Extinction Of All Children
Book One
L.J. Epps
Genre: Fantasy Fiction, Dark Fantasy
Publisher: L.J. Epps
Date of Publication: 06/03/2016
ISBN: 978-0-9971913-3-2
ASIN: B01GM2YTHE
Number of pages: 250
Word Count: 79,826
Cover Artist: Damonza.com
Tagline: What would you do if you were the last eighteen-year-old in the territory? Join Emma on a wild ride and find out how she survives this fate.
Book Description:
The futuristic world of Craigluy has been divided into three territories and three economic classes. A large wall separates the territories, so the poor cannot mingle with the rich.
Since President Esther, the ruler over all of Craigluy, believes the poor do not have adequate means to take care of children, they are no longer allowed to procreate. Pregnant mothers are imprisoned until their babies are born, then the infants are taken away.
Emma Whisperer is the last child to survive. She is the last child born in lower-class Territory L before the law was instituted in the year 2080. She is the last eighteen-year-old.
Emma struggles to understand why she was spared while others weren’t. She doesn’t like the laws and believes they should be repealed. Her family doesn’t agree with her; they discourage her rebellious streak. Yet, she helps them to cover up their own family rebellion. She helps them to hide a big secret, a secret that could be both disastrous and deadly for members of their family.
As she meets new people along the way, Emma learns who she can and cannot trust. And, in the end, she makes a gut-wrenching decision that may be disastrous for everyone.
She finds herself in danger for doing what she feels is right.
Get the entire series on Amazon
EXCERPT 2
My brain checks
back in on the conversation. My mother is still going on about her day.
back in on the conversation. My mother is still going on about her day.
“I was able to
pick up some fruit from the market. The apples and pears were fresh. We can
have them for dessert on Sunday, along with the whipped cream Emma picked up.”
She puts on a fake smile. “They don’t always have it, since it is only for
special occasions. Thanks for going back to the store to get it. I forgot it
when I was there earlier. I hope you didn’t have a hard time finding it.”
pick up some fruit from the market. The apples and pears were fresh. We can
have them for dessert on Sunday, along with the whipped cream Emma picked up.”
She puts on a fake smile. “They don’t always have it, since it is only for
special occasions. Thanks for going back to the store to get it. I forgot it
when I was there earlier. I hope you didn’t have a hard time finding it.”
“It is fine,
Mother,” I say, softly.
Mother,” I say, softly.
Sundays are
special in Territory L. It is the day families are supposed to stay in and
enjoy each other’s company. The day we get to eat chicken or fish, instead of
beans and soup. It is the day we play old board games and read old books. Pears
and apples are what my mother considers dessert. Maybe this Sunday will be even
more special because we’re going to have whipped cream on our fruit. We never
had it before. I guess whipped cream will make it look more desirable. So,
while Territory U has pie and cake, we’ll have fruit with whipped cream
topping.
special in Territory L. It is the day families are supposed to stay in and
enjoy each other’s company. The day we get to eat chicken or fish, instead of
beans and soup. It is the day we play old board games and read old books. Pears
and apples are what my mother considers dessert. Maybe this Sunday will be even
more special because we’re going to have whipped cream on our fruit. We never
had it before. I guess whipped cream will make it look more desirable. So,
while Territory U has pie and cake, we’ll have fruit with whipped cream
topping.
“Is there any
more milk?” Theodore asks.
more milk?” Theodore asks.
“I had your
sister pick some up on her way back.”
sister pick some up on her way back.”
“Yes, T,” I say,
chiming in. I always call him T, for short. “There is a fresh carton in the
fridge. Try not to drink it all. It has to last for at least the next week.”
chiming in. I always call him T, for short. “There is a fresh carton in the
fridge. Try not to drink it all. It has to last for at least the next week.”
I watch as he
narrows his eyes in my direction, then he stands with his glass in hand and
goes to the kitchen. He is such a child, sometimes I can’t even tell he is
nineteen.
narrows his eyes in my direction, then he stands with his glass in hand and
goes to the kitchen. He is such a child, sometimes I can’t even tell he is
nineteen.
“So, how was
your day, Emma?” My father turns to me. He just put a spoonful of beans in his
mouth. He clears his throat and continues. “I mean, before you ran that
errand.”
your day, Emma?” My father turns to me. He just put a spoonful of beans in his
mouth. He clears his throat and continues. “I mean, before you ran that
errand.”
Every time
someone talks about the errand, I cringe. It is as if a knife has been put
through my stomach because we have such a hard time even saying what the errand
is. And the whole thing leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I try to forget about
the errand, for now, and dwell on his question—how my day was.
someone talks about the errand, I cringe. It is as if a knife has been put
through my stomach because we have such a hard time even saying what the errand
is. And the whole thing leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I try to forget about
the errand, for now, and dwell on his question—how my day was.
