Character Interview: Alexa Bryant

Hey ya'll, it's only a few days before Christmas! I can't believe our celebration of Christ's birth is so near once again. It seems as if last Christmas was yesterday, but I guess that's what happens when you live a very busy life. Thankfully Christmas is a time for celebration and family so I'll be getting to see my grandparents and maybe even some of my cousins. I'm really excited about that, but I'm absolutely thrilled about something else. Drum roll please.

*insert suspenseful music*

Defenders of the Word will be finished by the end of the year! I can't believe that final chapter is so near. This has been the never ending novel and it's been a crazy but blessed six weeks of writing. The story has grown so much and it continues to grow. I'm curious to see what happens with book two over the next couple of months.

Since I'm packing up to go visit my grandparent I'll end with an interview. Meet Alexa Bryant, the main protagonist of the Rebelution Trilogy. I'm hoping to do a series of interviews with her as she grows with the books, so hopefully you'll get to see them all one day.

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Alexa Bryant

So, Alexa tell me a bit about yourself. What is your life like, who do you live with, are you happy with where you're at? 
I'm the eldest daughter of Joshua Bryant the secretly famous Christian leader within United NOW. My life used to be very privileged. Since my dad was Councilman Daniel's senior officer, I went to the best schools and was engaged to a rising political star, but now everything has changed. Now I live in the Bunker with four other Christian rebels, which is much better than being dead.

What's your personality like? 
I'm not really sure anymore. Loosing my parents to United NOW and knowing Allie is probably being beaten in one of the Wards has changed me. I'm more determined now, and often I find myself taking the lead. John-Luke and I don't always agree about the rebellion and I find myself pulling away. I just don't know who I am anymore.

Can you describe your personal appearance for us? 
Let's see. I'm short and slender, with long and wavy brown hair. My eyes are blue with a little bit of gray. I'm not really strong, or fast, but I'm good at hiding and slipping into small corners. Sometimes I worry John-Luke because I'm so pale, but I've always been that way.

What is your favorite color? 
Pink, but a pale pink like sunset, not this silly 'hot' pink that was a current fad this year. I hated that color, but my dorm mate insisted on decorating with it. Not that I have to worry about it anymore...

Describe your family.
Dead and about to die. Wait, did I just say that? Apparently I've spent too much time in the same room as Julia. Let's see, Daddy was always strong. He was a secret leader in the first rebellion, and had spent the last eighteen years working to move Christians to save havens around the world. He never thought of the danger he put himself in and rose in United NOW ranks...he was the bravest person I ever knew. Mom stayed at home most of the time, she loved music and taught lessons. When we were home alone she would sing her favorite songs from before United NOW deemed them illegal. Some of them I can't remember, but the tunes still stuck with me. Allie, my baby sister was the one who held our family together. When there was an argument she was always the one who helped make peace. She never thought of herself, only of others. Now I'm not even sure if she's still alive.

Who is your best friend? Why? 
Stephen. He's like a little brother to me, but he knows what it feels like to worry about a sibling. He knows what it's like to feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. I would say the same for John-Luke, but he's still mad at me about the stunt I pulled at the Capitol. I think I lost my best friend status with him.

Which do you prefer, coffee or tea? 
Coffee, just like Daddy. We both hated it, but it's one of the only things that gets me through John-Luke's strategy meetings.

If you could have three wishes what would you wish for? 
Sadly three wishes don't exist so I'd rather not think about them.

What is your very first childhood memory? 
It would have to be the clearing where the crosses are, where so many of our parents are buried. I remember that it was a beautiful summer day and I kept getting distracted by the butterflies that fluttered in the flowers. They were the same flowers I placed on the graves of John-Luke's parents a few years later. Daddy said it was Pastor Blake's fiance's funeral, but I don't ever remember meeting her.

What is your favorite song?
"What Child is This?" would be my favorite. Mom always sang it, even if it wasn't Christmas. She said that it reminded her of Christ's sacrifice.

What was the most beautiful thing you've ever seen? 
Allie. She's pretty on the outside, but on the inside she's the most beautiful person you would ever meet. She's everything that I'm not. Her personality and heart is the very thing that United NOW hates. She's passionate, funny, smart, insecure, bold, and full of concern and love for others. I think she's one of Jesus's brightest lighthouses and that's what scared me about her being in the Wards. I'm worried that they'll make that light dim, and by doing so they'll take a little more light out of the world. 

