About the Book
Book: Lost in the System
Author: Nancy Jo Wilson
Genre: Christian Science Fiction
Release date: September 7, 2021
Jaded, 24th century grifter Smullian O’Toole has been sentenced to 1000 days of Life Modification Therapy. All is well until the glitch.
Smullian enjoys serving his prison term. Other than the daily upchucking, Life Modification Therapy is the sweetest sentence 24th century Earth offers. The system biotransposes his essence into a different 21st century person daily, whereas his body stays in the future. The therapy rehabilitates felons by teaching them the value of honest labor. On day 777, Smullian hears a disembodied voice utter, “Father to the Fatherless.” Thus, begins the mother of all system glitches that shatters Life Mod rules and regulations.
Instead of following the usual program, the system thrusts Smullian into the case of David Hawthorne, a missing teenaged orphan. The case cuts a little too close to home for the grifter, who has been on his own since he was twelve. As Smullian bounces from host to host, he realizes the glitch shows purpose and design. Someone, maybe the Father to the Fatherless, controls the situation, not the technicians at Life Mod. This someone peels back the façade Smullian has placed between himself and the world. Against his will, he begins to care about the kid and his older sister, Lydia. Each new host forces him to confront his own inner demons—as well as pointing him to David.
What initially seems the clear-cut case of a runaway—grows more ominous with every clue. Smullian knows he’s not the hero type. But he’s all David has.
Author Interview
Do you set a plot or prefer going wherever an idea takes you?
I always have a vague notion of the big events I want to occur and set them like waypoints. Then, I start writing and let the characters decide how they want to get to those places.
What, according to you, is the hardest thing about writing?
I dread writing emotional scenes. When the story calls for one, I whine, complain, and procrastinate. I’d much rather write a fight scene.
What would you say is the easiest aspect of writing?
World building—I’ve been dreaming up fantastical places as long as I can remember. I love experiencing the world take form in my mind and on the page.
Do you need to be in a specific place or room to write, or you can just sit in the middle of a café full of people and write?
I’m an extrovert, so sitting alone in a quiet place distracts me. My small town only has one café, and it closes in the afternoon. I usually end up at McDonald’s. The ebb and flow of people gives me energy and sparks my imagination.
What is your work schedule/routine when you write?
Funny, you should ask. One of my goals this fall is to carve out a writing schedule. In the past, I squeezed writing around homeschooling and ministry. Those sessions were frenzied bursts of productivity followed by long lulls. Now that Lost in the System is out, I need consistency, or the sequel will never make it to the page.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Nancy Jo Wilson wrote her first short story in second grade and continued writing throughout childhood. In high school, she wrote for the teen section of the local newspaper and received a writing scholarship from the state of Tennessee. After high school, she moved on to the college of her dreams—Florida State University. The dean who spoke at the college orientation encouraged students to major in what challenged them, not what came easily. So, she pursued science, majoring in Biology Education, as well as Theater electives. She came to regret the decision, because her first love was always the written word.
She returned to writing in her mid-thirties. Through mystery shopping reviews and online writing challenges, she sharpened her skills. Many times, she earned the distinction of editor’s choice on Faithwriters.com. She published a few articles, but mainly focused on her blog, six5mom.com. She wrote her first book Escape the Amoz, for her oldest son and published it through Kindle Direct. It won second place for science fiction in the 2009 Do it Write! competition. Lost in the System, her current book hit stores in fall 2021.
Now, she balances ministry, writing, and homeschooling. A Jacksonville, FL native, Nancy currently resides in Thomaston, GA with her husband, younger son, dog, and three cats.
More from Nancy
Street signs often inspire my character names. Not kidding. Drive through downtown Jacksonville, and you’ll see many of the names from my first novel spelled out on those green rectangles. When I drove past Smullian Trail, a handsome, charming, fast-talking character popped into my head. I immediately thought, “He’s mischievous.”
Before long, I wondered what would happen if Smullian, who has no knowledge of Christianity, meets the holy God. What obstacles would Smullian have to overcome? How do you explain to someone who views love as a transaction that God is love? Lost in the System tackles the tough questions unbelievers ask about Christianity but wraps the heavy content in a fuzzy blanket of sarcasm and tongue-in-cheek humor. Science fiction may be the core of this story, but mystery, romance, and redemption fill it out.
I hope you enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 7
Inklings and notions, September 8
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 9 (Author Interview)
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 10
Locks, Hooks and Books, September 11
Blossoms and Blessings, September 12 (Author Interview)
deb’s Book Review, September 12
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 13
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, September 14
A Baker’s Perspective, September 15 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, September 16
Through the Fire Blogs, September 17 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 18
Guild Master, September 19 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, September 19
Blogging With Carol, September 20
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Nancy is giving away the grand prize package of $50 Visa gift card and a signed copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/21599/lost-in-the-system-celebration-tour-giveaway
Terry Overton