What's a Touch-Know? Find out in this new steampunk called Into the Ether by Vanessa Barger

Blurb

As a Touch-Know, Genevieve has never been required to steal more than a few paltry coins.  But when a powerful stranger requires their help, her family of street-wise thieves sends her to get the most important thing they’ve ever decided to liberate.  It was supposed to be a simple overnight job.  Instead, Genevieve is required to appear attached to her mark, the curator of the British Museum.  For Genevieve it becomes more than an act, and her problems are far more significant than the possibility of her lies being discovered.

When her family betrays her, she must make an important choice – turn to the man who has destroyed everything she holds dear, or strike out on her own.

Wow we are so excited to have yet another truly original work by a talented author release here at Astraea Press. No lets here are little big about Vanessa. 


Author Bio

I am a Young Adult author who teaches high schoolers all about technology education (and yearbook!) in rural Virginia along the Chesapeake Bay. I am the owner slave to one cat, Molly, who looks a little like a cow when she gets a haircut, and write in my free time. I am actively involved in the YA Fiction Fanatics critique group, which is dedicated to helping its members produce the best MG and YA novels they can write. This past summer I finally bit the bullet and also joined the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). I’ve currently finished five manuscripts, and I’m working on several more. I have my second YA Steampunk, Into the Ether, coming soon from Astraea Press. I also love long walks on the beach discussing Shakespeare while sipping large fruity drinks with little umbrellas.

 Wow Vanessa you lost me at high schoolers (eek!) then got me back with fruity drinks. LOL joke.


Author Interview

A random fact about your story.

Terry’s red hair is based on a picture of my brother when he was about 7 and dressed as a hobo for Halloween. (you know. When he was little and cute.)

A random fact about you as an author. 

Hmmm…  I haven’t told anyone at work about my publishing, with the exception of about two people. I was afraid I might jinx it or something. And someday, when I hit the bestseller list, my brother owes me a case of my favorite, very expensive wine. And I will not forget it!

Favorite line in the story (can be funny, romantic, etc).  

Fireworks lit at my lips and burst in my heart.

How did you get the idea for your book? 

I have always wanted to visit the British Museum, and I think the coolest thing in the world would be if I got trapped there overnight. I also browse museums and wonder what sorts of things the artifacts have seen and what they’d say if I could talk to them.

What are you currently working on?

I just finished a YA paranormal horror-ish book. I’m editing and getting ready to submit it, while I outline a new sci-fi YA romance.

Is this your first published book? 

Actually, no. I have one other book published under another name. But YA is my first love!
  
Vanilla or Chocolate

Chocolate. Unless we’re talking ice cream. Then its French vanilla.

As a child what did you want to be when you grew up?

A writer. A teacher. An artist. Zookeeper. I got a few of those right!

What was the scariest moment of your life?

 My grandfather went in for open heart surgery, and after sitting in the waiting room for hours, my brother and I finally went for lunch. And then Dad came to get us and told us we needed to come back. Then they took us to that little room that never means good news and told us they couldn’t restart his heart.

How do you develop your plots and characters?

I’m not a big outliner, so I have a basic idea of what I want to happen and where I will end up, and then I write. The characters just seem to develop their own personality as we go along, though often they have a little of me or people I know in them.

Do you listen to music while writing?

 Absolutely. Unless I’m having a hard time concentrating, there’s always music on. And I have playlists specific for each thing I’m working on.

Plotter or Pantser? Why?

Panster. If I plot, REALLY plot, I get done and think, “Well, that’s done. I’m bored.” I also feel too confined. Like if I deviate from the outline the world will end or something.

Tell us about your current release.

Into the Ether is about Genevieve Bond, a girl who has no memory of her past and can read the history of an object. She lives with a band of street kids who are thieves. And…well.. here’s the blurb:

As a Touch-Know, Genevieve has never been required to steal more than a few paltry coins. But when a powerful stranger requires their help, her family of street-wise thieves sends her to get the most important thing they've ever decided to liberate. It was supposed to be a simple overnight job. Instead, Genevieve is required to appear attached to her mark, the curator of the British Museum. For Genevieve it becomes more than an act, and her problems are far more significant than the possibility of her lies being discovered.

When her family betrays her, she must make an important choice – turn to the man who has destroyed everything she holds dear, or strike out on her own.

Tell us the "story" of your book and how it came to be.

I don’t really know anymore. I wrote a piece of it, and it sort of came out from there. And I had been looking at information about the British Museum online, and was thinking about what it would be like to be there when the Elgin Marbles and things had just arrived, and when going to see things like that was much more popular. 

Do you have a writing routine?

Not really. I feel most inspired during thunderstorms or cloudy weather (I don’t get it either) and if I’m settling into a long stretch, I turn on the music and get out the tea cups and tea pot and tea tray and take it all to my “art room” (ie – junk room)

What inspires you?

Everything. My students, I have crazy dreams and they often end up as the basis for a story idea. Photos, trips, scenery, stories others tell me… its weird what will inspire a story.

What are you working on right now?

A spaghetti western style YA scifi romance. I’m still world building (and trying to get into the habit of using a “story bible.”)

 Favorite Muppet?

It’s a tie between Pepe the Prawn and Rizzo

Favorite movie and why?

Oh geez – there are so many…. I love Joshua for the message, I love the Mummy movies because they’re just fun, LOTR makes me happy, There’s a lot, and it changes all the time! (movies are my secret downfall. I’ve already had to buy two shelves this year to hold them, and I’m almost full. Again.)

What are your goals for this year?

Write at least three more YA novels, and finish the sequel to my adult novel. Get more published, maybe find an agent… you know… small stuff. lol

Thanks Vanessa for sharing. You can check out more about Vanessa herself at the links below

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And her book Into the Ether can be purchase here....