Blog Tour-Caroline George

Caroline, please tell us about your most Recent Book

The Vestige revolves around the questions: What if the end of the world has already occurred? What if our final demise happened slowly, secret . . . and we’ve been oblivious to it all?

Julie Stryker, my main character, has spent her life in the scenic streets of Charleston, South Carolina, bicycling to the local college, working at a coffeehouse, watching her family fall apart and back together. She has plans, dreams—all of which seem out of reach. Then she meets a handsome stranger at work, and she believes her life is on the brink of a much-needed change. But after a tragic accident, Julie is whisked away from the only home she’s ever known and confronted with a life-altering secret: The end of the world has already occurred and a portion of humankind has been kept oblivious.

Tossed into a hidden world of deception, Julie must confront the truth within herself and reveal the government’s layers before the end of the world becomes a permanent reality.

I first began exploring the book’s concept while sitting at Starbucks one day. I realized my life was pretty. The people around me sipping their lattes were pretty. The shopping mall across the highway was filled with pretty things. But when I checked my Yahoo news feed and saw disturbing headlines, I concluded that my life is nothing more than an illusion: The world isn’t a pretty place, yet it is unbelievably easy for people to go throughout their day without noticing the dirt.

Unlike my previous publications, The Vestige is a call to action, a call to awareness.

Why do you write what you do?

I’ve been passionate about young adult fiction for as long as I can remember. I love YA readers and their eagerness to engage with stories, which is one reason why I’ve chosen to write predominately for a YA audience. All of my books contain a heavy military influence and science fiction undertone—this is due to my fascination with the end of the world scenarios and soldier culture/mentality.

What are you currently working on?

I’m currently writing the last installment of The Prime Way Trilogy, working to start Local Publishing with ministry My Local, and brainstorming ideas for The Vestige’s sequel. Besides author projects, I’m also in the process of finishing college at Belmont University.

How does your work differ from other work in its genre?

Literary rebel would best describe me as an author. The moment I feel one of my books is becoming genre indicative, I change it to ensure it stands out. I like to take an innovative approach to writing, make sure each book contains a specific message and caters to a purpose-chosen audience.

Unlike other YA SciFi books, my work bridges the gap between the past, present, and future, and shows the instability of our world through the eyes of relatable characters.

How does your writing process work?

Outlining is the first step in my writing process. I like to enter a project with an idea of where it’s headed. Once I have a basic outline in place, I begin writing. Each chapter is sketched out in great detail before it is written. After I’ve put together a rough draft, I revise and undergo several rounds of edits.

A unique part of my process is pinpointing a project’s message and purpose. I have to believe in a story’s value before I can write with urgency.

Caroline George, author of THE PRIME WAY TRILOGY and THE VESTIGE, resides in Nashville where she spends the majority of her time in hipster coffeehouses, sipping lavender mochas and undertaking over-the-top projects. She is a two-time Georgia Author of the Year nominee, speaker, blogger and writer for teen magazine PURSUE. Caroline studies publishing and public relations at Belmont University and works as a publicist for local artists.