Among Us
Author: Georgina Newcomb
Genre: Teen Science-Fiction
Wattpad Book Blurb:
Lain Morgan was a shy 16-year-old girl with a dangerous secret. If discovered, it would mean a life of shackles and experimentation.
When she was tracked down by a persistent boy who knew too much, she panicked that her secret was about to be exposed. But instead she learned that her ability to manipulate time was a little more than strange, and the birth father she never knew was part of a race of aliens, living secretly amongst mankind for the last twenty years ago.
In order to protect her adoptive family from people who were hunting down others like her one by one, she runs, heading toward a rebellion that she's less than prepared for.
1. Please tell the readers a bit about yourself.
I'm from a family of authors (I have grandparents, aunts and uncles who have all published). My biggest claim to fame would be my mother who has written and published 24 books and is a Sunday Times Best-Seller. But for me personally, I have always loved books and I have probably read hundreds in my lifetime, spending most of my childhood reading. But writing is what I've always wanted to do, right when I was a little girl, I was always writing stories and I hope to continue writing for a long time. I tried out a few careers, even gaining a qualification in HR, but it wasn’t for me. Writing is absolutely my present and future.
2. What types of books do you write?
The first complete novel I wrote was a Fantasy/Adventure novel aimed at 20-30 year olds. For the Among Us trilogy I switched to Young Adult/Science-Fiction. Although the Fantasy/Adventure novel was fun to write, it didn’t flow as smoothly as Among Us did. I’ll probably stick with Young Adult going forward, maybe flipping between Science-Fiction, Fantasy and Adventure. If an idea forms, however crazy it is, if it excites me I will write it.
3. How many books have you written?
I have completed two books and partly written two more. The first book I wrote, Faelydur’s Conquest, was the first in a series and I started the second, stopping after 30,000 words. I realised that the series needed a lot of work, and I wasn’t accomplished enough as a writer to sit down and make the changes that were necessary as it’s more of an epic series. So I put it to one side and eventually began posting it on Wattpad a month or so ago for feedback. I stepped away from writing for about a month after that and then the idea of Among Us came along. I wrote the first book, edited and re-edited it in about three months, then began posting it to Wattpad. I started book two recently and so far it’s going great.
4. What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?
I’m really enjoying The Hunger Game’s movies, so I can’t wait for the next one to come out at the end of the year. I also love The Hobbit; it’s probably equal between the two. As for books, there are a lot I’m waiting for to finish several series. Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor recently came out; though I’ve been so busy I haven’t picked it up yet. As for one’s that haven’t yet been released, The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin and City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare, are probably the ones I’m most looking forward to.
5. What type of books do you enjoy reading?
Young Adult books are great easy reads and I love sitting down with them, sometimes hashing them out in 1-3 days. Anything magical/supernatural is fantastic and makes for a great escape from normal boring life, so fantasy and science-fiction are definitely my first choices. I do like adventure novels, but it has to be really good, if none of the main characters have a strange story or ability, to hold my interest. To be fair though, I have read a lot and as long as it’s an interesting story, I’m likely to read it to the end and probably pick up the next book in the series.
6. If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?
I’m assuming clothes go without saying so…
1. Books. Lots and lots of books. I could be anywhere and it wouldn’t matter as long as I had books to read.
2. If I had access to (vegetarian menu) Nandos, I’d be a happy girl.
3. If I couldn’t write, I’d go crazy. I’d need my laptop, but I guess that wouldn’t really work without a power source. Would a power source be part of it or extra? And if I had a power source, could I have the internet too? Choices choices.
7. Are you considering a sequel?
Among Us is actually a trilogy. I’ve already plotted the second and written down some ideas for the third. I generally know in my head where it’s going and I’m excited to get it all down on paper. So yes, there are more to come and I’ve already started writing the second book. I’d love to finish it in the same kind of time frame that I finished Among Us, but we’ll see.
