frozen in carbonite at present. She lives in Texas with her family.

                 

Book Blitz: Awakening by Shannon Duffy

Today we're joining the AWAKENING book blitz! Take a look at Shannon's new book and find out what she thinks about young adults reading sci fi and dystopian books.

Awakening

by Shannon Duffy 

Release Date: 04/07/15

Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

A thrilling, futuristic sci-fi novel set in a unique and thought-provoking world, from author Shannon Duffy.

Desiree Six (because she was born on a Friday) believes in everything the Protectorate stands for. She likes the safety and security of having her entire life planned out—her career, her mate, even the date of her death. She doesn't even think to question when Darien, her childhood friend and neighbor, is convicted of murdering his parents. They had seemed like such a loving family. But if he was convicted, then he must have done it.

Then Darien shows up in her room late one night. He has escaped from the Terrorscape—a nightmare machine used to punish all Noncompliants—and needs Desiree's help. What he tells her rocks her world to its core and makes her doubt everything she's ever been told. With this new information, will Desiree and Darien be able to escape the Protectorate before it's too late?

Why young adults need sci fi and dystopian type books?

Well in my opinion, it’s not just young adults who need these kinds of books, but all people, no matter the age. ☺ Personally, I love sci-fi, fantasy, dystopian, and paranormal books the absolute most. Basically anything in books that can take me outside the realm of the real or current world and way of doing things, I’m probably going to like. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some contemporary too. It’s just that I think it’s such a mental holiday to escape to another world or spice things up with some magic or crazy futuristic technology, or a government that seems to have everything in perfect order, but doesn’t. It just feels so creative and a fun way to explore the impossible or unimaginable. I like to be taken to the future or even the past, or to an alternate existence and way of living. To me, it’s so creative and captivating to imagine all of the what ifs and hows? When an author can make this kind of thing feel authentic, it allows the reader to really immerse themselves into this world or way of life and follow the characters as they struggle to survive or wade through their strange dilemma they’ve found themselves in. Take me on a journey to the unusual, and I’m sold.

I hope I managed to do that with Awakening and that readers enjoy the futuristic world I’ve created. No matter how old I get, I know I’ll always love books that take me away and allow me to experience something unique.

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books

About the Author

Author of MG and YA books full of adventure. I grew up on the east coast of Canada in the province of Newfoundland and now live in Ontario. I love writing, reading, fashion, fitness, and traveling.

Author Links:

   

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Excerpt: Trust by Tim Mettey

Today we have an excerpt of TRUST, the second book in The Hero Chronicles series by Tim Mettey. Check it out!

 

Nicholas Keller has come to terms with his Thusian heritage and has finally achieved some normalcy in his life. But when new neighbors move in next door at the beginning of his junior year, everything changes. He is launched into an impossible search, uncertain of who to trust, and this time it’s not just his own life that hangs in the balance—it’s the lives of countless others and everyone he loves.

            

EXCERPT

It had been nearly three months since I was told that I was part of an ancient group called the Thusians, the secret guardians of mankind destined to sacrifice our lives at any given time. I would have thought that after finding this out everything would have become really complicated for me, but it hadn’t. It was nice and quiet.

Everything I went through to get to this point was worth it, because now I had Elle. I still couldn’t believe how such a wonderful, amazing girl ended up with me. We were inseparable during the summer. Unfortunately now I was keeping more secrets from her. It was for her protection, but I still hated it.

Elle and I were lying in my front yard under the shade of the towering oak trees, enjoying each other’s company like we had done most of the summer.

“Nicholas, what’s wrong?” Elle asked for the hundredth time.

“Sorry, I’m just preoccupied today.”

“It’s okay. I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t me.”

How could it be her? She was nothing but wonderful, my reason for living.

“Elle, it’s not you. You know that. I’m just thinking about the last interview I did. It wasn’t very good.”

Last year when I confronted the mob of reporters at the school’s entrance, I told them if they would leave me alone I would do interviews. To my dismay, Cora, my aunt and guardian, made sure I did every interview they requested. It had now become the thing I dreaded most. I had to relive the worst day of my life, the 10-10 Earthquake, like it was some recurring nightmare from which I couldn’t wake up.

“Sorry, Nicholas, I know how much you hate doing interviews, but at least that was your last one until next summer.”

In addition to me only doing interviews in the summer, Cora had told the media that I would only answer questions over the phone. She also required that they never say where I live or where I go to school, even though they were camped outside of my school last year telling the world all of that information. Cora thought, better safe than sorry.

Cora had even talked to Ester Theasing, the head of the Thusian Council and a friend of ours, about doing the interviews to make sure it was safe for me because of Xavier and the Seekers who were trying to eliminate me and any other Thusians. Ester didn’t have a problem with it.

Chase Letterby started visiting us more midway through the summer. After the attack last year he left as soon as his doctor talents were no longer needed. No one had heard from him for a while. Even his regular TV appearances had stopped. But as more time passed during the summer, he started to frequent our house again. Cora didn’t seem to mind his company, despite his countless attempts to get her to go out with him. He was fixed on the one woman he couldn’t have, Cora.

Elle and I continued to lie beneath the trees. She went back to reading her book while rubbing my head. Her hand moved slowly through my hair, making me forget all of my worries. With every pass, a wave of relief went through me. I had positioned myself on her lap facing our driveway, so I could watch my new obsession. A large house was being built next door. It was hard to believe that the lot had been completely wooded just a month ago, and now the house looked close to being completed. Cora was not happy about the new house and the new neighbors that came with it. She still wanted our privacy, and the trees surrounding us had given us ample protection, but now they were gone. She even tried to buy the lot, but it had been sold exactly a week after we moved in last year.

The workers swarmed over the site like ants working hard on their hill. It was amazing to see such a large home being built so quickly. For some strange reason it was fascinating to me. I had no interest in design or architecture, but it still captivated my attention.

Cora and I had been in five different houses in six years, but never a brand new house—one freshly built just for us. Our new neighbors were about to get the fresh start I had wanted after the earthquake, but never got. Maybe that was the reason for my obsession.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tim Mettey serves as CEO and Disaster Relief Coordinator at Matthew 25: Ministries, an international humanitarian and disaster relief organization. Tim uses his many experiences and expertise in responding to disasters around the world to set the background for his The Hero Chronicle series. Tim struggles with and has overcome his learning disabilities with reading and writing to create this series, and hopes his journey can be an inspiration to others. He says, “Our disabilities do not define who we are, they make us stronger.”