Hello friend! Since Halloween is around the corner, I am excited to host authors of horror and gothic novels today and tomorrow! Let’s begin with learning about Sergeant Uri and welcoming author Alana Baxter.
Get to know the author: Alana Baxter
Welcome Alana! Tell me and my readers a bit about yourself!
My name is Alana Baxter and I have loved writing and drawing ever since I was six. I also run using an app called “Zombies, Run!” which is an app on my phone that creates a unique and intense setting during my run. I also submitted a poem to a local writer’s group that depicts my run.
What inspired you to write this book?
In middle school and high school, my teachers drilled me on proper writing techniques. At the same time I also go into shows such as Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone and Night Gallery which assisted in developing my creativity. I strived to edit and work on a novel with encoragement and critiquing from a critique group when I was twenty.
How long did it take you to write this book, from the first idea to the last edit?
It took me two wonderful and horrifying years.
What makes your story unique?
I chose unique and surreal settings such as an abandoned amusement park and a forest constructed entirely of gems.
Who would enjoy reading your book?
I geared my book toward young adults; from middle school to high school. I based the storyline off of what my peers and I enjoyed reading, watching, and gaming when we were young.
What’s something you hope readers would take away from it?
I want my readers to understand the importance of perserverance. Even if you do not receive praise for your work you should still move forward.
Do you have a favourite quote or scene in the book that you find yourself going back to?
Toward the end of chapter twelve on page one hundred fifteen, on the sixth paragraph, Sergeant Uri is guided through a wall of destructive steel cubes by the leeches that live in her head. As she reaches the last row of cubes, a being she refers to as “the shadow” touches one of the cubes causing large sharp spikes to potrude from it. The reason why I enjoy this scene is due to Sergeant Uri allowing herself to work with the leeches rather than fight them.
What is something you have learned on your author journey so far?
Besides perserverance being the primary lesson in Sergeant Uri, it was also a lesson for my work as an author. When I first had Sergeant Uri published it was full of errors and missing plot. I decided to edit and rerelease my updated copy after having a good and brief cry about my errors over chocolate.
What’s the best piece of advice you have received related to writing?
After a couple of years in Critique Group, I learned that I needed to look at my improvements rather than constantly focus on my mistakes. I realized that if I constantly put myself down I would never find the perfect balance to critiquing my work. Many people to this day still only see critiquing your work as only pointing out the negatives rather than looking back and realizing how far you came.
If you could give a shout out to someone(s) who has helped in your writer journey, please feel free to mention them below!
I would like to send a big shoutout to my entire Critique Group and my family for their constant support.
Sergeant Uri
Genre: Horror, YA
Publication Year: 2022
Sergeant Davida Uri is the only volunteer willing to locate a missing group of people simply called the Survivors by the lethargic group of World Leaders that run Shamayim, a city designed to shelter civilians that have already been rescued. As Sergeant Uri journeys through this new wasteland, she runs into a reluctant and hostile academy, a group of beings known as the “Caretakers,” who have taken on the task of restoring the Earth, as well as a being Uri simply refers to as the Shadow, when she is unable to make out its features throughout most of her journey.
Content notes include violence, intense/frightening scenes, and language.
Book Excerpt from
Sergeant Uri
“You’re just going to talk it out with eight-foot-tall monsters who hate humans?” Márquez gasped. “You’re insane!”
“I get that you hate the idea, Márquez.” Uri tried to respond calmly. Unfortunately, anxiety overtook her voice. “But at least try to run with it.”
“I do not run with sheer stupidity,” Márquez huffed. “You’ll need to try harder to convince me about these human-hating entities and how they will aid us in finding Chávez.”
Uri paused for a while in an attempt to understand Márquez’s words. Eventually, she called out, “Alondra!”
“Quit shouting,” Márquez whispered as he covered Uri’s mouth. “I don’t want to d…Oh my God.”
Uri felt Márquez’s hands slip off of her mouth, and she watched him drop to his knees and point toward a shadowy section of the forest. The trees swayed followed by the sound of heavy footsteps. Birds burst out of the treetops squawking complaints. Uri peered into the shadows to see Alondra’s ivory skull slowly emerge.
“Oh,” Uri exclaimed, “there’s Alondra.”
She looked down at Márquez who now crawled toward an overgrown path. As he tried to squeeze through the entrance of the narrow path, Uri reached out and pulled Márquez back by his shirt collar.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Uri scolded Márquez. “The Caretakers are here to help us, try to stay on their good side.”
Uri could barely make out Márquez’s small whimpers and turned back to Alondra, who was now kneeling in front of them. Alondra leaned her head toward Márquez who continued to stare at her in fright.
“Do not gawk,” Uri whispered to Márquez before she turned to Alondra.
“Alondra, I can explain,” Uri began. She stopped when Alondra held up her hand.
“Sergeant,” Alondra grunted, “the caretakers grow restless; even I’m struggling to believe you when you say you will help us figure out who destroyed Earth.”
“Can’t we return to the Meeting Grounds and sort all of this out?” Uri asked.
“Do you realize what we’re possibly up against?” Alondra snarled as she sat on her hind legs and stretched out her arms. “Intruders!”
“Can we please just hold another meeting about all of this?” Uri asked again.
Alondra relaxed her posture. She turned her head to face Márquez and Uri.
“Please let Márquez live,” Uri barked. “Now, how long will it take everyone to return to the Meeting Grounds?”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Alondra said. “You’ll return to the Meeting Grounds, and I’ll try to convince the other caretakers to join us, but I cannot guarantee that the outcome of our next meeting will tilt in your favor.”
Alondra guided Uri and Márquez along. Uri saw Márquez trying to climb through the space between the trees, and she pulled him back and brought him to her face.
“Would you cut that out?” Uri whispered to Márquez and slapped him. “You’re being very rude.”
After receiving no response, Uri pulled Márquez along. “Honestly, I thought the academy trained you to be better than this.”
Uri felt Márquez twitch as he said, “So did I.”
Interested?
Find Sergeant Uri on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Outskirts Press.
Thank you for hanging out with us today. Connect with Alana on Goodreads, Twitter and Instagram. Learn more about her books on Outskirts Press.
If you are an indie author and would like to do a book excerpt, check out my work with me page for details. Check out other book excerpts here.
Cover image: Photo on Unsplash
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