Tuesday, June 04, 2019

Interview - Extinction Of All Children by L.J. Epps #darkfantasy #fantasyfiction


Are you currently binge watching anything on Netflix, Hulu ? 

Yes, I’m currently binge watching a program on my home dvr. I’m binge watching Grey’s Anatomy.  I have several episodes recorded that I haven’t had time to watch yet.  So, any extra time I have I spend trying to catch up.  It’s not always easy to catch up because writing is my first priority. 

What keeps you glued to the screen?

I like comedies and dramas. I also like some reality television.  In drama I prefer twists and turns on the screen.  I also have a habit of trying to figure out things before they happen.  So, if something occurs that I haven’t guessed already…I’d call that a good show…and it keeps me glued to the screen.  

Do you prefer movies or TV series?

I do like movies but I prefer a good television series over a movie.  I feel like a TV series keeps you hanging on and wondering what will happen week after week.  A movie is a few hours long and then it’s over.  A television series is something you can look forward to.  A television series is something that can keep you on the edge until the next one is shown.  One more thing a television series is to me…it’s something that can keep you guessing about and talking with your friends and family with.  That’s why I prefer a TV series over a movie. 

When it comes to reading do you prefer standalones or series?

It depends on what mood I’m in at the time.  Sometimes I read a good book and I don’t want it to end.  I want the characters and story to continue on.  During those times I would prefer a series.  It could also depend on how much time I have.  Sometimes I just want a quick read because I have a few days off from work and want to delve into a good book but would like to finish it.  A standalone gives me a quick read that I can enjoy and finish without having to make time to read the rest of the series. 

Do you prefer to start new book series when the first book is released or do you want for a several books in the series to be released so you can binge read?

I prefer to binge read.  I’m inpatient. Lol I don’t like waiting months or years for the next novel to be released.  I don’t like forgetting parts of a novel and having to reread it before the next one comes out.  I prefer to read several books in the series at one time…that way I can binge read… and not have to wait or wonder what will happen next. 

What are some of your hobbies, interests or guilty pleasures?

I like to draw, although I’m not that great at it…I still love to do it from time to time. 

What's your guilty “nerd” pleasure? 

I love Avengers movies.  In fact, I love all Marvel movies.  Anything comic related I love.

Have you ever peeked at the ending of a book?

No, I’ve never peeked at the ending of a book.  I sometimes want to but I can’t because I feel like that spoils the entire book for me.  If I’d peek at the ending of the book, I wouldn’t care to finish it because I would already know what was going to happen. I feel like there would be no shock or surprise…and that would take all the fun out of reading the book in the first place. 

When it comes to your own writing are you a plotter or a pantster?

I’m a pantster.  I try to have somewhat of an outline to follow but mostly I like to just let the words flow and write as I go.  Whatever comes to mind I just go with it.  So that’s why I consider myself more of a pantster over being a plotter. 


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.

Amazon    BN


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.
“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.”
“It is fine, 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.
“Is there any more milk?” Theodore asks.
“I had your 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.”
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.
“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.”
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.
“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.”
“There is, if 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.
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.
“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—”
“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—”
“But that is the 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.
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.
“May I be 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.
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.


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.






a Rafflecopter giveaway

1 comments:

L.J. Epps said...

Thank you for featuring me as a guest on your blog today. I’m so excited to share my novel with you! I hope you enjoy my interview.