Character Interview: Julia Ross

Today I'm giving you an interview from one of the favorite characters in the Rebelution Trilogy. First off let me tell you she's far from my favorite. In fact during the early stages of planning "Defenders of the Word" she was a rather hated character. That was until I started sending out clips to friends. I was expecting fanfare over Alexa and John-Luke, my main characters, and their pretty epic stories. Instead I was faced with many long winded messages about my sassy, slightly sadistic, very damaged, and secretive shadow of a character. On that note I give you Julia Ross.


So, Julia tell me a bit about yourself. What is your life like, who do you live with, are you happy with where you're at? 

My life...why is it people always what to know about my life? But if I have to answer you could say its a lot better than what my life was like when I lived in the Wards. The Bunker isn't too bad, but it used to be nicer before I had to share my room. John-Luke and the twins aren't too bad and they're a million times better than the RSS guards I used to deal with. Alexa isn't exactly a ray of sunshine, but neither am I so I guess we're even. And happy? That's cute. I don't know what happy is, but if it means I'm safe then yes I'm happy enough.

What's your personality like? 
I've never really been laid back, even when I was younger things made me tense, but I was always able to keep my head. After I went into the Wards things changed. The Wards always change you, and I'm not going to lie and say they make you better. I'm sort of a loner now...people rub me the wrong way...which brings out my sarcastic side. A lot of people think I'm mean and unfeeling, but most of the time I'm just scared that United NOW will send the RSS after me. Sometimes I get confused in the head and that makes people think I'm crazy. I don't know, maybe I am. But I'm also a rebel and I'm strong. I don't like seeing United NOW hurt people I love, so I'm willing to risk anything to keep them safe.

Can you describe your personal appearance for us? 
Sure. I'm a little taller than most girls at 5'9. My eyes are a brownish green, they're not really unique or stunning, but I've never really seen anyone with the same shade before. I have strait blond hair that hits above my shoulders, it won't curl for anything either. John-Luke still says I'm too skinny, but I blame that on the Wards.

What is your favorite color? 
Green. It reminds me of the woods and the woods mean freedom.

Describe your family.
In one word? Dead. No, really? Lets see, Dad was quiet and he never really said much, but when he spoke everyone stopped to listen. Mom was funny. I remember she used to laugh all the time, she was even laughing before she died. They were both really brave and they loved the Lord. That was why they died. I don't really think about them anymore...it hurts too much.

Who is your best friend? Why? 
John-Luke is my best friend. I don't know why he puts up with me, but I can always count on him to be there. Sometimes at night he even comes and checks on me just to make sure the nightmares aren't keeping me up. He's a really sweet guy.

Which do you prefer, coffee or tea? 
Coffee, but only if Pastor Blake or Alexa make it. John-Luke can't make good coffee to save his life.

If you could have three wishes what would you wish for? 
First, that United NOW hadn't come into power or that Christians weren't persecuted.
Second, that my parents were still alive.
Third, that I had never been taken to the Wards.

What is your very first childhood memory? 
It was when I was about three or four...my parents where always shocked I even remembered it. But it was in the middle of winter and the RSS came and searched our apartment building. At the time my parents were smuggling Bibles into the country and then shipping them out to churches. We had just gotten in a new shipment and I remember playing in some of the boxes. Dad had hid the Bibles in a secret panel in the wall. We stayed up all night praying silently that the RSS wouldn't come to our door. They never came..at least not that time.

What is your favorite song? It's illegal of course, but all we listen to at the Bunker is Christian music. My favorite would have to be "God's Not Dead" by the Newsboys. Its old, back from when my mom was a kid, but we don't exactly have any new music out there at the moment.

What was the most beautiful thing you've ever seen? 
Once in the Wards there was this girl who was a few years younger than me. We were out running the fence line and it started snowing, but our guard wouldn't let us stop. The girl had a hard time breathing...and the cold was just too much for her. We had reached the far corner and she collapsed. When I picked her up she was so cold, didn't even have a jacket, but she kept smiling and laughing even though she could hardly breath. I still remember her last words, "I want to die here, away from the Wards, I want to die in freedom" I don't know, I just thought that what she said was kind of beautiful..."I want to die in freedom".

