Interview with Jema of Lovelock Ones & Torch
Almost 16 year-old Jema from Lovelock Series answers your most important questions! Newsletter subscribers can skip to the next heading to keep reading.
Q: Where were you born, and what was it like growing up there?
A: I was born in Port Orford, Oregon in the year 2053. My family and I have lived in Port Orford all my live. We live on a Naval Base because my dad is a lieutenant on a cruiser. We face worldwide food scarcity due to global warming. Our family is fortunate to be supported by the military.
Q: Do/did you have a close relationship with your family?
A: Our house is quite small with only two bedrooms. My sister, Nave, and I share a room. She can be annoying sometimes and teases me about wearing makeup. I’m nearly sixteen and she’s eight. We share a bed too so it’s hard to get much privacy. We are close with our mother because Dad has to be gone for long periods of time. Dad and I have a good relationship too. He teaches me things like hunting and survival skills.
Q: What is the happiest memory from your childhood?
A: My favorite vacation when we rented a beach house with my Uncle Owen for a week. We found starfish and anemones in the tidal pools. It was amazing!
Q: Who was your best friend growing up?
A: My best friend is Ava. We’ve known each other since grade school. She’s a cheerleader and really social, unlike me. I prefer to keep a low profile.
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Q: Who do you most admire in your world? Why?
A: I admire my dad. He risked everything to make sure his family was safe.
Q: Tell us a little about your world, and where you fit in?
A: It is 2069 and I am nearly sixteen. Two weeks before my sophomore year of high school, my dad sent, me, my sister, and mom, with a bunch of other families to a secluded camp in Nevada to try and escape a flu outbreak. My dad was supposed to drive us to the camp but had to cover our tracks and return back to base. Troy, a guy I know from my high school, and I must drive the group of twenty three women and children from California to Nevada.
Q: What is your greatest fear? How did/will you overcome it?
A: My greatest fear is losing my family and ending up alone. Since my dad trained me to survive in harsh conditions, I will use all my resources to keep myself, sister, and mom safe.
Q: Who has been the greatest influence in your life? Why?
A: My dad and Uncle Owen have had the greatest influence on me. They trained me to be self-sufficient and I am grateful for that.
Q: Do you have any hobbies? What are they?
A: I am a dancer and practice ballet for six to eight hours a day over summer break. I love being on stage dancing. Even though you are in front of a huge audience, the lights and music make you feel like you’re in a different world with the other dancers.
Q: Have you ever been in love? How did that work out for you?
A: Most of the boys at my school act really stupid. The military guys are so into being in shape and all muscled up and showing off for girls. The townies, or kids from town, get all these weird alterations. I don’t get them either. I think maybe I’m an old person stuck in a young person’s body, like an old soul maybe. So no, I’ve never been in love.
Q: What is your favorite food? If it’s an usual one, could you describe it for us?
A: My favorite food is my mom’s homemade noodles. She makes them in an Asian flavored chicken broth with greens like spinach. It is wonderful on a rainy day.
Q: What do you own that would be hardest to part with? Why?
A: I didn’t have time to think about what I left behind when we fled. Probably a picture of my family at the beach house.
Q: If you had one day left to live, what would you do with your last day?
A: I would make a big dinner with my family and all my friends and sit and watch the sun and talk with them till the sun set.
Q: Who do you become closest with in the story?
A: Even though we seem like complete opposites, Troy and I develop a sort of friendship. He’s not bad for a muscled-up military brat.
I hope you enjoyed this interview with Jema. To learn how the Lovelock Series started go here. To read the complete blurbs and watch the book trailers click here.
Want to ask Jema more questions? Comment below.
Until next week, stay safe and healthy! – Tricia
P.S. Want to learn more about some of my other YA characters? Learn more about characters from my urban fantasy series here.