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New Book Release – BOUGHT (YA Dystopian Thriller)

New Book Release – BOUGHT (YA Dystopian Thriller)

I did it a third time! I’m so excited to release my third young adult novel, Bought. This story has a special place in my heart, and I can’t wait for readers to experience it!

I said this the last time I released a novel (Tainted, February 2018), but I can’t help it – I’m so excited! I never thought I’d be publishing three novels in less than one year after setting aside the trilogy I was working on. But when that story started to fall flat and I realized it needed more intrigue for even me to stay interested, I set it aside and I haven’t looked back since. Maybe someday I’ll go back to writing Emme and Gabe’s story, but for now, I’m charging forward.

Not even a year ago, I started writing Shattered after Marris Sheffield showed up as a dead girl in one of my dreams. About six and a half months of writing and editing later, I published my first young adult novel.

And then last summer, I started writing Tainted, my second YA thriller. It’s a story of love in the midst of death and destruction in a dystopian world, and it’s perfect for YA dystopian thriller fans!

I’m constantly working on new projects; I have all these ideas in my head and I have to get them out. So in December, after I published Shattered, I started writing Bought, my latest YA dystopian thriller.

At the time, I wasn’t planning on turning it into a series, but as I wrote it, the story developed more and more. And now I can’t get enough of Fira (pronounced FEAR-ah) and Devon. Each piece of the story is interconnected to form one giant puzzle that spans across the series, which currently is a four-book series (I have a feeling their story will go beyond that!).

To read more about the story idea behind Bought, go here – https://jodycalkins.com/inside-the-story-idea-for-bought-ya-dystopian-thriller/

Here is a short excerpt from BOUGHT…

***

The dark sky glowed softly from the city’s lights as I walked the cobblestone sidewalk alone. While the government claimed the city was safe, we were taught self-defense techniques. They told us it was better for us to be trained than to be taken by surprise and not be able to defend ourselves. We practiced and trained two hours each day as part of their mandatory program.

That meant, if a revolt were to occur, we’d be able to assist the government in apprehending the criminals and containing the situation. Since they were loyal benefactors interested in us achieving our personal pursuits, we were happy to oblige.

So, when the man came up behind me and attempted to overpower my smaller stature with a choke hold, I instantly grabbed his bare arm and spun on my heel, twisting his arm until he collapsed onto the ground face-first.

“Son of a…” the man said, gasping.

“Want another chance?” I asked, amused, staring at the back of his skull.

He shook his head and I thought I heard him say no but it came out in a croak so I wasn’t sure.

“Really?” I asked, loosening my grip. “I was just getting started. And I could really use the practice.”

The man shook his head again and I backed away, allowing him to rise to his feet. Holding his arm to his chest, he came up on one knee first and then slowly stood up. As he straightened his shoulders back, he winced. After a moment, his eyes settled on me, making a slow progression from my black boots to my long dark hair.

While he checked me out, I watched him. He was attractive. Slightly shorter than average, but still a good six inches taller than me. His dark hair was close-cropped and short stubble shadowed his face. His dark jeans and the black shirt which stretched tight across his broad chest and muscular arms were no doubt meant to disguise him in the darkness.

“So, the rumors are true,” he said. It was more of a statement than a question.

“Rumors?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.

He stuck out his hand palm up in a halfhearted gesture. “They train you.”

“What’s it to you?”

He huffed and then the corners of his mouth curled upward. “The less you know, the better.”

“Better for me or for you?” I asked.

“Both of us,” he replied. “You’re less likely to turn me in if you don’t know me.”

I’d never forget a face like his, but I didn’t say that. I could have a sketch artist create a fairly accurate rendition of his appearance and have it posted on every broadcasting network by the end of the hour. But again, he didn’t need to know that.

The more puzzling question was, why was I hesitating to make a move?

“I believe I’d be less likely if I knew more about you,” I said. “I’m sure you have a solid reason for attacking me in the middle of the night. Let alone being inside these walls where, surely, you do not belong, given the nature of your business here.”

He smirked. “Do they teach you how to speak like that?”

“Like what?” I asked.

“Like you know everything.”

I laughed softly. “I guess they do.”

He took a step forward, but I held my ground, reaching my hand down my outer thigh and gripping the short blade I kept secured there.

“So, you’re up for some practice?” I asked, eyeing him over my slight grin.

He shook his head. “Since I clearly cannot restrain you in a fair manner, given your extensive training, I have a proposition for you.”

***

Want to read more?

BOUGHT is available in Kindle and paperback versions on Amazon. Go here to check it out! – https://www.amazon.com/author/jodycalkins

Jody Calkins
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