Savage Winds
Author: R.J.
Merle
Genre: YA Sci-Fi / Adventure / Horror
Book Description:
A dangerous conspiracy unfolds...
In Author R.J. Merle’s whirlwind start of the Children of the
Elements series, a clumsy teenage techno-geek struggles to protect kidnapped
children from a covert government organization responsible for creating their
abilities to control the five elements.
A mighty wind...
Eighteen-year-old Stedford Thackett’s conspiracy theorist brother
ensnares him in a real life children-as-weapons plot, while a determined
scientist grooms happy-go-lucky five-year-old Darcie Lynn Carpenter to use the
wind as a deadly weapon.
Out of control...
Despite the firm hand of Scientist Nora Hicks, Stedford struggles
to rescue the kids and escape, even as Darcie Lynn fights to gain control of
the surging power of the savage winds.
Buy Links:
NOTE: Savage Winds is FREE!
Author Interview
1. What inspired you to want to become a writer?
The books of authors such as Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Dean Koontz encouraged me to want to tell and write great stories.
2. Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
Honesty, finishing the series and starting the next one has been quite rewarding. As far as publishing, contact and comments from readers and interest in the current series and future books has been inspiring.
3. If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?
Stephen King’s Carrie or Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire because those books grabbed me by the throat, yanked me into their fictional world, and didn’t let go.
4. If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
The psychic powers featured in the Children of the Elements series truly intrigued me, that’s why I wrote the series. Imagine, being able to control the elements—wind, earth, fire, water, and the void. Savage Winds features a child able to control the wind with the curl of a finger or the flick of her wrist. Can you picture directing the strength of and the direction of the wind with a twirl of your pinky? Now that would be one awesome superpower!
5. Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
If you like reading about psychic powers, science fiction adventure or horror, and the struggle to survive a possible apocalypse, then you will enjoy Savage Winds.
6. Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
Currently, I have two books in the queue. One is the first book in The Elven Quest Trilogy about teens on at survivalist boot camp ending up in a realm of elves, trolls, and dragons, and the other is the first book in a series about teens auditioning for a ghost-busting TV reality show and their haunting adventures.
My next release, one or the other of the above or both, is set for Spring 2015.
7. Do you write as you go or do you have the book planned before you start the first draft?
I have a basic story idea and the characters fleshed out in my head, then I jot down major plot points, possible scenes in one sentence bullet points, then as I go along, I list possible happenings and actions in each scene as bulleted items.
8. What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?
The Divergent Series: Insurgent. Just as much as I enjoy writing YA fiction, I thoroughly enjoy reading YA books and watching YA movies.
9. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
Where ever I can write, which is almost anywhere—I’ve written in a tent in the Australian Mountains, in a floating lodge in Canada, etc., so wherever I might live, as long as I am with those I love, I am home.
10. Can you see yourself in any of your characters?
There’s a bit of all types of personality aspects in each of us, don’t you think? My theory is that even our villains are reflections of our inner dark side.
1. What inspired you to want to become a writer?
The books of authors such as Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Dean Koontz encouraged me to want to tell and write great stories.
2. Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
Honesty, finishing the series and starting the next one has been quite rewarding. As far as publishing, contact and comments from readers and interest in the current series and future books has been inspiring.
3. If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?
Stephen King’s Carrie or Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire because those books grabbed me by the throat, yanked me into their fictional world, and didn’t let go.
4. If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
The psychic powers featured in the Children of the Elements series truly intrigued me, that’s why I wrote the series. Imagine, being able to control the elements—wind, earth, fire, water, and the void. Savage Winds features a child able to control the wind with the curl of a finger or the flick of her wrist. Can you picture directing the strength of and the direction of the wind with a twirl of your pinky? Now that would be one awesome superpower!
5. Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
If you like reading about psychic powers, science fiction adventure or horror, and the struggle to survive a possible apocalypse, then you will enjoy Savage Winds.
6. Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
Currently, I have two books in the queue. One is the first book in The Elven Quest Trilogy about teens on at survivalist boot camp ending up in a realm of elves, trolls, and dragons, and the other is the first book in a series about teens auditioning for a ghost-busting TV reality show and their haunting adventures.
My next release, one or the other of the above or both, is set for Spring 2015.
