#GuestDayTuesday – Subject A36 by Teri Polen

/ Marcia Meara

Today, please help me welcome our special guest, author Teri Polen, featuring her latest book, Subject A36. I’ve read this one, Folks, I can tell you it is terrific. It’s Young Adult written so that we “OLD” adults can enjoy it, too, and I did, every minute of it! In fact, I’m eagerly awaiting the next in the series. So, without further ado, let’s let Teri share some fun information about herself and her work. Teri, the floor is yours!

Thanks, Marcia!

If you’re a regular visitor at my blog, you know that every October for the past several years I’ve hosted Bad Moon Rising, which features thirty-one indie authors of horror, paranormal, and supernatural (or really any genre that falls under that umbrella).  Other than the book info, there’s also a short interview with both fun and writing-related questions.  While brainstorming ideas for this guest post, it occurred to me that I’ve never answered any of my own writing-related questions from October 2020, so I decided this was my chance.  I guess it’s me interviewing me.

If you had to give up snacks or drinks during writing sessions, which would be more difficult?

Definitely drinks.  I don’t snack while writing, but I’ll always have either a Diet Coke or water beside me.  If I’m writing at night, you’ll find a glass of red wine.  Sometimes I sneak in a hit of chocolate before I start—dark chocolate Hershey Kisses or Reese’s Thins.

Do you write to music?

Yes!  I usually have a playlist for each book.  Music inspires me and helps me visualize the scene as it plays out.  Sometimes lyrics give me ideas.  When I wrote The Gemini Connection, the twin brother main characters had different musical preferences.  Evan wanted my favorite genres—hard/alternate rock, but Simon demanded classical, a type I don’t mind, but it’s not something you’ll find in my music library.  Those boys were polar opposites, but I sure miss them. 

What was the hardest scene to write in your featured book?

It’s hard to describe without giving away spoilers, but I’ll try.  My MC, Asher, lost his family at a young age, but is now part of a found family.  There’s a scene where he experiences devastating pain that just ripped me apart.  It took me several days to write it, and I still wonder if I got it right.  The intensity was hard to convey.

I’m thrilled to say that Subject A36 was voted one of the 50 Best Indie Books of 2020 on Readfree.ly.com!  With the quarantine and silent characters plus recovering from COVID, the sequel has been a long time coming, but I promise I’m working on it.  Hope you enjoy the A36 excerpt below.  It’s from Asher’s point of view when he was eight years old. 

EXCERPT:

“Asher!”  Mom gripped the porch railing and called for me.  Her voice cracked and was laced with tears.  Dad vaulted over the porch railing, landed solidly on the grass, and frantically scanned our expansive yard. 

My stomach clenched.  Something was very wrong.  “Over here!”

Dad’s gaze locked on mine.  “Code Exodus!  Now, Asher.  Run!”

Was this another drill?  We’d practiced twice a week, the times always unexpected, without fail for as long as I could remember.  Drills were a regular part of our life, like eating, sleeping, and homework.  Protocol was pounded into our brains.  There could be no hesitation. 

But this felt different.  Dad’s expression was tight and urgent.  Tears streamed down Mom’s face, and I knew.  This was no drill.  It was real this time.  We’d been found.  Code Tribe—we leave together.  Code Exodus—we leave without our parents. 

Code Exodus rules.    

Grab the backpack.

Leave immediately. 

Don’t stop for anything or anyone.

Run to the Wallaces.

When my sisters could no longer keep up, hide them and keep running.

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

If genetic engineering could guarantee you and your family perfect health and unparalleled beauty, would you pay top dollar for it? Would you kill for it?

Residents of the Colony would. And do.

Only the Insurgents can stop them.

Seventeen-year-old Asher Solomon is a premier operative with the Insurgents. He and his team have rescued countless hostages, saving them from painful deaths in Colony labs as desirable genetic traits are stripped from their bodies.

He’s also suffered more losses than anyone should have to.

Then Asher gets intel that might give his people the upper hand. The Colony is searching for Subject A36. If the Insurgents determine the subject’s identity first, they might be able to turn the tide of the war.

Asher and his team embark on their riskiest mission ever, and the stakes have never been higher. But even if he survives the physical dangers, the devastating secrets he uncovers might destroy him. 

Buy Subject A36 HERE


Teri Polen, Author

Teri Polen reads and watches horror, sci-fi, and fantasy.  The Walking Dead, Harry Potter, and anything Marvel-related are likely to cause fangirl delirium.  She lives in Bowling Green, KY with her husband, sons, and black cat.  Her first novel, Sarah, a YA horror/thriller, was a horror finalist in the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.  Visit her online HERE. 

