Hello there! My name is Gretchen Powell. I am 24 years old, half-Chinese, and the owner of two adorable miniature schnauzers. I am an occasional drinker of classy wines, and I wrote a book.
By day, I work for a government contractor in our nation’s capital.
By night, I binge on episodes of Doctor Who and sleep fitfully.
Some of my favorite things include polka dots, Harry Potter, pretty much any TV show that airs on Thursday nights (yep, I'm talking Vampire Diaries #notashamed), and playing the ukulele.
Terra
by Gretchen Powell
Paperback, 286 pages
Published December 12th 2012 by Hopewell Media
Premise:
A broken and desolate Earth. A young girl struggling to survive. A lost boy with a powerful secret.
A discovery that will change everything.
In the distant wake of a plague that has decimated the Earth's population, humanity is split in two: The rich and powerful live in skycities that float overhead, while those who remain on the ground have gathered in settlements strewn across a dying planet. Eighteen-year-old Terra Rhodon is a terrestrial--a denizen of the barren groundworld--who makes her living as a scav. Long abandoned by her father, her caregivers gone, Terra supports herself and her younger brother, Mica, by scouring the earth for discarded scraps and metals to recycle for profit. One day, while on a routine scavenging run, she discovers something that shocks her home settlement of Genesis X-16. When the value of her discovery is revealed, Terra's world is turned upside down.
Terra suddenly finds herself asking questions no one will answer. Her search for the truth leads her to Adam--a beguiling skydweller unlike any she has ever met. But Adam has secrets and a quest of his own, and with him by her side, the world Terra thought she knew begins to unravel. Soon her discoveries unearth a terrifying conspiracy that has the potential to shatter everything--a revelation that will test the bonds of loyalty, family, and love.
Intro by Gretchen Powell:
In Terra's world, resources are scarce and many people make their living as "scavs," hunting for scraps to turn in on Collection Day in exchange for credits. For this tour, YOU are a scav, and there are scraps all over the blogosphere for you to find! On each participating blog, there will be one of 9 possible questions. Answer the question to receive a keyword that will get you an extra entry in the awesome giveaway!
Our Scavenger Hunt Tour:
A Tiffyfit's Reading Corner - Review:
The characters were well-developed and the lead protagonist, Terra, was not whiny, angsty, or annoying.
Pause Time - Review:
I loved Adam from the first moment
Total Book Geek - Excerpt #1
Man, those are come beautiful brown eyes you got!
Mel's Shelves - Review
the book is full of twists and turns I didn't see coming--a big plus for me!
I Am a Reader, Not a Writer - Excerpt #2
You find yourself in Genesis X-16. What is your eye color?
Lovin' Los Libros - Review
If you are a fan of Hunger Games, Divergent, or even The Maze Runner series, I think you will really enjoy Terra.
fuonlyknew - Excerpt #3
You found something while scavenging in the fields! Quick, hide it in your bag! What is it?
The Quiet Concert - Review
Terra had to be my favorite character. She is a strong, stubborn, protective girl who will do what it takes to protect her family and find answers.
Jessie's Book Place - Excerpt #4
Uh-oh, rain's about to start. What do you do?
Christy's Cozy Corner - Review:
Nothing in the book felt unnecessary. No unnecessary conversations or characters.
The Reading Diaries - Excerpt #5
& 5 Star Review:
WOW!!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE TERRA!!!!!Such a fantastic story I finished in one afternoon unable to put it down. Terra is a brilliant mix between Dystopia and Sci fi in my opinion the story just flows beautifully.
You've scored some steel to buy some grub. Where in Genesis X-16 are you shopping today?
LDS & Lovin' It - Review
And while the world she creates is a made up one, I saw distinct parallels to our own world and the heartbreaking poverty that exists here as well as the developing environmental problems that clearly led to the devastation of Terra's world.
Tressa's Wishful Endings - Review
I also really liked Adam! He's got bright blue eyes, a lopsided-smile, is intelligent and caring. Though he has his imperfections too. You know that he is keeping something from Terra, but I didn't realize what it was until Terra finds out herself.
Colorimetry - Excerpt #6
Choose yer rations!
Living a Goddess Life - Lemon Berry Preserves Recipe:
&
Review:
It's very rare, in my experience, to find an indie book that is as good as anything that's gone through a corporate editing process. In fact, it may very well be the Holy Grail of small press books. And yet, on her first lap out of the gate, Gretchen Powell has birthed a fantastic book, self-published. So....consider me a fan!
Passion and Life - Excerpt #7
You were born and bred in Genesis X-16. What’s your job?
Bookworm Lisa - Review
The ending left me looking frantically for when the second book is to be released.
Blood, Sweat & Books - Review
Terra was a solid science fiction/Dystopian with detailed world building, plenty of action and enjoyable secondary characters.
Marked by Books - Excerpt #8
Since school on the groundworld isn’t based on grade level or age, it’s all about how motivated you are to pass your primary, secondary, and tertiary examinations. Where do you think you’d fit in?
My Seryniti - Review
The writing is so good that you are transported to this other world and when something happens I constantly found myself gasping aloud, knowing that the crap was going to hit the fan, but not know why!
Mortality Bites - Excerpt #9
You’re a skydweller who’s been assigned to a job on the groundworld (much to your annoyance.) Are you a…
Getting Your Read On - Review
The Broke Book Bank - Intervew!! (Answer to #10)
I guess you can kind of think of them kind of like the reorganized continents of today. When the world fell apart and the Tribunal took over, things changed.
Underground takes Terra out of Genesis X-16 and out into the world. If you were her, where would you want to go most?
Giveaway:
One lucky scav will win a Terra prize pack! Get a signed copy of Terra, along with three exclusive (and gorgeous!) bookmarks, as well as a delicate silver watch--just like Terra's!--all packed up inside a scav bag of your very own! US only.
An additional five (FIVE!) winners will get a digital copy of Terra in the format of their choice. International.
Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced on Rafflecopter and Grand Finale posts as well as emailed and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Burgandy Ice @ Colorimetry and Prism Book Tours and sponsored by Gretchen Powell. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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