Excerpt from Aberrant by Ruth SilverJoshua and I both headed out of the council hall with Jacqueline leading the way. The line of young men had barely dwindled. I avoided their stare, their curiosity as they slowly proceeded forward, giving the attendant their name. I wondered how they knew about me and more importantly what they knew. Jacqueline walked a few feet ahead of us, giving us privacy to talk. I silently thanked her for still respecting us and our wishes. She was probably the only one in Haven who liked us. I didn’t know if I should be relieved or angered by the recent news. I could feel the whispers, like tingles against bare skin as we walked further from council hall and rounded the corner. I was grateful to be out of sight from all those curious stares. "I guess we should consider ourselves lucky," I remarked. I didn't feel lucky. I tried to sound upbeat, but everything was quickly falling apart around us.
Joshua scoffed at the idea. "Lucky? I wouldn't go that far," he emphasized. "This is how it starts. Eventually, they'll make it a crime for us to see one another." He sounded disgusted.
"They sort of already are," I remarked, trying to understand the council's decision. "I think they just want to make sure I'm protected." Though I didn't quite understand how setting me up to meet multiple bachelors was any form of protection. It seemed as if they only wanted to keep Joshua away from me. The one person I could trust, implicitly. I knew the rules were different because I was different. They didn’t seem particularly bothered by Joshua having a girl in his room. It didn’t seem fair.
"Seems like they don't really care what we think at all," Joshua retorted as we headed into our building. "Were you okay last night? I worried when Landon escorted you out of the dormitory."
I walked slowly up the stairs, Jacqueline just a few feet ahead of us. "Aside from being locked in a room with no windows." I sighed. "At least they're giving me freedom from the tech center and a real bed. I should be grateful," I mocked. I didn't feel grateful, but I knew his mother at least tried to make it easier for me. As soon as we crested the top stair, I froze in place. The building shook with an alarming intensity as the first drone flew low overhead. The downstairs chandelier swayed and I held onto Joshua's arm and my eyes widened in terror. "What do you think is going on?" I asked watching the movement grow stronger as vibrations echoed through the dormitory. A nearby painting affixed to the wall crashed to the floor, the glass breaking. I could feel the ground quake beneath my feet as Joshua grabbed my hand, refusing to let go.
"We're being attacked." It wasn't a question. Together, we jogged briskly down the hall toward our rooms. I didn't know how much time we had. All I knew was the government was here, and they were searching for me!
AUTHOR BIO
Ruth Silver is the best-selling author of Aberrant. The Young Adult/New Adult Romantic Dystopian Adventure, Aberrant is the first in a trilogy, released April 17th, 2013. Silver first began writing poetry as a teenager and reading heaps of fan fiction in her free time. She attended Northern Illinois University in 2001 and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Communication. While in college she spent much of her free time writing with friends she met online and penning her first novel, Deuces are Wild, which she self-published in 2004. Her favorite class was Creative Writing senior year where she often handed in assignments longer than the professor required because she loved to write and always wanted to finish her stories. Her love of writing, led her on an adventure in 2007 to Melbourne, Australia. Silver enjoys reading YA/NA novels and sharing her favorite books with other readers. She also enjoys photography, traveling and of most of all writing.
Interview
How long have you been writing?
I started writing poetry and just putting my thoughts onto paper when I was in high school. I loved reading fan fiction and it wasn't long before I started writing it. In college, I spent at least as many hours writing as I did studying and going to class. I had some friends that were supportive and there were others that thought I couldn't do it, which made me even more determined.
Is this your first novel?
No, I actually self-published a thriller, Deuces are Wild, when I was in college. I never queried or attempted to send my manuscript to a publisher. I just wanted to have written my own book.
What changed between your first novel and Aberrant.
A lot! It's been nearly ten years since I wrote my first novel, Deuces are Wild. I was in college, I was still very head-strong (not that I'm not stubborn now) but I wasn't ready to hear constructive criticism. I never had any editing done on Deuces are Wild, which is something every writer should do, especially when self-publishing. My goal when I first published wasn't career-oriented. It was to have fun, to say "I've published my own novel," and just be proud of the accomplishment I'd made. In ten years, a lot has changed. I've grown up, a lot. Sometimes too fast in some ways and other times I think when you're approaching thirty, there's a realization about what your dream job could be and the more realistic reality of the world around you. Aberrant was written for a variety of reasons, but most of all to tell a story and share it with as many people as I can. I never intended to share my first novel outside of my family and possibly a few close friends.
Where did the idea for Aberrant come from?
The idea of Aberrant came from both my imagination and personal experience. The story developed out of choices that we have and that each of us make. I wanted to delve into those choices and imagine a world where they weren't given to us but expected of us.
How are you like, or unlike, Aberrant's protagonist, Olivia?
At eighteen, Olivia is incredibly brave. She's thrown into this tough situation and forced to leave her family and the only home she's ever known. I couldn't imagine leaving those I love behind. I wouldn't want to. So much so, that I'd probably refuse to go.
Favorite childhood book?
The Velveteen Rabbit, it's not only a beautiful story but also quite sad. Plus I love rabbits, I used to have one in college (that I snuck into my dorm room).
What is your writing process?
I usually create a very vague outline that gets dramatically changed as the story develops. I also create character pages, so I can keep everyone straight - personalities, physical traits, family lineage.
What do you like to do besides writing?
I love to read, which probably goes without saying. I also enjoy photography, video games, traveling and just hanging out with my friends.
How did you come up with creating Cabal, dystopian society in Aberrant? What inspired you?
The name itself, Cabal, comes from its definition. "A small group of secret plotters," which I felt fitting for a dystopian society. I wanted the name to signify a revolution, because Cabal is not the perfect society that the government wishes and pretends it to be. I wanted Cabal to strive for Utopian but instead of being perfect, it was something else entirely.
The name itself, Cabal, comes from its definition. "A small group of secret plotters," which I felt fitting for a dystopian society. I wanted the name to signify a revolution, because Cabal is not the perfect society that the government wishes and pretends it to be. I wanted Cabal to strive for Utopian but instead of being perfect, it was something else entirely.
The inspiration itself comes from most of us striving towards perfection. I don't think there are many people that want a world without jobs, filled with homeless people that are starving. I think it's easy to see what's going on in society, what's happening now and see a glimpse of the current world in its worst. It made me want to imagine a better world and then I realized how would this perfect world be flawed?
In few words, why should we read your book?
I believe Aberrant will appeal to readers who liked the suspense of The Hunger Games, the thrill-seeking tests of Divergent and the romance and unique abilities of Graceling.
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