Author Interview: Jordana Frankel previews The Ward

For my spotlight on upcoming dystopian/post apocalyptic fiction series, I interviewed over 20 authors with novels coming out in the genre in 2012/13. These are exclusive first looks at exciting new works. Enjoy!

Please welcome author Jordana Frankel to Dystopian August! Her debut, THE WARD, is set to release from Katherine Tegen Books (HarperCollins) in the first part of 2013.

Here’s the summary:

THE WARD begins a dystopian series, set in a future New York City after a catastrophic flood called the Wash-Out, where a few thousand survivors live on the tops of abandoned buildings, and fresh water is almost impossible to find.

When sixteen-year-old Ren finds a freshwater spring with healing properties, she wants nothing more than to cure her home of the Blight, but she is thwarted by both a political agenda that would exploit the spring and by those who have guarded its secret for centuries.

And the interview!

Why do you think people are drawn to "dark" stories?
A few reasons, I think, but I’ll only speak for myself. I personally like (maybe “like” isn’t the right word – how about “can’t help”?) thinking about the worst-case scenario. You know: What is the absolute most awful thing that could happen to me right now – and how would I handle it? I’d like to think I wouldn’t stall out. Maybe it also makes me a bit braver – En garde! Awful Thing ahoy at nonspecific moment! Go, be insane in the way you’ve always desired. Turn yourself into the person you would most like to be.

If THE WARD had a theme song, what would it be and why?
Sweet idea! Shoot ‘em down by Ghostland Observatory. I can't wait to see everyone else's theme songs!

What fictional character from another book would your main character chose as his/her best friend and why?
Growing up, Lyra from His Dark Materials. I feel like Lyra and Ren (my main character) could have gotten into some seriously entertaining scrapes together.

What are your top 5 Dystopian lit recs and why?
I’m going to go with just one. That way you can really imagine it surrounded by neon lights, an arrow pointed its way:

Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. Go. Now. It was first recommended to me by a former boyfriend, and I’m so, so happy that such a trippy, well written adventure came across my path. It’s helped while writing THE WARD, too.

What's on the top of your to-do list before the world ends? (you know, in case it ends next year)
Meh. Make sure each day, at the end of the day, I can close my eyes and say that I’ve fully embraced my time awake. These days, it’s the day-by-day. That’s a tall enough order!

But if that answer is too fluffy...hehe, I'll throw in that I’d like to put on a badass fire spinning performance without thinking too hard about it, or without (too much) fear. J Just enough to respect the risk, but not so much that I can’t enjoy how crazy it feels to turn fire into a dancing partner.

How does your novel stand out from others in the genre?
Oh dear! What a question. Well, each book is unique, and each take on this Worst-Case-Scenario Future presents a different obstacle to work through that’s interesting to think about.

That said…my girl wears a red leather catsuit. 

Thanks Jordana!

Visit Jordana’s website
Follow Jordana on Twitter @JordanaFrankel
Add THE WARD to your GoodReads wishlist