Seeking
Incandescence
By
Kristen Flood
Genre:
YA Science Fiction
Inno
shouldn’t exist. But she does. She is very real. Born illegally
outside of the breeding facilities, she has been raised to believe
that it is her duty to infiltrate Ares Academy and take down the
government. But can she fit in with the obedient masses of the
military? Pepper should be dead. She should have had her memories
wiped and been placed on the streets to die. But she was immune. She
has spent her life undergoing experiment after experiment and now has
been charged with one task. But can she be trusted to spy for her
captors? Mint is a military officer. The Seers have deemed him worthy
of joining Ares Academy. There he will be molded into the perfect
solider, the unshakable image of obedience, efficiency, and apathy.
But what if there was another way? Is standing up worth standing out?
Interview:
What
inspired you to write this book?
In
2012, my senior year of high school, I submitted to the L. Ron
Hubbards contest. At the time I only wrote fantasy but as I started
my short story I realized that it wouldn’t work for the contest.
With only weeks left before the submission I decided to do something
I had never done. I decided to write a science fiction piece. I
called it Blue Birds and sent in to the contest. I lost. I got an
honourable mention and I thought, “Well I just wasn’t good
enough.” I let the story go and I let it collect dust until a
conversation with a friend brought it back up. That is when I found
out that this contest had 1,000 people enter a quarter and an
honourable mention but me somewhere in the top 50. So I decided I
turn Blue Birds into a book and see where it took me. It was a casual
project at the time because I didn’t really have time to write a
book. July 15th of 2015 my husband and I had a baby. During my leave
from work, I realized that there was never going to be a good time to
write a book that I was always going to be busy. So during the
hardest college semester of my life with a new-born baby I wrote and
finished Blue Birds which I had renamed, Seeking Incandesce. That
book released June 17th of 2016. Now, writing just consumes my life
and I absolutely love it.
Do
you have a favorite character, or in what ways do any of the
characters represent you?
My
favorite character is Pepper. She wasn’t originally supposed to
have such a big part in the book. She had three scenes in the short
story and lived in Inno’s memoires. But as I dusted off that short
story to write my book, I realized that no one shined as brightly as
Pepper. In the background of Inno and Mint so many different things
were happening that only Pepper knew about. I think that Pepper’s
journey in itself is extraordinary and it’s what made this book
into a trilogy.
What
surprises did you come across when writing the book?
Pepper
was by far the biggest surprise of the book for me. Her character is
so unique in general and the way she complements Inno is truly
amazing. I try to put a bit of my own ideas on the world into my
books. One of the main themes is identity and I think that Pepper and
Inno display that so well. Another big surprise for me was Inno and
Mint’s relationship. When I wrote this book they were supposed to
fall in love but Inno and Mint just weren’t meant to be. I think
seeing these characters on paper is such a rewarding experience.
If
your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead
characters?
If
this book was to be made into a film I would love for my cover model,
Shyan Scurek, to play Pepper. I think that Lena Headey would make a
fantastic Clarabelle. Lena plays Cersei Lannister on Game of Thrones
and I think that her mannerisms fit perfectly with Clarabelle’s
cool and collective personality. Clarabelle is a villain you love to
hate.
Anything
you would like to say about writing? Encouraging words for potential
writers?
I
think that a lot of people that want to write get caught up in where
to start. Then they get caught up in their fear to fail. So I think
that I would say start by writing. Write that book, write that blog,
and just keep writing. Fail. Do it. Go ahead and fail a hundred more
times if you have too because the path to success is covered in
broken glass and if it doesn’t hurt you haven’t gone far enough.
There is never going to be a good time to write so do it in between
diaper changes, homework, lunch breaks, and whatever crazy hectic
schedules you have. Write because you have too, don’t make it a
choice, set a deadline and do it.
About
the Author
Kristen
Flood is a YA science fiction author and poet. At twenty-two, Kristen
published her first book, The
Museum: A Collection of Dark Poetry. Now
twenty-three, she has released her second book, Seeking
Incandescence.
Kristen lives in Missouri with her husband and son. When she’s not
writing or chasing her toddler she spends her time cramming for tests
and turning in last minute assignments at the University of Missouri
St. Louis. Kristen plans to release two books in the coming year but
until then she is just trying to get through finals.
Links:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kristenfloodbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KristenFlood01
Website: kristenfloodbooks.com
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