Introduction to Truth Launch Week!

Sequels have been on my mind lately as I do battle with the edits for ASHEN WINTER, the sequel to my debut novel, ASHFALL. My latest plan for learning to write a sequel? I’m going to drive to Bloomington for the Truth launch party (Friday night from 7 to 10, be there!), corner Julia, and generally make an annoyance of myself until she agrees to give me a three hour seminar on writing the perfect sequel.

Because here’s the thing, Julia’s accomplished the nigh-impossible—writing a sequel that’s even better than her excellent debut. Movie directors can’t do it (I’ll give you The Empire Strikes Back, but outside of that? Watchable sequels are thin on the ground). Most authors—even the very best—can’t live up to their original work (Little Men, anyone? Prince Caspian?).

Julia achieves this feat by deepening and complicating Nina’s story. In XVI, sex is a threat that looms with Nina’s sixteenth birthday—when her dystopian society will literally brand her a sex-teen.  In Truth, sex is something to be both feared and enjoyed, making Nina’s inner struggle more complex and relatable. Similarly, the world-building deepens in Truth—we learn how the Governing Council formed—and as a consequence the book feels even more plausible than XVI.

What I’m trying to say is this—read these books. For one thing, they’re enjoyable: XVI is something of a dystopian mystery, Truth more of a thriller. But they’re also important. Like all great dystopian fiction, their real subject matter is present day society, our tragically waxing rape culture. Something is wrong when the word “rape” is used casually in many quarters, while the word “feminist” is unutterable except as a perverse portmanteau, “feminazi.”  Julia Karr’s fine work is, I hope, part of the antidote.

Where to Buy:

Indiebound: Truth/XVI

B&N: Truth/XVI

Amazon: Truth/XVI

Connect with Julia:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Buzzing about XVI

Oh my heck! Oh my heck! Our first Leaguer is out of the gate today with XVI! If you haven't already, go get your copy, and join us here on the blog for a discussion.

Here's what people out there are saying:

"Gender politics and sexual awareness play prominent roles in Karr's thought-provoking dystopian debut, set in a totalitarian future. A solid, enjoyable story." ~Publishers Weekly

“A fun little thriller.” ~Kirkus

“In her unsettling debut, Karr depicts a sex-obsessed future where women are the perpetual victims of predatory marketing, and other societal ills seen in our present...taken to terrifying ends. ...there’s no doubt this well-written, accessible sci-fi thriller will provoke discussion.” ~Booklist

Now those are the professionals. But we all know the real pros are the readers. So you wanna know what other people are saying? How about Princess Bookie? She weighs in with FOUR CUPCAKES! That's pretty darn delicious.

And Zoe over at Zoe's Book Reviews had some amazing things to say also. Or check out Supernatural Snark's review. So if you don't believe the pros, maybe you'll believe your fellow readers. Because nothing speaks about a book louder than readers.

As for this reader, I only have a few words to say. XVI of them, actually: XVI is the kind of book you lay awake thinking about. And that’s a good thing.

Have you read XVI? Care to add your own 16-word review in the comments? Haven't read it? Tell us what you're most excited for in XVI.

Introducing XVI by Julia Karr

This week we’re celebrating the release of our own Julia Karr’s first book, XVI.  (And next week is dedicated to the release of Beth Revis’ ACROSS THE UNIVERSE.) So, I’m kicking it off with a little introduction to XVI.  During the rest of the week, we'll cover the book more in depth, talk to Julia, maybe do something fun, and then end with a wrap-up by Julia herself.  On to XIV! (btw, check out the pic below of XVI spotted out in the wild!)

XVI spotted face out in a Nashville bookstore.

The Jacket Blurb (via Amazon):

Nina Oberon's life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls she'll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world - even the most predatory of men - that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina's worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina's mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past - one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother's killer.

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Speak; Original edition (January 6, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0142417718
ISBN-13: 978-0142417713

My Favorite Things:

• Strong, compelling female characters.  Nina is a jeans-and-t-shirt kind of gal who’s not taken in by the media hype.  Best friend, Sandy, on the other hand, buys the whole “sex-teen” thing wholeheartedly—because she sees it as a way out of poverty. 
• The setting. Future Chicago is almost like another character in the story.
• Heart-wrenching ending.  That’s all I’m gonna say!

Anyone else had a chance to read XVI yet? If so, what were some of your favorite things? Please no spoilers!

Writing Genre Fiction by League author Julia Karr

Dude, you guys, I'm so tired. I've been behind the scenes at an online writer's conference this week -- WriteOnCon. I have nothing in my brain and it's 11:30 on Thursday night.

So instead of torturing you with something from the scary place inside my skull, I thought I'd let League blogger Julia Karr do the talking. Here's her vlog from the WriteOnCon conference. It was amazing.