Know the Novel Linkup//Part One: Introduction

I get so excited when Christine announces that she's going to do the Know the Novel Linkup!! It's such a fun way to introduce our novels, regardless of whether we're planning on doing NaNo or not!

If you're not sure what the Know the Novel linkup is, check out Christine's original post here, where you can learn all about it!

Today, y'all get to meet my upcoming WIP and I couldn't be happier to finally get to share it with you! But first, perhaps I should tell you what the working title is, shouldn't I?

Well, here you go!

The Last of the Lambs

This is the third book in my dystopian series, Monsters of Our Making. I'm so excited about this story and I can't wait to share more about it in the coming months!

Let's hop right into the questions, shall we?

1. What first sparked the idea for this novel?

I'm not entirely sure what prompted the idea? Two years ago, I wrote Simon Says, thinking that it would be a standalone. Then the idea for The Gingerhaired Girl popped into my head and I decided to turn it into a series of companion novels, where each story is loosely based off a children's game or rhyme. 

Once I'd decided that it was going to be a series, I started brainstorming different ideas for rhymes and children's games that could work as dystopian stories. I came up with a list of six different books, including SS and TGHG. The Last of the Lambs--loosely inspired by Mary Had a Little Lamb--was the one I was most excited to write, so I decided to write it this year.

2. Share a blurb (or just an overall summary if you’d prefer)!

*growls* I could have sworn I wrote a blurb back when I started working on the idea, but now I can't find one anywhere.

Oh well. I'll just figure one out now! And we're all going to ignore the absolute mess it'll be!

Can a lamb survive in a world full of lions?

Londiwe didn't ask for much out of life. She wanted her family happy, a roof over her head, and her beloved lamb by her side. When raiding insurgents rip these things from her, she finds out the world outside her family's farm is a tumultuous wasteland filled with lions dressed like men.

Broken, alone, and thirsting for revenge, she finds herself rescued by kindly missionaries who mend her wounds and claim that they know how to heal her heart. She's sure they're wrong, convinced the only way to help her now is to put a bullet in the chest of the man who laughed as he burned her world.

She doesn't think she'll ever get her chance until one day she hears about a group of freedom fighters who fight against the increasing violence of the insurgents. Eager to seize her chance to get revenge, she joins them. But war is no place for vendettas and she soon finds herself at her end, no longer the gentle lamb she was, but a battle-worn lion wishing she could change back. Is there any way for a gentle soul to live in a world where evil seems to win? Or do the last of the lambs have to give way to lions?

3. Where does the story take place? What are some of your favorite aspects about the setting?

My story takes place in the distant future in South Africa. I'm both nervous and excited about this setting as it's the first time I've written anything based in a different country in our world. 

The research has been so fun. I've found loads of interesting foods, animals, and other landmarks that are so awesome! There is still so much I need to learn and I'm feeling woefully unprepared, but I've still got a few weeks left before NaNo. Hopefully, I can learn enough to get a first draft out and then I can continue my research afterwards in order to edit it.

4. Tell us about your protagonist(s).

Londiwe* is the eldest daughter of a sheep farmer. When she was little, she took in an orphaned lamb and raised it. The two of them did everything together growing up. She's a cheerful light to her family until the day her world starts slipping away. 

*name subject to change. I'm still learning about the languages spoken in South Africa and the different naming customs, so if I find that this name isn't accurate, I'm going to change it

5. Who (or what) is the antagonist?

Aside from the insurgents as a whole, Londiwe has her sights set on one man in particular: Mfanafuthi*, who is responsible for destroying her life. He is one of the leaders of the insurgents and...isn't a nice man at all.

*again, name is subject to change. 

6. What excites you the most about this novel?

I'm really excited to learn more about a different country and just see where this takes me. Plus, I really like the vibes this story is giving me. I think it'll be fun! And by fun, I mean soul-crushing. 

7. Is this going to be a series? standalone? something else?

This is going to be part of my dystopian companion novels, along with Simon Says and The Gingerhaired Girl. This one deals with the repercussions of Simon's dictatorship the least out of the books I've written so far, but there will be some tie-ins that I'm excited about.

8. Are you plotting? pantsing? plansting?

According to most people, I'm plotting, but according to me, I feel like I'm pantsing. At the time of writing this post, I haven't finished my outline, haven't figured out how the country operates, barely know anything about my characters. As if that wasn't obvious by reading this post

But hey! I've got all October to figure that stuff out right? *nervous laughter*

Also, can we acknowledge that last year I said I wasn't going to go into NaNo so unprepared again? Look at me not paying a lick of attention to my past self! 

9. Name a few unique elements about this story.

I feel like the world is a fairly unique element. I haven't seen many (if any) dystopians based in other countries around the world, especially not in Africa. 

Also, missionaries play a large role in the story. 

10. Share some fun “extras” of the story (a song or full playlist, some aesthetics, a collage, a Pinterest board, a map you’ve made, a special theme you’re going to incorporate, ANYTHING you want to share!).

I made a fun cover for the story! 

I'm saving some of my other stuff for the WIP Special, in case there are questions about additional aesthetics, so I won't share them here.

There you go! That's a little bit about my story!! I hope you enjoyed your little sneak peek! Look for more fun info over the coming months!

Onto y'all! What writing project are you working on right now? How's it going? What are you most excited about for it? Let me know all the things down below!