Atlas The Atlas Series Book 1 Becca C. Smith
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Red Frog Publishing
Date of Publication: 11/14/13
ISBN: 978-0985027667 (Ebook) ISBN: 978-1493648375 (Print) ASIN: B00GPBF8X2
Number of pages: 293 Word Count: 73,000
Cover Artist: Stephan Fleet
Book Description:
Kala Hicks is part of a covert elite military team that answers directly to the President of the United States. But during an emergency mission aboard Air Force One, Kala is shocked to discover that the real threat is none other than the President himself. Defying her commanding officer, Jack Norbin, Kala takes the shot, and her life changes forever.
The moment the President is killed, a supernatural force speaks to Kala, telling her that she has to commit one act of atrocity every four days… or the world will end. Thrown into a reality she never could have imagined, Kala faces off with creatures of legend; from demons determined to make her fail and plunge the Earth into chaos, to angels who don't trust her to do the job and are willing to kill her to claim it for themselves.
Pitted against the forces of good and evil, Kala must choose whether to save the world by doing the unthinkable, or sit back and let it burn. And four days later, she'll have to do it again.
Excerpt End of Chapter 3:
Very carefully, Jack opened the door that led to the President's office.
What awaited them was terrifying.
President Jareth Wilton stood behind his desk. He was wearing a vest that held five grey bars of C-4 wired into a bomb. Wilton was a tall man, well over six feet with stark black hair and a long face. He was a young President, only fifty years old, but he looked like he'd aged twenty years since the last time Kala had seen him at a press conference, with dark rings under his eyes and worry lines on his forehead.
But his smile was what made the scene surreal and horrific. His thin lips were grinning as if he'd just climbed Mt. Everest.
President Wilton stared directly at Jack as the door swung open the rest of the way. "I figured it out! I figured out how to break it! No one will ever have to do what I've had to do again! Do you realize what this means?"
Kala knew then and there that the man was cracked. Figured what out? Break what? He was rambling like a mad man.
But the more frightening moment came when Jack responded back to Wilton. "Killing yourself is impossible. People have tried that in the past."
Not only was President Wilton talking crazy, but apparently Jack knew his language and was responding accordingly.
Kala noticed that Wilton's eyes lit up when Jack spoke. "You're the one they sent to replace me."
Jack nodded.
What? Kala was seriously confused.
Kala spoke up, "What's going on Jack?"
Replace him for what?
Jack didn't acknowledge Kala or the rest of the team, which was shifting uncomfortably behind him.
Wilton shook his head, serious. "You can't do it. You have to let me detonate this bomb. We have to crash the plane! It's the only way to stop it!"
"You can't stop it!" Jack yelled back.
"I can and I will!" Wilton talked into an earpiece. "NOW!"
The plane nose-dived.
Everyone jolted forward and stumbled from the force of it.
Jack barked orders, "Lali get up to the Flight Deck and by any means necessary take over this plane!"
Lali paused for a second, she looked more confused than Kala felt, but after a moment to gain her bearings as the plane was falling fast, she managed to high-tail it out of the room and up to the Flight Deck.
Kala was sure they'd hit ground at any moment.
Jack aimed his gun at the President's head.
Wilton was frantic. He ducked behind his large oak desk that was bolted to the ground.
"You can't kill me! You'll ruin everything!" Wilton yelled.
Jack turned to Kala and Derek. "No one shoots him but me!"
Kala kind of nodded, but she was in shock at the fact that they were about to flatten a part of the capital with Air Force One. She really didn't care what Jack was saying. She couldn't let President Wilton set off that bomb and kill thousands.
Jack shot at the desk, trying to hit the president, but he didn't come close.
Only Kala could make a shot like that and not get them all killed from shooting a hole through the plane.
Kala and Derek made eye contact. Kala could tell Derek was thinking the same thing. He whispered so only Kala could hear, "Do it."
Kala's nod was barely perceptible.
Jack saw her and his eyes went wide. "Kala STOP!"
Kala shrugged. "I can't let him do this, Jack. I'm sorry."
Only the top of Wilton's head was showing.
It was enough.
Kala took her shot.
