Spotlight Author S.J. Carson
I am pleased to extend a warm welcome author S.J. Carson.
S.J. Carson is a YA fantasy author and poet based in Las Vegas, Nevada. She holds degrees from Stanford and Boston Universities. A two-time Pushcart Prize nominee, her poems have appeared in both online and print journals. Aveline is her first novel.
S.J. Carson
For thirteen-year-old Aveline Fleur, a child of Alterra’s ruling house, life is pretty much perfect. She attends private school, owns a horse, and lives on an enormous estate where she and her best friend Bruno run wild. But when she discovers that her family is involved in a sinister plot to brainwash people who speak out against the regime—and that Bruno and his mother are in danger—Aveline must summon the courage to save herself and her friends before it’s too late.
Aveline centers on a young heroine who will stop at nothing to save the ones she loves from a corrupt dictatorship—which happens to be run by her own family. When we meet her at the beginning of the story, Aveline has been relentlessly bullied, and she doesn’t think of herself as strong or brave. However, she begins to develop those qualities as she embarks on a journey that takes her far from home and immerses her in a world of danger. It was thrilling, as the author, to watch her transform from a timid girl to a confident young woman.
Book Excerpt (from Chapter 2)
The trial of Sandor Hayes, the alleged traitor, was all anyone was talking about. It was in the papers and on television. Witnesses from across the Federal District—the part of the province where the capital city of Calador was located—were summoned to testify about his character.
One day before riding lessons, Aveline stood in the foyer of the carriage house with Jem watching Channel 1, which was dedicated to State news and the Daily Veneration of the Leader, a program that aired between twelve and one o’clock every afternoon, and was required viewing for all citizens of Alterra. Although the noon hour had passed, and Aveline and Jem were no longer obligated to watch Channel 1, their eyes were glued to the screen as Sandor’s older sister cried on the witness stand, describing her brother as a pious boy, committed to God and country.
“Do you think the High Court will find him innocent?” asked Aveline.
“I sure hope so.” Jem touched the Aspirant ribbon pinned to his shirt.
While they were riding, Aveline spoke a bit more freely. “My mother and uncle talk as if Mr. Hayes actually did publish that article. So the High Court would have to find him guilty, right?”
“If that’s true, Miss Aveline, they’d have to find him guilty. But they need to give him a chance to prove he’s innocent. Everybody’s supposed to get a fair trial, right?”
“But what if he can’t prove it, though? What would his punishment be, do you think?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t think the High Court should go too hard on him.”
“That’s exactly what my mother said! She thinks he should get a course of reeducation in the Party ideals. What does reeducation mean, Jem?”
“Look.” He stopped riding and pointed toward the sloping stone path leading to the stables on which a slender, black-clad figure was walking in their direction.
My thanks for sharing an excerpt from your new release. Aveline is certainly an intriguing read.
S.J. Could you give us a little bit about your journey to publication and what piece of advice would you recommend for new writers:
Since I was thirteen, I have considered writing more than just a hobby; it is a vocation. I spent the next twenty years teaching myself how to write poems, short stories, novellas, novels, and plays. I was thirty-five before I began writing the manuscript that would become Aveline, my first published novel.
In 2019, I moved from the San Francisco Bay Area to Las Vegas. Soon after, I joined Sin City Writers Group (SCWG) and began getting feedback, chapter by chapter, on Aveline. I was ecstatic to share the fictional world I had created with other people, and they were instrumental in helping me develop the plotline and characters.
In early 2023, fellow SCWG author R.H. Bird told me that his publisher, The Wild Rose Press, was seeking young-adult dystopian novels. He encouraged me to submit my manuscript. Later that year, I was honored to receive a publishing contract for Aveline, which was just released on October 9, 2024.
My advice for new writers is to take as much time as you need to develop your craft. Mastery does not come overnight. Also, comparison is human, but comparing yourself too much to other authors is unproductive. Write the book that you want to write; don’t try to write to any specific audience or invent characters that you think others will like. If you are having fun writing your manuscript, your readers will have fun reading it.
L.G: I find it can been hard to let go of the last book once it is finished, but when an exciting new project starts to take a hold, I can’t wait to crack on.
S.J. has just told me she is currently working on her second book:
Third Moon. It takes place on a distant planet, Ceres X, where each citizen is assigned a “genetic fitness score” at birth that cannot be changed, thus creating a rigid class system. What happens when Kat, a young woman from the lowest class, falls for Cynfael, a young man from the highest? Can they overcome the obstacles in their path to love, or will societal expectations tear them apart?
The novel explores many issues that plague our world—the widening gap between the rich and poor, climate change, political corruption, and the uses and abuses of social media. I like to describe it as Brave New World meets Gattaca, with a dash of Bridgerton.
Thank you so much S.J. for your time. It’s been wonderful reading about your new release, Aveline. I also enjoyed reading your helpful tips for budding writers, and the interesting facts on your personal journey to publication.
I wish you well with your new release, and can’t wait to see the progress you make on your new project.
Now that’s not all folks. We would love it if you connect with us and comment, (in the comment box below), all things writerly of course! On top of that I have added the links to S.J. Carson, so you can follow her progress.
SOCIAL LINKS/BUY LINKS
Website: https://sjcarson.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DBM66T3X/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216994105-aveline
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorsjcarsonofficial/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sjcarsonauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SJCarsonAuthor
credits to photos
- Girl with backpack: Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash
- Rushing river: Photo by Ezra Jeffrey-Comeau on Unsplash
Thank you once again for joining us today. Please share with your friends and family.
Comments (4)
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S.J. Carson
Thank you, Meryl! I like making readers think. The society in my novel mirrors our own in many ways, so readers should have a lot to ponder.
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Ilona Fridl
Loved the excerpt. Interesting story!
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S.J. Carson
Thank you, Ilona! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
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Meryl Brown Tobin
Good to see a story that challenges readers to think about the society they live in by experiencing a dystopian fantasy novel, S.J. Thank you for an interesting interview, S.J. and L.B.