Contact Links:

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77 thoughts on “#GuestDayTuesday – Subject A36 by Teri Polen”

  6. Hi, Marcia and Teri! It’s fun to see Teri answer some of her own questions, LOL.
    Subject A36 was a great read. It really kept me flipping pages, and I don’t usually read YA so that says a LOT about Teri’s talent and the story she wove.
    Congrats on your Top 50 honor, Teri!

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    • I enjoy YA when it’s written like this one, Mae. There are some really good YA books out there that work for any age, and Teri’s are that way. (I loved The Gemini Connection, too.) This one was a grabber, though, and I’m dying to know what’s gonna happen next, too. (But then, you and I often agree on the books we enjoy! 😀 )

      Thanks for stopping by this morning, my friend! ❤

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  10. Congratulations, Teri. Your excerpt is powerful and irresistible. Subject A36 is now a “Must Read”. Thank you, Marcia, for offering great interview questions. I loved the whole post, but especially the interview. 💗

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  12. Love hearing with another author creates playlists. I do for my books and although I like silence when writing, music does inspire scenes and even stories.

    Congrats on the book being in the Top 50 indie reads!

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    • I’m always interested in hearing what other writers listen to, though I don’t do it, myself. My hearing is so messed up that it impacts what many songs sound like, as there are certain pitches I can’t hear, even with my hearing aids. Erp. Annoying. But I prefer total silence when I’m actually writing, too, so I don’t miss it at that point, at least.

      Thanks for stopping by today, Joan! 🙂

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        • Yeah, I’d get no writing done at all. I’d be remembering back when such and such a song was popular, or thinking about the artist, or just lost in the lyrics. Plus, anything that “anchors” me to the here and now pulls me out of my story, and messes up my writing. I always assign myself a place just behind (or next to) my characters, watching what they are doing and taking copious notes. 😀 Music would totally distract me from that. 😀 (Though, so far, my cats haven’t complained about my voice. But that could change at any point. It’s definitely scratchier than it used to be. 😀 )

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  13. I loved A36! I went into it ‘blind’ (hadn’t read what it was about) and it hooked me by page two!! I love your interview question, Marcia. And it was nice getting to know a bit more about Teri 🙂
    Holding out for the sequel now!

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    • I’m with you 100% on this book, Jessica. It was great, and I wanted to jump straight to Book 2, but am reminding myself that anticipation isn’t a bad thing. 😀 I’m glad you enjoyed the interview questions, but as Teri mentioned, it was Teri interviewing Teri by answering some of the questions she asked guests during her annual Bad Moon Rising event in October. (If you haven’t followed along with those, you really should. I’d missed previous ones, but followed this year, and it was super fun!)

      Now. Should we start a countdown until the next book in the Subject A36 series arrives? (No pressure, Teri! 😀 )

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        • Hey, Jim Butcher took SIX YEARS to write the next to last release in his Dresden Files series! 😯 It was blinkin’ AWFUL!!! The only thing worse than the wait for that one was what he DID in the next one! I’m still debating whether I can keep on reading after all these years of being an ardent Harry Dresden fan! So, unless you are nearing THAT kind of delay, you’re probably good. 😀

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            • Hey, it takes what it takes, and this past year has dragged us ALL down, I think. It’s amazing what being angry, depressed, and/or worried about one’s health can do to stifle creativity. I didn’t write a single thing last year, though I did release the final Emissary tale. So I have no room whatsoever to complain about how long it can take to get a sequel finished. (Unless, of course, it’s SIX FREAKIN’ YEARS, in which case I complained. A lot. Every single one of those years. Not that I’m still complaining, you understand. I’m just sayin’ …… ) 😀

              Write on, my friend. We’ll be waiting patiently. Mostly. 😀

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      • It’s my favourite way to read books. If I know and love an author, I’ll grab their book without reading the blurb first. Sometimes, I’ll grab a book for the cover art and just jump into it without doing the blurb, too. You can get the best surprises that way 😁

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  18. Great self-interview and the excerpt has me properly hooked. Following on from the recommendations here I’m going straight over to Amazon and hope that my Kindle doesn’t rupture under the pressure!

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  20. I like the little ways you used music in The Gemini Connection, Teri. That’s such a heart-pounding snippet — I love it! I enjoyed your portrayal of Asher throughout this book. Kudos on keeping going with the sequel during these difficult times. Marcia, thanks for hosting Teri. Everyone, here’s to a happy and sassy week! Hugs all around.

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    • It was my pleasure to have Teri here on The Write Stuff, Teagan. I’m a big fan of hers, and I absolutely loved Subject A36! Can’t wait for the next book! Thanks so much for stopping by today, too. Always great to see you! 🙂

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