Author Interview

Author interview with dystopia writer Jay Vanlandingham

As the author of the Sentient trilogy, Jay Vanlandingham’s writing explores the transformative power of empathy. “Through meaningful connection, empathy can flourish, opening us to the freedom of all beings—ourselves, animals, and nature alike,” he says. “Above all things, I wish for peace and serenity in my life, as well as the lives of all beings.”

Vanlandingham is in the process of publishing his third novel, Sentient Being, which serves as the final installment of the Sentient trilogy. This series delves into the depths of the human spirit, with themes that reflect the author’s core values: freedom, non-judgment, and compassion for all beings. Sentient Being examines humanity’s response to the climate crisis, our relationship with animals, and other pressing issues, including immigration and LGBTQIA+ representation.

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Memoir, Uncategorized

The apocalypse may be here, but it’s fine

I feel like I should be documenting this since I guess it’s kind of historic—even though I personally am not experiencing the level anxiety one might expect at the end of the world.

The thing is, the climate change apocalypse scientists have been warning us about for the past decade or so (or longer) is upon us, but I feel fine. Well, my asthmatic lungs don’t feel fine what with the thick smoke that has been hanging in the air all week from the wildfires in Canada—Canada! So far away from my home in central Illinois in the United States, but the fires are just that bad.

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Reading, Social Media

Why is young adult dystopia classified as “Romance?”

The Hunger Games (film)
Do you consider The Hunger Games a romance novel? | The Hunger Games (film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have been a member of GoodReads for two years but have only recently started using the app on my phone. A few weeks ago, I began adding books I have read to my profile. A lot of them have been dystopian novels, as I have been reading a lot of that genre as part of my research for my own novel projects. When I went to check out my recommendations to determine what to read next, I was surprised to find that GoodReads was mostly recommending that I read romance novels.

I don’t get it. It’s been a while since I have read any romance novels, and I hadn’t added any to my “read” shelf. Why would this app suggest I mostly read romance novels if I hadn’t indicated that I had any interest in them?

It’s not that I never read romance. Don’t tell anyone, but I have a secret stash of Harlequins in my bedroom closet. I pull one out whenever I am in need of a quick escape that requires little to no thinking. I suppose the fact that I haven’t read one recently says good things about my current life. At my worst, I would lay in bed and read an entire romance novel in one night. But I won’t get into my dysfunctional ex-marriage here today. Continue reading “Why is young adult dystopia classified as “Romance?””