Title: July Lightning
Author: Shannon A Thompson
Series: Bad Bloods: July #2(Bad Bloods #4)
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Release Date: May 1, 2017
Summary:From best-selling author Shannon A. Thompson comes an exciting new duology in the Bad Bloods universe.
Sixteen-year-old Caleb has been called many things: a patient, a musician, even a prostitute…now he has a new name—son. After his identity is uncovered, Caleb bands together with the family he once rejected in order to save the city of Vendona. But it won’t be easy. Enemies wait around every corner—and so do harsh realities. With Violet and Kuthun by his side though, nothing seems impossible. As Vendona sits on the verge of an economic collapse and a massive hurricane threatens the city, Violet and Caleb must show its citizens how to overcome decades of hostility and division to save themselves.
Standing or not, a sea will rage, a wall may fall, and all will depend on immortal pain and sacrifice.
The stale air hit me first, then the smells of the trashed road followed. My eyes itched against the stench and sudden light. When the sky began to brighten to blue, a circular gray cloud surrounded the city. It burned white against the sunlight. Worse was how calm it all was. Like predators luring prey into a trap with a false sense of peace. The only hint of deception was the uncomfortable humidity. It stuck to me.
“How long do you think we have?” Serena asked, momentarily frozen by the sky looming overhead. It looked demonic, surreal, and uncertain.“Give or take fifteen minutes,” I said. “Probably ten.”
She cringed. “I thought you might say that.”
“Don’t make it nine,” I bit back. Before she could respond, I took off running.
I had to get to Violet. I needed to. But most of all, I hoped Daniel would have the sense to close the adoption house after us.
Chances were we weren’t making it back. Not unscathed. And keeping the adoption house open at all would only risk others who didn’t deserve to face more danger. Not now. Not toward the end. But if I knew anything about the end—about death—it was the fact that it wasn’t fair. It was the one thing bad bloods and humans always had in common. Tonight, the reminder hung over us in the form of an all-seeing storm.
Weather didn’t discriminate—not like politics did—and neither did death.
Today we’re talking to Caleb and Violet from the Bad Bloods universe by best-selling young adult author Shannon A. Thompson. For those who don’t know, Bad Bloods is a generational duology series, which basically means every two books will be told by different characters. Each set also focuses on a new political movement. July Thunder (4/10) and July Lightning (5/1) is set in 2090, so it will deal with the aftermath of the first duology (November Rain and November Snow). It will focus on the wall separating the Highlands and the outskirts. If you haven’t started this series yet, don’t worry! November Rain (book 1) is free across all platforms.
For more information, visit www.ShannonAThompson.com.
But now, our interview with Caleb and Violet.
Interviewer (I): Let’s start with something fun. What’s your favorite food?
Violet (V): Pie. Cupcakes. Anything with chocolate. I have a huge sweet tooth.
Caleb (C): Seafood. But that’s because I like fishing.
V: And the island.
C: Ha. Yes, and my island.
I: An island off the coast of Vendona plays a huge role in this new duology. Not only is it undiscovered territory for Bad Bloods readers, but it’s unknown to most Vendona citizens as well. Am I correct?
C: Yes. My island is off the gulf of Eastern Vendona, a largely frowned upon place even in the outskirts. Vendona is a…complicated place. Not only is it isolated from the rest of the world—unless you’re rich, of course—it also has barricades within itself. The outskirts is separated by cardinal directions, though there’s no physical barrier.
V: But there are also physical barriers in Vendona. There’s a fence in Shadow Alley—my infamous spot—that cuts off most of Western Vendona after the Western Flock was massacred thirteen years ago. And the whole city is separated into two main parts—the Highlands and the outskirts. A steel wall is placed in between them.
I: The ten-story wall that separates the Highlands and the outskirts is center to your tale. Why?
V: Well, most people want it taken down. And with Marion Lachance’s help, even Highlanders are beginning to protest the barrier. It’s outdated.
C: Or never should’ve happened in the first place.
V: That, too.
I: So how do you two get involved with the movement to pull the wall down?
C: I wouldn’t put it that way…but it was more or less an accident.
V: Almost everything in Vendona is.
C: (nods) It’s easy to get caught up in everything, even when it’s completely out of your control. The best thing you can do is try to survive.
V: And do the right thing.
C: (frowning) The right thing isn’t always what I agree on, because the right thing often takes sacrifice. Vendona will take everything from you if it can. I won’t let that happen.
I: Sounds like you two have different ideas about what is right and wrong.
V: I think we just have different approaches.
C: I think I’d argue anything she says.
V: (glare)
C: (smirk) But she’s probably right.
I: So, tell us about one another. What was your initial reaction of the other?
C: (soft laughter) Violet was…terrifying as she was beautiful.
V: Caleb was an ass.
I: Ha. Okay. Well, in celebration of July Lightning, how about a quick lightning round?
Favorite clothing item:
V: My new black leather boots.
C: Button-up shirts.
Favorite weather:
V: Nighttime?
