Darlene Foster's Blog

Today is National Internet Friends Day and I am lucky to have many wonderful internet friends! I am pleased to introduce one of them, Teri Polen, as a guest author. I love her answers to my questions, especially which fictional character she would want to spend a day with.

Teri Polen reads and watches horror, sci-fi, and fantasy.  The Walking Dead, Harry Potter, and anything Marvel-related are likely to cause fangirl delirium.  She lives in Bowling Green, KY with her husband, sons, and black cat.  Her first novel, Sarah, a YA horror/thriller, was a horror finalist in the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.  Subject A36 was voted one of the 50 Best Indie Books of 2020 at ReadFree.  Visit her online at www.teripolen.com

1.Tell us about yourself including something that may surprise us.
Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog, Darlene! I’m a multi-genre
YA author—sci-fi, horror, and fantasy, a mom of two polar opposite sons,
a Marvel, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Walking Dead fan (I’m such a
nerd), and enslaved to Bond, my feline overlord. Considering my usual
entertainment preferences, most people would be surprised to know that
I’ve watched Grey’s Anatomy from the beginning. I’m not a Meredith
Grey fan—it’s Miranda Bailey and the medical cases that keep me tuning
in.

2. How long have you been seriously writing?
   Around eight years I think? I started writing while waiting for my son at
   soccer practice—long hand because I didn’t have a laptop then—and
   stayed with it until I had a completed manuscript. And it was truly
   horrible. Once I understood I’d created a monstrosity, I read books on
   the craft of writing, took classes, and learned just how difficult it really is
   to write a book.
3. Where do you get ideas for your stories?
   I’ve gotten ideas from dreams, billboards, asking lots of ‘what if’
   questions, and merging movie ideas, but the spark for my first book
   came from my cat. Weird, but true. We’d moved into a new house with
   no previous owners and Shadow, fur bristled while emitting deep
   throated growls, stared at something on the stairs no one else could see.
   It started me thinking about how a house could be haunted if it was
   never inhabited. I gave him credit in the acknowledgements!
4. What is your writing process? Are you a planner or a panster?
   I lean more in the panster direction, but I’m constantly struggling to
   claw my way in the direction of the planning side. I tend to be a slow
   writer, and I think things would move along considerably faster if I had
   some sort of outline. I’ve gotten better, but I’m not there yet.
5. Where and when do you do your best writing?
   I don’t have a designated writing space. I tend to move around the
   house with my laptop to whatever space inspires me that day.
   Afternoons seem to be my most productive time.
6. What kind of research do you?
   For my second book, The Gemini Connection, I researched twin
   relationships and quantum physics. With my newest release, Subject
   A36, I spent a lot of time reading about genetics and DNA. I took great
   liberties in those areas with both books, but that’s why I write fiction.
7. If you could spend a day with a fictional character, who would you
   choose and why?
   You nearly stumped me with this one, Darlene. It took me days to
   decide, but I tried to narrow it down by only considering fictional book
   characters. I’ve read plenty that fascinated me, but I might not survive
   the day (I’m a fan of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy novels—lots of dangerous
   stuff going on). I finally decided on Ron Weasley from the Harry Potter
   series. I adored his large, loving family, and I’d have a blast hanging out
   with them for the day. Harry and Hermione would visit, and I’d
   undoubtedly be the victim of Fred’s and George’s pranks. Maybe I’d even
   get my own wand for a day!
8. Tell us about your next writing project. I’m currently working on the sequel to Subject A36, and I swear this
   book may be the death of me (see above planner vs. panster). 2020
   really slowed the writing pace for me, but I’m getting there.

Thanks so much, Teri. Always good to hear from a fellow panster. I have so much respect for planners but I just can’t seem to do it either. What fun it would be to spend a day with Ron Weasley! Great choice.

You can connect with Teri on her Social Media sites:

Website:  https://teripolen.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TeriPolenAuthor/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TPolen6

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16114393.Teri_Polen

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/tpolen6/

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/teripolen/

Purchase Link:  https://www.amazon.com/Teri-Polen/e/B01MYOUA6V

Planet Tage is dying, and the best hope of saving it is gone.

Seventeen-year-old identical twins Evan and Simon share an extraordinary bond, a trait that’s both useful and invasive. They use their connection in their work at Scientific Innovations. Evan is a Mindbender, someone who enters the minds of scientists to spark ideas, join thoughts, and battle nightmares. Simon is a science prodigy and Tage’s best chance of survival.

Unfortunately, their unusual link often bleeds into their private lives. When Evan discovers his brother is keeping a secret from him, he lashes out and ignores requests to talk, and even pleas for help. By the time Evan tunes back in, he finds their connection severed and Simon missing.

He suffers a terrible case of survivor’s guilt. Moreover, he’s desperate. The fate of the world rests on Simon’s return, and Evan is willing to do anything to get him back—even working with his greatest rival, who also happens to be Simon’s boyfriend.

Evan finds allies among enemies and adversaries among friends. When nothing is as it seems and everything is depending on him, he must explore a dangerous aspect to his twin connection he never knew he had.

If he fails, he’ll lose both his brother and his world.

My 5-star review of The Gemini Connection A great sci-fi/dystopian YA novel. I don’t often read this genre but the idea of twins intrigued me. I was not disappointed. There is plenty of action and some clever world-building, but the character development and the relationships between characters are the stars of this show. The tie between the twins, Evan and Simon, is amazing and the story is written from the POV of both of them. The secondary characters are also interesting and round out the story. Evan is devastated when Simon goes missing, but when he realizes Simon is alive, he will do anything to rescue him and bring him home, even work with his sworn enemy. How this plays out will keep you on the edge of your seat. The author has a vivid imagination and is capable of using it to create an awesome reading experience.

Teri’s other books:

Seventeen-year-old horror fan Cain Shannon thought helping a ghost find her killers would be the supernatural adventure of a lifetime. Now, he just hopes to survive long enough to protect his family and friends from her.

A bet between friends goes horribly wrong, resulting in Sarah’s death. When she returns to seek justice against those responsible, Cain agrees to help her. But when he discovers Sarah has been hijacking his body, he realizes she wants retribution instead of justice.

Terrified of what could have happened when he wasn’t in control, Cain commands Sarah to leave his house – but exorcising her isn’t that easy. She retaliates against her murderers in bloody, horrific ways, each death making her stronger, then sets her sights on Cain. With the help of friends, Cain fights to save himself and his loved ones and searches for a way to stop Sarah before she kills again.

If genetic engineering could guarantee you and your family perfect health and unparalleled beauty, would you pay top dollar for it? Would you kill for it?

Residents of the Colony would. And do.

Only the Insurgents can stop them.

Seventeen-year-old Asher Solomon is a premier operative with the Insurgents. He and his team have rescued countless hostages, saving them from painful deaths in Colony labs as desirable genetic traits are stripped from their bodies.

He’s also suffered more losses than anyone should have to.

Then Asher gets intel that might give his people the upper hand. The Colony is searching for Subject A36. If the Insurgents determine the subject’s identity first, they might be able to turn the tide of the war.

Asher and his team embark on their riskiest mission ever, and the stakes have never been higher. But even if he survives the physical dangers, the devastating secrets he uncovers might destroy him.

Thanks for being an internet friend, Teri!