THE STORY BEHIND RISE OF THE Y by ANGELA D. SHELTON

THE STORY BEHIND RISE OF THE Y by ANGELA D. SHELTON
Monday, November 13, 2023 by Patti Shene

FEATURED BOOK: Rise of the Y

AUTHOR: Angela D. Shelton

PUBLISHER: Two Oaks Publishing, LLC

GENRE: Young Adult Dystopian Romance

SERIES OR STAND ALONE: Series

TARGET AGE: 13-18

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR ANGELA D. SHELTON TO PATTI’S PORCH. ANGELA SHARES THE INSPIRATION FOR HER YOUNG ADULT DYSTOPIAN ROMANCE SERIES.

ANGELA IS OFFERING A GIVEAWAY! SIMPLY LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW TO ENTER THE DRAWING FOR AN /EBOOK COPY OF RISE OF THE Y.

THE STORY BEHIND RISE OF THE Y

Angela D. Shelton

I live on a cattle farm in a quaint little town in Georgia, where our livestock and pets often find their way into the pages of my novels as colorful characters. Oddly enough, my inspiration for a dystopian world didn't come from my day-to-day life. It came from a book my sister absolutely insisted I read. Written by Peter Zeihan—a geopolitical strategist who's taught at places like Quantico—his book The End of the World is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization was too tempting to pass up, especially after wrapping up my own post-apocalyptic series, Collapse.

Zeihan's work is a rollercoaster of facts and predictions that will leave you rethinking your entire life—if you enjoy the thrill of non-fiction horror, that is. We've long known about the mass retirement of Baby Boomers, the generation that is the largest in American history. The first Boomers hit retirement age in 2011, and by 2029, they'll all be 65 or older. While we all saw it coming, what we didn't anticipate was a pandemic shifting the gears.

Quick Google research backs up the real-world changes we've felt in our workplaces and local businesses. COVID-19 accelerated early retirements, exacerbating the labor shortages already predicted due to the Boomers bowing out. Flashback to 1940, there were a whopping 42 workers for every Social Security recipient. Fast forward to 2001, that ratio dropped to just three workers per retiree, and it's expected to be 2-to-1 by 2050.

Zeihan dives deep into the domino effect a decreasing workforce could have on different regions of the world, and consequently, the global economy. One shocking revelation: The U.S. imports 95% of certain critical minerals, primarily from China, a country facing an even more drastic population downturn than ours.

While I could elaborate on Zeihan's grim forecasts, it's this "what if" scenario that got my creative juices flowing: What if a shrinking global population led to a world war? What if, in the aftermath, humanity vowed never to risk another population collapse? How would that altered reality look?

Enter Lexi, the protagonist of my series Rise of the Y. She's a 17-year-old living in a tightly controlled dystopia known as the Imperium. Here, the government dictates everything: where you live, your education, your career, even your marital fate. They reward procreation, while those who can't or won't have children face ostracization. And the elderly? They're shipped off to mysterious "retirement cities," never to be heard from again.

If you're into "what if" scenarios that keep you up at night, and you're a fan of series like Divergent or The Hunger Games, then Rise of the Y is a must-read for you.

Blurb for Rise of the Y:

In a world on the brink of revolution, where the iron fist of the Imperium orchestrates every destiny...

Seventeen-year-old Lexi refuses to bow to a future with an assigned spouse and a dictated profession. A fiery spirit of defiance burns within her, ready to ignite a revolt. But destiny has other plans.

When tragedy unveils a hidden diary—a legacy of secrets and rebellion—Lexi is thrust into the perilous shadows of the elusive rebel group Y. In a whirlpool of danger, deceit, and forbidden alliances, every revelation blurs the lines between friend and foe, making trust the ultimate weapon in a battle for truth.

Caught between duty and a yearning for freedom, Lexi navigates a treacherous path where love and loyalty are tested at every turn. Who can she trust in a world where betrayal lurks in the shadows? As the foundations of the Imperium tremble, Lexi battles not only for her world but for the person she is destined to become.

Rise of the Y can be purchased at Amazon

DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE PLACED IN THE DRAWING TO WIN AN EBOOK COPY OF RISE OF THE Y BETWEEN NOW AND FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24TH AT MIDNIGHT MT.

BY LEAVING A COMMENT, YOU GRANT PERMISSION FOR YOUR EMAIL TO BE REVEALED TO THE AUTHOR IF YOU ARE THE WINNER TO FACILITATE RECEIPT OF YOUR BOOK.

Tales of Courage, Love, and Faith from the Cattle Fields to the Battlefields.

Angela D. Shelton, a recipient of the 2023 Christian Indie Awards in the young adult category, enjoys writing stories in both young adult and romance genres. When she's not working in healthcare accounting, she's busy with her husband, Tom, taking care of their small cattle ranch in Georgia.

Angela finds creative fuel in her day-to-day life, from working on the ranch to learning from Tom's background in military and law enforcement. This comes to life in her series, Collapse, which follows a family in a small Georgia town learning to adapt and thrive when faced with global challenges.

Her latest project, The Y Chronicles series, takes readers on a journey through a dystopian Atlanta, Georgia. Angela's writing, influenced by her own experiences and observations, aims to offer more than just a good story—it aims to create a world readers can truly lose themselves in. Whether tackling themes of resilience, romance, or rebellion, Angela hopes her stories touch the hearts of those who read them.

Connect with Angela:

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Comments

Natalya Lakhno From California At 11/15/2023 5:41:57 PM

My daughter would enjoy it!

Reply by: Patti Shene

Hi Natalya. You may win it and have a Christmas gift for her! We'll see what Random.org says at the conclusion of the drawing Thanks so much for stopping by.