Author Leann Mason and "Illusionary: Minefield Enforcers Book 1"

The following book and author Leann Mason really stuck out in the book promotion group I run on Facebook. The front cover is very well done and I was very happy to have Leann give us a bit more about the book. I feel that anyone who loved Divergent or anything along those lines will love this book and should check it out.

Leann Mason

Feel free to share a little about yourself in your own words.

Hi! I’m LeAnn Mason and I write Urban Science Fantasy stories with a law enforcement element. I wish it was a full-time gig, but alas I still have a day job. I am a mother of two and a wife of twelve years (this month!). I love my family and enjoy running around with them on our acreage. Reading, music and horses soothe my soul and writing lets me get it all out for the world to see.

How did you get into writing?

I’ve always been a voracious reader, and when I was much younger, a good writer. About eighteen months ago I began actively participating in groups of my indie author idols whose stories brought my love of writing bubbling to the surface. I got on some ARC teams, admined a few author groups and generally followed my mentors like a puppy. I’m still learning but the journey is fun.

What can you tell us about your daily routines that help you focus and your creative habits? So, for example how do you come up with some of your ideas and inspiration for your book?

*The best way that I’ve found to be able to lose myself in the words is to have headphones in, music playing and shut out the rest of the world. This actually plays a big part in my protagonist’s life, helping her to shut out others’ thoughts and focus on her own.

As for how I come up with my stories, this idea has been in my head for a while but it’s morphed into the current story through my characters’ insistence. Originally, I was plotting the world to be post apocalyptic…

Is this book very personal for you? If so, how?

*This book, this series, is personal in a few ways. My love of music and horses definitely shines through. The law enforcement aspect is also something close to me, and the layers of self doubt and fear something I feel relates to us all.

ILLUSIONARY: Minefield Enforcers Book 1

The book title was tricky for me but I eventually settled on something with a double meaning. Illusionary represents both the direct threat in the book as well as subtext of overall life in this world. To really understand, I guess you’ll have to pick it up!

Plot and Synopsis

Can you describe what the book plot and give a detailed synopsis of the book, of course without any spoilers.

Illusionary is the story of a teenage girl growing up in an exiled town made up mostly of people with extraordinary abilities. The reason they’ve been excluded from the world; fear.

Nat is even further shunned because her gift is telepathy. It takes another outcast, a gorgeous mute man, to bring her into a roll where she will not only accept her abilities but rely on them to keep others safe.

Is there any movie, book, or television series that you can somewhat liken your story to? So for example, some books you can say are like Game of Thrones or Star Wars, what mainstream and popular movie do you think your book somewhat “feels” like? Did you want this to be the case?

There have been a few comparisons made. It’s like a mashup of X-Men, Divergent and Sherlock. I feel this is a fairly accurate description 😊.

Themes or Messages

What themes and deeper meanings or messages can we expect to find in this book if any? Is there any deep meanings or philosophical questions being explored in the book?

There are many themes and deeper meaning running through this series, the foremost being to accept yourself. Don’t let perceived flaws dictate how you live your life. Fear is a tyrant.

Off the wall question, but would some of the issues being explored in the book relate to us here in the real world?

Definitely.

Setting

What can you tell us about the setting that we will be seeing in this book?

The setting is like small town middle America, only completely cut off from everywhere else and run almost like a prison society.

What cultures or societies can we expect to see and can you tell us about how you came up with creating these societies? Was it difficult to get deep into how the societies function?

The society seen in this story is in isolation, vaguely overseen by those in power but with its own structure. It was somewhat difficult to intertwine the modern lifestyle and amenities and a rudimentary social and economic platform. I liken it to being modeled after a prison society.

Tell us about the history of the land or world or worlds that we will be exploring throughout the book?

The world is an alternate present where about fifty years in the past, some humans genetically deviated from the norm. Medical intervention for those with severe mental or physical ailments caused mutation in offspring of those reliant on such advancement.

When their abilities emerged, the world gave in to fear of the unknown and walled off anyone with the deviation as well as their entire line thereafter.

Fear and control is king.

Characters

What can you tell us about some of the main characters and villains in this book?

My protagonist, Nathalee, is an outsider even within her outcast society. She’s telepathic, a hybrid and has a hidden aspect to her that she can’t let anyone see. She uses music to keep other’s thoughts out of her head and is often in her own world because of it.

The main male character, Holden, is also an outcast. He’s from the physically enhanced but he’s mute so he’s seen as defective and often overlooked or ignored.

Is it any wonder they’re drawn to each other?

The villain is one of the worst types. One that no one knows exists and can get away with whatever they want. How can you find a person who has the power to alter what you see? A person who is never directly involved with the results of their attention. How do you find them? How do you stop them?

Promotional Links

Website: leannmason.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LeAnnMasonAuthor/

Misc Items: Amazon Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/leannmason

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17567374.LeAnn_Mason

BookBub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/leann-mason

Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LeAnnsEnforcers/

Newsletter Subscription: http://eepurl.com/dqEK8L

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leann.mason.author/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeAnnMason01?s=09

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