Q+A with Kate Corcino + Spark Rising Book Giveaway

Please welcome today's guest author Kate Corcino!  Kate is the author of SPARK RISING.

Keep reading for a chance to win a HUGE Spark Rising prize pack including a signed paperback, a gift card, a tote, and more!

Q+A with Kate Corcino

EJ:  Tell us about Spark Rising.

Kate:  Spark Rising is a post-apocalyptic adventure set in the southwestern United States of the future. It’s the story of Magdalena Gracey, a young woman with the power to create and manipulate the only form of electricity left in the world, and Agent Alejandro Reyes, a man trained from childhood to be an elite soldier for the ruling government. He’s sent to investigate a report of an illegal Spark living in the desert. But Alex has his own agenda. And if the two of them can learn to work together instead of killing each other, they might have a chance at sparking a revolution…and love.

EJ:  What inspired Spark Rising?

Kate:  In the days before the story came, I’d seen two sets of photos online. The first was an abandoned town in the desert that was being buried by sand. The second was a series of various city skylines from around the world showing what the night sky would look like if there were no lights, no electricity. I was blown away. Because yes, they’re both gorgeous. But the devastation of that loss of civilization…wow. Even in devastation, there would be beauty so long as we are the kind of people who have the capacity to see it. That’s the big "what if?” What kind of people are able to see the beauty?

EJ:  What made you decide to end Spark Rising the way you did?

Kate:  *laugh* It originally had a very different ending. By the time I'd made other changes that really were very necessary, the ending I wrote originally didn’t work. The ending it has now is actually the third ending written, I think. Those last two chapters changed A LOT.

EJ:  What inspired the character of Lena?

Kate:  Lena came to me fully formed, just a damaged, tough, ballsy, tiny little redhead. I think she’s rooted in my desire to explore life’s complications from that New Adult period of transition and upheaval. Who we love. Why we love. How we choose to express and live with that, even through the dark times. How do we carve out something that is entirely our own, or even believe we’re worthy of it, through all of the demands of society and family? And what is family, anyway?

I also really love exploring issues of perspective—what is the right choice for one person isn’t the same for another, and that’s okay—in womanhood, in relationships, in faith. I like the big, complicated, meaty issues that often cause darkness and angst. They’re the root of so many misunderstandings, but I like mistakes. I believe in second chances. Lena’s damaged heart provides a wonderful way of exploring those themes.
      
EJ:  Do you have any thoughts on Alex's behavior throughout Spark Rising?

Kate:  Ohh, Alex. *laugh* He’s a badass, broken man. He’s just as damaged as Lena, but he’s dedicated himself to one idea, to one cause, and is willing to do absolutely anything to further it. His love for Lena takes him by surprise. It’ll be really interesting to see how the battle between his sense of responsibility to the revolution that he founded and his feelings for Lena will play out. I think the battle will be as fascinating as his motives.
                      
EJ:  Did you always want to write books when you were a child?

Kate:  Yes. I've always been telling stories. Family legend has it that I was kicked out of a denominational preschool because of a story that was particularly upsetting. So, not only was I telling stories, but they were always controversial! I've been writing the stories down since I was able to write.
      
EJ:  What inspires you to write genre fiction?

Kate:  The people who read it! Science fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance—there may be differences among their readers, but the one thing they have in common is a willingness to lose themselves in a story, a joy in the fact that they have a story to lose themselves in, that I just don’t see in other areas. We’re wholly, unselfconsciously committed to our genres, and I find that beautiful.

When I was in my master’s program for Creative Writing, I had a conversation with another student that really sealed the deal for me. He was sneering at my desire to write genre fiction and telling me that I was limiting myself. “You know you’ll never write the Great American Novel writing that stuff.” And perhaps he's right. But the thing is, I’m not interested in literary elitism. If I can write a book that takes a reader—one reader—out of all of the everyday stress and noise of life and give them another world to lose themselves in, a world rich enough that they want to get lost in it? Well, as far as I'm concerned, I have written a pretty damn great novel, even if critics hate it.

