January 12, 2022

BLOG TOUR: The Defender by Larissa Soehn


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Larissa Soehn will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

About the Book

A woman battling depression and anxiety finds herself trapped in her own life, but when an alien device rips her away from Earth, she is forced to fulfill an impossible role and save the galaxies from destruction.

On Earth, Alexia Harmon is a mother and wife, but in a foreign galaxy, she is so much more. Torn away from her family, Alex is in an epic battle to escape from Gatlin and return to Earth. But little does Alex know, Gatlin is on the verge of destruction. The galaxy faces annihilation; a prophetic doom that was set in motion thousands of years ago.

Alex struggles to stay alive as she fights against an alien government that is trying to kill her, a species of genetically engineered creatures that are hell bent on her destruction, and the demons of her own mind that threaten to overthrow her. Join Alexia Harmon as she works to fulfill her role as THE DEFENDER.




Excerpt

His hands drip with thick green blood. His fingers slide around inside the creature’s body, pulling, pushing, prodding. Finally, he finds what he is looking for, and with a sharp pull, he takes out the small object. He stares down at the tiny orb and marvels at it.


This will be the thing that ends them, rendering them powerless. The thought is vicious, but he has no time for kindness. Not now.


Quickly he turns and gently places the soft ball under a microscope. Staring into the lens, and using advanced medical tools, he prods at the centre of the ball, peeling away the outer shell. Inside is a thick, hard stone-like substance. Carefully he pulls it out. Cold radiates from it as if it could snatch all of the heat out of the room.


Careful to not drop or touch the substance, he swivels around and walks past the dead creature while moving to the second table.


Strapped here is a creature of nightmares. A long, lean body that will tower over all that it meets. Pincers adorn each appendage that will cut through anything it desires, and a face to leave the beings of the societies wetting themselves in fear.


He laughs lightly, looking over his creation with manic fondness. Carefully, he inserts the rocky substance into the cavity that has been carved open to receive the powerful object. The creature’s chest rises and falls lightly, supported by the machines that whir next to the table.


Stitching up the creature, he flicks a switch that pumps adrenalin into its massive system. It takes a few seconds, but the creature’s eyes fly open and look around aggressively. 

The eyes looking back are human, but everything else is alien. The strongest parts of many species, all stitched together into one beautiful destroyer.


With one wild whoop, the creature activates its newest power, sucking all the heat from the room. The creator shivers and lunges for the control button. As the room starts to frost over and the air freezes, he presses the button, his fingers creaking as they bend against the cold that suddenly engulfs him. 


With a violent spasm, the creature jerks madly on the table and is rendered temporarily useless. He smiles grimly. This is it; this will kill them all.


Interview with Larissa Soehn

What are four things you can’t live without?

I absolutely cannot live without my beautiful daughter and husband, my computer, and coffee.

What is your favorite television show?

Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I’ve watched it at least a dozen times. 

Where do you get your inspiration, information, and ideas for books? 

Other books! I love reading both inside and outside of my genre to see how other authors weave their stories. I am almost always inspired by a news story in my head when I’m reading a good book. That and my own life, of course. 

Do you write full-time or around another job? If you have a full-time job, does it ever play into your writing?

I own a small home business and am an employee; however, I am currently on leave for mental health concerns. My work does not play into my writing, but my mental health certainly does. 

What books or authors have most influenced your writing?

Brent Weeks- The Lightbringer Series

Pierce Brown- Red Rising Series

What is your favorite writing snack and/or drink?

Coffee/Tea and grapes. Something about the hot & cold combo is inspiring. 

What was your hardest scene to write and why?

Battle scenes. I have never been in a battle, so it’s hard to envision the mechanics of how someone would move or react. I have to rely on what I have seen in movies or read in other books. 

What is a significant way your book has changed since the first draft?

So much has changed, especially the beginning. I received feedback early that my main character’s reaction to being teleported to a new world wasn’t realistic. This feedback was excellent, and it made me rethink the introduction to my character and shaped the way she responded to situations. 

Aside from writing, what is one thing you do for fun?

I enjoy doing puzzles. 

What exciting projects do you have coming up next?

I have completed writing The Gatlin series, which worked into a three-part series. Now I am working on a stand-alone sci-fi book about a war raging between Earth and a far-off planet. It is a multi-point-of-view book, which is a very different writing style for me.


About the Author


Larissa Soehn is a budding new author from the cozy city of Red Deer, Alberta, where she lives with her husband, daughter, two cats and a dog. She started this journey as a recovery method for severe depression. She found that creative writing helped her process her emotions and work through the struggles of depression. As a child, Larissa enjoyed writing and telling stories, a passion that has recently reignited inside of her. Currently she is working to finalize the Gatlin Series, as well as publish a series of children's books to help families discuss the importance of mental health, amongst other social issues facing children today. Larissa is an advocate for mental health and uses her personal experiences to help others work through their struggles. She uses social media platforms to help spread her message and give people permission to speak up and speak out.


CONNECT WITH LARISSA SOEHN


WEBSITE - Larissa Soehn – Author Website


FACEBOOK - Larissa Soehn | Facebook


INSTAGRAM - Larissa Soehn (@larissa_soehn) • Instagram photos and videos



PURCHASE LINKS THE DEFENDER


AMAZON.COM - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0228866030 


AMAZON.CA - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0228866030


BARNES & NOBLE - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-defender-larissa-soehn/1140523152?ean=2940165085475


SMASHWORDS - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1115119 


APPLE IBOOKS - https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-defender/id1595487361 


The book will be free.




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a Rafflecopter giveaway

13 comments:

  1. I love the cover! The colors and graphics are great!

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    1. The cover for the book is definitely one of my favorite parts too! ♥

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  2. I like the cover. Looks great. I enjoyed the excerpt and interview.

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    1. So happy to hear you enjoyed the excerpt and interview! Let me know if you have any suggestions for questions I should ask authors in the future

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    2. Thank you so much. The interview was so fun to do!

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  3. I really like the cover and the excerpt.

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