Water’s Break Interview and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Water’s Break

Author: Sophia Hansen

Genre: YA sci-fi

Release Date: January 9, 2024

What if fear itself is the deadliest undercurrent of all?

Nica would do anything to avoid the hassles of her sister’s bonding ceremony—the wrap fittings, hairstyles, and braided fire coral—but she never imagined that the waters covering her planet would be broken. As the heavens rained fire and stone, mountains erupted from the sea and dry ground was birthed on the Deep, dividing the water—and the Olomi people—for the first time in their history.

In the wake of her world’s violent re-formation, Nica’s family is shattered. When the rookie Guardian leaves the safety of the Deep to find her sister, she is abducted by strange landwalkers who possess strength and technology beyond her imagination. Nica realizes that the disaster from above was by their design—a calculated plan to terraform the water planet and conquer her people. All Nica wants to do is find her sister and swim home to safety, but with the landwalkers closing in, escape may not be possible. And if Nica can’t save herself, how can she hope to save her sister—or her people?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Sophia L. Hansen, raised in the melded cultures of Korea and America, understands not fitting into society’s boxes. Born on a tiny island in Alaska, then growing up in New York City and Boston, she now resides in the Southeast, writing and editing between fresh(ish) cups of coffee and slices of crisp bacon. She embraces life with her husband, their adulting children, and her new grandson, but her favorites are Jesus, family, coffee, and dark chocolate, mostly in that order.

 

More from Sophia

Once upon a time, there was a mom.
A mom with many children.
She was a very busy mom.
One day the pastor’s wife asked her to write something for the Christmas program.
“Why would you ask me?” she replied. “I’m just a mom.”
“Because you love words,” was the quiet answer.
When the mom heard this, she realized it was true. And so, she began to write.

The Beginning

~

Stories don’t grow in a vacuum. Neither do they flourish in a pressure cooker. Our ideas are like seeds; full of potential but needing time and space to germinate. My season of writing started after more than a decade of birthing, raising, and educating my children. We had five at the time and I was full up. There was little space in church activities for attached moms whose children didn’t nursery well, and I spent more of my Sunday mornings in the playground rather than the pews. Then, finally, a friend invited me to a study in her home, and all children were welcome.

As my soul feasted on the fellowship, Bible study, and sharing, I felt like a child sitting down to a holiday meal. I’d been so busy taking care of others that I didn’t remember what it was like to have an oxygen mask for myself. It had been far too long since my spiritual self had been nourished. Out of that beautiful season the seeds of my words, long dormant, began to sprout, including my what ifs about what would become the world of Water’s Break.

Water’s Break dives into Nica’s world, a water-covered planet inhabited by amphibian people. When disaster strikes, landmasses rise from the seabed, separating the water and its people for the first time in their history. Nica’s family is devastated: her father is gravely injured, her sister is missing, and her mother, grief-stricken. Nica, a rookie Guardian, is determined to find her sister and bring her home, even if it means she must venture out of the Deep. But no one knows what lies in wait abovewater.

I hope your hearts are encouraged as you join Nica’s fight to survive in a sea of oppression. And when survival is not enough, will she risk everything to choose life?

Interview with the Author

  1. What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?

Writing conferences! My first was the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, then American Christian Fiction Writers and Realm Makers (now an annual pilgrimage,) and most recently, the Florida Christian Writers Conference.

  1. What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?

A Star Curiously Singing by Kerry Nietz. I love how he brings hope into a bleak future. Also, that the MC is a programmer. I have a soft spot for coders.

  1. How do you select the names of your characters?

I start with what sounds and feels right for the character, and then I find out why I can’t use that name and start riffing. I had to set up a spreadsheet for names in Water’s Break to avoid confusion.

  1. What was your hardest scene to write?

The epilogue. Showing the Happily Ever After (or not) in a satisfying but concise scene and making sure I answered all the questions I raised throughout the story.

  1. What is your favorite childhood book?

I think A Little Princess was one of my favorites, along with Little Women and Encyclopedia Brown.

  1. If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?

I think I would have liked to know that I had ADHD earlier, and then I might not have given up on Journalism. It would have been nice to learn the craft before I finished my first drafts.

  1. What comes first, the plot or characters?

For me it’s the What-if. So I guess that means I meditate on a plot before I people it.

  1. Who is the author you most admire in your genre?

In Sci-fi, I’d have to say Kerry Nietz, again. He builds amazing worlds and brings characters to life in beautiful ways. His characters seem so different initially but become so relatable.

  1. What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I love playing video games or watching movies. Also reading.

  1. If you could invite one person to dinner, who would it be and what would you cook?

That would absolutely be my kimchi-sister, Tosca Lee, and we’d have to do a Korean feast: galbi, chapchae, mandu, lots of banchan, and yakshik.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, January 30

Exploring the Written Word, January 31

Blogging With Carol, February 1

Artistic Nobody, February 2 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 3

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 4

Guild Master, February 5 (Author Interview)

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, February 5

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 6

Beauty in the Binding, February 7 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 8

Wishful Endings, February 9

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 10

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, February 11 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, February 11

Simple Harvest Reads, February 12 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sophia is giving away the grand prize package of a signed hardcover with swag (bookmark, stickers, character cards)!!

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/29b05/water-s-break-celebration-tour-giveaway