Today, I’m thrilled to host this Q&A with the author of The Electric Heir (the 2nd book in the Feverwake series). To celebrate her upcoming book release, Victoria Lee is answering a few questions about her writing, the book, and her creative process.

Her young adult fantasy novel is set to be released on March 17, 2020. Published by Skyscape, this Q&A is part of her Blog Tour hosted by FFBC Tour. Thank you so much for gifting me a copy!

Now, let me introduce you to Victoria Lee.

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Victoria Lee, Author of The Electric Heir (Feverwake #2) – Q&A

What inspired you to write this book? How do you keep ideas flowing?

It took me a really long to figure out what story I was actually trying to tell with this series. I wrote several versions of The Fever King trying to figure it out! Parts of the book were originally ideas for other books that ended up getting cobbled together Frankenstein’s-monster style for TFK

Primarily, I wanted to write about the intersection of intergenerational and personal trauma—about what it means to face our trauma, and the way the world can demand that we “have” to confront our abusers. In The Electric Heir, a lot of the plot also deals with how people come to accept that things that are happening to them are traumatic or abusive, and to show the ways that different people handle abuse both when they’re recovering from it and when it’s still ongoing.

I feel like a lot of stories talk about the journey that happens after abuse—but it’s equally important to tell the story of surviving in the moment. The book touches on a lot of adjacent issues, like what it means when you aren’t a “good” victim or don’t react to trauma the way people want you to, or how survivors can victim-blame each other and themselves, and the cognitive dissonance of gaslighting yourself into believing the abuse is acceptable because that’s easier than admitting the truth.

As for how I keep ideas flowing…I have a lot and lot of playlists!

How do you organize your writing? Do you have all the scenes planned out or do you go with the flow?

I usually plan the big “milestone” moments, then I discovery write to connect the dots. It helps me know where I’m going, but also keeps the story fresh and surprising so I don’t get bored writing it.

What were some of the challenges you faced when writing this book?

It was a very personal story for me, especially in terms of the types of trauma depicted and the gaslighting of victims, but nevertheless I felt like it was an important story for me to tell. So it was all worth it in the end. 

Is there something about this book you can share with us that isn’t in the blurb?

It has a happy ending!

What is your favorite place to write?

I used to always write at coffee shops, but I recently redid my library/office space at my house and now it’s very cozy and has good natural light, so I try and write there so I can spend less money on coffee! have their own story unfolding alongside Ali and Athan!

THANK YOU SO MUCH, VICTORIA LEE, FOR ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS!

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The Electric Heir – Synopsis

Six months after Noam Álvaro helped overthrow the despotic government of Carolinia, the Atlantians have gained citizenship, and Lehrer is chancellor. But despite Lehrer’s image as a progressive humanitarian leader, Noam has finally remembered the truth that Lehrer forced him to forget—that Lehrer is responsible for the deadly magic infection that ravaged Carolinia.

Now that Noam remembers the full extent of Lehrer’s crimes, he’s determined to use his influence with Lehrer to bring him down for good. If Lehrer realizes Noam has evaded his control—and that Noam is plotting against him—Noam’s dead. So he must keep playing the role of Lehrer’s protégé until he can steal enough vaccine to stop the virus.

Meanwhile Dara Shirazi returns to Carolinia, his magic stripped by the same vaccine that saved his life. But Dara’s attempts to ally himself with Noam prove that their methods for defeating Lehrer are violently misaligned. Dara fears Noam has only gotten himself more deeply entangled in Lehrer’s web. Sooner or later, playing double agent might cost Noam his life.

BOOK DETAILS

• Author: Victoria Lee
• Publisher: Skyscape
• Release Date: March 17, 2020
• Book Length: 480 pages
• Genre: YA Fantasy, LGBT

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About the Author – Victoria Lee

Victoria Lee grew up in Durham, North Carolina, where she spent twelve ascetic years as a vegetarian before discovering spicy chicken wings are, in fact, a delicacy. She’s been a state finalist competitive pianist, a hitchhiker, a pizza connoisseur, an EMT, an expat in China and Sweden, and a science doctoral student. She’s also a bit of a snob about fancy whisky.

Victoria writes early in the morning, then spends the rest of the day trying to impress her border collie puppy and make her experiments work.

She is represented by Holly Root and Taylor Haggerty at Root Literary.

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US GIVEAWAY – The Electric Heir by Victoria Lee

PRIZE: Win (1) copy of THE ELECTRIC HEIR by Victoria Lee (US Only)

STARTS: March 11, 2020 – ENDS: March 25, 2020

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