Interview with Pam Bachorz, author of Drought!

Pam Bachroz is the author of two YA books- Candor and Drought, which just came out today! And today's she here to answer a few of my questions.

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In your opinion, what are the top three reasons why teens (or even adults) should consider picking up Drought the next time they see it in stores or online?

1. It's a different story than what they've read before.
2. They'll love the characters.... or love to hate some of them.
3. It'll suck you in and make you think.

Drought tells the story of Ruby so would you mind telling us a little about her? Also, if you could offer her any type of advice, what would you say?

Ruby has been alive for two hundred years, maturing very slowly into a near-woman today. She has a very special, and secret, gift: her blood, mixed with water, can sustain life. But she longs for the day when she can leave the woods where she's been trapped for two hundred years... longs to be a "normal" girl with modern clothes and maybe even a special boy.

As for advice for Ruby, I'd tell her to listen to her heart, and her heart alone. She's surrounded by some very big, pushy personalities who think they know what's best for her. But she's reached the point when she needs to make that decision for herself.

In Drought, Ruby's blood makes the water special, which makes her valuable to not only the Congregation but the Overseers as well. This leaves me to wonder the following: why did you make her have such a special talent?

Ruby has simply always had this gift, as has her father Otto. That's where the story started: I drove by a broken-down old barn in upstate NY and had a vision of blood dropping into a glass of water, inside that barn. Then I shared my lovely vision with the people who were in the car with me. You never know what you're getting into, going on a car trip with me!



Now Out!

 In Drought, you're not one to shy away from showing just how gruesome and horrible the Congregation's lives, which is one of the main reasons I found this book to be so fascinating but at the same time disturbing. So why did you decide to show the Congregation's life in such detail with the beatings, death, and starvation?

I am horrified, on a daily basis, by the cruelty that human beings inflict on each other. I wanted my story to show the very personal impact of cruelty. It's so easy to brush it off when we read a news article or hear about pain far away. But the truth is that people are being beaten, starved, tortured every day somewhere on our planet.... and in some cases, much closer than any of us want to think. I've read devastating accounts of migrant farm workers and how they are treated in some farms in the US--how they are virtually slaves. I think their plight definitely worked their way into my story.

Over the course of Drought, Ruby begins to form a relationship with Ford, a handsome overseer who promises her he can get her out of the life she's living, which leaves me to wonder the following: what was one of the your favorite parts about writing about their relationship, as well as one of the most challenging?

Let me tell you, Ruby and Ford tied me in knots. Yet writing their scenes together was also the most rewarding--once I got it right. I loved writing about their official "date", especially (I won't say more about that, since I don't want to give much away!). Figuring out how fast Ruby would move with this guy--given that he's the enemy, really, and that she's never had a relationship before--was definitely challenging. I couldn't have her think or act like a "modern" girl.



Now Available in Paperback!



How did the title Drought come to be? Was it always the title or did it come later on in the game?

DROUGHT has been with the project since pretty early on. I love titles with multiple meanings: DROUGHT refers to the literal drought that is the setting of the book, but it also refers to the drought of love that Ruby's been experiencing, and also the drought of kindness that all the Congregants have been subjected to. Finally, it refers to the long, difficult time the whole Congregation has had, waiting for their beloved Otto to come and "save" them.

With Drought's release date fast approaching, do you have any plans on how you'll spend the day?

I have NOT dreamed something up yet! I know I need to do something. At least drink a big glass of water. :)

Your previous book Candor was told from the POV of a guy, while this time it was told from a girl's POV, so what made you decide to switch it up this time?

I like trying new things every time I write, so that was part of it. But truly, it was Ruby who stepped up and told me that she wanted her story told.

What's up next for you book wise?

I am working on another YA story about a secret, altered world. I'm quite fascinated by those!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks for having me here! And remember... dark secrets lurk just outside our vision. Keep your eyes peeled!

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Thanks so much Pam!

To find out more about Pam and her books, be sure to head on over to her website. You can also view my reviews of Drought and Candor here and here.

Drought by Pam Bachorz

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Ruby dreams of escaping the Congregation. Escape from slaver Darwin West and his cruel Overseers. Escape from struggling to gather the life-prolonging Water that keeps the Congregants alive--and Darwin rich. Escape from her certain, dreary existence, living as if it's still the early 1800s, when the Congregation was first enslaved. But if Ruby leaves, the Congregation will die without the secret ingredient to the Water: her blood. So she stays, and prays to their savior Otto, who first gave Water to the Congregants... and fathered Ruby before he vanished.

When the Congregants discover Ruby's forbidden romance with an Overseer, they beat Ford to stop her from running away with him. Ruby steals their store of Water to save Ford's life and is banished. Ruby has everything she's dreamed of: a modern life with Ford. But the modern world isn't what she thought it would be, and Ruby can't forsake the Congregation. Love and loyalty push Ruby to return and fight for her family's freedom...at a terrible price.

