Dystopian December - Julia Karr!

by Unknown 12:30 AM 3 comments

(Thanks to the wonderful blogger behind Speculating on SpecFic for designing the banner!)

Interview with Julia Karr!

Why did you decide to write dystopian fiction/post-apocalyptic fiction?

It wasn’t a conscious decision. I was doing NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month - www.nanowrimo.org) and all I had in my head was a punk-rock type of girl walking down a city street. She stepped over a homeless man, and then decided to turn back and help him. It wrote itself into dystopia!

What, or who, has been the biggest influence in your writing?

Probably the biggest influence in my writing is my drive to write an exceptional book. It may take me a while to get there - but I strive for excellence!

In XVI, you have created a dystopian world where teenage girls get a tattoo at age 16, and that basically makes them ‘open targets’ for males. What made you want to write about a world like this? Do you see our world headed this way?

Like I said above, the story went dystopian on me all by itself. But, once it got there, I took what I see in current culture and media and ran with it. It would not surprise me if some version of XVI was a part of our future.

For fans like me who are dying to know, is there going to be another book following after Truth?

Oh, I’m so glad you’re a fan! (Thank you!) As far as a third book, I thought I was done at two. My publisher didn’t want a third either. However, Nina still has more story to tell, so one way or another, there will be a third book!

What do you think our future is going to be like? Can you see any similarities in the world that you’ve created and our world today?

I hope that our future is brighter than it looks from the current vantage point. Some of the things we have already are:

- Preoccupation with celebrities’ status and/or wanting to be a celebrity of some sort

- Gossip mags/online sites/TV shows

- Reality TV

- Paparazzi

- Over-emphasis on appearance/fashion as pushed by the media

- Commercials

- Celebrity endorsements or product lines (everything from cereal to perfume!)

- Magazines / fashion shows / TV

- Sexualization of teen (and pre-teen) girls (to name just a few)

January 2011 French Vogue (http://thehairpin.com/2011/01/the-tiny-grown-up-lady-children-of-vogue-paris/)

Toddlers and Tiaras

Padded bikini bras for 8 year olds

High-heeled booties

(To name just a few!)

What will you be doing come December 21st? And if you survive? (Assuming, of course, it’s the end of the world!)

I’ll be enjoying being a full-time writer (I’m leaving my day job on Dec. 14th!)

Probably baking things for Christmas

Wrapping last minute presents

Fighting zombies

You know… normal December stuff! 

What would be your favourite dystopian/post-apocalyptic novel?

I can never have just one favorite book! So, I’ll give you two-for-one, and add that there are even more!

Ashfall by Mike Mullin (It’s actually a the-apocalypse-is-currently-happening novel)

Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

Thanks so much for having me during Dystopian December!

Author Links:

- Website - Twitter - Facebook - Goodreads -

Truth - 
Julia Karr
Released: January 19, 2012
Publisher: Speak

Synopsis: An exciting dystopian thriller, and sequel to XVI

Nina Oberon's life has changed enormously in the last few months. When her mother was killed, Nina discovered the truth about her father, the leader of the Resistance. And now she sports the same Governing Council�ordered tattoo of XVI on her wrist that all sixteen-year-old girls have. The one that announces to the world that she is easy prey to predators. But Nina won't be anyone's stereotype. And when she joins an organization of girls working within the Resistance, she knows that they can put an end to one of the most terrifying secret programs the GC has ever conceived. Because the truth always comes out . . . and the consequences can be deadly.

Other books in the series:

Win a copy of XVI or Truth! - International!

a Rafflecopter giveaway