Meet YA Sci-Fi Author Christina Enquist

Christina Enquist is a YA author and aspiring bookstore owner. She lives with her boyfriend and several pets in Visalia, Ca.

~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~
~ Instagram ~

Would you sacrifice your humanity to save mankind?

IT’S THE YEAR 2828, and Domus is the last remaining country. Divided into twelve walled cities known as genuses, Domus spans what’s known as the purist lands—lands unaffected by the genetic modifications that killed all other species of mammals. But outside the walls of each genus the Immundus threaten the welfare of those within. From a young age, all citizens of Domus are trained for combat against these intruders.

At sixteen, Nia Luna knows little of the Immundus, except for the citywide alarms that ring any time an Immundus nears the genus walls. What she does know is that her own species is dying—their numbers dwindling as a mysterious disease called allagine kills many before their eleventh birthday. The same disease that ravaged her family when it took her sister.

When Nia is recruited into Genesis, a research company pioneering the path to a cure, she knows that her dream to find a cure for allagine is finally within her grasp. But within weeks of starting at Genesis, Nia witnesses something she shouldn’t have—something that changes everything. As she sets down a dangerous path that uncovers national secrets, Nia will have to decide not only what kind of person she wants to be but also how far she’s willing to go to save humanity.

~ Universal Amazon Link ~ 
~ B&N ~ IndieBound ~

Snippet:

I walk down the expansive hallway. Most doors are closed, but the door to Calculus class is still open and Mrs. Wiler is at the front of the classroom teaching. I tiptoe through the door, hoping she won’t say anything, but the rickety-rackety-clackety of my shoes yanks my classmates’ attention toward me—eyes prickling my skin as I make my way to my seat. I plop myself down, the lumbar of the seat adjusts to my body, and the desk swings into position in front of me.

“Glad you could join us, Nia,” Mrs. Wiler says, her voice thick with sarcasm. Calculus is not my favorite topic. I think it’s because the teacher has had it in for me all year. I can get by, but only with Alex’s help. I’m so glad he’s in my class.

“Glad I could be here.” I give her a just-leave-me-alone smile. She doesn’t seem too enthused by my response, but it’s enough to appease her, so she continues her lesson.

Sabrina leans over the moment Mrs. Wiler turns away. “Great game last night.” Sabrina’s soft voice surfs the air like cumulus clouds on a calm day. She’s one of the brightest students in class, and I picture her on the Genus Council one day. She’s not a hologram either, which is nice. We attend classes with students in other genuses, though not in person. Instead, 4D holographic forms appear in their stead here, and I appear the same to them there. We can see, touch, hear, and smell the students even though they aren’t here. Still. You can tell

the difference.

“Thanks,” I say.

A hand touches my left shoulder from behind. “Alex wants you to check your messages,” whispers Robert, a hologram from Genus Amatista, which is on the other side of Domus and used to be called Canada. I open my messages on the screen on my desk—or dreen, as we like to call it—being watchful of the teacher. I’m greeted by Alex’s avatar holding balloons and throwing confetti that forms a message. It’s a group message to Eric, Casey, and I. In tall black serif letters it reads:

It was great being teammates. Let’s all go to the promotion party together

after apprenticeship selection.

“Alex, what would you say is the answer to this problem?” Mrs. Wiler inquires, pointing to the calculation on the media wall. I wonder if she knows Alex sent a message out—she’s freaky that way. Alex scribbles on his dreen, sending the equation and answer to the media wall for all to see. He figures out the problems in seconds, which is why I’m glad he’s in my class. Two thumbs up appear on my dreen from Casey and Eric. I add my own.

To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Margaret Fieland: Sci-Fi and Poetry

Join me in meeting Poet and Novelist Margaret Fieland.

Margaret, why did you pick to write books for kids?

Poetry is my first love, and I started taking myself seriously as a writer along about 2005 or so, when I wrote a poem I wanted to keep and see published. This led me to the Muse Online Writers Conference, where I discovered Linda Barnett Johnson and joined her writing forums. Linda required everyone to join both the poetry and fiction forums. That's when I started writing fiction, and I picked writing for kids because it seemed less intimidating. Before that I'd never written any fiction at all, and if you had asked me, I would have sworn I never would.


