MARKED CHAOS
Chaos Awakened Saga, #1
by Niki Livingston
Date of Publication: August 11th 2020
Cover Artist: Niki Ellis Designs
Genre: Dystopian Fantasy
ISBN: 978-1-952537-03-5
ASIN: B0865JQHW5
Number of pages: 366
Word Count: 72238
Tagline: Earth’s next level transformation requires their united energy
BLURB
Three unlikely guardians have been chosen to breathe life back into Earth, but the prophecy is not welcomed by all the planet's inhabitants.
Zoe Dawn’s headstrong tendencies has brought the wrath of the Doyen upon her. But another tribe has their eyes on her ignited fire and will stop at nothing to claim Zoe Dawn as their own.
Alex has traveled a long way to find a safe place to survive, but her first mistake was returning to her hometown. Thousands of years and an entirely different dimension will not stop her enemies from pursuing her flood of abilities.
Kia Lynn has been marked by the rune of protection, fracturing her elemental connection with the two other guardians. As her best friend is dragged away by a masked intruder, the rune activates and she is forced into a whirlwind of chaos that is filled with ghosts from her past.
Once these three are united, an unstoppable force could be invoked, but if they remain separated without completing their destinies, the portal for Earth's demise will open instead.
MARKED CHAOS – KIA LYNN
Papa and I lived
on the edge of our village. He had moved us there after we lost Mama, for the
peace and quiet. Rarely did someone intrude on our space, even after all these
years. It was lonely at times, but I preferred it over Zoe Dawn’s noisy
residence.
I glanced down
the dirt path toward the other homes, noticing the structures through the
branches of the trees and grateful I did not have to walk by anyone while I
waited for my nerves to relax fully. I gritted my teeth as the buckets dug into
my arm, reminding me to hurry.
The bend in the
path came quickly, and I jogged up the slight incline that lead to the well.
Zoe Dawn’s mum had told us that at one time, Mother Gaia’s people had water
flowing right into their homes. What a bunch of lazy bones. I laughed at the
idea of never having to make this trek again as I skipped right up to the edge
of the stone well.
After dropping
the two buckets next to the well, I turned the wheel that drew up the bucket of
water. I whistled the song Mama used to sing to me, a funny tune that had been
passed down from before the stars’ collision with Mother Gaia. She’d told me
tales of a mystical and happy land, ruled by a talking mouse and all kinds of
strange animals, creatures, and pirates, and she had promised that someday we
would make the journey to find out if it still existed. What a foolish dream
that had been.
I lugged the
bucket from the well. My fingers stretched to grasp one of my metal pails, but
a twig snapped behind me, sending my heartbeat into a frenzy. I froze, then
snapped my hand back, dropping the water at my side as I spun around.
A hand pressed
hard against my mouth, and I gasped when I was yanked backward into the canopy
of the tree branches. The darkness within the thick of the foliage made it
difficult for me to see which direction we were going.
I threw my elbow
back, then my other, hitting both sides of my attacker. Their grip only
tightened. My shrieks were muffled by a large hand, and dread wormed through my
stomach when I realized this might be my end.
A surge of
energy rushed through my veins. I kicked out, then dug my heels into the dirt,
frantically trying to find some footing so I could flip to one side and twist
out of their grasp. But they were moving too quickly, and my feet slipped out
from underneath me. I opened my mouth to bite them, but they just pressed
harder against my mouth. Blood pooled inside my cheeks from my teeth cutting
into my lips.
Angry tears
spilled down my face and I threw my elbows back again, one after another,
begging to the Goddess that they would loosen their grip. All I needed was a
split second. After several attempts to free myself, their arm snaked around my
neck, squeezing my throat. Then the vice grip loosened and he cursed quietly,
before flinging me to the ground.
The back of my
head bounced against the dirt, and I squeaked out a scream, but his hand once
again covered my mouth. He held me down with the weight of his body, and I
stared into his gray eyes peering at me through the slits of his satchel mask.
His chest rose and fell as he sucked in several deep breaths, then he drew a
dagger from behind his back.
Another of my
screams pressed against his hand, and I flailed my arms around, beating against
his arms until he used his knees to hold them down. A gush of wind pushed him
to the side, so he reached up with his other hand to hold his satchel in place.
“Listen,” he
hissed at me, his accent unfamiliar to these parts of the black mountain lands.
He leaned closer to my reddened face and pressed the tip of the knife to my
throat. “I’m not here to kill you, but I will cut out your tongue if you do not
shut your mouth.”
Author Info
International Bestselling Author Niki Livingston writes tales of epic and dystopian fantasy worlds filled with magic, mysticism, and mystery.
When she's not busy writing enchanting stories of diverse women rising in their power and strength, she spends her time walking her rescue puppy, quieting her mind with meditation and yoga, diving into the newest books of Veronica Roth and Anne Bishop, and binge-watching Game of Thrones and The 100.
Do you feel that writing is an ingrained process or just something that flows naturally for you?
Writing has always been natural for me. As a child I wrote whenever I could and my mom made sure I had plenty of notebooks and a new journal once I finished the old. It was just easy for me and still is.
