Welcome to my stop on the blurb blitz for If the Light Escapes by Brenda Marie Smith. This book tour was organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. On my stop, I have an excerpt from the book as well as the tour wide giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card. Be sure to visit the other stops on the blitz for more content. Enjoy!
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Author: Brenda Marie Smith
Publisher: Southern Fried Karma
Publication Date: August 24th 2021
Print Length: 257 pages
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction
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A standalone sequel to IF DARKNESS TAKES US
A solar electromagnetic pulse fried the U.S. grid fourteen months ago. Everything’s gone: power, cars, running water, communications, all governing control and help—gone. Now northern lights have started in Texas—3,000 miles farther south than where they belong. The universe won’t stop screwing with eighteen-year-old Keno Simms.
All that’s left for Keno, his family and neighbors is farming their Austin subdivision, trying to eke out a living on poor soil in the scorching heat. Keno’s still reeling from the the death of his pregnant sister. His beloved Nana is ill, Grandpa’s always brandishing weapons, and water is far too scarce. Desperate thieves are hemming them in, yet he can’t convince his uncle and other adults to take action against the threat.
Keno’s one solace is his love for Alma, who has her own secret sorrows. When he gets her pregnant, he vows to keep her alive no matter what. Yet armed marauders and nature itself collude against him at every turn, forcing him to make choices that rip at his conscience. If he can’t protect Alma and their unborn child, it will be the end of Keno’s world.
IF THE LIGHT ESCAPES is post-apocalyptic science fiction set in a near-future reality, a coming-of-age story told in the voice of a heroic teen who’s forced into manhood too soon.
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EXCERPT:
“These northern lights bug the crap out of me,” I tell Alma. “What are they doing here? They’re supposed to be tied to magnetic poles. I saw this show a couple years ago that said the north pole was drifting north, not south. So how did they end up here? The poles can’t drift around randomly. That’s impossible.”
“I don’t know, baby. They worry me, too, but we need to be quiet.”
“They make me feel like something bad is gonna happen. What do you call that? Fore-something.”
“Foreboding?”
“That’s it. I’ll be quiet, now, and just stew in my foreboding.”
“Silly.” Alma reaches up and ruffles my hair.
When we patrol and we can’t cuddle on account of guns, Alma and I could talk all night. It’s not a good idea for us to talk much when we’re patrolling, though. We get all involved and forget to listen for anyone who might be sneaking around, hunting for food or water, or worse: getting ready to kill us for it.
We walk along with our rifles in the night. It’s cool out here, but not cold…
Alma stops and raises her gun.
“Hear that?” she whispers.
“No, what?” I’ve got my gun up, too, and I’m pivoting around, searching. I want to hide Alma, but she would never let me.
“Over there.” She points at the corner by the park. And I hear a jangly noise, like car keys. No one drives cars now, though…
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Brenda Marie Smith lived off the grid for many years in a farming collective where her sons were delivered by midwives. She’s been a community activist, managed student housing co-ops, produced concerts to raise money for causes, done massive quantities of bookkeeping, and raised a small herd of teenage boys.
Brenda is attracted to stories where everyday characters transcend their own limitations to find their inner heroism. She and her husband reside in a grid-connected, solar-powered home in South Austin, Texas. They have more grown kids and grandkids than they can count.
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GIVEAWAY:
One randomly chosen winner, via Rafflecopter, will win a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card. Good luck!
(All the Ups and Downs is not responsible for this giveaway, its entries, or the prize. Goddess Fish Promotions assumes all responsibility.)
What compelled you to start writing
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, big question. I've been compelled to write ever since I was a child, but didn't really get a chance until my kids were grown. Now, I have a lot to say, and it's just a matter of having time to get it all said. Thanks for the quesiton.
DeleteI will pass this one to my husband when I am finished!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Amy. Happy to hear that. Have a great holiday season!
DeleteThanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteNice cover. It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diana, for the kind words. Olivia Hammerman is the mega-talented cover artist, and I'm very lucky to have her artwork for both books in this series.
DeleteSounds like a great book and I love the cover.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sherry. Very kind of you to say. Wishing you a happy holiday season.
DeleteSounds like my type of read!
ReplyDeleteNice! Thanks for saying so, LeonieT. I hope you get a chance to read it, and that you also have a good holiday.
DeleteSounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rita. Very kind of you to say. Have a great holiday!
DeleteAbsolutely beautiful cover!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mya. I am thrilled with the cover and the cover artist, Olivia Hammerman. I hope that your holiday is going well.
DeleteOops! Technical difficulties! Now, where was I, and good luck with your book! Thanks for sharing it with me and have a wonderful holiday season!
DeleteThank you, Stormy. A wonderful holiday season to you as well.
DeleteCover looks great! Excerpt sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Thomas. I appreciate the kind words.
Deletegreat cover, this sounds like an amazing book
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for saying this. Olivia Hammerman is the amazing cover artist. All my best to you!
DeleteSounds like a great book!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for saying that, Zelda. I appreciate it.
Deletelooks like a fun one
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty fun, and also harrowing. I hope you get a chance to read it. All my best to you!
Deletewow. What an intriguing story. Good work.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Paige. It's different, that's for sure, and it's very kind of you to say such nice things.
DeleteDo you prefer to have pumpkin pie or pecan pie for dessert?
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Most of the time, I'd have to go with pecan. But my mother had this fabulous pumpkin chiffon recipe, and I learned to make it. It's lighter and fluffier than regular pumpkin pie. It takes some work to make it, so I don't do it too often, but when I do, I'd have to choose it hands down.
DeleteNice cover. It sounds like an interesting book. Thank's for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan. I appreciate the kind words, and I'm always happy to share.
DeleteHow did you come up with this book?
ReplyDeleteOh gosh. Well, it's a sequel and flowed naturally from the first book. The first book, If Darkness Takes Us, was from Grandma Bea's point of view, and this book is from her grandson Keno's, who was a standout character in the first book, and he took on a life of his own.
DeleteI enjoyed reading the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this.
Thank you so much for saying that. Have a great holiday season!
DeleteThis sounds so good! Can’t wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Drea. I appreciate the kind words.
Delete