Interview and Giveaway: Rosanne Bittner

Please join me in welcoming Rosanne Bittner to Debbie's Book Bag today. Rosanne is here promoting the release of her book, Paradise Valley. I asked Bittner a few questions about herself, the inspiration for her book, what she's up to next and her advice for new writers. Check out her answers and see the end of the post for your chance to win a copy of Rosanne's book, Paradise Valley.

Hello to readers of DEB’S BOOK BAG! My name is Rosanne Bittner, and I have joined you by invitation to answer questions your members provided.  Thanks for allowing me to become a part of Deb’s Book Bag!  

I have been writing for 30 years and am the recipient of a number of writing awards.  PARADISE VALLEY is book #58 for me, with several million books printed over these many years, including foreign copies in Russia, Taiwan, Germany, Italy, Norway and France, where my book MONTANA WOMAN has done well for years.  I just contracted with France to publish SONG OF THE WOLF.  I travel often to writers conferences and to conduct workshops and give talks.
My first and only love is American history, especially America’s Old West.  It’s all I write about.  I have studied American history and Native Americans for years and have covered just about every subject involved in the settling of this great country and every topic involving the growth of the American West.  I write every day, sometimes a lot, sometimes not so much, depending on how busy I am with helping run a family tool and die business and spending time with my three grandsons.  Once I am set on how my story will be told, I can write pretty fast, finishing a 100,000 word story in about 3 months. 
PARADISE VALLEY is set in Wyoming, mostly along the famed Outlaw Trail.  Young Maggie Tucker finds herself stranded on the plains of Wyoming after outlaws murder her husband and had their way with Maggie.  The story opens with Maggie digging a grave for her husband, but aching weariness and the horror of her situation overcome her and she passes out.  When she comes to, her husband is buried and a tall, dark stranger is sitting near a campfire and offers her a cup of coffee.  Now begins a new relationship for Maggie, as she joins Sage Lightfoot, the owner of a huge ranch called Paradise Valley, in a search for the men who killed Maggie’s husband.  Sage is after the same men for stealing from him, and Maggie insists on accompanying him. She is a tough, determined young woman who knows how to use a gun and won’t take “no” for an answer.  Maggie and Sage fall in love, but both carry personal secrets that could destroy their relationship, while at the same time love causes them to risk their lives for each other.
My favorite scene from PARADISE VALLEY is when Maggie and Sage first make love in an old, abandoned cabin as they journey the Outlaw Trail.  It is a touching moment for both of them because of the deep hurts both of them secretly suffer and the healing that takes place in each other’s arms. PARADISE VALLEY is full of adventure and romance, as well as a journey through some of the most beautiful country in America.  Readers will love the dramatic descriptions of western Wyoming and will be rooting for Sage and Maggie to find the men who have caused both of them anguish.  My idea came not just from my love for stories of the Old West, but also from the hard cover book THE OUTLAW TRAIL by Robert Redford, filled with beautiful pictures of Wyoming as Redford himself travels the Outlaw Trail.  Some of his interviews with the still-rugged people who live in that country are very interesting.  I recommend THE OUTLAW TRAIL to anyone who wants to read about today’s West and how its history still casts a shadow over what is happening today.
I have always loved America’s Old West and stories and movies about Native Americans.  I still watch old westerns on Turner Classic Movies – still watch reruns of Gunsmoke and other TV westerns.  I swear I once lived as a pioneer or perhaps an Indian woman.  Something about the west just draws me there in my heart, and books that influenced me are A LANTERN IN HER HAND by Bess Streeter Aldrich, THE PROUD BREED by Celeste de Blasis, and BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE by Dee Brown.  I am passionately in love with the awesome western landscape, and that love comes through in my vivid descriptions of the places I write about. My husband and I have traveled the West for years and I have visited every location in my books.  My goal has always been to tell the truth about American history, things we never learned in school, especially about our Native Americans.  From the feedback I get from readers, I can tell I am succeeding!
My next project is DESPERATE HEARTS, which is set in Montana during the gold rush at Alder Gulch.  Young Elizabeth Wainright has fled there, leaving civilization for a wild, lawless new world where she hopes to never be found by someone who is out to accuse her of theft and even murder.  Amid a stage coach robbery, the rugged life in a gold town and efforts to stave off the advances of lawless, woman-hungry men, Elizabeth repeatedly finds herself thrown into confrontations with one Mitch Brady, a lawman and vigilante who takes it upon himself to look out for her.  Mitch, of course, takes a love interest in Elizabeth, and eventually Elizabeth returns that interest, but an experience she suffered before arriving in Alder Gulch has left her very wary and distrustful of men. DESPERATE HEARTS will be full of suspense, drama, action, adventure, and romance, with a good share of humor thrown into the mix.  I just sent the proposal to Sourcebooks and can’t wait to get started on the story!
My advice to new writers is to never give up.  Once you finish a book and start trying to sell it, get going on another book, and another and another.  You never know which one will hit the right editor at the right time and sell – and editors like to know you’re good for more than one book.  And more advice for your writing – WRITE WHAT YOU LOVE!!  Write what excites you.  Don’t write a particular genre just because that’s what is popular.  If you don’t really enjoy that genre, you won’t succeed at it.  The worst advice I ever got was to try writing something different.  I wasted some good writing years trying new things that all failed.  When I went back to America’s Old West, I finished a book in no time and sold it – my first new book in ten years – and that’s PARADISE VALLEY.  Social media has also helped promote my name again and I am finding a world of new readers through Facebook and Twitter and Goodreads and my web site and blog.  I am on a wild new ride and loving it!

