I am sixteen when a red-headed girl named Ida arrives. She’s different from the others, more of a loner type. But there is something about her, and I follow her around in the exercise yard, always trying to catch her attention. She keeps ignoring me until the day she stands up for me against the biggest bully at Woodlawn—Marc Mal.
The few times Ida actually meets my gaze, I see loneliness in her eyes and something else. Bitterness? She's had a rough past like a lot of kids here.
Too bad she doesn’t stay long. I’ve only known her for a few weeks when a couple adopts her. But four months later, she sends a letter, and we keep in touch. The craziest thing of all? She’s been recruited into the military and is now in basic training.
I miss Ida like anything, but her story gives me hope. Hope for a better future outside Woodlawn.
And then the Fall happens.
The Fall—the collapse, the invasion—whatever you call it, happens real slow at first.
It is early days, soon after Ida’s third letter arrives, and the adults who work here look nervous. Some of them stop showing up, which is odd because Woodlawn runs like clockwork. Even Kilpatrick, who usually enjoys taunting us, becomes distracted. He spends time alone, holed up in his office, listening to news reports. Something is happening. I don’t know what, but it seems like a big deal.
Today, after getting beaten up and sent to the nurses station, I find out…
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Also by Cameron Coral
Rogue Spark Series:
ALTERED (Book 1)
BRINK (Book 2)
DORMANT (Book 3)
SALVAGE (Book 4)
AFTER WE FALL (A Rogue Spark Novel) - get it for free on CameronCoral.com
Anthologies:
Dark Shadows 2: Voodoo and Black Magic of New Orleans (An Authors on a Train Short Story Collection)
About the Author
Cameron Coral writes sci-fi and fantasy and lives in Chicago.
She's the author of the action-packed Rogue Spark series about Ida Sarek—a soldier-medic in the year 2044 with a knack for getting into trouble, sticking up for the underdog, and kicking butt!
When she isn't writing about fierce women with troubled pasts and mad fight skills, Cameron feeds her muse by reading, binging sci-fi series, traveling, and kickboxing.
Want a free novel, exclusive advance copies of her new books, and occasional rants about why robots are awesome?
Visit her website: CameronCoral.com
Acknowledgments
I owe a debt of gratitude to you, dear reader, for taking a chance and picking up this book. I hope these pages transported you to another world for a bit and that you enjoyed the ride.
Ida Sarek is a character who’s been bouncing around in my head for many years. She’s an amalgamation of all the strong, ass-kicking sci-fi heroines I love: Ripley, Kara Thrace, Molly Millions, Katniss Everdeen, Leia, Jessica Jones, Sarah Connors, Trinity, Dana Scully, and many more I’m forgetting.
I’m not sure where the idea to have a character who can heal came from exactly. I guess in some ways, it’s a superpower I’d like to have. While not as popular as flying or being invisible, being able to bring someone back to life would be incredible—and dangerous if the power got into the wrong hands. Can you imagine certain dictators from the past or present having someone like Ida to keep reviving them?
I imagine someone like Ida would make the ultimate bodyguard…This is a topic I explore in the next book in the series BRINK.
Thank you to my ever-patient and supportive husband, Steve, for being my alpha-reader, idea bouncer-offer, and for making me breakfast many mornings. You + me.
A special thanks goes out to my editor James Millington who helped shape this book and the beginning of BRINK.
The amazing covers for the Rogue Spark Series are due to the fine work of Christian Bentulan at CoversbyChristian.com. You made Ida come to life and truly captured her badassery!
Thanks to Mom for shuttling me to the library so much when I was a kid and not intervening when I started bringing home Dracula, Stephen King books, and other creepy stories when I was a kid. And also, for letting me watch V, Twilight Zone, Star Trek, Manimal, Monsters, and all the cool 80s sci-fi shows I wanted. Thanks for being a real-life, ass-kicking heroine.
Thanks to Dad and Sherry for encouraging me to write and pursue my creativity. You both taught me it’s okay to follow the beat of my own drum, be silly, and have more fun in life.
Thank you to my amazing, supportive friends and extended family! Finally, I can share my books with you! I can’t possibly list everyone here because I am blessed to have a “framily” that is beyond compare.
I dedicate this first novel to my stepdad, Mike Roberto, who passed away in 2014. One Christmas, he gave me a gift that changed everything—Salem’s Lot by Stephen King. Wow, did I love that book when I was eight. I didn’t understand everything I read, but the tiny spark of an idea flowered: I want to be a writer someday.
If you enjoyed ALTERED and would like to hear more from me, I extend a warm welcome to join my email newsletter. It takes a minute to sign up. Just visit CameronCoral.com and you’ll find a sign-up button. You’ll also get a free novel!
I send emails every week or two about fun stuff—pictures, videos, and personal updates. Often, I share flash fiction, short stories, or rants about why robots are awesome. You’ll see cosplay pics from when I attend comic conventions.
The cool thing is, I’ll never spam you. I take your email privacy very seriously, and I have a detailed privacy policy on my website. You can unsubscribe at any time.
But I hope you stick around, because I have a lot to share in the years to come.
Warmly,
Cameron Coral
P.S. When you join my newsletter list, you get a full-length novel that you can download to your computer, phone, or e-reader. Just head to my website: CameronCoral.com
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