EJ:  What were the challenges in bringing Spark Rising to life?

Kate:  There was definitely a research challenge—I love science and I’ve always read science fiction. But I knew nothing about the inner workings of electricity and electrical components, and I certainly had no working knowledge of new theories in nanite technology. Even though I was creating something fantastic, I needed to have a bed of knowledge from which to stretch.

The other huge challenge is the scope of themes, especially with women’s roles and faith. Lena, and other characters, make assumptions about other groups of people, as we all do, that are wrong. Those assumptions are slowly sifted through and revealed through the greater series arc. I’m afraid people will—ha ha!—make assumptions about what I mean in the meantime, that I’m criticizing deeply held beliefs. It’s not so, and that’s rough for me to think about.

EJ:  What do you think is the draw of the “strong female character”?

Kate:  Well, I think we all like to root for someone who can handle herself, who isn’t afraid to face the bad guys, and who reminds us of the internal strength we have or we’d like to have. Personally, I really prefer the flawed female character. *laugh* Don’t get me wrong—Lena can kick some ass. She has to be able to, in her world. But I love that she is flawed. She leaps before looking, she’s mouthy, she makes shitty decisions and then has to live with the consequences. She obsesses…oh, how she obsesses! She’s not always likeable. She’s a twenty-four year old young woman figuring out where she belongs, who she loves, and what she wants, special powers or not. It’s important to me that she isn’t a caricature of strength on that journey.

EJ:  What genre do you consider your book(s)?

Kate:  They are clearly post-apocalyptic/dystopian. I prefer to call them futuristic fantasy. Yes, they’re rooted in scifi, but there is an element of the fantastic that works into them. As far as categories, Ignition Point, the collection of related short stories, straddles the line between YA and NA. I consider Spark Rising to be NA. The series itself will sit on the border of NA and Adult fiction. Lena has a lot to work her way through, but the series will see her grow through her struggles with her identity, fear of failure, and first love.
      
EJ:  What is your favorite theme/genre to write about?

Kate:  Anything with a fantastic element. Scifi, futuristic fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, classic—I love it all!

Thank you Kate for joining us here at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Kate Corcino and her books, please visit her website.

Spark Rising by Kate Corcino.

All that’s required to ignite a revolution is a single spark rising.

Two hundred years after the cataclysm that annihilated fossil fuels, Sparks keep electricity flowing through their control of energy-giving Dust. The Council of Nine rebuilt civilization on the backs of Sparks, offering citizens a comfortable life in a relo-city in exchange for power, particularly over the children able to fuel the future. The strongest of the boys are taken as Wards and raised to become elite agents, the Council’s enforcers and spies. Strong girls—those who could advance the rapidly-evolving matrilineal power—don’t exist. Not according to the Council.

Lena Gracey died as a child, mourned publicly by parents desperate to keep her from the Council. She was raised in hiding until she fled the relo-city for solitary freedom in the desert. Lena lives off the grid, selling her power on the black market.

Agent Alex Reyes was honed into a calculating weapon at the Ward School to do the Council’s dirty work. But Alex lives a double life. He’s leading the next generation of agents in a secret revolution to destroy those in power from within.

The life Lena built to escape her past ends the day Alex arrives looking for a renegade Spark.


Release Date: December 15, 2014
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction
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Spark Rising Book + Swag Giveaway

The author is giving away a HUGE Spark Rising prize pack including a signed paperback, a gift card, a tote, and smaller swag.

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  This is a tour giveaway, and winners will be randomly selected by author or publisher.  Giveaway ends January 4, 2015.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Want more chances to win Spark Rising?  Goodreads is giving away 5 signed copies here in the Goodreads Spark Rising Giveaway.

Good luck!

Shades of Chaos Ebook Winner

Congratulations to Megan H. the winner of our Shades of Chaos Giveaway here at From the Shadows!  Megan will receive an ebook copy of Shades of Chaos, nine dystopian, post-apocalyptic novels by six best-selling authors.