Thanks for your interest in my writing.  Be sure to look for PARADISE VALLEY in stores or on-line in July!  And visit my web site at www.rosannebittner.com and my blog at www.rosannebittner.blogspot.com.   And remember to go to my virtual party (site address above) and enter your name for some great prizes!  Happy reading and enjoy your summer!  

Rosanne Bittner

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Paradise Valley by Rosanne Bittner.

~You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~US and Canadian addresses only.
~The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, July 22nd.

1. Please leave a comment for the author on this post.
2. Please fill out the FORM.

Review: Paradise Valley

Paradise Valley by Rosanne Bittner

Publication Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Casablanca
Genre:  Western Historical Romance
Pages: 352
ISBN-10: 1402280971
ISBN-13: 978-1402280979

(Received for an honest review from Sourcebooks Casablanca)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Rosanne Bittner on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Excerpt from Paradise Valley, courtesy of the author.

Synopsis:

Maggie Tucker has just gone through hell. Outlaws murdered her husband, looted their camp, and terrorized Maggie before leaving her lost and alone in the wilds of Wyoming. She isn't about to let another strange man get close enough to harm her.

Sage Lightfoot, owner of Paradise Valley ranch, his hunting for the men who killed his best ranch hand. But what he finds is a beautiful, bedraggled woman digging a grave. And pointing a pistol at his heart.

From that moment on, Sage will do anything to protect the strong-yet-vulnerable Maggie. Together, they'll embark on a life-changing journey along the dangerous Outlaw Trail, risking their lives...and their love.

Thoughts:

Author Rosanne Bittner returns to historical fiction with her latest western romance, Paradise Valley. Paradise Valley is Bittner's 58th novel, set in the American Old West. Bittner's exhaustive research has taken her to every site depicted in her novels and this time takes her on an adventure along the famed Outlaw Trail. Paradise Valley introduces readers to a gritty heroine, Maggie Tucker, who endures many hardships before finding her happy-ever-after. A western romance with a flair for the dramatic, Paradise Valley is a must read for Bittner fans!