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Well there you have it, an interview with Julia Ross, rebel, revolutionary, and character of "The Rebelution Trilogy". Next week I hope you drop by to hear from Alexa Bryant, the main character of "Defenders of the Word".

The Victory Lap

Ah, it's December 1st. Usually this is the day when everyone informs me that it's twenty-five days till Christmas. However, this year has broken that habit. I officially dub this the 'Ask Sierra about NaNo Day'. Even people who I hadn't even talked to this month took it upon themselves to ask me about the month of literary abandonment. I figured I would go ahead and answer those questions on my blog as well.

Yes, NaNoWriMo ended yesterday. Excuse me while I cry. Now I'll have to wait a whole entire year until I get to see all my wrimo friends, attend unproductive write-ins, and spend hours wasting time on the NaNo forums. Then again I get to look forward to Camp NaNoWriMo and all the fun I can have with my cabin buddies.

Yes, I did reach 50,000 words. I even finished a day ahead, which really wasn't my best, but about half-way through NaNo I hit a brick wall and for a little while though I wouldn't even finish.

No, "Defenders of the Word" isn't finished. It isn't even close. My guess it that the first draft will probably break 80,000 words, which will also make it my longest book yet. The goal is to finish the manuscript by Christmas, so you'll probably see quite a bit about the book in December. After that I'll take six-eight weeks to write the first draft of  "Defenders of the Cross and then another six-ten weeks to write "Defenders of the Weak". *cringes* then come the long months of going back to edit and re-write each book who knows how many times. Which brings us to the last answer: I have no idea when the "Rebelution Trilogy" will be finished.

And now it's time to thank everyone for their wonderful support this month. I often think people don't realize that writing a book isn't a one person job. Yes, there's the person who puts the words to paper, but there are also the people who help collaborate, critique, offer advice and encouragement, and even step up to tell you when enough is enough. It might be a simple "hey, how's the novel going?" or a fangirly message about  your favorite characters, but trust me they help. Even the simplest gesture of bringing in a hot cup of tea can be just the thing to get the writer in your life over a hard spot. Thank you.

Halfway There

Tonight I hit 25,000 words in 'Defenders of the Word' meaning that really I'm about a day ahead of schedule for NaNoWriMo, which is always a good thing. Considering the fact that I've been battling a cold, working to get school finished, and struggling with a slow part in my book this is a huge milestone. I felt like 25k was forever going to be out of reach. So in order to celebrate I'm going to share character quotes and snippets from the books. Clearly I procrastinated quite a bit today by making these. I do believe writers are professional procrastinators.


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Okie-Dokie, now I'm off again to write some more words and maybe even get some sleep. Sleep would be very nice indeed. How is everyone else coming along on their NaNo adventure?

Defenders of the Word {NaNo Novel 2013}

Day five of NaNoWriMo has come to an end and its time to celebrate because I just reached 10,000 words! Now there's only 40,000 words left. Eh, its really not THAT bad. Clearly I'm going to celebrate like any good writer by writing more words, although sadly these words don't count for NaNo.

Anyhow, to celebrate writing those first 10,000 words I'm going to ramble some about my story. Usually I jump into NaNo blind. I work on planned stories all year long, so NaNo's my time to just write whatever comes to me and let the story run wild. Obviously that's produced some less than wonderful novels *cringes* most of which are tucked away in a drawer somewhere until I work up the courage to edit them. But this summer I was struck with an idea for a trilogy. I planned and plotted the three books and then decided to write book one for NaNoWriMo. Its been so weird actually going into NaNo knowing what I wanted to write. But I'm also really in love with Defenders of the Word.

First I LOVE the characters. A few of them still need work. Okay well most of them need a lot of work, but its still early in the story and they're growing with it. But the cast is amazing and the main characters have already struck up some very interesting relationships.



For instance, Julia was supposed to be a quiet supporting character. Well, she's not. In truth she's quite the opposite. She's actually started to become a rival to John-Luke as to who's leading the rebellion.  And she's so verbal. Not to mention the fact that's she's managed to wrestle her way into being made a main character in book two. I guess this is what happens when I give characters in depth back-stories that turn into subplots.  

