Your One & Only by Adrianne Finaley (Interview & #Giveaway)



I'm welcoming Adrianne Finaley to my blog today to answer a few questions
about her YA SciFi debut. Check that, the book, and enter the giveaway below...

Your One & Only
by Adrianne Finlay
YA SciFi, Dystopian
Hardcover & ebook, 320 Pages
February 6th 2018 by HMH Books for Young Readers

Summary

Jack is a walking fossil. The only human among a sea of clones. It’s been hundreds of years since humanity died off in the slow plague, leaving the clones behind to carry on human existence. Over time they’ve perfected their genes, moving further away from the imperfections of humanity. But if they really are perfect, why did they create Jack?

While Jack longs for acceptance, Althea-310 struggles with the feeling that she’s different from her sisters. Her fascination with Jack doesn’t help. As Althea and Jack’s connection grows stronger, so does the threat to their lives. What will happen if they do the unthinkable and fall in love?

(Affiliate links included - I receive a small kickback if you make a purchase using my links.)

Interview

Welcome, Adrianne, to my blog today!

Q: What inspired the idea of writing YOUR ONE AND ONLY, where instead of there being a lot of humans and the clones being new or in a war with humanity (like the usual trope), that civilization is made up of clones with only one or two humans?

A: I read an article about cloning a Neanderthal, and it got me thinking about a future world where all of humanity had evolved in some fundamental way, and then they introduced into that world a past example of a human, a 21st century boy. He would be an outcast, and they would consider him primitive and crude, and maybe see him they way we would see a Neanderthal, but of course he would force them to consider what had been lost in all their advancement, and what it is that makes us human. 

It sounds like an intriguing idea, which is definitely why it's on my tbr. ;)

Q: Would you tell us a little more about your main characters?

A: The clones have perfected their genes, and as a result they have no illness, disease, or genetic imperfection. Althea-310, a clone, has lived comfortably in this world, and she believes her community has benefited from this genetic manipulation—and in many ways, they have. When she meets Jack, however, she begins to question the foundations of her community. I knew I wanted Jack to have something that made him different from them, something that made him not “perfect.” Jack has asthma, so the clones consider him flawed. He comes to realize, however, that those things that make him different allow him a unique perspective on the world in which he lives, and that if he were cleansed of all his imperfections, he would lose his humanity, as the clones have. 

I think that's an interesting concept and it sounds like these two will be a unique couple.

Q: What do you love most about this story?

A: I love that the story is fun to read, with romance, mystery, thrills, a cool futuristic world, but it also delves into deep, fundamental questions, like the power of diversity, the dangers of conformity, and the nature of humanity. 

That just makes me want to read it more!

Q: Did you find anything interesting or totally weird when doing research for YOUR ONE AND ONLY?

A: I can’t remember what I was searching for, but in doing research I stumbled on a Chinese company that molds pears to look like fat babies. Seriously, do a google image search for “pears that look like babies.” Because the clones are into genetic manipulation, I decided to include in the book these strange fruit that looks like animals and people. 

Oh my gosh! That is rather bizarre. Going to look them up...

Q: As this is your debut, what surprised you most in the process to become a published author?

A: One of the things that surprised me the most was how great the writing community is. Through publication, I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many writers, authors, and bloggers, and it’s been an amazing experience.

I'm so glad that your experience has been positive. It should be. :)

Q: What are you working on next?

A: I’m still very much in the world of sci fi, but right now thinking about a setting in the contemporary world rather than a futuristic world. I still love world-building, though, so I expect to go back to futuristic sci fi at some point.

We're looking forward to more from you! Thanks for stopping by!

About the Author


Originally from Ithaca, New York, Adrianne Finlay now lives in Cedar Falls, Iowa with her husband, the poet J. D. Schraffenberger, and their two young daughters. She received her PhD in literature and creative writing from Binghamton University, and is an associate professor of English at Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa.

She is also an avid soap maker, and sells handmade soap locally to raise money for type 1 diabetes research. Find the soaps here.


Tour Schedule
Tour-Wide Giveaway

3 copies of YOUR ONE AND ONLY by Adrianne Finlay
- US Only
-Ends February 9th

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Is this one on your tbr? What did you think of the interview? Did you check out "pears that look like babies?"

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