Book Tour + #Giveaway: Mortal Escape by Amanda Murr @GoddessFish

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Amanda Murr will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Blurb:

Lily is a conscientious college student with a gift for songwriting and a passion for music. Life on Ember Island is pretty conventional until the morning Lily wakes up to a transformed world. As she begins to discover her roommates and entire campus have been impacted by some sort of fiendish disease, Lily finds herself all alone and heads for the city in an attempt to understand what is going on. In the scramble for survival, Lily meets the charming yet unpredictable Halen, and comes to understand they are now living in a dystopian society.

Although the quick-tempered Halen has a distrust for almost everyone she encounters, she seems to make an exception for Lily. They have an instant attraction to each other, which Halen is more forward about and finds enjoyment in making Lily nervous by this sudden attention.

With only each other to depend on, they face dangerous obstacles to escape the island. As they fight for their lives, Lily finds herself fighting her feelings for Halen just as much while Halen develops a strong urge to protect Lily. Will the two be able to trust their connection and find refuge on the mainland and within each other?

 

Purchase MORTAL ESCAPE on Amazon

 

Read an Excerpt

I go to another place for a while on my drive to the city. I think I’ve hit my max of what I can process, and it all still feels surreal. As I turn off the highway, I begin to look for any signs of life. Nothing. Not even bodies. I turn down the narrow street where my grandma lives, park my car, grab my backpack, and head to the gate. Three men stumble toward me in the parking lot, their pale skin glinting in the dim light. I quickly close the gate behind me as more stagger my way. I take off running through the alley, hoping to get inside the building, when I slam into someone.

She’s standing there, emerald specks in her eyes. “Are you a being?” she asks. I barely have time to respond before she yells, “Then we need to go. There’s a swarm on this side.” She boosts me onto a dumpster, guiding me toward the fire escape. My arms strain as I grab the ladder, her strength helping me up. Heights aren’t my thing, and panic sets in when one of them grabs my shoe. Suddenly, a loud sound erupts, dampness splashes over me, and their grip loosens. I look down—blood, but safety above.

On the rooftop, she trains a gun on me. “Did he scratch you?” she asks coldly. “No!” I stammer. Satisfied, she puts the gun away. Then we hear them shaking the ladder below. She tucks her curls behind her ears. “They need to feed,” she states. My heart pounds as I watch her flip a body over the ledge to distract them. Chaos, blood, survival—this is my new reality, and I can’t catch my breath.

Interview with Amanda Murr

Could you tell us about any research trips you took for this story? Which places did you visit, and what made them essential to your writing?

I didn’t take any research trips for this story. The world came more from imagination and emotional research than from specific locations. I focused on how people behave under pressure and how connection forms when familiar structures disappear.

What's the strangest thing you've ever had to research online for your book?

I did a lot of research on zombies, but I also looked into real-life medical anomalies that could appear zombie-like. I also explored what might happen to someone deprived of sunlight and proper nutrients for long periods, which I feel added a creepy realism to the story.

What research (history, mythology, science) goes into your world-building?

I did geographical research to loosely base my world on the U.S., while also diving into medical science to make the story’s illnesses and anomalies feel realistic. I knew I wanted to create a utopia in a creepy sci-fi sense where everything seemed too perfect, and secrets were hidden beneath the surface. I researched other utopias in a sci-fi sense to make sure my world felt unique and distinct.

Have any of the people you've known, past or present, left a lasting impression on your writing journey? If so, we'd love to hear about a memorable experience that stands out to you.

While no single person has directly influenced my writing, I am deeply inspired by the sapphic writing community. Seeing so many authors creating authentic, bold, and heartfelt stories motivates me to tell the stories I want to see in the world.

Do you write in the same genre all the time?

I actually made a shift from sci-fi to fantasy, and the transition felt natural because both genres allow me to explore similar themes. I’m drawn to creating worlds that don’t exist otherwise and using them to examine humanity, connection, and choice. While sci-fi often does that through technology and consequence, fantasy lets me explore it through myth, magic and the paranormal. The genre changes, but the heart of the stories stay the same in my writing, which is always centered on a blooming sapphic romance.

Which character, supernatural or human, do you enjoy writing the most and why?

I most enjoy writing Halen. She is strong and brave, but what defines her most is the size of her heart and her instinct to protect, even when it costs her something. Writing her allows me to explore strength rooted in care, restraint, and quiet devotion, which is how I define true strength, both of the mind and the heart.

About the Author:




Amanda is a sapphic romance author based in Westminster, Colorado, where she balances her love of storytelling with her role as a People Development Manager and devoted mom to a spirited little girl. When she’s not writing about the supernatural and soul-deep love, she can be found exploring local coffee shops and bookstores, experimenting in the kitchen, or going on various adventures with her daughter. Known for her warmth, humor, and passion for human rights, Amanda brings equal parts compassion and imagination to everything she does—both on and off the page.



Connect with Amanda Murr

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Giveaway:



$25 Amazon gift card









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