The Immundus by Christina Enquist - Book Tour + Giveaway
Would you sacrifice your humanity to save mankind?
IT’S THE YEAR 2828, and Domus is the last remaining country. Divided into twelve walled cities known as genuses, Domus spans what’s known as the purist lands—lands unaffected by the genetic modifications that killed all other species of mammals. But outside the walls of each genus the Immundus threaten the welfare of those within. From a young age, all citizens of Domus are trained for combat against these intruders.
At sixteen, Nia Luna knows little of the Immundus, except for the citywide alarms that ring any time an Immundus nears the genus walls. What she does know is that her own species is dying—their numbers dwindling as a mysterious disease called allagine kills many before their eleventh birthday. The same disease that ravaged her family when it took her sister.
When Nia is recruited into Genesis, a research company pioneering the path to a cure, she knows that her dream to find a cure for allagine is finally within her grasp. But within weeks of starting at Genesis, Nia witnesses something she shouldn’t have—something that changes everything. As she sets down a dangerous path that uncovers national secrets, Nia will have to decide not only what kind of person she wants to be but also how far she’s willing to go to save humanity.
In addition to the Amazing Give away below Author Christina Enquist is offering another chance to win $50!!!
Find the flyer with all detail, terms and conditions, below the Giveaway!
I grew up in Salinas, California, the same hometown of John Steinbeck, one of America’s greatest writers. I loved to read (and still do) and frequented the John Steinbeck Library as a child. I discovered at an early age that I also enjoyed writing. In sixth grade, my teacher, Mr. Graham gave the class an assignment to write a story for a contest. The contest required that we create our book binding as well, which we did with cardboard, glue, and wallpaper. My book was called “Mully Mully” about a creature who lived in an underwater lake city. I was sad when I didn’t win, but I cherished my book so I kept it all these years. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I decided to put other stories, roaming around in my mind, down on paper again, or actually, in my case, into a computer.
I took a non-traditional route to writing, considering I have a doctorate in Educational Leadership. Aside from writing, I work full-time as a Training & Development Coordinator at Kaweah Delta, a teaching hospital, and some semesters I also teach at College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California, where I currently live. When I’m not at my full-time and part-time job, I enjoy writing, reading, watching TV, and spending time with my husband and pets (cat-Smokey, dog-Princess).
The Immundus is my debut novel.
Top Ten
List
1. I am a singer. When I was in my early 20's I
recorded a dance song which was played on a local radio station. (Here is a
link to me singing and the book trailers)
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwSg6VIibRQsI-tJrlLXQQ?view_as=subscriber
2. I lived in the Phillipines for 3 months on a
business trip.
3. I became PADI certified to scuba dive, while in the
Phillipines.
4. I also paint pictures.
5. I am an actress. I performed in theater and had an
agent for awhile. I also performed in a short film which was recently sent to
film festivals.
6. I wrote a short film screenplay which starts
filming July 7, 2018.
7. In addition to writing books I am working on a
screenplay based loosely on the lives of my grandmothers.
8. I was a teen mom. I had my son when I was 18. I
became a single mom when he was one and didn't get married until he was 16.
9. It took me 10 years to obtain an Associates Degree,
then 4 more years to obtain a bachelors degree, 1 year to obtain my Masters
Degree, and 4 years to obtain my doctorate, while I worked, raised my son, and
dabbled in the arts.
10. I am allergic to cats and dogs, but I have a dog
(Princess) and cat (Smokey) who I adore so I'm constantly on allergy meds or
wearing a mask around the house. I love animals so much that I'm vegetarian.
Excerpt
I arrive at Frank’s
Hotspot, located a few blocks from Genesis. The building is brick red, with an
image of flames rising up around the two doors, creating an arch. Oscar and
Trish are the first ones here, seated on an antiquated wrought-iron bench in
front. When Oscar raises his hand to wave at me, I catch a glimpse of a tattoo
on his right arm, on the underside of his bicep. I can’t quite make it out. Tattoos
are illegal because of the mutagenic chemicals that were put into the inks when
fluorescent glow-in-the-dark tats were all the rage—though no one knew they
were mutagenic at the time. Now all tattoos are deemed illegal. In a society
struggling for survival, I’m mute at the fact that a genetic scientist
apprentice has a tattoo. I’m tempted to ask about it, and how and where he got
it, but being my first outing with my new friends, I don’t want to accidentally
create trouble.
When we enter
Frank’s, music is playing in the background. I search
the floor for Eric, but
he doesn’t appear to be in the room yet. Games are grouped in the center and
red and black tables and chairs, with wrought-iron legs like the bench out
front, surround the edge. Flame designs consume the inside of the building,
even the twisted metal of the chairs make them appear engulfed in flames. How
ironic it would be if the restaurant actually went up in flames.
Derek and Monique
walk in just as we are seated. Simon isn’t able to make it, so now our party is
complete. I forgot to ask about the buttons during lunch, so I take the
opportunity to ask now.
