A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: Atomica -- Between Sea and Sky: Atomica Book 1 by Heather McKenzie

ATOMICA – BETWEEN SEA AND SKY, is a compelling saga of love, duty, and sacrifice set against the stunning backdrop of a lush tropical island— where the line between hero and villain blurs in the shadows of a forgotten world.

Atomica – Between Sea and Sky

Atomica Book 1

by Heather McKenzie

Genre: YA SciFi Fantasy Romance

“Never judge based on appearances. Sometimes the most unassuming can be the deadliest.”

A compelling saga of love, duty, and sacrifice set against the stunning backdrop of a lush tropical island—where the line between hero and villain blurs in the shadows of a forgotten world...

In a land ravaged by ancient vendettas, nineteen-year-old Eva has vowed to protect Zoleya, a petite, blue-eyed girl with a powerful gift. But when a catastrophic shipwreck strands her on a mysterious tropical island and Zoleya disappears, Eva is forced to abandon her duty and form alliances with a group of castaways to survive. While facing the island’s perils and a corrupt band of Raiders intent on her capture, Eva fights to reclaim her title as Zoleya’s Guardian.

Kade Thorn, a hunter programmed to seek and destroy all remnants of forbidden technology, battles his opposing impulses. Bound by ancient markings etched into his skin that incite violence, he finds himself torn between blindly obeying his directive or pursuing a powerful attraction to Eva, knowing either choice will get him killed.

Forced to rely on each other, Eva and Kade seek refuge deep within the island's jungle and become conflicted about where their loyalties lie. Will they find their way back to their predetermined paths or forge a new destiny together? The fate of Zoleya—the catalyst to either save the world or destroy it—hangs in the balance.

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I had no idea how many days had passed when the ship began losing battle with a raging storm. All of us being held captive by the Raiders had gone through hell and back already, so this was an additional layer of torture. We were all hurting and scared to bits, yet the sea couldn’t care less—it was going to drown us one way or another.

And maybe that was a blessing.

As I watched Zoleya from across the cage, water began dripping down from the oily planks overhead and between the unbreakable iron bars. We were in the belly of the ship, the women cowering in the corner either praying or crying, and the men moaning in agony and fear. I was helpless to do anything, only able to watch dried blood turn to tiny red rivers on Zoleya’s skin as she became soaked to the bone. Our journey across Aldira had been hellacious, to say the least, but being responsible for the state she was in felt worse than a million knives slicing up my heart. I was supposed to protect her, and I had failed.

“We’ll be okay,” said a doe-eyed woman with arms and legs thin as toothpicks. All her front teeth were broken, making her hard to understand. “The storm will pass soon.”

Normally I’d respect someone who was just trying to be comforting, but that was a bald-faced lie.

One of the men chained up across from me snorted in disgust. “Delusional,” he said and spat, adding to the slimy water lapping at our toes.

We could all hear the Raiders up on deck losing battle with the violent weather and churning seas, panic thick in their voices as they yelled “Secure the lashings” and “Man overboard.”

As water inched past our ankles and up our calves, Zoleya’s gaze met mine. The light from the quivering lanterns danced in her irises. She was so pale. The sky-blue sundress she favored torn and splattered with filth. Her long white hair hung loose down to her hips, clinging to her petite frame—I hadn’t had a chance to braid it for the day before we’d been captured.

“Calla is correct,” she said, agreeing simply to provide an extra ray of hope. But Zo was bad at lying. Her lip always quivered. “Things will be just fine. Our journey will come to an end soon,” she added.

Well, that was at least true. Soon we’d all be dead.

“If you mean that we’re going to drown, then so be it,” a giant of a man with sores all over his face practically growled at her. “I’d rather die at sea than on Cal de Mac. Drowning would be better than what the Raiders will put us through if we make it to their homeland.”

He was right. The women would be sold as slaves, and the men and I, with our wrists chained over our heads and ankles shackled together, would be forced to fight in the arenas until our last breath. Being captured by these thieves of the land and pirates of the sea was a certain death sentence, and I saw no way out.

