For those of you who find dystopian fiction cathartic during a time like this... might I interest in you in my novel about the dangers of a totalitarian government that has butchered its relationships with the rest of the world and traffics in propaganda and conspiracy theories

The Seclusion, everywhere books are sold, though I do recommend Indiebound or Bookshop as a portion of proceeds supports indie bookstores https://bookshop.org/a/3292/9781947848511

Since people keep asking, I'll take a minute to talk about this book and dystopian literature as a whole, and why both writers and readers are drawn to it, especially during times of turmoil.

I can speak only for myself as a writer to say that for me personally, writing dystopian literature is cathartic. I’m not going to lie. There have been times over the last three years when nothing felt better than taking my anger out on fictional characters.

But, more importantly, it is so valuable for readers to explore larger concepts through the power of story. It’s not a coincidence that the popularity of such literature peaks during times of turmoil.

There is a reason people are drawn to stories such as The Hunger Games, The Handmaid's Tale, and 1984. Is it because we simply have a desire to read about a future that is nothing but bleak and oppressed?

No, it’s because, despite the seemingly hopeless circumstances, dystopian literature often ends with a protagonist overcoming significant obstacles and, against all the odds, finding a path for social change.

Some readers like to immerse themselves in these struggles and explore how they would handle such a situation. Therefore, an active thought path is prompted in the reader, and they learn that maybe they too can make a difference in society before it reaches the point of dystopia.

Most dystopias share common themes, two of which are a search for identity and perseverance in a world that rejects critical thinking and individuality. They often take inspiration from the current society and analyze and stretch it to the extreme.

It allows readers to reflect on pitfalls in society as it is now.

When we read these types of dystopian stories, we are given a chance to safely explore some of these societal problems, and current trends that exist in the world,

and see that there are ways in which we can continue to survive, creating a sense of hope in the worst scenarios.

Dystopian novels are not meant to be merely dark and depressing, but rather a mirror for us to look at ourselves and our society.

The protagonist in my novel The Seclusion is a young woman of 22 named Patricia Collins. Or Patch for short. She is going through an awakening in which she discovers that everything around her is not what it seemed to be. That the powers that be should be questioned.

Many of the greatest dystopian novels were written during times of turmoil, and that has always been a unique fascination for me. Learning about what certain authors were experiencing in their society when great works of fiction were written.

1984 was based on Orwell’s belief that totalitarianism would lead to the destruction of society because it would lead to an elimination of fundamental freedoms. He wanted to express the fear he was feeling over the rise of Hitler, and what he thought society would be after ww2

Bradbury wrote Fahrenheit 451 in 1953 during the McCarthy era and expressed that he wrote it in part due to the threat of book burning in the United States, and where his imagination told him this might lead.

Huxley wrote Brave New World, considered by some to be a Utopia and others a Dystopia, between world war one and world war two, when society was beginning to question some long-held moral assumptions and a shift toward equality was beginning.

When Atwood was writing The Handmaid’s Tale, she made a rule for herself – that she would not include anything in her book that human beings had not already done to each other in some place or some time.

Dystopian literature allows us to explore our current fears, follow specific paths, and see where they might lead. Its popularity follows times of hardship for a reason.

It allows readers, both young and old, to explore a hopeless world through the eyes of a strong character, to reveal qualities in themselves they might not have known existed, and possibly inspire change.

Now is a time of turmoil. News seems to be moving too quickly to even follow, story after story of rights being dismantled are brought to light, dehumanizing language runs rampant, science is being undermined, and everyone is questioning the legitimacy of information they receive

So, during the primary elections in early 2016, I started to write. Mostly for myself. But, what I ended up writing was this book.

The first draft finished in the summer of 2016, before the general election, and it went through many revisions during the editing process. In it, is my imagination's answer to many of the what-ifs floating around today.