Thank you to all who entered!

*Giveaway winner selected using Random.org*

Shades of Chaos Dystopian Authors Talk Apocalypse Survival

I recently had the opportunity to talk with the authors of the SHADES OF CHAOS young adult dystopian book collection.  Since the nine books in the Shades of Chaos collection deal with post-apocalyptic futures, I decided to ask these authors about how they would prepare for the apocalypse.  Four authors shared what's in their apocalypse survival kits and one author shared her apocalypse survival tips.  Let's see what they had to say!

Pst!  We're also hosting a book giveaway.  Keep reading for a chance to win Shades of Chaos.

Apocalypse Survival Kit

What's in your apocalypse survival kit?

Alexia Purdy

1. Hunting Knife
2. A lighter
3. A small pot to boil water in
4. Food of some sort
5. Lip Balm, lots of it.

Chystalla Thoma

When I sat down to think about this topic, I realized that the items I would have in my survival kit would very much depend on the sort of apocalypse the world has come to. Is it radiation from a nuclear blast or ozone layer disappearing? Is it a flood? Is it aliens? Vampires? A plague?

So I decided I will focus on the apocalypse that has created the world of my series Elei’s Chronicles. In the events that lead to the Seven Islands, the mutations and the settings of Rex Rising, we have a world that managed, through war and negligence, to completely strip away the ozone layer. Prime danger is radiation from the sun, which not only will cause radiation poisoning, but also cancer if withstood long enough. Crops and animals will also die, if left exposed, leading to famine.

So what would a survivor need in such a scenario?
Suit: Covering myself to deflect the radiation would be paramount. I imagine a specially made suit with a helmet and visor, gloves and boots, to protect my skin. The suit would have to be light and yet made from a sturdy material, containing elements that don’t let radiation penetrate.

Weapon: Not a gun, but something that doesn’t need specialized ammunition. Maybe a sort of sling that throws stones, or a flamethrower if there are still places to get fuel. I’d need the weapon to protect myself from animals and other humans who will attack me to get my suit and everything else I own. Until deep underground or underwater cities are established, the world will be in upheaval. Plus, once those cities are established, they won’t take in everyone, leaving many of us on the outside.
I will also need this weapon to hunt for food.

Water purifier: Finding clean water will be a huge problem with so much death around. I will need a small gadget that can work even manually into which I can pour contaminated water and receive clean, drinkable water.

Medicine: a first aid kit, hopefully antibiotics, too, if I can find them. We are so used to cleanness and doctors close by in case we need anything. Any wound could spell death if left filthy and untreated.

Cameron Jace

Although I write apocalyptic books, I am never interested in survival kits. Call me pessimistic, but I don’t see a use for them. If the #$@$ hits the wall there will be no time to arrange for such things, let alone taking care of what’s left of your family.

The optimum kit though would always be your brain and how fit you are.
What will a gun be to you if you can’t run, or have spent time to learn how to shoot it—killing yourself is an option but then if you’re so desperate you could have done it way before the zombies knocked on your walls, and made the world a happier place.

I know this should be a post about kits. And, excuse my ignorance, I had to search Google for it. I mean, really, apocalypse isn’t about surviving to me—I know you’re not a fan of me already. It’s about two things, always:
1) How society ever got to that reckless point of no return?
2) What you learn about who you really are is such a dreadful situation.

So my kit would hardly be a sword, gun, car, comfy backpack, red glow sticks, shovel, self powered flashlight and radio, pocket knives, waterproof matches (seriously, who invented that?
No, none of that crap.
Not to mention I got all the above from the internet—which will most probably not be at your service when the apocalypse hits. Neither will blogs or writers be available. Don’t take it personally. It’s an apocalypse. God is not punishing you alone at the moment. It’s the whole world he’s aiming at.

