Welcome to FIVE QUESTIONS. In this feature on my blog, you'll learn about new and exciting books from the author's themselves. You'll hear about the book, their characters, the inspiration behind the book, and other insider details. All through five simple questions.
Today, we are hearing from Colleen Winter about her new novel THE STORM, available starting today.
What is your new book about?
THE STORM is the stand-alone finale of redemption and technology-gone-wrong that began with THE GATHERER (Book 1) and was followed by THE DISRUPTORS. It follows inventor Storm Freeman, who has one final chance to take back the energy gathering device she gave to the world.
The Gatherer delivers free, infinite energy along with an inexplicable illness with no known cure. Afflicted herself, Storm is returning to the compound where she created the device to put an end to the suffering she caused. On the way, she encounters a Gatherer so corrupted from her original design that she hardly recognizes it and will need all her strength and that of her companions, to finally stop the lethal device she created.
What makes your protagonist unique?
Storm Freeman is a brilliant inventor, who was once heralded as the saviour of humankind for her invention of the Gatherer. Three years has passed and much of the initial reverence has faded from her and her invention as people are afflicted by disease. Storm is one of the first to come down with this new illness, and it hampers her ability to stop the device that she has lost control of and has now spread throughout the world. She struggles with her need to stop the Gatherer and the pain she experiences every time she gets near it or encounters the electromagnetic fields that are ubiquitous in our modern society. She ultimately has to decide how much of herself she is willing to sacrifice, in order to save the world and herself, from the Gatherer.
What was the hardest scene to write?
Without giving away any spoilers, the final scene of the book took me the most tries to get right. It is the culmination of the journey that Storm and her companion, Maria Kowalski, started in the first book of the series and I needed its emotional impact and storyline to be compelling and true, and a just ending to what has been a grueling, redemptive journey.
Which is your favorite minor character and why?
My favourite minor character would have to be Amanda, the third woman in the trio of strong female characters that drive the book. She is impulsive, funny and rebellious and I have to admit to being a little jealous of her irreverence and her willingness to tell the world to go to hell. She is an outlet for one of my inner personalities and I had fun with her humour and getting her to do things Storm and Maria wouldn’t, and without asking permission.
Of all the books out there, why should readers choose this one? (What makes your book stand out from the rest?)
THE STORM is unapologetically about strong women using their intelligence and skills to stay ahead of the government and military, and it happens with very little shooting, kicking, or punching. It’s about being smart, knowing their adversary, and sticking to their purpose no matter what the world throws at them. It’s also about technology and the miracle of the electrical grid, and how we take so much for granted in our modern world. This is a story of technology-gone-wrong and will make readers see their day-to-day world in a whole new light.
You can purchase THE STORM at the following retailers.
Bookshop.org - Supporting Local Bookstores