“If you’re
asking me if I found a job yet, I haven’t.” I take a sip of water. “There is
not much to do around here.”
asking me if I found a job yet, I haven’t.” I take a sip of water. “There is
not much to do around here.”
“There is, if
you want to be cashier at the market or a salesperson at the clothing store.”
you want to be cashier at the market or a salesperson at the clothing store.”
“Those aren’t
real jobs. Sorry,” I add, glancing over at him.
real jobs. Sorry,” I add, glancing over at him.
He has always
said it didn’t matter what the job is because any job, even if it isn’t
glamorous, should be respected. Judging by the slant in his eyebrows that makes
the lines in his forehead crease, he didn’t take kindly to what I just said.
said it didn’t matter what the job is because any job, even if it isn’t
glamorous, should be respected. Judging by the slant in his eyebrows that makes
the lines in his forehead crease, he didn’t take kindly to what I just said.
“What I meant to
say,” I continue, “is I want to go to college and be a doctor like you, Dad, or
a teacher like Mom was. It is not fair—”
say,” I continue, “is I want to go to college and be a doctor like you, Dad, or
a teacher like Mom was. It is not fair—”
“We can’t keep
having this discussion every night,” Mother cuts in, her voice curt. “I know it
is disappointing that there are no colleges and no continued education for you.
And I also know you don’t want any of the jobs the territory has to offer—”
having this discussion every night,” Mother cuts in, her voice curt. “I know it
is disappointing that there are no colleges and no continued education for you.
And I also know you don’t want any of the jobs the territory has to offer—”
“But that is the
way it is, and you have to deal with it,” says Father, cutting her off.
way it is, and you have to deal with it,” says Father, cutting her off.
“I’m not hungry
anymore.” I push my plate aside.
anymore.” I push my plate aside.
I know it is
foolish because around here you don’t always know where your next meal is
coming from, but I can’t stomach the same conversation along with the same dry
food every night.
foolish because around here you don’t always know where your next meal is
coming from, but I can’t stomach the same conversation along with the same dry
food every night.
“May I be
excused?” I lower my head.
excused?” I lower my head.
“Yes, Emma. You
may.” My mother’s tone is soft. “And Em, things will get better,” she says with
sad eyes.
may.” My mother’s tone is soft. “And Em, things will get better,” she says with
sad eyes.
She always says
that. I think, more for herself than for me. But things never get better. They
always stay the same, or get worse.
that. I think, more for herself than for me. But things never get better. They
always stay the same, or get worse.
About the Author:
L.J. Epps is a lover of all things related to books: fiction and nonfiction novels, as well as biographies and autobiographies. She has also been known to sit and read comic books from cover to cover, several times over.
Over the last few years, L.J. has written several manuscripts; her mission is to publish all of them. She enjoys writing fiction in several genres, including contemporary romance and women’s fiction, as well as young adult dystopian, science fiction and fantasy. She loves to write because it immerses her into another world that is not her own.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15108922.L_J_Epps
Interview with L.J. Epps
a Rafflecopter giveawayInterview with L.J. Epps
Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?
I have to say my characters seem to hijack the story. I usually have somewhat of an outline that I go by. As I dive more into my manuscript sometimes the outline just gets pushed to the side and I just start going with the flow. The words just start to come together…so I guess I could be called a panster. The words come and the story takes on a new and different direction…and I’m no longer following the outline. The characters just hijack the story.
Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.
I believe my novel or series is a must read because in the words of some of my readers it’s a thrill ride that keeps on going. There are twists and turns and you don’t know what’s going to happen next. It reminds some of Divergent and The Hunger Games. It gets you hooked from the beginning and doesn’t let up. It’s intriguing and refreshing and somewhat scary. Its action packed and fast paced. It’s also a fun enjoyable read. I think all of these elements make it a must read. I hope others agree with me.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
Yes, I have a completed women’s fiction/romance manuscript that just needs a little editing. It has a working title that I plan on changing. I hope to have it released by the end of the year or beginning of next year.
Pen or type writer or computer?
I normally use a computer to complete my manuscripts. It’s the easiest way for me to get my thoughts and words down quickly.
Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?
I’m not sure if I have any fans out there. Lol But to all my readers I would like to thank you for taking a chance on an unknown author. I would like to thank you for reading my novel and embracing it enough to leave reviews. I welcome all of your comments good and bad. Each and every comment or review I receive helps me to become a better writer. For all of the readers who I have emailed back and forth with I want to say thanks for taking the time to email me back. I appreciate it all.
Thank you for taking the time to share your terrific book with us. I enjoyed reading about it.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. I'm so glad you enjoyed reading about it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for featuring me as a guest on your blog today. I’m so excited to share my novel with you! Thanks for the interview. I hope you enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the interview, this sounds great
ReplyDelete