So, kits.
Yes. I forgot.
I must talk too much, which isn’t a good ‘kit’ for apocalypse, especially ‘zombies.’ They’re not fond of fluff talk.

Anyways, here is my kit, simple, useless, but I love it:
Items are mentioned in particular order (you can’t favor one over the other here) :
Me (in order to save my ass, I am very important. If I have already worked on myself. If I have a purpose, I will leave an impression in this mess. Not survive. Leave a human strain, that is.)
Very close family members. I say wife and kids. Sorry mom and dad. I am just being practical.
A novel, just sayin’.
Something I can hit with, a baseball bat maybe. Guns always get out of ammo.
You will not like that one: a shovel. To bury loved ones with dignity, assuming I managed to die last as father who should take care of family.

And that in my humble opinion is the most important: to make sure at lease one person survives each situation. You don’t think that’s a kit? A surviving ‘life’ is all the hope we can get. Main rule in any situation: die as many, one survives, go produce, dies as many, make sure one survives and so on. This or we will be dinosaurs.

Katie Salidas

What a great topic, and honestly something I have considered lately. Not that I am one of those people who overly prepares for the unknown, but it’s always there in the back of my mind, being a mom, what would keep my family going in the short term if the worst would happen.

So, with that in mind (being a mom) I think I need a good first aid kit. My kids hurt themselves enough with proper medical attention around, gods forbid they hurt themselves with there is none.

Second to that, I need good defense. Not being a gun person, nor someone who wants to carry around bullets either, I go for something sharp and hand-held. A nice blade or two.

Now that I’ve got the bandaids and blades taken care of, my third selection would have to continue on the practical path. Good, simple, and useful. Lighter – fire is necessary! A tent – because I doub’t we’ll have real shelter and need some protection from the elements. And since I only have five choices, the last will be a good pair of comfortable shoes for me and the family. Why? Because I’ll bet there will be a lot of walking after the end of the world as we know it. Comfortable shoes are a must.

I wonder… what 5 Items would you choose?

Apocalypse Survival Tips

Megan Duncan

It could happen tomorrow.  Imagine, if you will, that you are sitting in a sunny park.  The grass is green, the trees are tall, and the laughter of children is filling the air.  You find an empty bench and take a seat so you can enjoy your favorite creamy ice cream cone when…
BAM!
Apocalypse!


What are you going to do?  Drop your ice cream and run screaming, of course, but after that?  What can an innocent unsuspecting human do to survive?


That’s where I come in.  Like any apocalyptic/doomsday fanatic, I am well educated you in the guidelines of avoiding extinction for such an event.  I know what you’re thinking, but an  apocalypse could totally happen!  I swear I’m not crazy.

I have compiled a short list of five of the top tips, so that you can stay alive during such an epic catastrophe.


Five Very Important Apocalypse Survival Tips
Apocalypse monsters (zombies, vampires, and demons) are liars.  Never ever believe what they tell you.  If they say, “Please come outside.  We just want to be friends.”  What they really mean is, “Get out here, so I can eat you!”

Always be sure you are the fastest runner of those you travel with.  That way you can be sure you will never be the first to be eaten.  Cindy-Sue might have been your friend, but it’s not your fault the demon thinks she’s so tasty. Besides, she always ate all the pork n’ beans and that’s your favorite post-apocalyptic survival food!

Start your stockpile! Horde as many hostess twinkies and cans of spam as you can. It might not be the healthiest diet, but they don’t expire and spam will probably be the only thing left on any grocery store shelf.  Spam, or cannibalism? Your choice.

Anything can be used as a weapon.  If you are fighting a monster and all you have is duct tape, a knife and a broom.  Make yourself a medieval spear!  You’ve seen 300 and Troy a million times right?  Good!  Then you should be a professional.

Find your fortress. At some point the monsters will find you and the siege will commence. This doesn’t mean you have to make it easy for them. So get to your local hardware store before everyone else, and board up those doors and windows! No place is safe enough!

Good Luck!  Sleep tight and don’t let the monsters bite!