8. What inspired you to become a writer?
The main reason is my love of stories. I once read a quote which said that 'If I didn't have writing, I'd be running down the street hurling grenades in people's faces'. Now I doubt very much that I would be doing something like that, but I think I would probably go insane if I didn't get out all of the stories that run around in my head, by writing them down. If I didn't have writing, I honestly don't know who I would be.
Excerpt from Among Us
“Around five billion years from now, the sun will begin to die,” said Mr Hefferman, throwing his hands dramatically into the air. “The sun is born with enough fuel to last its lifetime and when the core runs out of hydrogen and helium, it comes to the end of its life.”
“Then it explodes, isn’t that right sir,” Joe barked from the back of the classroom. “KABOOM!” He gestured the explosion with his fingers splayed as he rolled his chair back on its legs.
“Not quite,” replied Mr Hefferman, a small smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. “Who can tell me what will happen to the sun when it runs out of nuclear fuel?” He gazed around at the seated children and waited for hands to rise. They didn’t.
In a seat near the high-ceilinged windows, where the bookshelves filled with workbooks, dictionaries and thesaurus’s lined the walls, Lain tried to be invisible. She was in enough trouble as it was that day and didn’t need any help from Mr Hefferman.
“Lain?”
She wrinkled her nose at the sound of her name. Just her luck. “I don’t know sir,” she feigned ignorance, willing the teacher to choose someone else.
“Come now Lain, you know this,” he smiled encouragingly.
It made her feel guilty to lie and she had been told that she wasn’t very good at it, but he didn’t know what would happen if she answered his question. She preferred the idea of detention. Lain shook her head and stared at her desk; letting her bangs fall over her eyes, she peered through the black strands. If she couldn’t see him, he couldn’t see her. Such a childish thought, but it made her feel better to pretend.
Mr Hefferman gave up. “The core will contract and the sun will swell, engulfing Mercury and Venus and perhaps even the Earth.”
The classroom chorused with gasps, as was to be expected at the idea of the end of the world. But even so, 5 billion years was a long time, it was not something any of them needed to worry about.
Zoe raised her hand. “What happens if the Earth isn’t engulfed?”
Mr Hefferman clapped his hands together and Lain flinched. “Great question, Zoe. Well if the Earth is not swallowed up by the sun, it will begin to melt.”
“Like an ice-cream?” Sophia asked, grinning. Sophia’s circle of friends found this analogy particularly funny and proceeded to burst into fits of hysterical giggles.
Lain hooked one ankle around the other and folded her arms on the desk. Sighing, she wondered if she was the only one who was actually interested in learning about the sun. It may not be their immediate problem but generations and generations from now, their families would be facing the end of the world. That was scary – wasn’t it?
“Indeed,” he nodded and Lain looked up in surprise, thinking for a moment that she had spoken aloud. Their teacher wasn’t looking at her however, he had begun to pace slowly behind his desk, rubbing his hands together as if this was the most exciting speech he had ever given. “Whether the sun will engulf the earth or vaporise the surface of the planet, we cannot know. But should the human race wish to continue living on, we will need to leave Earth and find another planet to inhabit.”
The bell rang.
Lain didn’t wait for Mr Hefferman to excuse the class. She was up from her seat and hurrying out the door in seconds.
In the hallway it was all out war. Any other day and the halls of the school would be energetic with teens avoiding parents and homework. The cliques would be hanging out in their different stations; the popular girls hovering beside their sporty other halves, the rugby club would launch their rugby balls over the heads of unsuspecting pupils and the hockey team would be sweeping their sticks across the ground, knocking over those clumsy enough to not watch their feet. Even the smarter homework-loving individuals would be hanging around after class, asking their teachers a few more questions about that maths equation. Lain was not part of any of the school cliques, she always went straight home after school.
Today was not one of those days. Today was a Friday, and Friday meant weekend.
The halls of the Oxford Academy on a Friday were equivalent to a heavy metal mosh pit. In this instance the phrase, ‘No Pain, No Gain’, was relied on greatly. The pupils flew from their classrooms and threw themselves at the crowd pressed up against the single exit doorway, moulding themselves into the hundred already squashed into the hallway.
