About the Book
Book: Flight
Author: Kristen Young
Genre: YA dystopian sci-fi
Release date: September 13, 2022
The Fight for What is Right is Also a Fight to Survive
On the cusp of graduation, Cadence is finally feeling in control. She’s about to become one of the prestigious Elites working in the Hall of Love. Plus, she can take her place as a full member of the underground Sirens who meet secretly in Love City. She’ll finally be able to use her memory skills for good, instead of reporting people as a Watcher.
But a dangerous trap is set, throwing Cadence into unwelcome and unfamiliar territory. Someone in the Collective remembers things that could very well get her killed. The Muse is by her side, after all, but will she be protected when someone powerful wants her dead?
Cadence just wants to be normal, free from politics or squad intimidation. Will she be able to achieve her Elite dreams, or will sinister forces leave her running for her life?
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
A Scottish-born Australian author, Kristen Young has worked in children’s and youth ministry for decades. She writes fiction and non-fiction for teens, and always has a notebook on hand to capture stray story ideas. In her spare time she loves hanging out with her family, watching movies with subtitles, and enjoying a little too much chocolate.
More from Kristen
Interview with Kristen Young, author of Flight
Okay, so Flight is the final novel in the Collective Underground series. Was it hard writing the conclusion?
The funny thing is, Flight was originally book 1! I wrote the story ages ago, and the manuscript won a Caleb award for unpublished fiction. The prize for that was a manuscript assessment, which came back with the comments, “This is good, but it starts a little fast. Can you add some backstory?”
So the backstory turned into two books?
Yes! Of course, by the time I came back to Flight, there were so many more story threads to follow, so the final result is very different to the original.
What did you change?
Some of the characters in Apprentice and Elite needed to re-appear, and so I had to change some of that. Like Hodge, who didn’t exist when I wrote the first version of Flight. There was also quite a lot of unfinished business that carried over from the first two books, and I felt that they needed some resolution, too. I can’t tell you too many details, though, because that would spoil the fun.
What can we look forward to in the final installment?
More thrills, more plot twists, and maybe some love. Just a whole lot of excitement, really. But seriously, Cadence is thrown into some pretty difficult situations this time, and she has to re-evaluate her whole mission. There are also some pretty high-level plots going on in the government that might send her a bit of trouble, too…
Love? Does that mean what we think it does?
I’ve already said I can’t spoil the fun of reading.
Oh, go on. Tell us.
Sorry. You’ll just have to read it. 🙂
Author Interview
- What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?
Ooh, I wish I could say a whole bunch, but unfortunately I haven’t travelled much in the past few years. When I was a kid, my parents took me to the UK, and we visited Beatrix Potter’s house and Shakespeare’s homes. I think I’d appreciate those places more now than I did as an 11 year-old.
- What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
Great question. In the Christian genre, I think it has to be Grace in Strange Disguise by Christine Dillon.
- How do you select the names of your characters?
Firstly based on the ‘vibe’ of the series. For example, the Collective Underground was based in a world where identity was progressively more stunted and utilitarian. So the names of the younger generation were mostly monosyllabic and non-gendered and a little alien, while the older generation still had elements of style and recognisable forms. By comparison, the names of the Sirens were musical terms, to give a sense of life and movement.
- What was your hardest scene to write?
If I shared that, it would give away spoilers. But let’s just say it was a scene that went against all my natural instincts for human-based revenge.
- What is your favorite childhood book?
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Still one of the best allegorical depictions of the cross that I’ve seen in literature.
- If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?
Write more. I’d have tried to write more novels earlier on. It took me about three practice novels to get the form right.
- What comes first, the plot or characters?
Plot. Definitely. The characters grow and develop as I’m writing. They usually don’t become fully formed until at least the second or third drafts.
- Who is the author you most admire in your genre?
Morgan Busse.
- What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I’d like to say gardening, but life has kind of pushed that out. I enjoy playing board games with my kids, and watching the occasional crime series on TV.
- If you could invite one person to dinner, who would it be and what would you cook?
I’d invite Jesus, but nothing I could cook would do him justice. So I’d probably just sit at his feet and listen for a while.
Blog Stops
Texas Book-aholic, September 30
Artistic Nobody, October 1 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 1
Inklings and notions, October 2
For Him and My Family, October 3
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 4
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, October 5 (Author Interview)
deb’s Book Review, October 5
Locks, Hooks and Books, October 6
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, October 7
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 8
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 9
Blossoms and Blessings, October 10 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, October 11
Simple Harvest Reads, October 12 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
A Baker’s Perspective, October 13
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Kristen is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/21c36/flight-celebration-tour-giveaway