With Easter here, I thought it would be fun to play a characterization game. If my main character, Bethany, was a type of Easter candy, what kind would she be, and why?

“I would totally be anything chocolate. Dark. Milk. Cream-filled. Doesn’t matter which kind.  Chocolate is my drug of choice—my addiction—and I self-medicate whenever possible. I have stashes in my drawers (dresser, not panties, lol), under my pillow, in my backpack, and I’m not above consuming a warm and gooey bar from my pocket (or AA bra when a pocket is unavailable). Chocolate is my friend, my comforter, my ‘holy crap, it’s shizztastic!’ But I’d give it up for Jeremiah … as long as I could still smell it on occasion—or lick the wrapper.

“Hey wait. I just had a thought. Can I pick the kind Zoey would be? Because I’d seriously make the heartless bully-of-a-wench a Peep’s bunny … and bite her head off!”

-Bethany Keatley                        

Since we’re having fun, let’s keep it going and do another characterization game, meeting the cast using the gang of Scooby Doo!

Butterfly Bones Dream Cast #1

Scooby Doo and the Gang

The role of Bethany Keatley will be played by Velma. “Do you think I’ll get to solve the mystery of the butterflies? Jinkies!”

The role of heartthrob, Jeremiah Wright, will be played by Fred.  

“Hey! I thought Daphne was cast as the leading lady. I won’t have to kiss Velma, will I?”

The role of Dr. Keatley will be played by Shaggy. “Look, Scoob! I get to wear a lab coat and act smart. Hey, check out these mouse pellets. Do you think they taste good? Only one way to find out; Bottoms up!”

The role of Zoey Margold will be played by Daphne. “I’ve always wanted to play the bad girl. And check out this girl’s wardrobe. I’m in mini-skirt heaven.”

The role of the mice and the butterflies will alternately be played by Scooby Doo. “Uh, uh. I’m not wearing a stupid butterfly costume. No way. I have my dignity.”

“… Would you do it for a Scooby Snack?”

“Uh, uh.”

“… How about two Scooby Snacks?

“No way!”

“… How about three Scooby Snacks?”

“Three Scooby Snacks? Yum, yum, yum! Mmmhmm.”

Gulp. Gulp. Gulp. “Rooby, Rooby, Roo!”

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Butterfly Bones at Amazon.com

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Nature vs. Nurture

Nature vs. nurture. A common question into what forms the basis of our personality, character, lifestyle, education, and so many other things. And during March, something I dwell upon as I contemplate my heritage and who I am. Are we mainly our genetic makeup, or do the environments in which we live shape us? I believe it’s both—but does it have to be?

The best case study I have for this is my forty-seven-year-old husband, who was adopted as a baby. Cory was born October 16^th, 1969 to an unwed, seventeen-year-old mother. After his birth, he remained in the hospital for a week while his mother struggled with the decision on whether to keep him or place him for adoption. After an agonizing battle between her heart and head, she opted for adoption.

On Dec. 3rd, 1969, Cory was adopted by Phyllis and Tom Carpenter, becoming the third child in their family.

Fast forward twenty-six years. Cory meets his birth mother and birth father.

Cory had always wondered who he looked like, although people often commented how much he looked like Phyllis—not knowing he was adopted. When we met his birth parents, we realized he had a mix of both of their features, yet didn’t truly look like either one. But there were other similarities that were striking—especially since he hadn’t grown up around them.

(Cory at age two)

The first thing we noticed was the identical stance of the birth father and Cory—right down to the way they carried themselves.

The birth father and Cory also shared similar personalities—serious, sometimes rigid, but loved to laugh. And both had a difficult time forgiving others and letting go of the past. The other thing they shared—a love for the same kind of beer. Now this might seem like it’s not related, but Cory’s adoptive father, Tom, was killed when Cory was only four, and his mother didn’t drink beer, so I found it to be more than mere coincidence that they both loved malt liquor.

Another strong genetic makeup tendency passed to Cory—alcoholism. Not only did it run rampant on his birth father’s side, but his birth mother had an alcoholic father. And Cory wasn’t far behind. He had abused alcohol as a teenager into his twenties, and had he continued down the path he was on, I’m sure he’d be dead. Instead, he gave up drinking in exchange for a healthy life. His birth father wasn’t as fortunate.

Cory acquired type 1 diabetes from his birth mother’s side. She, two sisters, and their father were all type 1 diabetics. A strong similarity with the birth mother is they are both worriers–about everything. And both are night owls. Cory would rather sleep most of the day and be awake at night, and his birth mom is the same. He definitely didn’t get that from Phyllis.

