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Albert Camus

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Willing to sacrifice everything - Tainted Energy by Lynn Vroman

Description:

For seventeen-year-old Lena, living in the trailer park with the rest of town’s throwaways isn’t exactly paradise. Dealing with a drunken father who can't keep his fists to himself doesn’t help matters either. The only good thing in her life, other than track, is the mysterious man who visits her dreams, promising to find her.

When a chair burns her arms, Lena chalks it up to stress-induced crazy. Yet as bizarre incidents escalate, even being crazy can’t explain it all away… until one day dream guy does find her.

Tarek lost Lena seventeen years ago after she was accused of treason and marked Tainted. He finally discovers her reborn on Earth into a life of suffering as punishment for her crime.

However, someone else has already found her… and wants her dead. Willing to sacrifice everything, he fights to keep her safe so she can live the only life she’s ever known—even if that life doesn’t include him.

I think the main inspiration for writing young adult literature has to be my daughters and watching them grow into amazing young women. So much is going on internally and externally in that time between teen years and early twenties. Exploring those emotions and life-altering changes fascinates me.

As for which genre is my favorite, I write both fantasy and contemporary, and I love each genre for different reasons. Fantasy is great because I get to build some fantastical worlds, as well as create and fall in love with new characters who are challenged to traverse those places. With contemporary, for me, it’s all about the characters and getting as deep inside their heads as I can.

The second book, Lost Energy, will be out in 2015. Readers should expect to find the story expanding beyond Lena’s life. She’s going to be thrown into situations in different worlds with awesome new characters. In the first book, she’s discovering all these wonderful, terrifying things about how the universe is really constructed while figuring out how to survive it. In the second, she’s going to have to transition from being a survivor to a fighter, as she gets rid of one enemy only to find plenty more in line waiting to take away everything—and everyone—who means something to her. (from author's previous interview)

EXCERPT



A movement at the edge of the forest caught my attention, causing me to grip the railing. At first, I thought it was Wilma, but the shape was too big, too masculine. Maybe one of the potheads decided to come back without his friends? Nope. The size of the guy didn't match any of the skinny boys who walked in minutes before.

When he made it to the edge of the woods, twinges of...something...prickled my skin.

"Finally." His voice was a whisper, but that didn't stop what he said from carrying across the road as he moved closer. Sadness covering his face gave me an odd urge to reassure him, let him know everything was okay.

His hand covered his heart. "It's been so long."

I took sporadic, small steps off the porch, not wanting to spook him. That's when I noticed his clothes.

Dressed all in black, the tight shirt and pants made his blond hair glow. I'd never seen anyone outside of actors in movies wear what passed for a leotard, which moved with him as though his clothes were a living organism leeching onto his body, needing it to survive.

"Who are you?" My nails dug into the wood.

He shook his head as the sadness surrounding his eyes tightened to anger so vivid waves of it floated in the frosty air.

The sudden change definitely helped erase any desire to soothe him. I had no clue what pissed him off, but sticking around to find out didn't sound like a good idea.

The ripples and sways of his shirt as he stalked across the road were beautiful, graceful, but the look on his face said I should forget about his grace and run.

My hands pushed down the air in hopes he understood the universal signal for calm down.

If he understood, he didn't listen because he ate up the rest of the space between us in seconds.

I took off, running to the back of the park, not wanting to lead him to my doorstep. He was right behind me, so close I imagined his breath hitting the back of my neck when he spoke. "Wait!"

*******

I finished first and went to get a paper towel. My chair sliding against the tan linoleum didn't interrupt Tarek's breakfast, his head still bent and focused on his eggs. As I wiped my face and sat down, I studied his hands, huge and littered with tiny white scars. The tears hiding behind my eyelids surprised me. I mean, I had only known the guy for like less than three days.

But I had no idea how he got all those scars. I'd bet the old Lena knew. His Lena.

Jealousy ripped through my core, stabbing my heart as realization hit like a sledgehammer. He wasn't here for me. As much as I wanted to tell him about his role in my dreams, I couldn't. I didn't want him to get excited or happy–because that would only make him want her more. It would make him think she still existed. The Lena he knew…the Lena I wasn't.

"I'm not her, you know." The words escaped before I could clamp my mouth shut.

He stopped eating. After a slow swallow, he put down his fork without looking up. "I know."

I swiped at a renegade tear. Why the hell was I crying? "I don't think you do."

Another swallow bobbed his throat. His silence screamed at me, declaring what I knew to be true.

Anger from somewhere deep and hidden seethed at the surface. "Can I ask you something?"

He nodded, still looking down. "Anything."

"If she was so great, why did I end up here?"

His head popped up at the question, those gray eyes drilling right into mine. "What do you mean?"

"It sounds like she was a criminal, or at the very least, an asshole."

His eyes turned to stone. "She wasn't."

I held up my hands, shaking my head. "Hey, don't get pissed at me. I'm just stating the obvious."

He stared for what had to be five long, uncomfortable minutes before his face softened. After tapping his fingers on the table, looking a bit lost, he knelt in front of me. Another stray tear escaped, and his callused thumb brushed it away.

He sighed. "I know you're not her, but…I also know who you are," one of those scarred hands touched my chest, right over my heart, "in here."


About the author:
Born in Pennsylvania, Lynn spent most of her childhood, especially during math class, daydreaming. 
Today, she spends an obscene amount of time in her head, only now she writes down all the cool stuff. 

With a degree in English Literature, Lynn used college as an excuse to read for four years straight. She lives in the Pocono Mountains with her husband, raising the four most incredible human beings on the planet. She writes young adult novels, both fantasy and contemporary. 


7 comments:

Unknown said...

I never read this but After reading about it now i want to. :))

Judy said...

Definitely looking like a good read that I would enjoy!!

smiles said...

Sounds like the romance bit to the story will be great, with the line "Willing to sacrifice everything, he fights to keep her safe so she can live the only life she’s ever known—even if that life doesn’t include him." I like how a description of how the second book will differ is included. Knowing that the books show personal growth in Lena like that, I really want to read it.

Ally Swanson said...

I enjoyed reading the excerpt and book description! This sounds like such an interesting and intriguing read! I will definitely be adding it to my "to-read" list.

johnthuku0 said...

The excerpt makes me wish that to read the whole novel. It is that interesting. Thanks for hosting.

Anonymous said...

This sounds very interesting!

Betul E. said...

Looking forward to reading this book!