Happy Thirst-day, everyone!
Eight years ago I wrote chapter one of the story that became Thirst. I was working on a dystopian story (which became Captives), but I was struggling to understand the storyworld I was trying to build. I needed an origins story. A story about what happened to create this dystopian future.
That’s where Thirst came from. One day I was writing about Levi, Mason, Omar, and their great grandfather, Papa Eli. The next day? Eli was a teenager trying to survive the end of the world. It was weird. But I liked Eli. I liked his friends. Their story intrigued me. Thirst was almost published back then. It had an offer and everything. But when I explained that Captives was meant to be the first book in a trilogy, and that it wouldn’t make sense to publish Captives, then Thirst, then Outcasts, then Rebels, the publisher tossed out Thirst and bought the trilogy instead.
But Thirst was still there, in my mind. Eli wanted his story told.
In 2016 I used Thirst as an example for a series I wrote for the Go Teen Writers blog called #WeWriteBooks. I posted one chapter a week on my author blog so that my readers could give me feedback. This year, since I started grad school, I haven’t been able to write the books I wanted to write. But I wanted to give my readers a book in 2019, so I looked in my files to see what I had to work with.
I found Thirst.
So I decided to cut it into two books, fix them up, and today the first part of Eli’s story is finally available in book form for your reading pleasure..I hope you enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
For more information about Thirst, and to see all the places the books are available, click here.
woohoo. I’ve been waiting for this to come out. Can’t wait to get it. I’ve read most of your other books and have enjoyed them quite a bit. Thanks for sharing your gift with us and taking precious time to write such great stories.
You are very welcome, Kim. Thank you for reading my stories! 🙂
I’ve just discovered your books and enjoying them very much. Since I’ve just finished Thirst (and I didn’t realise that you’d just released it), I was wondering when you’ll release Hunger.
Hi, Rebecca. It’s nice to meet you. Thanks for reading Thirst. Hunger will release sometime next year. Likely in late summer.
Hi, Just now finished “Thirst”, which I really liked, as I liked the “Mission League” series. I’ve just ordered a used paperback copy of “The Safe Lands” series book 1, which I expect to enjoy, despite being an older reader. You’re a very entertaining and perceptive writer! The other books I bought as e-books, but some of your e-books are not available DRM-free, and for several reasons, I only buy DRM-free e-books.
Looking forward to “Hunger” as soon as I can get it!
Thanks, Mike! Hunger should be out this fall–if all goes well. 🙂