Before writing my Forces of Nature series, I had no idea what a man-made world we live in today. Everything from the water we drink to the air we breath has been altered in one way or another. But as I got to know Amelia, I started to notice little bits of nature all around me. So today I want to share some photos with you. They're all taken in a city of over 100,000 people, but each shot is a quiet moment of nature. :)
Our modern world is crazy fast and filled with so much artificial, that sometimes we need someone to remind us to stop and smell the flowers.
Even the water we drink has tons of chemicals in it. Unless you buy special organic water I don't know about, the only truly clear water is rain or well water. Filtering it helps but the chemicals are still there.
I can't even begin to say how uncomfortable I am with these facts. I'm even more uncomfortable with the fact that I still allow my family--myself included--to keep eating these foods because it's hard and expensive not to. Especially living in a smaller city.
Because of all this, i have been repeatedly asked how Amelia copes with some of our basic daily needs. A lot of products we use such as soap, hair spray, and toothpaste CAN be made organically. There is actually a secret market (I wrote a scene there but it got cut) in the Appalachians were the Hoffmans shopped before they met May. As for water, the house is on a well in North Carolina, but things were trickier back in Lincoln. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman had a special shower that used rain water collected in a barrel specifically for that purpose.
Excerpt:
“There’s this guy—I’ve known him for a while now but there’s never been anything between us. Today, when I was around him, there was something… different. I don’t know how else to describe it. He kind of scares me, but I can’t stop thinking about him. How do I know if I’m feeling something real, or if I’m just getting a stupid crush?”
Xander was quiet. One side of his face quirked like it does when he’s really thinking about something. It might seem odd for me to talk to my brother like this, but he and I had always been very close. Nathanial was the only thing I didn’t feel I could talk to him about. Xander hadn’t taken too kindly to his six year old sister announcing she was going to marry his best friend, and ever since, he had done everything in his power to keep me and Nate apart—to the point that Nate rarely came to our house. It had gotten worse this past summer, since Nate got back from summer camp. It was some sort of military “make your boy a man” kind of camp. He came home a different person—all hard and muscular and manly. He caused quite the stir among the girls at school, and a couple of them had already set their sights on him. As if I needed another reason to keep a lid on my feelings, there was no way I could compete with that.
“Well,” Xander said, rubbing his chin with his forefinger, “is he dangerous?”
My forehead tightened, and I cocked my head in confusion and surprise. I don’t know what I expected him to say, and I had no idea how to answer that. Was he dangerous? Had today been a fluke, or was Nate some sort of threat to the girls of Lincoln? But my mom always trusted him, and she was usually a good judge of character. “No, not really. I don’t think he’d hurt me on purpose, at least. But he is capable of seriously hurting someone”
Xander gave me a big grin. “Well then it’s a no-brainer, girly. You should stay as far away from him as possible. I don’t want a criminal record, and it will be unavoidable if he hurts you.” He stood up and walked around the island to where I stood and put his hand on my arm. “The only guy a girl can trust is her daddy—and her big brother, of course.”
“Did you seriously just quote Grease? I think I’m gonna have to revoke your man card.”
Xander winked and gave me the double guns as he headed out the back door.
Natural Selection by Elizabeth Sharp
Average, plain-bodied Amelia Hoffman has resigned herself to a life of mediocrity, unable to escape the shadows cast by her all-too-perfect siblings. Worse, her feelings for her brother’s best friend are getting stronger.
Everything changes after the brutal murder of her close friend.Suddenly, Amelia’s life is transformed and she is thrust into a wondrous and frightening new world of myths and legends. As she explores this new world hidden within the layers of her own, secrets are revealed. When her body miraculously changes overnight, Amelia is forced to hide in her home for her own protection. But as danger circles closer, Amelia has to figure out who is committing the ruthless homicides.
Otherwise, she could be next.
Second Nature by Elizabeth Sharp
Nothing seems right in Amelia’s new life. On the run with new names, her family has finally settled into a lavish life in North Carolina. Her relationship with Nate is strained almost to its breaking point, and she has no friends. As Nate pulls further away, a handsome stranger sweeps into her life.
Then evil comes for her again.
After her brother is kidnapped, they discover someone is draining demons for a deadly new drug that turns its users into mindless zombies. The drug ravages up and down the east coast, and all humanity is in danger. To make matters worse, an old enemy is back for revenge. With the help of her family and friends, Amelia must deal with her past.
Or they won’t have a future.
Better Nature by Elizabeth Sharp
No matter how she tries to deny it, Amelia Hoffman has a destiny. An evil plot threatens to destroy humanity and the future lies in her hands. To make things even more difficult, she is distracted by college, family squabbles and trying to decide between two men she loves.
But destiny won’t be ignored for long.
When an explosion tears through the Library that houses the entire history of the Otherworld, Amelia is thrust into action. She has to fight through the tension tearing the Otherworld apart to rally an army. As the danger grows, Amelia must rise to fulfill the prophecy.
Or the whole world could fall.
Author Bio:
Elizabeth has a near crippling Facebook addiction, dwarfed only by her need for Dr. Pepper. A self-proclaimed techno geek, she loves cell phones, computers, tablets and all things technological. The internet has to be the greatest invention since the wheel, in her opinion. She lives in a quiet subdivision with her husband, one-year-old son, three cats, and far too many electronics. It’s quite possible she has some raccoon in her DNA, because she loves glitter and anything that sparkles. She enjoys making jewelry and costumes. Halloween is her favorite holiday since it’s the one day of the year that you can be whatever you want. But her first love will always be writing. Otherwise, hearing voices in her head would make her feel schizophrenic.
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