This weekend I will be completing another first, in that I will be attending Essex Author Extravaganza!  I have been reading up on authors for the last couple of months but finding myself increasingly disappointed in the lack of genre diversity.  When signing author, Laura Morgan, let me know she had a YA Dystopian series under the Pen L.C Morgans, I jumped at the chance to take a break from the contemporary romance and what a discovery it was!

“In the year 3030 an alien species known as the Thrakorian’s attacked Earth. On Invasion Day the extraterrestrial race invaded the planet by force, however such influence was not needed.  The Thrakorian’s took control easily from the indigenous race who foolishly believed they possessed it.”

Kyra was just a young girl when invasion day happened, lucky to escape the destruction of her home she sought sanctuary from the invaders in the most unlikely of places, the scars from the thorns of the rosebush she hid in would remain on her body, but the kindness of the invader who rescued her would remain indelibly on her soul.

King Kronus, unlikely saviour of Kyra and now overlord of Earth, is largely untouchable to Humankind, he is a face on broadcasts at most to them. Kyra keeping her earlier encounter a secret from those around her, is forced to grow up an orphan along with the many others who lost their families on Invasion Day. Joining the military is the only option as far as she is concerned, she is bright and she knows that the Intelligence Division is where her loyalties to the Thrakorian’s will take her.

Kyra’s preparation for her chosen path serves her well, quickly making a name for herself at the training camp, she catches the eye of Sgt McDermott, but just how will their growing feelings for each other impact upon her long term plan of rising up through the ranks? Kyra’s life is turned upside down by events, which start to spiral when a random event allows her natural code breaking ability to shine. Her abilities, however, lead her to start questioning all she has ever known and will it be possible for the alliances she has forged to protect her?

This book drew me in from the very first page, I loved that story began with quotes from future historical figures about how the earth was spiralling towards it’s demise prior to invasion day. The author very helpfully also outlines the hierarchy and social/military ladder, which helps with understanding the future you are being taken to. The long term damage caused by an apathetic society reliant on a benefit system is entirely believable and I think that set the story up well. Kyra’s drive is understandable and her encounter with King Kronus clearly gives her an extra edge. The story does raise a number of issues around friendship, trust, loyalty and even touches on domestic violence, which I felt to be a brave move in a YA book and one which was handled exceptionally by this author. Kyra is instantly likeable and her unfaltering loyalty starts to become her vulnerability in my view, leading her to truly life changing places and events. Although much of the story focuses on her military training, the pace is continual and doesn’t falter, you find yourself rooting for Kyra throughout.

The story is one where you think you know where it’s headed and then something happens to turn it on it’s head! Just when you think it’s a love story it almost becomes a thriller and then back to Sci-fi. I am loving the trend of strong young females in YA fiction and Kyra can certainly give Katniss and Tris runs for their money.

I cannot wait to read the second instalment in this series – this is most definitely a 5 star read from me.

Stacie Wilson is the winner of the first Author Spotlight contest over on Post-Apocalyptic Playground’s facebook page.  She graciously accepted our request for an interview, despite being in the midst of packing for UtopiaCon!

Stacie’s first full length novel Myst was released last month, there is a prequel novella, Prophecy, also available.  In between the two Stacie has been an anthology collaborator on several occasions.

Q.  At what point in your life did you realise that you wanted to be a writer?

Stacie:  I’ve always had a love for reading and writing.  Secretly, I’ve wanted to be an author for as long as I can remember.  I used to scribble down tidbits of poetry or story ideas on scraps of paper.  Somewhere along the line, I lost touch with that side of me for too long.  About five years ago, a friend told me about a new conference for YA authors and their fans in Nashville.  Going to UtopYAcon helped me to reconnect with my love of writing.  Since then, I’ve had a few stories published in anthologies, self published a novella and my first novel Myst.

Q. Where do you draw your inspiration, do you ever in some way use real life experiences?

Stacie:  I draw inspiration from anything and everything.  I have used some real life experiences in my writing.  A short story I wrote had a character that had to deal with being the new kid and having trouble fitting in.  My daughter dealt with that last year when we moved.  I was able to use some of her experiences with that in the story.

Q. Do you need peace and quiet to write or do you have a playlist to keep you going?  If you do would you share it with us?

Stacie:  I tend to need peace and quiet for the actual writing but I love to use music to set the mood.  My playlists tend to get huge

You can find Stacie’s playlist for Myst over at Spotify  http://spoti.fi/1XxHJcx

Q.  Are your characters always a complete work of fiction or is there an element of someone you know to start the idea rolling?

Stacie:  They start off as a work of fiction, usually elements from people I know of met sneak in.  My daughter and her friends are a great source of inspiration for teen characters.

Q.  What are your experiences of being an Indie Author, do you find that social media is a help of a distraction to your writing?

Stacie:  I absolutely love being and Indie Author.  I had a brief experience with traditional publishing and it just wasn’t a good fit for me.  I need the independence and control over how my story is published.  But, being an Indie Author comes with great responsibility.  You have to invest in quality editing, Covers and formatting.  Social Media is a mixed blessing.  I love being able to connect with readers and other authors.  Social Media officers fantastic marketing opportunities, but it can be very time consuming.  It’s easy to get sucked into it and spend too much time there rather than on writing.

Q.  What are you currently working on or is it a secret!? 

Stacie:  No secret! I’m working on book 2 in the Myst series.  It’s coming along and I’m shooting for an October release date.

Q.  Have you always had a fascination with the mystical realms?

Stacie:  Absolutely. I’ve always been fascinated by magic and the idea that there are mystical realms and creatures out there.  I’ve had the great fortune to meet some amazing people over the years who had some pretty impressive psychic abilities.






Q.  If you could be any Character you have written who would you choose?

Stacie:  Hands down, Lanie.  She is Brianna’s BFF in Myst.  She is quirky, feisty, loyal and has one heck of an adventure ahead of her.

Q.  What are you currently reading?

Stacie:  I work a full-time day job as well as writing.  All my free-time is being spent in the world of Myst.  The last thing i read is Chris Cannon’s YA series, Going Down in Flames.  I binge read the first three books.  There are dragons!

Q.  Fictional Dinner Party:  Give me 5 fictional characters or authors who you would have as dinner companions.

Stacie:  Wow, that is so hard!  There are so many of both that I would love to have dinner with.  Fictional characters would be Anne from Anne of Green Gables (I LOVED that series growing up) and Brianna from Myst.  She has lived in my head for so long i’d love to just sit down and have a casual dinner with her.  Authors would be Jennifer L. Armentrout, Darynda Jones and J.R. Ward.

Stacie, thank you so much for taking time out to take part in this interview.  I hope you have an amazing time at UtopiaCon and we really look forward to the release of the next book in the Myst series.

The first book Myst is available now:

You can also find out more about Stacie on facebook https://www.facebook.com/StacieWilsonAuthor/?fref=ts or her Website www.StacieWilson.com