I spent nine years of my young life sorting in Scrap Room A, sneaking off to visit my daddy at the chopper every chance I’d get, down to the last day of his life. There were only two Superiors then; it was easier to get away with things. I remember the smell of my daddy’s sweat as he handed me a stale, stolen cookie—back when they still had them—hidden in his sleeves for the occasion. He’d pull one “from behind my ear” and feed it to me. I’d giggle, and he’d send me back to the Scrap Room.
I hated it there. Cramped, dark, reeking of waste, oil, and burnt wire sheath. . . . I’d stare through blurred tears at stained walls, trying to hang onto the memory of my mother’s face. Horrible times. Hiding behind mounds of scraps as “those who did not perform adequately” were whipped to unrecognizable shreds by the Superiors and their ragged-faced militia men. And with hundreds slaughtered in the uprisings, it was naïve to be hopeful any longer. Even so young, I knew that wretched truth.
Now that everyone else in Greenleigh is dead, we’re safer. Someone has to build trees for Bygonne. But that doesn’t mean we’re the lucky ones. Whether slashed or slaughtered, devoured by the noxious air of freedom, or rotting gradually from the lungs outward . . . there’s still a plethora of awful ways to die._
‘Momma’ Joy Montgomery, “The Treemakers”
Hello! My name is Christina L. Rozelle and I write stories that are usually a bit on the dark side, as you can see from this short excerpt from my YA Dystopian Scif Horror, “The Treemakers,” above. The second book in the series, “The Soultakers,” will be out sometime this fall (yay!). Here’s my Facebook Page if you want to stop by! http://on.fb.me/1z4RZJj
And here I am on Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/ChristinaLRozelle
Though my stories tend toward darkness, evil, monsters in many forms—especially the human variety—I also balance them with just as much beauty, love, light, hope, heroism, and victory over the darkness and evil forces. Here’s another short excerpt for proof! ;-)
“To be strong in the face of weakness,” I begin. “This is something our sister, Abrilynne, and our brother, Miguel, taught me. To smile, though there’s pain. To laugh, though there’s sorrow. To love, no matter what. And to forgive.” I wipe my tears and continue with quivering lips. “Sometimes in life, there’s sadness. But it doesn’t take away from the love, and the joy, and the beauty, and the friendship that remains….”
So, now that you’ve had a little taste of my first published novel (I’ve written four so far but this is the first published), here is the synopsis, that way you can get a feel for the story in its entirety:
Sixteen-year-old Joy Montgomery, daughter of Zephyr the Magnificent, the great magician, can only reminisce of better times. Before the Superiors. Before the uprisings. Long ago. Before the dying Earth ripped the family she loved away from her.
In this desolate dystopian future, the Greenleigh orphans are “privileged” with the task of building mechanical trees for Bygonne, so their world behind The Wall can breathe another day, and so the Superiors may continue their malevolent reign.
Lured by a yearning for freedom, tenacious curiosity, and hunger for adventure, Joy discovers hope and magic amid the misery, and power in her promise to care for those remaining, whom she loves enough to risk her life for. To save them, herself, and the boy she adores from the abuse and slavery by the Superiors, Joy must entrust the aid of an unlikely ally who harbors a dangerous secret.
With an intriguing stranger at the helm, Joy and the treemakers embark on an intense and terrifying, yet liberating quest for the truth about the existence of the forbidden paradise beyond The Wall.
The ebook is only .99 until September first! And it now has this lovely new, 3rd edition cover, created by the brilliant Christian Bentulan. (Here’s his Facebook page if you want to check him out: http://on.fb.me/1JkE8ar)
And here’s the cover and a teaser from “South,” the story I’ll be posting new sections for every other week:
Now let’s talk giveaways!! I have tons of things happening now and coming soon, so after I tell you about them, you can click around for a bit and get entered to win. :)
#1. The Treemakers Superfan Rafflecopter - http://gvwy.io/wcegq9
This baby’s not only loaded with badass prizes for bibliophiles and bookworms, but it’s also where you’ll find all my links to friend/follow/fan online. Check it out! Winners will be chosen on the one year publishing birthday of The Treemakers, December 3, 2015
#2. Goodreads giveaway - http://bit.ly/1CWfz2v
I have a few 2nd edition copies of The Treemakers left in stock, so I’m giving two away through Goodreads, along with two one-of-a-kind Treemakers Swag Packs! Follow the link above to enter!
#3. NetGalley - Read The Treemakers for free until 8/20 - https://www.netgalley.com/
If you are a NetGalley member, or someone who loves to read and review, check them out! The Treemakers is free to read through August 20th. Becoming a member is a piece of cake!
#4. And if you like or love it and do decide to leave a review, email the link to your Amazon review to Rozelle.treemakers@gmail.com and put “Signed TST Giveaway” in the subject line. Ten lucky reviewers will be randomly selected to receive a signed paperback of book two upon publication.
Thanks so much for reading! I hope I’ll see you around. :) Please feel free to shoot me a FB friend request and a message if you have any questions/comments, or comment below. Thanks! And I’ll leave you with one more taste of The Treemakers, and a teaser of The Soultakers as well:
Make sure to
check out our other great author today - Ciara Knight!!!
Love the excerpt. I like dark fiction and have requested a copy of Treemakers from Netgalley.
ReplyDeleteI tremendously loved the excerpt from The Treemakers Triology. What an imaginative idea. I love dark stories too. I've started your story Solith. I'm enjoying it. I've already connected with Blue. (I think her and Koby need to get back together.) :) Headed to Net gallery!
ReplyDeleteSOOOOOO like this cover better!!! I actually preferred version 1 over version 2, but this one knocks it out of the park! I'm definitely checking him out in the future.
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