C: That’s not weather.
V: Then calm nighttime. Kind of windy. Enough to fly on.
C: (sigh) I like storms. Most of the time.
Favorite color:
V: Black
C: Violet.
V: (glare) You’re just saying that because it’s my name.
C: No, seriously. I love the color violet.
V: Whatever. (but smiling)
Favorite art:
V: I’m a painter.
C: I’m a musician.
Biggest fear:
V: Losing myself.
C: Losing my loved ones.
I: If there is anything you want readers to take away from this story, what is it?
V: To step out of your comfort zone. I spent most of my life in shadows. Learning to live in the spotlight is another challenge entirely. Well worth the adventure.
C: To be honest, open. To embrace connection with others when you’re used to closing yourself off.
I: Great answers. Thank you for talking with us tonight!
To learn more about Violet and Caleb and the wall separating their city, check out the latest duology in the Bad Bloods universe.
For more information, visit www.ShannonAThompson.com.
But now, our interview with Caleb and Violet.
Interviewer (I): Let’s start with something fun. What’s your favorite food?
Violet (V): Pie. Cupcakes. Anything with chocolate. I have a huge sweet tooth.
Caleb (C): Seafood. But that’s because I like fishing.
V: And the island.
C: Ha. Yes, and my island.
I: An island off the coast of Vendona plays a huge role in this new duology. Not only is it undiscovered territory for Bad Bloods readers, but it’s unknown to most Vendona citizens as well. Am I correct?
C: Yes. My island is off the gulf of Eastern Vendona, a largely frowned upon place even in the outskirts. Vendona is a…complicated place. Not only is it isolated from the rest of the world—unless you’re rich, of course—it also has barricades within itself. The outskirts is separated by cardinal directions, though there’s no physical barrier.
V: But there are also physical barriers in Vendona. There’s a fence in Shadow Alley—my infamous spot—that cuts off most of Western Vendona after the Western Flock was massacred thirteen years ago. And the whole city is separated into two main parts—the Highlands and the outskirts. A steel wall is placed in between them.
I: The ten-story wall that separates the Highlands and the outskirts is center to your tale. Why?
V: Well, most people want it taken down. And with Marion Lachance’s help, even Highlanders are beginning to protest the barrier. It’s outdated.
C: Or never should’ve happened in the first place.
V: That, too.
I: So how do you two get involved with the movement to pull the wall down?
C: I wouldn’t put it that way…but it was more or less an accident.
V: Almost everything in Vendona is.
C: (nods) It’s easy to get caught up in everything, even when it’s completely out of your control. The best thing you can do is try to survive.
V: And do the right thing.
C: (frowning) The right thing isn’t always what I agree on, because the right thing often takes sacrifice. Vendona will take everything from you if it can. I won’t let that happen.
I: Sounds like you two have different ideas about what is right and wrong.
V: I think we just have different approaches.
C: I think I’d argue anything she says.
V: (glare)
C: (smirk) But she’s probably right.
I: So, tell us about one another. What was your initial reaction of the other?
C: (soft laughter) Violet was…terrifying as she was beautiful.
V: Caleb was an ass.
I: Ha. Okay. Well, in celebration of July Lightning, how about a quick lightning round?
Favorite clothing item:
V: My new black leather boots.
C: Button-up shirts.
Favorite weather:
V: Nighttime?
C: That’s not weather.
V: Then calm nighttime. Kind of windy. Enough to fly on.
C: (sigh) I like storms. Most of the time.
Favorite color:
V: Black
C: Violet.
V: (glare) You’re just saying that because it’s my name.
C: No, seriously. I love the color violet.
V: Whatever. (but smiling)
Favorite art:
V: I’m a painter.
C: I’m a musician.
Biggest fear:
V: Losing myself.
C: Losing my loved ones.
I: If there is anything you want readers to take away from this story, what is it?
V: To step out of your comfort zone. I spent most of my life in shadows. Learning to live in the spotlight is another challenge entirely. Well worth the adventure.
C: To be honest, open. To embrace connection with others when you’re used to closing yourself off.
I: Great answers. Thank you for talking with us tonight!
To learn more about Violet and Caleb and the wall separating their city, check out the latest duology in the Bad Bloods universe.
Shannon A. Thompson is a young adult author, avid reader, and a habitual chatterbox.
As a novelist, poet, and blogger, Thompson spends her free time writing and sharing ideas with her black cat, Bogart, named after her favorite actor, Humphrey Bogart. Her other two cats bring her coffee. Between writing and befriending cats, Thompson graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in English with an emphasis on creative writing, and her work has appeared in numerous poetry collections and anthologies. Represented by Clean Teen Publishing, Thompson is the best-selling author of The Timely Death Trilogy and the Bad Bloods duology. When she is not writing, she is climbing rooftops, baking cookies, or watching murder shows in the middle of the night, often done with her cats by her side.
SMASHWORDS / B&N / KOBO
July Lightening #2
July Thunder #1
B&N / KOBO / SMASHWORDS
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