Rosanne Bittner is a highly acclaimed western author who knows how to depict the men and women of the American West. Bittner's ability to characterize the indomitable spirit and determination within her heroes and heroines is legendary. Many of her fans have waited for over ten years for a new release from the author and will be extremely pleased with the outcome. Good things are worth the wait and Paradise Valley certainly falls into that category. 

Heroine Maggie Tucker is a plucky character to say the least. She is challenged with overcoming some very difficult circumstances. It is 1886 and she finds herself in the wilds of Wyoming, where she experiences everything from the loss of her husband to kidnapping, rape, and finding a new love. Maggie is one of those women that readers will find gritty and full of the kind of backbone it took to settle the untamed west. Maggie can't seem to catch a break. Even after she meets hero Sage Lightfoot owner of the Paradise Valley ranch, she is still in for quite a ride. Readers will follow her adventures with baited breath wondering what in the world is going to happen to this poor woman next.

I liked the setting and the premise of the story. The sense of place in the novel is exciting and draws the reader in from the first page. The Outlaw Trail provided the right kind of edginess that this novel needed. I thought it was obvious that this subject and area was something that meant something to this author. Bittner conveys a sense of urgency and need in this novel. The quest for revenge turns into something a lot less easy to define as Sage and Maggie track the men who killed her husband and stole from both of them. 

It is apparent that the hero and heroine both have secrets and hurts that make their happy-ever-after all the more sweeter for readers. My one criticism for this book isn't exactly a criticism. I would liked to have seen more of those romantic moments we have learned to expect from Bittner in this novel. Granted there are some, I just wanted more... LOL! I liked all the twists and turns and obstacles Maggie and Sage were subjected to, but I wanted a little more bonding and romance. I look forward to whats to come from Bittner. She has definitely shown she has a lot more stories to tell!

Paradise Valley is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

Check out Rosanne's answers to my interview questions later today for your chance to win a copy of Paradise Valley.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Award-winning novelist Rosanne Bittner is highly acclaimed for her thrilling love stories and historical authenticity. Her epic romances span the West-from Canada to Mexico, Missouri to California-and are often based on Roseanne's personal visits to each setting. She lives in Michigan with her husband and two sons.

Review: Small Town Girl

Small Town Girl (Rosey Corner - Book 2) by Ann H. Gabhart

Publication Date: July 1, 2013
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Imprint: Revell Books
Genre: Inspirational Fiction
Pages: 400
ISBN-10: 0800721845
ISBN-13: 978-0800721848

(Received for an honest review from Revell)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository (Audio CD), Christian Book, IndieBound

Ann H. Gabhart on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads, Fantastic Fiction

Books in the Series:

Angel Sister (2011), Small Town Girl (2013

Coverart: Click on the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from Small Town Girl, courtesy of the author's website.

Synopsis:

How long can two people stand on the brink of love without plunging in headfirst?

In the autumn of 1941, rumors of war whisper through Rosey Corner. The town practically vibrates with apprehension, as if it is holding its breath. But for Kate Merritt, it seems life is letting out a prolonged sigh. As Kate watches her sister marry the man Kate has loved since she was fifteen, her heart is silently breaking. And even the attentions of Jay Tanner, the handsome best man, can't draw her interest.

Then suddenly, Pearl Harbor changes everything and Kate finds herself drawn to Jay in surprising ways. Could she truly be in love with him? And if he enlists, will she ever see him again?

In her gentle and textured style, Ann H. Gabhart tells a timeless story of love, sacrifice, and longing that will grip your heart and stir your spirit. Fans of Gabhart's Angel Sister will love seeing Kate Merritt all grown-up, as well as other characters they have come to love.

Thoughts:

Inspirational fiction author, Ann H. Gabhart takes readers back to the town of Rosey Corners and the Merritt family. Small Town Girl picks up the story of Kate Merritt five years following the events in Gabhart's book, Angel Sister. The heart felt writing and inspiring message of this book will reach the core of readers and brush their innermost feelings. Set during the tumultuous days leading up the attack on Pearl Harbor, Small Town Girl reaches into the hills of Kentucky where World War II touches not only those in the cities but small, tight knit communities as well. An excellent example of romance with an inspirational message!

