Hello friends!
These are some strange times that we live in — and I hope that you all are staying safe and healthy!
Stranger still is that about two years ago, I started writing a virus book . . . in which the virus kills two-thirds of the world’s population . . . and it is up to a girl ten years in the past (our present) to stop its spread.
Even stranger is that this book, MALICE, released on February 4 of this year.
I have to admit, I find it utterly surreal to write this post, as my family and I are beginning our second week of social quarantine. But since this story takes place in the present (with the virus pandemic ten years in the future), I promise it is mostly funny and swoony and suspenseful!!
My awesome publisher, Entangled TEEN, is hosting a blog hop, a virtual road trip, with lots of wonderful prizes and talented authors! This stop on the tour takes you to the suburbs of D.C., in beautiful Maryland, which is also where I live!
I will be giving away a hardcover of MALICE to one lucky winner! To enter, please see details below.
Synopsis:
What I know: a boy at my school will one day wipe out two-thirds of the population with a virus.
What I don’t know: who he is.
In a race against the clock, I not only have to figure out his identity, but I’ll have to outwit a voice from the future telling me to kill him. Because I’m starting to realize no one is telling the truth. But how can I play chess with someone who already knows the outcome of my every move? Someone so filled with malice she’s lost all hope in humanity? Well, I’ll just have to find a way―because now she’s drawn a target on the only boy I’ve ever loved…
Excerpt:
Before I know it, I’m a foot away from the basketball court. The players are taking a break, and Bandit stands at the edge of the concrete, taking long pulls from a water bottle. Up close, his brilliant hair looks almost purple, and his T-shirt sticks to his back in sweaty patches, hinting at his solid muscles.
Now what? Do I clear my throat? Tap his shoulder? Going for broke, I do both at the same time.
He turns and lifts his eyebrows, as though wondering how a mere mortal such as myself dares to approach him. He’s tall—really tall. Almost a head above my five feet five. His jaw is chiseled, his shoulders broad. I’m so close that I can feel the heat rising off his body.
My brain scrambles. I forgot to check if I had any food in my teeth! Did I brush my hair this morning? Put on clothes?
Okay, so clearly I’m not naked, but for the life of me, I can’t remember what I’m wearing. Please don’t let it be the navy T-shirt with the faded splotches on the shoulder, from when I accidentally added bleach instead of detergent to the laundry.
I glance down. Jeans and a white tank top—my favorite shirt because it has Lin-Manuel Miranda’s autograph. More than passable.
“I, uh…” My entire vocabulary chooses that moment to flee.
His lids lower, and he looks at me, decidedly bored. “Yes? Can I help you?”
Three, four, five of his basketball friends angle their towering bodies toward us, probably wondering what the interruption is about.
Sweat gathers at the nape of my neck, and electricity hums along my skin. The Voice is about to zap me again. I just know it.
“Running out of time,” the Voice pipes up, as if on cue. “Tell him.”
Say the words and be done with it. Say the words. Say. The. Words.
“I love you,” I blurt. “That is all. Goodbye.”
I wheel around, ready to sprint, when a hand snags my arm. His hand.
“Wait a minute,” Bandit says, his eyes 2 percent less bored. “Are we in third grade? Do you want to give me a note asking if I love you back, so I can circle yes or no?”
My cheeks burn hotter than the sun assaulting my skin. Hotter, even, than the flames that got me into this mess.
I could really use that alien abduction right about now.
The object of my supposed affection smirks. “We can skip the note. Can’t say I blame you for falling for me. I mean, I’m a lovable guy. But have we actually met?” He lowers his voice. “Outside of your wildest dreams, that is.”
GIVEAWAY!
For a chance to win a hardcover of MALICE, please comment below! Tell me: would you take one life in order to save a million? Or, you can share with me what you’ve been doing while you have been social distancing!
