Interview and Giveaway Luminary (Anomaly #2) by Krista McGee

Published: January 7th, 2014

Description:

She was an anomaly with a death sentence. Now she's free.

Thalli was scheduled for annihilation. She was considered an anomaly--able to experience emotions that should have been eradicated by genetic modification. The Scientists running the State couldn't allow her to bring undue chaos to their peaceful, ordered world. But seconds before her death, she is rescued.

Now Thalli is above ground in a world she thought was destroyed. A world where not even the air is safe to breathe. She and her three friends must journey across this unknown land, their destination a hidden civilization. It's their only chance of survival.

Broken and exhausted after an arduous journey, they arrive in New Hope, a town that survived the nuclear holocaust. When Thalli meets the people there--people actually "born" to "families"--her small world is blown wide open.

Soon after their arrival to New Hope, the town comes under attack. She has escaped imminent death, but now Thalli is thrust into a new fight--a fight to save her new home. Does she know enough about this world of emotions, this world of chaos, to save not only herself, but the people she has come to love?

AUTHOR'S INTERVIEW

Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Parts of me are in all of my protagonists. In the Anomaly trilogy, I am like Thalli in that I grew up feeling different from those around me, like I didn’t quite fit in anywhere. And, like Thalli, I had to learn that feeling was not true, that I am exactly who God made me to be, to fit into His plan.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I taught Oompa Loompas to hip-hop dance for my Christian school’s production of “Willy Wonka, Jr.”

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I kept a blog while our family lived in Spain. It was really just an outlet for me as we adjusted to what turned out to be one of the most challenging, amazing years of my life. But as I wrote, friends responded with surprise. They liked reading what I was writing. They were able to connect with us, to feel what we were feeling, to share our experience overseas. At times, I wrote too much, was a bit too open, too raw. But I learned the power of words and began to crave more opportunities to share more stories with others.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

There are very few genres I do not enjoy. In any given year, I will read mysteries, romances, historical fiction, science fiction, supernatural fiction, suspense novels, classics; I also enjoy non-fiction – biographies, books on Christian living, on theology, devotionals, memoirs, essays, journals. I even like books about books! I just love to read.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I need time alone. Time to read, to pray, to just be quiet and still. I have my quiet time with God in the mornings, and I usually try to have at least one night a week where I can sit on the couch, relax and unwind. I have found that the more time I can take to be still, the more focused I am when it’s time to move.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

In Anomaly, I used the Periodic Table of Elements as the basis for the names – Scientists are in charge of the world, so it made sense. In Luminary, I used some friends’ names (like Kristie and Carey) for people in New Hope. For the Athenians, I chose names that fit ancient Athens…Jason, Helen, Alex.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My husband and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary this year. That is an accomplishment I am very proud of.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

I’d want to be a narwhal – they can dive deep, they have a horn that can feel, and they can live in places no human can. Not to mention, they are literally the coolest animals on the planet!

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Fear of failure was my biggest roadblock to writing. I struggled with starting because I was afraid I couldn’t finish. When I surrendered my desire and my fear, God enabled me to finish what I started.

Tell us about the book?

Luminary picks up where Anomaly left off – Thalli, Berk, Rhen, and John are escaping aboveground. As they travel, they discover so much of what the Scientists taught them was wrong. Thalli is stretched in ways she never imagined, as she is faced with her own insecurities and with her fierce loyalty to friends new and old. She finds the world beyond the State is so much more complex than what she was used to, and that complexity brings great joys and surprising heartaches.

TOUR SCHEDULE

Goodreads ** Amazon ** Barnes&Noble ** BookDepository ** Kobo

About the author:

Krista writes for teens, teaches teens, and more often than not, acts like a teen. 

I love youth ministry. Always have. From the time I worked at the youth camp after my first year of college, I knew this was the age group I wanted to invest in.

She and her family have lived and ministered in Texas, Costa Rica, and Spain. Her current hometown is Tampa, FL.

Website ** Goodreads ** Facebook ** Twitter

Author's US Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway