YA series

The Day The Earth Turned Series Is Complete!

~ ChanAtkins ~ 2 Comments

This feels so good!

Today is publication day for The Day The Earth Turned Book 4: Spring, the fourth, and final installment in my YA post-apocalyptic/climate horror series.

It’s twice as exciting, because it’s not just the publication day for a book, it’s the completion of a series. I can now let it go (aside from marketing it) and believe me, that frees up so much space and energy in my head for other books.

I will kiss it a fond goodbye and move on, and there is so much screaming for my attention right now!

The Day The Earth Turned series started as an idea when I was very, very angry. It was about five years ago when we found out the land directly behind us was earmarked to be developed. Our landlord owns that land and a lot of land in this area, and for many years, it had been quarried. The diggers moved around from field to field, digging it up for sand, then letting it all go wild again.

When we first moved in, fourteen years ago, the land behind us was a field used for horses. There is a strip of woodland down the middle, and on the other side, more fields which were used for growing corn or wheat. Not long after we moved in, they quarried the fields right behind us. It was sad at the time to see the grass torn up, but grass does grow back quickly, and once the job was done, that’s exactly what happened. Now, years later, it’s a beautiful field surrounded by hedges and trees, and the best spot to watch the sun go down.

We often watch deer out there and when the centre floods in the winter, we get ducks and geese on the water and the sunsets are even more spectacular.

Needless to say, we were horrified by the thought of them building on it. They have now reached the last plot to be quarried and after that, the whole area is up for grabs. The landowner has made millions out of allowing it to be quarried for so long, but he obviously wants to keep milking it for more money. Rich people are just never rich enough, right?

The first idea put forward by various developers who started circling like sharks, was a fake water lagoon. It would involve digging up all the fields, pouring concrete over them and constructing a huge water park tourist attraction. Goodbye deer, badgers, rabbits, hares, voles, shrews, weasels, stoats and all the other wildlife we have spotted there over the years…

There were instant objections – the roads around here are not built to cope with that many visitors and during a local parish meeting, the council admitted that our lanes (narrow hedge-lined country lanes that loop around this land) would have to be widened to allow more vehicles and prevent the main road becoming even more congested.

I wept. I really did. Our lanes are lined with mature hedges and beautiful ancient oak trees. Like the fields behind them, they provide homes and food for so much wildlife.

I’d walk the lanes with my dogs, my eyes filling with tears as I imagined the pointless destruction. We live less than ten minutes from the beach, for Christ’s sake. Why does anyone need a fake lagoon?

The answer is, we don’t.

But people have to make money out of land, right? It can’t possibly be rewilded, left to nature, left to provide vital habitats for one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world!

Ugh. It sickened me and it still does. The good news is, another water park with a very similar design has just been approved not far from here, so there is no way now this one will go through. That just means they’ll decide to build something else on it though.

For now, it’s safe. The deer can roam through the copse and the badgers can frolic in the moonlight. For now, it’s left alone.

When we heard about the development plans, I started thinking, if only nature could fight back! If only the wildlife could develop a higher state of consciousness, thought even. They would be full of rage. They would hate us. If Mother Nature was a conscious entity, she would want revenge. She would want to cull us.

And that’s where the idea came from.

I imagined the world, the earth itself, turning on us. It would start with the adults as they’ve got the most blood on their hands. It would wipe them out with multiple pandemics, and along with that, animals and plants would start attacking us and killing us to save themselves.

I wanted to write a post-apocalyptic story and I thought it would be far more interesting if all the adults were killed and only the children were left.

How would they survive without the adults? Without food and resources, without transport, without school, without law, without medicine? Would they turn on each other or pull together? Would they be able to figure out a better way to live on this earth?

I knew early on that I wanted the animals to have their say and that’s why there are often chapters from the point of view of an animal or bird.

It wasn’t easy to write. It never is when I get the concept and plot before the characters. Notes, ideas and character bios started being added to a notebook about five years ago, and eventually that became a bigger notebook once I started writing it. It was in past tense at one point and then I switched it to present. That was tedious!

But overall, I am incredibly proud of this series. The reviews are so positive. It really seems to strike a chord with people. I hope readers enjoy the ending!

And as for seeing these characters again in the future, I’ll just say, never say never! There is a part of me that is very curious about what happened next….

But right now, there are three more books waiting to be polished up and published!

Thank you to everyone who has supported this series. From my wonderful beta readers, arc readers, fellow authors and bloggers, and to my wonderful editor/proofreader who is an absolute star. I am so grateful to you all. The indie community is a wonderfully welcoming and supportive one. Thank you also to my son, Dylan for designing the front covers for me! They’re perfect!