Author: Georgina Newcomb
Genre: Teen Science-Fiction
Wattpad Book Blurb:
Lain Morgan was a shy 16-year-old girl with a dangerous secret. If discovered, it would mean a life of shackles and experimentation.
When she was tracked down by a persistent boy who knew too much, she panicked that her secret was about to be exposed. But instead she learned that her ability to manipulate time was a little more than strange, and the birth father she never knew was part of a race of aliens, living secretly amongst mankind for the last twenty years ago.
In order to protect her adoptive family from people who were hunting down others like her one by one, she runs, heading toward a rebellion that she's less than prepared for.
Author Links:
Author Interview
I'm from a family of authors (I have grandparents, aunts and uncles who have all published). My biggest claim to fame would be my mother who has written and published 24 books and is a Sunday Times Best-Seller. But for me personally, I have always loved books and I have probably read hundreds in my lifetime, spending most of my childhood reading. But writing is what I've always wanted to do, right when I was a little girl, I was always writing stories and I hope to continue writing for a long time. I tried out a few careers, even gaining a qualification in HR, but it wasn’t for me. Writing is absolutely my present and future.
2. What types of books do you write?
The first complete novel I wrote was a Fantasy/Adventure novel aimed at 20-30 year olds. For the Among Us trilogy I switched to Young Adult/Science-Fiction. Although the Fantasy/Adventure novel was fun to write, it didn’t flow as smoothly as Among Us did. I’ll probably stick with Young Adult going forward, maybe flipping between Science-Fiction, Fantasy and Adventure. If an idea forms, however crazy it is, if it excites me I will write it.
3. How many books have you written?
I have completed two books and partly written two more. The first book I wrote, Faelydur’s Conquest, was the first in a series and I started the second, stopping after 30,000 words. I realised that the series needed a lot of work, and I wasn’t accomplished enough as a writer to sit down and make the changes that were necessary as it’s more of an epic series. So I put it to one side and eventually began posting it on Wattpad a month or so ago for feedback. I stepped away from writing for about a month after that and then the idea of Among Us came along. I wrote the first book, edited and re-edited it in about three months, then began posting it to Wattpad. I started book two recently and so far it’s going great.
4. What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?
I’m really enjoying The Hunger Game’s movies, so I can’t wait for the next one to come out at the end of the year. I also love The Hobbit; it’s probably equal between the two. As for books, there are a lot I’m waiting for to finish several series. Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor recently came out; though I’ve been so busy I haven’t picked it up yet. As for one’s that haven’t yet been released, The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin and City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare, are probably the ones I’m most looking forward to.
5. What type of books do you enjoy reading?
Young Adult books are great easy reads and I love sitting down with them, sometimes hashing them out in 1-3 days. Anything magical/supernatural is fantastic and makes for a great escape from normal boring life, so fantasy and science-fiction are definitely my first choices. I do like adventure novels, but it has to be really good, if none of the main characters have a strange story or ability, to hold my interest. To be fair though, I have read a lot and as long as it’s an interesting story, I’m likely to read it to the end and probably pick up the next book in the series.
6. If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?
I’m assuming clothes go without saying so…
1. Books. Lots and lots of books. I could be anywhere and it wouldn’t matter as long as I had books to read.
2. If I had access to (vegetarian menu) Nandos, I’d be a happy girl.
3. If I couldn’t write, I’d go crazy. I’d need my laptop, but I guess that wouldn’t really work without a power source. Would a power source be part of it or extra? And if I had a power source, could I have the internet too? Choices choices.
7. Are you considering a sequel?
Among Us is actually a trilogy. I’ve already plotted the second and written down some ideas for the third. I generally know in my head where it’s going and I’m excited to get it all down on paper. So yes, there are more to come and I’ve already started writing the second book. I’d love to finish it in the same kind of time frame that I finished Among Us, but we’ll see.
8. What inspired you to become a writer?
The main reason is my love of stories. I once read a quote which said that 'If I didn't have writing, I'd be running down the street hurling grenades in people's faces'. Now I doubt very much that I would be doing something like that, but I think I would probably go insane if I didn't get out all of the stories that run around in my head, by writing them down. If I didn't have writing, I honestly don't know who I would be.