There are several reasons why I enjoy Ann H. Gabhart's books so much. She is one of my favorite inspirational fiction writers. Being a budding author myself I always appreciate supporting other authors from my home state of Kentucky. Gabhart, is a Kentucky native and is able to really pinpoint the settings and customs of this area of the country. She is able to create her characters in such a way that they represent the way the people here looked at the world, from their speech patterns to the traditions and ways of doing things that are both familiar and moving. 

Small Town girl is set in the days leading up to Pearl Harbor. I think this can sometimes be a hard time period in which to set a book, because of the emotional significance and depth of feeling that surrounds this event in our history. Gabhart did a wonderful job of showing Pearl Harbor and World War II through the eyes of her characters. I thought it was a great way for readers to learn more about how even those living in small town America were affected by the war and how it shaped the lives of everyone.

After reading Gabhart's book, Angel Sister, I had hoped that the author might one day re-visit the Merritt family and I was excited when I found out that Small Town Girl would take readers back to Rosey Corners. Gabhart sets this book five years in the future when Kate has become a young woman. I liked being about to look back at this family and see how much they had changed and grown. Lorena Birdsong is still very present in their lives and I was glad to see that she had not been forgotten.

This story is a truly heartwarming love story and shows that what we think we need to be happy is not always what God has in mind. They say that God works mysteriously, but I like to say he works miraculously and this book shows that. Happy-Ever-After endings are usually very predictable and readers know that in the end the man and woman will most likely get together, but in this book it is all about the journey. It's about the obstacles that sometimes get in the way of love and how they shape the lives and destiny's of those involved. 

Gabhart's message is always present and weaves it's way throughout her novels. It is not overbearing, not does she attempt to beat the reader over the head with it. Her characters live it and that makes all the difference. I liked the way that Gabhart showed love and tolerance for those who have questions about God and how she is able to take legitimate issues and show understanding and wisdom in her writing. A very well written and engaging book, by a very talented inspirational author.

Available July 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of several novels, including Angel Sister, Words Spoken True, The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and The Gifted. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Find out more at www.annhgabhart.com.

Guest Post and Giveaway: Shona Husk

Please join me in welcoming author Shona Husk to Debbie's Book Bag today. Shona is here promoting her newest book, The Outcast Prince. I asked Shona about her inspiration for this new series. Please enjoy her guest post and see the giveaway details at the end of the post for your chance to win a copy of The Outcast Prince.

Nailing down Inspiration

Inspiration is a funny thing, quite often I don’t recognize what it was until much later. Sometimes I’ll see something and think that’s a cool idea or a great picture and I often cut out newspaper articles and drop them into my ideas box. I don’t actually look in the ideas box very often, but I like to have it there :)

For the Annwyn series there was a cool idea but on reflection it probably won’t make sense to anyone else. But I’ll share and let you make your own mind up about the weird working of my mind.

I was taking my kids through a maze and we were talking about things that mazes could be made of. We ended up talking about glass mazes and how that wouldn’t work…or would it? Because while you can see the middle, there is still no clear path. 

A glass maze…cool (and thank you eldest kid!). I stored that away for later not knowing how I’d use it.

Six months later I was at an engineering conference (those things would be greatly improved with free books and more interesting panels. So instead of ‘water quality in drainage systems’ maybe ‘how to build a realistic alternative reality’?) After two hours of listening to testing methods and outcomes my mind had well and truly wandered and I was thinking about those glass mazes again and how that would work in a story.

There is no glass maze in Annwyn, however it does represent the Court (to me) as the characters can see what they want, but getting through the fairy politics isn’t easy. It was the second book that formed while I was at the conference, and I knew it was the second book as I made notes (I must have looked so interested in drains ;)).

