Welcome to my stop on the Hunted Blog Tour, presented by A Novel Outing!
For my stop I was able to get a little Q&A with Cheryl Rainfield herself!
(My review is below as well!)
First, I’d like to thank you Cheryl so much for visiting Eli to the nth! I really loved Hunted, and am so happy to be a part of the book tour.
Thank you so much for having me, Eli! I so appreciate it.
You are welcome! Now, on to the questions!
What was the inspiration for Hunted?
My own life.
I’m a ritual abuse survivor—my parents were part of cults—and, like Caitlyn, I know what it’s like to be tortured, to have my life be threatened, and to choose to be who I am even though it means more torture. I saw Hunted as an analogy to cults or cult-like groups that oppress, as well as the oppression in our society.
But I also have wanted to write a paranormal fantasy for years, since reading and rereading and loving Lois Duncan’s books as a teen. Her books made me want paranormal powers, but since I can’t have that, I wrote about them.
I’m a ritual abuse survivor—my parents were part of cults—and, like Caitlyn, I know what it’s like to be tortured, to have my life be threatened, and to choose to be who I am even though it means more torture. I saw Hunted as an analogy to cults or cult-like groups that oppress, as well as the oppression in our society.
But I also have wanted to write a paranormal fantasy for years, since reading and rereading and loving Lois Duncan’s books as a teen. Her books made me want paranormal powers, but since I can’t have that, I wrote about them.
You've survived some intense things, which I think many people may be able to relate to in some way, and I applaud your courage in writing about them.
Hunted has a distinctive science fiction feel to it, but you’re most prominent book before this, Scars, was contemporary realism. What made you go the sci-fi route?
I’ve long wanted to write a paranormal fantasy, after reading (and loving) many YA paranormal fantasies (especially Lois Duncan and Alexander Key). They helped me dream and hope.
But I also didn’t see Hunted as that different from Scars. Yes, it’s a fantasy, but I still drew on my abuse and trauma experience to write it, and it still addresses many painful issues—homophobia, racism, bullying, widespread oppression, and torture. I’ve wondered how to write about cults in a way that people could hear, and for now, this is my way. I think that sometimes fantasy (or fiction) can make it easier to hear about something painful.
I definitely agree with that! Fiction is a good way to get painful realities into open dialogue.
Caitlyn is a very strong female protagonist. Did she start out that way in your mind, or did her strength progress through the novel in an organic way?
I intentionally wrote Caitlyn to be strong. I write all my female protagonists to be strong-girl characters. I think it’s so important for us to see girls and women being strong, most especially when we’re often not portrayed that way in the media, and when there’s so much sexism. I made her emotionally strong and someone who fights back against oppression and tries to help others; I put a lot of myself into Caitlyn, the way I do for each of my main characters in my books.
I love seeing females written this way! I feel like it helps teen girls realize they don't have to settle for less if they don't want to!
Now for a less serious tone!
If you could pick any place/city/etc to “hide” in, where would it be?
New York and Toronto. I think both have a lot of people who don’t necessarily fit the mainstream, and a lot of varied people, cultures, and groups.
I want to visit New York so badly! Definitely my #1 place to hide.
If you could have some sort of extra power, what would you pick?
I used to really want telepathy—that’s why I wrote Caitlyn with telepathy (I wanted to be able to know when my abusers were going to do something, so I could avoid it). But now, after writing her life, I think it could be overwhelming, especially for someone who’s sensitive to other people’s emotions. I think I might like the power to heal (though that, too, could be overwhelming and draining), or maybe the ability to fly.
Any power would probably be really draining!
Who/What is your favorite author/book?
I have so many!
A few favorite YA authors are Lois Duncan, Ellen Hopkins, Laurie Halse Anderson, Cinda Williams Chima, Beth Revis, Adele Griffin, Tamora Pierce, Pam Bachorz, Wendy Orr, Alexander Key, and so many, many more.
LOVE all of them! Great taste ; )
Thank you again Cheryl for visiting my blog! I appreciate you taking the time out to answer my questions!
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Caitlyn is a telepath in a world where having any Paranormal power is illegal. Caitlyn is on the run from government troopers, who can enslave, torture, or even kill her, or make her hunt other Paranormals. When Caitlyn settles down in a city, she falls for Alex, a Normal (someone without Paranormal powers), which is dangerous because he can turn her in. And she discovers renegade Paranormals who want to destroy all Normals. Caitlyn must decide whether she's going to stay in hiding to protect herself, or take a stand to save the world.
Review:
Hunted by Cheryl Rainfield - 5 Stars
I loved Hunted. I thought the pacing was amazing, and the action kept my engrossed as I read. There was danger around every corner for the Paras, even from their own kind. This aspect made the danger that more real. It always hurts when the people you're suppose to trust the most betray you. This feeling is one of things I think Cheryl was really trying to get across, which has to do with the message about ritual abuse.
While the separation between "Paras" and "Norms" has been done in sci-fi before, I think the level of hate that was brought across really set the storyline apart. With each thought or comment I feared for Caitlyn and all her Para friends. The hate does have a counteraction for it in the form of Caitlyn's Norm allies that she gains through the story. This glimmer of hope helps her be strong.
And strong she is! The way Caitlyn is portrayed is delightful in her innate strength of resolve and fierce loyalty. She has a sense of what's right and wrong, and never loses sight of what her father believed in: that Paras and Norms could live together peacefully. This is the backbone of humanity, the resilience of hope and caring even in the face of such opposition.
I don't want to give too much away because it is such a great book! You'll definitely want to pick up a copy for yourselves!
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Happy reading!!!!