Then there are the twins, Stephen and James. They're both  quite a comedy act. I was planning on some serious sixteen-year-old's who had been forced to grow up too fast. That's still the case, but it affected them in a way I hadn't planned on. Oh, and the sibling rivalry...they're hilarious.

But my favorite surprise so far has been William. Let me tell you, the guy completely changed the first three chapters of the book. I was shocked and at first I didn't like it, but his personality and the way he handles situations added so much dept to the plot later on. I can't wait to get started on books two and three.

Then of course there's the amazing writing music. I'm pretty sure the playlist for Defenders of the Word has reached over 100 songs, but I've narrowed it down to just a few personal favorites and ones that really speak for the novel.



Revolution Cry is the song that pushed me to turn the Rebelution Trilogy into an actual project. It is 100% the theme song of the entire trilogy. A few weeks ago I came across When the Children Cry sang by Seventh Day Slumber and it was as if the song had been written for the characters of my novel. It's so perfect.

And since it is NaNo there has been some writing. Honestly at first I wasn't very happy with what I was putting down on paper. I've been torn between writing in first person verses third. I've chosen third since the story is told with multiple points of views, but I was finishing up RUN before NaNo and its in first. My brain was having a hard time switching over. But now I'm nearing the middle of chapter eight and things have gotten better. Here's a few snippets, all unedited of course, because my inner editor has been locked away since November first. Actually she broke out of jail for a little while today during a word war. I ended up spending ten minuets reconstructing a sentence went I should have been pounding out more words.

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Freedom was the only thing she still had, but even that had never fully been hers in the first place. Alexa had been born in a time when freedoms were being restricted and revoked. She’d never really tasted true freedom, and yet that was exactly what she craved at this very moment. It was the very thing United NOW denied. 
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"It’s alright to cry.” A girl stood across from him now, fidgeting with the collar on her dress. Her long dark hair had been twisted into perfect ringlets and pinned back to keep them from escaping. “Mommy cries every night. I hear her after she’s tucked me in bed. I don’t think she knows I listen to her, but she sounds so sad. It makes me so sad that sometimes I cry too.” Her large green eyes filled with silent curiosity, “Did your mommy ever cry?”
John-Luke nodded looked down at the ground and tried to hold back a sob, but it slipped out anyways. “She used to cry over my big brother.”
“Did he go to heaven too?”
His dark curls bounced as he nodded his head.
“I would cry too if my sister was taken away from me.”
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John-Luke grinned, “Alexa, meet the twins.” He nodded to the first, “James.” Then turned and motioned to the second, “and the better half, Stephen.”
“I protest! We all know I’m the better half of this deal.”
Stephen coughed and shook his head, “You’re delusional.”
John-Luke ruffled Stephen’s hair before pushing Alexa further into the room, “Welcome to the family, Alexa. Fair warning, we’re all delusional here.”
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“John-Luke, how many times do I have to tell you that revolution of any kind isn’t a good idea. We can’t give the Council any reason to persecute us.”
“I’m pretty sure the Council considers our breathing a good enough excuse to persecute us. If I’m going to die I want to die doing something for Christ, not just sitting back enjoying a comfortable life.”   
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“I wanted to tell you. I wanted to more than you know, but if I had told you would it really have made a difference? William, you’re one of them! You. Your beloved government kills my people. You rip families apart and murder innocent people who have only ever wanted to help others. Over what? A disagreement about what we can and cannot believe? Would you really have accepted the truth if I had told you?” 
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They say that truth will set you free, but what they fail to mention is that the truth will also bind you.  

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And I think that's enough rambling for tonight. Now I'm off to join some new word wars. The goal is to reach 11,000 before midnight...though at the moment I'm not quiet sure if it will happen or not. Until next time, happy NaNoing.

A Return and A Trilogy

Well my last post was a welcome to October and now this could very well be a goodbye. I really don't know where time went this month. There were so many things I wanted to write about and share with ya'll, but obviously that didn't happen. However, it hasn't been a huge waste of the past few weeks.

