IF THE SUN SPARES US
by Brenda Marie Smith
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GENRE: Post-apocalyptic thriller
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BLURB:
Two years ago, a solar pulse destroyed modern life. Bea Crenshaw organized her starving, suburban neighbors into a farming community. But now Bea’s gone, and her grandchildren must carry her legacy forward.
In the post-apocalyptic pressure cooker of Austin, Texas, 19-year-old Keno and his younger cousins struggle to ensure their community’s survival even as they’re forced to relocate to safer grounds. Northern Lights that don’t belong this far south grow increasingly intense, making Keno fear what harm the sun will cause next.
Even worse, a marauding militia called the Raiders is closing in, led by a deranged woman who preys on teenage boys. Despite Keno’s debilitating flashbacks from a firefight, he and his wife have a new baby to protect. Though Bea is dead, her spirit desperately searches for ways to shield her grandkids. When Raiders target two neighborhood members, the only hope lies in the community’s strength, Keno’s ingenuity, and the family’s fierce love for one another.
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EXCERPT
In the next second, thick neon bands of green light shoot into the sky like they’re spewing straight out of the earth at the horizon, the aurora pulsing and soaring hundreds of feet into the air toward the stratosphere. This is nothing like the tame Northern Lights we’ve had off and on over the past year, but crazy-bright and thick and enormous. None of it belongs in Texas. I stare at the lights, getting dizzy from their movement and intensity.
The guys out on the street whistle and shout… I close my eyes to get my bearings.
Residual streaks of light burn my eyeballs and flash across my eyelids, then mutate into the recurring, overly-vivid memories I can’t shake: flaming, screaming boys, falling fiery trees, bursting Molotov cocktails, strafing assault rifles—a hand slaps across my mouth and covers my nose, and Richie’s behind me, yanking me to the ground, hissing, “Shhh! Shhh! Don’t scream.”
“The End of Days is upon us, and we’ve got work to do!” shouts the woman from the street. “Head back north.” The feet start tramping around. “Jonesie, north’s the other way.”
Richie’s pressing so hard on my mouth and nose he’s gonna suffocate me. My tears run over his hand. Flaming bodies still flash before my eyes while green lights burn in the sky overhead…
I grab his hand to yank it off, but he presses harder. I panic. Dude’s gonna kill me.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
BRENDA MARIE SMITH is attracted to stories where everyday characters transcend their limitations to find their inner heroism. She lived off the grid for years in a farming collective where her sons were delivered by midwives. A lifelong community activist, Brenda has managed student co-op housing, produced concerts, and raised a small herd of boys. She and her husband live in Kyle, Texas. They have more grown kids and grandkids than they can count.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Website: https://brendamariesmith.com
Blog: https://brendamariesmith.tumblr.com
Twitter: @bsmithnovelist
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJlLSnORIyoaygvZ1j49ZKw
Buy Links for the Braving the Light Series:
IF DARKNESS TAKES US (Book One): https://www.amazon.com/Darkness-Takes-Brenda-Marie-Smith-ebook/dp/B07WK9BQHN?ref_=ast_author_mpb
For IF THE LIGHT ESCAPES (Book Two): https://www.amazon.com/If-Light-Escapes-Braving-Novel-ebook/dp/B09CMZZRKZ?ref_=ast_author_dp
IF THE SUN SPARES US (Book Three): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGTHY55H/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION
The author will be awarding a $50 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter.
Thank you so much for featuring this book today.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate you hosting my book here today. I'd love to chat with your readers if anyone is up for it.
ReplyDeleteIf you had to describe yourself in just three words, what would those be?
ReplyDeleteThat's quite the challenge, Tracie. Hmmm.... How about: Activist author grandmother.
DeleteWho is your favorite Muppet and ehy?
ReplyDelete—Elizabeth
My favorite Muppet is Kermit because he's sweet and not as loud as some of the others, though I do like Oscar a lot, too.
DeleteSounds like an incredible read. I look forward to reading this.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sherry. I also look forward to you reading this, lol.
Deletewhat inspired you to write this book?
ReplyDeleteI was inspired to write the whole series by the environmental degradation around us, and how I could feel us hurtling toward disaster without being the least bit prepared. I wanted to write a story about a way to survive. I didn't plan a series initially, only the first book. But then I fell in love with the characters and wanted to keep telling their story more completely.
ReplyDeleteIt's been fun visiting you all here today. Thank you again for hosting my book. All my best to you and yours!
ReplyDelete