The hero for The Outcast Prince, Caspian, had been in my mind for a while but I didn’t know what he was only that he was psychometric and didn’t really fit in. When I added the fairy part of the story everything fell into place.

Researching fairy law gave me more ideas than I can use in the series. News reports of drug resistant TB and outbreaks of measles and other viruses gave me an effect that the failing magic of Annwyn could have on our world.


For me, the original idea that sparks the story isn’t always recognisable in the story as I travel so far from that first thought. Other times I have no idea where the story idea came from and it just kind of grew out of all the ideas that have been tossed into the ideas box and put away for later. 

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of The Outcast Prince by Shona Husk.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US and Canadian addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, July 17th.

1. Please leave a comment on this post for the author.
2. Please fill out the FORM.

Review: The Outcast Prince

The Outcast Prince (Annwyn - Book 1) by Shona Husk

Publication Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Casablanca
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 320
ISBN-10: 1402280165
ISBN-13: 978-1402280160

(Received for an honest review from Sourcebooks Casablanca)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Shona Husk on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads 

Excerpt from The Outcast Prince, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature

Synopsis:

Just One Taste Is All It Takes...

This is no ordinary mirror. Caspian caught a hint of color, a whirl of a waltz just past his reflection—a glimpse into the decadent Fairy Court of Annwyn. The home he could never have. It called to him, whispering temptation after temptation...if he could only reclaim his rightful heritage.

To Be Forever Lost...

Caspian has an even stronger reason to stay in the world of humans. He's just met a woman who captivates him like no other. But loving him has proven to be dangerous. And he will do whatever it takes to protect Lydia from the vicious, seductive world of Court—even if doing so requires the ultimate sacrifice: his soul.

Thoughts:

After receiving high acclaim for her Shadowlands series, author Shona Husk takes on a new challenge. The first book in a series about the fairie world of Annwyn, The Outcast Prince, is a page turner from the first page to the last. Husk has created a world where the fairie court rules and where interactions between fairies and humans are not only possible but probable. This paranormal romance is sizzling with passion, full of suspense and action and has just right amount of paranormal activity to keep readers up all night!

I was really interested to see where Shona Husk would go after the Shadowlands series, which is one of my favorites. The Outcast Prince certainly held up the standards I have learned to expect from Husk. The world building was absolutely flawless. Her ideas on the fairie court were interesting and well researched. Having Scottish roots, I know a little bit about fairies at least in the form of the old stories and I felt that this book held true to what the old ones would say about this particular paranormal character.

I liked the idea that the hero had reasons not to want to return to Annwyn. Caspian doesn't exactly fit the profile of a tortured hero, but he certainly has some issues he needs to get a handle on. His psychometric abilities (knowing the history of an object by touch) are an asset to him in the human world and I found the fact that he was able to use it working with antiques was intriguing. This was an interesting twist. 

I liked the premise of the book, which included the mirror that was essentially a portal to Annwyn, as well as the love story between Caspian and Lydia. I thought that both aspects of the book worked well together and played off of each other. The mirror being in the house that was Lydia's grandmothers and the fact that several different factions wanted the mirror did not overshadow the fact that Caspian was afraid to let Lydia into his heart. 

Readers who enjoy a good love story that has quite a bit of action involved will love this one. Annwyn is an interesting place from the descriptions that Shona Husk gives. I can't wait to see where this series goes. Husk once again has given me a new series to look forward to. Don't miss this one! It appeals to the romance fan in all of us, as well as the paranormal lover.

The Outcast Prince is available now from your favorite bookseller.

Check out a guest post and giveaway from author Shona Husk later today for your chance to win!

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author: 

A civil designer by day and an author by night, Shona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Drawing on history, myth, and imagination, she writes about heroes who are armed and dangerous but have a heart of gold–sometimes literally.