Here’s the series link if you’re curious about diving in and finding out what happens to young people without adults when the very land beneath their feet is turning on them: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CBW3D8VL?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin

Character Interview: Josh Taylor from the Blackbirch Series by K.M Allan

~ ChanAtkins ~ 1 Comment

Hi and welcome to another character interview here on The Glorious Outsiders. K.M Allan is a writer I’ve been following for some time on social media. I’ve read all the books in her YA paranormal series, Blackbirch and I’m just about to dive into an ARC of the fourth and final installment! So, please welcome the series protagonist Josh to out character interview for November!

How old are you?

I am seventeen years old.

Where do you come from?

I lived in the city with my parents until they were killed in a car accident 6 months ago.

Where do you live? Describe it to us

I currently live in a small town off a highway. It’s called Blackbirch, and it’s filled with black birch trees, which is the only tree that grows around here. Most say it’s because of dark magick, and only my friends and I know that is the truth.

Do you have a family, if so tell us about them.

After my parents died, I moved in with my guardian, Grace. She was my mom’s best friend, and I live with her and her daughter, Sarah.

Who is your best friend and why?

Sarah is. She knows all my secrets and helps me when I’m not sure what to do.

Who is your worst enemy and why?

Eve Thomas. She wants to know all my secrets and use them in the worst way possible.

What are your talents?

I can use magick to heal people, and strength to protect them.

What are your flaws?

Not asking for help.

What do you think people think of you?

I hope they think of me as someone who is just trying to look after them.

What do you wish people knew about you?

That I’m just trying to fix all of my mistakes.

What’s your biggest fear?

Losing more of the people that I love.

What’s your biggest hope?

That I can one day live a normal life again and not be chased for the magick in my veins.

What’s your biggest secret?

That I don’t feel worthy of the responsibility that I have.

What is the worst thing you have done to another person?

My actions and mistakes have resulted in deaths. Of both good and bad people.

What kind of friend are you?

I like to think I’m a good one, but I’ve also put my friends in danger, and I don’t enjoy being that type of friend.

Is there anything about your life you would change?

The death of my parents.

Where would you like to be in 5 years time?

Hopefully living a normal life, not running from danger or from others trying to steal my magick.

Do you have any regrets?

I wish I had known more about my power when I first became aware of it. Then I could have used it in a way that didn’t hurt others.

How would you like to be remembered?

As someone who did the best he could.

What are your hobbies/how do you relax?

Reading, and watching movies with my friends, Sarah, and Max.

If you would like to find out more about this intriguing series, here is the Amazon link to the author’s page:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/K-M-Allan/e/B0849WFZG9?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_6&qid=1699006260&sr=8-6: Character Interview: Josh Taylor from the Blackbirch Series by K.M Allan

The Day The Earth Turned Book 1: Summer is here!!!

~ ChanAtkins ~ 6 Comments

With the benefit of hindsight, I never should have scheduled a book release for a day when I would be totally exhausted from a trip to London to see a band! The Day The Earth Turned Book 1: Summer is finally here and went live yesterday. The moment it went live I was sat at a bus-stop outside Waterloo Station, after a brilliant gig by The Black Keys at the 02 Arena in London. To get there, we had to catch three trains then opted for a pleasant 43 minute walk alongside the river Thames. Once inside the arena, my husband and I grabbed a pint and settled down to enjoy the support acts followed by the band. We have loved this band for a very long time so it was a huge deal to get tickets and their performance was mind-blowing. We loved every second and it was well worth the stress of getting there and back!

After the gig ended, we had to race back to Charlton station to catch the last train there, to get us to the last train at London Bridge, knowing we had already missed the last train at Waterloo which would take us home. We stupidly thought we could just hang out and rest at the station until the morning train came at 5.30am but no, they chuck you out. With nowhere to go, we wandered around the streets of London, taking in views of The London Eye, Big Ben, the houses of Parliament, Downing Street and more…. We walked for hours but then ended up back outside the station with more hours left to kill….

I looked at Amazon and realised my book had been released! Yay!! And I’ve done a pretty good job of promoting it so far in the run up. I’ve posted various blogs about it, made numerous quote and review graphics, secured a good amount of ARC reviews and even organised my own blog tour!

But launch day fell a little flat because I was so tired….

After finally getting the train at Waterloo, we attempted to nap but were soon disrupted by a delay at Woking. The delay meant they then decided not to stop at all the stations between Brockenhurst and Bournemouth so they could make up the time! Never mind the fact that we needed to get off at Christchurch where our car was!

We swore quite a lot but there was nothing we could do and thankfully my mum came and picked us up and drove us to our car and we were home by 8.30am just in time to take our youngest to school! Phew! I walked the dogs and then collapsed on the sofa. I picked up my phone with a feeble attempt at pushing my book on release day, and I was so thrilled to see that lots of my fellow indie authors had already been posting and shouting about it!

Yay other indies – they are the BEST!!!

