If the Light Escapes
by Brenda Marie Smith
GENRE: Sci-fi, Science Fiction (post-apocalyptic)
BLURB:
IF THE LIGHT ESCAPES,
A BRAVING THE LIGHT NOVEL
By Brenda Marie Smith
A standalone sequel to IF DARKNESS TAKES US
A solar electromagnetic pulse fried the U.S. grid. Now northern lights are in Texas—3,000 miles farther south than where they belong. The universe won’t stop screwing with 18-year-old Keno Simms. All that’s left for him and his broken family is farming their Austin subdivision, trying to eke out a living on poor soil in the scorching heat.
Keno’s one solace is his love for Alma, who has her own secret sorrows. When he gets her pregnant, he vows to keep her alive no matter what. Yet armed marauders and nature itself collude against him, forcing him to make choices that rip at his conscience. IF THE LIGHT ESCAPES is post-apocalyptic science fiction set in a near-future reality, a coming-of-age story told in the voice of a heroic teen who’s forced into manhood too soon.
EXCERPT
FROM CHAPTER 5:
“These northern lights bug the crap out of me,” I tell Alma. “What are they doing here? They’re supposed to be tied to magnetic poles. I saw this show a couple years ago that said the north pole was drifting north, not south. So how did they end up here? The poles can’t drift around randomly. That’s impossible.”
“I don’t know, baby. They worry me, too, but we need to be quiet.”
“They make me feel like something bad is gonna happen. What do you call that? Fore-something.”
“Foreboding?”
“That’s it. I’ll be quiet, now, and just stew in my foreboding.”
“Silly.” Alma reaches up and ruffles my hair.
When we patrol and we can’t cuddle on account of guns, Alma and I could talk all night. It’s not a good idea for us to talk much when we’re patrolling, though. We get all involved and forget to listen for anyone who might be sneaking around, hunting for food or water, or worse: getting ready to kill us for it.
We walk along with our rifles in the night. It’s cool out here, but not cold…
Alma stops and raises her gun.
“Hear that?” she whispers.
“No, what?” I’ve got my gun up, too, and I’m pivoting around, searching. I want to hide Alma, but she would never let me.
“Over there.” She points at the corner by the park. And I hear a jangly noise, like car keys. No one drives cars now, though…
Brenda Marie Smith lived off the grid for many years in a farming collective where her sons were delivered by midwives. She’s been a community activist, managed student housing co-ops, produced concerts to raise money for causes, done massive quantities of bookkeeping, and raised a small herd of teenage boys.
Brenda is attracted to stories where everyday characters transcend their limitations to find their inner heroism. She and her husband reside in a grid-connected, solar-powered home in South Austin, Texas. They have more grown kids and grandkids than they can count.
Social Media:
Website: https://brendamariesmith.com/
Blog: https://brendamariesmith.tumblr.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrendaMarieSmithAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bsmithnovelist
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJlLSnORIyoaygvZ1j49ZKw
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58043963-if-the-light-escapes?ac=1#
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/If-Light-Escapes-Braving-Novel-ebook/dp/B09CMZZRKZ/
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/if-the-light-escapes-brenda-marie-smith/1140037562
BookPeople: https://www.bookpeople.com/book/9781970137224
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Brenda Marie Smith will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! :)
DeleteYes, thank you so much for hosting me and my book today. Sorry to be late getting here. You have a lovely blog.
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome! And thank you! :)
DeleteThe book sound good and I love the cover.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sherry. The cover artist is Olivia Hammerman, and she's amazing. I hope you get a chance to read the book.
DeleteI love the beautiful cover and the excerpt. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteIt is a beautiful cover!
Delete"Sci-fi, Science Fiction (post-apocalyptic)"
ReplyDeleteI like post-apocolyptic stories.
"A standalone sequel to IF DARKNESS TAKES US"
ReplyDeleteI'd love to read this one too.
"A solar electromagnetic pulse fried the U.S. grid."
ReplyDeleteI hope that never happens.
"Now northern lights are in Texas—3,000 miles farther south than where they belong."
ReplyDeleteI live in Texas, so that would be awesome.
"The universe won’t stop screwing with 18-year-old Keno Simms."
ReplyDeleteI hate it when that happens.
"All that’s left for him and his broken family is farming their Austin subdivision, trying to eke out a living on poor soil in the scorching heat."
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't sound like much fun.
"Keno’s one solace is his love for Alma, who has her own secret sorrows."
ReplyDeletePoor girl.