This contest is open internationally (so long as Book Depository ships to your address!), and I will announce the winner at Entangled’s final FB bash, on March 25, where they will be giving away even more prizes! (I will update here, as well) I hope to see you there!
- Be sure to visit my dear friend, Brenda Drake, tomorrow for the next stop on the tour! It is also her birthday tomorrow, so her post is bound to be extra special!
Have been catching up on reading and homeschooling my 3rd and 8th grader. Staying put in my home as much as possible.
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Good luck homeschooling! I have 3 kids, so I know it’s not easy! Stay safe!
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I’m fortunate that I can work from home. But I miss hanging out at bookstores and coffee shops!
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Yes, I miss it, too! I also work from home, but I’m used to going out and driving my kids around. Stay safe!
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I think I’d have to, especially when the “one” is a villain. I’d hope the legal authorities would back me, though!
I unfortunately still have to work (or maybe I’m lucky to not be closed yet, as my husband and I do not qualify for unemployment???), but I am the queen of social distancing. It’s kind of what I’ve always done lol. We’ve been taking our lunch and I’ve quit drinking my morning cappuccino, to avoid unnecessary exposures in restaurants and convenience stores. I’d already quit going to my regular haunts (JCPenney and Maurices, which I believe have since closed their stores). We’re really wishing we had gotten some hair cuts/color. We are going to look like cave people if/when this is over.
I canceled one doctors’ appt this past Monday and we’ve both elected not to visit with our parents for a while since all four fall into a higher risk group.
I love your books; thanks for the chance!
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Sounds like you are doing all the right things! It’s so hard, isn’t it? I, too, wish I had gotten my hair colored before all of this went down. Guess I’m just going to have to live with the grey for however long this lasts! Stay safe!
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Since I work in healthcare, I am still working albeit in a role that thankfully allows me to work from home. So it’s me and my 4 cats, day in and day out! And as Spock said, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few!
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Oh, cats make great companions! I hope they’re keeping your heart warm! Stay safe!
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I think I would. It’s a common ethical dilemma but doing the less amount of harm is best.
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I agree. It’s a hard decision, though. I don’t know if I could actually do it. Stay safe!
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I’ve been reading a lot and working on school work. I’m currently a grad education student.
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Projects are a great way to keep busy and not look at the news too much! I’m finishing up writing my next book, and it’s been great at keeping my mind occupied. Stay safe and good luck!
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I’d like to think I could make the choice to take the life of one. But it would become infinitely harder if it was someone I know/love.
And I’ve been in self quarantine for 5 days (maybe 6?? I’m already loosing track.) Playing lots of ring around the rosie and reading picture books with my 1.5 year old.
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Oh, have fun with that 1.5 year old! I have little ones, too (well, my youngest is 5), and I know it’s not easy keeping them entertained! Good luck, and stay safe!
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I would take out one life to save a million. In the end more live. As for social distancing I’ve been reading and sleeping.
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I’ve been reading some myself, but I find that I don’t have that much extra time. Stay safe and good luck! I hope you’ve been finding some wonderful stories!
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We just finished planting seeds in our seed starters for our garden, and we’ve been having lots of family game and movie nights after hubby and I work from home and try to keep the kids occupied at the same time haha
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Oooh.. sounds like you’re doing a great job occupying the kids!! Good luck and stay safe!
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My life hasn’t changed that much. Books are great company. Thanks for the chance.
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I agree! Books are wonderful company! Stay safe!
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I’m not sure I could do it. I’ve been reading mostly. Thank you!
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It’s a hard question, for sure. I hope you’ve been discovering some great stories!
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I’ve been staying at home with my girls and husband and we’ve been doing LOTS of reading!
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Lots of reading going on in my household, as well! I hope you all are finding stories to fall in love with! Stay safe!
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I’ve still been working but we’ve been staying in otherwise. We homeschool anyway, so it’s nothing new to us. Just not going out for other activities and paly time.
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It’s been difficult for my kids to not have those activities! Wishing you and your family the best!
