Blurb
Meet
Braelin a young girl in a world soon to be changed forever by a virus known as
C47. Now an orphan, Braelin is forced to take care of herself. Come see the
secret place in the woods Braelin escapes to and how she finds peace and
happiness in a world that is harsh and all about survival. She learns to
survive and fend for herself. Here we also meet two brothers, Timber and
Aravon. Timber is the leader of a gang known as the Wolves. Aravon is the
younger brother trying to keep his older brother in line. Filled with suspense,
passion and excitement, Wolves in the Woods, will keep Braelin fighting for her
life and for her love until the very end.
Excerpt from Chapter One
Braelin
fell to her knees next to her dead parents and at last something gave way and
she was able to cry. She cried for her twin for whom her heart ached like a
lost piece of herself and she cried for her parents whose lives the virus C47
had also cut short. She cried until she ran out of tears and until the black
sheet of grief swam back over her mind. She lay on the ground thinking to
herself. “I could just stay here. I could just lay here until I die next to my
family.”
Then she remembered her twin’s words. It felt
like a lifetime ago since she heard them.
They
were watching the story of C47 unfold like a bad dream around them. At first,
it was just in the cities; then stories of it being in small towns spread. One
night she sat with her twin talking and crying about their family members who
lived in cities. They had not heard from them in weeks and Braelin assumed they
were already dead.
“It’s
like a nightmare,” Braelin said to Bradin. “It’s just like those
Stephen
King books I found in the attic, only real.”
“You
and your obsession with everything antique!” Bradin jokingly prodded his
sister. “You know no one actually reads paper anymore, right? Or grows food out
of the dirt, or puts material together with… what do you call that thing
again…a needle?”
“Shut
it, Bradin,” Braelin said affectionately, poking her twin in the ribs.
He laughed
and then they both went quiet again. After a moment of silence, a tear slipped
out of Braelin’s eye.
“Bradin,
I’m scared. I don’t know what I would ever do if I lost you.”
Bradin
looked over at his sister with a look of future doom and pity in his eyes, then
his face cleared and he smiled his best charming smile, the one that he was
already starting to win young women with.
Interview
What inspired you to write this
book?
I
started seriously writing at the age of fifteen when I wrote a memoir for my
twin brother. When I finished it ten years later, I realized how much I loved
to write. So I started Wolves in the Woods.
Can you give us an interesting
fact about your book that isn't in the blurb?
The
main character’s name is a combination of my children’s names together. Kaelin
+ Braedin = Braelin
How did you choose your title?
Wolves
in the Woods is a representation of the safe versus the not safe in the book.
The Wolves is the name of a gang. The Woods is where Braelin finds safety.
Tell us about the cover and how
it came to be.
My
cover artist asked me what I had in mind. I always envisioned Braelin (a young
woman) with long blonde hair running through the woods. He ran with it!
Did you self-publish or publish
traditionally and why?
I
published through an independent publisher. Kind of an in between traditional
and self-publishing. I like the fact that they allow you to have control over the
content of your book and a say in each step of the process. Plus they are a
smaller press so they personalize your experience. I have loved working with
them so far.
What do you consider the most
important part of a good story?
I
think pacing is very important. Not too slow and good flow. If you take too long
to get to the exciting part I lose interest.
What is your writing process?
I
have written some of my books with an outline and some I just wrote from my
heart. Both can work, as long as you are organized and consistent.
How long have you been writing?
As
long as I can remember I have written little short stories and even drawn comic
strips. Seriously though, since I was fifteen.
How did you get started writing?
My
twin brother encouraged me. He liked the comic strips I drew. My parents also encouraged
it.
What part of the writing process
is the hardest for you?
Editing!
I have Chiari malformation which is a skull deformation resulting in
compression of the brain stem. For some reason this has resulted in problems
with time (past/present tense), numbers, and names. You can imagine how that
makes writing difficult. Fortunately, I work with a wonderful editor.
What tips can you give on how to
get through writers block?
Take
a break. I am constantly writing at least two or three books at the same time.
When you get stuck on one, work on a different one. Just a good night of sleep
can help too!
What kind of music do you like to
listen to while you write?
I
like silence when I write. Probably because I am a stay at home mom. Noise and
chaos are my life. So when I write I will sometimes wear ear plugs!
Who is your favorite author?
Stephen
King. The original dystopian master. J
Who is your favorite character
from a book?
I
have many, but my current favorite is Daenerys Targaryen in the Game of Thrones.
Probably because I like that she is constantly underestimated and yet amazingly
strong and resilient with a good heart.
What is your favorite book?
I
have favorite books in several genres. However, the one that impacted me the
most is the Shack by William P. Young.
Read anything good lately?
The
best book I have read recently is the Brain that Changes Itself by Norman
Doidge. It reads like a textbook, but it is an amazing view of brain plasticity
and what our bodies are capable of.
What do you like to do when
you're not writing?
I am
a full time stay at home mom. We also homeschool. For myself, I love to read
(of course), crochet, garden, plays, and movies. We also volunteer at the
animal shelter as often as we can.
What advice would you give an
author just starting out?
Get
started with social media now! Create accounts, build up a following and a
circle of peers. Write articles, write blog posts, and write about things you
love and/or are passionate about.
Have you had anything else
published?
I
have had several articles on grief and grieving published, but Wolves in the
Woods is my first book published.
What's your next project?
Wolves
in the Woods is a series. So I have three of the four books already written. I
am working on the fourth and final book in the series. I also wrote a
children’s picture book and a non-fiction book on healing from grief that I am
pursuing publication for this winter. Finally, I have been working on a middle
grade book that I have been trying to finish for a while. I am always writing
something!
About The Author
Brea
Behn is very passionate about reading and writing in all genres. She started
writing at the age of fifteen, when she wrote a memoir for her twin brother.
Currently, she writes fiction of several genres, nonfiction, and is building
her career as an author and public speaker.
When
Brea is not writing, she is reading, usually several books at the same time.
She also volunteers at her local humane society, gardens, and homeschools her
children.
Brea
lives in Wisconsin with her husband and their two children.
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