Review and Giveaway: Tarnished and Torn

Tarnished and Torn (Wishcraft - Book 5) by Juliet Blackwell

Publication Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Obsidian Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 336
ISBN-10: 045124009X
ISBN-13: 978-0451240095

(Received for an honest review from Obsidian Mystery)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Juliet Blackwell on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Library Thing, Cozy Mystery

Books in the series:

Secondhand Spirits (2009), A Cast-Off Coven (2010), Hexes and Hemlines (2011), In a Witch's Wardrobe (2012), Tarnished and Torn (2013)

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from Tarnished and Torn, courtesy of the author's website.

Synopsis:

As the owner of a popular vintage clothing store, Lily Ivory can enjoy a day of antique jewelry shopping and still call it work. But as one of San Francisco’s resident witches, searching for hidden treasures can sometimes lead to dangerous discoveries… 
 
When Lily arrives at an antique jewelry fair, her bargain sensors go off left and right—but she also picks up a faint vibration of magic. Could the hard-bargaining merchant Griselda be a fellow practitioner? It certainly seems that way when a sudden fire sends panic through the crowd, and Lily discovers Griselda murdered in a way that nods to an old-fashioned witch hunt…
 
A crime that hits close to home turns into an unwelcome flash from the past when the police bring in their lead suspect—Lily’s estranged father. Though he may not deserve her help, Lily is determined to clear her father’s name and solve a murder that’s anything but crystal clear. 

Thoughts:

Juliet Blackwell's fifth book in the Wishcraft series, Tarnished and Torn will take the reader back to Aunt Cora's Closet and the wonderful characters Blackwell has created in this paranormal cozy mystery series. Blackwell uses her own interest in witch craft to bring authenticity and realism to her novels. Readers will find that this book appeals to both the mystery lover and the paranormal enthusiast. A great combination! 

Juliet Blackwell's books are always fun to read. Whether it's the vintage jewelry and clothing she describes, the cunning mystery she creates or all things witch, Blackwell makes it interesting. In Tarnished and Torn, as always we learn more and more about plucky heroine, Lily Ivory. This time Lily is at a gem fair looking for vintage jewelry for her store, when a murder takes place. Right place, right time for a witch and amateur sleuth. 

The mystery aspect of the book was well crafted and intriguing. Trying to figure out who killed Griselda and why will have the reader piecing together the clues right along with Lily. I always enjoy the way that Lily looks at the world, how she processes things so differently from most amateur sleuth characters. I think Blackwell has done a wonderful job of making Lily easy to relate to even though she has her quirks. 

The witch craft angle is always interesting to me. So many books focus on witch craft in a negative way and I like that Blackwell takes a different road with Lily. Her books have a lighter tone which is typical of cozies and that also helps to give Lily a brighter outlook. I like the combination of paranormal with the mystery. Lily uses her magic for a lot of things, maybe even a little sleuthing. 

This is a well written addition to the series that readers and fans will really enjoy. Juliet Blackwell never disappoints and Lily Ivory knows how to solve a crime. 

Tarnished and Torn is available today from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Juliet Blackwell has been fascinated with witchcraft, alternative healing, and spirits of all kinds ever since she was a child. As an anthropologist, she studied systems of physical and mental health care all over the world. 

Blackwell is the New York Times bestselling author of the Witchcraft Mystery series, which features a misfit witch with a vintage clothing store in San Francisco's Haight Ashbury neighborhood. The series includes Secondhand Spirits, A Cast-off Coven, Hexes and Hemlines, In a Witch's Wardrobe, and Tarnished and Torn (to be released July 3, 2012).

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a one copy giveaway for Tarnished and Torn by Juliet Blackwell.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only (publisher request)
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight, EST, July 16th.

1. Please leave a comment for the author on this post.
2. Please fill out the FORM.

Review: Viral Nation

Viral Nation by Shaunta Grimes

Publication Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Trade
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 320
ISBN-10: 0425265137
ISBN-13: 978-0425265130

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Trade)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Shaunta Grimes on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Library Thing

Excerpt from Viral Nation, courtesy of the author's website.