Review:

Drought is a unique, riveting, and disturbing tale of one girl's struggle over loyalty, love, and the ties that bring them together in a dysptioan setting.

Drought tells the story of Ruby, a girl who's been enslaved along with the rest of her people by Darwin West since the 1800s. At the hands of Darwin and his Overseers, Ruby and her Congregation face cruel punishment and have to collect water from the forest every day, no matter how dry it may be. But then Ruby meets Ford. Ford is a new Overseer but he's nothing like the typical one. He's kind, sweet, and starts a friendship with Ruby, promising her an escape- a life of freedom and a regular teenage life. But is Ruby ready to leave her family and friends, especially since her blood is the reason why they survive? And what about Ford? Is he nearly as nice and caring as he appears? Only time will tell in this in Pam Bachorz's sophomore novel!

Ruby was a character who I liked from the start, because not only is she someone who manages to save her people time and time again through her blood giving, but she also acts as one of their unofficial leaders- someone, who along with her mother, keeps everyone together and as safe as they can be. I thought Pam did a fantastic job of showing Ruby's distraught and confusion over which side to choose in her situation- freedom or staying with and loyal to the people who made her. It was an intriguing one, basically the backbone of Drought. Adding to this, I loved seeing how Ruby's relationship with Ford developed over time because not only was it sweet and simple but it was interesting to see how Ruby dealt with her feelings for Ford and what came with them. Pam also did a great job of developing the side characters, such as Ruby's mother to the scary, perfect villain type Darwin West.

One of the first things that drew to read Drought was the premise, and thankfully, the execution was even better than I expected. As mentioned before, Ruby's internal struggles were not only one of the big backbones of the plot but also something that made this book move in a swift, easy pace. I liked how throughout the novel Pam lead the reader to make their own decisions about Ruby and her people's somewhat obsession with Otto. It was a scary thing and cased a lot of thought on my part about people and their "heroes" so to say.

Just like in Candor, Pam's writing was fantastic. I thought she did a great job of moving the story along at a fast pace, all while establishing a lot of character and plot development. She's one who doesn't shy away from the hard-hitting scenes, and I respect her for that because it leaves a bigger and better impact on the reader, even though some scenes involving the torture and starvation in Ruby's world may be hard for some to read.

In all, Drought is no sophomore slump for Ms. Bachorz. Instead it's a novel filled with intrigue, romance, and one girl's internal struggle- one that may throw everything in flames or make the best changes possible. I simply can't wait to read more by Pam!

Grade: A+

Drought will be released January 25, 2011!

Source: Publicist at Goodman Media. Thanks, Jenny!

Look out for an interview with Pam coming tomorrow!

Candor by Pam Bachorz

Summary:

Oscar Banks has everything under control. In a town where his father brainwashes everyone, he's found a way to secretly fight the subliminal Messages. He's got them all fooled: Oscar's the top student and the best-behaved teen in town. Nobody knows he's made his own Messages to deprogram his brain. Oscar has even found a way to get rich. For a hefty price, he helps new kids escape Candor, Florida before they're transformed into cookie-cutter teens. But then Nia Silva moves to Candor, and Oscar's carefully-controlled world crumbles.

Review:

After seeing this featured on the 2009 Debutantes site a while back, I just knew I had to get my hands on a copy. Since, for one, I love these whole dystopian type novels, especially this one for being scarier then others. And for two the cover is awesome. Luckily, Candor is a perfect mix of scariness, mystery, and romance with an added twist of a villain like dad.

The premise which Candor is passed on was unique and cool, one being something that I could definitely happening in the future. It was interesting to see how Candor developed from "subliminal messages" ones that told you whether something was right or wrong and when it was wrong it stopped you from doing it.

Oscar was a character that I liked and often felt sad for because of his distance relationship with his dad, his non present mom, and missing brother. Though, I felt that when it came to the start of his relationship with Nina, he was a bit childish. Since, one of the main reasons he became first interested in her, was because she was different from the rest of the cookie cutters and a girl his father would detest. But after a while it became clear that even if it he had some iffy intentions at first, he still loved her with all his heart by the end and the same goes for her with him.

The plot was well developed in this book making it a fast paced read, one with few faults and lags. Plus, I promise you, that the ending will take you for a total surprise.

Overall, Candor was a fantastic debut and if this a introduction of what's to come to Egmont, I certainty look forward to reading more of their novels.

Grade: A

Candor will be released September 22nd by Egmont. Be sure to also check out Pam Bachorz's awesome site, here, as well as the book trailer below:



* Much thanks goes to Pam as well as Egmont's publicty team for sending me a copy of this book! :)