What types of books do you like to read?

Poetry, science fiction, romance, fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal fantasy, mainstream fiction. If it looks interesting, I'll give it a try.


Tell us about Relocated and how the story came to be.

In spite of being a long-time science fiction fan, I was very wary (read phobic) about writing it, and, on a whim, I decided to sign up for 2010 Nano and write a science fiction novel. I decided to write for kids again -- my main character is fourteen -- once more because, again, it intimidated me less than writing for adults. Why? I was anxious about having to write a long book {grin}. Because I wanted to increase the potential word count, and because I love poetry and am crazy, I also decided to go for Robert Lee Brewer's poem-a-day chapbook challenge that November. I created an imaginary poet in the universe of my novel, and wrote 31 of his poems. Eight appear in the book.

 Relocated Blurb

When fourteen-year-old Keth's dad is transferred to planet Aleyne, he doesn't know what to expect. Certainly not to discover Dad grew up here, and studied with Ardaval, a noted Aleyni scholar. On Aleyne, Keth’s psi ability develops. However, psi is illegal in the Terran Federation. After a dangerous encounter with two Terran teenagers  conflict erupts between Keth and his father. Keth seeks sanctuary with Ardaval.  Studying with the Aleyne scholar Keth learns the truth about his own heritage. After Keth's friend's father, Mazos, is kidnapped, Keth ignores the risks and attempts to free him. Little does he realize who will pay the cost as he becomes involved with terrorists.

 

 
Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.

I'm co-author of Lifelines, a poetry anthology published in November, 2011, and of Sand in the Desert, the book of poems that goes with Relocated. The last two were published this past July. I also have a chapter book, The Angry Little Boy, that will be coming out in 2013.


What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

I'm editing the novel I wrote for 2011 Nano, another tween/YA science fiction novel that features one of the secondary characters from Relocated as well as an adult science fiction novel featuring another (adult) character.


What advice do you have for other authors?

Learn your craft, including grammar, punctuation, and spelling, to seek out a community of sorts, either online or in person, and to have a realistic view of yourself and your writing, both the strengths and the weaknesses.

I earn my living as a computer software engineer, and at one of the places I worked we would hold design and code reviews. The rules for these were straightforward. We would meet, and the moderator would record the issues brought up by the reviewers. The person being reviewed was allowed to ask questions to clarify the issues, but not to respond to them. After the meeting, the moderator would circulate the completed issue list, and the author could then respond. IMO this is excellent advice for authors as well as computer programmers.


 When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

I love music and play the flute and the piccolo, and I want to try to devote more time to that in the near future. Right now I'm busy raking acorns. We also own a large number of dogs, and they keep me busy as well.


Where to find Margaret and her books:




Relocated:

MuseItUp Publishing's Bookstore

Amazon

Smashwords

Bookstrand
 
Sand in the Desert:   Amazon

Lifelines:   Amazon


Margaret Fieland's Web Site

The Poetic Muselings blog


from Margaret:

I am a native New Yorker, born and raised in Manhattan, and have lived in the Boston area since just after the blizzard of 1976, thus missing the opportunity to abandon my car in a snowbank and walk home. I am the daughter of a painter and the mother of three grown sons. An avid science fiction fan, I selected Robert A. Heinlein's "Farmer in the Sky" for my tenth birthday, now long past.

In spite of earning my living as a computer software engineer, I turned to one of my sons to put up the first version of my website, a clear illustration of the computer generation gap. An accomplished flute and piccolo player, I can also write backwards and wiggle my ears. Thanks to my father's relentless hounding, I can still recite the rules for pronoun agreement in both English and French. My articles, poem, and stories have appeared in anthologies and journals such as Melusine, Front Range Review, and All Rights Reserved. My 2010 NaNo novel, Relocated, was published by MuseItUp Publishing in July.  I published the book of poems that goes with the book through CreateSpace. My book The Angry Little Boy,will be published by 4RV publishing in early 2013. I am one of six authors of the poetry anthology Lifelines.

