Title: Power Divided
Author: S. Behr
Series: The Evolutionaries (Book 1)
Genre: YA, Coming of Age, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Behr Ink
Release Date: Jan 21, 2020
Edition/Formats: Digital & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
Violet is the princess of Neyr, the third of the Nine Realms
of Amera. At least, she was until the day came when Violet was to demonstrate
her abilities to the people and solidify her place in Ameran Society. The
citizens of Amera have extraordinary abilities, from living on the ocean floor
to flying in the air. But no one can turn back time. When the unthinkable
happens, tearing her heart and her family in two, Violet flees and is unable to
escape a tidal wave of events that brings her face to face with forgotten
truths buried for millennia. Only the discovery of a thousand lifetimes may
provide the key to her return home. When old enemies arrive on the shores of
Neyr, distrust and prejudice resurface. Secrets begin to explode all around
Violet, setting her world on fire, and those she loves fall victim to a
terrorists' plan to eradicate their enemies. But Amera stands in their way, and
with no mercy, the enemy is willing to go through the innocent to get what they
want. Violet turns to her best friend Lily, and a few unexpected new friends,
who band together to save what they can of her realm, and the rest of Amera.
But in the storm that has turned her world upside down, will Violet be able to
overcome the nightmare of her past in order to save the future of everyone in
Amera, and perhaps the world?
“This first volume in the Evolutionaries series skillfully
balances intriguing worldbuilding, whose details are slowly revealed, with
well-paced action sequences. It also ably handles Violet’s character
development along the way while also offering a diverse, lovable supporting
cast whose members become the protagonist’s close friends and allies. The novel
effectively addresses themes of cooperation and isolationism as well as
autonomy, consent, and moving on with one’s life after learning of long-held
secrets.”
“A notable and thoughtful addition to the crowded shelf of
post-apocalyptic YA novels.” Kirkus
Review
Book
Links
What's the hardest thing about writing?
Do you write in order or do you write out of order, and then go back to compose your story into one cohesive piece?
Wow, okay writing? Hmm, I would have to say the hardest thing about writing is not sounding like I just watched an episode of the Kardashian. Just Kidding, I don’t actually watch their shows, no offense to anyone, I am just a fantasy and sci-fi nerd.
When I started writing The Evolutionaries series, it didn’t have a name. Not a big surprise there, but I had this grand vision of what I wanted it to be. It was so big that my walls looked like a murder board, strings and post its everywhere. It stayed that way for the better part of two years, until we remodeled, and I had to get a giant dry erase board. Seriously it’s bigger than every door in my house.
In the beginning I tried working from the heart, that’s what most artists do in my opinion, and I don’t mean just writers. Musicians, painters, photographers, you name it, I have seen it or maybe even tried it, but when it came to writing, it didn’t work.
What I found at the end of my first brilliant draft, was that I had written my version of the Silmarillion. (Even though I love LoTR, I had to read the first 3 chapters of the Silmarillion at least four times.) So in other words, I had to regroup and re-strategize because my story was one giant info dump.
Now that I have made my first round about the block, I have learned a lot and it changed everything about the way I approach writing. I hope for the better!
I definitely try to have a good idea of where I am headed, and I do set up rules for my characters, and the places they live and come from. So if I want to write something I have to say nope, she isn’t capable of that, and it keeps things in order for me and the developmental part of the process to a minimum. (Keep my editor happy, is my mantra.)
Overall, I write my first draft close to the 75% mark straight through, then take a look. I make notes of what I feel is missing, characters that don’t seem necessary, and plots that just shouldn’t be a part of this project. Just yesterday I added two new chapters to the beginning of book 2 so I think I am a mixed bag.
I like to have the bones down, then go back and put in the meat and flavor of what I think is my style of writing. Then finish strong. The one thing I dislike about most books is a short ending that feels unsatisfying. I would say there are more series I love that do that, and I wish they didn’t.
But hey, years later, they came back and wrote additional trilogies to go along with it so maybe that was their master plan all along!
For me, I do have another series in mind, and if I can swing it, the third series will weave the two back together into a new series that stands alone with a whole new look on life in my universe with new characters and cameos of past characters people will already know and hopefully love as much as I do.
I love a good story,
in all artforms. I have been a professional photographer for nearly 20 years
and I had to learn to tell a story with a click of a button and capture the
layers of emotion in a single image. Little did I know it was boot camp for
writing.
Being an author was a childhood
dream and as I got older it seemed to be a dream that grew further out of reach
with each passing year. But with encouragement from a lot of friends, new and
old, my husband being my biggest cheerleader, The Evolutionaries series has
begun with Power Divided.
To keep me company during my
writing bubbles are my husband and our fur babies. They love whatever I write,
even if they can't read it but they don't always love the music I write to. We
all have to make sacrifices! And I am still pinching myself ever since I found
out, that, recently I became a Featured Author. Power Divided will be in the
Feb 15th Issue of Kirkus Magazine.
"This first volume in the
Evolutionaries series skillfully balances intriguing world building, whose
details are slowly revealed, with well-paced action sequences. It also ably
handles Violet’s character development along the way, while also offering a
diverse, lovable supporting cast whose members become the protagonist’s close friends
and allies. The novel effectively addresses themes of cooperation and
isolationism, as well as autonomy, consent, and moving on with one’s life after
learning of long-held secrets." excerpt from Kirkus Review about Power
Divided.
Extended Bio from Sbehr.com
STEPHANIE BEHR
It took a long time to realize
that being half Chinese and half Filipino, (the country I was born in), then
growing up in Texas from the time I was less than a year old, made me a child
of many faces, traditions, and ideologies. Needless to say, it was confusing.
But it was also amazing, and I am the person I am because of all the places my
life has taken me so far, and the people I have met along the way.
When I met my husband, he was a
rock star, and I was his biggest fan. His first gift to me was a camera, and
without the support of Pushmonkey (his band), I might not have learned how much
I love photography and made a career full of priceless moments. Now, Howie is
my biggest fan. With photography, we got to work together, and it has taken us
around the world. Who would have thought that would happen when I opened that
gift, my very first camera?
Photography is the study of
light. To capture a story in a moment and freeze emotions with a single click.
To commemorate memories for future generations. I learned how to tell a story
with a single image. Little did I know it would also be what started me down
the path of wanting to tell stories with the written word.
SEE
YOU IN THE NEXT BOOK!
Twitter @sbehr_author
