The Uncontrolled: Hiding Can't Save You From Robotic Smiles by Zachary Astrowsky is on virtual book tour. The young adult c...
The Uncontrolled: Hiding Can't Save You From Robotic Smiles by Zachary Astrowsky is on virtual book tour.
The young adult cyberpunk sci-fi stops at Readeropolis with an author interview.
Be sure to enter for a chance to win the giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card (WW- 1 winner), a drawstring bag in choice of color with print copy of The Uncontrolled (US only – 1 winner), or a signed bookmark (US only – 5 winners) and follow the Silver Dagger book tour (for other dates see the link at the bottom of the post).
Where were you born/grew up at?
Born and raised in Scottsdale, AZ
If you knew you'd die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day?
There are many things in life I like to do, besides procrastinating. If I knew I was going to die, I would spend my last day visiting a beautiful site with my friends and family creating an everlasting memory.
What are you passionate about these days?
I am passionate about many things such as lacrosse and writing, but lately, I am most passionate about finishing my sequel which is due out this fall!
What do you do to unwind and relax?
Hang out with friends, watch tv, play lacrosse, and listen to music.
Do you have a favorite movie?
I definitely have a favorite movie but my top three movies based on their creativity are: #1 Deadpool 2, #2 Inception, and #3 Interstellar
Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?
The Uncontrolled and the sequel due out this fall.
What can we expect from you in the future?
Writing over the last few years and thinking about my books, I have gathered several book ideas. When I have the time in the future, I hope to have another book or series again, within the science fiction genre.
How did you come up with the concept and characters for the book?
All stories are people-stories meaning every story we read is based on real-life experiences no matter how absurd the story line is. Therefore, many of the characters in my book are based on friends or people I have met. The story itself is something I created when I was 10 years old. I was very impressed with The Flash and found some of the topics to be cool and trendy concepts within science fiction adventures.
Where did you come up with the names in the story?
Mainly friends but Hazel’s name was based on a social media contest. I created a post asking all my followers to submit a name for the lead female in the trio of teenagers. I looked at all the names and narrowed them down to my top two favorites and then asked them to re-vote. Hence, Hazel was born!
If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?
The main character, John, the protagonist, is a difficult casting call. I definitely have ideas for the remaining cast, however. Chase, John’s sidekick, could be played by Jack Dozer or Asher Angel. Hazel can be played by Millie Bobby Brown. Crofar, the antagonist, could be played by Alex Pettyfer.
What did you edit out of this book?
The final chapter, hence the sequel! The edited out chapter which has never been seen by anyone will be available for free by those that read The Uncontrolled and tag me on their social media account.
What book do you think everyone should read?
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak because while it’s not within the sci-fi genre, it is written amazingly well with creative characters which makes the book unique and something I’ve never read before.
How long have you been writing?
I started writing when I was 10 years old. Then I became focused on my manuscript when I was 12 years old and I have been writing ever since.
Do you see writing as a career?
Possibly. I am interested in many things right now so it’s hard to pick a career path. As of now, I am interested in science, mainly, astrophysics, which sparks my interest in writing science fiction. My hope is to write and be a scientist someday. BUT, I am 16 years old and don’t have everything figured out yet.
Pen or type writer or computer?
I use my laptop with an accompanying monitor which allows me to view several documents at once. This is useful if I need to research a topic for my book.
Advice they would give new authors?
Always plot out your book before writing, but be flexible to change because as you write, the plot could stray away from what it was originally intended. Always write sincerely and be realistic. You are entertaining people of all kind!
Do you believe in writer’s block?
Yes, most writers experience writer’s block where they feel unmotivated to write. When this happens to me, I look to other creative projects such as film or tv. This also lends itself to the necessity to read other genres as it will help you with your own.
The
Uncontrolled:
Hiding
Can't Save You From Robotic Smiles
by
Zachary Astrowsky
Genre:
YA Cyberpunk SciFi
Tracking
Devices, Mind Control, and Visions of the Future
An
action-packed adventure set against the loss of free
will that comes from a mind control serum.
The
robotic way people smile is John's first inclination that things are
not quite as they seem in Amber City.
At the age of fourteen, everyone is "vaccinated" with a biological implant that makes people controllable. John is supposed to get his shot the very next day, until he and his parents find out about the mind-controlling chip requiring his family to devise a plan to put a stop to this once and for all, but things don't go exactly as planned.
At the age of fourteen, everyone is "vaccinated" with a biological implant that makes people controllable. John is supposed to get his shot the very next day, until he and his parents find out about the mind-controlling chip requiring his family to devise a plan to put a stop to this once and for all, but things don't go exactly as planned.
Along
with his friend Chase, and an irrepressible girl named Hazel, the
three of them find themselves in the world of the controlled, where
they must try to escape the notice of this powerful society and its
leader, Crofar. As the trio of teenagers attempt to defeat Crofar on
their own, they stumble upon the Renegades, a formidable group of
"the uncontrolled," led by Maximus.
Warily
forming an alliance with the teenagers, the numbers are not in their
favor, and the uncontrolled are barely holding their own. Until that
is, they realize they have a secret weapon. John starts to have
regular visions of the future, which can change in interesting ways
when certain variables are adjusted.
While
John has visions they can use to win the war against Crofar, things
become complicated because Crofar has visions too. With two
adversaries who can see the future, only one can outsmart the
other.
The
Uncontrolled is an adventurous, sci-fi book written by award-winning
teen author Zachary Astrowsky.
●
TCK
Publishing Readers Choice Awards Winner 2018, MG/YA Category
●
Purple
Dragonfly Book Award Winner, Honorable Mention, June 2018
●
Royal
Dragonfly Book Award 2nd Place Winner, November 2018
●
Story
Monsters Approved
It
all began on a trip to NYC when I was five. I couldn't read yet,
but I wanted to understand every sign and billboard I saw. I
began putting letters together and for my birthday a few months
later, I was requesting the fourth book in the Harry Potter
series. Reading allowed my mind to explore and create
stories, and as a young child I began filling them with colorful
characters and sharing them with anyone and everyone who would
listen. Since then, I’ve progressed quite a bit to formulating
longer and more complex stories and eventually completing my first
novel, The Uncontrolled.
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