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I have learned how to make candles, and have cleaned my house more thoroughly than ever before lol
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Oh how cool! That’s a great project!! Stay safe!
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Pingback: Road Tripping with Entangled TEEN!: Pintip Dunn’s book MALICE – Meg Eden Book Reviews
Honestly, I don’t know if I could, unless there was incontrovertible proof of the one’s amorality. I would probably try to find a loophole.
I am spending social isolation worrying about my students, reading, and eating too manu carbs
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Ha! I have definitely put on a little weight! I think it’s because mealtimes become a bigger event. Wishing you and your students the very best!
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I’ve been spending more time reading and have joined on demand Jazzercise to strream classes so I can still move and try to stay strong.
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Oh, that’s a great idea! I’ve been trying to get my exercise in, as well. Wishing you the very best!
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this is a question (or a similar question at least with a much smaller scale, one for 5) that we get quite frequently in medschool and i quite frankly still don’t know eventhough i’m leaning more towards yes, but that answer makes me uncomfortable still 😅
thank you for the chance!!
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I think it would be difficult to be perfectly comfortable! Best of luck to you, and I hope you don’t have to encounter the question in real life!
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Thank you for hosting this! It’s very nice of you 🙂
I have been reading and going for walks (when the weather allows) to avoid going stir-crazy. It seems to be working so far!
Hope you’re staying safe, too.
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My family and I have been going on walks as much as possible, too! Best of luck to you!
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Pingback: Sunday Post: Book Pre-order Campaigns & Giveaways Galore – 3/22/20 – Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I am a teacher, so I am working on-line with my students and trying to keep students safe and calm.
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Thank you for all that you do! Wishing you and your students the very best!
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To be truthful, I don’t think I would be able to make that kind of a decision. On paper it seems like there is only one logical choice but it is also a question about morales. I don’t think I could ever actively kill someone … I would probably let fate decide …
While social distancing, I have mostly read books, worked from home (homeoffice) and studied for my exams (eventhough they are postponed and there are no new dates set…). So all in all, not that much exciting stuff.
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It’s about as exciting as anything I’m doing! Best of luck on your exams! Stay safe!
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I hope you stay save as well, and so are your oved ones!
Maybe this whole situation inspires a lot of new novels that are the bestsellers of the future … 🙂
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I’ve been binge reading, playing with my puppy, and watching Netflix while social distancing.
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Oooh, I hope you’ve been falling in love with some great stories! Wishing you the best!
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I’m working from home and baking!
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Ooh, I hope you’ve been baking some yummy stuff! Wishing you the best!
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Playing with my little sister in the house and watching a few movies
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I hope you’ve been seeing some great movies! Wishing you and your sister the best!
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Hi!!! Thank you so much for this opportunity:) man, I don’t know if I can kill anyone, it will be in my conscious. I’ve just been catching up on my reading, watching shows I haven’t seen before, and also catching up on my KDramas 🙂
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Hi Lily! According to my random number generator, you’ve won! Congrats!
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I hope you’ve been enjoying the KDramas!!!
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That is such a hard decision to make. I’m just not going to even think about it. As far as social distancing, we’re just staying at home. We are starting our third week. This is the first week of homeschooling. Unfortunately, my husband still has to go into the office twice a week.
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Good luck with the homeschooling! Wishing you and your family the best!
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I really hope I’m never in a position to have to make that choice of whether some lives or not.
As far as what I’m doing while social distancing – besides filing for unemployment, I’m starting to do a serious spring cleaning of my house. I’m also practicing yoga as my instructor is streaming classes now – yay! Also trying to do some other exercises and of course reading a lot!
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I hope I’m never in that position, too! Enjoy your yoga, and wishing you the best!
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Cooking and cleaning. But trying to read more.
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Wishing you the best! Stay safe!
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Thanks for entering everyone! According to my random number generator, Lily M. is the winner! I will contact you by email, Lily!
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