So how did his environment shape him?  Cory laughs like Phyllis. He adopted her belief system, work ethic, honesty, and the importance of serving others from her example. He has strong family bonds that were encouraged and nourished through his childhood with a large extended family of cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents, etc. His mother was a proactive parent who put family first and supported him in sports and anything he wanted to try. Cory was and is the same with his children and grandchildren.

And Cory and Phyllis are both stubborn to a fault.

(Cory and Phyllis)

But honestly, when it comes right down to it, we are who we are not because of how we are raised or who raises us, but because of our own personal choices.

Cory’s maternal grandfather and birth father didn’t become alcoholics because their genetic makeup predisposed them to it. They became alcoholics because they chose to drink in excess.

I know people who were brought up in horrible circumstances and rose above to become better people than their parents. And I know people who were brought up in wonderful homes but made decisions that landed them in prison, addicted to drugs, or even dead.

So who are we? a sum of our genetics, a sum of our upbringing, or a mixture of both?

While some things are out of our control, like diseases, the socioeconomic status of our family, or the family we’re born into, those things don’t have to be defining. I believe who we are is up to us.

So the question isn’t really: Who am I?

The question is: Who do I want to be?

And to that I say, figure it out and make it happen.

Jadeite is a typical teenage girl living the typical teen life—if you call an enclosed society where everything is controlled, a test which determines your profession, people disappearing for challenging the rules, and no one being allowed outside the drone-guarded boundaries of United Society “typical.”

But when Jadeite must go against the societies’ rules to acquire medicine for her sick brother from the primitive people who live over the ridge, her eyes are opened to what the perfect society really is—a mirage built on lies and murder—she must put on her own facade and fool her teachers, and especially Mattie, the future leader of United Society who has marked Jadeite to be his wife, to believe that all is well in United Society.

At least until she can attempt her escape.

I was hooked from the first page of Jadeite’s Journey. Stein does a wonderful job of creating a futuristic world, located between western Colorado and Denver, her vivid descriptions transporting me into the story where I could see, taste, smell, feel, and hear what was happening along with Jadeite.

While the genre is science fiction, I found the story to have “edge-of-your-seat” thriller elements and a romantic subplot which blossoms into a poisonous obsession.

As Jadeite learns the truth about United Society and Mattie and how dangerous they both are, I could feel my pulse race as she snuck around the streets and crossed over the border, avoiding guard drones and citizens who would be happy to turn her in, all to risk her life for medicine for her brother.

This book asks some interesting questions about society on a whole, one being whether or not it is worth giving up one’s freedoms, personal ambitions, individuality, and creativity for the good of the whole.

Can a perfect society be attained or is it all an illusion?

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys well-written YA science fiction.

Jadeite’s Journey is available at Amazon.com

This is the fifth interview in my series of Author Interviews. Pull up a chair, sit back and relax. Enjoy reading. Introducing Rebecca Carpenter, author of Butterfly Bones. Walking around the woods…

Source: Author Interview: Rebecca Carpenter

 
Jadeite’s Journey
by Lucinda Stein
Genre: YA Scifi
Release date: January 24th 2017
Inkspell Publishing

Summary:

When romance turns deadly…

Jadeite’s perfect world comes crashing down on her. In the futuristic world of United Society, her only problem has been how to act around the cute boy on the air shuttle. But Jadeite’s world changes when she comes across a man who looks alarmingly like her father. Clones were declared illegal years ago. When she sees her father, a robotic engineer, headed to the Dark Edge of United Society, she follows him and uncovers her father’s secret life.

Jadeite shadows her father past the boundary of United Society and into a primitive world of canyons and high deserts. She learns her father is a Ridge Runner passing between the two worlds. Even more alarming, she discovers her younger brother, Malachite, is sick and requires medicine only available from over the Ridge. After her father is arrested, Jadeite takes his place in order to save her brother’s life.

But her world turns even more precarious after she breaks up with her obsessive boyfriend, Mattie. Jadeite soon learns his threats are more than words, and she finds her life is in jeopardy.

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Buy Link: Amazon

Book Trailer:

Jadeite’s Journey Trailer from Lucinda Stein on Vimeo.

About the Author
A school librarian for over twenty years, Stein now writes fulltime. Sanctuary: Family, Friends, & Strangers was a 2015 Colorado Book Award finalist. Three Threads Woven, was a 2010 WILLA Finalist. Her story, Sulfur Springs, won First Place in the 2011 LAURA Short Fiction competition. Her stories have appeared in Pooled Ink, The South Dakota Review, Fine Lines, and Women Writing the West online.
When not writing, she hikes desert canyons and alpine trails. She loves anything vintage, her shelter-rescued dog, Opie, and, most of all, her husband, Rob.

