Today we are excited to share a guest post from author Laura Resau (Virch)!
Read on for more about Laura, the book, and a giveaway!
About the Author: Laura Resau
Laura Resau is the author of eleven acclaimed novels for kids and teens. Her novels have garnered many starred reviews and honors, including the IRA Young Adult Fiction Award, the Américas Award, five Colorado Book Awards, spots on “best-of” book lists from Oprah, and more. You might find Laura writing in her vintage trailer in Fort Collins or in her tiny cabin in the Rocky Mountains or on her far-flung travels. When she’s not writing, she’s often wandering the forest with her husband, cuddling with her Siberian husky, or head-banging (very carefully) at her teenage son’s rock shows.
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About the Book: Virch
Mind-bending, fast-paced YA sci-fi with heart.
In the year 2154, virtual reality is an enticing escape… but just for the privileged. For others, like sixteen-year-old Liv, reality means living by a contaminated bay that’s sickened her little sister to the brink of death.
Liv is determined to find a cure. She ventures to a mysterious tropical island to infiltrate a tech empire owned by the world’s most powerful man.
When she encounters his son, Wolf, she’s shocked. He isn’t the shallow celebrity portrayed in the virtual world—he’s an idealist with heart, committed to righting his father’s wrongs. And when Wolf promises to help save her sister, he might just capture Liv’s heart, too.
But as Liv and Wolf confront a danger beyond anything they could have imagined, they must unravel the deadly scheme at the core of the tech empire. And their world starts to crumble . . . just as they’re falling in love.
~Guest Post by Laura Resau~
Over a decade ago, I came across an article called “Are We Living in a Computer Simulation?” The philosopher Nick Bostrom laid out a pretty convincing argument that we are, indeed, living in a simulation. It blew my mind! I wondered how I might feel or act differently if this were true. I kept going back to ancient philosophical questions about illusion versus reality, and felt inspired to use this framework for a novel.
I was also fascinated by the science behind the simulation hypothesis. I researched when in the future humans might have the technology to create a digital simulation indistinguishable from reality—and the resources to power it. This could potentially happen within the next couple decades, but for story logistics, I set my novel about a hundred and fifty years in the future. I envisioned a dystopian society, ravaged by environmental disasters, in which the privileged live in idyllic virtual settings while the majority struggle to survive in a contaminated real world.
While most of the book is set on a mysterious tropical island full of enticing illusions, Liv’s backstory takes place by the Chesapeake Bay, a setting close to my heart since I spent my college years there. I imagined that environmental toxins sickened her little sister to near-death, the consequence of human society’s current rates of consumption and pollution.
I emphasized the disparity between the haves (Wolf) and have-nots (Liv)—issues we see in the world now. This comes through in the most basic things like access to safe work, clean water and food, medicine, education, and health care. I also wanted to explore the risks of wealthier humans living in the illusions of digital worlds as an escape from the real world. One thing I love about futuristic sci-fi is its ability to shed light on current challenges in society… so that we can address them sooner rather than later.
All that said, my main goal was to write a story that would sweep readers away! I wanted to offer twists and turns, suspense and adventure, mystery and action. Most of all, I wanted to create an epic, high-stakes love story—which in my mind is the best kind. Liv and Wolf get off to a rocky start when they meet, but soon realize they have to team up to prevent a deadly scheme that could destroy humanity . . . in only two days. Love is the driving force behind Liv’s missions—love for her sister, her family, her community, and as the story moves forward, love for Wolf. As we envision possible pathways for our future, love is always what we come back to—at least, that’s how I see it!
My favorite books are the ones that grab you and won’t let go, that engage your heart and mind and soul, that stay with you for years to come. This is my wish as I send Virch into the world.
Title: VIRCH
Author: Laura Resau
Release Date: 06/04/2024
Publisher: Owl Hollow Press
ISBN: 978-1-958109-50-2
Genre: young adult, science fiction, dystopian
Age Range: 14-18
*Giveaway Details*
Five (5) winners will receive a signed copy of VIRCH (Laura Resau) ~ US ONLY
*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway!*
The synopsis reminds me of early 2010s YA novels, and I the love the cover!
Love that these kinds of dystopians are making a comeback! Thanks for the chance to win!
I love this cover and this sounds like a page-turner.
Sounds very intriguing