Shades of Chaos Giveaway

We are giving away an ebook copy of Shades of Chaos to one lucky winner!

To enter, please leave a comment on this post and include your email so we may contact you if you win.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends November 22, 2014 midnight EST.

Shades of Chaos by Cameron Jace, Katie Salidas, Chrystalla Thoma, Alexia Purdy, Megan Duncan.

Dare yourself to enter into post-apocalyptic future with this gritty collection of first-in-a-series books by six bestselling authors! Discover unique worlds packed with non-stop action, adventure, and suspense set against a gritty, futuristic backdrop.

NOTE: Together, these books have over 320 5-star reviews on Amazon. Over 1400 pages of stories, with *exclusive* content from Alexia Purdy, Katie Salidas, and Chrystalla Thoma! Best for ages 16 and up.

Release Date: June 2014
Add to Goodreads.

What's in YOUR apocalypse survival kit?

We recently had a similar discussion about the zombie apocalypse here.  

Q+A with Jandy Salguero + The Sending Giveaway

Please welcome today's guest author, Jandy Salguero!  Jandy is the author of THE SENDING.

Keep reading for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card.

Q+A with Jandy Salguero

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Jandy:  I can't remember not writing stories... My first success was in fourth grade when I wrote "Fluffy", a short story about an abandoned cat. It won first prize in a contest for the school, and I thought I was really hot stuff! :P

In my adult life, writing is something I need and crave. On my best or toughest days, it focuses, calms and makes me feel whole.

EJ:  What brought you to the fantasy/science fiction genre?

Jandy:  Oh, Mrs. Schwartz, my seventh grade reading guru. It sometimes takes a special person to instill a life-long love of reading. She was that all-important person for me. It wasn't until I got into high school and college, though--to the detriment of my school work--that I discovered the rich worlds of fantasy and sci fi. I devoured series by Isaac Asimov, Orson Scott Card, and many more, amazed that these worlds existed--and that no one had TOLD me about them!

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Jandy:  Oooo, that's a good one. I would be an animal shape shifter of some kind. The possibility of change is intriguing to me, and when I read that genre of paranormal, it's fascinating to experience the character's unique bond with nature.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Jandy:  We read to be engulfed by new worlds, to experience what we normally might never experience in our own lives--hotter romance, deeper love, vividly different surroundings, and life-altering events that fire us into stronger beings than we might have thought possible. The Sending has all of those components and will bring you on a fast-paced journey to experience them all.

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Jandy:  As a reader, when I see my beloved books translated to film, I find it distracting when big name actors are cast. Here's a list of my lessor-known picks for my main characters. Mara is latina, and a very intense person. Naya Rivera could pull that off beautifully. Daneel is that all-american good guy, whose safe, ordered world is turned upside in the first chapter of the book. For him, Jesse Roberts fits the swoon-worthy bill.

Other main characters:
Liam, funny, cocky yet fiercly loyal- Alex Fuentes
Mace, dangerously sexy- Tyler Hoechlin
Petra, blond, beautiful and wicked deadly- Katya Eltsina

Thank you Jandy for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Jandy Salguero and her books, please visit her website.

The Sending (Senitha's Light #1) by Jandy Salguero.

A city's peace is shattered when two university students go missing, and only Daneel and his friends know the shocking truth of what happened. Finding themselves under attack, Daneel leads them in a race to escape the mounting violence.

Mara is willing to kill for the beliefs of the faction that raised her. But as she seeks out her mark, using a rare, mystical form of travel known as the Sending, Mara discovers a powerful connection that challenges the truth of everything she’s been taught.

While Daneel fights to protect those he cares for, Mara must choose whether to cling to the ideology of her home—or open her scarred heart to a searing attraction and the promise of a new life.

Release Date:  August 20, 2014
Genre:  Science Fiction, Dystopian, Young Adult
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The Sending Giveaway

The author is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal cash to one lucky winner!

