Y.A. Science Fantasy
Date Published: March 18, 2023
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Discovering who you are can be dangerous - even deadly.
Twyla's been living in hiding on Earth, hoping to leave her past behind. But when her mother, Madam Cassiopeia DeConnett finds her and kidnaps her back to the Paraxous Star Cluster, she expects her daughter to take her rightful place within the family business. The DeConnetts are Dashia- a group of genetically- engineered telepaths who use their powers to control some and ruin others. Their criminal organization is rich, powerful, and spans The Cluster.
When escape seems impossible, Twyla considers suicide. Then she meets Dovain, another prisoner, and their friendship blossoms into something more. Together, can they figure out how to free themselves? Can she trust herself enough to risk loving him? If she does, will that love save her, or lead to her destruction?
Tell us about
your book?- Escaping the Dashia is a YA (young adult) science fiction set
in the Paraxous Star Cluster. Twyla was hiding on Earth, when her mother, Madam
DeConnett, finds her and kidnaps Twyla back to the Paraxous. Her mother expects
her to take her rightful place within in the family business. The DeConnetts
are Dashia—think psychic vampires. So, Twyla must outwit her mother and escape before
she’s forced to become one of them.
What is the
PRIMARY benefit, above all others, that your potential reader will gain from
reading this book? (Be very specific. Please do not answer with 'good read' or
'page turner' or some other worn-out, overused phrase. Be concise and avoid
generalization.)- For the price of a book, the reader gets to travel to a
star cluster far, far away with fun characters of a variety of races. It is
pure escapism. (pun intended) At the same time, you get to root for Twyla as
she takes on a corrupt system and says and does the things you only wish you
could.
If you had to
compare this book to any other book out there, which book would it be?
(Remember: The
audience does not yet know you. It is very important that you reference
something they might be familiar with to effectively and powerfully communicate
what your work is about. You are NOT saying you are 'better than' or 'just
like' this comparative, but are somewhat the same in a very general sense, to
give the listener a point of reference.) - My pitch line was
James Patterson’s Maximum Ride set in a Star Wars style universe.
Hundreds of
thousands of books come out every year. Why should someone buy THIS book? (What
is it that sets THIS book apart from ALL those other books in the same genre or
category? What will the buyer get from you and ONLY you that simply cannot be
found elsewhere?) - I wrote the first draft when I was fifteen and I have
worked hard to retain the authentic voice of that age. But I’ve had decades to
develop the races and worlds that make up the Paraxous Star Cluster. I think
readers will appreciate the rich and immersive worlds.
Who is your
target audience? (Be very specific. Gender? Age range? Geographic area? Primary
interests? What benefits does the reader hope to gain from buying a book like
this book?) - Teenage girls are the primary audience. However, women over
forty make up 40% of the YA science fiction and fantasy market for books with a
strong female protagonist. One of the major themes of Escaping the Dashia is
staying true to yourself despite pressure to conform. I think with the media
and peers always telling women what they should look like, dress like, and
think like, young women, and woman of all ages, need a reminder that it is
absolutely okay to be yourself and stand your ground.
Did your
environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and did you use it
to your advantage? - Yes. I actually wrote a first draft of this
novel when I was the age of the protagonist, 15. As a Jehovah’s Witness and a
science fiction geek, I was a social misfit. I took that feeling of not
belonging and intensified it for Twyla by making her belong to an illegal,
genetically hybrid race. Then I let her say and do the things I wouldn’t dare
say or do in real life.
Tell us your
most rewarding experience since publishing your work? - Reading the reviews.
I never thought I would be so obsessed with reviews, but it means so much to me
to have a project I spent decades on be so well received. The most exciting
part is that reviewer often mention how much they are looking forward to book
two. That is great motivation for me to get the final draft done.
How would you
describe your writing style? - Immersive. When I am writing a Paraxous
novel, I am Twyla looking back on her life, loves, and losses. It is a
grownup’s version of play to me. I let Twyla tell her story. Then I move to a
different location (physically and mentally) and become the editor to make the
prose smoother and clean up organizational issues that come from writing stream
of consciousness.
Are your
characters pure fiction, or did you draw from people you know? - Twyla is the
person I wanted to be at 15 with all the consequences that go with being so
stubborn and feisty. The other characters are an amalgamation of my high school
friends and my favorite science fiction characters.
Are you more of
a character artist or a plot-driven writer? - I am a character
driven writer. I have lived with these characters in my head for so long that I
know what they are going to say or do in any situation. So, I put them in a
situation, let them react and their reactions effects what happens next. Then I
keep repeating the process.
What do you
hope to accomplish with your book other than selling it? - I want to
empower women of all ages to be true to who they are and not become someone
else in order to please anyone else in their life. And maybe it’s a bit
egotistical of me, but I also hope that my book encourages people to do the
right thing, even when there’s a high personal cost.
How can our
readers get in touch with you? (List your Website URL, Social Media links, and
Email) - I love hearing from readers. My email is
rebeccainchpartridge@yahoo.com. There is also a contact form on my website,
www.ripartridge.com, or @RIPartridge on Facebook and Instagram.
Where can our
readers purchase your book? (List different outlets with the link to your book)
-
My publisher, Black Rose Writing, and I made sure readers can order my book
through any bookstore, and of course on-line through Amazon and Barnes and
Nobles.
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