I was interviewed over at Noveltea by another Go Teen Writer, which you can read here:
http://aidylewoh.blogspot.com/2013/09/interview-sierra-bailey.html

I've also had a lot of fun writing a "Praying for your Future Husband" series:
{Part One}
and
{Part Two}

Yesterday I also got my scores back from my second round of SAT's. The Lord blessed all those hours I spent studying with a score high enough to get me a 1/3 tuition scholarship to the university I plan to attend next fall. The Lord definitely provides.

But mostly my time has been spent working on my NaNoWriMo project, which has turned into much more than just another one of my NaNo projects. The idea for this story has been floating around in my mind for years now. Actually, I think it was a combination of reading the Hunger Games and the Left Behind Series that triggered the idea. See, I love the dystopian genre, but I also love christian fiction. Sadly, you don't often see the two combined. Anyhow, there's always been this idea of a christian dystopian novel driving me crazy, but for the longest time I wasn't ready to write it. That was until a few months ago. First I felt God leading me to voice my beliefs instead of trying to tone them down. Then I got a chance to attend some eye opening Christian events. But it wasn't until a friend showed me a revolutionary song that everything came into play. That's all it took- me stepping out in faith, a few hours spent around others on fire for the Lord, and a song- for a trilogy to form. Let me introduce you to that trilogy.

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The Rebelution Trilogy 

Twenty years ago, due to the threat of nuclear war, the world entered into a governmental and military union called 'United Nations of the World'. A Council of Seven was formed -one man for each continent- to lead the wold. Instantly Christianity was restricted, then deemed as a threat to world 'peace', and made an illegal act punishable by death. Many groups of Christians protested, rioted, and created secret ministries to fight against the government. Their rebellion was strong until the persecution overpowered them, leaving thousands of Christians imprisoned, starving in 'traitors camps' on the freezing Arctic terrain, or dead. Those that escape the 'attempts to eradicate radicals' consist of orphaned children, grieving parents, and lonely friends. But one day their wounds will heal, and with healing comes strength.
The Council has considered the battle won, but behind closed doors underground churches begin to thrive, silently biding their time, rescuing 'discovered' Christian's from the government, and raising a new generation of believers. Little does the Council know these children born in a time of change are taking up where their parents left off, calling for a Rebelution: A rebellion against society, A revolution that will change the world.    

  Book One: Defenders of the Word 

In the wake of her parents recent execution for Christian activity, twenty-year-old Alexa Bryant finds herself questioning the God she has placed so much trust in. Her fiance, a rich politician has just saved her life despite knowing that she herself is a traitor to the very system he supports. Allie, her little sister is being held in a 'Children's Ward', where orphans of Christian families are taken to be 'reformed'. And without knowing it Alexa has walked into a group of revolutionaries intent on gaining back the rights of Christians. Before her are two roads: life on the run or life in defiance. Rebellion looks to be her best bet, but why should she pledge her life to a cause that killed her parents, and why should she serve a god that has turned a blind eye to their suffering?  

Ten years ago John-Luke DelMonico swore he would carry out his parents plan to make a public stand for the Truth. Now at twenty-one he struggles with the scriptures, his calling, and his motive. He has found himself becoming a leader of other orphaned Christians, ones who's parents died standing for the Truth. Each of them would follow him in a campaign against United NOW.  A fight against the government means an inevitable death, but death isn't what he fears, at least not as a believer. No, there are far worse things than death. Fear of failure hold John-Luke back from the path he knows they must all take. But can he place his full trust in the Lord and allow Him to guide their steps?

Neither Alexa nor John-Luke can escape the plans the Lord has set before them. Live or die, they must make a choice. Conform with the rest of the world, or let the call to a Rebelution change their lives and their hearts.

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Alrighty, well clearly its still needs a lot of work, but that's the general idea of the trilogy and book one. For me the theme is very hard to sum up, because a lot of symbolism makes its way into the book. The tag line 'Rebelution: a rebellion against society, a revolution that will change the world.' Is the simplest way to describe it. Not only is it a story about people standing up for their beliefs, but also a call for Christians to stop conforming to things of this world and radically embrace the message of Jesus Christ, as well as a  warning to those who have conformed. This isn't 'high fantasy' or 'futuristic'. This book is set in 2028, which is a year that most people of my generation will live to see unless the Lord returns. If we keep standing down and keeping the gospel to ourselves then this is what our future could look like. Yes, its exaggerated in many cases, but look at current events and the world around you. We're not too far from it.