I had some early reviews too and I just about had the energy to share the posts and thank people and then I fell asleep!

It’s been a busy week and I should have organised some sort of Facebook launch party as I have done in the past, but I was too worn out and to be honest, I’ve never found such things particularly useful for selling books. Mostly, you end up giving away a few for free and then people don’t remember to review them.

Anyway, all that aside, I am very proud of this book and I’m thrilled to bits with what people are saying about it so far!

Here are a few review quotes:

“What I loved about this in particular are the characters, who are so well drawn I felt I knew them straight away. Chess – dealing with her grief not just for her parents but for the future way she saw her life that will never come – having to put her feelings aside to care for her little sister. Reuben – loner, victim of bullies but standing strong, bubbling with anger, but practical and compassionate. Gus – glad the adults have gone, but choosing to take control as soon as he can. George – independent, determined to go it alone, forced into a situation he couldn’t have envisaged – This book is terrifyingly believable.”

“Seriously good! A strange apocalyptic world where the adults have (almost) all been wiped out by a series of diseases and the children have to find a new way to live and survive and have divided themselves into gangs with their own territories and their suspicious outlook about others.
The absolute brilliance of this is the fact that it is not a million miles from what you can imagine as reality, especially after the unprecedented effects of covid 19 and the extreme measures we all faced ourselves with. The unsettled feelings intensify when the children in the story go back to nature and try farming the lands and making use of the animals but then nature seems to take advantage of there being fewer humans about and pushing back to the point of being sinister and the aggressor.
The story is expertly compelling and terrifying at the same time and it is definitely thought provoking and humbling – I absolutely cannot wait to see how the story progresses, although obviously with trepidation! – Terrifying but absolutely brilliant, thank you.”

“Where did I find it: having read this author before, and it was a post apocalyptic story, I jumped at the chance to have an advanced copy.

What I liked: the whole concept for this genre. It was different. Having children in charge changed things as they see life differently. In places the story is dark, mentioning things I didn’t want to dwell on. All the while I felt glued to the page eager to know what would happen next. Other things added to the suspense – not all adults died, and something sinister was happening with nature.

What I didn’t like: that this is a brand new book, which means I have to wait for the next one. I can’t wait!

Overall: this is a brilliantly conceived story. I love things that are slightly different to what you expect. There are several different elements to this story and I constantly wanted to answers. What was really going on? What did it mean? This is a book you need to read, and it will be a hot contender for my book of the year. I absolutely loved it.”

And the book is available here – paperback coming soon!!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Day-Earth-Turned-Book-Summer-ebook/dp/B0C5MP91J7/ref=pd_ci_mcx_mh_mcx_views_0?pd_rd_w=KYqXM&content-id=amzn1.sym.6aea875e-359f-49f3-864f-cff62d586b6a&pf_rd_p=6aea875e-359f-49f3-864f-cff62d586b6a&pf_rd_r=C5GDYYVB846J1K97XMBN&pd_rd_wg=LmAZU&pd_rd_r=293d83fc-ad68-40f9-8453-5c20bb1d05a3&pd_rd_i=B0C5MP91J7: The Day The Earth Turned Book 1: Summer is here!!!

Who Are Your Apocalypse Gang?

~ ChanAtkins ~ 2 Comments

In two weeks my new novel The Day The Earth Turned, Book 1:Summer will be released! In this post I would like to introduce you to some of the characters but I’d also like to ask you a question. Imagine the world is ending, or at least the world as we know it is. It could be for any reason: perhaps war, climate change, alien invasion, or zombies on the rise! Let’s say you’re smart and you survive only to find yourself in a wasteland of a world, something now difficult, almost impossible to navigate. You need to find safety; shelter, food and water. You need sharp survival skills or you won’t last much longer! You need other people. Who would you want by your side and why? Feel free to let me know in the comments! I’d love to know who your apocalypse gang would be and why!

Image by Moshe Harosh from Pixabay

As for me, I’d definitely want some of these kids on my side!

Meet Gus:

When we first meet 15 year-old Gus, he appears rather deranged.

‘There’s none left you know!’ he bellows at her then, suddenly motionless on the opposite side of the road, his arms down; his face pale and moonlike through the wall of rain and hail. ‘They’re all dead! It’s just us now!’ He laughs, turning in a circle with his arms spread to either side. He looks round and meaty, she thinks, in his saturated vest top, and pyjama bottoms. ‘This is all ours!’

He’s not sorry that the adults are all dead and he’s soon on a mission to kill any remaining ones. The main thing Gus wants however, is power and control. He seizes his chance when it comes and soon becomes the official leader of the Moors Close group. As the story progresses we learn more about his background, and we start to see the other, softer, side of Gus that Chess champions. He can be kind, he can be reasoned with and above all, he is a true survivor.

