The intriguing aspect of this YA dystopian is it's focus. Rather than completely focused on the main character, Charlie, and her survival in a destroyed world, the author does a lovely job of dealing with young adult/early 20's issues: relationships, grief, death, independence, and becoming an adult (reality sucks and rules, right?)
Charlie is in love (she tells herself) with the leader, Ricky, of the band of survivors that live in an army base/fort. Every day can be a fight for survival as the established group hunts for supplies to replenish their needs. Scavengers are deadly and lurking out to rob innocents and grief eats at the survivors. But sometimes the danger is way, way closer than Charlie will ever realize.
I had a great time learning more about Charlie and the world she lives in. I appreciated her sticking to her guns and morals while she becomes more of a self-assured woman. The post-apocalyptic world and its problems are realistic. Nicole, Charlie's rebel BFF, is an eye brow raising hell raiser but a good side kick to Charlie's steadfast and cautious nature.
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"I had convinced myself that everything beautiful had been destroyed with the rest of the world. Seeing those flowers, a piece of beautiful life in this dark world, was incredible. It was breathtaking. In all the ugliness going on in the world, those flowers had bloomed and kept living.
I am alive. I am living, and I get to choose how I spend this time. For some reason, I am still on this planet. Maybe it is divine or maybe it is just dumb luck. But I am here. I am not going to waste this time anymore. I am not going to be scared anymore."
"What a future I’ll have. The irony is almost laughable. All those nights I stayed up and worried he wouldn’t come back to me. Now I’m worried that he will."
"He pulls me off the ground and leads me to the dance floor. The tempo is slow as he pulls me in close, wrapping his arms around my waist. I put my arms around his neck, resting my head on his chest. Behind my back, he intertwines his fingers and rests his chin on the top of my head.
It’s weird to think that later this month we would have had our senior prom. I don’t know whom I would have gone with, but I’m confident it wouldn’t be the guy holding me. We aren’t the same people we were the summer before our senior year.
I haven’t decided yet if that’s a good thing or not."
Tell us a bit about yourself
I am an avid reader. Once I start reading a book, I can’t put it down until I have finished it. This makes school and life very challenging because there have been quite a few times that I put both on hold to finish a book. I am also a terrible procrastinator, especially when I have access to Wi-Fi. I also love photography and animals. I combine the two often, with my dogs paying the price. I also love movies.
When did you begin writing?
I don’t really remember a time when I wasn’t writing. The very first thing I remember writing is a poem when I was in the second grade. I started with poetry when I was younger and moved to short stories as I grew older.
Have you ever been discouraged in regard to your writing ability and if so, how did you get past it and move forward?
My immediate family has always been super supportive about my writing. I’ve had other family members express to me that they didn’t think it was practical or didn’t see how I could possibly do it. Then there is that look that some people give me that’s like “Oh, you’re a writer” which translates to “You mean you sit on your parents basement couch and mooch off them?” The best way that I have found to deal with them is to just keep going. Every time I accomplish something, I know that I am proving them wrong. I also focus on the really positive things that come from my writing.
What's your favorite thing about writing?
My favorite thing about writing is seeing something that was just an idea turn into an actual tangible product.
What is your writing style? Do you like to outline or just write as you go?
As far as my writing style, I will generally do a basic outline with all my key plot points. I almost always do an outline for longer projects and also include dates so that I get the timeline right. I also do extensive character charts and plan out how the character will develop throughout the story.
Do you have a favorite spot where you like to write?
Where I like to write depends on my mood. Most of the time I’ll just write in my room. I’ve started to get out a lot more and start to write at the closest coffee shop.
What is something you've written that will never see the light of day?
The very first manuscript that I ever wrote (when I was a freshman in high school) will NEVER see the light of day. I look back on it and can’t help but cringe. My writing has progressed so much since then.
What is your writer food?
Umm…food in general.
What's the hardest thing about writing for you?
The hardest thing about writing for me is to remember that I don’t have to be perfect; that what I write doesn’t have to be perfect.
What inspires you to write?
There are two things that really inspire me to write. The first thing is that I love to tell stories. I love being able to express myself through writing and being able to share that with other people. The second reason is that books were such a haven for my growing up. I didn’t have the best experience in grade school and books became my refuge. I read ALL THE TIME. I want my books to be able to do that for other people.
How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
What Little Remains is the first book that I have written and published, so, by default, right now it is my favorite.
What are some of your favorite books?
That is like asking me to choose my favorite child. I won’t admit to a favorite.
What authors do you like to read?
Right now I have Suzanne Collins, Veronica Rossi, Becca Fitzpatrick, Meg Cabot, and Victoria Aveyard on my top bookshelf. But that changes almost weekly.
What inspired you to write What Little Remains?
I remember being in Algebra 1 my freshman year of high school, after a biology class. I started thinking about what would happen and how people would survive if natural disasters wiped out most of the world and our modern conveniences, and my book progressed from that idea.
If you could choose a dream cast for insert title, who would you pick?
Oh wow, I couldn’t possibly cast my characters. I think it is super important to be able to leave that up to the imagination of the reader, so I wouldn’t even say which actors I favor.
Would you say you relate to any of your characters? If so, which one and why?
I think I relate to a little bit to a lot of my characters. Charlie and Daren are definitely a reflection of my sarcastic and sassy side. Nicole is a reflection of the stronger, more resilient side of myself. Even Ricky is a reflection of a side of myself. While he takes it to an extreme, there is defiantly a part of me that would go to great lengths to protect the people that I love.
This or that.
That.
Sweet or Salty?
Salty.
Naughty or nice?
…Little bit of both.
Cats or dogs?
Dogs
Vanilla or chocolate?
Allergic to both.
If you were deserted on an island, which author would you want to be stranded with?
J.K. Rowling. One, because she would tell the best stories. Two, because I know her fans would track her to the ends of the earth now that she’s promised more Harry Potter-related books.
My name is Gabriella Wise. I am a self-published (indie) author, and my first novel, What Little Remains was released in March 2015. I was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. I have loved to tell stories since I was a little kid, and this passion for storytelling has brought me to this point. With my first full-length novel, What Little Remains, already published, I am looking toward finishing the second book in The Fallout trilogy.
I love reading. Some of my favorite authors include Suzanne Collins, Veronica Rossi, Cassandra Clare, Becca Fitzpatrick, J. K. Rowling, and Meg Cabot. I also enjoy long walks in the rain (especially when I don’t have waterproof shoes on--#collegeprobs), eating chocolate (which I am allergic to), and freaking out about my favorite fandoms.
Author Website: www.gabriellawise.com
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