The wind howled like a million wounded Black-Blooded, shrill and curling up tight to my eardrums. As the ship seemed to break apart, I thought of Mom, of Delia, and of Father, their graves dug deep in the toxic Aldiran dirt. Then I prayed to a god who never had a moment to spare for me, begging her to magically transport me back to the cabin with the little woodstove and bury my body next to theirs.

Those who were not chained up in the cage toppled into each other as the ship crested a wave before dipping sharply downward and then leveling out. Lightning crackled through the sky. Someone let out a heart-wrenching wail… I couldn’t just hang here like a carcass waiting to be gutted, I had to try to do something. Anything.

Tugging on my restraints caused the shackles to dig deep into my wrists. A sickly warmth trickled down my arms. I nearly passed out from the pain, but I kept tugging; at least I would die with honor trying to save Zoleya.

“They can’t be barbaric enough to leave us down here to drown,” said a woman with a small child clinging to her legs.

A man across from me with black greasy curls let out a pained laugh. “Oh, but they are.” His voice was raw with hatred and his face was bruised, one eye nearly swollen shut. “Raiders are no better than the maggots swimming in your dinner.”

Crates full of stolen food, weapons, silks, and spices slammed into each other, releasing a plume of crushed cloves into the dank air. Someone up on deck shrieked and the wind shrieked back. I wondered if we had minutes. Seconds even. If I had to rip my hands off I would.

“Eva. Stop that, please,” Zoleya pleaded.

If I could only break some bones then maybe—

“Aye, stop for heaven’s sake!” said a massive man directly across from me with hair as red as the blood leaking from his broken nose. His skin was black with filth. His clothes were rags. “It’s bad enough we be trapped in here together. Watching ye torture yourself is making it worse. Besides, even if ye git free, there ain’t nothing a wee missy such as yourself can do. You be just a girl.”

My pulse throbbed at my temples; how many times had I heard that before? “Don’t you think there’s a reason I’m chained up like the rest of you?”

The redhead had some sort of answer perched on the tip of his tongue, but the sea spoke first. With another shriek, it dragged its salty claws along the sides of the ship, grabbed hold, and wrenched it to the left. A barrel tipped over, mixing brine and writhing squid into the rising water. More clearly than ever, we could hear the frantic voices of the crew dancing with death above while we waited for it below.

I am Canadian, born and raised in Alberta on a lovely acreage just outside of Edmonton to musical parents. I began my arts career as a musician, leaving home at the age of fifteen to play in a rock band, then went on to become a singer/songwriter. I wrote songs and told stories with melodies, lucky enough to tour Canada and record four studio albums, as well as work as a studio musician. I spent years singing my heart out. However, when I discovered the limitless creativity of novel writing, I shifted my focus to a literary career. My extraordinary experiences as a musician continue to fuel my writing. I am deeply inspired by art and profoundly humbled by the creativity of others. Creating is a fundamental part of my life, and expressing myself through storytelling is incredibly important to me. I strive to transport readers to different places or provide them with a companion for three hundred pages, impacting them as my favorite writers and artists have impacted me.

I like to write about deeply flawed characters with relatable struggles and how they react in extraordinary circumstances. The Rocky Mountains and the wonders of nature greatly inspire me, and I love to explore the juxtaposition of these settings with urban landscapes. My novels are characterized by action, adventure, lots of romance, and unexpected twists. I like to put my characters in unique settings and fully explore their motivations while drawing heavily on my personal experiences.

I am honored to be represented by Elizabeth Winick Rubinstein of McIntosh and Otis, one of the USA’s longest-running literary agencies, representing remarkable authors such as the late John Steinbeck and Harper Lee. As a ‘hybrid’ author, Elizabeth represents my adult works, while I represent my young adult works. I am determined not to limit myself to one specific genre and hope to follow in the footsteps of authors who have achieved success this way, as I value the artistic freedom it affords.

At present, I have four published novels; Serenade, Nocturne and Rhapsody, all which have achieved bestseller status in digital sales. My newest novel, Atomica: Between Sea and Sky, was just released on August 27, 2024, and is the first book in a new young adult fantasy series.

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