Wings
Firstly, it was just the prisoners that were used.
Then it became orphans, and even some of the elderly.
Now it is everyone in a society where people are struggling to find work.
Money is offered to anyone willing to volunteer themselves or their children to take part in scientific trials run by the organisation called Calox.
Except no one ever gets the money.
No one is ever seen again once they've volunteered for the trials.
Interview
1. Please tell the readers a bit about yourself.
My name is Danielle, but I prefer to be called Dani. I'm sixteen years old and I live in England. Usually I write novels, but I also write poetry and song lyrics for a few local bands. My main ambition is to be a veterinary surgeon, but I would also love to be a published author one day.
2. What types of books do you write?
Normally, I write paranormal and supernatural novels. I also like action, and would love to try romance one day. I don't want to limit myself and I hope to try every genre that I can.
3. How many books have you written?
Wings was my first full length novel, although I've written two others since. One of which is a action novel which is centred around teenage fiction, and the other is a fanfiction based around the Hunger Games.
4. What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?
I'm really looking forward to the rest of The Hobbit movies, along with Catching Fire. Book-wise, I can't wait for the finale to the House of Night series, and City of Heavenly Fire from the Mortal Instruments series.
5. What type of books do you enjoy reading?
I like most genres. However, romance novels without being paranormal, supernatural, horror, or action really don't appeal to me. I like it when there's more to the plot than just a plain love story.
6. If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?
1. Is it possible to take wi-fi with me to the desert island? Probably not. Okay, then I'd probably take my boyfriend for company.
2. A blanket for warmth.
3. A knife for hunting and making some sort of shelter. That's practical enough for me.
7. Are you considering a sequel?
The sequel to Wings has been started, but currently I'm too busy with my A-Levels to write it properly. I want to take my time and develop my ideas before I just dive into it. I can confirm that it will be called Flames.
8. What inspired you to become a writer?
Writing has always been a passion to me. I was strongly encouraged to read as a child and I got into short stories very quickly. I suppose writing was just something I wanted to try. I was inspired by a few writers, such as Anthony Horowitz and Malorie Blackman, and I wanted to be able to write like them. As I grew up, I realised that if I truly wanted to write, I'd have to create my own style and find my voice. I know I'm still not there yet, so I'll keep going.
Excerpt
There had been a very tense discussion between the two before they’d entered the prison. Eric knew that there were rules against testing on children, but Ford insisted that these were his instructions. Torn, Eric had eventually decided to follow Ford into the prison and watch him administer the serum. After all, his job depended on his ability to follow instructions.
Ford had never been into the prison before. He usually remained in the laboratory, carefully constructing serums that could be injected into people without damaging any of the genetic material within it. Now he was in the prison, stood awkwardly outside a prison cell, staring in at a girl no older than sixteen, whilst clutching strand seventy of avian DNA. His heart was pounding violently against his chest, echoing against his ribs which were threatening to break at any moment. He was weak at the knees and really hoped he wouldn’t collapse.
“Come here,” Eric repeated, feeling sick to the stomach. “It’ll only take a moment.”
He ran a hand through his mousy brown hair as the girl stepped forwards, watching him with icy blue eyes, filled with curiosity. She was very thin, paler than he expected, with a pointed nose and high cheekbones. In different circumstances, he knew she would grow into a very pretty young lady.
“What are you going to use on me?” Sara asked. “What’s in the needle?”
Her question startled Eric. Usually, his subjects remained silent. However, he answered quickly in an accusing tone: “I’m not going to use anything today. He’s going to be administering the serum.”
Sara’s eyes shot to Ford, who shifted his weight from foot to foot. She could see he was anxious. He looked up in time to meet her eyes, still brimming with curiosity, and absent of the fear he’d expected to see. Despite everything, Sara was more confident than Ford – who was unable to find the words he needed to answer the girl’s questions. Luckily, Eric came to his rescue.
“The man here will be using a type of bird cell.” Eric said, seeing no reason to lie.
“Ah,” she replied distantly. “Avian DNA. If I start sprouting feathers, I will not be pleased.”
Ford and Eric exchanged a look. Neither of them had ever seen a subject so calm and collected before and it was quite unnerving. Ford fumbled with the syringe in his hand, filling the barrel with as much of the deep blue serum as he could. He raised it to eye level, ensuring that there was enough for the experiment to work. Beside him, Eric had set up the video camera and stepped aside.
“I don’t think I can do this,” Ford hissed at Eric, who just shrugged in response.
Sara rolled her eyes, “Just get it over with; I’m going to die anyway.”