To enter, use this Rafflecopter form.  This is a tour giveaway, so the winner will be selected randomly by the author or publisher.  Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified.  Giveaway ends October 13, 2014.

Good luck!

Update:  The Sending is FREE on Kindle now through Sunday, October 12th.

The Horde Without End: Bonus Scene + Giveaway

Today we have a release day giveaway and a very special bonus scene for our readers from THE HORDE WITHOUT END by Nazarea Andrews.

Keep reading for a chance to win a $50 Gift Card!

Bonus Scene: The Horde Without End

Live Infection.

Leaving is the only option. It took less than three days for that to become expressly clear to Collin Sanders—three days of staring at the canyon walls, eating shitty MREs and listening to Dustin’s breathing slowly change into that wicked rasp.

Collin knew that sound. He’d lived twenty years with ERI-Milan, and four as a Walker. He knew what a contact infection could do to a body, what damage it would inflict.

Dustin would change—not as quickly as if he had been bitten, but staying here and waiting for Finn to return with Ren was no longer an option.

Once he decided that, on that third morning, as the sun rose and zombies screamed on the cliff top, he felt a weight shift off of him. Sitting still wasn’t natural to Collin, and now he has a plan. Forward momentum, and all that shit.

He didn’t give much consideration to the fact that Finn would be furious. If any thought crossed Collin’s mind as he packed their gear and water and food, it was that Nurrin would be terrified to return and find him missing.

He wonders, not for the first time, if he will be forced to kill his sister’s lover.

She would be pissed, if he did. But in the zombie apocalypse, these things did have a way of happening.

Dustin stumbles out of bed that third morning looking a little grey. “You’re packing sht,” he rasps.

“We’re going to find you medicine. You’ll die if we stay,” Collin says bluntly. He’s at the rough wood table, carving something into the wood.

“What about Ren?” Dustin forces out.

Collin hesitates, the only indication that he has doubts about this. His lips thin, and he finishes carving up the table. Dustin sees the design—four lines slashed in half, an i slashed diagonally.
Dustin stumbles toward the table, and Collin can feel the heat rolling off of him. “Can you get to the cliff top?” Collin asks, seriously.

Dustin shrugs. “I don’t have much of a choice do I?”

Collin stares at him, and nods sharply. “Exactly.”

Read the rest of Collin and Dustin’s story during the blog tour!

My thoughts:  I love having the opportunity to read bonus material and the opening line of this bonus scene gave me chills.  "Live Infection."  Those two words made my skin crawl.  Do you have a favorite line from The Horde Without End bonus scene?

What did you think of the bonus scene?

The Horde Without End (The World Without End #2) by Nazarea Andrews.

It was supposed to be over…
 
Returning from Haven 18 was supposed to be the end. But nothing is ever easy—and in a world full of zombies, finding the missing is next to impossible. There are breadcrumbs. Tiny clues. But what are a few tiny clues in a world of the dead?
 
Nurrin is desperate to find her brother, but that will mean trusting Finn O’Malley. A man shrouded in secrets, who kills as easily as breathing. And the more she learns about him, the more questions she has. But she has learned one thing—the zombies are changing. Adapting. And this time, the Haven walls won’t keep them out.

Release Date: July 24, 2014
Genre: Dystopian, New Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy
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Thank you Nazarea for sharing this special bonus scene with out readers!

To learn more about Nazarea Andrews and her books, please visit her website.

The Horde Without End Release Day Giveaway

The author is giving away a $50 Gift Card to winner's choice of Amazon or Barnes and Noble and a Zombie Survival Kit!

To enter, please use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below.  This is a tour giveaway and the winners will be selected randomly by the author or tour coordinator.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Impervious Character Interview + Giveaway

We have a special character interview for you all today from Heather Letto, author of IMPERVIOUS.

Keep reading for a chance to win a signed copy of Impervious by Heather Letto!