Do you take your character prep to heart? Do you nurture the growth of each character all the way through to the page? Do you people watch to help with development? Or do you build upon your character during story creation?
I do take my character’s prep to heart. Molding each one is an important part of the writing and I want the readers to grow to love them as they make their way through the story with the characters.
I people watch for many reasons, but yes, it is interesting to observe the movements and reactions of others around me. They inspire me when I round out my character’s features and natural tendencies. But I also do build on them as the story is weaved. Sometimes it takes me finishing the book to know exactly how I want a particular character to be envisioned. Then I go back and add those intricate pieces.
Do you have a character that you have been working on for a long time that still isn't quite ready, but fills you with excitement to work on the story?
Yes ☺ Her name is Hayden and the genre is PNR. I was in the middle of my Theia’s Moons series, about three years ago, when her story poured out of me. As much as I wanted to work on that project, I had several others I needed to complete first. Eventually, I will return to her.
Have you found yourself bonding with any particular character(s)? If so which one(s)?
In Marked Chaos, I bonded the most with Alex. Probably because her story began in one of my earlier novelettes, A Web Through Time. I already knew her when I added her to this story, so she was easy to work with. AND her awkward responses remind me of moments in my own life ☺
Can you share your next creative project(s)? If yes, can you give a few details?
My next project is Expanded Chaos, the second book in the Chaos Awakened Saga. The preorder is already up and the launch is on November 10th! Blurb below.
What are some of your writing/publishing goals for this year?
Over the next year I have plans to release 6-8 novels. Once I finish the Chaos Awakened Saga, I have another series that has been gnawing at my thoughts for quite some time. And I might finish and release the PNR I mentioned above as a standalone novel.
Where would you spend one full year, if you could go ANYWhere, money is not a concern? What would you do with this time?
A tropical island, most definitely. One that gave me privacy, but was near shops and restaurants. I would spend the majority of my time writing and reading. Whatever time I had left would be spent exploring and entertaining friends and family.
The Book Junkie Reads . . . Interview with Niki Livingston . . .
Do you feel that writing is an ingrained process or just something that flows naturally for you?
Writing has always been natural for me. As a child I wrote whenever I could and my mom made sure I had plenty of notebooks and a new journal once I finished the old. It was just easy for me and still is.
Do you take your character prep to heart? Do you nurture the growth of each character all the way through to the page? Do you people watch to help with development? Or do you build upon your character during story creation?
I do take my character’s prep to heart. Molding each one is an important part of the writing and I want the readers to grow to love them as they make their way through the story with the characters.
I people watch for many reasons, but yes, it is interesting to observe the movements and reactions of others around me. They inspire me when I round out my character’s features and natural tendencies. But I also do build on them as the story is weaved. Sometimes it takes me finishing the book to know exactly how I want a particular character to be envisioned. Then I go back and add those intricate pieces.
Do you have a character that you have been working on for a long time that still isn't quite ready, but fills you with excitement to work on the story?
Yes ☺ Her name is Hayden and the genre is PNR. I was in the middle of my Theia’s Moons series, about three years ago, when her story poured out of me. As much as I wanted to work on that project, I had several others I needed to complete first. Eventually, I will return to her.
Have you found yourself bonding with any particular character(s)? If so which one(s)?
In Marked Chaos, I bonded the most with Alex. Probably because her story began in one of my earlier novelettes, A Web Through Time. I already knew her when I added her to this story, so she was easy to work with. AND her awkward responses remind me of moments in my own life ☺
Can you share your next creative project(s)? If yes, can you give a few details?
My next project is Expanded Chaos, the second book in the Chaos Awakened Saga. The preorder is already up and the launch is on November 10th! Blurb below.
Earth's transformation swept like wildfire across the globe, but now threats of extinction hover in the heavens as well as on sturdy ground.
Whispers of her mother returning consume Kia Lynn’s every thought, but she quickly realizes the intentions of her mother might not have always been pure. An unbroken bond between them lingers, convincing her she can still save the woman she loves most in the world.
Zoe Dawn's confidence has soared because of her elemental connection to Mother Gaia. Revealing her true nature is now more important than ever, but a secret exchange between the Doyen and a stranger could dim her fire and have her questioning her place among her people.
Alex's hidden past is being unraveled through spiteful actions of her aunt, who also threatens Alex's very existence. An uncle who risked his life to protect her and the time machine that gave her a new beginning, have been ripped away to ensure her past escape will become her eternal grave.
The three elementals believed their obligation was fulfilled, but as the world awakens, new foes and challenges arise intent on destroying all they have created.
What are some of your writing/publishing goals for this year?
Over the next year I have plans to release 6-8 novels. Once I finish the Chaos Awakened Saga, I have another series that has been gnawing at my thoughts for quite some time. And I might finish and release the PNR I mentioned above as a standalone novel.
Where would you spend one full year, if you could go ANYWhere, money is not a concern? What would you do with this time?
A tropical island, most definitely. One that gave me privacy, but was near shops and restaurants. I would spend the majority of my time writing and reading. Whatever time I had left would be spent exploring and entertaining friends and family.
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