Author Interview:
The Avid Reader: What inspired you to write Atlas?
Becca C. Smith: The inspiration actually came from a brainstorming session my husband and I were having for television show ideas. Initially, we both came up with the concept of having to do something horrible every four days or the world would end. Years later it started to percolate in my brain. That's when I came up with the idea of connecting our concept with the Greek legends of Atlas so that "holding up the world" is actually saving it every four days. It was a lot of fun creating a world of gods, demons and angels set in present day.
The Avid Reader: When or at what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?
Becca C. Smith: I honestly can't remember wanting to do anything else. Ever since I could read and write I wanted to be a writer. I wrote my first novel when I was 12. Of course it was terrible, lol! But writing is just in my blood. It's how I deal/dealt with life.
The Avid Reader: What is the earliest age you remember reading your first book?
Becca C. Smith: I read my first chapter book when I was 5. It was The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. It changed my life. I was officially hooked and became a reading fiend ever since. And, oh boy, did I try to find that door to Narnia! I would search for days, lol, completely convinced I'd find it! I'm still looking :-)
The Avid Reader: What genre of books do you enjoy reading?
Becca C. Smith: I really do love all genres, but in the last five years I've been obsessed with YA. But Fantasy was my first love! I grew up devouring any kind of fantasy/sci-fi I could get my hands on!
The Avid Reader: What is your favorite book?
Becca C. Smith: For nostalgic reasons, I'd have to say The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks. I loved the two main character's love story. Added to the fact that it was such an adventure full of action and horror, as a 12 year old girl, it hit all the right buttons for me back then.
The Avid Reader: You know I think we all have a favorite author. Who is your favorite author and why?
Becca C. Smith: Terry Brooks. He was the first author I was actually able to meet when I was 12. I was so nervous, carrying all 8 paperbacks for him to sign. When I got up to the table, I couldn't speak! I was so dumbfounded, I just stared at him wide-eyed. He was so sweet though, completely understanding my shyness! With the help of my translator (aka Mom) Mr. Brooks signed my books and I've loved him ever since.
The Avid Reader: If you could travel back in time here on earth to any place or time. Where would you go and why?
Becca C. Smith: I'd much rather travel into the future! Being a woman, I'm not sure there are many friendly places for us back in time, lol! So, I'd probably make a quick stop to the dinosaur age, just to see what they look like in person!
The Avid Reader: When writing a book do you find that writing comes easy for you or is it a difficult task?
Becca C. Smith: I would never say writing is "easy," but I do write a lot because I love the way it makes me feel. So, in that sense, it is easy. The difficulty lies in making sure my stories make sense, keep the reader's attention and hopefully capture some of the passion I feel for what I'm writing. Some days are harder than others, but I'm not happy if I'm not writing!
The Avid Reader: Do you have any little fuzzy friends? Like a dog or a cat? Or any pets?
Becca C. Smith: I do! I have 2 cats named Jack and Duke. They're named after the 2 main characters of the movie Midnight Run. They're going to be 15 in April, but they still act like kittens!
The Avid Reader: What is your "to die for", favorite food/foods to eat?
Becca C. Smith: I'm a sucker for chocolate! A giant chocolate chip cookie packed with gooey chunks of chocolate is definitely on the top of my list! I think I may have to make some after I write this!
The Avid Reader: Do you have any advice for anyone that would like to be an author?
Becca C. Smith: The number one piece of advice I'd give an aspiring author is to just finish your first draft. I know so many writers who stop in the middle and start a new project. Even if you only write 200 words a day in a year you'll have a 73,000 word novel! Stay consistent, keep writing and finish!
About the Author:
Becca C. Smith received her Film degree from Full Sail University and has worked in the Film and Television industry for most of her adult life. In 2010 Becca published her first novel, Riser followed by the sequel, Reaper, in 2011, and the finale, Ripper in 2013. In 2012 Becca wrote the children's novel Alexis Tappendorf and the Search for Beale's Treasure. She is also the co-author of the teen graphic novel Ghost Whisperer: The Haunted.
Becca currently lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband, Stephan and their two cats Jack and Duke.
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Giveaway:
5 print copies Atlas by Becca C. Smith
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