If The Light Escapes

 


If the Light Escapes

by Brenda Marie Smith

Sci-fi, Science Fiction (post-apocalyptic)



A standalone sequel to IF DARKNESS TAKES US

A solar electromagnetic pulse fried the U.S. grid. Now northern lights are in Texas—3,000 miles farther south than where they belong. The universe won’t stop screwing with 18-year-old Keno Simms. All that’s left for him and his broken family is farming their Austin subdivision, trying to eke out a living on poor soil in the scorching heat.

Keno’s one solace is his love for Alma, who has her own secret sorrows. When he gets her pregnant, he vows to keep her alive no matter what. Yet armed marauders and nature itself collude against him, forcing him to make choices that rip at his conscience. IF THE LIGHT ESCAPES is post-apocalyptic science fiction set in a near-future reality, a coming-of-age story told in the voice of a heroic teen who’s forced into manhood too soon.


Excerpt:

A huge sliver of moon rises to the east, lighting up the park and Alma’s face with an orange-yellow glow. We pull ourselves up and sit wrapped together on top of the monkey bars like we rule the planet, gazing into our dark subdivision, on the southern edge of our emptied-out city, in the middle of the scary*** world.

Keno? Alma?” Bobby Carlisle calls from the street... “Y’all come home. Now! ...

The crickets and tree frogs have gone silent. I hear Bobby cock his rifle thirty yards away. …Alma and I gape at each other, and then we run.

When we reach Bobby in the street… I scan the trees behind the swings and monkey bars, half a football field away.

Before the sun zapped us, those trees would’ve seemed pretty. Tonight, they’re creepy. I’ve been too worked up about Tasha and Mom to even think about watching the tree line. As bad as things sometimes get around here, I’m still not totally used to life post-apocalypse and the never-ending vigilance.

I don’t see—”

Shh!” Bobby aims his rifle...

I shudder and run my eyes back and forth among the trees. With all the different-sized trunks in the deep shadows, people could be hiding in there and blending in.

There!” Bobby hisses, pointing to the north edge of the trees. And I see—what?... Two pairs of feet... Then …metal flashes in the moonlight. Behind me, Alma gasps. I pull my Glock, flick off the safety, and aim.


About the Author


Brenda Marie Smith lived off the grid for many years in a farming collective where her sons were delivered by midwives. She’s been a community activist, managed student housing co-ops, produced concerts to raise money for causes, done massive quantities of bookkeeping, and raised a small herd of teenage boys.

Brenda is attracted to stories where everyday characters transcend their limitations to find their inner heroism. She and her husband reside in a grid-connected, solar-powered home in South Austin, Texas. They have more grown kids and grandkids than they can count.


Social Media:

Website

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

Goodreads


Buy Links:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

BookPeople


GIVEAWAY

Brenda Marie Smith will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Comments

  1. In the interest of not being spammy or repetitive, first let me say, thank you for hosting me and my book today. Now, who's ready to get drunk and break shtuff?

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  2. Sounds like an interesting book. I like the cover.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Susan. I appreciate that. I'm thrilled with the cover myself, lol.

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  3. Great cover for this post apocalyptic read. Can't even imagine the northern lights being seen that far south.

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    1. Yes, that would be freaky to have northern lights down here. But right after the book came out, they had northern lights much further south than usual, in Ohio and elsewhere. Kind of eerie. Olivia Hammerman is the cover artist, and I feel very lucky that she's created two book covers for me now.

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  4. Super nice to see your book tour.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Calvin. It's super nice of people to host me.

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  5. I do like this cover & post-apocalyptic reads.

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  6. Brenda, If the Light Escapes sounds like a great post-apocalyptic read for me!

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    1. Thank you, Stormy. I hope you get a chance to read it.

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  7. Always a pleasure to visit your blog. Thanks again for hosting me.

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  8. This looks like an amazing science fiction book! Keno sounds like an intriguing character.

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  9. I have often wondered if there are Southern Lights over Antarctica--I doubt it because I am certain it would have been mentioned, but it would be interesting to have the differences in atmosphere discussed to explain why or why not.

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