Apocalypse Five (Archive of the Fives, #1)
by Stacey Rourke
Publication date: February 12th, 2019
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Good luck and have a pleasant apocalypse.
The end of the world is coming. How or when, scientists can’t agree upon. For decades, Earth’s best line of defense has been a team of young soldiers known as the Apocalypse Five, forced into virtual reality simulations to train for Doom’s Day. But, this is no game. Death on the grid is brutally final and calls up the next in a long line of cadets.
Stationed aboard the AT-1-NS Starship, the A5 are celebrities thrust into the limelight by a calling they didn’t choose. All it takes is one unscheduled mission, showing seventeen-year-old team leader Detroit a harsh and unfathomable reality, to shake the A5’s belief in all they thought they knew. After questioning people with the power to destroy them, the team is framed for a crime they didn’t commit and marked for death. Now, the hunt is on.
Can the Apocalypse Five expose the truth the starship would kill to keep hidden? Or, will their bravery end in a public execution?
~AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Stacey Rourke~
1) What gave you the inspiration for the storyline?
That’s a funny story. My
husband and I went to see the movie Dark Tower, based on the amazing Stephen
King series. During the movie, Matthew McConaughey utters the line, “Enjoy the
apocalypse.” That was it, I tuned out of the film completely. Instead, my brain
was busy plotting an entire book loosely based on that one sentence. By the
time I walked out of that theater, I had my cast of characters in place as well
as the entire story arc. It really is fascinating how inspiration can strike in
the oddest of places.
2) Are there any hidden themes in the book that you hope readers will discover?
There are actually quite a few, there are traces of the unrealistic
expectations we put on kids these days, there are elements of political corruption,
and the importance of us coming together as a society. I don’t doubt readers
will probably pick up on a few more as well!
3) Are any of the characters based on real people you know?
Not any that I know
if real life, but I did base the character of Reno on Ed Sheeran. Which, in my
mind, always made the scenes when he sings that much more beautiful.
4) Who has influenced you most as a writer?
Without a doubt my family and my
readers. Whenever I have a moment of doubt, whenever I wonder why I keep
pushing on, these amazingly supportive people seem to sense it. Without fail, I
will get some message, or words of encouragement that put me back on the right
path. Every book I finish, every word I write, is for my unwavering team of
supporters. I love each and every one of them, and would be nothing without
them.
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?
I’m going to go with some of my own characters on this one. I would pick
Ridley from my Legends Saga Series, Sterling from Unfortunate Soul Chronicles,
and Octavia Hollows from The Journals of Octavia Hollows. Ridley, sees dead
people, Sterling is basically insane, and Octavia is all sorts of sassy. I
would love to play something like Card Against Humanity with them! That would
be hysterical.
6) Do you feel that you can ever have too many books?
That’s just crazy talk.
Of course not!
Author Bio:Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter
Stacey Rourke is the author of the award winning YA Gryphon Series, the chillingly suspenseful Legends Saga, and the romantic comedy Reel Romance Series. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant dogs. She loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction, and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head.
Thanks for hosting today, Jen!
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