What Lies Within
James Morris
Kindle Press
ISBN: 9781512283198
Description:
“You’re going to die” A single text message and Shelley Marano’s world is upended. A normal high school senior, Shelley discovers she is adopted. She goes on a journey to uncover her past, only to find she was part of a horrific experiment to test the theory of nature versus nurture. In a culture of violence committed by young people, she may be one of these killers. With the lives of her and her friends in the balance, one thing is certain: she will never be the same.
My View:
Jim Morris is a former television writer – with credits including “Smallville” and “Crossing Jordan.” Recently his young adult thriller WHAT LIES WITHIN was part of Amazon’s new crowd-sourcing imprint, Kindle Press. After a 30-day campaign, it was selected to be published and I can understand why. This narrative starts with a fantastic emotional hook; Morris has created the most threatening vision of evil I have come across in a long while, there is something about the image of a lone motorbike rider, full face helmet, no hint of the person underneath visible, following your car, that cranks up the goose bumps and fear factor a notch or two. Morris has created a great villain but he is by no means the vilest in the book, evil can present a face of “normal” and that person is far more dangerous and scarier (no spoilers here) than the menacing bike rider.
After this first incident we are dropped almost casually into the almost mundane world of teenager Shelley Marano – stellar student, helps her dad in his business after school hours, loner and seemingly “ordinary” in most ways. Suddenly Shelley’s world is turned upside down when teenage angst meets identity crisis and a stranger with a bewildering message. I didn’t even notice the pages I was rapidly turning – the action had me engaged and the new themes regarding the development of personality and character, nature versus nurture, had me mesmerised. Morris writes a great visual tale, at times the pace is blistering and before I knew it the last page was read. I was disappointed, just a little, at how quickly the threads of this narrative were drawn together and neatly tied off. Overall a really engaging action packed story that asks many many questions…
James Morris – I would really like to see this story animated. What do you think? I think it would work and the YA /adult audience would love this emerging hero that is Shelley Marano.
Reading, Writing and Riesling 
You know, I wouldn’t have thought of that straight off, Carol, but I can see what you mean about an animation. Sometimes stories just have that pace that works best that way.
Sometimes when I read Margot I just get a film or animation in my head…this one yells animate me. It would work so well.
I think this is perfect for a crowd funding project:) Are they popular in the US Margot?
There’s an increasing interest in crowdfunding, Carol. Who knows? It could certainly happen.
Is this a YA book Carol? This sounds really good! There are so many Aussie YA books out there that go by the wayside😔 I’ve been told that for every one Australian YA book there are 10 by American authors which is why so many good books go unrecognized 😔 I will definitely put this on my list Carol, you have provided me with some great recommendations this year!
It is YA but not Aussie Janine
How do they crowd fund it? By releasing the first chapters? Or a synopsis?
To make an animation? Either or…crowd funding is quite “in” here for funding film making – usually a short “screener” (or book trailer in that case) is made , with synopsis etc and then the crowd funding begins…can do the same for a book …or opera ( I have seen one of those on Aust crowd funding site) I don’t know much about the crowd sourcing imprint Kindle Scout. This is what I have found- How It Works Kindle Scout – Kindle Scout is reader-powered publishing for new, never-before-published books. It’s a place where readers help decide if a book gets published. Selected books will be published by Kindle Press and receive 5-year renewable terms, a $1,500 advance, 50% eBook royalty rate, easy rights reversions and featured Amazon marketing. – this looks likes a votes thing…which is hard work
Sounds like a great opportunity for anyone who succeeds in getting a contract! 50% royalty sounds pretty high too from what I seem to have heard about ordinary self-pub books, though I might be wrong about that. And Amazon marketing is probably worth its weight in gold.
Yes I think you are right – it does sound like a good deal and a good way for a writer to enter this world.