Let's give a warm welcome to Linda Hawley, author of Dreams Unleashed. Please check out her website, and let me know what you think of it when you are done.
1. Please tell readers about your current book.
Dreams Unleashed book summary:
It’s the future year of 2015, where technology governs life. No one on the globe is free from being tracked through government RFID. The worldwide underground organization, GOG, is the one group equipped to fight against citizens’ loss of privacy. Ann Torgeson is a technical writer working for a tidal energy company—living a seemingly normal life in the Pacific Northwest—when her vivid dreams turn real. Is her training as a paranormal CIA agent when she was nineteen years old now altering the doorway between her subconscious and reality? When Ann starts to dig into her past, her present begins to unravel, leading the reader through events that twist and turn everything upside down. Question everything you know is essential in this dystopian trilogy.
2. Who or what inspires your writing?
Because I ground my story by using current technology and world events, it’s entirely possible that we will live what I have written, and that fact inspires me. That is the greatest thing about writing about the near future.
3. When did you know you would be a writer?
I started writing poetry when I was five years old; I loved playing with words, and telling stories through poetry. I’ve been a storyteller all my life (written and verbal). I knew when I was little that I wanted to be a writer, but it took me years to finally dive into the deep end.
4. How long did it take you to write your first novel?
I started writing Dreams Unleashed three years ago, but I wrote 3/4 of the novel in two months. Working with the editor took another month. The first thing I wrote of Dreams Unleashed was the last chapter.
5. What is the hardest part of writing for you?
Hands down it’s the editing; I would rather eat glass. I have a fantastic editor; she is the Special Forces of content editors. But the process is very difficult for me. For example, I spent nearly a whole day researching hotel doorman's hats from the 1920's, because I had this image in my mind of this "hatted doorman" of a hotel Ann was visiting. I wrote the scene with the doorman and Ann's interaction with him, and I didn't even give him a name, only referring to his hat. I thought it was a funny scene, but my editor thought it really detracted from the storyline, so out went my doorman's hat. Now he's called "Brian" in the novel. But here's an insider secret--that hat is coming back in another book!
6. Do you have any writing rituals?
I don’t have any rituals, but my writing mantra is, “Don’t stop!” I also like a clean/uncluttered desk.
7. Have you written any thing else?
Besides The Prophecy trilogy (Dreams Unleashed is book one), I am also co-writing a biological thriller with another author. All three books of The Prophecies trilogy will be published this year. The biological thriller will be published later this year or early next year. Then in early 2012 I have 10 volumes of poetry that will be published. Also coming in 2012 is a brand new dystopian trilogy; all three of those books will be published in 2012.
8. Any advice to aspiring writers?
Don’t stop! Don’t loose your humility—you’ll need that so you can keep learning.
9. Who is your favorite Author?
I think Justin Cronin (The Passage) is the best dystopian author in our time. His skill in storytelling, plot/subplot development, and imagination is genius.
10. What is your favorite book?
The Passage is 5-star. I also love The Road by Cormac McCarthy; he taught me the great importance of dialogue (as a writer). The Outlander series, by Diana Gabaldon—is really superb.
11. What are you currently reading?
I purposefully make sure I read regularly in most genres of fiction, so that as a writer I am constantly growing. Today I finished The Giver, by Lois Lowry. I’ve been meaning to read it for some time. I am working my way down a list of 20 dystopian books that I got. I am a very fast reader, and will get through the list in a couple of weeks.
12. How do readers find out more about you?
My website is: http://lindahawley.com/
My blog is: http://lindahawley.com/b2e/blog5.php
The print copy of Dreams Unleashed is due to be published about June 10th.
The eBook version of Dreams Unleashed is available for purchase now (for all eBook readers) at Smashwords, link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/61373 and of course at Amazon, link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051VDGJK
You can read a free sample of Dreams Unleashed at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051VDGJK
Note From the Author:
The main plot of Dreams Unleashed is certainly dystopian, but I have worked hard as the author to give you well-rounded characters, some good humor, adventure (travel to other countries), and a heartfelt love story. Early on in writing the trilogy, I made a decision that I would not include any profanity nor premarital sex in the book. (Although Ann does know how to use a Taser, and does, in her defense.) I did this because I wanted anyone to be comfortable reading my trilogy. I was overjoyed to see that teens have started reading Dreams Unleashed, and are talking about it--they love the technology, the dog Lulu, and the love story. If you've never read a dystopian novel before, Dreams Unleashed might be the first one to try.
It’s the future year of 2015, where technology governs life. No one on the globe is free from being tracked through government RFID. The worldwide underground organization, GOG, is the one group equipped to fight against citizens’ loss of privacy. Ann Torgeson is a technical writer working for a tidal energy company—living a seemingly normal life in the Pacific Northwest—when her vivid dreams turn real. Is her training as a paranormal CIA agent when she was nineteen years old now altering the doorway between her subconscious and reality? When Ann starts to dig into her past, her present begins to unravel, leading the reader through events that twist and turn everything upside down. Question everything you know is essential in this dystopian trilogy.
Kindle: 411 KB
Publisher: Nouveau Publishing Company
ASIN: B0051VDGJK
Purchase at Amazon
Thank you for the opportunity!
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