Happy Thor’s Day, everybody! I’m pleased to announce we have a guest blogger today on The Write Stuff, and I know you’ll all help me welcome author Teri Polen. Teri’s going to share a bit about her soon-to-be-released book, Subject A36, and I know you’ll be intrigued, and will want to let all your friends on social media know about this one. Thanks!
I love her skin tone.
What I wouldn’t give to have hair that color.
I always wanted blue eyes the color of the ocean.
Most of us have coveted physical attributes possessed by others and have made similar statements. It’s rare to come across someone who wouldn’t change something about their physical appearance if given the opportunity. But what if there was a way?
Genetic engineering is the direct manipulation of an organism’s genes using biotechnology. Most of us know our food is genetically modified. One source I found estimated that more than 75% of processed foods in supermarkets contain genetically engineered ingredients. That’s kind of scary to think about.
But what about people? Gene-editing trials involving terminally ill adults are ongoing. In 2015, doctors received permission to use an experimental form of gene therapy on a one-year-old girl using genetically engineered immune cells from a donor after all conventional treatments failed. Within a month, the cells had killed off all the cancerous cells in her bone marrow. What a miracle!
In 2019, a Chinese scientist revealed he’d secretly altered the genes of twin girl embryos in an attempt to make them resistant to their father’s HIV infection. This sent the scientific community into an uproar, the scientist’s experiments were declared illegal, and he was sentenced to prison for three years.
Ironically, this scientist’s illegal actions came to light more than a year after I’d started writing my new book, Subject A36 (The Colony Series #1) releasing February 13th, 2020. Reading about that scientist gave me goosebumps. Most countries have laws against certain types of gene editing, but in the world of Subject A36, there are none. Genetic engineering to obtain desirable physical attributes or characteristics is commonplace for wealthy citizens of The Colony. And a potential death sentence for people who live outside those walls.
Subject A36 is a sci-fi/fantasy/dystopian novel—but the actions of the Chinese scientist make me wonder if something similar to this scenario will really be sci-fi in the not too distant future. Do you have goosebumps now?
BLURB:
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.
Pre-Order Subject A36 HERE
Author Teri Polen
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 at www.teripolen.com
Contact Links:
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BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/teri-polen
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