Hello everyone and welcome to my stop on the Escapist Book Tours virtual book tour for Amy Marsden’s horror novel Survivors! Today, I am excited to help kickoff the tour by sharing an interview with the main characters from the book!
You can find our Q&A below, along with all of the info about the book, the author, links to purchase a copy of Survivors for yourself, and a chance to win a copy in our giveaway! Also, be sure to take a look at the schedule at the bottom of the post and follow along to see the stops from our other awesome hosts!
Book Information:
Survivors by Amy Marsden
Series: Survivors #1
Genre: Horror
Intended Age Group: Adult
Pages: 341
Published: August 16, 2021
Publisher: NineStar Press
Blurb
Jennifer planned to spend her 24th birthday having fun with her friends. Instead, she ends up running for her life through the dark streets of London.
Her world is torn apart by a new disease, the likes of which have never been seen before. The government’s decision to conceal its deadly nature exacerbates the panic, and in all the confusion Jennifer is bitten.
That’s it, right? Her life is over.
Wrong.
Immune to the viruses ravaging effects, Jennifer finds herself with a small group of survivors. Together they must fight to stay alive long enough for a cure to be found. Humanity won’t be beaten to easily.
But madness looms large, and safety seems forever out of reach.
Book Links:
Publisher direct: https://ninestarpress.com/product/survivors/
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Survivors-Amy-Marsden-ebook/dp/B09CJ64H7H/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Survivors-Amy-Marsden-ebook/dp/B09CJ64H7H/
Character Q&A
What do you think about the others?
Jennifer: James left a terrible first impression, but we’re more than first impressions. He’s a very driven man, gruff most of the time, but I know he has our best interests at heart. Victoria is quite protective of me. She’s like an older sister, which is great. I’m an only child, so it’s nice to have someone looking out for me like that.
James: My initial impression of them both was that they’d need toughening up for the challenges ahead. I was wrong. Both are strong in their own ways—Jennifer will jump in front of you and take a bite for you, and Victoria is one of the most competent people I’ve ever met. That woman is scary with or without a weapon.
Victoria: Jennifer has the same eyes as my sister Katherine. I guess my protective instincts kick in around her, maybe to try make up for what happened. Plus, she’s immune. She needs protecting. She’s kind and compassionate, and I hope she never loses those qualities. James is a soldier. As straight forward as they come. What you see is what you get with him, and that is very refreshing.
What music do you listen to?
Jennifer: God, anything! Well, except jazz. But that’s probably because I haven’t heard much of it to decide if I like it or not.
James: Indie and rock. None of that pop shite.
Victoria: I love 80’s music the most, which people have told me is strange, considering I was just a child in that decade.
What are 3 items you can’t live without?
Jennifer: My camera, my camera, and my camera. I take it everywhere with me. You never know when the perfect shot will reveal itself.
James: It’s very easy to live without material wealth. I enjoy living off the land. I’ll say food and water, some clothes, and a lighter, to make starting a fire easier.
Victoria: If I was asked this question before the world ended, I would’ve probably said something frivolous like the perfect summer dress or afternoon tea with friends. Now? A weapon, food and water, and a safe place to sleep at night.
What’s your favourite animal?
Jennifer: Definitely cats. I always wanted one growing up, but my parents never got me one. They weren’t big animal lovers. My friends were going to get me a kitten for my birthday but, well, the world ended.
James: Honey badgers. Those things are vicious. Never had any pets, I’ve never been that bothered about typical cats or dogs.
Victoria: We always had dogs growing up, Labradors to be precise. I always wanted one but Mike, my ex-fiancé, was allergic. Should have been a warning sign.
What is your favourite season?
Jennifer: Probably spring. I can get good photos of life shaking off winter and blooming anew. But there’s also autumn. I love the whole aesthetic of autumn, y’know, jumpers and warm drinks and falling leaves. Winter too. I don’t like how cold winter is, though. Nor how hot summer can be. So, spring or autumn, I can’t decide.
James: Definitely summer. All the best parts of my life happened during summer.
Victoria: Probably summer. No school for six weeks. I used to think nothing got better than that.
What are you passionate about?
Jennifer: I think everyone already knows the answer to this—photography, and using photography to tell people’s stories. I used to what to be a photojournalist before everything happened. I think I took the phrase ‘a picture says a thousand words’ literally as a kid. Seriously though, there’s something about capturing moments that speaks to me on a fundamental level. Like I can freeze time and hold this clear moment, and make people really feel it. It’s special.
James: I guess playing the drums? It’s something I learned as a teenager and has always been there for me. When I got frustrated? Drums. When I was bored? Drums. When my first girlfriend dumped me? Drums. When I had too much energy to burn? Drums. It’s been a steady thing in my life for the majority of my life.
Victoria: I used to be passionate about my friends, going out and socialising, wearing the perfect outfit. Since the trial and the infection, it all seems so trivial. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I still definitely look after myself, but it’s not the most import thing anymore. Our little family is. Laughing around a campfire I know is safe because I scouted the area. Sharing our food, making each other smile is this new, unforgiving world. That’s what I’m passionate about.
What’s your biggest fear?
Jennifer: It used to be spiders. Things just shouldn’t have eight legs. Now, though? The infected, and seeing the people I care about in danger.
James: Failing to protect people. Protecting people is what I’ve done practically my whole life. To fail would be… unacceptable.
Victoria: One of my biggest fears used to be getting cheated on. Which happened, so. Losing more people, I think. No, I know. I don’t want to lose more people.
How would you describe the world you live in?
Jennifer: Difficult. We live in horrible times, often running for our lives. But I’ve found beauty, too. This little group of survivors I fell in with has quickly become like a family to me, and that’s more than worth fighting for. We mustn’t lose sight of kindness.
James: Hard. It’s always been hard, but now more so than ever. We need to be constantly vigilant and protect each other’s backs.
Victoria: Cutthroat. Kill or be killed. I gave up any soft part of myself to survive, and to protect the people like Jennifer and Dan, who are almost too good for this new world.
About the Author
As a child Amy loved reading and writing, so naturally she graduated with a degree in biomedical science and has worked in a microbiology laboratory ever since. Her passion is writing however, and she turned back to it during her years at university. When she is not writing about surviving apocalypses, exploring space, and conquering magic–all celebrating queer love– she can be found reading or playing games about those very things.
She lives by the sea with her wife and their fifteen-year-old cat, who still runs around like a kitten.
Amy is the author of the SURVIVORS duology, SURVIVORS and THE SAFE ZONE, and has more works in progress.
SURVIVORS is out now!
Author Site: https://www.amymarsden.co.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmyMarsden12
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amymarsdenauthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21711267.Amy_Marsden
Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Leave a Reply