Next History is humorous, a cliff hanger, a marvelous love story,
and perfectly executed.
~ Ernie Smitty, on Amazon*
Next History: The Girl Who Hacked Tomorrow weaves
big-iron predictive knowledge, a plugged-in world population, Sumerian creation
myth, and a demonic presence with a hip sensibility to launch us toward a shifting
and dangerous event horizon.
Danger ahead as supernal beings of unrivalled beauty and allure take lovely teen
Tharcia on a head-changing whirl toward an outrageous future world where she
must adapt, or die.
Where science fiction intersects with fantasy romance, where carnal desires battle
spirituality, there you will find the next history of humankind. It's a contemporary
dystopian romance from a world you never dreamed!
A single question drove me to write the epic science fiction and fantasy novel, Next
History.
What if we found a completely accurate history of our beginnings, an unbiased
record that was not passed down verbally, not reimagined in every telling? Would it
fit among dystopian books for teens and young adults? My I Ching said YES.
I looked at creation myths of many cultures, located the first feminine archetype,
and found scholarly writings that I used as an energy source for every writer's
favorite question: What If? What if a contemporary fiction
novel slid over the boundary into fantasy romance while developing strong
contemporary dystopian YA themes?
The answers created turmoil, pushed some of the characters to ask Who is the
Creator, driving some in desperate search for an angel girl, a young
woman who can redeem them.
When Tharcia, truly a contemporary young adult, encounters a secret twin in her
deepest being, she ponders the nature of reality, and decides that reality is broken.
She is sliding into a fantasy romance against her intentions, she is too busy trying to
survive. But is it really up to her?
She finds help from a supernal demon, and an angel girl who has long been her
secret twin. Does that classify Next History as a epic science fiction and fantasy
novel? One might say it's among the most imaginative dystopian books for teens,
or one of the new-wave thriller ebooks.
Reviewers have pointed out that it's a love story, a science fiction romance
interwoven with tales of the supernatural that might hint at where Humanity is
headed. Dystopian fantasy, yes, but one with a brighter outcome.
A unique voice in story telling. Next History is humorous, a cliff hanger,
a marvelous love story, and perfectly executed.
~ Ernie Smitty on Amazon
An epic science fiction romance, dystopian fantasy of unusual character.
~ Amazon Reader
What a Find - Absolutely AWESOME book! I was looking for escape fiction, and
while the book provided that, it is so much more. It made me think, and it is
changing my life. If you want to know the deepest secrets of the universe, this
book won't spoon feed you, but will give you lots of terrific hints. Look over there!
Consider this! What would you choose? And last, best, what will I choose?
Most important for me in a book of fiction is the characters. They have to be real
people, and they have to make me care about them. The author created characters
different than any I've seen anywhere, and many of them are folks I want to know
better. (Of course, some of them are bad guys I want to squish between my thumb
and forefinger.) Now I need to find another book by Lee Baldwin!
~ Maggie Uh-O, on Amazon
Thank you for hope. This book reinforced beliefs I have held for some
time. I loved the book...
~ DragonViolet on Amazon
Next History held my attention as would a mystery/suspense novel... Women have
before played the lead in dystopian books for teens... but Tharcia is grounded in
ordinary reality, which makes the occult and spiritual developments more
extraordinary and surprising.
~ Sherri Zysk on Amazon
Beneath it all is a struggle between the divine feminine and the patriarchy.
Tharcia is a lovable character, a contemporary young adult, her struggle is
heartbreaking because she faces the impossible.
~ Karuna Chapman on Amazon
*What Got Me Started
I did not set out to write a contemporary dystopian or fantasy romance, or an epic
science fiction fantasy strictly for teens or young adults. It's an adult book, with
frank, adult themes and adult questions. I envisioned an epic science fiction and
fantasy novel that opened new ground as a dystopian fantasy romance.
You see, I like happier endings! It was OK in my view to create an apocalyptic story,
but I wanted something positive to come out of it, in a word, hope.
Hope? What is that?
Where is hope today in contemporary fiction or fantasy romance books? So many
dystopian books for teens and adults these days are aimed at the downward spiral. I
thought, even if it comes off as somewhat of a teen girls fantasy romance, why not
have a thriller novel that leads TOWARD THE LIGHT?
The Girl Who Hacked Tomorrow*
As I worked, the lead character that emerged was a teen girl, locked with
supernatural forces in a tale with all the characteristics that thriller ebooks share.
Why? I'd guess it was her mix of purity and street smarts even through all the abuse she suffered.
But it is Tharcia's inventiviness and originality, and her peculiar mix of technology
and the occult, that makes this one of the more promising dystopian books for teens
available on Amazon today!