Excerpt from Among Us
“Around five billion years from now, the sun will begin to die,” said Mr Hefferman, throwing his hands dramatically into the air. “The sun is born with enough fuel to last its lifetime and when the core runs out of hydrogen and helium, it comes to the end of its life.”
“Then it explodes, isn’t that right sir,” Joe barked from the back of the classroom. “KABOOM!” He gestured the explosion with his fingers splayed as he rolled his chair back on its legs.
“Not quite,” replied Mr Hefferman, a small smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. “Who can tell me what will happen to the sun when it runs out of nuclear fuel?” He gazed around at the seated children and waited for hands to rise. They didn’t.
In a seat near the high-ceilinged windows, where the bookshelves filled with workbooks, dictionaries and thesaurus’s lined the walls, Lain tried to be invisible. She was in enough trouble as it was that day and didn’t need any help from Mr Hefferman.
“Lain?”
She wrinkled her nose at the sound of her name. Just her luck. “I don’t know sir,” she feigned ignorance, willing the teacher to choose someone else.
“Come now Lain, you know this,” he smiled encouragingly.
It made her feel guilty to lie and she had been told that she wasn’t very good at it, but he didn’t know what would happen if she answered his question. She preferred the idea of detention. Lain shook her head and stared at her desk; letting her bangs fall over her eyes, she peered through the black strands. If she couldn’t see him, he couldn’t see her. Such a childish thought, but it made her feel better to pretend.
Mr Hefferman gave up. “The core will contract and the sun will swell, engulfing Mercury and Venus and perhaps even the Earth.”
The classroom chorused with gasps, as was to be expected at the idea of the end of the world. But even so, 5 billion years was a long time, it was not something any of them needed to worry about.
Zoe raised her hand. “What happens if the Earth isn’t engulfed?”
Mr Hefferman clapped his hands together and Lain flinched. “Great question, Zoe. Well if the Earth is not swallowed up by the sun, it will begin to melt.”
“Like an ice-cream?” Sophia asked, grinning. Sophia’s circle of friends found this analogy particularly funny and proceeded to burst into fits of hysterical giggles.
Lain hooked one ankle around the other and folded her arms on the desk. Sighing, she wondered if she was the only one who was actually interested in learning about the sun. It may not be their immediate problem but generations and generations from now, their families would be facing the end of the world. That was scary – wasn’t it?
“Indeed,” he nodded and Lain looked up in surprise, thinking for a moment that she had spoken aloud. Their teacher wasn’t looking at her however, he had begun to pace slowly behind his desk, rubbing his hands together as if this was the most exciting speech he had ever given. “Whether the sun will engulf the earth or vaporise the surface of the planet, we cannot know. But should the human race wish to continue living on, we will need to leave Earth and find another planet to inhabit.”
The bell rang.
Lain didn’t wait for Mr Hefferman to excuse the class. She was up from her seat and hurrying out the door in seconds.
In the hallway it was all out war. Any other day and the halls of the school would be energetic with teens avoiding parents and homework. The cliques would be hanging out in their different stations; the popular girls hovering beside their sporty other halves, the rugby club would launch their rugby balls over the heads of unsuspecting pupils and the hockey team would be sweeping their sticks across the ground, knocking over those clumsy enough to not watch their feet. Even the smarter homework-loving individuals would be hanging around after class, asking their teachers a few more questions about that maths equation. Lain was not part of any of the school cliques, she always went straight home after school.
Today was not one of those days. Today was a Friday, and Friday meant weekend.
The halls of the Oxford Academy on a Friday were equivalent to a heavy metal mosh pit. In this instance the phrase, ‘No Pain, No Gain’, was relied on greatly. The pupils flew from their classrooms and threw themselves at the crowd pressed up against the single exit doorway, moulding themselves into the hundred already squashed into the hallway.
:) x
ReplyDeleteBrilliant interview AL
ReplyDeleteThanks Alecia x
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Georgina :)
Delete