Today we welcome Julia Durango to YABC! Julia’s new book, The Leveller, is a fast-paced story that launches readers and characters into a vitural-reality gaming world! We can’t wait to read it! But until then, Julia is sharing a little bit about her, the book, and the top five reasons why she loves video games.
Meet Julia.
When Julia Durango is not daydreaming or thinking up new stories, she’s probably eating french fries and dancing like no one’s watching (and really hoping no one is).
Now meet Julia’s book, The Leveller.
Gamers and action fans of all types will dive straight into the MEEP, a virtual-reality gaming world, thanks to Julia Durango’s cinematic storytelling. A touch of romance, constant twists, and a vivid, multidimensional journey through a tricked-out virtual city will keep readers flying through to the breathtaking end.
Nixy Bauer is used to her classmates being very, very unhappy to see her. After all, she’s a bounty hunter in a virtual-reality gaming world—and she’s frequently hired by irritated parents to pull kids out of the mazelike MEEP universe.
But when the game’s billionaire developer loses track of his own son in the MEEP, Nixy is in for the biggest challenge of her bounty-hunting career. Wyn Salvador isn’t some lazy kid looking to escape his homework: Wyn does not want to be found. And he’s left behind a suicide note. Nixy takes the job but quickly discovers that Wyn’s not hiding—he’s being held inside the game against his will. But who is holding him captive, and why?
Nixy and Wyn attempt to fight their way out of a mind game unlike any they’ve encountered, and the battle brings them closer than either could have imagined. But when the whole world is virtual, how can Nixy possibly know if her feelings are real?
Knowing all of that, it’s clear that Julia loves video games. So here are her top five reasons as to why she loves them so much!
1.) Interactive storytelling
Remember those Choose Your Own Adventure books? Maybe not, but they were the bomb back when I was a young reader. I loved being able to participate in a story and actually determine the outcome by my choices…I loved being aplayer. Video games are visual versions of those books, only (dare I say it?) so much COOLER.
Yeah, I said it.
2.) Escape from reality
Real world got you down? Need to work off a little steam? Do your horrid aunt and uncle keep you locked up and lonely? Fire up a video game, find your happy place, and forget your worries for a while.
3.) Mad skills
Current research suggests that playing video games can increase cognitive functions like spatial navigation, memory, reasoning, and problem-solving skills among others. All that while you’re having fun? Um, more please.
4.) Virtual reality, people!
It’s coming, and faster than you might think. While the interface isn’t quite as sleek as Nixy’s titanium ear stud/transmission device in The Leveller, this Oculus Rift headset looks like a good time and then some. Sign me up.
5.) Fun with friends
Who says video games are anti-social? These days you can trade laser blasts and barbed quips with friends across the galaxy! Nothing says love like having your BFF’s back when battling baddies. (Just ask Nixy.)
We’d like to thank Julia for showing us her love for video games! And here is another BIG thanks for the following giveaway of The Leveller!
-
by: Julia Durango
-
Release Date: June 23, 2015
*GIVEAWAY DETAILS*
Three winners will receive a copy of The Leveller! US addresses only.
Entering is simple, just fill out the entry form below. During this giveaway, Julia has a question for entrants. Here is the question they’ll be answering in the comments below for extra entries: If you could live inside any video game, which one would it be?
*Click the Rafflecopter link to enter the giveaway*
The Legend of Dragoon, I was obsessed with it in high school. Many an hour spent cursing at the screen and battling to win.
Live is Strange , I am love that game I can’t wait to the next chapter .
Super lame answer, but I’d love to live in the original Sim City game for Nintendo. 😀
Since it was from my childhood, I would choose the Sim City games that I used to play on the Gameboy. My favorite was “Bustin’ Out” if I remember correctly, with the mechanical robot chicken that would sometimes randomly appear and attack you–sending you to the hospital. That chicken was so annoying!! Yeah. hahah xD
I used to played a Narnia game on my Nintendo when I was younger and I loved that game! I would love to live in that video game!
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2. Who wouldn’t want to be a superhero?
I would probably live in one of the sims games since you don’t have to fight for your life or anything.
I would love to live in a Lego Harry Potter game they are so ridiculously fun
Nintendogs…nothing life-threatening happening there! 😉
I’d want to live in a Sims game because that world seems so much more laid back and accepting of people.
