Know the Novel (A Sneak Peek into My Current Writing Project)!

I'm so excited to be participating in Christine Smith's writer's linkup, Know the Novel! In this post, I'll be spotlighting my current novel project, One Forgotten. This book is dear to my heart, and I can't wait to share more about it with you all!

about One Forgotten...

1. What first sparked the idea for this novel?

I've always been intrigued by science fiction and dystopian novels and wanted to write something within the genre. The worlds and thematic questions these type of books showcase is so interesting to me!

I'm also a rather sentimental person, and I often find myself thinking things like, "I wish there was a way to record this memory or replicate this exact sunset so I would never forget it." And then, "If that were possible, what would that look like?"

2. Share a blurb (or just an overall summary)!

Ah, this is a long-time project of mine and I've done quite a bit of rearranging and rewriting with it, so the description is very rough and all over the place.😂 But... here you are.

"And now that I have the option of finally forgetting... do I want to?"

Belonging to a group of outcasts known by society as Discrimes, Lyra has spent her entire life hiding behind walls. All she wants is a life without the shackles of fear that hold her hostage, but being a target of the Ruling Scepter, freedom is as distant as the star she watches every night from her window. Born with a disease that no doctors have been able to diagnose — let alone cure — Lyra must give up her dream of freedom and continue to hide, or be killed by the Scepter.

Skylar is a monster. At least, that’s what he believes. After trying to save his only friends, but causing a fatal accident instead, he is tormented by guilt and memories he wishes he could forget. Desperate to escape his past and prove himself as the hero he’s always wanted to be, Skylar rebels against the Ruling Scepter to help a group of outcasts. But his plan quickly backfires, and Skylar is forced to face the darkness of his past… and the girl he thought he murdered.

Sold into the Scepter’s military as a young girl, Faye knows that the only way to survive is to hide her true identity at all costs. Abused since childhood, she trusts no one, relying on her own instincts to ensure her survival. Leveling up in rank seems to be the only way out of her life of violence and corruption, and she’s determined to do so. But after colliding with two of the Scepter’s most wanted criminals — Skylar S.461 and Lyra S.222 — Faye, as well as the others, are forced to realize that there may be more to their stories than they realize and that the pasts they’re running from may be the only ticket to the freedom they desperately want.

3. Where does the story take place? What are some of your favorite aspects of the setting?

One Forgotten is set in a corrupted, futuristic world in which memories are recorded, manipulated, and (literally) relived by the population. The earth is comprised of seven establishments which are run by the Scepter. One of my favorite things about the world is the diversity of it. I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to worldbuilding, and I've loved diving into the contrasting cultures of the establishments!

4. Tell us about your protagonist(s).

One Forgotten has three points of view, which has been crazy but also a lot of fun to write. Here's a glimpse into each of my main characters...

SKYLAR // I'm no hero // adrenaline junkie // self-sacrificing // loves Marvel comics // horrific flashbacks // guilt // running, running, running from his past // let me help you // loyal // loves people // I will fight for my family until my last breath // I'm so sorry for everything //

LYRA // free spirit and dreamer // artist // amnesia // chronic illness // loves the stars, dreams of seeing them // older brother is her best friend // witty // runs from reality // on a journey to discover the truth of her past // terrified of confinement // inventive //

FAYE // struggles to trust // fiercely independent // tough exterior, tender heart // has many names // competitive // guarded // always an advocate // protective // longs to be protected // skilled in combat but hates violence // remembering means my past has power over me //

5. Who (or what) is the antagonist?

Unfortunately, this is not for you to know. *Evil cackle* All I can say is that I LOVE stories with hidden villains (you know, the kind where you don't know who the true enemy is until the last minute), so of course, I had to incorporate something similar into my story. 😉

6. What excites you the most about this novel?

The themes! A major theme of the trilogy has to do with the power of memory, overcoming fear, and reconciling the past. My main characters' backstories have a lot of significance, and I've had so much fun incorporating them into the main plotline.

I'm also including a childhood best friends to lovers subplot throughout the story. Ahh. I can't even express how beautiful and adorable and hilarious it is. Lyra and Skylar's character dynamic is my absolute favorite to write. 🥰

7. Is this going to be a series? standalone? something else?

This is a series that (for the time being) I'm referring to as The Seven. I have three books planned, but it could turn into four. You never know.

8. Are you plotting? pantsing? plansting?

I'm plotting this project! I love my outline and I would probably die if I didn't have one, considering this is a three point-of-view story with time travel.😅 It's... complex, but I'm having a lot of fun and quite pleased with how it's coming together!

9. Name a few unique elements in this story.

I'd say my characters! It's beautiful to watch how their individual conflicts and personalities fuel the story. I literally cannot express how much I love them. They're one of the main reasons I'm still writing this book.

My time travel system is also pretty unique (as far as I know, heh). I'm weaving an allegory with the world-building, which has been really cool. I wanted to create something intricate, yet different from other time travel novels, while still keeping the world-building fairly straightforward. (Because time travel can get... insane. XD)

10. Share some fun “extras” of the story (a song or full playlist, some aesthetics, a collage, a Pinterest board, a map you’ve made, a special theme you’re going to incorporate, ANYTHING you want to share!).

Here is the aesthetic board I made for the series...

And here is the Spotify playlist (a.k.a. the series' soundtrack)...

LET'S TALK

Are you participating in National Novel Writing Month this year? If so, what are you writing? What are some of your favorite sci-fi novels? Is your autumn going well? I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

Now go change the world,

-Ava