Guest Post and Giveaway: Justice Buried by Hilary Thompson

Description:

The people need Justice, but she's not listening. One hundred years before, the Great Sickness reduced the world to three cities. Now the community of Asphodel is trapped underground, waiting for the prophesied maiden of Justice to return and save them from their Fates. 

Sixteen-year-old Astrea is supposed to be this savior - too bad for them she isn't a believer. Trea fights against her false destiny: she rebels against her family and friends, then refuses her arranged marriage to the charming but deceitful Lexan. Learning her life is in danger, Trea is forced to trust Lexan - until she discovers a power she never knew she had, and one he already knew he did. 

As betrayal closes every door, Trea decides she must submit to her stars and accept her fate. Then a handsome stranger offers her an unexpected escape and the chance to create her own destiny.

GUEST POST

How did teaching help me to meet YA readers expectations in Justice Buried

Me: “Let me tell you why this book is important. Why it’s Literature with a capital L.”

Student: “Why are all the important books so boring?”

Me: “Not boring. Just different - they move at a different speed than your movies and music and blockbuster books. Those things are snacks. Candy bars. Literature is Thanksgiving dinner.”

Student: “But that’s only once a year. This is like once a month.”

Me: “I want you to be well-fed.”

Don’t get me wrong. I teach English. I love the classics like my students love Snapchat. But sometimes I’m really just in the mood for story, not study.

So when I set out to write a book for young adults, I wanted it to be important in its own way, but move at that faster speed my students generally prefer. Something better than a snack, but lighter than a feast.

I wanted the language to be beautiful, but not boring. To sing a little with emotion, but not slow down the story with description. I wanted the characters to be round and dynamic, but real and relatable.

And oh, yeah. I wanted theme and symbolism - just to prove this stuff is in every story.

I can’t yet say if I’ve been successful in all my goals - time and people like you will determine that! But I learn as much from my students as they learn from me. And I learn as much from what they don’t enjoy as from what they do.

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About the author:

Hilary Thompson is an independently-published author who released her debut Young Adult novel, Justice Buried, in January, 2014. Justice Buried is the first in a dystopian fantasy series incorporating mythology and astrology, with the second full-length title due later in 2014.

She also teaches high school English, which gives her some insight into her target audience, and helps her maintain a thick skin.

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