Today, we will be sitting down with author Renee N.
Meland to talk about her new book Burning
Doors, book two in The Extraction List Series.
THE WRITING:
How did this book come about? Did you always intend The Extraction List to become a series?
I
actually had zero intention of it becoming a series. But then I met the
characters in the first book, and could tell they weren’t done telling their
story, especially Cain, who is the narrator of the second book. It actually takes
place chronologically before the first book. I wanted him to have a chance to
tell the reader how he became the badass that he is in book one.
Describe the book’s place in the series:
This
book gives the reader more of a glimpse into the world that gave birth to the
Parental Morality Law. I wanted the reader to see what the world would have
looked like in order for a law like that to exist.
How many books is the series going to have?
Right
now, I’m planning on stopping at four, but who knows? The characters could take
over again and we could get a book five. There are several characters who I
also think could have the potential to be in a spinoff book.
THE FUN:
If you could choose to come back as any person or
animal, what would it be?
Probably
a cheetah so I could run really fast. Never been much of an athlete.
Who are your favorite writers?
Neal
Shusterman for writing the Unwind Series, Chuck Palaniuk for being so darn good
at dark humor, and Suzy Vitello for being brilliant and an all-around nice person.
Favorite Quote?
“It’s
not important which way you jump, just that you jump.” It’s from a Chuck
Palahniuk book. Choke
I think. I just love it because you get to points in your life where you’re so
worried about making the right decision that you don’t do anything at all. Just
trying something is better than doing nothing at all.
Burning Doors
The Extraction List Series
Book 2
Renee N. Meland
Genre: Science Fiction Thriller
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Date of Publication: April 28th, 2015
ISBN: 9781680581119
ASIN: B00W7GV018
Number of pages: 164
Book Description:
Cain Foley committed his first murder before he could even drive a car…
Not that he would’ve had anywhere to drive to. When he was fifteen, America was one of the poorest countries in the world, and its’ citizens took their hatred of that fact out on each other through gangs and violence.
Children barely tall enough for carnival rides peppered the streets selling drugs (or themselves) so they could buy their next meal.
Every night on the news, Cain watched as an angelic blonde woman who lost her own child swore she’d end it…
She assaulted America’s televisions with praise for the Parental Morality Law: a set of rules that spells out exactly what it takes to be a parent in the eyes of the government, and the consequences of breaking those rules. He prayed every night that she’d come to rescue him before his father took off his belt again.
Before she could save him, Cain faced a fatal choice…
Fight back or die on the basement floor.
He chose life.
Now on the run, he finds himself being hunted by a police officer with his own special brand of torture. Before he can save even a handful of the children who have been swept up in the gang life, he must first cover up not one, but two murders. His father’s and one committed by a teenage madam who is either the love of his life, or his final undoing.
As he feels himself being pushed further and further to the edge, Cain realizes that surviving his father was just the beginning.
Excerpt:
The first time I killed someone, it was an accident. Though I guess it was the kind of accident that happens when you squeeze your hands around someone’s neck for too long, or when you shove someone who is standing too close to the edge of a building. In my case, I accidentally killed my father when I beat him to death with a pipe.
He had set me up that night, I’m sure of it. I was always careful to leave the TV volume down so I wouldn’t be caught. But when I flipped the power on that night, the news roared. The woman I wanted to see was there, giving a speech like always, but her voice came out with the force of thunder. Sweat drenched my body when I heard the door to my parents’ upstairs bedroom fly open and hit the wall. The foundation shook and so did my limbs. I sat frozen in a seated position as I heard his footsteps. All I could focus on were his shiny patent leather shoes coming toward me. Even in the middle of the night, he took the time to slip them on.
I could smell him before I even saw his feet. He constantly stunk of mouthwash and old cologne; it was some putrid mix of sandalwood and beach vacations that we would never take. He cackled as he stepped toward me, so the minty air from his breath reached me before his hand did. I felt my head hit the floor before I felt the familiar sting in my cheek.
“You’re so stupid. You really think you’ll ever leave here? Where do you think you’re going to go, huh? You need me. She hasn’t come for you and she never will!” He kicked me in the side with his foot.
My stomach clenched from the impact.
I usually kept quiet when he hit me. At most, I would agree with whatever he was saying to stop him before he did real damage.
It never worked.
No matter what I said, or didn’t say, the blows would keep coming. My mother was always conveniently upstairs, but no one can tell me she couldn’t hear the snap of his belt or the furniture rattle as he shoved me into it.
That night was different. Maybe it was watching the woman from the television, or maybe it was the way his smile stretched across his face as he struck me, I don’t know. But when he was finished and heading back upstairs, I spat towards him.
My cheeks burned as I did it. In fact, my whole body felt like it was on fire. But I’d be lying if I said I wished I could take it back. Even when he turned, eyes wide when he noticed the wad of saliva glistening on the concrete floor, I didn’t regret it one bit.
I may have even cracked a smile.
About the Author:
Renee N. Meland is an avid writer and reader of speculative fiction. She and her husband reside in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. When she is not writing or being a devoted doggy-mom, she is gardening or learning a new recipe.
She is currently working on the rest of the books in The Extraction List Series. Other upcoming projects involve reincarnation, and a house filled with people who all have something to hide.
Twitter @reneenmeland
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Renee-N-Melands-Books/311899338826241
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