Dom Testa: Author and Radio Personality

When the name Dom Testa comes up in a conversation, most people think of the host of the Dom and Jane Morning radio show on Denver’s Mix 100. However, teenagers know a different Dom Testa. He’s an award winning YA writer of Science Fiction with his Galahad series which starts with The Comet’s Curse. He is also a frequent visitor to schools to discuss writing and the founder of The Big Brain Club.

Recently I had the opportunity to ask him about his writing.

CC: When did you start writing?

Dom: Like most writers, I've been creating stories since I was a kid. I began to get serious about it in my 30s, but it was the work that I began doing with students that inspired me to write a young adult novel. The Comet's Curse was the result.

CC: I read that you write what you liked to read as a teenager. What else influences your writing?

Dom: It's true. When I was a kid I was a big fan of The Hardy Boys, and a series called The Three Investigators. I enjoyed the combination of action/adventure, along with a bit of mystery, and felt like kids today might want the same thing in an updated version.

I'm also influenced by the science magazines and television shows that I'm hooked on. It seems like there's so much material in the realm of the unknown, especially in deep space, that it allows young people to really fire up their imaginations.

CC: The Comet's Curse has garnered lots of positive press. What do young readers tell you about the book when you visit the schools?

Dom: Kids love the concept of a group of teenagers on their own, without any adults around. It's truly a coming-of-age tale, but also a story that inspires kids to learn responsibility and cooperation. Technically the book is science fiction, but the characters are so strong that it goes way beyond its genre. I've had kids (and parents, too) tell me that they'd never really read science fiction before The Comet's Curse, and they were now hooked. That's a huge compliment.


CC: Tor has picked up the Galahad series. Is this the first publisher you have had?

Dom: The Galahad series was originally a product of my own publishing company. After publishing three books in the series, I reached an agreement with Tor, and they have re-issued the first book (The Comet's Curse) in hardcover. They'll follow with the second book, The Web of Titan, in early 2010.

CC: You have committed yourself to helping youth with your web site The Big Brain Club. In what ways has your dedication to youth brought you satisfaction?

Dom: As a society we sometimes dwell too much on the negative stories we hear about young people, primarily because that's how the news media make their living. Yet, once you work with young people, you see so much to give you hope, and make you smile. The Big Brain Club gives kids the confidence to pursue their love of learning, without worrying about any negative stereotypes that otherwise might have held them back.

The Comet's Curse, and the rest of the books in the Galahad series, features characters who essentially embody the spirit of The Big Brain Club. The stories highlight the very best in kids, and hopefully inspires young people to achieve great things.

CC: For all those writers of young adult fiction:
Please tell how long you marketed the book before signing with Tor.
Did you go the agent route or submit to publishers yourself?
Did you ever consider self-publishing?

Dom: I did publish the books myself at first, which is quite a lot of work. I didn't pursue a traditional publisher, or seek out an agent, because I was anxious to get the books into the market right away. There are certainly trade-offs taking that approach; you DO control the product completely, including the timeline, but you're also responsible for everything, including distribution, marketing, sales, etc. It really eats at the time you have left for writing. I'm thrilled that the Galahad series has a new home with Tor!


CC: What advice do you have for writers?

Dom: Well, that's difficult to answer, because all writers are different. Like most writing teachers will tell you, it's all about discipline, about carving out that time to write as often as possible. The competition is staggering, but until you get your butt in the seat and stare down that keyboard, all you have are dreams. And nobody's buying those right now.

CC: You have three full time jobs with the radio show, writing, and speaking. How do you balance them all? Are you able to write everyday as writers are told they must do?

Dom: Finding balance is a challenge sometimes, but it helps that I love all of the things that I do. I'm fortunate, because so many people are dissatisfied with their professional lives, while I enjoy multiple careers.

However, given that they are all careers, the reality is that at any given time one of those activities is hogging my time, which might mean that writing has to take a back seat temporarily. But usually not for long! It always calls me back.


The Comet’s Curse is available on Amazon.com and major booksellers can order it if they don’t carry the book on their shelves. Locally, in Colorado, many grocery stores are also carrying it.