Author Links:
Website│Goodreads│Twitter

GIVEAWAY:
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Blog Tour Organized by:
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Excerpts from Jadeite’s Journey:

Just when Jadeite thought she had avoided trouble, Mattie cornered her at her locker.
“Miss Journeyman, how’s it going?” Mattie’s sneer gave her chills.
“Mattie.” She shuffled through the electronic drives kept for each class.
“Missing me yet?” He pressed closer and his hand slid to her back.
She slammed her locker shut. “Mattie, I said it was over between us.” She’d appeal to his vanity. “You’re a good-looking guy. Haven’t you found a new girlfriend?”
“Still waiting for you, babe.”
She pulled back but he had her pinned against the locker.
“Hey, cut it out.” Electra rushed over and pushed Mattie.
Mattie shoved back. “You better watch who you’re fooling with. I know people in high places.” He pressed forward and violated Electra’s personal space. “You don’t want more treatment, do you?”
Electra narrowed her eyes and her jaw tightened.
Nonchalantly, Mattie turned toward Jadeite. “Be seeing you, girls.”
Electra glared at Mattie until he disappeared into a swarm of students. She reached for Jadeite’s arm. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Jadeite straightened her shirt. “Electra, you can’t afford a run-in with Mattie. He’s—”
“I know, well connected with the government.”
“Please, don’t get involved. I can take care of myself.” She wanted to spare her friend any more trouble. If Electra only knew the risks Jadeite took were far more dangerous.
Arm in arm, the two girls walked down the hall. Jadeite bit her lip, recalling the wilderness hardships she’d explained to Malachite. The irony of it rolled over her. A more subtle danger existed in United Society, one that slid through wires, swept through cameras, and hovered in electromagnetic fields.

Jadeite woke to Mattie holding a cool gel wrap to her forehead. She was propped on one of the chairs that lined the dance floor.
He offered her a drink of punch. “This will revive you. Oh, and I told the principal to tone down the heat.”
Guess Mattie’s power extended to the entire teaching staff.
“I’ll give you a break for a couple of dances, then we have to get back out there, don’t we?”
His expression made the request into a barely disguised order.
Jadeite nodded and looked away. She hated this guy, absolutely hated him.
It was after midnight when the event ended. She stifled a yawn as Mattie escorted her to the waiting shuttle.
They had driven a few minutes when Mattie lowered the partition between the front and back seats. The driver idled outside the public air-shuttle station where lights revealed a shuttle packed with passengers. The passengers, all adults, sat facing forward. None were reading, visiting, or talking via phone waves.
“Driver, take us to the bistro near the school.”
“Yes, sir.” The tinted window slid up again.
Jadeite stared at the passengers as their shuttle moved ahead. Why would people be transported at this late hour? United Society prided itself on daytime shifts for everyone. One woman looked confused, sweeping her eyes from side to side at those around her. As their private shuttle took off, Jadeite glanced back. She could have sworn a man’s face at the window was cloaked in fear.
She turned to Mattie. “Why are all those people on the transport so late at night?”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Don’t worry that pretty little head of yours. Those people are being transported to other areas in United Society.”
That’s what they’d told Electra about her parents.

Jadeite glanced around at the people huddled together in small clusters. That’s when she realized the spot where they’d slept was empty. Malachite had vanished.
She scanned the room, but he was nowhere in sight. He was not in the alcove to her right. What if he’d gone outside? Her stomach twisted. She wouldn’t put anything past Malachite. She hurried to the main entrance, where a small group of men remained. She was about to turn back when one man stepped aside. Malachite slipped through the middle of the hunters, his curiosity drawing him on.
Halfway to the mouth of the cave, she grabbed his arm and jerked him backward. She cupped his mouth because their safety depended on not being detected. About to whisper in his ear, she saw the man closest to the entrance wave everyone back. Jadeite drew her brother against the wall.
Dark figures passed the cave. It took a moment to realize what she was seeing, what she’d only read about in government classes: the Legionnaires, the warrior division of androids. She’d never actually seen a picture of them. She clapped both hands over Malachite’s mouth, his eyes wide as Ruby’s pancakes.
Marching single file, armored droids explored the bottom of the cliff. The head of one warrior pivoted, its elongated nose blending with its mouth in a long reptilian snout, its red heat-seeking eyes ablaze before it faced forward again.
Jadeite held her breath. Finally, the small exploration group had passed. “Are you trying to get us killed?” she whispered to her brother. A hunter grasped her arm and pointed outside.
A warrior droid swept past the cave. Another followed. It paused and a black telescopic arm extended near the mouth of the cave. Zap. A streak of electricity found its mark, and a high-pitched squeal sounded.

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