War Kids by HJ Lawson - Author Interview & Giveaway

Presented by:

Sparkle Book Tours

I'm pleased to welcome author HJ Lawson 
to Kimber Leigh Writes!
Below she tells us a bit about The War Kids series, and her experience writing.

Describe War Kids in a sentence or two.

War Kids is a post-apocalyptic current day story about kids surviving in Syria for the purpose of escaping to Jordan. The kids experience death, murder and violence and try to survive.

Tell us about your main character. Who is Jada?

Jada is thirteen year old girl, turning fourteen. She’s strong and powerful, but knows from a young age she’s different but doesn’t know why.

This novel is book one in the War Kids series. How many books do you have planned for this series? When can we expect the next book?

There are four books in the series. Book two Survive the Day and Book three Survive the 9nite are already out, the final book will be out April / May.

Jada and some of her friend move over to New York, unaware that they escaped one war and entry into another.

What inspired this series?

On 21^st August I watch the BBC news, and it showed images of the chemical attack in Syria. I couldn’t get the images of the children out of the head. I kept thinking, what happened next to the child. I began researching what was happening in Syria, and to be honest it is awful what I was finding. I decide to write a story about what happened next to them, and give them the strength to fight back.

Where there any scenes that were especially difficult to write?

A lot of the scenes were difficult to write, because I spent a lot of time researching each event that was taking place in Syria.

When did you begin writing?

August 21^st 2013

If you could travel anywhere in the world, cost being no object, where would you go?

Good question I love to travel! I would like to visit all the pyramids around the world.

What is the best advice you’ve received about writing? The worst?

Just keep writing, just keep writing! Cannot stop now.

Do you have any advice for new writers just entering these shark infested waters?

No everyone will like your story, and that’s okay.

Is there anything else you’d like your readers to know about you or your novel?

I hope you take a chance on this book which is currently free, many readers have enjoyed it.

Review from a reader, ‘This book pulled me in from word one. Jada and the other kid’s stories were so gut wrenching that there were times I honestly had to put the book down and walkaway. The story was intense, I found myself frightened for them, worrying about them. I wanted to cheer their victories and mourned their losses. I will definitely be reading the rest of these books.’

 Thanks for stopping by! The War Kids series sounds quite emotionally intense!

War Kids - War Kids # 1

by HJLawson

Audience: YA/NA - Genre: Thriller / Action - Formats: E-book and Paperback - Publisher: HJLawson - Pages: 297 – pages - ISBN: 978-0692254776 - ASIN: B00MS8QWYA = Date Published: Aug 21, 2014

When Jada wakes up in a hospital, the last thing she thinks is that her life has completely changed forever. But when the very real civil war forces her to flee from every open space, she must use the firearm skills her father taught her to reunite with him and protect herself. Armed with a single gun and a key to an unknown locker, Jada crosses Syria on a journey with a group of children called the Fearless Freedom Fighters. With the leader, Zak, they mount a plan to rescue their fathers while they try to cope with the merciless murders of their families. As Jada and Zak lead the group together, love blossoms, but with soldiers hot on their tail, they need to stay vigilant in the face of war.

Amazon / Goodreads

‘My childhood was stolen, and they took it.’ ‘Their Corridor of Death is my Corridor of Freedom.’ ‘I am Alive. I am Alive. Protect Me.’ “No, let him find his chargrilled family. He can spread the word of what we great soldiers did today. Let him be our voice.” ‘Follow my Beating Heart Back Home.’ ‘God, Lord, please stop them; stop them from killing the innocent… are you going to be a spectator to slaughter, Lord? Please help!’  

 Survive The Day - War Kids # 2

  Jada and her friends have been living in America for over a year now. At school she blends in with the other children, but she knows that she is different. They didn’t have to kill for their freedom. The memories of her past haunt her each time Gerard takes her to visit someone from her father’s list as they try to find out where he is being held. But what they don’t realize is they would have been safer in Syria… A hidden enemy is attacking America from the inside, and no one is safe… Annabel dreams of a happier life. One with a normal family instead of one that chooses heroin and the Wild Boar Riders biker over her. The only person she can trust is Brandon, another person living on the streets. They bond over their hatred towards Troy, a pimp and drug dealer who takes great pleasure in ruining lives. As the passion grows between Brandon and Annabel, so does the chaos in New York City as it is now under attack. They are forced to flee to an unknown hideout beneath the heart of the City. Ethan is scarred by his father’s death. He has spent his entire life planning for revenge. …And the day has finally come...

Amazon

Survive The 9nite -  War Kids # 3

  Jada and her friends are trying to escape the terrorist attack. Unfortunately their flight doesn’t get out of New York fast enough, and now all of their lives are in even more danger. And not just from the nuclear radiation, but from the even more frightening demons of Jada’s past. Annabel wakes up to find herself underground – literally underneath the city in the sewers. But she has more to worry about than just sewer rats and filth… deranged escaped convicts are hunting her down, determined to make her pay for what she did. And if she tries to escape, it will mean her certain death for above… Ethan’s greatest day takes an unlikely twist when he finds out his whole life is a lie. All these years he thought he was avenging his father. But now he knows he was a merely a puppet… and he wants revenge…

Amazon

1, Avicii – Wake me up.

