So Few Books ~: BLOG TOUR & AUTHOR INTERVIEW with T.H. Hernanez for "Superhero High"

Superhero High
by T.H. Hernandez
Published by: Soul Mate Publishing
Publication date: July 5th, 2018
Genres: Adventure, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Sixteen-year-old Annarenee Stevens is the sole member of her family without a super power. The only time she feels powerful is in the pool. With her sights set on swimming for U.C. Berkeley, she’s ready to win it all at the State championship and secure her future.

When the government unexpectedly ends the secret Genetically Enhanced Asset (GEA) program, Annarenee is uprooted from Dayton, the only home she’s ever known, and relocated to San Diego with all of the other GEA families. Queen of her public school, Annarenee is just another zero at Superhero High, a school without any sports teams.

With the end of the program, her hero older brother now needs a college education, too, meaning the only way Annarenee is getting into Berkeley is on a scholarship. Her dream is slipping through her fingers, no matter how tightly she clings to it. To make matters worse, super hot superhero, Ren Gonzalez, is paying too much attention to her. The kind of attention that has Ren’s ex-girlfriend intent on making Annarenee’s life even more miserable.

But when heroes begin disappearing, zeros and heroes will be forced to team up in order to solve the mystery. If they don’t kill each other first.

Goodreads / Amazon

~AUTHOR INTERVIEW with T.H. Hernandez~

1) What gave you the inspiration for the storyline?

Years ago, when my kids were properly sized for children, we were watching a movie on Disney called Sky High about the teenage offspring of the world’s superheroes. They were either designated as heroes or sidekicks based on ability. It was cute and a bit goofy, but I liked the idea of mixing hormones and superpowers. There is oh so much that can go wrong! I took that concept and reworked it with heroes and their non-powered siblings, known as zeros. That is where the similarities end, though. There are no tights, no masks, and no supervillains, only kids in a now defunct government program trying to figure out what their lives will look like if not as government assets.

2) Are there any hidden themes in the book that you hope readers will discover?

Yes. There are strong themes of bullying and self-worth that has nothing to do with abilities you were born with or without. That people should not be judged for things they had no choice in, like who they are born to, or what their natural abilities are, but it’s what you do with those abilities or privilege that determines the content of your character.

3) Are any of the characters based on real people you know?

Very much so. All three of my children named a character after themselves and helped me sculpt the characters from physical traits, to superpowers, to personality. But at the end of the day, much of their doppelganger’s personality is based on the child they are named for to one degree or another.

4) Who has influenced you most as a writer?

An Australian author named John Marsden. He wrote a series called TOMMORROW WHEN THE WAR BEGAN and when I finished devouring all ten books in that series, I knew I wanted to write a dystopian story with a strong but flawed female character. One of the things I loved most about his books is that unlike other dystopian novels I’ve read, his characters are fundamentally changed by the events in their lives. They don’t “get over it” and “move on.” Everything they do and are, changes them in ways they will never recover from.

The second is Stephen King. I don’t write horror and likely never will, but the man is such a consummate story teller. His book, ON WRITING, remains one of the best books I’ve ever read on the craft of writing.

5) If you could have any three literary characters over to your place for game night, who would you invite, what would you play, what would you serve, and why?

Oh, what a fun question!! Wow, this could be a blast. Let’s see, I think Owen Meany from A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY by John Irving, because to this day, he remains one of the most fascinating characters of any book I’ve read. Second is Emma from EMMA by Jane Austen, because I love her spunkiness and think she’d be a blast for the game I have in mind. And third is Jon Snow from A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE by George R.R. Martin because, hello, he’s Jon Snow!

There’s really only one game I want to play with these people, Cards Against Humanity, because I think you learn so much about people not only by the cards they play, but the ones they choose as the winner. As far as food goes, I’d probably serve a variety of cheeses and meats along with crackers, fine wine, and craft beers. This party is really all about the game and not the food, so I’m not spending too much time thinking about that.

6) Do you feel that you can ever have too many books?

“Too many” and “books” don’t even belong in the same sentence.

Author Bio:

T.H. Hernandez is the author of young adult books. The Union, a futuristic dystopian adventure, was a finalist in the 2015 San Diego book awards in the Young Adult Fiction category.

She loves pumpkin spice lattes, Game of Thrones, Comic-Con, Star Wars, Doctor Who marathons, Bad Lip Reading videos, and all things young adult, especially the three young adults who share her home.

When not visiting the imaginary worlds inside her head, T.H. Hernandez lives in usually sunny San Diego, California with her husband and three children, a couple of cats, and a dog who thinks he’s a cat, affectionately referred to as “the puppycat.”