Meet Reuben:

When we first meet 14 year-old Reuben, we also view him through the eyes of Chess. She knows him only vaguely from the school bus and has stopped other kids bullying him on more than one occasion.

She looks up. It’s the Carter boy, dragging something behind him. His chest is bare, and his dark hair slick with sweat. He looks her way and shouts at her,          

‘Something is happening!’

He isn’t wrong.

She doesn’t answer, and he keeps going. With the dog back inside, Chess locks the door and wanders to the kitchen window. The Carter boy has gone, but the dead grey man is still there. What had he wanted? Help? She feels half tempted to run after the Carter boy to find out what he knows, but he is a bit weird. Everyone says it. His whole family is weird, they say. His mother was a hippy sort who died too young, he didn’t go to school and his grandfather has dead animals hung up inside the shed.

Like Gus, Reuben is also a survivor who isn’t too sorry to see the world has shed itself of adults. His grandfather has somehow survived the cull so far, so he has reason to feel optimistic. He is a realist but also a dreamer. Gentle and kind to people and wildlife, he hates Gus for bullying him in the past and the two quickly set up opposing sides in the village.

Meet Chess:

Chess is the first character we meet – four weeks after her parents went to the hospital and never came back, she now has to face the fact she is alone with her 6 year-old sister, Josie. Chess is a strong character who adapts quickly to a world without adults, but that doesn’t stop her from missing the old world and grieving for the future she no longer has.

But blaming her dead parents for their predicament is a pointless waste of energy and Chess understands on some level that she needs to make a room for them inside her head. A room where she can put them for a while and shut the door on them. Of course, she wants to throw herself down and cry and scream. She wants to run to the hospital and see if by any chance, they survived, but she knows it is useless. She is responsible for herself and Josie and that means keeping them alive until another adult arrives to take care of them. And Chess does believe that someone will come. Police, or the army, something like that. Adults in positions of authority. It’s just a matter of being patient and keeping them fed until then.

Chess has great leadership qualities and has potential as a diplomatic figure in a world without adults. She tries hard to unite the opposing factions that emerge and is always thinking ahead.

Meet John:

John is an anomaly – an adult who has not been killed by any of the deadly viruses that swept the world, culling the adults and leaving the children alone. A down to earth, practical, blunt and old-fashioned kind of guy, he took Reuben in when his mother was dying of cancer and has been a father figure to him since. John is deeply connected to the earth and believes nature will show them the way forward.

‘We were prepared,’ John continues. ‘We’ve been aiming for full self-sufficiency for a long time. Mind you, don’t mean things aren’t gonna be tough. Really tough. There’s medicine for one thing. We’ve stockpiled, but that don’t mean we know what to do with half of it!’ He chuckles deep in his belly and shakes his head. ‘And if crops fail…there’s water supplies…I’m guessing you’re just starting to feel the enormity of it all, eh?’

John sees it as his duty to build a community for the children, to bring them together and teach them the skills they need to survive. He can be authortarian at times, but he has their best interests at heart.

Meet George:

George does not come from Heron. He is just passing through when he runs into Gus and his gang after a disgusting incident with a crow.

 George’s mouth falls open and drool slips from his tongue. He wonders how easily you can go insane. He wonders for the millionth time what he is made of, how tough he is, how easily he will die or how hard he will fight to live. As he slept, an army of flies has laid eggs in his wounds and the crow has been feasting on a squirming, wriggling occupation of hundreds of fat white maggots.

George is a bit of a loner who becomes attached to Reuben. He is kind and moral, and adaptable. Though he misses his dead family, they taught him well and prepared him as best they could for life without them. He is a tough, outsdoorsy type with some good survival skills.

Meet Charlotte:

Charlotte is also passing through the village of Heron, where she stops to bury her dead boyfriend and finds a lone toddler called Iris. She ends up staying in the village.

Charlotte hoists the child to her other hip and follows the rag-tag group down another lane called Pig Shoot. Since burying her boyfriend and finding the child, Charlotte has wandered aimlessly around the area in search of life. She is down to one water bottle and a squashed cucumber sandwich. Her head aches from crying, her legs feel weak and she is sure her feet have blisters on top of blisters.

Charlotte is an older teen, who was travelling the world with her boyfriend before the pandemics started to hit. She is mature, wise, patient and forward thinking. She misses the old world and hopes to eventually regain some of what they have lost.

There are many other characters to meet in the series, including rich kid Grace who can’t decide whose side she wants to be on, and sinister Lily, a 10 year-old with an interest in torture – but the characters mentioned above are the ones I’d want on my side!

What about you?

Oh and if you’re keen to read the series, Book 1: Summer can be preordered from Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Day-Earth-Turned-Book-Summer-ebook/dp/B0C5MP91J7/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=chantelle+atkins&qid=1686304018&sr=8-2: Who Are Your Apocalypse Gang?