Synopsis:

After a virus claimed nearly the entire global population, the world changed. The United States splintered into fifty walled cities where the surviving citizens clustered to start over. The Company, which ended the plague by bringing a life-saving vaccine back from the future, controls everything. They ration the scant food and supplies through a lottery system, mandate daily doses of virus suppressant, and even monitor future timelines to stop crimes before they can be committed. 
 
Brilliant but autistic, sixteen-year-old Clover Donovan has always dreamed of studying at the Waverly-Stead Academy. Her brother and caretaker, West, has done everything in his power to make her dream a reality. But Clover’s refusal to part with her beloved service dog denies her entry into the school. Instead, she is drafted into the Time Mariners, a team of Company operatives who travel through time to gather news about the future.
 
When one of Clover’s missions reveals that West’s life is in danger, the Donovans are shattered. To change West’s fate, they’ll have to take on the mysterious Company. But as its secrets are revealed, they realize that the Company’s rule may not be as benevolent as it seems. In saving her brother, Clover will face a more powerful force than she ever imagined… and will team up with a band of fellow misfits and outsiders to incite a revolution that will change their destinies forever.

Thoughts:

Shaunta Grimes enters the world of young adult writing with a startling debut novel entitled, Viral Nation. The dystopian world that Grimes has created is edgy and somewhat desperate. Her characters are both intriguing and inspiring. Grimes chooses and unlikely heroine to bring revolution to a society that has been decimated by a plague and gives readers a special young girl to cheer for. 

A lot of times in the book sphere you will hear words to describe certain kinds of writing or genres that may be unfamiliar to you. Dystopian is often one of them. When an author writes about a dystopian world, basically they are writing about an "imaginary society where societal or technological trends have culminated in a greatly diminished quality of life or degradation of values." (the Freed Dictionary) Shaunta Grimes uses this idea to create the society and world for Viral Nation.

In Viral Nation, Grimes uses a plague to practically wipe the global population off the earth, creating a dystopian society that virtually controls everything, from the plague suppressants, and food supplies, to crime. Grimes develops this very complex and structured world in such a way that readers will feel the desperation of the people forced to live in these conditions. At first it appears The Company is a benevolent protector of the people, but once the surface is scratched, you can feel the iron grip they have on them. I loved the whole idea that these survivors, who created a society in the face of tragedy could not take care of themselves. They had to have this Company to do it for them. Revolution was inevitable!

Clearly one of the best aspects of this book is the heroine, Clover Donovan. Clover is a high functioning autistic girl, who wants nothing more than to live her life the way she wants to, without all the laws that seem to govern where she can go to school or who she can protect. The fact that Grimes makes her heroine autistic is amazing. Readers are able to see how Clover interacts with her world and how autism affects her but doesn't rule her life. Grimes has obviously done her homework on autism and helps the reader see a whole new side of it that they may not have experienced before.

As a debut novel I think this book really draws the reader in, not just to this book, but the series as well. Grimes sets up the series very well, while still keeping the primary theme of this book in the forefront. Clover finds out that her brother West is in danger and she is determined to save him, in the process she meets several other misfits and starts a revolution that is greatly needed. Just goes to show you, one person really can change the world. I liked that whole idea in this book. One person no matter how insignificant they may seem can light a spark that changes everything. 

I look forward to seeing whats to come with this author and this series. I don't review as many young adult novels as I would prefer, but when I do, they are generally very good or significant in some other way. This is one is both!

Viral Nation will be available tomorrow from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Shaunta Grimes has worked as a substitute teacher, a newspaper reporter, a drug court counselor, and a vintage clothing seller. No matter which direction she strays, however, she always comes back to storytelling. She lives in Reno with her family, where she writes, teaches, and perpetually studies at the University of Nevada.