7. Do you write as you go or do you have the book planned before you start the first draft?
I have a basic story idea and the characters fleshed out in my head, then I jot down major plot points, possible scenes in one sentence bullet points, then as I go along, I list possible happenings and actions in each scene as bulleted items.
8. What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?
The Divergent Series: Insurgent. Just as much as I enjoy writing YA fiction, I thoroughly enjoy reading YA books and watching YA movies.
9. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
Where ever I can write, which is almost anywhere—I’ve written in a tent in the Australian Mountains, in a floating lodge in Canada, etc., so wherever I might live, as long as I am with those I love, I am home.
10. Can you see yourself in any of your characters?
There’s a bit of all types of personality aspects in each of us, don’t you think? My theory is that even our villains are reflections of our inner dark side.
About the Author
Author
R.J. Merle stepped out of the realm of Top-Secret documents (shh, don’t tell…)
to write sci-fi and paranormal fiction.
R.J.
survived and escaped both the entertainment field and the
government-contracting environment, craves the Walking Dead, and entertains
what-if tidbits about “supposed” technological and biological advances.
No
stranger to the goings on in the city of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, R.J. Merle
blends a down-home flavor with a former in-the-know—hypothetically, of
course—technical background to craft the twists and intrigue of Secret City
Adventures.
Author Links:
***GIVEAWAY***
$50 Amazon / B&N Gift Card.
$50 Amazon / B&N Gift Card.
Blog Tour Organised by:
What an impressive cover!
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Chosen By You Book Club for hosting! The covers for the entire series was created by a designer contracted by Towering Pines Publishing. (Fingers crossed that that designer is able to do covers for future books.) Also, during the tour, Savage Winds' regular price of $3.99 has been discounted to $0.99. I look forward to comments/questions!
ReplyDeleteThis was an interesting article. I do have one question for the author, though - why storms? Do you have interest in meteorology? I dated a guy that was really interested in hurricanes and followed them all throughout hurricane season. Still does. He isn't anywhere that typically gets hit by one, but that interest is still there. So I'm just curious about why controlling storms came to mind. Maybe something with current events at the time?
ReplyDeletethe books look interesting! my question for the author is if she could choose to be anything but a writer what would she pick ?
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading the author interview today. Love that cover too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interview, it is great to know your influences
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the interview.
ReplyDeletesmiles, thank you for your question! Most certainly, there's an underlying excitement surrounding storms. Each book features one of the psychically gifted children or teens point of view. Savage Winds includes a scene where a tiny five-year-old struggles to hold a gigantic tornado at bay. The entire premise of the series was based on coming across Serial Killer Earth episodes on the History Channel. The what-if scenarios kicked in, and the theme of the series evolved to: If nature refuses to be controlled, can mankind endure.
ReplyDeleteOkay, that makes me think I'll really really enjoy your series. I loved Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series, and this sounds similar but with kids just starting to learn the control. Love that the History Channel's programming inspired this series :) It's true though, if we can't control nature, one day it may be the death of us (assuming humans don't manage to kill themselves off first with all the weaponry). Do too much that modifies the weather, like how we're causing global warming, and eventually I think it'd lash out. Almost like a defense system. Storms may not have brains, but it sure seems like it sometimes! Thank you for replying to my question :)
DeleteFun interview!
ReplyDelete--Trix, vitajex(at)Aol(Dot)com
This sounds like an interesting story that I would enjoy reading.
ReplyDeleteLoving that cover! Thank you for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteThanks again, Chosen By You Book Club for hosting! I so appreciate everyone's comments and wish each of you all the best on the Giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThis book look greats. I can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway! =)
Thank you for the interesting interview! I can't wait to read more.
ReplyDeleteThis series has it all: mad scientist, superpowers and possible apocalypses! Thanks for introducing this series to me, its got all my favorite themes!
ReplyDeleteAuthor R.J. Merle's series sounds fantastic! Looking forward to reading these books. Thank you
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the interview, and the series sounds like something I'm going to have to pick up.
ReplyDeleteFYI, I checked regarding the cover design. They were created by Book Pub Hub (bookpubhub.com) a division of Towering Pines Publishing.
ReplyDeleteSounds really good! Looking forward to reading this book!
ReplyDelete