This is tough because I haven’t played many games …and most seem to be pretty awful when you think about living there. OOOOOH does Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego count????? I say yes;) That way I can travel the world, too.
If I could live in a video game, I’d probably choosenthe lego harry potter game because even though I’d be a lego person, I’d be able to go to Hogwarts and do magic which would be awesome.
I haven’t really played any video games except for the God of War so I probably want to live there since it is influenced by Greek Mythology 🙂
I actually don’t play too many video games other than the Sims, so I’ll go with that as my answer. It would be a pretty easy life living in that game!
I don’t play any video games other than Portal or Minecraft, so I guess Minecraft…? (that counts right? haha)
I’d probably live inside of a game called Star Stable, since it’s the only game I play! Star Stable is a horse game, and since my life is nearly all about horses, I must play a horse-related video game!
oh this is easy! I’d totally want to live in the world of Final Fantasy, preferable where either 10, or 13/13-2 take place!
not sure
I don’t play video games, but my cousin loves Pokemon and Minecraft (those count, right?) so I guess either one?
Mario Kart because duh 😉
I don’t play games! but my daughter plays WoW…my mom actually plays a lot, every day. Everquest and many other games; Xsyon maybe is the other one she plays. I think it’d be cool to run around with the elves and dragon and other creatures in one of those (as long as I had someone to protect me against the ickies! LOL).
If I could live inside any video game it would be Diablo III because I’m currently playing that one and love it. I would probably be scared often though haha
Flyff because its kind of cool world. Its kinda old game though. Stiil its Fantastic!
[b]GOOD QUESTION[/b]
I think that if I could live inside any video game it would be THE WALKING DEAD. I am obsessed with both the television show and the graphic novel and I would love to “meet” Darryl, Rick and all the others, plus I have always wondered how I would do in a zombie apocalypse. (Yes, I know, I’m weird)
Mario Karts
I don’t know..being one of the main characters in The Force Unleashed would be fun
Super Mario Bros.:)
If my daughter had her way she would say Minecraft… me, I’m an 80’s gamer and back then we didn’t have the awesome graphics that games have today. But my favorite game back in the day was Centipede, I loved to play it at the arcade and get the high score… so I’d have to say Centipede.
I don’t know I feel about living in a video game, but if I have to choose maybe the Sims world just because I think its the most “safer” than the rest of the video games. I would not have to face killing people lol
I would live in a fictional video game; the virtual reality game (honestly can’t remember the name) that Vivian Vande Velde’s book “Heir Apparent” takes place in.
If I could live inside any video game, it would be either one of the Harry Potter videogames because who doesn’t want to be part of the Wizarding World or Mario Kart because the game is so fun.
I would want to live in one of the Harry Potter video games. Then I could go to Hogwarts and do magic.
First, I LOVED Choose Your Own Adventure books…Second, this book sounds awesome.
Now, onto the question… I would say Disney’s Magical World or a Professor Layton game…I play those most often.
i don’t know if a wanna live there cause i know i would end up dead the first minute but i would like to play inside of hyrule from the game of Zelda or Lordan from Dark Souls even though it looks creepy as crap!
I would like to be in Mario Kart. That game has so many great characters and races.
Super Mario Bros 3. And I’d have the raccoon tail, obvi.
I would like to live in Guitar Hero because I would like to rock out, but I have little musical talent in real life.
okay, this may be sad, but LEGO Harry Potter!!! 😀
LEGO Harry Potter because harry potter is life
Obviously any of The Sims games!:D
Obviously any of The Sims games!:D
Obviously any of The Sims games!:D
Skyrim
Oh my gosh I think about this all the time!! So many come to mind but in the end I might pick an RPG game world where I could either choose to adventure or not. Hmm for now I want to say the world of Dragon Age! 😀
I would live inside Rock band
I would choose Mario its my favorite video game.
Zelda!!! Because well link is yeah lol awesome s a hard question!! Definitely not call of duty!!!! Hahahahaha
Final Fantasy 8. Loved the concept and the storyline was amazing! Definitely a classic. 🙂
Final Fantasy 8! Loved the concept. 🙂
Final Fantasy 8! Such a great game!