Chapter 5

Follow my beating heart, back home

Jada escaped from the hospital were the soldiers were chasing her; entering in black abyss of night, only memories to guide her back home.

2, Time is on my side – The Rolling Stones.

Chapter 4

Evil cowards.

Solider Heen Dara, sings the first lines in his head, as he enters the bathroom.  Where Zak, and Jacob are hiding from the sound of gun shots.

3, Mad World - Gary Jules

Chapter 4

Evil cowards.

Zak, leaves the bathroom to find his classmates, died in the hallway. He prays his brother is alive.

4, Snow Patrol – Chasing Cars

Chapter 11

Black as Liquorice.

Jada returns hope to find her mother, and brother lying on the path in front of their family home. No one saved them.

5, Eminem - The Monster  ft. Rihanna

Chapter 13

Goodbye Jada.

After leaving her praying over her mother and brother all that is left are the demons in her head pleading for revenge.

6, Plan B – Prayin.

Chapter 17

Beware: you do not know what you have woken.

Jada can sense a dark shadow standing at the foot of her bed; he is peering down on her like a piece of meat, but he selected the wrong girl to prey on. Kill or be killed!

The wander is die; Jada is riddled with guilt, praying to Lord to repent her sins, but she had no choice he was going to rape her.

7, Chase and Status – Alive

Chapter 17

Beware: you do not know what you have woken.

Her Father was teaching her how to use a gun before he was kidnapped. Jada is ready and squeezed the trigger. The bullet flew out with lighting speed. She felt alive.

8, Delilah - Love You So

Chapter 21

God bless my beautiful daughter.

Jada’s shadow appears on the horizon as she enters soulless city, where the orphaned children are hiding.

9, Example – Kids again

Chapter 35

First taste of happiness.

Zak wakes Jada up, to have firing range practice, and fun in the freedom in the field behind the church as everyone is sleeping. There young love beings to blossom.

10, Johnny Cash Hurt

Chapter 44

Lambs to the slaughter.

Jada leads the group of orphans’ into a trap, she is betrayed by someone she cares for, and resulting in the death of someone she loved. 

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I was born in Lancaster, England. Growing up in a single parent household with five other siblings was hard and also character building. As a young child I found a passion for drawing and continued this into adulthood. I graduating from the University of Central Lancashire, England with a BA(Hons) in fashion design. At aged twenty seven, my husband and I packed up our belongings for a lifelong dream to move to California. Our America dream was complete with the birth of my daughter. A new job positioned opened up New York, we decide to relocate to Long Island, NY, which is where I currently resides.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon

Tour Schedule – One Month Blog Tour for The War Kids Series by HJ Lawson from February 9 – March 6, 2015

February 9

Coffee Book & Art – Promo & Book Soundtrack

http://sarityahalomi.blogspot.com/

February 10

3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! - Promo

http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com

February 11

JeanzBookReadNReview - Author Interview, Playlist & Book Soundtrack

http://jeanzbookreadnreview.blogspot.co.uk/

February 12

Deal Sharing Aunt - Promo

www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com

February 13

The Avid Reader - Promo, Author Interview, Book Soundtrack & Playlist

http://the-avidreader.blogspot.com

February 16

The Idle Musings of a Writer's Mind – Promo & Author Interview

http://theidlemusingsofawritersmind.blogspot.com

February 17

United Indie Book Blog - Promo

http://unitedindiebookblog.blogspot.com/

February 18

Booky Ramblings of a Neurotic Mom – Promo & Top Ten

http://bookyramblingsofaneuroticmom.blogspot.co.uk/

Bibliophile Mystery - Promo, Top Ten & Book Soundtrack

http://bibliophilemystery.blogspot.ro

February 19

Cajun Book Lover - Promo

http://www.cajunbooklover.blogspot.com

February 20

Archaeolibrarian - I dig good books! - Promo

http://archeolibrarianologist.blogspot.de/

February 23

Word to Dreams - Promo

http://wordtodreams.blogspot.com

February 24

What Shall We Blog About Today? - Promo, Book Soundtrack & Playlist

http://kenowinsky.blogspot.com

February 25

2 Girls & A Book – Promo & Top Ten

http://2girlsandabook.wordpress.com/

February 26

Eclipse Reviews - Promo,Top Ten, Playlist & Book Soundtrack

http://eclipsereviews.weebly.com

February 27

Kimber Leigh Writes - Promo, Author Interview & Playlist

http://www.kimberleighwheaton.com

March 2

Books Books Books – Promo

http://www.booksbooksbooksblog.com

March 3

Angels with Attitude Book Reviews - Promo, Author Interview, Book Soundtrack & Playlist

http://angelswithattitudebookreviews-joelle.blogspot.com

March 4

Bookworm for Kids - Review Book #1 - War Kids

http://www.bookwormforkids.blogspot.com

March 5

Portals to New Worlds - Promo, Author Interview, Playlist & Book Soundtrack

http://authorkarenswart.blogspot.com

March 6

Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog - Promo

http://fictionalrendezvousbookblog.blogspot.com/