“What’s up with the
pictures on the elevator buttons instead of numbers? Where does each one go?”
“You know the plant
is the cafeteria,” says Trish, reminding me of our conversation earlier.
“I know that one and
the lion and the kangaroo,” I respond.
“The dolphin is the
lab that you get to move up to after serving as an employee for five years,”
Oscar explains. “The mole takes you to the subway system. That’s all I know.”
“Subway system?” My
brows shoot up with this new knowledge. There was never a mention of a subway
system at school. “There’s a subway that takes you around town?”
“No, it’s the subway
that connects the Genesis buildings of each
genus,” Oscar says.
My mind tries to
wrap itself around a way to explain the subway. Why would they need a subway?
My eyes cut to Derek, who is staring back at me, a serious look on his face.
Does he know?
“So Genesis exists
in Genus Voluptas?” I can’t think of a reason why
the purely-entertainment
and artist-oriented genus would need a Genesis.
“I don’t know,”
Oscar says, shrugging his shoulders.
“But you said it
connected the genuses. Maybe that’s how everyone gets from one to another. But
why is it Genesis? Do you know why each
building is connected?”
“I was told Genesis
is in charge of the evacuation of the genus if the
Immundus ever breach our
walls,” Oscar responds.
Derek’s eyes sharply
cut to Oscar. Something about this is strange, and I feel the tension skitter
across the table. Like we aren’t meant to talk about this—except why couldn’t
we?
“Who told you that?”
Monique asks.
“Someone—I don’t
remember who. I think it was when I first started with Genesis.”
Monique nods in
acceptance of his response. Derek bows his head and rubs his hand through his
sticky strands of hair, his eyes fixed on the table. He seems like he’s holding
something back. Something about the train—about the floors? I reevaluate his
reaction. Or maybe something about the Immundus evacuation. I don’t know what
it is, but it’s something.
We sit in silence for
thirty seconds before a miniature waitress hologram appears at the center of
the table to take our orders. It immediately alters the mood. Monique and Derek
order, reaching their palms toward the hologram so that the two credits can be
deducted from each of their microchips for their food and drink. I do the same.
As Oscar begins
ordering, I hear Eric’s voice announce the next song. I turn toward the stage.
He’s seated on a stool, playing his classic Fender guitar. I must have missed
when he walked in. It’s a new song, one I haven’t heard him play before. Each
pluck of the string is a caress, a slight touch against my soul that sends
shivers throughout my body. His voice is tender and passionate, a whisper in my
ear. The music fills me, like it has penetrated the very center of my being. I
know it sounds dramatic, and I know others might think I’m weird if I told them
how music makes me feel. It’s why I’ve never told anyone but Eric. I’ve always
loved his singing, and one day I actually told him how much. He understood it
then. He’s always understood me. I’d hate to lose that—or him. That’s why I
know telling him I want to talk tonight was the right thing to do.
I leave the table,
approaching Eric just as the song is ending. As I get closer, he spots me. I
speed up my steps to get to him before he starts his next song. “I’m ready to
talk, whenever you finish your set.”
He looks down and
thumbs his guitar, adjusting the string tone for the next song. “Okay, I have
two more sets.” He announces his next song. I’m silenced by his music and
return to my table.
Trish, peering over my
shoulder, says, “Is that your friend?”
“He’s cute,” chimes
Monique. Her finger slides across her lips, like he’s some kind of treat.
“So he’s a friend
from—”
“Monique—leave her
friend alone. Besides, watching you dig out information on the guy is dull.
Let’s play Crush,” Derek says. I blink at this statement, but then shrug my
shoulders. “Sure. How do you play?”
The rest of the
group expresses their disinterest more or less immediately. Derek gives me a
quick rundown of the combat simulation game, and then says, “I saw you play
Spero. You’re pretty good. You always seemed to be the closest to getting out
of the maze before your teammates or the other teams, and you seemed to handle
the obstacles in the maze quicker than the others. I’m sure a game of Crush is
nothing to the hologram fights you experienced in the maze.”
I can tell Derek is
coaxing my confidence, and although I never played Crush, he reminds me of the
fun I had playing Spero, so I agree to play.
Derek and I step
into a large square with a perimeter of around forty
feet. A digital display
appears.
“Weapon, tool, or
hands?” Derek asks.
“Tool,” I respond.
As he presses the
display, two large sticks appear midair. We both grab one. A nervous sensation
engulfs my body. Derek is a burly guy who has more muscle than me. Why did I
agree to this?
“Come on, little
lady,” Derek says, instigating a fight. I get a few good hits in, then Derek
smacks my rib cage and sweeps my legs from under me, sending me to the ground,
and causing me to lose the game. My ego is crushed—it didn’t even last a
minute. All that time in Spero, and I couldn’t even win this game.
“I told you. The
goal is to knock your opponent to the ground,” Derek says with a smug look
plastered on his face.
“Yes. I know,” I
say, staggering to my seat.
“Just so you know,
he’s done that to all of us. You can say that was
your initiation,” Trish
says.
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