How-do!
This week I was
lucky enough to interview author Sharon
Bayliss and review her debut novel The
Charge.
The Charge’s blurb:
When King of the Texas Empire kidnaps Warren's brother, Warren
embarks into a still Wild West to
save him. On his journey, he makes a discovery that changes his life forever—he
and his brother are long-lost members of the Texas royal family and the King
wants them both dead.
He gets help from an activist Texan named Lena, who's itching to
take on the King and happens to be a beautiful firecracker Warren can't stay
away from. Convincing her he's not one of the bad guys becomes harder when a
mysterious energy stirs in his body, turning his brain into a hive of emotions
and memories—not all his own.
A legacy of violence is not all he inherited from the brutal
Kings of Texas. The myth that the royal
family possesses supernatural powers may not be myth at all.
***
The Review
I would first like to
say that I am partial to any story that is layered with politics, especially one
that pits democracy against monarchy (I majored in Political Science and love
fictional politics – real stuff not so much). So after reading the blurb I was
excited to read Sharon’s book. Not only does
she know how to write a compelling blurb (ha ha ha – what a great figure of speech!),
she writes a damn fine book! Great job, Sharon!
The characters were well developed; I really rooted for Warren
and Lena and even found myself occasionally cheering for the bad guys.
I enjoy the way Sharon constructed the story. Her use of third-person narrative while occasionally
changing the focal character gives the story an immediacy and helps to keep things
fresh and interesting.
There were times when I was reading where, had the character
and I been talking, we would have said the same thing at the same time. I would have been owed lots of Cokes…if you don’t
know what that means, then I’m sorry, you had no childhood—maybe you’re a robot
or a Caebellum (you’ll have to read the book to find out what a Caebellum is).
Additionally, I really liked the alternate history aspect of
The Charge. “The Texas Empire” …who
doesn’t feel giddy whenever those words are next to each other? It sounds like it should have some Ben-Hur timpani
along with it.
Sharon also left room for a sequel (thank you – I’ll definitely
be reading it!) while still managing to tie up enough loose ends to give a satisfying
end.
There’s also some romantic tension for all you lovers of the
mushy stuff too: not enough to overwhelm or detract from the story, but enough to
sweeten things up and which I would have missed were it not there.
I can easily see The
Charge as a bestseller. I have already recommended it to my
seventeen-year-old son. I don’t think I
even need to say it, but this book gets 6 stars out of 5 (my version of 11, as in
“it’s one louder”).
***
Quotes
“Lean had always believed in the soul. But only on faith,
until that moment. She felt hers now. He
touched it. She pictured the soul as a point of light near the heart, but it
ran like electricity through her entire body and mingled with the energy
outside her skin. It felt he gently tugged on parts of her soul. She didn’t
feel pain, but she could hardly bear the intimacy.”
“The next pulse
of pain might take out his heart. Wetness slid down his neck he guessed blood
at first, but no, he was weeping. He knew the tears meant he wanted to live. He
wanted it more than he had ever wanted anything.”
“You’ve been
brainwashed by the U.S. anti-Texas propaganda if you believe Texans aren’t up
to fighting for their nation. They are a nation of ready-made soldiers who love
their country like they love their wives.”
***
The Interview
Tell us about
your most recent work.
When
the King of the Texas Empire kidnaps Warren's genius brother, Warren embarks
into a still-wild West to save him. On his journey, he makes a discovery that
changes his life forever—he and his brother are long-lost members of the Texas
royal family and the King wants them both dead.
Who
inspired/helped you the most? (they can
be dead or alive)
I give credit to my husband. Fortunately, he's too kind and
stable to inspire a book character, but definitely falls into the
"helpful" category. He's supported me the whole way, even though it
hasn't always been easy.
What are your five
favorite books and why?
-Harry Potter (all of them) – Just a wonderfully
entertaining story.
-1984, The Handmaid's Tale, & Oryx & Crake –
Inspired my love of dystopia.
-Warm Bodies – The last a book I read. A great example of an
unique spin on usual tropes.
What are you
working on right now?
Oh, trying to manage all my responsibilities without going
crazy. Did you mean in writing? J Currently, I'm working on a short story that I wish to
submit to an anthology with other authors form Curiosity Quills Press.
What were some
of the obstacles you encountered while writing your book and how did you
overcome them?
Where to begin?
J One challenge that hit me hard was classifying my novel.
It's right on the edge between YA & adult. It mixes sci-fi and fantasy. And
it's an alternate history. I'm proud that it mixes genres, but that can make it
hard to market, so agents and publishers were hesitant. Fortunately, Curiosity
Quills Press was up to the challenge.
Lastly, if you
had to give a one-hour lecture to a hundred 13 year-olds….what would be the
topic of your lecture? Why?
That is a creative question! If I'm allowed a little
flexibility, I don't think an hour-long lecture would be appropriate for 13
year olds. I put together an active activity. Maybe a scavenger hunt or a
kickball tournament. If I was forced to do a lecture, at the risk of upsetting
their parents, I might instruct them on sex education and healthy
relationships. I did one of my social work internships at a middle school and
it was my job to teach 8th grade girls about healthy relationships.
A tough task, but an important topic for that age.
Sharon's Links
Blog/Website: www.sharonbayliss.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sharonbayliss
*Sharon is also hosting a free giveaway from now until the
end of the month (3/31)
Loved the review. I am intrigued now. And I totally agree with Warm Bodies. It's a really great book.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jennifer. I saw Warm Bodies (it was such a cute movie) but haven't had the chance to read it... I'm going to have to fix that soon. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great post, Beth!
ReplyDeleteYour welcome. Thanks for the great book!!
DeleteSounds like an exciting mash-up indeed! Wishing you much success with your first of what I'm sure will be many books :)
ReplyDelete:) Absolutly Rhiann....and Sharon did you hear that...Many books!! :)
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