Impervious Character Interview

Hi all! Heather Letto here with a funny story-- I sent Fran an email not too long ago, asking if she wouldn’t mind making an appearance for today’s big cover reveal. She said, sure… if I was willing to throw a few donuts and a Big Gulp into the kitty.
So, sitting with me today, fresh out of the Impervious air vents, with a box of Dunkin’s finest in her lap, would you welcome Gen-Four’s most elusive Rebel, Fran Monde.

Fran:  (Waving a chocolate cake donut dipped in sprinkles) Hey.
Heather:  Do you mind if I call you Fran or do you prefer Frannie?
Fran:  (Stuffs donut into her mouth and rolls her eyes.)
Heather:  Great. Fran it is. So let’s start with your hometown, Fran. Although it wasn’t your favorite place, I’m sure the readers would love to hear about the city. What can you tell us about the lifestyle of an Impervieite (and yours before you became a Rebel)?
Fran:  Well, you might notice as you thumb through my story, food plays a pretty central role in the lives of underground dwellers. 
Heather:  Duly noted. Why is that?
Fran:  (Shrugs) I’m not sure how to explain it. I was just always hungry underground.
Heather:  And obviously still are. (chuckles)
Fran:  (Snarky laugh.) Maybe it’s because there’s really not much to do. It’s kind of boring actually. I spent a lot of my free time as a kid just wandering the Agora, snacking, gaming… that’s about it.
Heather:  Hmm. Fair enough. What about Pete?
Fran:  (Stuffs the remainder of the donut into her mouth and licks each finger) What about him?
Heather:  Like him?
Fran:  Duh.
Heather:  Love him?
Fran:  Sheesh. No comment. (Grabs second donut.)
Heather:  Okay, how about that weird name your brother called you? Some sort of worm?
Fran:  Wickworm?
Heather:  Yes, that’s it. What’s that all about?
Fran:  Well, if you Google the word, you’d see that A Wickworm is a worm, or parasite, that lives in the intestines of an animal. You may not be aware of this, but the air vents of impervious are kind of like the guts of the city… therefore—
Heather:  Ah yes…. You’d be the worm.
Fran:  Exactly. (Winks at me.)
Heather:  Listen, I know you don’t have a lot of time here today, but I do have one final question that I think a lot of the readers would want to know.
Fran:  (Nods her head) I’m listening.
Heather:  Retter. Is there a crush happening there?
Fran:  (Face blossoms into a cherry) Nah. Ret’s just a guy. Well, a very muscular guy. With tawny eyes….
Heather:  (snapping fingers) Hello? You still with us, Fran?
Fran:  I gotta go. (grabs box of donuts and stomps off).
Heather:  Well, there you have it. The elusive Rebel. Don’t let her fool ya… she really is a softie.

Impervious (Ascension #1) by Heather Letto.

The residents of Impervious are the remnant—survivors of the War of Annihilation. And though the city is chockfull of pleasures to tantalize and entertain, a beast lurks in its corners haunting the residents with its presence. The Beast—a mysterious and terminal illness--has killed off most of Generations One, Two and Three. And as Gen-Four prepares to take the stage a provocative, yet questionable, new method to avoid an untimely death becomes a cultural rage.

But Fran is counter-cultural. And living off the grid in true rebel fashion, her life is far from opulent. Scurrying through dark tunnels, searching for hot meals and ditching the holographic security team encompass most of her day. However, she views it as a healthy trade-off. Unaccountability means The Council can’t steal her sliver of hope--a belief that she’ll see The Epoch arrive before the beast can pull her into its fetid embrace.

After losing her mother and then her Rebel mentor, however, she grasps painfully onto the splintered sliver, until a new hope is born. First through Pete. And then through a miraculous discovery.

But the question still haunts her…

Can she outrun The Beast?

Release Date: April 29, 2014
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Thank you Heather for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Heather Letto and her books, please visit her website.

***Impervious Book Giveaway***

We are giving away a signed ARC of Impervious to one lucky winner!

To enter, use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  This is a tour giveaway and therefore winners will be drawn by the author or publisher.

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