Exclusive Sponsored Giveaway and Interview: Awoken by Sarah Noffke

Awoken (The Lucidites #1) by Sarah Noffke

Around the world humans are hallucinating after sleepless nights.
In a sterile, underground institute the forecasters keep reporting the same events.
And in the backwoods of Texas, a sixteen-year-old girl is about to be caught up in a fierce, ethereal battle.
Meet Roya Stark. She drowns every night in her dreams, spends her hours reading classic literature to avoid her family’s ridicule, and is prone to premonitions—which are becoming more frequent. And now her dreams are filled with strangers offering to reveal what she has always wanted to know: Who is she? That’s the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out. But will Roya live to regret learning the truth?
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www.sarahnoffke.com

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--How did you get the idea for the story?

Since the books are about dreaming wouldn’t it be cool if I said I got the idea from a dream? Yeah, that would be super cool, but that’s not the truth. The honest answer is I’ve always been fascinated by dreams and the paranormal. There was a time in college that I thought about becoming a paranormal psychologist. Instead I became a writer. Choices.

I was a work-at-home mom at the time that I concocted the idea for the Lucidites. I started by talking about the premise to my infant daughter. She offered little feedback, but plenty of inspiration. The idea for an ancient villain came to me when I was reading about Zhuangzi, who was a Taoist philosopher. He said, “Once upon a time, I dreamt I was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly, unaware that I was myself. Soon I awaked, and there I was, veritably myself again. Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man.”

Once I read this I quickly latched onto the idea of a villain who was once good, but became corrupt through greed. And so Zhuang was born, but he dreamt himself as things much more threatening than a butterfly. Maybe most writer’s start with creating the hero, but in my case I started with the antagonist. From there the idea of stealing consciousness through dreams took shape and everything fell into place…well kind of. That’s all a story for another time.

--Which character would you most/least like to have dinner with?

I would most like to dine with Dr. Aiden Livingston from Awoken. I love smart guys. LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! And the fact that he’s got stunning blue eyes, an easy laugh, and is charming doesn’t hurt at all. He’s a little young for me, but we’re just talking dinner.

I would least like to dine with Zhuang. Although picking the brain of someone who’s been around since the fourth century sounds cool, it really isn’t if you don’t survive to finish dessert.

--Do you have any other works in progress? Any teasers or release dates?

I really had no idea whether the idea of a race of people who can take their consciousness to any place and time would be adopted easily. Since it was, I’ve decided to write another Dream Travelers Series. There’s more locations. More deceit. And more sassy characters. It’s what I know and love

--What book(s) is your book’s “cousin”? (Similar kind of read, set-up or style)

The Lucidites Series has a romance similar to the one found in Matched. The action is most akin to that in the New Soul Series. And I’ve had multiple people say that the style is reminiscent of Divergent. I’m not sure about that. It’s a hard book to classify, especially for me the very subjective author.

--What are some of your favorite books? Do you still have much time to read?

I’ve had to really make time to read, but there’s nothing more important than that for a writer. My favorite book of all time is The Great Gatsby. And my favorite series from the current YA genre are The Infernal Devices, His Dark Materials, and Fire and Thorns. Each of these series is unique, beautifully written and has characters with a resilient spirit.

--If a fairy godmother told you could be put into the world of your favorite book for 24 hours, which book would you pick and why?

This is tough because most of the books I really love have chaotic worlds, ones I really wouldn’t want to visit. However, I’d love to spend one night visiting Erin Morgenstern’s Night Circus. That is a place for dreams.

--Do you need anything to write (music, coffee, etc)? Are there any songs on your playlist- songs that inspired you or that were playing while you wrote?

Music! What I’m listening to depends on if I’m writing a romance, a battle, or a dialogue scene. So here’s what was on my playlist while I was writing Awoken: Rob Thomas’ Cradle Song album, James Blunt’s Some Kind of Trouble album, Keane, One Republic, Cold Play and Philip Philips just to name a few. I actually could go on and on. I think I spend more time constructing the playlist than I do writing the first draft.

--If you could have any superpower what would you choose?

I’d want to have the power to heal. Imagine how amazing it would be to walk into any hospital and release every single patient from their bed and send them home. That would be worth more than the thrill of walking through walls or reading minds. That would be the most amazing high in the world. And then after I was done I could move on to the next place again and again and again.

--Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time?

What is this thing “free time” you speak of? Why would people want to be free to do what they want? Sorry…I’m mostly possessed by a dystopian spirit.

Anyway, I have a toddler. She ensures that I have two strict sets of times: hers and mine. I spend most my time with her: crafting, exploring, getting into trouble, disturbing strangers, creating stories, playing dollhouse…you know the important stuff. The rest of my time is spent with my husband, socializing, working out and reading. I’d like to say that I rock climb and make crepes in the shapes of gingerbread guys but that’s just a lofty goal I have for an ancillary character in my head.

--What is one thing you would tell your 15 year old self?

Dear Sarah,

Would you please stop wearing those baggy camo pants. Oh and seriously pay more attention in driver’s ed classes. You need the practice.

And a few more things: put on a ton more lotion every day, eat more vegetables, flirt with fewer boys, read more books and please go and tell your brother you love him…before it’s too late.

--Is there anything else you want to add or say to your readers?

Roya, the main character in my novels, is a representation of the heroine in all of us. I had to dive deep, but I tried to connect with what we all need. The truth is some of us are too rooted in the expectations of others, too caught up in the perceptions of others, too afraid to risk what little we have to have something better. Roya doesn’t have that trouble. She’s stronger than me, self-sufficient, and as brave as a rodeo clown sent in to face three irritated bulls. Roya is who I’d like my daughter to grow up to be. She’s who I wish I was on my best days. She’s the girl I see in so many when I pass them in the coffee shops or book stores. She’s the girl who has the spirit to win a million battles and still keep fighting. She’s a part of every reader I’ve ever met.

Lightning round: this or that?

Vanilla or chocolate?

Come on, please…. Chocolate!

Video or Board Games?

Video!

Summer or Winter?

Summer!

Edward or Jacob?

Niether…William Herondale

Hockey or soccer?

Neither…reading

Ebook or paper?

ebook

Salty or sweet?

Salty!

Beach or mountains?

Is mountain beaches an answer…?

Phone call or email?

Neither. Please text.

Early bird or night owl?

Early bird.

Dog or cat?

Neither…does anyone want a cat? I have two available. They’re fantastic. They’ll clean your house, buy your groceries, buy you lattes. No returns.

Messy or neat?

Neat-o-burrito.

Ninjas or pirates?

A pirate?! Is a pirate even considered on par with a ninja? Lol. They may be ruthless, but they just can’t shake a pegleg at a ninja. Fact: You’ve never met a ninja who spared your life. Because you don’t meet a ninja. They swoop in and slice you, or they pardon you and you won’t even know they were ever there. End of story. If you are reading this sentence right now then thank a ninja. They let you go.

Giveaway is for: kindle version Awoken by Sarah Noffke
Open Int.
If under 18, must have parent's permission.
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Open: 12/12/2014-1/9/2015
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